Mark Wynne says there are two sides to the story.

"It's a territory that's disputed, there's no question about that. But trading inside these disputed territories is under United Nations guidelines. In effect, the New Zealand Government - along most governments in the world - has signed up to that protocol. What we do is we go to that region to make sure that OCP, the supplier, is abiding by that protocol. So I'm very comfortable that ethically we are okay, legally we are certainly OK."

Wynne says he's been hosted OCP three times and has seen first-hand the benefits to Sahawaris.

"So for as many people as you interview on one side, there is an equal number on the other side that can tell you a fantastic story of economic development, career pathing and female enhancement, agricultural development, health programs, education programs."

Mine owner OCP says all profits go back to the region through various programmes and infrastructure development. And it says 75 percent of staff are locals.

Joel Ngaatuere says he connects with what Sahawaris in Western Sahara say they're going through. He says his heart breaks for his "indigenous cousins".

He had this message: "We will do all that we can to allow your story to be heard here in Aotearoa, New Zealand especially knowing that our country is supporting the oppression of your people."

In 2008, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited Sahawaris' refugee camps in Algeria. At the time she was the president of the International Union of Socialist Youth. Ardern declined our request for an interview.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it does not encourage or discourage trade with Western Sahara, but says businesses must comply with international law.

The department has told Ballance and Ravensdown to look elsewhere for phosphate - and they say they are, including in Australia, Canada, Togo, Algeria, Syria and South Africa. But there's no action and no timeframe.

"I would say enough is enough. You have done this for a long period of time, you've got away with it so far. You cannot keep doing it," Fadel said.

When asked why other countries had withdrawn from importing phosphate from Western Sahara and New Zealand hadn't, Ballance said New Zealand farmers' needs are different from the rest of the world.

"Most of the countries that have pulled out from Western Sahara are not making superphosphate. New Zealand soils need super phosphate, which is a combination of both phosphate and sulphur. Most countries in the world are not pasture based or grass based systems," Wynne said.

"We need to ask ourselves this question, as a country who do we want to be? Do we want to just bury our head in the sand?" Ngaatuere said.

And he says that's what the government is doing too when it comes to air quality at Whareroa.

Ngaatuere wrote to Ardern in August last year - a letter that went unanswered.

"I can't help but be disillusioned and see the hollowness in talk when you have a marae and you have Mori writing a formal letter to the Prime Minister asking for help and clearly identifying the issues. And almost a year on we yet to hear a response from her."

The Hui

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Kiwi companies buying 'stolen goods' accused contributing to oppression in Africa - Newshub