mining Archive

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  Schedule 4 mining still on the table

  
  
  
  Just as we predicted back in August, the National Party is going to break a hard won consensus around Schedule 4 and punch holes in the most precious parts of our conservation estate. Kiwis have already made it pretty clear that they don’t want this, but we will have to make our voices heard over the [...] read more
  March 22, 2010 4:56 pm - 4 Comments
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  Let the little leaks become a flood

  
  
  
  Instead of engaging in a witch hunt to attempt to identify those responsible for Cabinet document leaks, the Government should be reviewing the Official Information Act, and its own practices under it, to ensure that information is publicly available as a matter of principle rather than kept secret to give the public the mushroom treatment for Government’s own political convenience. read more
  March 22, 2010 11:27 am - 9 Comments
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  Metiria grills the PM on mining contradictions

  
  
  
  Metiria Turei grills the Prime Minister on his government’s confused and contradictory statements about the mining of protected Schedule 4 lands on the conservation estate. Her question was: Does he stand by his statement “Notwithstanding the public consultation process, it is my expectation that the Government will act on at least [...] read more
  March 18, 2010 1:56 pm - 4 Comments
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  Not Our Heritage to Mine Karangahake

  
  
  
  On Friday last I hosted a meeting about the effects of mining at the Karangahake Hall near Paeroa. The hall is close to a major historical and recreational area including many artefacts and remnants from the early gold mining days. It is also close to the newest gold mining permit issued for the Coromandel area. The [...] read more
  February 23, 2010 2:44 pm - 11 Comments
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  The Hauraki/Coromandel – love it or lose It

  
  
  
  In the first two weeks of the holidays it felt like most of the population of Auckland crossed the Kopu Bridge to bask in the stunning sunlight at the Coromandel beaches. I spent some hours over several days standing at the traffic lights on the Kopu Bridge handing out leaflets about the gold mining threat [...] read more
  January 12, 2010 2:07 pm - 62 Comments
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  Global concern at Nats’ plan to mine national parks

  
  
  
  Scrutiny of Government plans to mine our conservation lands is deepening internationally. And it’s got people hot on Facebook too. The Sunday Star Times ran a powerful feature on the weekend called “Picture imperfect”. It looks at international concern at New Zealand’s environmental performance, including National’s plan to mine conservation land: IT’S JUST a stock-take of mineral [...] read more
  December 7, 2009 8:30 pm - 10 Comments
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  Podcast: Mining our Sacred Places

  
  
  
  The National Government are poised to do the unthinkable — open up our most treasured places, our national parks and reserves — to mining. Can they be serious? Didn’t we have this fight 100 years ago? Do New Zealanders really believe that no place is sacred if there’s a goldmine or a coalmine sitting underneath [...] read more
  November 10, 2009 9:28 am - 5 Comments
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  How would you like one of these in Doubtful Sound?

  
  
  
  This oil rig has been spewing oil into the sea for eight weeks. Eight! At 400 barrels per day! The company at the centre of the oil spill, PTTEP Australasia, will have its third attempt at intercepting and plugging the leak tomorrow. Good luck guys! Look out for whatever’s causing that big plume of smoke! More at abc.net.au The [...] read more
  October 21, 2009 5:22 pm - 4 Comments
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  PM limp on mining’s pollution

  
  
  
  Russel Norman just threw the Prime Minister some curve-balls in QuestionTime. It turns out that the Government “model modern miners” get fined for pollution regularly! The PM thinks that is proof the “system is working”. Sounds to me like it is proof that mining is not a good idea in our conservation lands, and certainly not “surgical”! read more
  October 13, 2009 3:33 pm - 6 Comments
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  Mining Milford Sound?

  
  
  
  “Will he rule out of the review of Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act any consideration of mining potential in Milford Sound; if not, why not?” National Parks, openness, ‘hysteria’ and cartoons. read more
  October 8, 2009 10:36 am - 12 Comments