The Government's "Review" Has Greenlighted Mining.
Last year the National Government announced it would review Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act. That might sound innocuous. But it’s the first step towards the devastation of our National Parks by commercial miners.
What is "Schedule 4"?
It’s a list of our greatest national treasures. It includes National Parks, marine reserves, and some of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand like Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel. It’s a list of all the places that most New Zealanders consider sacred – all places protected from mining – until now.
What's Their Plan?
The review announced in August last year, suggested that we should review the list with a view to removing some of these protected areas from Schedule 4. This will leave them open to be mined. We all know it’s wrong. But the Government is ploughing on regardless.
Secret's Out: 7,000 Hectares Likely To Be Mined. 400,000 Under Review.
This month the Government finally released details of where they plan to allow mining. These areas include 7000 hectares of high-value conservation land such as Te Ahumata plateau on Great Barrier Island, Otahu Ecological Area and Parakawai Geological Reserve near Whangamata, plus areas around Thames and Coromandel township.
As part of their stocktake, the Government will also survey 400,000 hectares of other prime conservation areas for mining potential. These include the Northland region, Paparoa Natonal Park, Stewart Island’s Rakiura National Park and nearly all the conservation land in the Coromandel Peninsula.
"Surgical Mining" Is A Ridiculous Claim.
The National Government claims that mining in these areas will be 'surgical.' This just isn't possible. The types of minerals being targeted in this review, such as gold on Great Barrier Island, are likely to require open cast mining and irreparable damage to some of our most treasured places.
We Must Unite Against The Review of Schedule 4.
Labour stands firm against the review of Schedule 4. We’re against the idea of mining in our national parks and conservation areas. As proud New Zealanders, we consider it our responsibility to look after our country for future generations. We know there’s money in mining. But our biggest treasure is far more precious than gold.
YOU can make a difference. AND YOU MUST.
The Government should only be making important decisions like this based on what they hear from you. We absolutely must be heard.
Here's How:
- Talk to your friends, call talk back radio, write to the papers. We need everyone to understand the importance of Schedule 4.
- Come along to a public meeting near you.
- Download our petition, sign it and pass it around your friends.
- Write to your local MP. Call them. Email them. And make sure they know how you feel.
- Write to Kate Wilkinson, Minister of Conservation and tell her why she should be standing up for the most beautiful parts of New Zealand.
And Here's Why:
Our economic future cannot depend on mining, especially the mining of areas that our tourism, reputation and our future generations depend on.
John Armstrong: "It is the hugely sensitive location of some of the various parcels of land that make up the 7000ha freed up for mineral exploitation - notably in the Coromandel and on Great Barrier Island - which has National creating a humdinger of a political fight for itself.
Vernon Small: "The Government has today confirmed the leaks obtained by Forest and Bird that it is planning to take 7058 hectares out of the Schedule 4 conservation land - the land where mining is specifically prohibited."
Duncan Garner: "Mining 7058 hectares of previously protected Conservation Estate is easily National's most controversial policy decision to date"
Colin Espiner: "I've got a good idea - let's propose mining on Great Barrier Island and Stewart Island, on top of the Coromandel and Paparoa National Park."
Guyon Espiner: "So, National descends into the abyss to grapple in a dark and slimy pit - the political debate over mining our conservation estate and national parks."
Forest & Bird: "Mining these areas will further imperil our threatened species and leave us with contaminated waterways, scarred landscapes, subsidence and erosion problems and an almighty clean-up bill from 'orphaned mines'."
The Economist: "The difference between New Zealand and other places is that New Zealand has actively sold itself as “100% Pure”
The Dominion Post: "Mining critics stage protest"
