We thought we'd established last year that there's no place for mining in national parks, marine reserves and all those other precious places we love. It's a surprise to learn today that an overseas mining company has lodged applications to explore for oil and prospect for coal in Kahurangi National Park, Abel Tasman National Park and other gorgeous places at the top of the South Island. http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/publications/media-releases/oil-and-coal-permits-threaten-national-parks
Forest & Bird » Other
National parks in the firing line again
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Posted 1 year ago #
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But if the applications are to explore inside the parks and reserves, can that be done without any changes to legislation? Meaning that if the work is outside, even if it's right up to the border, this makes it a completely different problem than last year's proposal which was to take some Schedule 4 areas out of protection so that they could be mined. It makes it so much more difficult to argue against.
There's been for a very long time mining outside parks and reserves, and there's stuff going on right now in parts of the country like northland, Taranaki, NI West Coast, in areas outside the conservation estate. I expect we'd have gods' only job to stop this happening.
Can yopu please be a bit clearer about where the applications are for? Any links to media releases from the applicants and/or Crown Minerals? I've tried Googling, but can't find anything myself sorry.Posted 1 year ago # -
MINING ATTACK: The New Frontline
Right now public and private land is being subject to magnetic imprinting all over Northland and the Far North to show where potential mineral deposits are. It is being subsidised by us all.
The map attached was released by the Ministry of Economic Development last year after Brownlee backed down on mining Schedule 4 conservation land. The map shows that all areas of the north to be surveyed for minerals and metal with only one small area excluded, Waipoua Forest.
In terms of public conservation land, there's a lot that should be classified as Schedule 4 (Warawara, Waima, Puketi/Omahuta forests, Maungataniwha, northern Whangaroa Harbour, Surville Cliffs and more) that are potentially under threat from mining. Some should form a future Kauri National Park – they are worthy of that status.
Some of these areas are the last kauri forests left – contradicting Gerry Brownlee on record saying that no kauri forests would be at risk of mining.
So firstly, this survey for minerals is occurring with public money and without the appropriate ecological rankings.
Secondly, all private land is being surveyed with our without consent. I personally have spent my life savings to buy one of the last blocks of old bush in eastern Northland, which I now have a QEII covenant on, which bans - among other things - mining.
I heard last week that the Government had secretly signed approval for the Raukumara Forest Park off East Cape to be surveyed for oil and gas by a Chinese company. And now I hear the seabed off Taranaki, Canterbury and Abel Tasman National Park will be drilled for oil:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4955253/Abel-Tasman-oil-coal-and-gas-proposal-alarms
Of course, this follows protests by iwi and environmentalists in the deep waters of the Bay of Plenty (Raukumara Basin) by Brazilian oil giant Petrobras in the past few weeks.
The Government has opened the floodgates to multinational mining of our land and seabed. At the same time they will be firing DOC staff and are boosting MED staff to fast-track mining and exploration permits.
I feel like our country and rights have just been given away by John Key, Gerry Brownlee and Hekia Parata – and they won’t get away with it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The shaded parts on the maps show areas announced last year for aerial magnetic surveying. There's more down the West Coast, but I don't have those maps sorry.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Also check out www.stopdeepseaoil.org.nz
Posted 1 year ago # -
Allowing big oil companies into this country will also have the effect of degrading/fracture our democracy. Big oil companies pay for front groups and climate skeptics to confuse the politics around climate changes and of Governments. Do we really want that kind of rot to set in here?
Posted 1 year ago #
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