The government is proposing to allow mining to take place on conservation land - in parks, reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
It says it is time the mining industry was allowed to exploit some of the vast mineral wealth such as coal and gold lying beneath the ground in the conservation estate.
However, in almost the same breath, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee is trying to reassure the public by saying there are no plans for the wholesale opening of protected land.
The very suggestion of mining is horrifying conservationists.
It is untouched conservation estate that New Zealand stakes its international reputation on, but it is what is underneath it that the Energy Minister is interested in.
“The last government spent nine years explaining the gap between Australia and New Zealand as being because of their mineral wealth,” says Brownlee. “What New Zealanders need to know is this country is similarly endowed. If we make choices to ignore that, that’s fine.”
Brownlee says it is time the mining industry was allowed a closer look at parts of the conservation estate with high mineral wealth and low conservation values.
He says it is simply a stocktake and high value Department of Conservation land is not up for grabs.
“We certainly have no intention of digging up the conservation estate, as some would accuse us,” states Brownlee.
But critics say our national parks should be left just as they are.
“These generate huge amounts of income for New Zealand. Our biggest industry, tourism, is based on it and generated $21 billion a year and we need to keep those national parks,” explains Brownlee. “The core of our conservation needs to remain.”
“Like most people, I’m aghast,” says Labour Conservation Spokesman David Parker. “We were certainly not told this before the election that parts of the conservation estate – including national parks – would have big coal mines on them. How absurd!”
Brownlee cites the moving of the snails near the Stockton coalmine as an example of how the mining and conservation sectors can co-operate.
“I think there is a degree of panic about this that is actually rather surprising,” admits Brownlee.
The Prime Minister was also downplaying concerns.
“I think it’s one step at a time with this stuff and I think there potentially are opportunities,” says Key.
Brownlee has talked up the $2 billion mining sector's performance over recent years. As a result those in the industry are understandably elated.
“There’s huge potential for coal and gold on the coast, but with 87 percent of it locked up it’s very difficult to get at it,” says Alan Birchfield.
But hope it will not just be big foreign interests who benefit.
“It looks like they’re going to encourage overseas investors to come in,” says Birchfield. “But they should also encourage the local people who are here to utilise the minerals as well,”
It is estimated New Zealand has up to a $140 billion worth of mineral deposits.
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