Government Approves Companies to Target DOC and Private Land for Toxic Mining Interests

Waitangi, Friday 14 July: Yesterday’s Government announcement of mineral exploration permits across Northland (1) betrays public trust, exposes vested interests and has wasted public money, says Te Wakameninga o ngā hapū Ngāpuhi and Far North’s Forest and Bird.

The new Government exploration permit areas issued include:

* Whakarara, a mountain that drains into famous Matauri Bay and Whangaroa Harbour near the flood-prone town of Kaeo

* A new permit area that covers the heart of Russell State Forest, including some of the world’s last 1% of kauri forest, which Gerry Brownlee promised would not be included in future mining when he was Minister of Energy and Resources (2), (3). This new extension is to the north and east of De Grey Mining’s controversial exploration permit at Puhipuhi. The new permit covers catchments that flow into the stunning Bay of Islands and Whangaruru Harbour

* The Government map appears to include the Manginangina Scenic Reserve and an eastern extremity of the Puketi kauri forest

* The permit given to Waimatenui Exploration Ltd covers some of the DOC-managed Marlborough native forest and is in the catchment of the northern Kaipara Harbour

“Russell State Forest would qualify for Schedule 4 protection if the Government ever had the integrity to assess this native forest of giant kauri, northern rata and kiwi”, says Dean Baigent-Mercer, Chairperson of the Far North Branch of Forest and Bird. “The Government has betrayed their own word and the public’s trust by undermining their commitments to keep DOC land out of mining proposals.”

“This Government only sees native bush as rubbish”, says Bryce Smith of Te Wakameninga o ngā hapū Ngāpuhi. “Their suggestion that all Russell Forest is good for is a mine with a massive toxic waste dump is wrong. In Ngāpuhi’s Treaty settlement we’ll be opening the door to create a national park in the north which will work for public land, private landowners and land returned after Treaty settlement. This area of Russell Forest would qualify for national park status if that is what local people want. Good decisions inspire people, but mineral exploration that would lead to toxic mining has had huge opposition from the start. We have a vision for a future that is sustainable and positive for the next generation.”

Meanwhile, the new exploration company of Far North District Mayor Wayne Brown was awarded two mineral exploration permits.  Wayne Brown is a director of Tai Tokerau Ltd. He also has a five percent shareholding in the company which has been set up while Mr Brown has been the self-appointed cheerleader of exploration and toxic mining across Northland while being paid with public money. 

“I didn’t realise the Mayor was voted in to benefit his own business interests”, says Bryce Smith of Te Wakameninga o ngā hapū Ngāpuhi. “Whangaroa hapū and the community already sent a mining exploration company away eight years ago and we will do it again. Toxic mining, the poisoning of our harbour and waterways is totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate this threat.”

Two $2 million of public money was spent on the unconsented aerial mineral exploration of nearly all private, public and land under Treaty claims across Northland in 2011. It showed up little new information than what was already known and published in a Northland Regional Council report in 2007.

“Overall the Northland exploration permit offer has been a huge disaster for the Government and a waste of public money”, says Dean Baigent-Mercer Chairperson of the Far North Branch of Forest and Bird. “The aerial survey, fancy launch, glossy marketing, promotional junkets to mining trade fairs in Toronto and the Government delegations sent overseas to meet international mining interests face to face, has not been a success.  This is proven by the three tinpot inexperienced companies given exploration permits.”

Regardless, there is large scale opposition across Northland to toxic mining methods used to extract gold, silver and copper, says Mr Baigent-Mercer. Conservatively, 18 tonnes of toxic waste is produced for one gold ring. These need to be kept out of all waterways and the food chain forever in a region notorious for extreme flooding.

(1)    http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/pdf-library/minerals/competitive-tender/map-northland-bid-recommended.pdf
(2)    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3624801/Govt-rejects-more-mining-claim
(3)    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10660031

ENDS

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