Ministers urged to honour promise to protect Coromandel conservation land

On Sunday 1st July the Karangahake Gorge was lit up with songs, lanterns and a call to the new government to follow through on the promise to extend Schedule 4.

The event was the launch of an open letter asking the Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage, and the Minister of the Environment, David Parker, to follow through on the pre-election commitment made by both their parties to extend the Schedule 4 status to conservation land from Kopu Hikuai to Te Aroha.

The letter is co-authored by peninsula wide anti-mining group Coromandel Watchdog and local group Protect Karangahake. It urges the Ministers to act immediately as there is prospecting and exploration activity currently occurring within the area, including in the habitat of the world's most endangered amphibian the Archey's frog and areas of high recreational use.

The letter also states, “The Schedule 4 area established in the 1990s by the National Government has a southern boundary at the Kopu Hikuai highway for political rather than ecological reasons. The conservation lands from the Kopu Hikuai to Te Aroha are equally as important as the Schedule 4 areas on the northern Peninsula, and also deserve protection from the damaging effects of mining.”

Former Green MP and founding Watchdog member, Catherine Delahunty says she is one of many who have campaigned for decades on the extension of Schedule 4.

“The Hauraki/Coromandel is a wonderful, regenerating natural environment which should be protected from mining from Te Moehau to Te Aroha. Extending Schedule 4 to protect the southern conservation land is the essential next step.”

“Labour and the Greens have both recognised the need to extend this protection and we look forward to their leadership in protecting conservation land for future generations,” continued Delahunty.

Lantern and candle making, face painting, live music and a candlelit walk were some of the activities enjoyed at the launch on Sunday.

Event co-organiser Ruby Powell says the event was a powerful way to launch the open letter as it encapsulated the community-led spirit of the campaign.

“There was stunning creativity, immense passion and an outstanding sense of determination: conservation land here in the southern Coromandel is precious and we will do everything we can to protect it from further mining activity.”

To read the full text and sign the open letter go to: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/p/Sch4

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