Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki will protest any changes to the hobby mine in Coromandel Forest Park now that New
Talisman mining has bought this operation in Schedule 4 public conservation (DOC) land.
" Schedule 4 is a no mining zone. The Puketui Mine in the DOC forest has only been allowed to exist with a Specia
lPermit as a tiny hobby mine and tourist operation. New Talisman is a commercial company who are buying this hobby mine
as a Trojan horse for mining Schedule 4," says Catherine Delahunty, Chair of the Watchdog group.
" New Talisman has stated clearly this week that they are buying the mine as a " significant exploration opportunity" -
that’s not a hobby.
"In 2010 more than 30,000 people marched against proposed mining in Schedule 4 in including Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern. Mining is a banned activity because of the significant values of the land. The Puketui is a beautiful forest and
river near Tairua which is very popular for walking, swimming and camping. It's a forest which has already supposedly
been given the highest level protection by DOC (Schedule 4). It can not legally be explored or mined as a commercial
activity . New Talisman are hoping to use it to find more gold and, we assume, develop underground mining. That is
clearly not a hobby.”
" They are also relying on the idea that underground mining is somehow not really mining Schedule 4 despite the roading,
trucking of ore and toxic waste, the blasting and vibration which are unacceptable impacts in any forests let alone
Schedule 4 land set aside for its high conservation and ecological values.
We will be alerting the Minister of Conservation that a commercial mining company is making this move into Schedule 4
and we will protest any developments or rule changes they propose. Oceana Gold already have an exploration licence over
the surrounding area which is also a contradiction of the purpose of the Schedule 4 rules and we intend to ensure that
neither company will ever mine this place.
New Talisman mainly mines the share market; their other mining project at Karangahake Gorge (outside Schedule. 4 but on
public conservation (DOC) land) has stalled and the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has filed high court proceedings
against their Chief Executive for (alleged) market manipulation.
" These people are not hobby miners. DOC may not be able to refuse the purchase of this operation but we will be
expecting them to prevent any activities beyond hobby mining, and to refuse any variation to the access agreement that
the former owner/operator had with them, otherwise what is the point of Schedule 4?” Ms Delahunty says