16 November 2005

Mining protest has backing from Greens

A protest against seabed mining held today at Aotea Square in Auckland has the full support of the Green Party, Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.

"Clearly the issue of seabed mining in significant habitats is a national issue, as today's protest at the Crown Minerals conference shows. This protest follows on from the foolish decision of the West Coast Regional Council yesterday to allow a resource consent for Seafield Resources Ltd to prospect for gold in the habitat of the endangered Hector's Dolphins.

"Seabed mining in the habitat of the critically endangered Maui Dolphins along the west coast of the North Island remains a serious threat to the remaining 100 or so Maui dolphins. Iron Ore Ltd have a prospecting license that overlaps the Maui dolphins' habitat directly. It should not be allowed to happen," Mrs Turei says.

Crown Minerals cannot simply wash their hands of the environmental impacts of seabed mining on significant habitats. And those impacts must be made part of the consideration, she says.

ENDS

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