26 November 2013
Locals protest mineral prospecting in Schedule 4 protected area McGregor Bay
The Green Party is calling on the Government to send a clear message to Sea Group Holdings Limited that it will not be
allowed to carry out its plans to dredge mine tailings in in the Schedule 4 protected area of McGregor Bay.
Coromandel residents and their supporters are today trying to stop Sea Group Holdings Limited from carrying out mineral
prospecting activities in McGregor Bay.
“Sea Group Holdings Limited has made it clear that it intends, after prospecting, to dredge the inner waters of the
Coromandel currently protected under Schedule 4, and the Government needs to tell them it will not be allowed,” said
Green Party mining spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.
“Energy Minister Simon Bridges has made it clear that Sea Group Holdings would be required to obtain a mineral mining
permit in order to dredge mining tailings in the sediment of McGregor Bay, and now the Minister must assure New
Zealanders that he won’t ever grant such a permit.
“This company clearly thinks this Government will allow them to dredge for minerals in Schedule 4, which is off limits
to mining, but the Government could save concerned locals and environmentalists a lot of heartache by categorically out
the granting of a mineral mining permit in McGregor Bay.
“We are worried because the National Government appears to be prepared to re-write history and break their promises
about protected land and mining. Why else would they let companies prospect for minerals on land off-limits to mining?
“This peaceful action today is to highlight to the National Government and Sea Group Holdings Limited that New
Zealanders love and want to protect our national parks and wild places; we don’t want to see them dug up,” said Ms
Delahunty.
Reference:
• Question: Catherine Delahunty to the Minister of Energy and Resources (31 Oct 2013): Does dredging mine tailings from
sediment require a Crown Minerals Act permit as well as a RMA consent?
Hon Simon Bridges (Minister of Energy and Resources ) replied: A permit under the Crown Minerals Act, as well as a RMA
consent, would be required to dredge mine tailings from sediment if the tailings are to be dredged for the purpose of
mining as defined in the Crown Minerals Act 1991,
http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qwa/QWA_14255_2013/14255-2013-catherine-delahunty-to-the-minister-of-energy
• Question: Catherine Delahunty to the Minister of Energy and Resources (15 Nov 2013): Are minerals in a sediment from
mine tailing considered to be a mineral existing in its natural state in land as defined in the Crown Minerals Act 1991?
Hon Simon Bridges (Minister of Energy and Resources) replied: Yes (answer not published yet)
• Sea Group Holdings Limited’s company director’s stated intention to mine in the inner waters of the Coromandel, part
of Schedule 4: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3=10855438
• Inner waters of the Coromandel are in Schedule 4: see clause 12 here,
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1991/0070/latest/DLM247378.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_Crown+Minerals+Act_resel_25_a=1
ends