All Black star labels west coast seabed mining a “blindside hit”

After attending a widely covered public meeting at Muriwai last week, horrified Piha residents have invited Kiwis Against Seabed Mining to give a similar presentation to anxious locals of the iconic Auckland beach.

KASM president Phil McCabe says, “As you read this, internationally owned companies are preparing to extract mind-bogglingly large volumes of iron sand from the Taranaki sea floor, with potentially catastrophic impacts on the Tasman ecosystem, of which the Auckland west coast is a part,” he says.

“Aucklanders may think a mining proposal so far away won’t affect them, but that’s not the case. The entire west coast from Whanganui to Cape Reinga is covered by prospecting or exploration licenses, and the Continental Shelf and EEZ effects bill, which was passed in recent weeks, is designed specifically to enable this kind of operation,” he says.

This meeting is the second in a series of events that the group, who are based in Raglan and are strenuously opposed to the proposals, will be holding over the next few months.

Auckland resident and KASM ambassador Josh Kronfeld says, “This is the worst kind of business proposition the country could ever consider, with extensive environmental damage guaranteed, few jobs on offer, and very little income for the country. Sure we invest nothing in it, but it would still be a dumb use of our natural capital.”

“Many West Auckland and Piha residents don’t know what’s currently happening behind the scenes on this issue. It’s a bit of a blindside hit.” says Kronfield.

This meeting is an opportunity for Auckland residents to be informed and have their questions answered. Kronfeld and ex Waitakare Mayor Bob Harvey, plus representatives of the Waitakare Ranges Protection Society, and local surf clubs are among a wide list of notable guests attending the meeting.

The implications of mining the west coast seabed: Public meeting
Piha Bowling Club, Piha, Wednesday 26th September at 7.30 pm.
Film, presentation, discussion, refreshments. All welcome.

Website: www.blacksands.org.nz
Facebook: Kiwis Against Seabed Mining

ENDS

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