Press Release 1 August 2018

Another seabed mining permit lapses: industry future is in question

The news that seabed mining company Trans Tasman Resources Ltd (TTR) has let yet another New Zealand mining permit lapse was heralded today by Kiwis Against Seabed Mining.

On Thursday last week, the TTR prospecting permit for a 4435 square kilometre section of the seabed off the West Coast quietly lapsed, and is not being renewed. This is the second such permit the company has allowed to lapse in the last six months, the first being near Kawhia off the North Island’s West Coast just south of Raglan (1) - see note below for maps.

The company has confirmed that it has let the permit lapse as it waits for the result of a High Court appeal (heard in April) brought by KASM and a number of other interests against the EPA’s consent for mining a 66sqkm area of the South Taranaki Bight seabed. Whatever the outcome of the appeal, there will be a long process before it’s resolved, with the possibility of more court action, or another EPA hearing.

"This gives the Government an opportunity to re-think the logic of these seabed mining bids off our coastlines, not least because of the threat to endangered species like Māui and Hector's dolphins, fisheries, seabirds and our surf breaks,” said KASM chairperson, Cindy Baxter.

"After years of effort, where are we? Two seabed mining applications have been refused, a third is under appeal, permits are dropping like flies, the companies are struggling financially, there are still huge concerns around the environmental impact, and opposition is growing stronger by the day. It's time for the government to put a stop to this madness."

1. For a visual reminder on how many seabed mining permits have been dropped since 2012, see the KASM website permit page, showing the permits in 2012 versus the current seabed mining permits (data is updated live from the NZPAM website). The recently-lapsed permit is a prospecting permit #60021 for a 4435sqkm area off the West Coast.
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