Mining the Conservation Estate

The government has released plans to remove 7000 hectares from our national parks in order to mine for minerals. What are some of the details of the scheme?

• Amendment to Crown Minerals Act prohibits Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee from yelling ‘I’d like to open up her schedule four’ whenever an attractive aide enters the Cabinet room.

• Streamlined process for mining consents to make it easier for everyday New Zealanders to operate their own open pit cast mines or surgically excavate their back yards.

• State Services Commission enquiry to find out who keeps adding ‘unobtanium’ to the list of rare minerals detected in Mt Aspiring.

• Cabinet to investigate curious strength of public support for disused DOC parks, when it’s obvious that most New Zealander’s spend their vacations on private islands or golfing resorts.

• $4 million dollars for extensive exploration of Coromandal focusing on area where Gerry Brownlee lost his beloved teddy-bear ‘Mister Wookie’ while on a day walk as a child.

• The public can submit consultation documents responding to the proposal which will then be used to fill pits post exploration.

• Highly accurate, scientifically modeled estimates of mineral value predict mining could add $185 billion to New Zealand economy. This $20 billion could increase as more minerals are discovered and could go as high as $3 billion in future decades.

• There is resistance to the scheme from inside the National Party, including Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye who is opposed to mining on Great Barrier Island, and Prime Minister John Key who initially thought that they were promoting miming in National Parks.