19 December 2012

Media Statement

Recovery package for Samoa and Fiji

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced provision of a further $2 million each for Samoa and Fiji to assist the next stage of recovery from Cyclone Evan.

The government has already provided $600,000 to Samoa and $400,000 to Fiji.

Mr McCully also announced that the P3 Orion that assisted Samoa with aerial assessment work in the early part of the week was moved to Fiji late yesterday to undertake similar work.

"While both countries continue to take stock of the cyclone damage it is clear that the cost is going to be substantial,” Mr McCully says.

“For this reason we have allocated a further $2m to each country to ensure there are no resource constraints over the coming days. In each case the funding will be administered by the Ministry in consultation with relevant agencies.”

ends

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>