Pureora Forest Park should never be mined

The Green Party is calling on Simon Bridges to leave Pureora Forest Park out of any mineral exploration permits he grants to mining companies tomorrow.

When logging was taking place in the Pureora Forest in the 1970s, concerned New Zealanders sat for days on platforms high up in the ancient totara trees to prevent them from being cut down. New Zealanders won’t sit by and allow mining in Pureora, so there is no reason for the Minister to grant exploration permits there.

“Public backlash is growing towards the National Government’s proposals to open up more conservation land for mineral exploration,” said Green Party mining spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

“Over 10,000 New Zealanders have sent emails to Energy Minister Simon Bridges telling him not to open up Pureora Forest Park to gold mining companies.

“Pureora, home to ancient giant totara and endangered kokako, is too precious to mine, so the Government shouldn’t be allowing companies to explore for gold there.

“Exploration permits allow drilling rigs and sediment ponds to be created, and these have no place in the old growth forests of Pureora.

“New Zealanders don’t want mining on our precious conservation land. Why allow destructive exploration if we are never going to allow mining,” said Ms Delahunty.

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