Press Release Sunday 18 September 2016

6000-signature seabed mining moratorium petition to be handed to Parliament

More than 6000 people have called for the Government to place a moratorium on seabed mining, in a petition to be handed to MP’s on the steps of Parliament at 1pm tomorrow by Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM).

The Environmental Protection Authority on Saturday notified the public of a second application by Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight – every year for 20 years, to get the iron ore to sell to Asia.

The public has 20 working days – until 14th October, to make submissions. The EPA turned down the first application in 2014.

“You can’t get away from the fact that seabed mining is, environmentally, a highly destructive activity,” said Phil McCabe, KASM chairperson.

“Moratoria have been placed on this practice in Australia’s Northern Territory, and off the coast of Namibia, because those Governments are saying there’s not enough information on just how damaging it is,” he said.

“In New Zealand, the EPA has already refused two applications to mine the seabed, yet the Government seems determined to let companies keep on applying and dragging concerned citizens through arduous hearing processes.”

The Iwi closest to the mining site, Ngati Ruanui, from Patea, are sending three busloads of people to join KASM on the steps of Parliament tomorrow, because of their deep concern about the proposed mining.

The South Taranaki Bight is in the lower range of the endangered Maui dolphin, and recent research has indicated that the Bight could be one of only four foraging grounds for the giant blue whale in the southern hemisphere outside of Antarctica.

In February, researchers released the first-ever drone footage of a Pygmy Blue Whale nursing her calf in the Bight.

Event:
Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) and Ngati Ruanui, hand over 6000-signature petition calling for a moratorium on seabed mining

1pm, Parliament Steps, Monday 19 September 2016

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