MineWatch Northland

Media Release 14 June 2013

New tenders hardly a success for Government, but still worth challenging

“The new exploratory mining permits in Northland are not what the Government had hoped for, in their plan to use mining as their economic ‘silver bullet’ for the country,” said MineWatch Northland spokesperson Tim Howard. “But even this initial step is worth the communities of the North questioning.”

MineWatch Northland was established early in 2012. It is a coalition of a range of community groups and individuals who are opposed specifically to toxic mining – the mining into rockbound minerals like gold, silver and copper – because of its detrimental effects on the waterways, the environment and the wellbeing of people in this region. MineWatch Northland was established in response to mining exploration at Puhipuhi; the announced results of the aeromagnetic survey of Northland, part funded by some local councils; and Government opening the region to mining companies, to the applause of cheerleaders like Far North Mayor Wayne Brown.

On one hand, MineWatch Northland sees this announcement of three small companies being granted conditional tenders as hardly the big news that John Key’s Government was anticipating.

“No wonder the Government kept on pushing back the dates for this announcement. They appear embarrassed about releasing the paltry results of their big drive for international tenders. Only tenders from three minor companies have been accepted – not the big international investors hoped for.

“De Grey’s have admitted they are struggling to fund their Northland activities; and once again have had to postpone their exploratory drilling plan at Puhipuhi. Wayne Brown’s company Tai Tokerau Minerals Ltd have not yet secured the funds for their two new exploration permits. The huge launch of Northland into mining has been a bit of a damp squib,” said Tim Howard.

That said, MineWatch Northland sees these new permits will bring out more local opposition to toxic mining. Many people throughout the north have been raising questions about the effects of sort of toxic mining that these proposals represent. There is a real risk to water quality on the coastal side of de Grey’s new permits in DoC’s Russell Forest. This kauri forest is one of the areas the former mining Minister Gerry Brownlee promised would not be subject to mining. Issues like this have been surfacing for a while.

“With drilling rigs potentially around the corner, we may well see that now is the time for concerted community action. There is a history of resistance to mining in the area where Mayor Brown’s company has been awarded permits, near Kaeo. Back in the mid 2000s, the mining company Aurora Minerals Ltd pulled back from mining activities there because of strong local opposition at the time. This could well happen again.

“MineWatch Northland is keen on economic development in Northland – this region needs it. But jobs at any cost? No way! Local communities will gain little from gold mining, but the toxic effects will stay with us for many generations to come," says MineWatch Northland member Tim Howard.

ENDS

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