Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) and Greenpeace today welcomed the invitation from the Fast-Track expert panel considering the seabed mining application to make a submission on the project. 

KASM comment 
“We will bring critical evidence to the process that nobody else can, such as our expert on the pygmy blue whale population residing in the South Taranaki Bight, so it makes sense for the panel to invite us to take part. It’s good to see the panel recognise the value and legitimacy of our contribution which draws on over a decade of involvement on this issue,” said KASM Chairperson Cindy Baxter.

“It’s critical that this panel has all the relevant evidence before it to make this decision - we all need to do our collective best within an awful process that shouldn’t be happening in the first place. Trans Tasman Resources has already had this bid to destroy our moana rejected by the highest court in the land, but ducked out of the process, clearly thinking the Fast-Track would be an easier bar to clear.”

Greenpeace comment
“This would be a brand new destructive activity and this project would be the first in the world of its kind. Given Trans Tasman Resources’ parent company has been promoting a much bigger site of 877 square kilometres to its shareholders, it’s clear this first application sets a critical precedent,” says Greenpeace seabed mining campaigner Juressa Lee.

“We’ve been involved in this process for the past 12 years, and we represent literally tens of thousands of people who’ve signed our various petitions calling for a ban on seabed mining. “

The two organisations welcomed the panel’s extensive list of interested parties: it has called on a wide range of voices to make submissions on the application. They have 20 days to make their submission.

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