22 May 2012

Corporate beneficiaries will gain from Mining Drive – not Northland communities

“Advocates of mining are taking a major step in Northland this week that many of the communities of Northland are deeply concerned about,” said Minewatch Northland spokesperson Tim Howard.

“Wednesday’s celebratory launch of the report into Northland’s mineral resources is for invite-only guests. This is not surprising,” said the Minewatch Northland spokesperson. “Northland’s communities are not going to be the beneficiaries of this drive. What we are seeing is public funding for corporate gain.

“Many people have serious concerns about the adverse effects on the North of this drive. It’s the big foreign-owned mining corporations who will be the major winners from this move – not the people of Northland.”

Minewatch Northland is a recently established coalition of a range of community groups and individuals who are opposed to toxic mining – the mining into rock-bound minerals like gold, silver and copper – because of its detrimental effects on the waterways, the environment and the wellbeing of people in this region.

The report’s proponents – Minister of Energy and Resources Phil Heatley, Far North Mayor Wayne Brown, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Explore Northland Minerals Group, the mining industry – are primarily focused on toxic minerals.

While Minewatch Northland acknowledges that there will be some value in the results of this report – information about soil and water, for example - they see the critical issue as toxic mining.

“Let’s be clear what the purpose of this launch is – to entice foreign corporations into taking the resources of Tangata Whenua and communities of the North, into bringing them here to seek gold and silver, and to take their profits offshore.”

Unlike the communities and Tangata Whenua, the mining corporations have likely already had access to this report – and are now ready to move on exploration permits.

“The assets sales of the Northern minerals are now open for any bidders,” said Tim Howard. “Gold and silver, and Northland, are up for sale!”

Minewatch Northland foresees skilled highly paid workers and mining corporations coming from afar to reap the benefits of this drive. Local communities will gain little, but the toxic effects will stay with them for many generations to come, after the corporations leave.

Minewatch Northland will be joining the community protest at Copthorne Hotel at Waitangi on Wednesday that begins prior to the report launch at noon.

ENDS

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