Upcoming events

Early July
The release of the submission analysis and the Government's decision is expected.

Past events archive

Various national NGO conferences
In June and July, the national conferences of the Environmental Defence Society (Auckland), Federated Mountain Clubs (Auckland), Forest and Bird (Wellington) and ECO (Christchurch) will be discussing mining issues. For more information, contact the organisations directly.

Calling all people in the South - our precious places are not safe yet!

Dunedin, Southland, Queenstown, Wanaka, West Coast - join us, say NO to mining.

Where: Gather at the corner of Forth and Nith Streets (opposite Escape Glass).

When: Gather at 2pm on Saturday 26 June

What: March through the centre of town, finish at Wachner Place. No chanting required, your presence will say it all. Bring friends, posters and placards.

Who: March supported by Federated Mountain Clubs, Forest & Bird, Green Party, Invercargill Environment Centre, Labour Party, Transition Town Invercargill

From north to south, from Auckland to Nelson and now in Invercargill, ordinary New Zealanders are demanding for our high-value public conservation land to be fully protected from mining. Don't let Government's supposed 'backdown' fool you - the war is not won yet! Paparoa National Park, Stewart Island/Rakiura, the Takitimu Mountains and the Longwoods are just some of our precious places in the South still under threat! They are OURS-NOT MINES!

Spread the word! Facebook event. Download a Poster to promote the event: PDF A4.

Contact: Dave Kennedy Phone 03 214 5388 Cell 0272586686

Wednesday 26 May - Submission period closes
Ensure your submission, and those of your friends, are in by 5pm on 26 May. If posting by mail, you need to post earlier to ensure it arrives in time.

Wednesday 19 May - Professor Gundars Rudzitis at Victoria University of Wellington
Who: Gundars Rudzitis, Professor of Geography, Environmental Science, and American Studies, Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Department of Geography, University of Idaho who has a PhD from Chicago.
What: "Mineral Resource Development and conservation areas: economic and policy issues." Prof Gundas's opinion piece in the Dominion Post is here.
Where: Victoria University Kelburn Campus, Cotton 304 (3rd Floor of the Cotton block, east side of the building)  All welcome including the public. 
When: Wednesday  19 May. Noon-12.55pm
Contact: ecooffice@inspire.net.nz for more details.
Hosted by: VUW School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences & ECO

Wednesday 19 May - Mining film and Schedule 4 slideshow in Wellington
Catherine Delahunty MP is hosting a series of short films and slides highlighting the threats to our most precious conservation lands from mining. There will be a screening of Prospects (25min) by Alistair Barry about the 1980s Coromandel mining campaign, and film and photos from Paparoa National Park. 6:30pm at St John's Hall, corner of Willis and Dixon Streets, Wellington. Contact Malcolm Larking for more information ph. 381 4640 or email greenmps.wellington@parliament.govt.nz

Thursday 13 May - NZ's Carbon Future: The burning question?
Invitation to a Public Meeting on the issues and consequences of proposed coal development in Eastern Southland with Guest Speaker Joe Nowak. Thursday 13th of May, 8pm. Clubs and Societies Building, Albany St, (across from University Library), Dunedin.

Saturday 1 May - Auckland march
"THEY SAY MINE, WE SAY OURS"
11am to 5pm. Assemble lower Queen Street.
Greenpeace, along with a bunch of other organisations, has announced an anti-mining march for May 1st in Auckland. See www.dontunderminenz.org for more information.

Thursday 29 April - Wellington public mining debate "Schedule 4: To Mine or Not to Mine?"
6 for 6.30pm, Thursday 29 April; St John's in the City Hall, cnr Willis & Dixon Sts, Welllington
Opposing the proposal to mine in Schedule 4 lands will be Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei, Forest & Bird Conservation Advocate Quentin Duthie and conservationist Rachel Anderson-Smith. For the affirmative, we will hear from Straterra Spokesperson Chris Baker, Export NZ Executive Director Catherine Beard and Young National Nick Cross. Wallace Chapman from TVNZ's Back Benches programme will adjudicate. At the end of the evening, it will be up to the audience to decide on who they feel has made the stronger case, and make their views known through the submission process. This promises to be an informative and entertaining debate. We hope you can join us! Here's Geoff Keey's reflection on the debate.

Sunday 25 - Monday 26 April Metiria Turei to tour proposed mines in Coromandel
Green Co-leader Metiria Turei and Catherine Delahunty MP will visit several of the proposed mine sites in the Coromandel area. The public is invited to attend the following public gatherings:

• Sunday 25 April: 2:00pm, Waiotahi Valley mine site, Thames; 3:30pm, Waiomu mine site, Waiomu.
• Monday 26 April: 10:00am, Umu café, 22 Wharf Rd, Coromandel; 11:00am, Hauraki Hill, Coromandel Township; 3:00 pm, Parakiwai Reserve carpark, Parakiwai Quarry Road, Whangamata.
• Monday 26 April: Public meeting at 7pm at the Baptist Church Hall in Whangamata, featuring mining films and public discussion.

Saturday 24 April - Nelson 2precious2mine rally
Leaving at Millers Acre Centre at 11am and heading to Trafalgar Steps. Contact Forest & Bird Field Officer Debs Martin or see the Facebook event page for more detail.

A reflection: "Saturday's rally in Nelson (April 24th) was a huge success!  People from Nelson and beyond turned out to express their outrage at the John Key Government's reckless and irresponsible proposal to expose some of New Zealand's most precious areas to mining.

It was awe-inspiring to see so many people, from all walks of life, combining their voices in a show of feeling the likes of which have not been seen in Nelson for many years.  It proves that each of us can truly make a difference if we stand up for what we believe in.

We look forward to seeing a HUGE turnout next Saturday (May 1st) in Auckland! Ben Nakagawa of Nelson took some fabulous photos of the Nelson rally, and has put together this composite image which he has offered for use on the 2precious2mine site.  Thank you, Ben."

Saturday 24 April - EARTH DAY 'Love it, Don't Mine it' events
Earth Day 2010 - which celebrates 40 years this year - will have the theme of 2precious2mine in Aotearoa New Zealand. Various events are being coordinated by the Greens:

• Christchurch: Various locations with Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. 10:00am - 1:30pm
• Thames: MP Sandra Goudie's Office, with Catherine Delahunty MP. 9:30am - 11:00am
• Nelson: March for our Parks!, with Kevin Hague MP (see above)
• Auckland: Auckland Town Hall, Queen St, with David Clendon MP. 12:00pm - 1:30pm
• Wellington: Manners Mall, Central Wellington, with Dr Russel Norman and Gareth Hughes. 12:00pm - 2:00pm
• Dunedin: Dunedin Farmer's Market. 8:00am - 12:00pm

Friday 23 April - Debate at Auckland University quad
Speakers include Labour MP Jacinda Ardern. 1pm. Contact Lucia McClean on (09) 309 0789.

Thursday 22 April - Whanganui soapbox on mining
10am-2pm. Contact Sue Watson.

7:30pm, Tuesday 20 April - Dunedin forum to protest anti-conservation plans
University of Otago's zoology building
Hosted by Forest and Bird's Dunedin branch tomorrow. Branch spokesman Emeritus Prof Sir Alan Mark said the organisation was shocked by the Government's determination to overturn longstanding protection for New Zealand's treasured places.

5:30-7pm, Tues 20 April - Hamilton public debate: “Mining New Zealand Heritage Areas - Should Our Generation Allow It?”
Room MSB 101, Waikato University Management School, Gate 7, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton
Speakers include Earth Sciences geologist Dr Roger Briggs; Law Professor Al Gillespie; and reps from the Labour, Green and National Parties. Chaired by Prof. Frank Scrimgeour, ESR Branch Chairman. Contact: Engineers for Social Responsibility Waikato BOP Branch Norm Stannard 07-8556579.

7pm, Thurs 15 April - Auckland public meeting: Say "NO" to mining in our precious places
Owen Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Rd. Speakers include: Mark Bellingham (Forest & Bird), Moira Coatsworth (Coromandel Watchdog), David Parker/Jacinda Ardern (Labour MPs).

Sunday 11 April, 11am - Mining debate on National Radio's Sunday Programme
Environmental Defence Society's Gary Taylor and Straterra spokesperson Chris Baker debate the Government's proposals to expand mining operations on public conservation land. A one hour debate on Radio New Zealand National. Podcast is available here.

Easter - Coromandel action this Easter
Join Coromandel Watchdog and others as we get the message out to locals and visitors to the Coromandel over the Easter holiday weekend.

Tuesday 30 March, 12:30-1:30pm at Parliament
Public demonstration of support for our conservation lands. Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Download poster to print and put up (PDF 150kb) or the image to the right to email to your friends. Join us!

Saturday 20 March, from 5pm
The Fool’s Paradise Party at The Maya Bar, 20 Blair St, Wellington. All night from 5pm Saturday 20 March.
Share a toast to the illusion of ‘Clean Green New Zealand’, and in doing so, help fundraise for Coromandel Watchdog and Surfbreak Protection Society, and those organisations' efforts in saving our mountains and beaches. The Maya Bar will be donating half of Saturday night’s net profit. Prizes for the best rose-tinted glasses!