The Government proposals

• The Government's press release and attachments (22 March 2010)
• The consultation documents: Ministry of Economic Development (and Department of Conservation). The documents include 3 large PDFs, many maps, a submission template (online and printable), and background reports.
• Submissions closed on 26 May. 2precious2mine groups submissions can be read here
• To read and watch video of Parliamentary exchanges on the mining issue, visit the Parliament website, search "mining", and select the question of interest. Both the Greens and Labour have information on their websites.
• Take action now!

Targets for mining

• Coromandel Peninsula: Onemana and Opoutere; Thames; (and here); Otahu and Parakawai
• Great Barrier Island: Te Ahumata (White Cliffs)
• Paparoa National Park (pictured): Eastern Paparoa National Park
• Further investigation for future mining will include a wide area from Northland to Southland, Coromandel to Stewart Island, central North Island to Central Otago, and include National Parks, World Heritage Areas, and areas close to Nelson and Kaikoura. See Chapter 5.1 of the consultation document.

Speeches and events

• The speech by the Minister of Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee, that started this sorry saga. Beehive site, 26-08-2009.
• Minister for the Environment and former Minister of Conservation Nick Smith's speeches on protected areas and Schedule 4. "Kiwis have a unique birthright to enjoy and access our special places" (Sept 2008) and "[Schedule 4] at long last puts some pegs in the sand in some very significant areas of New Zealand and says to the mining industries of New Zealand: These are no-go areas." (Nov 1997).

Reports and documents

• The oft-quoted $140 billion of accessible minerals in New Zealand comes from "The Natural Resource Potential of New Zealand" [PDF] by Richard Barker: "The metallic mineral potential of New Zealand has a gross in-situ value of more than $140 billion with lignite alone at least an additional $100 billion. In addition, New Zealand has good potential for the discovery of new oil and gas resources." However, this 'back-of-the-envelope' evaluation is optimistic and by an industry insider with a vested interest. It has been challenged by journalist Gordon Campbell, blogger Idiot/Savant ($6.5bn?), and Green Co-leader Metiria Turei who quoted two other estimates ($85bn and $14bn). The Prime Minister admitted: "There is clearly a range of estimates about what that wealth should be." $140bn is obviously not the "independent" robust estimate the Government and mining industry have been leading the public and media to believe. Gordon Campbell comments further after the March 22 announcement.
• The World Bank reports (1996 and 2006 [PDFs]) that the Minister used to trumpted NZ's mineral wealth. He noted that the reports "ranked New Zealand second in the world in terms of natural wealth per capita...behind only Saudi Arabia, but well ahead of Australia." However, a closer look at both reports shows that NZ's natural capital from minerals (sub-soil assets) is fractional, and dwarfed by its natural wealth in forests and protected areas. Green Co-leader Metiria Turei challenged Minister Brownlee in Parliament twice on these reports, reducing him to silence.
• The Advice Paper from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Department of COnservation to Ministers Brownlee and Groser dated 29 July 2009 that recommended a review [PDF] of Schedule 4. And its Appendix B, which lists places DoC recommended adding to Schedule 4 at the time. The Advice Paper suggested that parts of the Coromandel, and Kahurangi, Paparoa and Fiordland National Parks could be removed from Schedule 4. Later, documents showed an interest in Mt Aspiring and Rakiura (Stewart Island) National Parks too.
• A list of prospecting permits on Schedule 4 land and waters (Oct 2009) and the list of Conservation Unit in Schedule 4. And a list of the 82 current mines on conservation land (a more detailed list here), the vast majority of which are on the West Coast, and include gravel extraction and fossicking.

Campaign information published elsewhere

• Articles on mining and Schedule 4 in the FMC Bulletin Nov 2009 [4Mb PDF]: Editorial, Don't Mine Our Place, What is Schedule 4?.
• Forest and Bird magazine (Feb 2010 [not online]).
• Mining information is available on these campaign groups' websites:

Labour PartySave Happy Valley

The history of mining in New Zealand

• Some history of conservation campaigns to protect land and waters from mining: Coromandel Watchdog, Te Ara encyclopedia, Save Happy Valley.

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