November 27, 2013
More gold in water than gold
Northland iwi Ngati Hau and the Puhipuhi Mining Action Group have identified proposals for economic development they say could replace the need for mining.
The groups are fighting plans to mine in the area north of Whangarei because of the risk of disturbing the high levels of mercury in the area, which drains into the Kaipara Harbour.
Coordinator Jenny Kirk told the Northland Economic Advisory Group that a better alternative is to see the water as a valuable resource and clean up the waterways.
She says contamination and sedimentation is polluting the Kaipara and damaging the snapper fishery.
Ms Kirk recommended turning existing efforts to clean up the water into a long term plan that can produce opportunities in fisheries and tourism.
Local Maori are already transplanting elvers coming up from the Kaipara to cleaner water further north where they can grow to edible size eels.
Others have started riparian planting around the Kaipara Harbour and along rivers in the Puhipuhi catchment.
She says similar projects in other parts of the country have attracted government funding and would provide more local opportunities than gold mining could ever do.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd