October 06, 2015
Hapu warned of miner’s charm campaign
Tangata whenua are being warned against engaging with the company seeking to mine at Puhipuhi north of Whangarei.
Evolution Mining, Australia’s second largest listed goldminer, has been reaching out to hapu since June when it took over the exploration licenses from De Grey Mining.
MineWatch Northland spokesperson Tim Howard says if tangata whenua and communities engage with Evolution, the company will claim community credibility and tangata whenua support.
He says exploratory drilling and actual mining at Puhipuhi will cause leaching of mercury and other toxic metals into the aquifers under Puhipuhi and into the waterways leading to the Kaipara and Helena Bay.
"You’ve got water being drawn off in arge amounts in order to carry out the process and you've got large amounts of toxic waste that will likely be in tailings dams that are often unstable and they themselves will affect surface water." Mr Howard says.
MineWatch Northland is working closely with Ngati Hau to oppose the miners.
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