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Hauraki iwi face a fight over a plan to mine the seabed.
Pacific Offshore Mining has applied for a five year permit to explore a 12,000 hectare patch about 2 kilometres offshore from Waihi Beach to Bowentown.
It’s looking for ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide, and the permit would also allow it to look for iron sands, gold and silver.
The permit would allow for bulk sampling, drilling and mine feasibility studies.
Green MP Catherine Delahunty says the company is in for a major fight.
Even if it gets an exploration permit, it will need a resource consent from Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Pacific Offshore is a subsidiary of Cass Offshore Minerals, which is owned by chief executive Neil Loftus (72.8 percent) and a mix of New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Australian investors.
Another Cass subsidiary, Ironsands Offshore Mining has active permits in the Taranaki Basin.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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