September 13, 2016
Battle on against seabed ironsand mining
Iwi are seen as critical in stopping new efforts to strip mine New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone.
Kiwis Against Seabed Mining is starting a speaking tour of North Island west coast venues to raise awareness the second application by Australian company Trans Tasman Resources to extract ironsand from a 66 square kilometre area of the South Taranaki Bight between Patea and Hawera,
Spokesperson Phil McCabe says not only will taking out 50 thousand metric tonnes of sand a year leave a massive dead zone, but dumping 45 thousand tonnes back after it is processed will suppress marine life in a far greater area.
He says the only positive is when Trans Tasman put up a similar scheme two years ago, it was turned down by the Environment Coirt.
"Iwi stood up strong, coastal communities stood up strong, fishers, surfers, divers, all sorts of people stood up and spoke their piece for the protection of the ocean and it worked. We can do that again so long as people take action and we'll be right I reckon." Mr McCabe says.
Kiwis Against Seabed Mining will be at Piha Bowling Club tonight and Muriwai Surf Club tomorrow.
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