Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Kaiarataki of Ngati Ruanui on Te Wahanga Parakuihi with Dale Husband

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Kaiarataki of Ngati Ruanui on Te Wahanga Parakuihi with Dale Husband

Iwi Welcomes Time Extension for Iron Sand Mining Application

Ngati Ruanui is welcoming the decision of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to extend

the time frame for submissions on mining for iron sands, an application lodged by Trans-Tasman

Resources Limited, off the coast of Patea.

In a decision released by the EPA the period for making submission has been extended by 20

working days until the 14th of November 2016.

Ngati Ruanui filed an application with the EPA in early October to extend the time period.

According to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Kaiarataki of Ngati Ruanui, the original 20 days was just too

short for submitters to read thousands of pages and make meaningful submissions. “Everyone we

were talking to were struggling to meet the deadline”, said Debbie.

“The Exclusive Economic Zone Act requires the EPA to ensure it has the best possible information

available to enable good decision-making. So ensuring everyone who wants to make a submission

has enough time to understand, read and write their submission is a fundamental right and principle

we need to maintain and fight for.

I am so pleased our communities have a better opportunity to voice their opinion on this significant

application to mine for iron sand,” said Debbie.

Anyone who has made a submission can now make further additions to their submission if they wish

and those who thought they have missed the deadline have another extra 20 days

Ngati Ruanui has spent many hours working through the application and there is a lot to consider,

especially relating to sediment plumes released in to the ocean and the impact this will have on our

reefs and fish life. Ngati Ruanui will continue to questions and raise concerns especially where our

precious environment is at risk.

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