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A south Taranaki tribal representative says the way an Australian mining company has engaged with iwi in the region has been arrogant and disrespectful.
Ngati Ruanui, Nga Rauru, Ngaruahine and Whanganui made submissions yesterday to an Environmental Protection Agency hearing in New Plymouth on Trans Tasman Resources application to mine iron sands off the coast of Patea.
Debbie Ngarewa Packer from Ngati Ruanui says the iwi now have extensive experience working with oil and gas companies and other resource users, and Trans Tasman is the worst they have dealt with.
She says the reality is different than what the company painted at the earlier Wellington hearing.
"The relationships manager had let it be known we were difficult to engage, that we were on our own campaign of hating and wrecking. Throughout this whole engagement it's been so archaic, it's been so seventies, eighties mentality, so out of touch with how we as indigenous people engage now, how we think," Ms Ngarewa Packer says.
The iwi reject the company's contention there will be little or no environmental damage from its plans to process 55 million tonnes of iron sands a year for up to 35 years.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH DEBBIE NGAREWA PACKER
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