Greenpeace Aotearoa says the Government’s decision to call a select committee inquiry into seabed mining rather than support a member’s bill banning the practice is a missed opportunity to protect the ocean.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer’s bill comes up in Parliament today.
Seabed mining campaigner James Hita says Labour is playing politics with protection of the environment.
“We’re saying we are in a biodiversity and climate crisis which we’re seeing in Tamaki Makaurau now and we need action, but this is just a delay from Labour,” he says.
Mr Hita says the only people celebrating Labour’s move are the mining companies.
