November 22, 2023
Jones ready for mining-friendly regime
New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones says it’s time to take on the conservations groups blocking development and jobs in the regions.
Mr Jones is expected to be given an infrastructure or regional development portfolio once cabinet positions are agreed between the three coalition partners.
He says he’s alarmed at last week’s High Court challenge by an anti-mining group to Hauraki District Council’s grant of a non-notified lease that allows OceanaGold to put mining infrastructure on a paper road through Coromandel’s Wharekirauponga forest, which is home to the endangered Archey’s frog.
“Unless we use the natural resources of our country, unless we maintain investment in our natural resource sector we won’t get the rare earth minerals that are in New Zealand, we won’t keep the young people who are desperate to improve the quality of their life in New Zealand – they’ll go to Australia to dig up Kalgoorlie and that’s something grossly hypocritical about the green movement,” Mr Jones says.
He says Indonesian coal is imported to keep the lights on while massive reserves in the north Waikato are locked up, and aquaculture projects are stymied by unelected commissioners.