Over 11,000 people have signed petitions calling for local councils, MPs, and the Coalition Government to stop fast-tracking consents for marine sand mining in Northland.
The petitions have been live for 12 weeks, aiming to stop McCallum Bros Ltd’s proposed 35-year sand mining plan for Te Akau – Bream Bay, which is part of Schedule Two of the Fast Track Approvals Bill.
Te Parawhau hapū uri Mere Kepa says they have had discussions with Callum McCallum, the managing director of McCallum Bros Ltd, about the history of the area they have proposed to mine, which is owned by the hapū.
This is yet another instance of the government and private industry attempting to take from their whenua and takutai moana.
“Our understanding of the death of the marine life and which lives in the sea bed at Bream Bay is a daily worry to us. This is not new. This is not new,” says Kepa.
