The date for sending in a submission on this issue has passed.
Introduction
New Zealand is blessed with magnificent landscapes, rich forests, and a unique biodiversity. We have a proud history of protecting these precious places and the species that rely on them for survival. Over many generations, New Zealanders have fought hard to protect our National Parks and other conservation areas.
And these efforts have paid off. It is these wild and natural places, protected from development, that underpin our valuable 'clean green' image and our tourism industry's '100 % Pure' brand. To put this at risk is folly in the extreme.
The Government has extended the deadline for making submissions on their plans to mine in Schedule 4 conservation lands. Submissions are now due on Wednesday 26 May.
View the discussion document on the Ministry of Economic Development website
Download this submission guide [PDF, 101KB]
In a hurry? Sign a pre-written submission here!
What is Schedule 4?
Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act is a list of our most precious and high value conservation lands. They are inaccessible for mining or exploration, and include our National Parks, wilderness areas, ecological areas and marine reserves. Mining is a permitted activity on other conservation lands, but Schedule 4 lands-just 13% of New Zealand's total land mass-represent the most significant conservation lands that deserve protection from mining and exploration.
Discussion document
The National Government has released its Schedule 4 stocktake discussion document, which proposes:
- The removal of 7000 ha of land from Schedule 4 so that mining can be considered on a 'case-by-case' basis
- Further taxpayer-funded geological investigations into large areas of schedule 4 lands including National Parks
- Changes to ministerial decision-making to facilitate easier minerals industry access to Crown land
- Long overdue additions to Schedule 4
- The establishment of a conservation fund paid for by mining royalties
The Green Party firmly believes that Schedule 4 lands are worth more to New Zealanders intact; providing recreation opportunities, tourism income, and ecosystem services; and we are opposed to any removals from Schedule 4 and any further investigations to assess their mineral potential.
How to make a submission
You can have your say on the Government's discussion document by sending in a submission.
Submissions can be as short or long as you like, but being clear and concise is most effective. If long, include a summary at the beginning, number the paragraphs, and attach any supporting evidence as appendices.
Your submission must be received by the Ministry of Economic Development by 5pm Wednesday 26 May.
Email or Online
The easiest way is to use our online submission form or use the MED's online submission form.
Alternatively, you may email your submission to schedule4 [at] med [dot] govt [dot] nz.
Please send a copy to mining [at] greens [dot] org [dot] nz so we can build your ideas into our campaign and keep you informed of developments.
Postal
Mail your submission to:
Schedule 4 Stocktake
Ministry of Economic Development
PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140
Please send a copy to mining [at] greens [dot] org [dot] nz so we can build your ideas into our campaign and keep you informed of developments.
Submission format
- Give your name, address, phone number and email address
- Give an indication of who you are (e.g. landowner, business owner, community group member, etc). If you represent a group, outline its purpose and how many members it has
- Outline your key concerns about the proposals clearly and concisely.
Key points we recommend you cover
For more information, go to www.greens.org.nz/mining. Remember to put them in your own words and use examples from your experience. If these areas are special to you and your family, say so.
Section 4: Areas proposed for removal from Schedule 4
It is proposed that 7000 ha be removed from Schedule 4 immediately, so that mining can be considered on a 'case-by-case' basis.
These areas deserve the protection of Schedule 4. They all have high conservation, tourism, recreational and cultural values, and these values outweigh their potential mineral values. Schedule 4 protection should be permanent and never removed.
Recommendation: Oppose all removals from Schedule 4
Section 7: Specific areas proposed for removal from Schedule 4
Te Ahumata Plateau on Great Barrier Island
- Great Barrier Island is a near-pristine gem, highly valued by the small community who live there, and by Aucklanders and tourists as a holiday and recreation retreat. Mining would do irreparable harm to the residents' quality of life, and the island's reputation & tourism industry.
- Recommendation: Oppose removal from Schedule 4
Sections of conservation land on the Coromandel peninsula
- The Coromandel is a diverse region with high conservation values, containing significant tracts of intact forest and threatened species. The Coromandel also has huge value as a wild and natural region close to major population centres, providing scenic and recreation opportunities. Conservation lands in the Coromandel deserve to stay in Schedule 4 to protect the ecological, tourism and recreational values of this unique peninsula.
- Recommendation: Oppose removal from Schedule 4
Otahu & Parakawai Ecological Areas in the Coromandel
- As above. These areas are home to North Island brown kiwi, long-tailed bats, Hochstetter's frogs, longfin eels and banded kokopu.
- Recommendation: Oppose removal from Schedule 4
The Inangahua sector of Paparoa National Park on the South Island's West Coast
- Paparoa National Park has outstanding ecological and landscape values. The Government has not ruled out open-cast mining in this area. Mining for coal is irresponsible as the climate change emissions will be significant.
- Recommendation: Oppose removal from Schedule 4
Section 5: Further investigation programme
$4 million is to be spent over the next 9 months on investigating the mineral potential of huge tracts of Schedule 4 land, including the remainder of Paparoa National Park & Rakiura National Park.
This tax-payer funded investigation amounts to a $4 million subsidy to the mining industry, as they are the beneficiaries of the information the Government seeks to uncover. This investigation can only lead to more proposals for mining on conservation land, including Schedule 4 areas. Conservation land is for protection, not exploitation.
Recommendation: Abandon further investigation programme
Section 6.1: Joint Ministerial approval
It is proposed that any decision about mineral-related access applications to Crown land would require the joint approval of the Energy and Resources Minister as well as the land-owning Minister (for example the Conservation Minister).
This proposal would hand decision-making power over activities on conservation land to a development-focussed Minister. This is inappropriate.
Recommendation: Reject joint Ministerial approval for access to Crown Land, leaving such decisions with the land-owning Minister.
Section 8: Areas proposed for addition to Schedule 4
12,500 ha are proposed for addition to Schedule 4, meaning they are protected from mining.
While this is a positive step, these additions would have occurred anyway, and are long overdue. They do not 'offset' the removals. Furthermore, these additions should be automatic each time new lands are gazetted into National Parks and the other land classification types listed in Schedule 4.
Recommendation: Support addition of new lands to Schedule 4, and amend the Crown Minerals Act to make such additions automatic.
Section 9: Establishment of a contestable conservation fund
The section calls for the establishment of a conservation fund (valued at $2-10 million annually) from a portion of future mining royalties.
Conservation management of public land should be funded from DOC's core budget, which was cut by $54 million last year. We want to see that funding reinstated. In addition, the Government has not ruled out the possibility of mining companies receiving funding to carry out remediation on mined land, work they should have to do anyway.
Recommendation: Abandon contestable conservation fund, restore the Greens' $4 million p/a Community Conservation fund (cut in 2009), and reinstate DOC's 2009 budget cut of $54 million.
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