Cynical
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- Date published:
11:37 am, May 23rd, 2013 - 82 comments
Categories: accountability, capitalism, Conservation, democracy under attack, Mining, same old national, sustainability -
Tags: nick smith
It looks like Nick Smith will today grant access to West Coast conservation land, with high conservation values, for open cast mining. This looks like a cynical attempt to enforce the government’s anti-conservation agenda by avoiding the need for public consultation.
He is travelling to Denniston Plateau for his announcement at 12.30pm on Australian mining company Bathurst Resources’ bid to establish its Escarpment Mine on the plateau.
He invited Bathurst staff to attend but not conservation groups opposing the mine, but they planned to go regardless.
Mining companies need a mining permit, resource consent and an access agreement to start a mine. Today’s political decision does not mean the mine has the green light, that is being appealed through the courts, but part of the approval process is whether the Government would allow access to conservation land.
”Nick Smith is going to say yes to mining our high-value conservation land today,” West Coast Environment Network spokeswoman Lynley Hargreaves said today.
Hargreaves of the West Coast Mining network claims that the announcement will come the day before Smith is legally required to open up the proposal for consultation.
“Nick Smith is going to say yes to mining our high-value conservation land today,” said West Coast Environment Network spokesperson Lynley Hargreaves. “And he doesn’t want you or I to have any say in that.”
“Three years ago the National Government ceded to public outrage, after 40,000 marched down Queen Street in Auckland. They promised public consultation for significant mining proposals on conservation land,” she added. “That legislation will finally come into force on Friday, a lone positive change in the environmental disaster that was the Crown Minerals Act review.”
“Nick Smith’s decision today will obviously be a rushed decision made simply to avoid public consultation,” she adds. “Open cast mining on high-value conservation land is not something the public of New Zealand support, and the Government knows that.”
Add this to the long list of actions by John Key’s government that cynically disregards or otherwise avoids democratic processes that should be part of The Rule of Law, as posted by Michael Valley on The Standard today.
[Update] This afternoon, Nick Smith announced the approval of the mining on the Denniston Plateau. The news reports have created some confusion as to the status of the land. Some are calling it “conservation land”. Nick Smith says it has “conservation values”. Regardless, the deal involves the mining company paying compensation for loss of “compensation values”. The Otago Daily Times, reports the following:
Australian mining company Bathurst Resources has passed a crucial hurdle to establishing an open cast coal mine on the West Coast’s Denniston Plateau near Westport.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith this afternoon he had approved the company’s access agreement for the mine on conservation land.
However the mine still requires consents under the Resource Management Act which remains subject to a pending Environment Court decision.
Environment groups this morning accused Dr Smith of rushing the access approval before new Crown Minerals Act measures requiring public consultation come into effect on Friday. …
“The loss of conservation values is compensated by a $22 million package by Bathurst Resources. This will fund pest and predator control over 25,000 hectares of the Heaphy River catchment in the Kahurangi National Park, 4500 hectares on and around the Denniston Plateau, as well as for historic projects on the Plateau itself.
It still looks to me like a cynical move on Dick Smith’s part, whatever way you look at it.
[Update] The NZ Herald report this afternoon, identifies the fine differences in conservation status, which seems to point to Nick Smith’s previous statement on the land not being “conservation land”,as being diversionary:
Dr Smith said the approval was for an open-cast mine on 106 hectares of the 2026 hectares that comprise the Denniston Plateau.
“This area is not National Park, nor Conservation Park nor does it have any particular reserve status. It is general stewardship land, which is the lowest legal status of protection of land managed by the Department of Conservation.”
The area does have conservation values, although there has been some disturbance from previous mining including roads, bulldozer tracks and an artificial reservoir, Dr Smith said.
This afternoon’s press release by Green MP Catherine Delahunty, also designate the land as “conservation land”. She also accuses Nik Smith of rushing the approval to avoid the public consultation process that would occur after the amendments to the Crown Mineral Act come into affect tomorrow.
The Labour Party’s press release states that the government has ridden “rough shod” over the process, preventing a compromise being reached between the mining company and conservation groups.
“Labour wants to see an agreement reached where mining can go ahead, allowing for the creation of new jobs, but where precious land is also protected. While the compensation package from Bathurst is welcome, our laws and access to the conservation estate should never be dictated by money,” said Ruth Dyson.
West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O’Connor says the mining industry needs security now more than ever but there is a real risk that this deal will create further legal action because it cuts across negotiations between the parties.
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- Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention OfficeLabour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...1 week ago
- CCC issues warning over further climate delayToday’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets are lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt prioritiesMinister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Methane target review is dangerous duplicationThe Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled studentsThe Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National must take mental health seriouslyMental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwardsThe Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cutsNew Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...2 weeks ago
- Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing planMāori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do listThe Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this AprilChanges to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...3 weeks ago
- Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...59 mins ago - Judicial appointments announcedAttorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...2 hours ago
- Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in SingaporeEducation Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...3 hours ago
- Value of stopbank project proven during cycloneA stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...3 hours ago
- Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visitForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...3 hours ago
- Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac DayScience, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...5 hours ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...17 hours ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...22 hours ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...24 hours ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...1 day ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...1 day ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...1 day ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...1 day ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...1 day ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...2 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...2 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...2 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...2 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...3 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...3 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...3 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...4 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...4 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...4 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...4 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...4 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...4 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...5 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...7 days ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...7 days ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...1 week ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...1 week ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...1 week ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...1 week ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Government redress for Te Korowai o WainuiāruaThe Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...1 week ago
- I wholeheartedly recommend The President: a brilliant revival of a play of decay, terror and revulsi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...52 mins ago - How the coolest little capital is shrinking
It's not the first time a government has targeted public servants for job cuts, but this time Wellington is really feeling it. ...1 hour ago - Many prisoners go years without touching a smartphone. It means they struggle to navigate life on th...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...1 hour ago
- Ministers accused of Cabinet Manual breach with threats to Waitangi Tribunal
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...1 hour ago - Good news: midlife health is about more than a waist measurement. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...1 hour ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Mitochondrial Problem’ by Evangeline Riddiford Graham
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...1 hour ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending April 18The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38) Hot off the press, this debut ...1 hour ago
- Department of Conservation closing Dunedin centre, but no jobs lostVisitor habits are changing and DOC needs to adapt in a financially sustainable way, its operations director says. ...1 hour ago
- Unions Collaborate With Thousands Of Job Cuts
With New Zealand officially in recession, a swathe of mass sackings is currently sending shockwaves through the entire working class. ...1 hour ago - Watch live: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters in Manila after pledging greater defence cooperation with the Philippines. Watch live. ...2 hours ago
- Government sent please explain letter to Wellington City Council over transport disagreementThe contents were revealed in correspondence from Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop to Wellington's Mayor. ...2 hours ago
- Some families push back against journalists who mine social media for photos – they have every rig...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...2 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation staff cuts loom, with funding falling behind rising costsChief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...2 hours ago
- The ‘devil comet’ 12P/Pons-Brooks has finally become visible from Australia. What can we expect?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Pons–Brooks visible from Utah, March 9 2024. James Peirce/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND If you’re a fan of all things space, you’ve doubtless heard about the “devil comet”, which has been captivating keen-eyed observers in the ...3 hours ago
- Rugby stadiums are sold as an economic asset – but NZ needs to ask if they’re really worth itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hamlin, Senior Lecturer in Marketing , University of Otago A multi-billion dollar stadium precinct has been proposed for Auckland, one of three proposals in front of Auckland Council for a new stadium in the city. The council is also considering revamping ...3 hours ago
- Auckland dog attacks: Callouts for attacks on other animals going upRoaming dogs are responsible for more than a thousand attacks on animals each year, and the number is growing. ...3 hours ago
- What access to puberty blockers means for trans young people and their whānauThe Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...3 hours ago
- NZ and Philippines pledge defence cooperation amid rising tensionsThe commitment came after a sit-down meeting between Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr overnight. ...4 hours ago
- How superblocks can help reimagine city lifeBarcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...5 hours ago
- Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIEThe public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...5 hours ago
- “Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...6 hours ago
- ‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in IndiaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...6 hours ago
- Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...6 hours ago
- Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period productsYes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...6 hours ago
- Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...6 hours ago
- Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track LegislationThe Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...7 hours ago
- Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...7 hours ago
- Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...7 hours ago
- Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...7 hours ago
- Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-handSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...7 hours ago
- ‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration StatusThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...7 hours ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last yearThe government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...8 hours ago
- All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...10 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...10 hours ago
- Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolvedShane Jones says people voted for change, but opponents say small cuts such as ending a special oceans secretariat are starting to add up The post Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 hours ago
- Defence deal to counter Beijing’s aggression in South China SeaNew Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...10 hours ago
- Wellington’s ebb and flow of public servantsThe thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...10 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...10 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 19 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 hours ago
- Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slowsThe transport sector is currently in the slow lane The post Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 hours ago
- Financial literacy should be on all of usOpinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 hours ago
- Missy rustles to stardom in CanadaHineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...10 hours ago
- Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the paceOfficial figures confirm New Zealand produced less climate pollution in 2022 than in any other year in the 21st century The post Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the pace appeared first on Newsroom. ...10 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Ethnic tensions will complicate the Albanese government’s multicultural policy ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...16 hours ago
- Group plans work to improve safety of female MPsNew research shows harassment of elected officials - especially women - is on the rise. ...17 hours ago
- Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of long-stalled Congress aid voteUkraine's Prime Minister says his country desperately needs the US to approve long-stalled security assistance. ...18 hours ago
- PSA astonished Education Minister expects hiring of contractors to review curriculumHiring contractors is an appalling solution when people who could do the work are losing their jobs, the PSA says. ...19 hours ago
- Crown lawyers attempt to block Waitangi Tribunal summons to Minister for ChildrenThe Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...21 hours ago
- Luxon refuses to guarantee public consultation on AUKUS Pillar 2Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's "far too premature" to be confirming whether the public would be consulted on joining AUKUS Pillar 2. ...22 hours ago
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Bastards!
You’re using understatement. There are more grievous words one could use, but then these comments are moderated.
I assume none if them have grandchildren.
We know how we are raising the level of CO2 in the atmosphere. We now can the consequences of that.
Short-sighted, greedy, genocidal to the future…………….but as long as my generation’s alright…
Some people are utterly contemptible.
The sooner they start the better. Plenty of work for West Coasters. The added bonus will be Forest and Bird and the Greens will hate it.
So that’s alright then, tark?!
Democratic process is a minor consideration for you.
And thanks, micky, for the legal info below.
Plenty of land down there and not enough jobs. Sometimes you have to give a little to gain a lot.
Bullshit mate, why should Australians be given the lions share of the profits, if it is our conservation land being destroyed.
Well err… doh! gee C.V.! When I can get out from under my leftie-baiting ideologically-driven stance, I didn’t think of that
The ends justify the means, just like in aggravated burglary.
do you even know or understand just what is being “given up” in this instance? Bet you have no idea nor even care.
Plenty of jobs on the West Coast.
But if the local community wants to form a company and mine the hills I think we should at least consider it.
What’s this proposal again?
You’re OK with prime NZ conservation land being destroyed and most of the profit going to Australians (yet again?)
Conservation – Not Preservation – look it up some time.
“I have approved this mine because the loss of conservation values is compensated by a $22 million package by Bathurst Resources. The compensation will fund pest and predator control over 25,000 hectares of the Heaphy River catchment in the Kahurangi National Park, 4,500 hectares on and around the Denniston Plateau, as well as for historic projects on the Plateau itself. This is the largest ever compensation package negotiated by DOC for a mine or other commercial venture.
Sounds like by allowing this to go on in one area, other conservation areas will benefit.
Interesting that the Government guts DOC funding so it cannot do the job it should then bingo with the help of corporate sponsorship work can be performed. They just have to wreck the conservation estate bit by bit to save the rest which will inevitably get smaller and smaller.
30% of NZ land is conservation land , wha’ts 150h ?
I see the company has pledged to spend $9 million on pest control on the west coast.
You got grand kids? Seen the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?
Recommend some reading for you http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-fossil-fuel-resistance-20130411
“This approval is for an open-cast mine on 106 hectares of the 2026 hectares that comprise the Denniston Plateau. This area is not National Park, nor Conservation Park nor does it have any particular reserve status. It is general stewardship land, which is the lowest legal status of protection of land managed by the Department of Conservation.”
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/denniston-coal-mine-gains-access-approval
So hardly “prime NZ conservation land being destroyed”. It actually looks like the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Colonial V,
It gets worse, the damage the greens /forest and bird are doing to communities.
Quote Nick Smith.
(( “This area is not national park, nor conservation park, nor does it have any particular reserve status,” he said ))
What the hell is going on ,what have these organisations cost our economy?
UNBELEVIABLE.
The information so far is confusing as to the status of the land. The Stuff article I link to in my above post says that it is “conservation land”, as does the press release I link to. The stuff article then quotes Nick Smith as saying it’s not conservation land.
So, while awaitng confirmation as to the exact status of the land, I’ll go with the lesser term & have amended my post accordingly. Also, the Stuff article says:
So, whatever the status of the land, the mining will undermine the conservation of it, and the move to allow the mining the day before the act comes into force, requiring consultation, does look cynical.
Karol,
The local residents were one of the first objectors ,consultation took place with the locals , an agreement reached and the objections were withdrawn.
If they had of waited it would have just replicated a process that had already taken place.
According to the sources linked in my post, the government promised “public consultation”, not just with people in the local area. This is land that we all have an interest in.
The land is conversation land – but under the banner conservation land there are several classifications (with national park being highest, then conservation park down to a stewardship area. As Nick Smith said this area is a stweardship area.
Also to clear up Nick Smith said it wasn’t a conservation park not that it wasn’t conservation land.
The earlier version of the Stuff article quoted Smith as saying “conservation land”. His quotes have now changed in the latest version of the Stuff article. I have updated my post with that quote from the NZ Herald.
Wow. Right you are Karol.
The Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2013 comes into force on May 24 (http://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2013/0121/latest/DLM5153609.html).
I have only had a quick squiz at the act itself (http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2013/0014/latest/whole.html#DLM4756217) but there are some obligations for the Minister to consult with affected parties.
As Macro said, Bastards.
About fucking time
The primitive ape speaks again – and once again it is all about self! KK you impress me as one fucking selfish bastard! You will leave this world a poorer place, and your children and grandchildren will hate you for it.
Yup, folk like KK they only care for themselves. They haven’t even developed the empathy gene for their own grand kids , let alone a general care for society.
Quite sad really.
We’re well overdue for a daily Democracy Under Attack banner in every media outlet. Herald? You used to be so worried about this stuff? Why so quiet?
Maybe a letter to the editor Tigger asking why no such concern?
Go NICK.
I know a couple of forest and bird members who have had enough of the political agenda behind of this.
The green party’s influence on forest and bird needs to be exposed.
These people joined f&b in good faith but had no idea they would be so negative towards peoples needs.
Stop your whining and harden up, it’s just the way things are: Kiwis value New Zealand more than they value your back pocket.
+100
They can vote and organise right? Are they too lazy to get actively involved? That is what you do inside organisations you can join as a member. When you don’t like their direction what you have to do is to convince a *significant* number of members to change it’s direction. Or you leave and start another organisation.
But simply whining about it is lazy, stupid and usually ineffectual. However I do notice that the RWNJ’s do seem to think it is the route to everything – look at the history of the Act party for instance. Or some of the idiots that think that whining about how we run this private site here.
We don’t need coal. We do need to leave it in the ground.
We’ll need it soon enough when we hit peak oil. I expect a lot of people will be changing their tune when they come to understand the brutalities of living with irreversable climate change and not being able to power the technologies that will help us survive it.
‘
Like “Forest and Bird” is all about “people”.
Rich t’other Did your friends think that forest and bird was about having a high time with the opposite sex in a sylvan setting? They must have been drunk when they joined up.
“I know a couple of forest and bird members who have had enough of the political agenda ”
Had they never heard of the Save Manapouri Campaign? Did they think they were joining a bird watching club?
Why are so many people here anti jobs here?
Why can’t you engage with the arguments they are advancing rather than making up puerile strawmen? Are you twelve?
Heres a good idea, why don’t we ask the people of the West Coast what they want?
because the denniston plateau does NOT belong to the citizens of the west coast any more than it belongs to Nick Smith. It belongs to EVERY citizen of this country.
And the impact of extracting fossil fuels affects the whole world.
why do so many people here hate puppies? Surely thats a much more pertinent question
When did the snail-lovers stop beating their wives, you mean? Quality argument.
Excellent news! Jobs and a $22m compensation package. “The compensation will fund pest and predator control over 25,000 hectares of the Heaphy River catchment in the Kahurangi National Park, 4,500 hectares on and around the Denniston Plateau”. Fantastic, have to hand it to the Nats on this one.
[lprent: Read the policy. Looking at your three comments to date, you read like a particularly stupid astroturfing spambot. Display that you’re human with some actual thought rather than mindlessly reading from a PR wanklist or you will be treated as a misbehaving bot. In the meantime I’ll add you to auto-spam and I’ll keep an eye out to see if you start looking like a human. ]
Have you any idea of what you are saying? This will come back to bite you hard.
Whoa! Easy on the aggression there Lynn. Just had a read of the policy. Would love to know where I’ve overstepped the mark? “We encourage robust debate and we’re tolerant of dissenting views”.
Don’t quite understand the auto-spam thing but presume this is some sort of ban? Any response appreciated. Thanks.
[lprent: You might notice that everyone writes their thoughts here reasonably freely, and there is usually a pretty wide range of views. There isn’t a pile of a short canned comments trying to look like a twitter feed.
There is a reason for that. We’re interested in your views. We’re not interested in comments that look like they been regurgitated out of list of pithy PR lines. The site has a number of ogres acting as moderators (including me) and we get bored with unoriginal unthinking twaddle cluttering up the thousands of comments per week.
My personal approach is to either dump first comments until we get something indicating intelligence. If an apparent loss of intelligence occurs later then I tend to run a turing test to find out if there is any sign of sentience..
So it tends to be inadvisable to write comments that don’t look like any thought went into them and/or to treat comments as being fire and forget and not reply to responses. Either tends to make me think you might not be sentient and start treating you as bad code.
Happens too often and I consider that you aren’t worth my wasting precious time (a cardinal sin) backchecking recent comments. After you’ve been around a wee while I might remember that I have seen you before not bother backchecking. Until then it is inadvisable to write things that trigger my troll/bot moderating instincts.
You may not like this approach. But as you might have figured out from the policy, we really don’t care what you think when we are moderating. You task is not to attract moderator attention by using your brain to express your own views.. Those we are mostly tolerant of (unless they get too offensive). ]
The Labour movement was born in the mines. A lot of us aren’t against mining, but there’s got to be a fair return in royalties to the public purse and an appropriately balanced assessment of the risks to the environment.I would be loathe to see mountaintop removal mining gain traction in NZ.
Pretty much what I was getting at Pete. I’m not suggesting wholesale destruction of the conservation estate, but the people down there need jobs. Many of them are miners, mining is what they know and in the mine is where they want to be. As Rich pointed out earlier Forest and Bird is becoming more like the Greens by the day. That’s up to them but as a registered charity they should be careful. If they cared as much about people as they do about their cause they would accomplish a lot more and alienate a lot less.
Well, the Labour Party seems to agree with you. I have added the main content of their press release to the bottom of my post. They say the government has destroyed the opportunity for the mining company and conservation groups to reach a compromise, and provide secure jobs.
Yeah, you should start up a right wing forest and bird and you could all go and look at stuffed animals in museums together.
I’m trying to have a reasonable conversation with a couple of people here – it’s nice to see we do have some things in common, thanks Karol and then we get a neanderthal fuckwit like yourself who can do no better than make stupid irrelevant comments that aren’t even funny – loser.
I should try scrolling up the page if I were you: you’ll find comments by some twit with the same name as you, saying how great it is that people will hate this, and how they hate jobs.
Then you could reflect on how you present yourself, and on how people could easily take you for an asshole.
No, it’s just you. Most people are happy to engage, we may not always agree but at least I try – something you could never be acused of.
“The added bonus will be Forest and Bird and the Greens will hate it.”
That right there is a deliberately targeted and provocative remark of the “arsehole” variety.
I for one don’t engage with people who start conversations like that.
Probably better to accuse me of not engaging in a thread I haven’t, y’know, engaged in. I’m starting to wonder if you’re “scroll-up” challenged or something.
For you, the ends justify the means, for example, and democracy and due process can get fucked. For you, temporary jobs are more important than the CO2 content of the atmosphere.
I’ll engage all you like. What I’m not prepared to do is compromise with you, because that way you just get everything you want and New Zealand ends up a worse, poorer place as a result. In short, rejecting your witless drivel with contempt is in the national interest.
I think it’s best if I leave you to sit in your cave talking to yourself. Abusing and chasing people away won’t improve this site. I saw mickysavage get a load of crap poured on him on whale oil the other day, it was embarrassing to watch and totally uncalled for. A little tollerance goes a long way.
Oh, did you mistake my criticism of your opinion for a personal attack? I am sorry for the pain in your mind.
Are you sure about that? How much work would actually be required if we only provided what we needed?
I think you’ll find that it’s far less than what we do now. The only reason why we have as much work as we do isn’t because we supply what we need but because a few parasites want to be even richer usually at everyone else’s expense.
BTW, people actually need the environment and so conserving it is part of looking after them.
From what I gather from friends in the industry, many of those folk would still be employed if the nats hadn’t run Solid energy into the ground [ba-dum- tcsh. But it is a serious point].
Yeah, good point, where are the 170,000 jobs? If these toxic (tailings run-off) Tories gave a toss about employment levels they’d be voting for a party with a better track record.
Hypocrisy and conservatism in bed together again. Yawn.
There was once a great big pie. Someone thought “If I eat a piece, there will still be plenty over for the future.” But after a while their tummy started to rumble so they thought “If I have another piece, there will still be lots pie left for the future.” Sometime after that their tummy was rumbling again so once again they had another piece of pie. In no time at all, there was no pie at all.
So True fambo.
‘
” . . . the Beehive, the Beehive, where everyone gets a bargain . . . ”
Yes, that’s right folks, we have special deals on values and rights and justice for sale. Ask our friendly salesman John Key and he’ll show you the latest range available. New Zealand has on special human rights, employment rights, copyrights, and conservation values just waiting to fly out the door at these ridiculour prices.
35 year guarantee!!!!!OMG!!11!!!
Must be a travelling salesman at that – not only Hollywood but downtown Wellington (Willeston Street) when he opened Bathurst’s new operations office in March 2012.
I note that Bathurst is also looking to re-incorporate as a New Zealand company (not that the majority of the ownership won’t still be overseas of course – Bank of America & JP Morgan Chase own about 16% and Australian L1 Capital Pty Limited about 11%).
It’s a funny old world
solid energy may go belly-up
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10885062
Bathhurst know that the price of coal is low but
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10833623
wow what a great plan – switch the workers from solid energy to bathurst – there’s economic growth for you.
DoC don’t care – or do they?
http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/claims-mining-won-t-destroy-denniston-plateau-ecology-laughable
I’ve blogged on this in the past and my point is simple – the proposed financial benefits are fanciful and the devastation is factual.
http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/if-we-let-them.html
Interview with Lynley Hargreaves on Checkpoint tonight. She said DOC has been trying to get the Deniston Plateau declared schedule 4 land, but have been hindered by being under funded and under staffed.
http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ckpt/ckpt-20130523-1752-environmentalists_angry_at_denniston_plateau_mining_decision-048.mp3
She said it’s not “low value” land as suggested by Nick Smith, but high value land that should be protected.
Marty mars.
Correction , try to be honest.
Solid energy’s problems are more about debt than the lower coal price.
Solid energy has under an ground under ground operation and Elder stated it was getting more costly to harvest.
Bathurst is low cost open cast operation and produces a premium product ,used only for steel production.
Good news from China ( yesterday) ,they are proposing to import only a higher grade of thermal coal for power generation from around the world ,the impact of this will be an estimated overall 8% lift in the coal price.
Please don’t quote the greens , they are a poisonous and destructive influence on to many issues.
This is a great deal , if anything a little to generous from Bathurst.
well rich this is what key said the expert report said “after being crippled by low coal prices…” get it?
I’m quoting the Greens because they are quoting the advice to the Minister from DoC released under the Official Information Act – get it?
You say, “This is a great deal…” – I think you are thick – get it?
Marty mars,
They were crippled not knocked out.
The problem was financing a very high debt level created by trialing to many new projects at once.
If they hadn’t tried to diversify and just sold coal they would have been fine.
This is a very very good look for the Nat’s, labour has again failed miserably and the greens/forest&bird just continue to on there destructive way.
yes Rich we are in agreement on that point – I didn’t say they were knocked out which is why I put the quote in.
The high debt contributed too as you outline.
Not sure about the look for the gnats considering key has been caught out lying again but we shall see, after all there have been quite a few straws now and that camel’s back can only take so much before it breaks.
We have the lowest royalties in the world and the company won’t even have to pay those royalties on the world market price but on the price they sell it to their mates in Australia.
As for the $22m – I’ll be surprised if we ever see any of it and does the deal have them cleaning up afterwards?
What happens if they go into receivership before they clean up the mess?
And 3 News has just reported that Nick Smith admitted he pushed the deal through the day before the law goes live that would require them to consult with the public.
PS; Smith said on RNZ’s checkpoint tonight that the law that comes in tomorrow would result in a worse deal, because, under tomorrow’s law it would give more weight to economic benefits and there’d be less conservation benefits.
http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ckpt/ckpt-20130523-1707-mining_conservation_land_on_the_denniston_plateau-048.mp3
See why Nick Smith was brought back now can’t we, a complete and utter disregard for anything other than fulfilling the Hollowman script.
They had to cool his heels otherwise he’d be beyond toxic by now, give him another 6 months and they’ll throw him away but leave all his work in place.
Exactly tc….sadly this will not register with many outside the so-called ‘beltway’. One of the achievements of the hollowmen is make politics a game of little importance and relevance.
The apathy and the distain for principled discourse on any important political subject is a sad reflection on society and the MSM.
marty mars – nice work….not really that difficult to bring some reality to the discussion – well done!
Nick Smith is a nasty piece of work. Interesting though to listen to his interview (as in my comment @ 13 (6.17pm) above.
Mary Wilson keeps prodding and Smith then admits that the law that comes into being today will mean mining will be permitted on more of the conservation estate, and that it has been the governments intention for a while to enable that.
Presumably designed in part to cause a split – or at least a sense of uneasiness – between Labour and the Greens and to lose Labour a few Party-Votes on the West Coast. He’s a cunning little minx, that Hone Key.
Doesn’t John Key have Bathurst shares?
OK he has shares in the Bank of America which owns part of Bathurst. And he attended Bathurst’s Wgtn office opening. Conflict of interest anyone. No question mark.
I’d guess he’s pretty relaxed about it.
Key doesn’t really understand “conflict of interest.” It’s just a competitive advantage. It’s how you get things done. It’s how you get ahead.
Like so many thing we take as read, he knows that it’s not acceptable to other people and so it’s best to keep quiet. But that’s just a learned response. At a fundamental level he simply doesn’t understand why it’s wrong.
I think it’s inevitable that democracy will throw up these types from time to time. The system should be robust enough to cope with them.
I don’t think ours is.
Yes, I get your point, but that of course doesn’t make things any better, does it.