‘Dig & hope’ – Nats’ great plan
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- Date published:
10:30 am, March 25th, 2010 - 43 comments
Categories: Conservation, Economy, Mining, national, spin -
Tags: gerry brownlee, john key, nick smith
National’s mining policy seems to be ‘dig and hope’. That’s the only conclusion one can draw after Gerry Brownlee admitted he had no idea of the value of the gold and silver that are supposed to be on Great Barrier and Nick Smith admitted the same about the other areas of protected land National wants to open up.
TV One asked Brownlee why he was claiming there is $4.3 billion of gold and silver in the area on Great Barrier when the geologist’s report says $1.3 billion*. He said “until you get something out of the ground, you simply don’t know what the story is”.
Remember, this is National’s lynch-pin economic policy. They are trying to convince us we have to let them dig up these protected lands for the sake of the economy, and they have no idea of the value of what’s there.
They have provided no estimates of the impact of allowing mining in these areas on GDP, on the current account deficit, on jobs,on Crown revenue etc, and over what time period. Because they haven’t got the slightest clue.
Smith’s response was to say that’s why the government is paying for $4 million of surveying. That doesn’t stack up. That surveying will be happening in Kahurangi and Stewart Island. The Nats want to dig up the Coromandel, Great Barrier, and Paparoa on the basis of existing information.
Meanwhile, Brownlee had a be of a temper tantrum yesterday and issued a bizarre angry press release. You’ll have to indulge me because he rambles on for quite a while but I’ve tried to address each of his claims:
Some facts about mining in New Zealand
Press Release by New Zealand Government at 4:08 pm, 24 Mar 2010
Minister of Energy and Resources Gerry Brownlee says much of the noise around the government’s modest proposals to open up a portion of Schedule Four land for possible mining is ignoring the facts about mining’s role in the economy.
“Green mining is not an oxymoron, and the government has made it clear that should Schedule Four lands be released, and should those lands show viable mining prospects, only modest and environmentally responsible mining would ever take place,” Mr Brownlee said.
“As for suggestions that modest and environmentally responsible mining on a small portion of the conservation estate would be ruinous to New Zealand’s international reputation, the facts to date suggest nothing could be further from the truth.”
Fact: There is already mining on conservation land
As at September 2009 there were 82 mines already operating on conservation land.[1] Many permits were issued by the last Labour-led government.
Yes, there are but none of them are on Schedule 4 land. Schedule 4 was established specifically to protect special areas from mining.
Between 2000 and 2008 international tourist numbers to the country increased 37 per cent from 1,789,078 in 2000 to 2,447,208 in 2008.[2]
Which doesn’t mean a thing because we weren’t mining National Parks then. We are in danger of losing our international tourism branding, recent articles in The Guardian and The Economist show the threat. And, anyway, our special conservation areas are mainly for us, the people of this country. They’re not just there to be tourism moneymakers.
Fact: Mining in New Zealand is a $2 billion industry
2008 was a record year of production for New Zealand mining. The industry has been growing strongly in recent years, driven by global demand for our resources.[3]
Actually, mining is $900 million a year. Oil and gas, which are excluded from this minerals policy, are $1.1 billion. Even combined, $2 billion is just over 1% of GDP. Even if the mineral mining industry somehow doubled in size to $2 billion a year (and it won’t do that on the back of the $18 billion in minerals in the areas National wants to delist) that would make an insignificant difference to the economy. Also, there’s the question of who profits from the GDP (foreign-owned companies).
Fact: Mining is an important export industry for New Zealand
In 2009, mining brought in $1.1 billion worth of export receipts for New Zealand.[4]
Notice Brownlee is talking just about minerals now, not counting oil and gas too. $1.1 billion is just 2.5% of NZ’s total exports. Again, doubling this would be insignificant and is impossible using just the land in question.
Fact: Mining employs thousands of New Zealanders in high-paying, highly productive jobs
The mining sector, including oil and gas, directly employs about 6,000 people in New Zealand and thousands more indirectly.[5]
Jobs in the mining sector are highly productive. In the 2000-2005 period the mining sector (including oil and gas) returned an average $360,000 of GDP per full time employee, nearly six times the national average.[6]
Workers in the mining sector average an income of $60,000 per employee – over double the national average.[7]
Mining, including oil and gas, employs just 6,000 people and brings less than half a billion in wages into the economy. The bulk of its $6.8 billion revenue goes to importing capital (mining equipment) and sending profits overseas. Yes, we do ultimately want capital intensive, highly-productive jobs but only if the wealth produced stays in New Zealand and not at the expense of our natural wealth. Mining sends the lion’s share of the money overseas. We get left with the scarred land.
Fact: Mining is far more productive than most other land-intensive applications
Mines in New Zealand use an extremely small amount of land (around 4,000 hectares), less than 0.015 per cent of our total land area.
The export value of that land is $175,000 per hectare. Dairy farming by comparison uses 2 million hectares of land with an export value of only $3,500 per hectare.[8]
And a private hospital or a financial institution will produce far more times that wealth per hectare. why not cover the country in private hospitals and offshore financial institutions!.. oh wait, that’s the plan. Anyway, the comparison is fallacious. We couldn’t convert all the dairy farms to mines if we wanted, the minerals aren’t there. And (if you’ll excuse the blatant Avatar line) the real value of this world isn’t in the ground it’s in the world around us, in the bush. Is it worth destroying the Parakawai and Othau Ecological Areas to get at a few tens of millions of aggregate that we could get from elsewhere?
Fact: Mining companies in New Zealand are New Zealand-owned as well as foreign owned
The largest mining company in New Zealand is Solid Energy, which as a state-owned enterprise is 100 per cent owned by the New Zealand taxpayer.
Between 2000 and 2009 Solid Energy made profits of $466 million and returned dividends to the Crown of $90 million.[9]
Yup. Solid Energy is New Zealand-owned. That doesn’t give it the right to tear up (and CEO on Elder is talking about open-cast mining) thousands of hectares of National Park. The rest of the major players are foreign-owned, mostly notably Newmont, which owns the Waihi mine.
In fact NZX listed resources stocks have on average 57% local ownership compared to 43% offshore ownership.[10]
And what about the miners that are not listed on the NZX because they’re wholly foreign-owned, like Newmont? They’re the big players. Also, the 57% is not a weighted average for the size of the companies, it counts the high local ownership of smaller companies the same as low local ownership of the bigger companies.*
“As I said at the release of the government’s discussion paper on the mineral potential of Schedule Four land, New Zealand is a mineral rich country and the minerals sector has an important role to play in growing our economy.
Most of the mineral wealth is not on Schedule 4 land. 60% is outside the conservation estate altogether and 90% is not in the areas that the Nats want to remove from Schedule 4 protection.
“Whether Schedule Four land plays any part delivering greater prosperity, security and opportunity for all New Zealanders by way of mining is up for discussion over the next six weeks,” Mr Brownlee said.
We know how this game plays out, Gerry. You play the bad guy. Key will can the Great Barrier Island idea. And you’ll add some areas safely out of site in Stewart Island.
* Brownlee is now claiming the geologist’s report only covers two of three gold-bearing seams on Great Barrier and it is this third seam that contains the missing $3 billion of minerals. That’s a lie. The report concludes the third seam is exhausted. Phil Goff’s interview on Radio New Zealand is morning was very good. He pointed out the huge quantities of ore that need to be extracted and turned into toxic tailings to get at the gold. He also pointed out that 60% of NZ’s mineral wealth isn’t on conservation land and Labour supports responsible mining of those resources
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The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...12 hours ago
- Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing
The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...13 hours ago - Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change
David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...13 hours ago
- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...15 hours ago
- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...15 hours ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...18 hours ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...18 hours ago
- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...19 hours ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...1 day ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...1 day ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...1 day ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...1 day ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...4 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...7 days ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...11 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...12 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...12 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...13 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...13 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...15 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...15 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...16 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...16 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...18 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...21 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...1 day ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...2 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...2 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...4 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...7 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...5 hours ago - NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...7 hours ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...7 hours ago - The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...8 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...9 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...9 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...10 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...10 hours ago
- New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...10 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...11 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...11 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...11 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Carey’s bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...11 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...11 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...11 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...12 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...12 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...12 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...13 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naïve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...14 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...14 hours ago
- ‘Everything is becoming a culture war’: Jon Ronson on conspiracies and cycleways
Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...14 hours ago - Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution — for the fourth time — in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and “protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty” in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...15 hours ago
- ‘Deserves a Bafta’: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviews
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a “blistering” “tour de force” by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...15 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealanders’ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...15 hours ago
- COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with mor...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...16 hours ago
- Review: The magic of Wicked and the curse of corporate greed
The new movie musical is undoubtedly a fun watch, but it’s also proof that bigger isn’t always better, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund. Contains minor spoilers for Wicked. There’s no doubt that Wicked is going to be huge. No other pop culture event this year, save from maybe Charli XCX’s Brat, has ...16 hours ago
- Dame Jacinda Ardern to be given United Nations leadership award
She will get the champion for global change award from the United Nations Foundation at a ceremony in New York tomorrow. ...18 hours ago
- NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand
Analysis: NZ is lifting what was supposed to be a permanent ban on live animal exports. But it’s not the lucrative industry it once was. The post NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand appeared first on Newsroom. ...18 hours ago - Financial forms of family violence affect one in seven of us – but the law is lagging
There are calls for New Zealand’s Family Violence Act to name economic harm as a standalone type of violence, rather than a subcategory of psychological abuse, to bring it in line with the United Kingdom and Australia. Economic harm – restricting access to, sabotaging or exploiting another person’s financial resources, ...18 hours ago
- Downside Risks To Treasury’s Economic And Fiscal Forecasts
New Zealand is currently running a structural fiscal deficit, with expenditure exceeding revenue. Economic growth falling short of expectations has been making it harder for the Government to bring the books back into balance. ...18 hours ago
- Science continues to exclude Indigenous communities. Fixing this benefits everyone
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jordan Peter Anthony Pitt, Associate Dean of Indigenous Strategy and Services (Faculty of Science), University of Sydney An enduring challenge facing science around the world is how to best include and engage Indigenous communities. In Australia, for example, 0.5% of Indigenous ...19 hours ago
- Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Cricket originated in England, but has been spread worldwide by British soldiers and settlers in the past few hundred years. It is now the second most popular sport in ...19 hours ago
- Disinformation and deepfakes played a part in the US election. Australia should expect the same
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee Barnes, Associate professor of Journalism, University of the Sunshine Coast Mladen Zivkovic/Shutterstock As America takes stock after Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency, it’s worth highlighting the AI-generated fake photos, videos and audio shared during the campaign. A slew ...19 hours ago
- Is thunderstorm asthma becoming more common?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kira Morgan Hughes, PhD Candidate in Allergy and Asthma, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University When spring arrives, so do warnings about thunderstorm asthma. But a decade ago, most of us hadn’t heard of it. So where did thunderstorm asthma ...19 hours ago
- Overwhelmed by ever more clothing donations, charities are exporting the problem. Local governments ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yassie Samie, Postdoctoral Researcher in Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University anna.spoka/Shutterstock What happens to your clothes after you don’t want them any more? Chances are, you will donate them to op shops run by a charity organisation. There are more ...19 hours ago
- Friendly fire: a nuclear push by allies at COP29 poses a sticky problem for Albanese
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Hmm. You reckon this smacks of hollow men taking us a step towards a rebranding to Hollow NZ ?
Every cloud has a silver lining.. I just wanna say thank you Gerry
Every so often the “green’ movement needs a kick up the bum and Gerry certainly has done that.
Keep those press releases coming ,Gerry.you should be knighted for services to the “green” movement
out of bed- message
Gerry says that mining is considered as a “green” industry by countries overseas. Ergo National is a green political party. In the UK old mining sites are classified as brown while the existing sites are known as black.
Something is screwy here. What countries is Brownlee referring to where mining is a green industry?
What has been missing from this whole debate is that NZ can grow its wealth from exporting of services. Sure we are not Singapore and HK, but NZ wealth are its landscapes and its people. The right growth strategy is to preserve the former,and leverage the latter. Weta workshops has shown what can be done, and beneath the surface it is happening across a range of smaller companes.
There is more that can be done, such as providing IT services to the west coast of the US, but the gov’t gives this no thought, instead rolling out tired ideas from the 1990’s – such as financial services back offices. Unfortunately, mining as a growth strategy for NZ is straight from the 1890’s.
Tourism pros concerned about NZ’s mining ambitions http://www.greenbranz.org
“There is more that can be done, such as providing IT services to the west coast of the US, but the gov’t gives this no thought…” absolutely SK.
All this mining debates taking the focus from such election porkys as that super fast broadband we were promised to allow your suggestion above and would unleash more of the sam morgans kicking around……still waiting rejoyce
Bloody Brownlee is increasingly just a dipshit when it comes to mining.
How’s his latest… “you dont know how much you’ve got until you dig it up”. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah ah ha ha ha ha ha……. Nothing could be further from the truth.
That is the f..king funniest and MOST STUPID thing ever. And he claims he is Minister of Mines etc?
Flailing completely. Ignorant of his subject totally. Grossly negligent in fact I would suggest. He should be removed from his portfolio.
Keep up the attacks on him. He deserves them 100%
“You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
Joni Mitchell
“Flailing completely. Ignorant of his subject totally. Grossly negligent in fact I would suggest. …” that makes him overqualified for sideshow johns cabinet but as there’s a genuine shortage of arrogant anti environment bullies who refuse to answer questions in parliament he’s safe for now.
The well established practice of exploartion and scoping an orebody before you locate the actual mine’s been missed by browncoal
Marty: “Most of the mineral wealth is not on Schedule 4 land. 60% is outside the conservation estate altogether and 90% is not in the areas that the Nats want to remove from Schedule 4 protection.”
If that is the case, then it is highly unlikely that any mining will ever occur in schedule 4 areas due to such projects being uneconomical. Mining companies will instead look to the areas where 90% of the opportunities are rather than trying to find the remaining 10% scattered through schedule 4 areas. So you have nothing to worry about.
This is a good thing about having private enterprise involved in such things. If there is not an economically viable case they won’t do it. On the other hand, governments quite regularly get involved in projects that are quite unecomical; Transrail for example.
Ah, but ts, what you don’t get is that if the private comapnies mine ofn private land, they have to buy or lease that land from the landowner – bye bye big profits.
On DoC land, they just pay the royalty, which they pay anyway, no lease (or at least that’s the impression since Brownlee et al have made no mention of revneue from leases).
That’s what makes mining on DoC land with a friendly government so attractive.
Plus, it’s the type of minerals that are in the schedule 4 land. the Nats’ links are to goldmining companies. Most of the gold is on DoC land. It’s ironsand, silica and stuff mostly on private land.
all minerals under the ground belong to the crown wether on private or public land
Not true Crown mineral are limited to Petroluem, Gold, Silver and uranium
Actually, Doug, while Petroluem, Gold, Silver and Uranium are specifically named as Crown minerals, the next clause in the Act indicates that the Crown has a beneficial interest in all minerals:
Minerals reserved to Crown:
(1) Every alienation of land from the Crown made on or after the commencement of this Act (whether by way of sale, lease, or otherwise) shall be deemed to be made subject to a reservation in favour of the Crown of every mineral existing in its natural condition in the land.
(1A) Nothing in subsection (1) applies to pounamu to which section 3 of the Ngai Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997 applies.
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, every mineral reserved in favour of the Crown by any enactment shall continue to be reserved in favour of the Crown, notwithstanding the repeal of that enactment.
And that only means they get royalties on them.
I like the mining being uneconomic.
I think with regard to governments doing uneconomic things (Transrail etc) you may protest too loudly. As I walk to work and around the city I see lots of things built the government or paid for by the government that all of us use every day. The countries infrastructure is mostly delivered from the public purse (Vogels rail being a good example). Private enterprise has a habit of benefiting and not paying the true cost. You might be better to have a look at who benefits and the transfer costs which may or may not be paid. Road versus rail is a point in case.
Howzabout doing some empirical research and giving us the real numbers.
Do remember that the mining will take a few years from now to become actioned. Is mining a smokescreen for …….umm? They politicians are pretty good at deflecting attention like any good magician.
Ask the folk at waihi how that tailings dam and underground collapsing tunnells are working out for them.
When sideshow John claimed we’d catch up to Oz he forgot to lay waste to vast tracts of forest/etc to create the desserts that mining thrives in…..Oz have plenty of known high value mineral deposits in and around the Kakadu/daintree/coronation hill etc but they will not touch them for exactly the resaons the nat’s are finding out now….if they’re listening that is.
Bright Red “Ah, but ts, what you don’t get is that if the private comapnies mine ofn private land, they have to buy or lease that land from the landowner bye bye big profits.”
I can’t imagine that private land that is quite remote would be very expensive in the context of the project. If the project is worth $1billion in revenue and the land costs $1million, then its bugger all. Plus there would be a lot less costly mitigation requirements on non-s4 land. Therefore, I still say it would be more economical to mine where it is known that 90% of the minerals are.
Bright Red “Plus, it’s the type of minerals that are in the schedule 4 land. the Nats’ links are to goldmining companies. Most of the gold is on DoC land. It’s ironsand, silica and stuff mostly on private land.”
But gold has a very high pay-off for the volume collected. If the gold is in seams that are concentrated in a small geological area, then the pay-off for a small, targeted mine could be very high in comparison, say to coal, where much bigger quantities are required to make it viable and hence a much bigger footprint on the environment.
“I can’t imagine that private land that is quite remote would be very expensive in the context of the project. If the project is worth $1billion in revenue and the land costs $1million, then its bugger all. Plus there would be a lot less costly mitigation requirements on non-s4 land. Therefore, I still say it would be more economical to mine where it is known that 90% of the minerals are”
Um. You just mae up those numbers, so not very useful. And since mining anywhere is subject to the RMA I think you’re overblowing the mitigation cost savings.
“But gold has a very high pay-off for the volume collected. If the gold is in seams that are concentrated in a small geological area, then the pay-off for a small, targeted mine could be very high in comparison, say to coal, where much bigger quantities are required to make it viable and hence a much bigger footprint on the environment.”
Oh dear, the stupid, it hurts.
Yeah, the amount of gold is small but the amount of mining reguired is not. If you’ve got 3g per tonne, which is a good seam, then you’re talking 10 tonnes of ore per $1500 ounce of gold. And the real environmental footprint of gold, and any metal, is the tailings.
The tailings dam in Waihi is 50 stories high and holds back 40 million tonnes of tocix slurry. That toxin doesn’t go away – except for leaching into the surrounding water (see acid runoff at the tui mine)
As an aside, if I was Brownlee I’d fire my PR writer. No one, but no one should ever use the phrase “a modest proposal” in any non-satiric way, especially someone who actually looks like he would eat a small child.
http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html
Good point! And thanks for the link. It’s not getting better for Gerry. Doesn’t think there’s any significant opposition, admits never having been to Gt Barrier Island and signs off with the phrase ‘I’m not a geologist’.
Gerry ‘I’m not a geologist’ Brownlee. Certainly knows how to dig a hole though.
Bright Red: “Um. You just mae up those numbers, so not very useful. And since mining anywhere is subject to the RMA I think you’re overblowing the mitigation cost savings.”
Not really. Undeveloped land anywhere is not worth a heck of a lot. Here is the Harcourts website that points to a couple of properties in the 0-$2000000 price range.
http://www.harcourts.co.nz/Property/Rural?pageid=-5&search=&formsearch=true&location=&proptype=56&min=0&max=2000000&minland=2000000&maxland=10000000
The one that is priced at $2000000 is 610 acres and includes buildings etc. So, I would say that completely undeveloped land would be a lot cheaper.
Bright Red “Yeah, the amount of gold is small but the amount of mining reguired is not. If you’ve got 3g per tonne, which is a good seam, then you’re talking 10 tonnes of ore per $1500 ounce of gold. And the real environmental footprint of gold, and any metal, is the tailings. The tailings dam in Waihi is 50 stories high and holds back 40 million tonnes of tocix slurry. That toxin doesn’t go away except for leaching into the surrounding water (see acid runoff at the tui mine”
Not necessarilly. There are now mining methods that greatly reduce, or don’t require these chemicals.
http://www.iconcentrator.com/gold-mining/environmentally-friendly/no-mercury-gold-concentration-reduce-gold-mercury—iconcentrator-enhanced-gravity-concentrators.html
You have no idea where the minerals on private land are, so you can’t just go guessing the land’s value.
The mining techinique you refer to is for small scale mining. Not processing millions of tonnes of dense ore extracted from deep seams. And it only reduces the amount of cyanide used. And it’s not actually developed yet.
Dig and hope, no way! There is a plan!!!
It is to use mining tailings for embankments on the John Key Memorial Cycle way. Trundling mining machinery into National Parks will open up the way for intrepid cycle adventurers to blaze new trails for which the government will take the credit. Photo opportunities of new clean green vistas will appear for the Minister of Tourism (behind the mine, reverse camera angle). The proposed conservation fund (paid by a levy on the mining profits from wrecked areas) will pay for new “conservation’ areas to wreck up and down the country, all to be linked and voila the John Key Memorial Cycleway Reinga to Bluff via lots of holes in the ground.
Vision, boldness, clarity, what do you mean dig and hope?
funny you should say that.
One proposed leg of the John Key Memorial Cycleway is at Dun mountain near Nelson. It’s currently Schedule 4. They want to remove it for mining.
What will it be – cycleway or mine?
They will mine Dun mountain only after I have been run over with a bulldozer
yes
It’ll be a cycleway around a mine as they’re awesome tourist attractions apparently…..as long as you’re upwind of the plant and tailings dam which could play havoc with the old breathing and allergies…..aside from that she’ll be beauty matey.
“Phil Goff’s interview on Radio New Zealand is morning was very good. He pointed out the huge quantities of ore that need to be extracted and turned into toxic tailings to get at the gold. He also pointed out that 60% of NZ’s mineral wealth isn’t on conservation land and Labour supports responsible mining of those resources”
He would know, being part of a government that handed out, on average, a permit a fortnight.
but the qoute isn’t complete. it should read
“60% of NZ’s mineral wealth isn’t on conservation land and Labour supports responsible mining of those resources both on and off conservation land”
Not a single permit on schedule 4 land.
goddam you’re dumb some times righty. the issue isn’t about mining full-stop, it’s about mining on areas that have been specifically excluded from mining because of their natural value.
your right BR, I am dumb. seeing as you are so smart, why don’t you explain to me why phil goff said conservation land, and not specifically schedule 4 land? is that because he is all right with mining on conservation land, but just says catergorically that he isn’t? and wasn’t one permit in particular on land deliberately left out of schedule 4 because of it’s mining value? despite it being identified as being worthy of schedule 4 protection?
oh noes, goff said accidentally used a general phrase once when takling to the public rather than a technical phrase his audience might have not understood. I guess that overrides all labour’s other comments that have made it clear they are talking specifically about ‘our most precious land’, the stuff in Schedule 4.
shit.
I guess you’re right Tighty.
Bring in the bulldozers.
– This is sarcasm, by the way.
silly me, thinking that conservation land, actually meant conservation land, like national parks, whether S4 or not. my bad, thanks for clearing that up.
Trying the spin cycle again I see TR.
You see, the argument is about mining on schedule 4 land which is protected by law from mining not about mining per se.
Another “Mining is good” press release by the Granny.
Bright Red “The mining techinique you refer to is for small scale mining. Not processing millions of tonnes of dense ore extracted from deep seams. And it only reduces the amount of cyanide used. And it’s not actually developed yet.”
You are contradicting yourself.
In my first post I contended that small-scale mining could be viable and less intrusive due to the relatively high value of gold compared to other minerals. You responded by claiming that mining for gold was large scale and caused lots of pollutants. I provided a site that showed examples of small-scale mining. You then complained because those mines are small. Yet this is what I argued for in the first place. Why does it necessarily have to be big? Who do you think you are? Goldilocks? Do you want a mine thats “just the right size”?
Furthermore, even without the developmental technique, small mines by definition will produce a lot less pollution. Although the technique mentioned is still under development, it may be available by the time any mining ever takes place on s4 land. Another advantage of small-scale mining, as per the link I pointed to, is that it could well be utilized by smaller local companies rather than large overseas operations thus keeping the money in New Zealand.
ts. I’ve had a look at your link. It’s talking about subsistance mining in the third world, not mining of underground seams on a commercial basis.
I did realize that, Marty, and didn’t claim otherwise. However, it still supports my point that gold-mining doesn’t have to be large scale to be successful. If big was the only way to make a profit out of gold, then no-one would bother panning for gold.
I agree that if the seams are deep then larger scale mining will probably be required. However, since it is s4 land that may not have been considered for mining previously, it might be that there is gold in these areas that is relatively easy to get at and can be obtained quite profitably on a smaller and more sustainable scale.
They aren’t going to be panning for gold. It simply isn’t economic. Same with building tunnels to follow veins of gold. That isn’t economic either.
That is why we don’t have vast numbers of people panning and building micro-mines. It isn’t economic…
What we will get for gold, silver and rare earth mining is big opencast mines. They are economic, although sometimes just barely when the price goes down.