As always Rod Oram offers a considered approach to issues of the day. In today’s Sunday Star Times he offers his analytical skills to mining, saying:
New Zealand has three responses: We could tell the world we won’t mine. Dig up your own country, sell us the products you make from your minerals and we’ll make money from you holidaying in this “untouched” paradise. But this hypocrisy would make us deeply unpopular. We could mine lots and badly. But this would damage our land, economy and reputation.
We could be leaders in environmentally responsible mining, the science around it and the high-value downstream products and services flowing from it. Then we could prove that the economy and environment, treated well, can enhance each other.
But in our usual fashion as a nation, we are once again failing to seek a robust, long-term solution. Rather than working to achieve the best but hardest solution option three we’re bashing each other’s brains out. Once again we’ll end up with a fatally flawed stalemate on an issue vital to the wellbeing of the nation.
I can only hope that such considerations will be taken into account when the government considers the submissions on their discussion document. Perhaps we can achieve something positive after all….
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