Who Said That?

• Guest post
• 14 years ago
• Categories: crosby textor, Politics
• Tags: john key, Robert de Crespigny

Who suggested that the mining industry in New Zealand needed to be reinvigorated and should put more emphasis on marketing its fundamentally strong geological resource, telling the NZ Herald that gold mining prospects in New Zealand were at least as good as anywhere in the world, a fact that needed to be exploited?

Further to that, who was quoted stating the familiar theme:

There is a unique chance for New Zealand to grasp an opportunity…”

Was it John Key in 2001 – just months before entering politics – when he invested heavily in Australia’s Jackson Gold Ltd?  Or was it John Key in 2010 launching his policy to mine National Parks, Marine Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries?

No, it was a 1997 comment from none other than Robert Champion De Crespigny then Chairman of Normandy Mining the Australian founders of Waihi’s hole, the open cast Martha Mine, and now Chairman of John Key’s Australian spin doctors, Crosby Textor (See NZ Herald, 18 Nov 1997).

– by Reagan Smash