Industry sees potential in mining plan

Published: 7:51AM Tuesday March 23, 2010 Source: ONE News/Newstalk ZB

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New Zealand's mineral industry is pleased the government has acknowledged it has a responsibility to explore the country's mineral potential.

The government on Monday identified 7,058 hectares of land it proposes be removed from schedule four in the Crown Minerals Act, to pave the way for access for mining.

It has invited submissions on the proposal.

Business New Zealand says mineral resources belong to all New Zealanders and the plan could lead to a spike in New Zealand's prosperity.

State-owned enterprise Solid Energy has welcomed the discussion paper, saying it gives New Zealanders an opportunity to understand the potential value of mineral resources here.

"We know that New Zealanders value our unique natural environment extremely highly," says chief executive Don Elder.

"We also know that New Zealanders want good jobs and a high standard of living. Smart, well-managed use of our natural resources, combined with a conservation fund to create long-term environmental gain will allow us to have both."

And Minerals Industry Association chief executive Doug Gordon says the National-led government has put a lot of resources into seismic surveys for oil and gas exploration.

He is welcoming the same attitude towards mineral potential.

Gordon expects most of that potential lies in high value, low volume minerals.

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  • menacerec said on 2010-07-24 @ 00:53 NZDT: Report abusive post

    John needs the boot... not just for this either.

  • menacerec said on 2010-07-24 @ 00:49 NZDT: Report abusive post

    No hawthorne, what National have done is gone back on multiple significant election promises. Their economic policies have already shown to correlate with increases in income inequality. They are increasing our debt in order to give the upper 5% of earners the greatest tax cuts, although 75% of the population is hardly left with enough to live on. They are further cutting the rights of workers in favour of big businesses, their true agenda is quite clear.

  • irwin said on 2010-07-21 @ 11:05 NZDT: Report abusive post

    The protest actions taken by my fellow NZers and the governments decision not to proceed with the mining on DOC land makes me very proud to be a Kiwi. This is democracy at its finest and those people who say the government should never investigated it in the first place have lost the plot. The people have spoken and the government has listened. Great.

  • ukustarmitch said on 2010-07-21 @ 10:01 NZDT: Report abusive post

    HAHAHA this is too funny. How dare they consider destroying our beautiful landscape! National, you did the right thing, but don't expect me to vote for you in next years election

  • SantaCruz66 said on 2010-07-21 @ 08:54 NZDT: Report abusive post

    Simply a matter of matter that Gerry doesn't want to mine what he can't walk around. 50k kiwis marched because Gerry et al missed the point. Good democracy for sure but political ineptitude and appalling stewardship - all Gerry had to do was announce it the conference and he would have been fine :)

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