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Source: ONE News -
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Cabinet will on Monday start discussing mining on conservation land but decisions might not be taken right away, Prime Minister John Key says.
The government last year carried out a stocktake of minerals in the conservation estate, and intends taking parts of it out of the schedule in the Crown Minerals Act which protect it from mining.
The plan has caused an outcry, with the Green Party and environmental organisations strongly opposed to it.
Key says a discussion document would be finalised in the next two weeks which would look at which parts could be removed from protection.
"We're not going to have massive open cast mines," he says.
"But a bit more could be taken out...in the end, if we do this and the country makes money, it provides better education and health services."
Facing strong opposition in parliament, the government is pointing out that 82 mining concessions on conservation land were granted by the previous Labour government.
The value of minerals in conservation land has been put at about $140 billion, but it could be much more than that.
What do you think about mining on conservation land? Have your say on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentmenacerec 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 :)