-
Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
The Prime Minister has accused critics of government proposals to allow mining in conservation land as "scare-mongering".
He would not categorically rule out the possibility of open cast mining on TV ONE's Breakfast on Monday, but was playing down fears of any mining eyesore.
John Key says he's acutely aware of the need for any mining to be done in an environmentally friendly way.
"Modern mining techniques give us lots of options these days," he says.
Key is adamant a mineral stock take of conservation land will continue to protect the environment and benefit the country economically.
"I think we can marry the two together -and ultimately if we can expand our mining activities in an environmentally friendly way, then we've got more money to pay for the things we want whether its health or education," he says.
While the government say surgical techniques can minimise the impact of mining on the land, environmentalists say that's a joke.
"Surgical mining is just government and mining company spin, people concentrate on the portal into an underground mine, but there's so much more to modern mining than that," says Denis Tegg, Coromandel Watchdog.
Communities who could be affected if plans are followed through, say they will react.
"If they ignore all that public opinion and appear on the Coromandel with a mining rig, then we're back to the protest days of the late 70s, 80s and 90s," says Tegg.
A discussion document is expected to be released by cabinet within a few weeks.
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 :)