Coast offers to hold minerals forums after conference cancelled

THE West Coast has offered to host future minerals forums after a national conference scheduled for Hamilton this week was called off due to threatened protest action.

Westland Mayor Bruce Smith was already on his way to the conference when the decision was made to cancel. Other West Coast mayors and miners had also been expected to attend.

Organisers emailed those registered for the conference and said that following meetings with the police, venue and security, they felt they could not hold the event safely.

In May, the Minerals West Coast annual forum in Reefton was held without incident, however last year the national minerals conference in Dunedin was disrupted by protesters, and some West Coast delegates had to force their way through those demonstrating to get inside the venue. One prominent Coast miner reportedly lost a shoe in the melee.

On Friday, the West Coast

Mayors, Chairs and Iwi forum said it was disappointed the 2020 Minerals Forum had been cancelled and suggested that future forums be held on the Coast

The Minerals Forum was futurefocused, including speakers from iwi, science, innovation and other industry leaders, which made it especially disappointing, the mayors said.

Topics included solar panels, battery storage, carbon capture, advanced minerals to material research and responding to environmental and climate change related issues.

‘‘The West Coast welcomes responsible ethical mining and the opportunity to host other focused forums like this in the future. Recently, Minerals West Coast held an informative twoday minerals forum in Reefton. This was well received by the community and attendees and allowed for the free flow of ideas focused on the future.’’

Mr Smith said, ‘‘this is not the New Zealand we know’’. — Greymouth Star