Minerals millions going begging

The excellent article by Will Harvie (Rare earths minerals could be common, Nov 5) gives the geology/ science side of the story. He is right, rare earths are very important but not especially rare, particularly the light ones. It is well known that New Zealand has them in abundance.

Much of the rest of the world does too, but China is the main supplier because its product is cheap. Many very good (mainly private company) geologists identified significant rare earth potential resources here but now those areas mainly lie within national parks or the South Westland World Heritage Area.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment may not issue any sort of permit for those areas.

We know there is an enormous iron ore deposit off Taranaki that, if developed, could provide thousands of jobs and much-needed industry and revenue. Likewise, phosphate resources on the Chatham Rise and titanium resources in Westland.

Companies spend millions trying to get consents here then, after several years, typically give up and go spend their cash elsewhere. I can’t help but conclude that our central and local governments are entirely negative towards any sort of minerals development. So why do we even maintain an academic GNS and a toothless Crown Minerals Group?

I have to give credit to Straterra for bravely representing the minerals industry at large and at least giving the industry a voice despite apparent government disinterest.

Colin Douch, Arcadia Resources [abridged]