A new era of mining?

New Zealand now faces the prospect of iron sand mining offshore. A High Court decision is pending on plans to mine 50 million tonnes of iron sand a year from the seabed off the coast of Taranaki.

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) marine consents to mine an area of seabed in the South Taranaki Bight of nearly 66 square kilometres (three times the size of Ka¯piti Island) to extract iron ore for export.

Eleven parties appealed against the 35-year consents at a hearing in the High Court at Wellington that wrapped up in April.

It is the second time TTR has applied for marine consent to mine the South Taranaki Bight. Its first application was declined In

2014.

Last year, the EPA granted the consents subject to conditions, one of which was that two years of monitoring had to take place before the company was allowed to begin mining in the planned area, 22km to 36km off Patea.

Under the plan, a remotecontrolled dredge would vacuum sand from the seabed at depths between about 20 metres and

42m, to a processing ship where the iron ore would be extracted.

It was planned that about 90 per cent of the material would be returned to the sea.

Opponents said, among other things, that the noise and sediment plume would cause birds and marine animals to avoid the area, and would result in longterm, if not permanent, damage to the environment and cultural concerns of Ma¯ori.

TTR said the area was already intensively fished, had gas and oil installations, and was a rugged environment subject to naturally occurring sediment flows from rivers.

One of the appellants, the group Kiwis against Seabed Mining (Kasm), says not enough is known about the impact of the mining.

It fears approving the project would set a precedent, opening the floodgates to mining in New Zealand waters.

‘‘This would be the first time seabed mining is allowed in NZ . . . why should NZ be the testing ground?’’ spokesperson Cindy Baxter says.

Seabed mining, globally, is in its infancy.

When TTR first mooted its plans, other companies were lining up in the wings, she says.

Information from New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals showed, in 2012, more than a dozen prospecting and exploration permits had been issued to other companies, Kasm research indicated.

‘‘If it went ahead, it would be a massive experiment.’’

Three other exploration and prospecting permits are currently active in New Zealand waters.

Cass Offshore Minerals has two exploration permits, one for iron sand in Taranaki, and one for ilmenite off the Bay of Plenty.

The company would not speak to Stuff. Information on its website says New Zealand has the fourthlargest continental shelf land mass in the world.

‘‘Its volcanic geology has made the waters offshore New Zealand an untapped mineral resource target of unprecedented scale.’’