Labour draws line in sand on Coromandel
A Labour-led government will amend Schedule 4 to protect vulnerable land in southern Coromandel from mining, but National is calling time on what it is calling ‘‘arbitrary’’ policies.
Under its conservation policy, released this week, Labour has sworn that conservation land, beaches and harbours on the southern Coromandel Peninsula between Thames’ Kopu-Hikuai Rd and Te Aroha will be included in Schedule 4.
Nanaia Mahuta, Labour MP for Hauraki and Waikato, said there has been strong advocacy from the area to have that land included as a protected area.
‘‘I do believe while mining has produced some local benefits in terms of employment, people are wanting to diversify employment opportunities in the Coromandel [and] preserving the natural heritage in that area and promoting that as unique to the Coromandel Peninsula helps to grow an eco-tourism opportunity.’’
The promise has been labelled unsustainable by National MP for Coromandel, Scott Simpson. ‘‘It’s rather arbitrary to be banning mining in all areas, no matter how high or low the conservation value of the land is.
‘‘I have made it clear since before being elected there are parts of the region where sensible and moderate mining could occur.’’
He said the policy prompts red flags for voters who are looking for sustainability.
‘‘I think Labour are at the point in the campaign where they are promising everything to everybody and stopped thinking about what it’s going to cost.’’
The Crown Minerals Act 1991 (CMA) prohibits mining activity for Crownowned minerals on land described in Schedule 4 of the act. Areas can be added to the schedule, or in some cases taken out of it, by Order in Council.
A Labour-led government would ensure that no land be taken out of Schedule 4 by Order in Council and amend the act to add ecological areas, world heritage areas and marine mammal sanctuaries to the generic protected categories. Labour would also extend southward the Coromandel boundary to include conservation land south of the Kopu-Hikuai Rd to the southern boundary of the Te Aroha Ecological District.
The promise has finally addressed unfinished business from 1997, said longtime lobbyist and Thames environmental lawyer Denis Tegg.
‘‘In 1997 the National government drew an arbitrary line across the peninsula, and protected only the northern area from mining. ‘‘We never gave up, and have relentlessly pursued our campaign for 35 years.’’