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New Zealand: Mining in Schedule 4 Conflict: Difference between revisions
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New Zealand: Mining in Schedule 4 Conflict (view source)
Revision as of 11:13, 3 May 2011
, 11:13, 3 May 2011→Introduction
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
In March 2010, the New Zealand Government began canvassing the idea of removing land from its highly protected status under Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act in order to carrying out prospecting for rich mineral deposits. While releasing a discussion paper proposing a number of measures to develop New Zealand's mineral potential the Minister of Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee, and the Minister of Conservation, Kate Wilkinson, said a preliminary stocktake of Schedule Four land showed <ref>Media statement: Time to discuss maximising our mineral potential http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00313.htm</ref>: | In March 2010, the New Zealand Government began canvassing the idea of removing land from its highly protected status under Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act in order to carrying out prospecting for rich mineral deposits. While releasing a discussion paper proposing a number of measures to develop New Zealand's mineral potential the Minister of Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee, and the Minister of Conservation, Kate Wilkinson, said a preliminary stocktake of Schedule Four land showed <ref>Media statement: Time to discuss maximising our mineral potential http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00313.htm</ref>: | ||
* New Zealand is mineral rich and extraction could be undertaken in an environmentally friendly way | |||
* the mineral wealth was often highly concentrated in high conservation areas | |||
* Schedule Four lands could be mined with little direct impact | |||
* there was inadequate information on the potential mineral deposits and the Government wanted to improve knowledge of the "mineral estate". | |||
The reaction to the Government's proposal was swift and vociferous. Environmental and local community groups, celebrities and opposition political parties immediately lined up against the Government, the mining industry and big business interest groups to condemn any suggestion of encroaching upon land with the highest protected conservation status in the country. | The reaction to the Government's proposal was swift and vociferous. Environmental and local community groups, celebrities and opposition political parties immediately lined up against the Government, the mining industry and big business interest groups to condemn any suggestion of encroaching upon land with the highest protected conservation status in the country. | ||