Happy with housing plans for Homestead Bay
Queenstown's massive Homestead Bay housing development has taken another step along the fast-track consenting process, with new documents revealing Australian-based RCL Group is planning 2800 homes on a site south of Jack's Point, along with wastewater and transport solutions which it's prepared to self-fund.
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Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Seabed Mining Is Becoming An Environmental Flashpoint – NZ Will Have To Pick A Side Soon
Seabed mining could become one of the defining environmental battles of 2025. Around the world, governments are weighing up whether to allow mining of the ocean floor for metal ores and minerals. New Zealand is among them. The stakes are high. Deep-sea mining is highly controversial, with evidence showing mining activity can cause lasting damage to fragile marine ecosystems. One area off the east coast of the United States, mined as an experiment 50 years ago, still bears scars and shows little sign of recovery. With the world facing competing pressures – climate action and conservation versus demand for resources – New Zealand must now decide whether to fast-track mining, regulate it tightly, or pause it entirely. Who controls international seabed mining? A major flashpoint is governance in international waters. Under international law, seabed mining beyond national jurisdiction is managed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), created by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). But the US has never ratified UNCLOS. In April this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to bypass the ISA and allow companies to begin mining in international waters. The ISA has pushed back, warning unilateral action breaches international law. However, the declaration from the recently concluded UN Ocean Conference in France does not urge countries to adopt a precautionary approach, nor does it ban deep seabed mining. The declaration does 'reiterate the need to increase scientific knowledge on deep sea ecosystems' and recognises the role of the ISA in setting 'robust rules, regulations and procedures for exploitation of resources' in international waters. So, while the international community supports multilateralism and international law, deep-sea mining in the near future remains a real possibility. Fast-track approvals In the Pacific, some countries have already made up their minds about which way they will go. Nauru recently updated its agreement with Canadian-based The Metals Company to begin mining in the nearby Clarion Clipperton Zone. The deal favours the US's go-it-alone approach over the ISA model. By contrast, in 2022, New Zealand's Labour government backed the ISA's moratorium and committed to a holistic ocean management strategy. Whether that position still holds is unclear, given the current government's policies. The list of applications under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 – described by Regional Development Minister Shane Jones as 'arguably the most permissive regime' in Australasia – includes two controversial seabed mining proposals in Bream Bay and off the Taranaki coast: Trans-Tasman Resources' proposal to extract up to 50 million tonnes of Taranaki seabed material annually to recover heavy mineral sands that contain iron ore as well as rare metal elements titanium and vanadium. McCallum Brothers Ltd's Bream Bay proposal to dredge up to 150,000 cubic metres of sand yearly for three years, and up to 250,000 cubic metres after that. Legal landscape changing Māori and environmental groups have opposed the fast-track policy, and the Treaty of Waitangi has so far been a powerful safeguard in seabed mining cases. Provisions referencing Treaty principles appear in key laws, including the Crown Minerals Act and the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act. In 2021, the Supreme Court cited these obligations when it rejected a 2016 marine discharge application by Trans-Tasman Resources to mine the seabed in the Taranaki Bight. The court ruled Treaty clauses must be interpreted in a 'broad and generous' way, recognising tikanga Māori and customary marine rights. But that legal landscape could soon change. The Regulatory Standards Bill, now before parliament, would give priority to property rights over environmental or Indigenous protections in the formulation of new laws and regulations. The bill also allows for the review of existing legislation. In theory, if the Regulatory Standards Bill becomes law, it could result in the removal of Treaty principles clauses from legislation. This in turn could deny courts the tools they've previously used to uphold environmental and Treaty-based protections to block seabed mining applications. That would make it easier to approve fast-tracked projects such as the Bream Bay and Taranaki projects. Setting a precedent Meanwhile, Hawai'i has gone in a different direction. In 2024, the US state passed a law banning seabed mining in state waters – joining California (2022), Washington (2021) and Oregon (1991). Under the Hawai'i Seabed Mining Prevention Act, mining is banned except in rare cases such as beach restoration. The law cites the public's right to a clean and healthy environment. As global conflict brews over seabed governance, New Zealand's eventual position could set a precedent. Choosing to prohibit seabed mining in New Zealand waters, as Hawai'i has done, would send a strong message that environmental stewardship and Indigenous rights matter more than short-term resource extraction interests. If New Zealand does decide to go ahead with seabed mining, however, it could trigger a cascade of mining efforts across New Zealand and the Pacific. A crucial decision is fast approaching.
Otago Daily Times
11 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
'We had no idea how popular it would become'
A mountain of butter is on its way to a Canterbury school. The five tonnes of Westgold butter - more than 19,000 250-gram blocks - will be distributed by the Leithfield School after its most successful fundraising venture ever. ''It really took off and went from being a small local fundraiser to a large regional one,'' says Leithfield School principal Rob Cavanagh. He says it was just timing and social media which drove the venture to new heights. Due to unprecedented demand, the date for the final online butter orders was brought forward from June 23 to June 6. The butter collection dates will be communicated via email or text message. It is thought a combination of increased public comment online about the rising price of butter, coupled with an announcement the cheapest butter in New Zealand was supplied to Costco in Auckland by the Hokitika-based Westgold dairy company, drove the success when the school's fundraiser was discovered online offering identically priced blocks of the cheaper butter, supported by Westgold. It all contributed to making the school's fundraiser a success. ''We've had emails and calls from all over the country, some from as far away as Tauranga and the Hawke's Bay,'' says Cavanagh. He says at the start of each year the school's board of trustees fundraising committee prepares a list of things and activities they will be raising money for to help supplement the school's finances. ''They help us out financially, raising what they can in the community to support the activities of our students. For each block of butter sold, a dollar goes towards the fundraising goal. ''We decided to take it on instead of the usual chocolates or biscuits type of fundraiser.'' They sold the 250-gram charity blocks of Westgold butter for $4 and the school receives $1. ''We had no idea how popular it would become,'' says Cavanagh. ''Once it hit social media it took off and when we closed it two weeks ago we had sold over 19,000 blocks of butter.'' Cavanagh says the more than $19,000 raised has now taken care of all the requests for funding the BoT fundraising committee was looking at this year. ''It's amazing, this year there were six different funding requests and now we can meet them all, and still have some money left over for other projects.'' These include stationery subsidies for pupils, shortfalls in school camp expenses, new kapa haka uniforms, student council seminars, supporting the establishment of a new writing programme at the school and other expenses. ''It's been amazing and great for people to be able to support the school and get a bargain as well. ''Next year we hope that despite the company raising the price of the butter last week, people will continue to support the school's fundraising efforts, which all goes to aid in the continued development of our students.''
Scoop
14 hours ago
- Scoop
Hamilton Back On International Radar
Press Release – Hamilton Airport From today, Jetstar will operate seven trans-Tasman services per week out of Hamilton: three return flights to and from the Gold Coast, and four return flights between Hamilton and Sydney. Hamilton Airport reopens as an international gateway today for the first time in more than a decade – and the team behind it is ecstatic. Jetstar flight JQ165 from Sydney will touch down in Hamilton around 11.15am today before the A320 aircraft reloads and takes passengers back to Sydney. From today, Jetstar will operate seven trans-Tasman services per week out of Hamilton: three return flights to and from the Gold Coast, and four return flights between Hamilton and Sydney. Hamilton Airport chief executive Mark Morgan, who was on the inaugural flight from Sydney this morning, said the team behind the rebirth of Hamilton's international airport were 'exhausted but ecstatic'. 'This is a huge day, it's momentous. It's been almost 13 years since Hamilton was an international airport. That's a long time between drinks, but we are absolutely ready to go. These new Jetstar services reconnect the Waikato directly with Australia and the world. We couldn't be prouder, or more excited to put Hamilton back on an international flight path.' Morgan said the Jetstar flights will add capacity for more than 100,000 international passengers each year and pour an extra $45 million annually into the Waikato economy. More than 60 new airport-based jobs have already been created and the tourism spend is expected to open the door for around 300 new jobs. 'This is much more than just a boost in Australian visitors, or more families and businesses finding it easier and cheaper to connect across the Tasman. It's about real dollars in people's pockets,' Morgan said. 'Jetstar's arrival in Hamiton creates a new, international gateway to the North Island – one that brings people directly into the Mighty Waikato. It gives New Zealanders easy, convenient access to the eastern seaboard of Australia, and from there to the wider world.' Since Jetstar's announcement in September last year, the airport team had worked like incredibly hard, he said. 'We have developed a world-class international terminal, new car park facilities and delivered on a mountain of border agency requirements while still running a domestic airport without any passenger disruption. It's been intense and at times, exhausting, but what a privilege to be part of something that will turn the dial for Hamilton and the Waikato.' Morgan acknowledged the work from multiple agencies. 'This project has been a true collaboration. We've worked alongside the Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Customs, Avsec, Immigration New Zealand, police, health services and many others to ensure the airport is fully compliant and ready to operate. It's been a huge job for the border agencies. They've worked tirelessly to help us deliver.' Morgan also acknowledged the leadership from his Board of Directors. 'Nothing very good happens without strong governance. They backed us when we first took the Jetstar proposal to them and have backed us every day since. For a chief executive, that's gold.' Jetstar chief executive Stephanie Tully said it was exciting to be further expanding Jetstar's New Zealand network. 'This year, we're celebrating 20 years of international flying from New Zealand and 16 years of domestic operations – transforming the country's aviation industry along the way. We're excited to bring international travel back to Hamilton with new direct flights from Sydney and the Gold Coast, offering more low-cost options and exciting new destinations for Kiwis and Aussies.' 'We know Kiwi travellers love our low fares and see huge potential for even more growth in the future.' Morgan thanked his Hamilton Airport team for making today happen. 'The efforts made to get this across the line and deliver something we can all be proud of have been extraordinary. We know what this means to our wider community and have felt a real responsibility to deliver. Today we have.' Note:
