Latest news with #seabedMining
RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Wanganui-Manawatu Sea Fishing Club leader raises alarm over seabed mining project
Jamie Newell, diving off South Taranaki, says large areas of one of New Zealand's most important fisheries could be wiped out by seabed mining. Photo: Supplied The commodore of the Wanganui-Manawatu Sea Fishing Club is raising the alarm over a seabed mining project he never believed would happen. "With it being turned down by the Supreme Court and there being a court-ordered environmental hearing, I never, ever thought it would get to this point," Jamie Newell told Local Democracy Reporting. The Whanganui diver, fisherman and business owner said large areas of one of New Zealand's most important fisheries could be wiped out by an Australian miner's desire to mine minerals off the South Taranaki coast. Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) wants to extract up to 50 million tonnes a year of seabed material a year. It would recover an estimated 5 million tonnes of vanadium-rich titanomagnetite concentrate and then dump unwanted sediment back into the sea. TTR withdrew from an environmental hearing to apply for marine consents via the coalition government's new fast-track approvals regime. Newell, who manages family-run fishing and outdoors business Marine Services Whanganui, said low reefs in the South Taranaki Bight would be smothered by the dumping of 45 million tonnes a year of "dredge tailings" for 20 years. Recreational fishers and local businesses could be left reeling for decades, he said. "That's extremely concerning. I'm extremely worried for what that sediment would do to our marine environment and how dramatically it could change recreational fishing off there." Newell said he feared the impact of silt pollution on precious reef life. "I was brought up diving the coastline and my father dived it as well. I've done a lot of exploratory diving out to 45m. I've seen personally how clear it is out there - and I'm worried. "We have some very diverse ecosystems off this coastline - some of the most scenic you could ever hope to see. The reef life is some of the best in the world. "It's a very unreal place, one of the only places we have like this in the whole of the North Island. "You can be out there with 60 to 100 kingis swimming around you, being inquisitive. No movie could ever replicate that." Wanganui-Manawatu Sea Fishing Club commodore Jamie Newell. Photo: Supplied Over the past six or seven years, Newell has mapped many of the reefs he's dived using new marine electronics. "The detail we can see now is far beyond what we've been able to see before. You can know every rock and gully and face on those reefs." Pumping 90% of the extracted materials back into the ocean would result in a huge volume of displaced sediment, he said. "Niwa and TTR have done research around and inland of that area, but I've yet to see any research on the reefs downcurrent of there - the ones that will be affected. "Most of the tailings will follow the east to west currents and flow back to Whanganui. "TTR knows there will be problems in those areas, so they've left that research undone." TTR proposes mining from waters 20m to 50m deep, between 22km and 36km offshore. While inner reefs were quite tall, with faces 5m to 15m high, and would not be as affected by the dredging, some deeper reefs were low and flat, lying only about a metre and a half high. "It won't take much at all to cover them." Ocean contours dropped off into a hole about 30-40m lower than the dredging zone, he said. "That's one of our main reef structure areas. The silt's going to settle on that area between the mining zone and the back of Graham Bank, and it will hit all the reefs there." Jamie Newell and partner Melissa Churchouse. Newell says dredging tailings will wipe out a swathe of the area's reef fisheries. Photo: Supplied Newell said from a depth of around 30m, wave action did not disturb the seabed. "Pumping silt back onto it will silt up reefs that don't naturally get silt on them." Niwa had reported that tailings dumped into water 35-70m deep would move up to 20km from the mining site and Newell feared the sediment would cover a swathe of low-lying reef structure. "Reef life will lose its habitat. The tailings are going to wipe out a large part of our reef fisheries, the likes of our blue cod, terakihi and hāpuka. It's where 90 percent of our terakihi get caught. "Our numbers of snapper and crayfish and kingis are recovering and growing faster than ever. We have an exceptional recreational crayfishery here. What's this going to do to them?" Newell has been with the sea fishing club in Whanganui for more than 10 years. "At no point has TTR engaged with us. We have more than 250 members, all fishing in that area. We would be the largest recreational user of the fishing grounds east of the seabed mining zone. "They've never talked to us. As part of a consent process, I would have thought that would have been part of what you'd need to do." Newell said smothering reef fisheries would affect his and other businesses. "If people can't go out to catch a feed of fish as easily, they're going to stop trying. We'll lose customers if the habitats are no longer there, and there will be flow-on effects for other businesses. "We've been a family business for 34 years. We employ 22 staff - that's 22 families that rely on our business." Newell has raised his concerns with Whanganui MP Carl Bates. He called a fishing club meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue and spoke with Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop during the Minister's visit to Whanganui on Friday. Bishop is one of the ministers overseeing the Fast-track Approvals regime. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
RNZ News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Waitangi Tribunal registers claim calling for urgent hearing into fast tracked plans to mine seabed off Pātea
The Waitangi Tribunal is considering a claim filed by south Taranaki iwi Ngāti Ruanui concerning a Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) shallow-seabed mining project approved under the Fast Track Approvals Act 2024. Ngāti Ruanui has lodged an application for an urgent hearing asking the Tribunal to investigate alleged breaches of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in the fast-track approvals process . The Tribunal says the claim has been added to the register but a hearing has not yet been granted and is still being considered. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust Kaiwhakahāere Rachel Arnott said the legislation excluded iwi and hapū from meaningful engagement when it mattered most. "The government has failed comprehensively under fast-track to consult with tangata whenua, ignored the Supreme Court and is failing to apply the principles of Te Tiriti. "Anything worth doing is worth doing right, and this government is doing it all wrong The tribunal will now consider whether the government has breached Treaty of Waitangi principles and if it failed to sufficiently involve or consider rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga and the customary rights of Ngāti Ruanui. The tribunal stated the iwi's claim falls within the scope of the Natural Resources and Environmental Management kaupapa inquiry . Along with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui, other claimant groups include: Groups outside Taranaki facing applications have also joined, including Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki All eight Taranaki iwi have publicly opposed the seabed mining project. In May, Ngā Iwi o Taranaki released a statement on behalf of the eight post-settlement governance entity iwi of Taranaki, voicing their support for South Taranaki iwi in their opposition to seabed mining off the coast of Pātea. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Cook Islands seabed mining consultations raise fishery concerns
By Talaia Mika , Cook Islands News Atiu students onboard the Moana Minerals research vessel Anuanua Moana on Saturday. Photo: Cook Islands News / Talaia Mika Concerns over the potential impact of seabed mining on fish stocks - a vital food source and livelihood for outer islanders - dominated the recent consultations hosted by Moana Minerals in the Ngaputoru islands of Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro. Despite initial scepticism and caution, the seabed mining company's effort to share their findings and address community concerns saw a generally positive reception across the three sister islands. Moana Minerals, one of the licenced companies in the Cook Islands to explore deep sea mineral resources, conducted engagement tours across the Southern Group islands last week to inform communities and clarify "misconceptions" surrounding seabed mining. In Atiu, questions from senior residents and youth alike focused heavily on the risks to marine life, especially fish - a primary food source and economic activity for the island. "There's an old saying, what goes around comes around. Have you guys measured the currents and how it'll affect the fish?" a senior male resident asked during the meeting. Hans Smit, chief executive of Moana Minerals, responded by acknowledging the complexity of the issue. Smit reiterated that the mining activities would occur five kilometres beneath the ocean surface - far removed from fishing zones - and said data from international studies supported the low risk to fisheries. "It's a very complicated long process but we have a very good team of experts in special fields to ensure the data is correct," Smit said. Members of the Atiu community during a consultation with Moana Minerals about seabed mining. TALAIA MIKA/25062239 Photo: Cook Islands News / Talaia Mika Another senior Atiuan community member pressed further, raising concern about possible ocean damage during mining operations. "What's the recovery damage in the event during the process? How can you recover that damage of the ocean?" he asked, citing the Christian belief that the deep ocean was not meant for human interference. Smit addressed the risks, saying, "If we start seeing something that doesn't sit right then we have to stop. It's like the leak in the car. That part we can control and manage." He added that the company had insurance in place: "It costs us about $150,000 USD annually ... if anything happens, we have to clean up our mess. This is what any ship operating in the world should have." Youth from the island also raised generational concerns. "Unless it won't affect the future for tomorrow and unless you give me proof," one said. Smit acknowledged the importance of transparency and pledged to share data: "We already showed that ... when we study the soil of the Cook Islands, we cannot find poison in there. So even if we disturb it, it's not the poison that's going to kill the fish. What we need to do is come back to you with all that data so you can have your experts to confirm what we are saying." In Mauke, the tone of the consultation was noticeably more supportive, though the importance of equitable benefits was a recurring theme. Mayor Joane Rongoape told Cook Islands News, "I think it's a good idea. It's a gold mine ... Why not? The bigger countries are harvesting it, and it's in the Cook Islands zone." Rongoape estimated that about 95 per cent of the island's residents supported the seabed mining initiative. "Just a few who don't agree, which is okay ... everybody's got a choice." She expressed confidence in the company's preparedness and planning, noting, "They do all their studies to make sure that it's the right thing to do … There's a lot of work put in this project and a lot of headaches too." Members of the Atiu community during a consultation with Moana Minerals about seabed mining. Photo: Cook Islands News / Talaia Mika Mauke elder Teararoa Mani offered conditional support: "This was 50 years ago and now we are still talking about this. I don't have any problems with you going to get it so long as we benefit from it. God gave these resources for us but don't be greedy. Share it for us." During the Mauke consultation, Smit reaffirmed the company's commitment to environmental protection and accountability. "We do not want to be the people that go down in history as the ones that destroyed the ocean ... I do not want my children to have to live with the legacy that their father destroyed the ocean." He also criticised "misinformation" that paints the company as careless. "It's not helpful or healthy. We are always looking to make sure that whatever we are doing, we are doing it with care and proportion." On the island of Mitiaro, the reception was overwhelmingly supportive, with a focus on economic opportunities and future benefit for the island. Mayor Tati Tutaka told Cook Islands News, "The presentation was very successful to us and to me, and we all support seabed mining so long as we achieve something not just for us but for our future generations here in Mitiaro." He admitted there were initial doubts but said the consultation helped ease those concerns. "Everyone has a fair idea now and these are the kinds of information that we needed ... the more we understand, the better we make decisions based on these facts." The consultation followed a similar session in Mangaia, where residents also raised concerns about the environment and fisheries. One of the main takeaways from that earlier consultation was that while some remained cautious, many welcomed the open dialogue and efforts to clarify the process. Throughout all the consultations, the impact on fish stocks remained the most pressing concern. Across Ngaputoru, fishing is not just a tradition but an economic pillar and a source of sustenance for families. The engagement tour concluded on Saturday with a tour onboard the Moana Minerals boat for the residents especially the children to see the boat that is exploring their seabed. -This article was first published by Cook Islands News .
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
New Plymouth council draws line in sand over seabed mining
Allan Eggers addressing a packed public gallery. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin New Plymouth District Council has drawn a line in the sand and voted to oppose seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight, and in particular the Trans-Tasman Resources' proposal currently going through the Fast Track consenting process. Councillor Amanda Clinton-Gohdes tabled a motion calling for the move and after three hours of deputations and debate her colleagues backed it overwhelmingly - with just two councillors voting against . Trans-Tasman Resources managing chairman Allan Eggers said the vote was disappointing, but would not deter the company which would maintain its focus on the Fast Track process. Clinton-Gohdes, meanwhile, was proud of the council's stand which was met with cheers from a packed public gallery. "It was really important to our community and to me to bring this debate to council, so we could present the views of our community who were asking us to draw a clear line in the sand. I'm really proud of our council for doing the right thing. "It's about representing our community and what they've asked us to do and that we do our up most to protect our environment for future generations." Councillor Amanda Clinton-Gohdes. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Trans- Tasman Resources has approval to vacuum up 50 million tonnes of sand annually from the South Taranaki seabed for 35 years to extract iron, vanadium and titanium, but the company still needs consent to discharge 45 million tonnes of unwanted sediment a year back into the shallow waters. The company has previously been thwarted through legal challenges right up to the Supreme Court and pulled out of an Environmental Protection Authority hearing in 2024 in favour of the Fast Track consenting process. Last week, TTR managing chairman Allan Eggers made an hour-long presentation to a council workshop outlining the project's environmental and economic credentials. Ahead of debate on the Clinton-Gohdes' motion, council heard deputations from groups opposed to seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight. Ngā iwi o Taranaki and Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa chair Liana Poutu. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Ngā iwi o Taranaki and Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa chair Liana Poutu told councillors TTR's claim it had engaged with iwi didn't stack up. "Our reality is our engagement with them under this current application - under the Fast Track process - has been a letter. "One letter that says 'we understand you are opposed. We are going to record your opposition in our application, but if you have anything else to add we look forward to hearing from you'. That's not engagement." Representatives of environmental groups Project Reef, the Ngāmotu Marine Reserve Society and Protect Our Moana challenged Eggers' evidence that there was no significant marine life in the vicinity of TTR's proposed project. Project Reef's Karen Pratt said for a decade it had collected data and shared images from reefs that extended offshore from Pātea and into Exclusive Economic Zone revealing the "stunningly beautiful and vibrant healthy life to be found on South Taranaki's offshore reefs". Ngāmotu Marine Reserve Society representative Barbara Hammond told councillors that little blue penguins from the Marlborough Sounds swim up into the South Taranaki Bight, contrary to TTR's claim that the penguins stayed inshore. Ngāti Runaui iwi member, Te Pāti Māori co-leader and long-time opponent of seabed mining, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, also made a rare appearance in the council chamber. She said it was important to be there. "There's a sense of blocking, of not being heard, and some of these ministers that are choosing the [TTR] expert panel have been really outspoken in support of it [the project] so it's out of frustration you have to come back to your own local entities, your own local politicians." During debate on the motion, councillor Bryan Vickery reflected the view of most councillors when he evoked the cult classic Australian film The Castle . "It's about the vibe and the vibe is from a natural justice point of view - all eight iwi are opposed to it, the majority of Taranaki people from all walks of life are opposed to it and we have to - in my opinion - represent the dreams, values and aspirations of our community." Councillors Murray Chong. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Councillors Murray Chong and Max Brough voted against the motion. Chong argued the Taranaki economy was shrinking and the province had to grasp all opportunities for growth, while Brough thought the motion went too far and precluded companies with better credentials than TTR coming to present seabed mining proposals. "What if there was a mining company that came and did it properly and said 'look we've got all of this and we've got mitigation in place and we've done all of these steps everyone's been asking us to do' then we could give it a fair hearing, but that's not happening." TTR managing chairman Allan Eggers said the vote was disappointing. "Of course it concerns me. I think there's a lot of misinformation being spread by opponents of the project. They are certainly not relying on the facts - they're scaremongering and out there to discredit the company, the management of the company, and aren't really interested in the facts." He stood by the evidence presented to council last week. "As to credibility, all of our information has been provided to the Fast Track team and that information has been underpinned by independent expert reports on every aspect and well-tested. We can't see why our credibility would be questioned at all." TTR managing chairman Allan Eggers. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin ' Eggers said the vote wouldn't derail the project. "We're focused on continuing with our Fast Track application and all our information is in front of the Fast Track panel, and it's available for anyone who wants to access it." He was at a loss to explain why the NPDC would oppose TTR's application. "That's a matter for the council. I'm not sure why they are even taking these votes, but that's up to them. "Our project will not have any effect on New Plymouth - except a positive one in terms of jobs and significant economic stimulus and delivering some prosperity to the area." Largely symbolic, the vote sees New Plymouth join Whanganui and South Taranaki district councils in formally opposing seabed mining. Taranaki Regional Council, meanwhile, has retained a neutral stance, arguing to do otherwise might compromise its ability to appoint a representative to the expert panel which will decide TTR's consents application. Clinton-Gohdes' motion also proposed that council formally request that the panel convened by the Environmental Protection Authority use its discretion to allow NPDC to make written comment on the Trans-Tasman Resources application in accordance the Fast Track Approvals Act; and that if the EPA approved the council's request to comment, NPDC officers draft and submit written comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Taranaki Regional Council rebuffs calls to oppose seabed mining
The seabed mining protest at the weekend. Photo: RNZ / Emma Andrews Taranaki Regional Council has rebuffed calls for it to get off the fence and take a stand against a proposal to mine the seabed off the Patea coast. Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) has approval to vacuum up 50 million tonnes of sand annually from the South Taranaki seabed for 35 years to extract iron, vanadium and titanium, but the company still needs consent to discharge 45 million tonnes of unwanted sediment a year back into the shallow waters. TTR - which is currently going through the Fast Track consenting process - says it can do this environmentally safely and that its project will significantly boost the national and regional economies. The regional council has twice made neutral submissions on TTR's proposal and at Tuesday's powerful policy and planning committee it chose again to walk that tightrope, arguing that to take a stance could jeopardise its future opportunities to influence the project. A 2024 hīkoi in Patea to oppose seabed mining. Photo: Supplied/ Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust Earlier it heard a deputation from Protect Our Moana Taranaki spokesperson Fiona Gordon - who helped co-ordinate a paddle-out protest attended by about 1200 people at west coast beaches over the weekend. She reminded councillors the TRC was the region's environmental watchdog. "Opposing seabed mining aligns with your statutory duty to protect ecosystems and coastal waters for the interest of future generations. The areas within your direct jurisdiction would be harmed and there is no safeguard, no accurate modelling that can really portray what will actually happen." Gordon wanted the TRC to unite with Whanganui and South Taranaki district councils who had come out in opposition of Trans-Tasman Resources' proposal. "Being neutral is not an option when you have a duty to uphold the care of our ecosystems and the well-being of our communities." Ngāti Ruanui iwi member and Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer also addressed councillors. She said TTR's application for Fast Track consents was no different than had been knocked back right up to the Supreme Court and all eight Taranaki were united in their rejection of the proposal. "Is this council going to stand with us, are you part of us or are you going to stand on the side on you're little island away from the rest of us who've been fighting this, away from the rest of us who have to confront this ... where do you belong." On Tuesday, the policy and planning committee was considering a new report on the issue: Fast Track Approvals Act and Taranaki VTM Project (Trans-Tasman Resources). A map showing the area covered by the South Taranaki Bight Project. Photo: Trans-Tasman Resources Following the deputations, committee chair Bonita Bingham outlined her reservations about taking a stance against the project. "I'm concerned that you are urging us to take a stance as a council to opposed seabed mining because we are in the privileged and lucky position where this organisation is going to be possibly or even probably one of the very few that get to submit to the hearing panel. "Now if we in the room approve a motion to oppose seabed mining that would create a conflict of interest and we will be immediately struck off that hearing panel which gives us no voice." In the report, strategy lead Finbar Kiddle, clarified that if the TRC took a stand against seabed mining it could jeopardise its ability as a "relevant local body" to recommend a member to the expert panel considering TTR's application. "The council will very likely be considered a relevant local authority for the Taranaki VTM Project application. This means council will have the opportunity to nominate a panel member and make comment on the application. "The council needs to approach its assessment of the application in a similar manner to if it was assessing a resource consent application. This means avoiding any inference of predetermination, undertaking a robust review of the relevant documents, and focusing on the regulatory tests set in the legislation. "To do otherwise, risks prejudicing council's engagement and undermining its input into the process. Predetermination, either for or against the project, would ultimately harm the position put forward." Councillors voted to receive the report and no motion to oppose seabed mining was put forward.
