Firstly, I suggest to Dean Baigent-Mercer that if he is confused about any political party's policy on mining he take it up directly with the party concerned, and kindly leave misinformation out of the public domain.
Mr Baigent-Mercer's use of the term "toxic mining" is unhelpful. No one wants toxicmining. What the Government and industry both want is environmentally and socially responsible mining, in which risks are managed, and effects are mitigated, while providing jobs and other economic benefits for New Zealand.
Mr Baigent-Mercer is correct in saying that not all mining techniques are equal. But that goes without saying. Consider the age in which we live - the technologies used in New Zealand are highly specialised, of a high and modern standard, and are managed under the Resource Management Act (1991), which is world-leading legislation.
Yes, cyanide is used in the processing of gold. It is not dangerous; there are thousands of gold mines around the world using cyanide safely. Issues in relation to heavy metals and acid mine drainage are contextual - relating to the nature of the host rock, and are, therefore, managed case by case.
As well, cyanide can occur naturally within the geology, as it does on the Coromandel Peninsula. Cyanide is not toxic in all forms or concentrations; it does not persist in the environment, is not cumulative, should not be confused with acid drainage, is not a heavy metal and can be manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed of in a safe manner. If that weren't the case, it would not be used.
Take Newmont Waihi Gold's tailings management in Waihi as an example - the river into which treated mine water is discharged, the Ohinemuri, is a top North Island trout fishing stream.
This shows that engineering and monitoring can minimise the risk of contamination or any other problems that may arise from mine tailings.
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- Of course mining is sustainable, or, more accurately, not-mining is not sustainable.
The key point I am making is that although any engineering endeavour is not without risk, in New Zealand, those risks are successfully reduced, managed and monitored to levels that are acceptable to society. That is as it should be.
