That’s when the Environment Court finally ruled in favour of the community and tangata whenua and declined its application to mine sand at Pakiri, ending 80 years of environmental degradation.
Instead of taking heed of the decision, McCallum Brothers turned its attention to the North and headed to Bream Bay.
Bream Bay – Whangārei Harbour is a picturesque ecosystem with a rich tapestry of connected tribal histories well known for being the puaha (opening) of Whangārei rohe and harbour.
The waters are safe, sealife is abundant, and it is a known route for tohorā (whales). With the proposal to sand mine for 35 years in the area, this marine ecology is at risk.
The McCallum Brothers’ application proposes to dredge the harbour for 35 years, five days a week, six hours a day, across a 17sq km area of sea floor.
Extracting over eight million cubic metres of sand. Imagine the intergenerational impact that will have on the takutai moana (foreshore and seabed).
In December 2025 the coalition Government changed the original fast-track legislation to an enhanced “Super-fast track” that puts applicants in the driver’s seat and relegates community voices to the margins of the process.
In the new “super-fast track” process, timeframes have been shortened for referral applications which puts immense pressure on those invited to respond.
Local government is elevated as the main responder, tangata whenua have no guarantee of being invited to comment and local communities and residents will have no inclusion. How is this fair?
When submitting on the proposed Super-fast track, some councils rejected the changes to the process.
The Government wrongfully assumes councils have the capacity and capability to provide fulsome responses on behalf of the whole community.
The panel convenor for all Fast-track applications offered evidence into submissions:
“The proposed timeframes are simply unworkable. Many process steps depend on the outcome of earlier steps, and forcing these to occur concurrently will compromise quality and increase risk of error.”
Those who are invited to respond to the McCallum Brothers’ Fast-track referral application will have only 15 working days, shortened from the previous 20 working days, to respond.
Decision timeframes for applications are limited to 90 days but an extension can only be granted if the applicant agrees. In my view, the system is designed to favour the applicant.
To be clear, the McCallum Brothers’ Fast-track application for sand mining in Bream Bay has no national or regional significance. In my view, there will not be local jobs out of this project.
There is no shortage of sand in Auckland or Northland. There are now better alternatives in manufactured sand that meet Auckland’s demands and they are cleaner, more sustainable and locally produced.
The Green Party celebrates the recent win in Taranaki where the Fast-track panel declined an application by Trans-Tasman Resources for deep-sea mining off the South Taranaki coast.
We take heart with the panel’s decision – may our panel show this courage also.
Stand up, fight back!
Now the Fast-track resource consent application has been lodged, the community once again is mobilising.
Bream Bay Guardians is organising a community protest on Sunday, March 15 from 11am at Ruakākā Beach.
It is an opportunity for the community and tangata whenua to come together, stand united against McCallum Brothers, and send a clear message to any government in power that we do not want sand mining in our region.
The Green Party stands side by side with community and tangata whenua and sends a clear message to applicants that a Green government will revoke Fast-rack consents on sand mining, hard rock, and coal mining when we are in power.
