A survey of people from Wanganui to New Plymouth has found 87 per cent are in favour of mining ironsand from the South Taranaki seabed - provided it makes for money and jobs and the environment is not damaged.
The telephone survey of 327 adults was designed by independent market researcher Pauline Colmar and undertaken in late February and early March. The margin of error is 5.4 per cent.
The poll was commissioned by mining company Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR), which is seeking consent to suck up millions of tonnes of ore from the ironsand on the sea floor of the Taranaki Bight between Patea and Opunake. The ore would be shipped directly to Asia and the mining continue for at least 20 years.
The survey found found 69 per cent of participants agreed with the development of natural resources - a figure rising to 87 per cent if there are economic benefits and no environmental impact.
There was an expectation of local employment with the development of seabed mining, and the company has said 540 new jobs would be created.