Support for seabed mining ban swells

Ironsand mining may take place in future, out on the distant horizon. Photo/Bevan Conley

Blue whales in the South Taranaki Bight and the opposition of two neighbouring tribes are yet more reasons not to mine ironsand there, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) chairman Phil McCabe says.

The 66km sq area proposed for mining, 22km off Patea, falls into Ngati Ruanui's tribal area. The tribe's chairman, Haimona Maruera, said lingering concerns left it no choice but to oppose Trans-Tasman Resources' application to mine. The risk to Ngati Ruanui was much greater than the benefits claimed, he said.

The smothering effect of a potential sand plume was one of the iwi's main concerns, chief executive Debbie Packer-Ngarewa said. Information provided by the mining company had not eased its worries, and the economic benefits didn't stack up for the iwi either.

Trans-Tasman Resources had provided an economic impact report, but it didn't give specific projections for Taranaki, or for the Ngati Ruanui tribal area. The tribe supported developing natural resources, but only after careful consideration of risks versus benefits, she said.

Immediately to the north, the Ngaruahine iwi is worried about the threat to its fisheries and ocean if mining goes ahead. The iwi filed its opposing submission just before feedback closed.

Chairwoman Daisy Noble said if the 20-year application was granted the iwi believes ocean life and health will be set back for decades.

Taranaki Regional Council is another body that has said, in its submission, that the risks of mining outweigh the possible benefits. It has not opposed the application, but wants more information about potential negative effects.

A National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) expedition saw nearly 50 blue whales - along with sei and Bryde's whales - in the South Taranaki Bight during a two week trip.

KASM chairman Phil McCabe said a plume of sediment in the water would disrupt the plankton blue whales feed on. There had also been two endangered Maui dolphins near the proposed mining site recently, he said.

"That this could be a crucial feeding ground for the blue whales alone should be reason enough for the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) to reject seabed mining."

KASM website recorded 4700 submissions against the proposed mining.