Unions oppose mining Schedule 4 conservation land

Mining is important to the New Zealand economy, but not important enough to justify violating Schedule 4 conservation protections, said the Council of Trade Unions today.

“We recognize the value of the mining industry to the New Zealand economy, but the Government’s estimate of the value of minerals which could be extracted from Schedule 4 land is exaggerated and does not outweigh the potential damage to other industries and the environment,” said CTU President Helen Kelly.

“The Government has an important role in promoting sustainable industry development, but the move against Schedule 4 land fails the sustainability test in several ways. Firstly there has been no serious attempt to quantify the damage to New Zealand’s international reputation as a ‘green’ country, and the effect on both the tourist industry and many of our major export products which trade on a ‘clean, green’ image.”

“Secondly, the predominant overseas ownership of the mineral industry operators means that a very large proportion of the value added to the economy from any expanded mining activity would immediately flow overseas. In this light the already inflated figures used to try and justify the invasion of Schedule 4 land look even more unrealistic.”

“On top of the economic arguments the potential damage to recognised areas of outstanding environmental value is also against the public good.”

“When the National Party passed the legislation creating Schedule 4 reserves in the first place it presumably agreed with the purpose of removing from all debate land which would generate unjustifiably divisive argument. When the large majority of New Zealand’s mineral potential lies outside of Schedule 4 land why is it turning its back on that eminently reasonable consensus?”

“Any move to alter the status of Schedule 4 areas would be unwelcome and against the wider interests of the country.”

ENDS

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