If Auckland can’t go to the Mountain, the Mountain must come to Auckland….

Musicians bring the fight for Karangahake mountain right to Auckland’s doorstep.

It’s time to party.

With the impending mining of Mt Karangahake on their doorstep, Coromandel Peninsula locals are bringing the issue to your doorstep, asking Aucklanders to lend a hand to help protect a beloved holiday-destination.

Just like Aucklanders, Coromandel locals are not ones to pass up an opportunity for a good time and so they have decided to throw a party, with help from their Auckland mates, in honour of their beloved mountain. The gig will be held at Ponsonby favourite, Revelry, on the 5th of March. These guys want to raise money for a brilliant cause - and it's a great excuse to have a dance.

Gig organiser Katie Riddle says the party is a creative response to what could be a depressing issue - the harmful impacts of mining on a beautiful and popular tourism area - the Karangahake Gorge.

“Bringing the party to the big smoke gives Aucklanders a chance to support and protect one of their favourite holiday playgrounds - and have fun at the same time.”

“Our group is about to embark on a court battle to appeal the decision to mine our beautiful home. We need all the help we can get to protect this incredible place” Riddle says.

“The gig date is also the day of our first appearance in the High Court - so it is an important date for our campaign. If you have enjoyed the Coromandel on holidays, walked in the forests or swam in the rivers, you will know what a special place this is and how important it is that we protect it.”

“It’s about keeping it beautiful for all New Zealanders - not just short-term gain for a greedy handful of gold-diggers,” she says.

Musician Holly Dove, part of the international duo Ys performing on the night, says the gig is all about people’s creative power.

“We are passionate, not angry - and the best way to fight this battle is through creativity.This gig has a line up of awesome bands, solo performers and DJs - there is something for everyone.”

“People - and mountains - before profit,” Dove says.

Found enshrined in greenery and quilted with hiking and biking tracks at the bottom of the Coromandel Peninsula, the Karangahake Gorge is an iconic tourist hot-spot with cyclists, families and trampers filling up the car-parks and cafes all-year round.

Protect Karangahake’s case against New Talisman and the Hauraki District Council is challenging the granting of New Talisman’s resource consent without public notification and for not having properly assessed the effects the mining activities would have on the local community and ecologies.

The gig is at Revelry on Ponsonby rd and will start at 7.30pm with Karangahake musicians Brian Shone and Beccy Dove, followed up by international duo Ys and some of Auckland’s finest fun makers and booty shakers Sunny Ray, The Conscious Music Collective, R.I.A and Jinetero MC.

Tickets are $10 at the door and there will be further opportunities to donate to Protect Karangahake’s court case and Coromandel Watchdog’s work throughout the night.

So if you live in Auckland, save the date and get your dancing shoes ready.

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