Certainly not too late for Govt to say no to mining DOC land at Te Kuha

19 December 2017-- Contrary to what the Government has implied today, it's not too late to say no to the Te Kuha opencast mine on the West Coast, Coal Action Network said today.

"If the World Bank can stop funding new fossil fuel developments, New Zealand can do the same," said Cindy Baxter CANA spokesperson.

"The New Zealand Government has only just joined the 'powering past coal' initiative, and has been very clear about no new mines on conservation land. Both are very strong reasons for the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Energy Minister Megan Woods to refuse access for coal miners to rip off the top of a mountain at Te Kuha - in the Mt Rochfort Conservation area, home to Great Spotted Kiwi and other endangered creatures and plants.

"Climate change Minister James Shaw implied on National Radio this morning that some projects like Te Kuha could be too far advanced for the Government to stop it, but he is dead wrong," said Baxter.

"This is precious conservation land, and this is a new coal mine. It is certainly not too late for the Government to put its foot down and refuse access to an opencast mine. We wonder who has been bending the Government's ear to try to convince them otherwise - the previous government had not made up its mind, and it's now down to the Coalition Government to take a lead here.

"Access to this DOC land for mining has always been a dubious concept, the mine's consent is now under appeal, and the Government can - and must - draw a line in the sand and say no."

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