Jobs vital, but is mining a solution?

Te Ahumata plateau is a short drive from Great Barrier Island's aerodrome at Claris. Photo / APN

The residents of Great Barrier island want jobs - that much is agreed.

While many fear the impact that allowing mining would have on tourism, some would like the chance to take a look at it.

Community board chairman Paul Downie said most islanders were strongly against mining Te Ahumata plateau, a slope on a high peak a short drive from the airfield.

But with few jobs, no secondary school and fairly rough roads in most places, the lure of up to $4.3 billion worth of gold and silver the Government says is sitting in the hills is hard to ignore for some.

Bus driver "Greenie", who owns the local rental car and shuttle hire company, wanted to know more about the type of mining and its effects before deciding what he thought.

He believed National MP Nikki Kaye, a regular customer of his, was too quick to speak out about mining.

Tourism had been growing - "last year was the best summer season ever," he said - but at the same time "anything that attracts attention to the island is good".

Jill Dobson, who earns a living marrying mostly tourists against the backdrop of the island's spectacular scenery, said she was not necessarily against mining but worried the cost to tourism would be too much.

She remembers how long it took for the trees to grow back last time. "We need jobs for our young people, but at what cost?" she asked.

Altogether the lush native forest and pristine white sands attract about 45,000 tourists a year, creating most of the jobs done by the 850 or so occupants.

The proposed mine site is on the route of the most spectacular section of the annual Wharf-to-Wharf race, and in direct sight of planes flying from Auckland to Great Barrier, and from the United States to Auckland.

"We are trying to market ourselves as naturally spectacular," says race organiser Geraldine Downie. "How can we do that if there's a ruddy great mine up there?"

Murray Willis, a resident of 22 years, said the island was losing its young people. "Look at us - we are all old," he says, gesturing around the room at a meeting of residents who have gathered to talk mining with Labour Party leader Phil Goff.

But he does not think mining is the answer. "Eco-tourism is just starting to bloom and this will destroy it," he says.

This is not a place that would be easy to mine without the support of residents. There is no electricity grid, no reticulated water and almost no cellphone coverage.

Greenie believes that the expense of getting goods to the island and strong local opposition mean mining will probably never happen.

The island's Work and Income liaison officer, Gael Johnson, doubted it would help with the job shortage. Most of the unemployed were 55 or older or younger unskilled women.

Mr Goff told residents he was not anti-mining but wanted to limit it to the 60 per cent of minerals not in the "the most beautiful, ecologically significant" areas protected by law.

Some islanders were sceptical about the sudden interest in the island from mayors and politicians, some of whom they say have never cared much before.

Ted Scott said Auckland city mayor John Banks "couldn't give a damn about us before".

* Phil Goff paid for a charter flight for MPs and media to Great Barrier. The Herald will contribute the full cost of Eloise Gibson's flight.