South Taranaki iwi are united in their opposition to the iron-sand mining proposed offshore from Pātea.
Last week Te Kāhui o Rauru, with Te Ohu Kaimoana (the Māori Fisheries Trust) joined neighbours Ngāti Ruanui in lodging a cross-appeal to mining company Trans-Tasman Resources' attempt to overturn a High Court judgment that ended its ability to mine.
The company was given consent to mine in August 2017, but iwi, environmental and fishing interests appealed the consent to the High Court. The court's Justice Peter Churchman said granting a discharge consent on insufficient information was unlawful, and sent the matter back to the Environmental Protection Authority.
Trans-Tasman Resources then appealed that decision, and the matter will be heard in the Appeal Court - with urgency, the company hopes.
Kiwis Against Seabed Mining and Greenpeace have joined in a cross-appeal, wanting to uphold Justice Churchman's decision and also ensure the barriers to seabed mining are as high as possible.