Coromandel land 'too precious to mine'

Pinnacles, Coromandel.

Anti-mining protests will continue on conservation land on the Coromandel Peninsula today.

Members of Coromandel Watchdog managed to shut down a mining rig in the Parakiwai Valley, near Whangamata, yesterday.

Renee Annan says a wider public protest will take place today.

"We're meeting at 10.00AM at the end of the valley road and walking in, and hopefully the weather will hold out for us.

"We'll have a bit of a picnic, and peacefully and non-violently protest drilling on conservation land, because it's too precious to mine."

The area is the home to the endangered Archey's frogs, Helm's butterflies and Coromandel brown kiwi as well as other native species.