Forest and Bird says the Government has plans to start mining on 7,000 hectares of conservation land.
It has learnt of three sites named in a discussion document as areas the Government wants to allow mining in, 3 News reported.
They include high-value areas on Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, and the Eastern Paparoa National Park on the West Coast.
According to Forest and Bird, this shortlist of sites is in line to lose Schedule Four protection, opening the door for mining to begin.
But the conservation group said the areas all have ecological and landscape value, which is why they have previously been protected.
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee said a public discussion would be held once Cabinet made a decision.
"I'm not saying anything until that time," he told One News.
- NZHERALD STAFF
Govt plan to mine high-value conservation land
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