Minister rubbishes mining claims

The Government's stocktake of New Zealand's mineral resources includes investigating reserves in three national parks, which means it is considering mining them, the Green Party says.

But Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Greens are being hysterical and he can't see that happening.

Green's co-leader Metiria Turei said yesterday that she had official information which showed the stocktake included oil reserves in Fiordland National Park and gold and coal in Kahurangi and Paparoa parks.

Ministers insist there is no intention of spoiling pristine parks.

"They already know what they want and they're preparing to steal it from the public," Ms Turei said.

"Far from not wanting to mine in national parks and only being interested in 'low value' areas, the officials' advice shows they are keen to mine our most precious parks."

Ms Turei said she had obtained advice from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Department of Conservation which showed the parks were in the stocktake.

But Mr Brownlee said: "I think New Zealanders have a right to know what's there and what the possibilities are."

He said he was confident New Zealanders would also say the conservation value of national parks was much higher than any potential mineral wealth.

The Greens were "really being hysterical" to claim mining in Fiordland National Park was being considered, Mr Brownlee said. "I can't see that happening, it's a real stretch of the imagination."

- NZPA