Political risk 'too great' for National

Gerry Brownlee. Photo / Simon Baker

The risk of lasting political damage from allowing mining in a National Park proved to be the final nail in the coffin of the Government's plans to open up parts of the conservation estate to mineral prospecting, the Herald understands.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee yesterday confirmed the Government's complete retreat from proposals to allow mineral exploration on 7068ha of protected conservation land on Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, and Paparoa National Park, because of strong public opposition.

In an attempt to save face, both Mr Brownlee and Prime Minister John Key said the consultation process had clearly demonstrated public appetite for increased mining activity as a driver of economic growth elsewhere in New Zealand.

But Opposition leader Phil Goff said the Government's "humiliating" backdown added to its growing list of failed economic policies.

In considering public reaction to the proposals, Mr Brownlee said ministers had quickly ruled out Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel, leaving the 3000ha chunk of Paparoa National Park on the West Coast as a serious prospect for mining.

However, it was ultimately decided the economic benefit of allowing mining in the area was not worth the risk of jeopardising "a more positive" public attitude to mining in other parts of the country, Mr Brownlee said.

The Herald understands ministers were concerned that in order to open the area to mineral exploration, the Government would have had to not just remove its Schedule 4 protection, but pass legislation to remove its National Park status. They were concerned that would provide the Opposition with more political ammunition than the resulting economic gains would justify.

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said the Government's estimates of the proposals' economic benefits "never added up. Our 100 per cent Pure brand and our tourism industries are worth far more than mining in our National Parks could ever be."

Later in the House, Mr Goff asked Mr Key how he rated the proposal against "his Job Summit, the 2025 Taskforce, Chinese investment in broadband, and New Zealand as a world centre for financial services" in terms of his ambition for New Zealand's economy to catch up with Australia's, "and what cloud is he going to jump on next?".

But Mr Key assured him "plenty of those things are coming".

TIMELINE

*August 29, 2009: Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee announces plans for a minerals stocktake on conservation land, protected under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act.

"We certainly have no intention of digging up the Crown's conservation estate."

*November 26, 2009: Mr Brownlee confirms some conservation land in the Coromandel could be mined.

*December 2, 2009: A leaked Government report reveals up to a fifth of Mt Aspiring National Park could be set aside for possible mining.

*March 14, 2010: Forest and Bird leaks information showing the Government is planning to allow mining in 7000ha of high-value conservation land in the West Coast's Paparoa National Park, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.

*March 22: The stocktake report is released to criticism from National's Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye - whose electorate includes Great Barrier Island.

*April 28: A TV3 poll finds 67.9 per cent of voters opposed mining on Great Barrier Island.

*May 2: Between 20,000 and 40,000 people march down Queen St in opposition to the mining plans.

"I've never seen a march as big as that on Queen St. I was impressed. You had to be." - Auckland City Mayor John Banks.

*May 9: Mr Brownlee signals the Government may push ahead with mining on conservation land.

"Not all conservation land is high value."

*May 19: Fifty-three per cent of people polled oppose mining on Schedule 4 conservation land.

*July 20: Mr Brownlee announces the Government has abandoned its plans for mineral exploration on Schedule 4 land.