Walking 400km against seabed mining. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
The walk may be over but the fight against seabed mining continues.
That was the message from Whanganui doctor Athol Steward who reached his final steps in a 400km beach trek from Raglan to Whanganui on Sunday.
The mission started from outrage when Trans-Tasman Resources' application to extract 50 million tonnes of the South Taranaki Bight seabed every year for 35 years was approved in August.
On August 31 anti-mining group Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) filed an appeal against the Environmental Protection Authority's decision.
Two weeks ago Dr Steward began his trek with a clear mission in mind: to spread awareness about the danger involved in experimental seabed mining and to raise funds to help support the High Court appeal.
Whanganui doctor Athol Steward with his son Jonathan post 400km beach trek. Photo/ Stuart Munro
Rallying support en route and opening conversations with people unaware of the issues, Dr Steward said the reward could not have been better.
"Fortunately, thanks to media support, people actually recognised us and that immediately opens doors for conversation and everyone has been willing to listen.
"What was surprising was how much concern there was out there that has been swept under the radar. People lead very busy lives and the environment has gone down the importance list."
Dr Steward also thought the public didn't understand the extent of the operation, or that seabed mining was experimental with no guarantee of gaining ironsand.
"To put it into a daily context, it's 3000 truckloads of seabed a day that's been dredged up and I think there is a mindset of out of sight, out of mind."
His son Jonathan, who joined him for the final 200km of the walk, expressed similar concern.
Walking in alliance along Kai Iwi beach for the sake of the ocean. Photo/ Stuart Munro
"There is over 80 species of marine life that will be impacted and it's right there on our coast, that's a huge concern," Jonathan said.
Reaching the end of the trek, Dr Steward said people had said to him it might be a bit of an anti-climax now 400km had been done and dusted.
"This is the end of 'walk the walk for our ocean' and raising funds but actually I see it as the beginning because we have public turning out and taking notice so we will continue building on that."
Nearly $5000 was raised by Dr Steward and his team.
