An epic struggle between powerful forces continues in the Wellington High Court this morning - and the result matters to Whanganui and South Taranaki people.
In August, the Environmental Protection Authority narrowly gave consent for Trans-Tasman Resources to mine ironsand from the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight.
The matter was the subject of weeks of hearings before the decision-making committee made its split decision to grant consent — using the chairman's casting vote.
Hawera-based iwi Ngāti Ruanui has vowed to oppose the mining and take the matter to a higher court if necessary, spokeswoman Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said.
Ngāti Ruanui joins a varied group to appeal the consent. The others are the Ngā Rauru iwi, the Taranaki/Whanganui Conservation Board, Te Ohu Kai Moana, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining and Greenpeace, Forest and Bird and a combined group of fishing interests.