The Environmental Protection Authority has failed on two counts in the lead-up to hearings on Trans-Tasman Resources' application to mine the South Taranaki seabed, Rochelle Bullock says.
Trans-Tasman Resources wants marine consents to mine nearly 66 square kilometres of seabed offshore from Patea. Hearings on the matter begin next month.
Ms Bullock liaised between opponent groups during Trans-Tasman Resources' (TTR's) last applications in 2013 and is doing so again. Opponents include iwi from the region, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) and others.
The authority (EPA) has failed to keep in touch with submitters and also failed to hold hearings in the places where most of those who want to speak live, Ms Bullock claims.
Anyone who wants to speak during the hearings must contact the EPA before noon today to let it know. Otherwise they will not be able to speak.