Seabed mining protest planned for Patea

A protest is planned along the Patea coast. Photo/ file

A seabed mining protest planned for Patea on Sunday will be a peaceful chain of people holding hands along the coast, organiser Bianca Mitchell says.

"It will be a chance for everybody to stand together, just for a moment."

The protest is against the Environmental Protection Authority's decision to allow iron-sand mining 22km off the Patea coast. That decision can still be appealed.

People are asked to gather at the Patea Beach surf shelter at 1pm, where two teenagers will say a few words and organise the line-up.

Mrs Mitchell, a teacher at Patea Area School, said the event was "a community thing" and a lot of people are really upset about the proposed mining.

She organised an art auction last year, and raised $15,000 to fund Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) in its fight against the mining application.

"I was thinking that was where it was going to end. Now with this going through I just felt like I have to do something."

Light rain is expected on Sunday. As well as the human chain, children will be able to make hearts with pebbles pressed into the sand, then gather them up and throw them symbolically into the sea.

There will be a collection bucket, with half the proceeds going to KASM and half to South Taranaki tribe Ngāti Ruanui. Both plan to appeal the mining decision.

The protest will be filmed by Hawera's Kiwa design and website management business. It can then be put online.

For more information, see the Save our Sea Facebook page.