Mining leaks on the button

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OPINION: Well knock me down with a feather. The Government has today confirmed the leaks obtained by Forest and Bird that it is planning to take 7058 hectares out of the Schedule 4 conservation land - the land where mining is specifically prohibited.

In fact Forest and Bird were drip-feeding further leaks ahead of this afternoon's announcement including that the Government would highlight the counterbalancing 12,400 hectares that could join the Schedule 4 list.

No wonder John Key and Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee were miffed last week. The leaks might have been selective but they were on the button.

So now, let the lobbying begin.

At this afternoon's press conference Mr Brownlee effectively conceded that the strength of opinion on the discussion document would always weigh heavily with politicians.

But given his preamble that the Government was in a parlous state and needed money for social services and families under pressure, that it was just a ''tiny percentage'' of the Schedule 4 land and represented a chunk of New Zealand equivalent to a postcard on the Eden Park ... oh yes, and the value of rare earth elements would rise because only China had them and they were starting to lock theirs up for local consumption ... then the Government's weight is leaning heavily the other way.

Schedule 4 land may be the initial focus, but conservationists will have other issues to chew on.

One is that this is just a start; the Government is also looking hard at Stewart Island and the rest of the Coromandel.

Second mining on non-Schedule 4 land - already possible - is likely to get a kick along.

And finally, the Conservation Minister's previous right to decide what became Schedule 4 land has been watered down. It will now formally be a decision considered by both Kate Wilkinson and Mr Brownlee as minister of energy and resources.

- © Fairfax NZ News