Mining plan earns international rebuke

The world's largest environmental network has taken the rare step of criticising the Government for considering mining on conservation land.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has raised its concerns in a letter to Prime Minister John Key, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee and Conservation Minister Tim Groser.

The chairman of the union's world commission on protected areas, Nik Lopoukhine, said a recent meeting in South Korea was "surprised and concerned" to hear of the Government's review of schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act.

"The news that a modern, comparatively wealthy nation such as New Zealand is prepared to exploit its resources in lands set aside for biodiversity sends a disturbing message to more populous poor countries.

"We hope the New Zealand Government will reconsider this decision."

New Zealand supported a policy in 2000 to ban mining in category 1 to 4 protected areas.

The world commission's deputy vice-chairman for New Zealand, Bruce Jefferies, said Lopoukhine's letter was an "almost unprecedented step".

The 200 delegates at the commission's South Korean meeting were "appalled" by the possibility of mining in New Zealand's conservation estate.

Environment and Conservation Organisations spokesman Barry Weeber said it was unusual for New Zealand to be criticised by the union for activities in its protected areas.

Groser said all conservation land had high protection and that "responsible" mining of mineral resources would play a significant role in the country's economic growth. The Government was "determined to see living standards rise in New Zealand", he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News