Govt ‘blind’ to boon of mineral exploration

Press, 9 May 1985, Page 26

Govt ‘blind’ to boon of mineral exploration

PA Wellington The Government appears blind to the multi-million dollar benefits mineral exploration ■ could bring to New Zealand, according to the president of the Mineral Exploration Association, Mr Robert Adamson. “Without consulting the industry, the Government has banned large-scale, open-cast mining in Coromandel and announced that the mining legislation will be redrafted,” Mr Adamson said.

“We are not at all happy with that kind of force-fed approach.

“We have had far too much of a high-handed attitude by the Government,” he said, blaming both moves on pressure from environmentalists.

"The present legislation might be complicated but represents all parties adequately,” Mr Adamson said. The open-cast mining ban completely ignored the mining industry. “We are going blue in the face saying that environmental damage will be minimal in Coromandel if mining proceeds but the

facts we present go largely ignored,” Mr Adamson said.

It was ironic that New Zealand, which was once one of the world’s biggest gold producers, was now a gold importer, he said. From prospecting carried out to date, the association was confident New Zealand could be exporting $2OO million worth of gold a year by 1990. “Mining companies believe that there are rich mineral deposits still to be found in New Zealand, and they are prepared to spend their own money looking for them,” Mr Adamson said. “But if they are thwarted at every turn by conservationists and an obstructionist Government, it could be a long time before New Zealand’s version of Broken Hill is found.”

He said the present act, introduced in 1971, was a good act which was working well in the majority of cases.

“This act has scarcely been given a chance to work — this is something which is being thrust on the industry,” Mr Adamson said.'