Carbon News
  • Members
    • Login
      Forgot Password?
    • Not a member? Subscribe
    • Forgot Password
      Back to Login
    • Not a member? Subscribe
  • Home
  • New Zealand
    • Politics
    • Energy
    • Agriculture
    • Carbon emissions
    • Transport
    • Forestry
    • Business
  • Markets
    • Analysis
    • NZ carbon price
  • International
    • Australia
    • United States
    • China
    • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • Asia
    • Pacific
    • Antarctic/Arctic
    • Africa
    • South America
    • United Nations
  • News Direct
    • Media releases
    • Climate calendar
  • About Carbon News
    • Contact us
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Service
    • Policies

Call for moratorium on new mines on conservation land after Labour fails to fulfil its promise

8 Jun 2023

 

Media release | The Government has failed to support a Bill which would have ended new mines on conservation land. Forest & Bird says that is a broken promise which will threaten native species and allow further extraction of coal in the middle of a climate emergency.

“Forest & Bird is now calling on the Government to place an immediate moratorium on new mines on public conservation land,” says Chief Executive, Nicola Toki. 

 

“A moratorium would give Labour the breathing room they say they need to get the policy ducks in a row, while ensuring that public conservation land is protected in the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis.” 

 

In her speech to the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill last night, Labour MP Angela Roberts announced that Labour will not support it. Among the reasons given was needing more time to reclassify stewardship land, including meaningfully engaging with iwi. 

 

“New Zealanders have been waiting six years for the Government to fulfil Dame Jacinda Ardern’s 2017 promise to end new mines on conservation land. For Labour to claim that it’s too soon to implement this Bill, is extremely disappointing,” Ms Toki says. 

 

“Since 2017, a total of 78 mining access arrangements on conservation land have been granted, with more exploration and prospecting permits covering over 150,000 ha of conservation land. It is time that Labour shows how, to quote MP Roberts, ‘completely committed to protecting our conservation land’ they are, by actually protecting it.” 

 

Since the Bill was drawn from the ballot box in August 2022, Forest & Bird has staged protests across Aotearoa New Zealand, calling on Labour to honour their promise and reminding New Zealanders of the precious wild places and wildlife threatened by destructive mining.   

 

“We cannot afford to lose more of our native forests, which are valuable carbon sinks. We especially can’t afford to lose them by digging up and burning more coal.” 

 

“We are going to continue campaigning to end mining on public conservation land until the campaign is won,” says Ms Toki.

print this story


Related Topics:   Politics

More >
Media releases
More >
Resources minister Shane Jones

Endeavour Fund research to shape NZ’s future

Today 11:00am

Media release - New Zealand Government | A project that looks to harness the potential of supercritical geothermal energy is amongst 19 ambitious science programmes the Government is backing, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced today.

NZ homes could be fully solar-powered by 2032

Thu 4 Sep 2025

Media release - Harrisons Solar | A surge in solar capacity has put New Zealand on track to generate enough solar energy to power every home in the country within the next seven years, according to new research.

Dr Roberta D'Archino diving amongst seaweed.

Aotearoa's waters teeming with undiscovered seaweed species, scientist says

Thu 4 Sep 2025

Media release - Earth Sciences New Zealand | Scientists believe they’re only seeing a snapshot of what could be living in our subantarctic islands and deep waters.

New look for New Zealand’s bioeconomy research

Wed 3 Sep 2025

Media release | The Bioeconomy Science Institute, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest research organisation, launched its new look.

Jonathan Young, Ara Ake Head of Industry and Government Engagement

Conference to tackle energy hardship and build resilience returns for third year

Tue 2 Sep 2025

Media release - Ara Ake | The Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference will return on 8-9 October 2025 at the Harbourside Function Centre, Wellington, bringing together leaders from across Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy, community and research sectors.

Tasman flood waste recovery receives $2M boost

Mon 1 Sep 2025

Media release - New Zealand Government | The Government has granted Tasman District Council up to $2 million to support the region’s recovery from the severe flooding this winter, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.

Haukapuanui Vercoe at the 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego, US.

Marae resilience research takes global stage

29 Aug 2025

Media release | University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau | Marae are central hubs for whānau, hapū, and iwi across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Contact and bp charge partner to offer savings on EV charging

28 Aug 2025

Media release | Contact Energy (Contact) and bp charge have partnered to introduce a new customer offer to make electric vehicle (EV) charging easier for Kiwi drivers.

Rising cost of insurance prompts call for action on affordability and climate risks

27 Aug 2025

Media release | Consumer NZ releases a sobering report that highlights how house insurance is becoming increasingly out of reach for New Zealanders.

East Coast schools receive funding as part of pool solar project

26 Aug 2025

Media release: Trust Tairāwhiti | Four schools along the East Coast have been equipped with solar panels, battery storage, and pool heating systems as part of a $3.5m school pool heating and resilience project.

Carbon News

Subscriptions, Advertising & General

[email protected]

Editorial

[email protected]

We welcome comments, news tips and suggestions - please also use this address to submit all media releases for News Direct).

Useful Links
Home About Carbon News Contact us Advertising Subscribe Service Policies
New Zealand
Politics Energy Agriculture Carbon emissions Transport Forestry Business
International
Australia United States China Europe United Kingdom Canada Asia Pacific Antarctic/Arctic Africa South America United Nations
Home
Markets
Analysis NZ carbon price
News Direct
Media releases Climate calendar

© 2008-2025 Carbon News. All Rights Reserved. • Your IP Address: 216.73.216.42 • User account: Sign In

Please wait...
Audit log: