Source: Radio New Zealand
Taranaki seabed mining protest in 2025. RNZ / Emma Andrews
The fast track approvals panel has declined plans to mine the Taranaki seabed in a draft decision.
Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) has wanted to mine 50 million tonnes of sea bed a year for 30 years in the South Taranaki Bight.
In May the company’s executive chair Alan Eggers said they had identified a world-class vanadium resource that could contribute $1 billion annually to the economy.
That was reported at the same time the project application to be considered by the Fast Track Panel was approved.
In a draft decision released on Thursday evening, the panel found that there would be a credible risk of harm to Māui dolphins, kororā/little penguin and fairy prion.
The panel also found there was uncertainty as to the scale and extent of the sediment plume and underwater noise generated from the project.
It said the adverse impacts of the plan were sufficiently significant to be out of proportion to its regional and national benefits.
In May, the head of Kiwis Against Seabed Mining Cindy Baxter said she was “livid” at the approval of the project to the panel.
She said there was “massive opposition” to the project and seabed mining in general.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
