What is Trans-Tasman Resources?

Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) is an Australian-owned mining company. For more than 12 years, TTR has tried unsuccessfully to start seabed mining in the South Taranaki.

What does Trans-Tasman Resources want to do?

Trans-Tasman Resources wants to be the first company in the world to start seabed mining – and they want to start it right here in Aotearoa. Seabed mining is the destructive practice of stripping the ocean’s seabed for metals and minerals. Mining companies want to extract these metals by using gigantic machines.

Seabed mining would be extremely destructive, destroying beautiful habitats and ecosystems that aren’t yet fully understood. It would cause massive damage to the ecosystems which sustain life all the way up the food chain, that all of us rely on.

Trans-Tasman Resources is planning to suck up 50 million tonnes of iron sand from the South Taranaki Bightevery year for 35 years to extract vanadium, iron and titanium. Trans-Tasman Resources will then dump 45 million tonnes a year back into the ocean.

Where does Trans-Tasman Resources want to mine?

Trans-Tasman Resources wants mine the shallow waters between 22km and 36km off the coastal town of Pātea in South Taranaki. TTR originally applied to mine 66 square kilometres. But in July 2024, the industry regulator quietly approved TTR’s application to increase the size of its mining permit from 66 square kilometres to 243 square kilometres! That’s nearly the size of Great Barrier Island!

The South Taranaki Bight is home to some beautiful and rare marine wildlife, including eight at-risk mammal species like the pygmy blue whale and critically endangered Māui dolphin. For over 10 years, local iwi, residents and environmental groups have successfully protested against TTR’s plans to mine the South Taranaki Bight. And the Supreme Court repeatedly agreed that environmental protection is the bottom line, and that seabed mining would jeopardise that.

Trans-Tasman Resources attempted  to bypass these environmental protections by using the Luxon Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Act. But this too was struck down as the Fast Track expert panel declined TTR’s Fast-Track application to mine the Taranaki seabed.

In February 2026, a draft decision by the panel declined consent for the project, based on the overwhelming the expert evidence. They found it would likely cause material harm to marine ecosystems, threatened species like pygmy blue whales and penguins, and concluded it could not be safely managed, even with conditions attached.

How bad would seabed mining be for the environment?

Seabed mining would be devastating for the fragile ecosystems, wildlife and environment. Below are just some of the risks seabed mining would pose:

• Noise pollution – Seabed mining is a very noisy process. Scientists are concerned that the noise from the seabed mining machines would harm mammals like whales. Many marine mammals rely on sound to communicate, navigate and forage. Studies have found that noise pollution can disrupt this behaviour.
• Destruction of habitats – When scooping up sand, seabed mining would hurt habitats and creatures on the seabed, like coral, anemones and octopus
• Sediment plumes – Seabed mining would also create massive plumes of sand when it is disposed of. These sand plumes would clog corals and sponges and likely smother the animals and ecosystems on its path.
• Blocking green investment – The South Taranaki Bight was set to be the site of an offshore wind farm. Companies have now pulled out, stating that wind energy would be incompatible with Trans-Tasman Resource’s seabed mining plans. Instead of investing in renewable energy, Luxon’s government is set to invest in a destructive and unproven extractive industry. “It’s straight-out climate denial,” says Juressa Lee, Greenpeace’s seabed mining campaigner.

The scariest thing is we don’t yet know the full consequences that seabed mining would have. If approved, Trans-Tasman Resources could be the first large-scale seabed mining project in the world.

But one thing is for sure: protecting nature is more important than the profits of Trans-Tasman Resources.

PETITION: Ban seabed mining in Aotearoa

Seabed mining is a new threat to the oceans. Now is our chance to prevent the destruction before it’s too late.

Add my name

Who is against Trans-Tasman Resource’s mining plans?

Opposition to TTR’s plan to mine the Taranaki seabed has been committed, resilient and effective.

For well over a decade Iwi, coastal communities, environmental groups and fishing interests have successfully protected the marine environment from destructive seabed mining proposals.

Tens of thousands of people in Aotearoa have expressed opposition to seabed mining and taken action. Māori and community groups should not have to fight off every company one project at a time.

What you can do to stop seabed mining

Trans-Tasman’s latest attempt to mine the South Taranaki Bight may have been quashed, but the fight isn’t over. 

In February 2026, only weeks after the Fast-Track decision was revealed, the NZ government launched an $80m dollar slush fund as part of the Regional Infrastructure Fund to help minerals exploration. And the Luxon Government has been in talks with the USA regarding a critical minerals deal, which would give US access to NZ resources

Both of these actions signal the government could be looking to reopen the door to zombie projects, like TTR’s seabed mining application.

We’ve won against TTR before, and by standing together, we will win again. Together, we can make sure the government hears us loud and clear: No seabed mining in Aotearoa. Not now, not ever.

Over 60,000 people in New Zealand have already signed our petitions saying NO to seabed mining. Add your name and join the movement today!

A timeline of the 12-year fight against Trans-Tasman Resources’ seabed mining plans

Iwi, local communities, environmentalists, Greenpeace and ocean defenders have been driving the resistance against TTR’s seabed mining plans for 12 years. Here is a timeline of that fight.

2014: TTR is declined consent for the first time

Late 2013, Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) applied for consent to dig up 50 million tonnes of the Taranaki seabed every year for 35 years to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

In March 2014, the public responded and the EPA received over 4,700 submissions, its largest number of submissions at that time for a single application. Over 99% of these submissions were opposed to mining the Taranaki seabed.

By June, the EPA officially declined consent.

2016: TTR re-applies & attempts to redact information

TTR re-applied for the same marine discharge consent, with the EPA committee redacting new plume modelling info. Greenpeace along with allies worked together and went to the Environment Court to overturn redaction.

2017: Public mobilisation and a High Court legal appeal

When TTR’s application went public, Greenpeace launched a massive mobilisation campaign that helped triple the number of submissions recieved in 2014. A total of 13,700 submissions were made against TTR’s seabed mining.

Despite this, the EPA granted TTR consent on 10th of August.

By August 31st, Greenpeace and Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) filed a High Court legal appeal. It highlighted how the South Taranaki Bight is home to Aotearoa’s own population of blue whales, the critically endangered Māui dolphin, blue penguins and other ocean taonga, and that it was critical to protect their habitats from seabed mining.

2018: The High Court quashes TTR’s consent again

In April, Greenpeace worked with experts and allies to stand as witnesses in the the High Court appeal and present evidence in the damage that TTR’s seabed mining plans would cause. This included experts in ecology, toxicology, marine mammals, penguins and birds, benthic, and even in economy.

By August, the High Court quashed TTR’s consent. This was a huge moment showing that people power can win.

2019: TTR appeals again

TTR once again appealed the 2018 High Court decision that removed its consent to mine the seabed off the Taranaki Bight.

Greenpeace, alongside KASM and a range of other groups, cross-appealed and defended the 2018 High Court ruling. They argued that the idea of “learning as you mine” was illegal on this 3-day hearing.

2020: The Court of Appeal upholds the decision to deny TTR’s mining application

A monumental victory was won for New Zealand oceans as the Court of Appeal upheld the decision to deny TTR mining the South Taranaki Bight seafloor. It marked TTR’s third failed attempt to exploit the Bight’s seabed.

2021: The Supreme Court dismisses TTR’s appeal unamiously

TTR took the case to the Supreme Court. Greenpeace argued that the Treaty of Waitangi and the “precautionary principle” must be at the heart of the decision.

The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed TTR’s appeal. It also created a massive legal precedent: if a mining company can’t prove they won’t cause “material harm,” they cannot mine.

2023 – 2024: Fast-Track announcement and increasing public opposition

TTR revived their zombie project and indicated they will use the Government’s new Fast-Track legislation to bypass the public and environmental checks. 

Greenpeace, fuelled by our supporters launched a massive public campaign. Nearly 60,000 people signed a petition calling for a total ban on seabed mining in Aotearoa. In September 2024, Greenpeace activists occupied the offices of the mining lobby group Straterra in Wellington to protest the Fast-Track plans. And just months later, Greenpeace activists, along with representatives from Ngāti Ruanui, shut down the Sydney annual general meeting of Australian mining company Manuka Resources, the owner of Trans-Tasman Resources.

2025: Evidence & opposition against seabed mining increases

Along with allies, Greenpeace submitted a strong mountain of evidence to the Fast-Track Expert Panel. This included reports from marine mammal experts (like Dr. Leigh Torres) and sediment specialists proving that the mining would create a “choking plume” of waste that could potentially hurt the marine animals thriving in the South Taranaki Bight.

In September, TTR’s parent company, Manuka Resources (MKR) listed itself on the New Zealand Stock Exchange. Greenpeace launched a petition calling on New Zealand investors and financial institutions to boycott MKR and its destructive seabed mining project in the South Taranaki Bight.

It’s been clear that the battle against TTR in Aotearoa is linked to the global movement against mining the seafloor. If TTR won in New Zealand, it would open the floodgates for destructive mining across the entire Pacific. And so in October, Greenpeace stood alongside Cook Island allies to confront the exploration vessel Nautilus as it returned to port. It was a protest against the US-backed push for deep-sea mining to begin in the Pacific.

In November, Greenpeace madea submission against the Fast-Track Approvals Amendment Bill, arguing it was a “war on nature“. With thousands of supporters getting involved, we showed the government the strength of public feeling, with over 2,500 individual submissions – 95% of which were in opposition.

2026: The Fast-Track panel declines TTR’s Fast-Track application

In February, the Fast-Track panel, which had been reviewing TTR’s application, released a draft decision to decline the project. The panel found TTR’s plans would likely cause material harm to marine ecosystems, threatened species like pygmy blue whales and penguins, and concluded it could not be safely managed, even with conditions attached. It was a massive win for the moana.

A few weeks later, TTR chose not to wait the final decision and officially withdrew its application. 

On February 24, Greenpeace activists and representatives from Ngāti Ruanui hand-delivered a formal “trespass notice” to the Sydney offices of Manuka Resources (TTR’s parent company). The notice “expels” the company from Taranaki, signalling that any further attempt to mine the Bight would be met with immediate and fierce resistance.

Companies linked to Trans-Tasman Resources

What is Manuka Resources?

Manuka Resources is an Australian-owned mining company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, with offices based in Sydney. They have interests in gold and silver mining in Australia. They are also the sole owners of Trans-Tasman Resources.

Manuka Resources recently had to backtrack on claims that the proposed Taranaki project would contribute a billion dollars a year to New Zealand’s exports. This included a formal retraction to the Australian Stock Exchange.

Greenpeace activists take action against Manuka Resources

In February 2026, Iwi representatives from Taranaki delivered a ‘trespass’ notice to Manuka Resources in Sydney, warning the company against pursuing any future plans to pillage the seabed in Aotearoa.

Hand delivered by Rukutai Watene of Ngāti Ruanui, alongside Greenpeace Aotearoa, the notice “expels” the wannabe seabed miners from Taranaki, and comes after TTR withdrew from the Fast Track process after the panel issued a draft rejection of their seabed mining proposal.

Find out more

What is Straterra?

Straterra is a group that represents the mining industry in New Zealand. Its members include mining companies and well-known organisations such as Deloitte and Beca. Straterra runs campaigns to persuade the public about mining and tries to influence the government to help miners.

Straterra lobbies on behalf of wannabe seabed miners Trans-Tasman Resources. This is despite TTR losing in court several times and facing strong opposition from local iwi and hāpu, environmentalists, boaties, and the fishing industry.

It has openly backed the Luxon government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In August 2024, CEO Josie Vidal talked to different media about the changes to this bill, putting Straterra at odds with environmental groups and the many people who oppose it.

Straterra was renamed New Zealand Minerals Council in April 2025.