{"id":6425,"date":"2019-09-23T09:50:59","date_gmt":"2019-09-22T21:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/new-zealand\/?p=6425"},"modified":"2024-07-12T12:29:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T00:29:40","slug":"controversial-seabed-mining-case-in-court-of-appeal-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/press-release\/controversial-seabed-mining-case-in-court-of-appeal-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Controversial seabed mining case in Court of Appeal this week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) and Greenpeace are in the Court of Appeal in Wellington this week, defending last year\u2019s High Court ruling that quashed Trans-Tasman Resources\u2019 (TTR) consent to mine the South Taranaki Bight seabed.<\/p>\n

TTR is appealing the 2018 High Court decision that removed its consent to mine a 66 square kilometre area of the Bight for ironsands, which would involve digging up 50 million tonnes of the seabed a year for 35 years.<\/p>\n

In granting its original consent, the Environmental Protection Agency set out 109 conditions, some of which amounted to “adaptive management” which KASM, Greenpeace and other parties argued to the High Court was unlawful, and Justice Churchman agreed.<\/p>\n

This week the Court will hear TTR argue for mining to go ahead, and cross-appeals from KASM and Greenpeace, with the other parties, on a number of other issues the High Court decision rejected (see below).<\/p>\n

Cindy Baxter, chairperson of KASM, says this case is of utmost importance for preventing future seabed mining in New Zealand.<\/p>\n

“This is a precedent-setting case, and it\u2019s important to get the law as strong as possible, in order to protect our oceans from damage by future seabed miners. We cannot stress the importance of this case enough, in terms of the impact this destructive, untested industry could have on our ocean environment,” she said.<\/p>\n

Jessica Desmond, campaigner at Greenpeace says it\u2019s unacceptable the unique biodiversity of this region should be put at further risk from seabed mining.<\/p>\n

“The South Taranaki Bight is home to Aotearoa\u2019s own population of blue whales, the critically endangered M\u0101ui dolphin, blue penguins and other ocean taonga. These species are already under a multitude of threats from destructive fishing techniques, pollution and climate change, and this case is critical in protecting their home from damage by seabed mining.”<\/p>\n

The case will be heard over three days between 24-26 September, and the two environmental organisations will be working alongside a range of other groups, including local iwi Te R\u016bnanga o Ng\u0101ti Ruanui, the trustees of Te Kaahui Rauru, Forest & Bird, the Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board, Te Ohu Kai Moana and a number of other fisheries interests.<\/p>\n

The issues the two groups are cross-appealing include:<\/p>\n