If you\u2019ve been following the fight to stop seabed mining you\u2019ll know that after being turned down in other forums, Trans Tasman Resources or TTR, has now asked the Government to push its failed seabed mining application through the anti-democratic Fast-Track Approvals process.
Last month, I observed Alan Eggers (executive chair of TTR) and his team conduct a \u2018walk-through\u2019 of his seabed mining application for the expert panel. What I saw was troubling. There were references to old research and modelling that was part of earlier, failed consent applications. There were contradictions in the presentation, and some concerning comments that downplayed the presence of mining on whales and penguins. <\/p>\n\n
This \u2018project overview conference\u2019 was almost held with no observers. The meeting was called by the expert panel with little notice, and it was held in Auckland, which were huge barriers for all of those who are on the frontline of any impacts. In the end, only two others outside of TTR, the expert panel and EPA staff were able to travel and attend with less than 24 hour\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n\n
Then, last week, TTR\u2019s parent company, Manuka Resources, launched on the New Zealand Stock Exchange<\/a>. They\u2019re looking for NZ investors to fund their reckless project. We responded with a clear warning to potential investors, projected onto the NZX building: don\u2019t bankroll ocean destruction; don\u2019t invest in seabed mining.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n