The Endless Fight For The Coromandel
- Ruby Powell, Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki
The Coromandel: a popular holiday getaway, and battleground of the boom and bust of the gold mining industry. A juxtaposition that locals are used to, but often blows visitors’ minds: “How could someone dream of mining a place like this?” “Surely that would never happen here!” come the bewildered replies when we tell them of the relentless battle against international mining companies trying to dig up our hills for gold. Ironically for many people in my generation, warm childhood memories of playing at the beach and attending protests are intermingled.
The fight is a part of our culture and identity. We enjoy the beaches and forests even more knowing about the countless hours that generations before us have spent fighting for them. Anti-mining t-shirts, badges and posters are displayed like badges of honour. Just as much as we wish that fighting gold mining were not necessary, we accept the battle as part and parcel of life in the Coromandel, and do what we can to make it a fulfilling experience.
Who Are We Fighting?
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OceanaGold: An Australian mining company, which has mining operations in four countries around the globe, including the Philippines, New Zealand (Otago and the Coromandel), USA and Australia. In the Philippines Oceana’s mining licence was suspended in February 2017 for “environmental destruction” by the country’s new Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources. When questioned if she is biased, Minister Regina Lopez replied: “I do have a bias in favour of social justice and the environment. I will not cower to big business. My allegiance is to the common good and the Filipino people”. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to have a Minister for the Environment like that!
In the Coromandel/Hauraki OceanaGold owns the mines in Waihi and extensive exploration permits across the Peninsula, including in the Parakiwai Valley. Which is home to the most endangered frog in the world, the Archey’s Frog. It has also applied for two exploration permits in some of the top holiday hotspots of the Coromandel. The first permit will stretch from just north of Tairua to Cooks Beach, the second from Whitianga to Kuaotunu and across to Te Rerenga. New Zealand Petroleum And Minerals (NZPAM), the Government ministry in charge of granting mining permits, has confirmed it will approve the permits.
We are also fighting OceanaGold in the District Plan process of the Thames-Coromandel District where it goes under the name of Waihi Gold. It is trying to weaken what is already a terribly weak planning document, whilst we try to regain some of the vigour of the previous District Plan and prohibit both underground and opencast mining in coastal areas and outstanding natural landscapes. - Newcrest: Australia’s largest listed gold mining company and one of the largest gold mining companies in the world. It also displays questionable integrity in its work overseas, for example, in Papua New Guinea it is pumping tonnes of toxic waste into the marine environment. Newcrest is currently buying into exploration permits throughout the Karangahake Ecological Corridor and has been financing drilling operations. I was one of the people granted diversion after occupying one of its drilling sites and I was buoyed by the immense support we had throughout the court process. Next time it returns with a drilling rig I am sure there will be many more similar actions.
- New Talisman Gold Mines: New Talisman is a New Zealand managed company which is constantly drumming up investment from overseas to start a mining programme in historic mines within the Karangahake Mountain. It currently holds a valid mining permit, a resource consent and an access arrangement. All it is waiting for is the final sign off from Hauraki District Council for its traffic management plan then and, as it is telling its investors, it will be “all go”. As the local group will be.
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment: While not officially a gold mining company, nor an international corporation, this Government ministry acts very much in the former’s interest. MBIE, alongside OceanaGold, is fiercely fighting to make mining easier within the proposed Thames-Coromandel District Plan.
Strengthening Community Spirit
The fight against these companies is intergenerational and today’s campaign leans heavily on the gains and experience of the epic battles of the 70s, 80s and 90s. Previous District Plan processes brought us the legal precedent that it is possible for local governments to decide that some areas are unsuitable for mining. We know how effective phone trees and non-violent direct action are. Most importantly we have some “old timers” still sitting at the planning table and many who will come and support a protest or action.
I think the core difference in how we campaign today is that years ago many believed the fight would come to an end. That justice would prevail and then they could get on with life as normal. Whereas, my generation was born into a world where it is a given that most politicians are corrupt, corporations are more powerful than countries, and human rights are not considered until long after the damage is done. This world-view doesn’t mean I don’t have hope, simply that I understand that, in order to be able to keep people engaged in the never ending good fight, we need to find ways to incorporate the battle with strengthening community spirit: we’ve turned blockades into picnics complete with kids’ games and live music; we’ve turned meetings into potlucks; direct action trainings into team building exercises; and every long document is accompanied by a cup of delicious coffee.
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