Rodney Green Party Candidate, Graham Evans,  warns...

Chinese company want to explore
commercial potential of
Kaipara Iron-sands

"So is this what the Foreshore and Sea bed is all about ?

"Money, Dredging, and Habitat Slaughter ?

"There is a submission at Crown Minerals for an exploration permit, permit code EP 40 734 from Black Sands Exploration Ltd a subsidiary of the Chinese Best Quality Life Group to explore a number of sites along the Tasman Coast of North Island from Taranaki to the Kaipara Harbour.

"I draw the attention of readers to the northern most section of this permit application which runs in a 10 km strip from the Manukau Harbour exit to the Kaipara Harbour exit at South Head, running about 1 km off shore.

"In total permit EP 40 734 ( to date the permit info is not up on the Crown Minerals web site) covers a combined area of 3617 square kilometres

"We have known about the iron sands for years. So what's new ?

"Well, what was expensive and uneconomic in the past, has, with increasing fuel costs and the reality of "Peak Oil" become a far more attractive proposition today. The price of raw materials (also finite) increasing makes once uneconomic deposits attractive and economic.

"Peak oil is not just about petrol and our cars it influences every facet of our life styles.

"How would they get the sand from the sea bed ?

"Scooping the top layer of sediment in a dredging operation and in the process destroying the sea bed habitat for all of the organisms that live in that layer. So what about the fish who live on those organisms?

"So what about the fishermen who catch the fish ?

"So what about the tourism that itself is so tied in with the sea ?

"Lots of questions but what are questions when the dollar signs light up before their eyes ?"


-- Graham Evans - Green Party Candidate Rodney 2005

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