A good idea

Last month we learned that the government had revived its plans to dig up our national parks, issuing exploration permits for Schedule 4 land. Today the Crown Minerals (Permitting and Crown Land) Bill has its committee stage - and the Greens have put up an SOP to protect schedule 4 by banning prospecting:

Today the Green Party is introducing an amendment to the Crown Minerals Bill to prohibit petroleum and minerals prospecting and exploration in New Zealand’s most treasured places areas listed in Schedule 4.

“This amendment would help ensure that our most precious conservation areas are never opened up for mining,” said Green Party mining spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

The full SOP is here.

This is a good idea, which will properly protect our most precious natural sites against desecration. Sadly, I expect the government will oppose it.