ON THE BLOCK

Last week, government’s announcement that there were to be no more block offers for offshore oil and gas exploration in New Zealand was widely welcomed by mana whenua and our supporters.  But – and there is always a ‘but’ when it comes to government announcements – more than 30 existing permits, 22 for offshore oil and gas exploration, were unaffected by the ban. 

Those permits cover 100,000sq km, and if they are continued or taken up, exploration will continue for more than a decade.  So, there is no real reprieve for mother earth just yet.  Meanwhile, the week ended with further concerns for the whenua in our rohe. 

First, the Northland Regional Council granted a non-notifiable consent for Auckland-based Resin & Wax Holdings Ltd to extract kauri resin and wax from 400ha of wetland that forms part of almost 950ha where Te Paatu, Ngāti Kahu and Ngāi Takoto are mana whenua. 

When this information was posted to facebook, one of our people noted, “How odd.  In March the Kaimaumau swamp importance was discussed at length as part of a NRC resource hearing for water in the far north for the Motutangi-Waiharara Water Users Group (MWWUG).  Yet this commercial kauri resin and wax extraction resource consent was never mentioned, and at the same time an NRC led wetland Wai Restoration national hui was being held in Kerikeri.  Start asking questions.” 

The second concern comes from the announcement that New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZPAM) has granted Arum Pacific Bauxite (NZ Ltd) a permit to explore 779.503 square kilometres for more than 50 distinct minerals in an area bounded by Whangaroa, Kaikohe and Kawakawa.  Following is an edit of the response to this announcement by spokespeople for the Tau Iho i Te Po Trust and the hapū of Ngāti Rua ki Whaingaroa / Whangaroa: 

“Ngāti Rua is the hapū that resides within Whaingaroa / Whangaroa bound together by established Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Kahu whakapapa. … In regards to the granting of the exploration permit for mining:

1.       We will advise the NZPAM that we reject their decision to grant the exploration permit.

2.       [We will] find out who will be managing consents for the Council.

3.       [We will] think about a strategy specific to DoC managed land, noting the Crown’s assumption to sovereignty and ownership of minerals in their 'outcome notification’.

“Ngāti Rua … seeks to maintain, preserve, protect and enhance the mauri of our rohe for present and future generations.  This is just the beginning folks ... Watch for updates leading to active resistance.”

Recent government  moves to transition away from reliance on fossil fuels are consistent with a ban on future offshore block offers.  However, because there is no constitutional protection for the whenua, the ban is very unlikely to stay if the government changes.  So, mana whenua hapū and their supporters are very likely to remain alert for, questioning of and resistant to government departments and local governments putting onshore land areas on the block.