Seabed Mining Sucks

Right now, there’s a chance seabed mining could be fast-tracked in Taranaki. While we’ve been distracted by polarising points of debate, legislation has been pushed through to allow Seabed Mining in the South Taranaki Bight. 

If you are a resident of Taranaki, you have the power to put brakes on this particular Fast Track project.

Sign the petition below to show South Taranaki Council that we want this to stop. Right now.

Sign here: Concerned Communities of Taranaki and Manawatū Against Seabed Mining

The problem:

Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (TTRL) see a delicious little slice of iron sand off the coast of Pātea they can extract over the next 35 years. 50 million tonnes of iron sand and vanadium. The act of seabed mining pours sediment plumes all over the remaining marine ecosystem.

Vanadium doesn’t occur naturally in metal. The extraction process is so toxic that our current environmental regulations (before this government) meant that vanadium couldn’t be extracted here.  

If you’ve been diving, you would know that if you touch coral with your flipper you will kill that coral. Seabed mining – especially extracting vanadium, off the coast of Patea, is going to obliterate our marine life. 

Despite the companies promises – no one has completed this type extraction before, so the ‘minimal disturbance’ cannot be guaranteed despite their assurances. 

TTRL is owned by Manuka Resources which is Australian owned. They have the usual green washing sustainability on their website. But the fact of the matter is, these companies are ‘mine now, try and fix it later’ companies, with limited success. Manuka Resources current projects have not been successful in their restoration. 

The South Taranaki Bight is a migration highway for the pygmy blue whale and the Māui dolphin. 35 years of deep sea mining –  are we going to send them a memo and tell them to change their migration path? No. They are going to be extinct at the end of 35 years. 

TTRL has tried every single thing they can do to get this Seabed Mining over the line and failed. Finally with the Fast Track Bill that our current government is pushing through – they get to bypass every stop that people smarter than me have put in place.  

Because local councils are potentially the only bodies invited to provide feedback to the Fast Track expert panel or the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), it’s so important that that we, as residents directly impacted by this proposal, share this far and wide. Make sure you neighbour signs it, and your workmate, and share it on social media.

For the people out there who want the money and not the fish, try and think of the long term impacts. The highly toxic extraction of vanadium means there’s no win for us. Our grandkids aren’t going to have any fish and you don’t get any money. This money doesn’t end up in the pocket of average Joe Blogs. This money does not benefit Taranaki. 

Furthermore, the marine ecosystem that TTRL seeks to disrupt, also plays a critical role in maintaining the health of the entire marine ecosystem including climate regulation.

We probably shouldn’t be messing with climate regulation of the entire marine ecosystem. Duh. 

Take a look at Project Reef Life – they have explored and documented the South Taranaki Bight with more to discover.

We now know that the area is a critical feeding and migration area for species like pygmy blue whales, humpback whales, and orca. These awe-inspiring animals rely on this region to survive.

There’s fewer than 50 Māui dolphins left. The Bight is a vital part of their habitat. It’s not rocket science to guess that this is going to push them even closer to extinction. 

By uniting our voices, we give the councils involved the mandate to protect the South Taranaki Bight.

Strong, united opposition gives them the power to submit meaningful feedback on our behalf, ensuring that Seabed Mining doesn’t go ahead.

Without your signature, the government’s Fast-Track Bill could approve this before most people even know it’s happening.

If we don’t speak up now, it will be too late to stop it.

SIGN NOW, TAKE THIS AS A SIGN TO SIGN

Sign here: Concerned Communities of Taranaki and Manawatū Against Seabed Mining

It’s so easy to to sign the petition. Name, address, area and you’re done. It’s quick, but it makes a difference. The more people who stand against seabed mining, the harder it will be for decision-makers to ignore us. We need to get to 500 signatures by January.

Final Thoughts

Who am I to be writing blogs about this?

I’ll tell you what, If everything was working properly in Aotearoa New Zealand and shady deals weren’t about to decimate our sea life, I would not be a ‘radical’. I would be pottering along trying to earn enough money to get to Fiji like everyone else.

But, unfortunately, I have a unique skillset creating copy and design that inspires action and it makes me so angry that we are being manipulated so blatantly.

Remember this dear reader, it’s a bum deal, if this goes ahead we potentially wipe out species of marine life that directly contributes to the entire marine ecosystem. 

In short, Seabed Mining Sucks.

Sign the petition, right now!!!!

Sign here: Concerned Communities of Taranaki and Manawatū Against Seabed Mining