Local iwi in Golden Bay say they are celebrating a rare and “emotional” victory after learning the controversial Sams Creek gold mine will not go ahead.
Sams Creek Collective are very grateful for their stand opposing Siren Gold’s proposal for the mine and thank them for their substantial mahi in preparing complex submissions to government. This excellent article and acknowledgment in today’s Press/Nelson Mail is great to see.
Manawhenua ki Mohua chair Margie Little said years of opposition to mining proposals had often felt futile, making this week’s decision all the more significant. “We’ve been opposing gold mines since our settlement in 2014,” she said.
“We put in so much work behind the scenes and usually it just goes out the window to stop these applications. But this time, it worked.”
Little made submissions to New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals earlier this year opposing the mine on behalf of Ngāti Tama, Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Rārua.
Local iwi had refused to engage in consultation with Siren Gold because of concerns about environmental risk, Little said. “For gold mines like that, the risk to the environment and to the water is hugely significant. There was no way we were ever going to agree to it”.
Read full story:
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/361008564/we-didnt-think-it-would-actually-make-difference-iwi-celebrate-sams-creek-mine-rejection
