The minerals conference which starts in Rotorua today is set to become one of the most successful yet, with more than 300 delegates registered.
The New Zealand branch meeting of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy may be joined by protesters for the first time, as environmental concerns about mining throughout New Zealand increase.
Operators from the Sourth Island represented at the three-day conference include Oceana Gold, from East Otago, Solid Energy and Bathurst Resources, from the West Coast, and L and M Group and subsidiary L and M Mining, with interests in Central Otago and the lower South.
A groundswell of public opinion, stemming from the National Government's ill-fated attempt three years ago to engage the country in changing conservation land protections, is set to boil again over exploration for oil and gas drilling, any use of hydraulic fracturing, coal and lignite use.
National has nailed its colours to the mast to revive the economy by increasing mineral exploration and production, but the public and environmentalists are banding together as never before to oppose many projects.
Included on the keynote addresses this year are representatives from Forest and Bird, the Environmental Defence Society, The Pew Foundation and Department of Conservation director general Al Morrison.
Branch chairman Tom King said it was hoped the session would challenge both the industry delegates and the environmental organisations.
"The purpose of the conference is to broaden the knowledge of those within the industry and those with an interest in it."
New Zealand's mineral resources had the potential to contribute much more to the prosperity of New Zealanders, as they were doing in other resource-rich countries such as Canada, Norway, Finland and Australia, he said.
While conference protesters may have sparked a low-level security upgrade, Bathurst Resources' attempts to get into production are being dragged through the courts as its opponents try to appeal all decisions.
However, it will be the unfolding details of possible changes to the Resource Management Act and Crown Minerals Act and legislation being readied for protection of the economic exclusion zone beyond 12 miles offshore which will attract closest scrutiny.
