Greenpeace angry over planned coal mine

Greenpeace is appalled the Government could turn a small piece of a conservation park into a coal mine.

Conservation Minister Tim Groser today said the boundary of the Oteake Conservation Park had been changed to exclude a 195 hectare area over the Hawkdun lignite deposit - a significant resource of recoverable energy.

The park straddles mountain ranges between the mid-Waitaki Valley and Central Otago.

"From its original 65,000 hectares, the park will now be 64,805ha. This is a very small change to the area of the park, but one of significant importance to the energy decisions of future generations," Mr Groser said.

There were no immediate mining plans but Mr Groser said the resource could be useful in future. Hawkdun could yield liquid fuels equivalent to New Zealand's transport requirements for 15 to 20 years, he said.

But Greenpeace says lignite is one of the worst fuels for causing climate change.

"No matter how you use it, it creates more emissions than any other fossil fuel," climate campaigner Simon Boxer said.

He called for Prime Minister John Key to reverse the decision.

"It's hard to think of a more environmentally irresponsible decision than to give up publicly owned conservation land for a dirty coal mine that will help accelerate climate change."

Mr Boxer said it was out of step with the rest of the world and sent the message that New Zealand was not serious about tackling climate change.

Labour Party conservation spokeswoman Steve Chadwick said her government had protected the land from being mined.

"There will be no benefit to New Zealand's economy in the short-term from this move, but the damage done to our international reputation as a country that cares about the environment could be significant," she said.