The Green Party has started a petition to ask the Government
to halt any plans to undertake mining in protected land and
water areas.
The petition follows an announcement last week by the
Government that it planned to stocktake mineral resources in
protected conservation land.
The announcement caused alarm among opponents including Green
and Labour party MPs, but Energy and Resources Minister Gerry
Brownlee said it was simply a stocktake and the Government
had no intention of "digging up the Crown's conservation
estate".
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said the petition would
give New Zealanders a chance to speak out against mining in
their protected conservation areas.
It has been set up on the party's website.
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