Of the more than 200 mining permits issued for Department of Conservation land, one is from the department itself.
A six-page document released to the Otago Daily Times under the Official Information Act reveals of the 235 permits issued for areas which overlap Doc land, 48 were for coal, 174 for minerals, and 13 for petroleum.
Doc administers approximately 30% of New Zealand's land area, and any individuals, groups or companies wanting access require an access arrangement granted by the Minister of Conservation.
Land detailed in schedule four of the Crown Minerals Act identifies specific areas of public conservation land where the minister is restricted in granting access arrangements for other than minimum-impact activities.
In Otago 26 permits were issued, including one for Doc to mine for gold.
However the 40-year permit, from July 2004, was for "tourist industry demonstrations" on a 16ha block next to the Kawarau River.
Gold fossicking as well as mining demonstrations are permitted under the Act, including on schedule four land.
Permits in Otago range from 1.51ha for a gravel extraction operation in the Motatapu area, to 9522ha for Oceana Gold's Macraes extension.
The duration of permits also ranges from five years for Glass Earth to mine for gold, to 40 years for Blackhead Quarries for aggregate, and Fulton Hogan for gravel and sand.
Otago permits, all for minerals, cover 11,500ha of land.
Seven mining permit applications have been declined since March 2005, including two applications for the Otago region.
The Government is reviewing land listed on schedule four of the Crown Minerals Act, which restricts mineral-related activity.
Mining permits
Total mineral permits or licences which overlap Doc land.
- Coal 48 (incl 39 in West Coast, 6 Waikato, 1 Southland)
- Minerals 174 (incl 111 West Coast, 26 Otago, 14 Waikato)
- Petroleum 13 (12 Taranaki, 1 West Coast)