Mining jobs boost welcomed

More mining in Northland and on the West Coast will boost jobs, local MPs says.

The Government today announced it was scrapping plans to open up 7000 hectares of conservation land in the Coromandel, Great Barrier Island and Paparoa National Park to prospecting for valuable minerals but that there would be more mining in other areas.

It will undertake an aeromagnetic survey in Northland and the South Island's West Coast's non-schedule four land to learn which areas have high concentrations of valuable minerals.

Northland MP John Carter welcomed the job creation any mining would bring.

"I'm sure that the people of Northland will be pleased with the employment opportunities that may arise out of it as a consequence of the surveys that are being done," he said.

"It's a positive for us. It's a great opportunity for Northland to contribute more than we do to the rest of New Zealand."

West Coast MP Chris Auchinvole expected the region would embrace increased mining in the area, albeit outside of schedule four land.

The economy, environment, community and mining companies all had to be considered when reaching the right balance for the West Coast, and he believed his region had achieved the right balance.

"On the one hand it has spectacular (scenery) - 87 percent of land is in the ... conservation estate," Mr Auchinvole said.

"But at the same time there is active mining and there is community buy-in to that."

Other areas did not have to deal with such a range of factors, he said.

The biggest plus would be the economic boost mining would bring.

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, whose electorate includes Great Barrier Island and who had opposed mining there, said the decision showed the Government had listened to the people.

"I'm very pleased with the decision ... we've ended up with stronger environment protection with national parks having to be added to schedule four," she said.