A letter from Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee to New Zealand's representative for the World Commission of Protected Areas (WCPA) Bruce Jefferies has indicated a possible softening of the Government's stance regarding a review of schedule four of the Crown Minerals Act.
Mr Brownlee and Conservation Minister Tim Groser are investigating whether protected conservation areas may be removed from schedule four to allow for mining exploration.
A report from the Ministry of Economic Development reviewing schedule four and outlining areas with the potential for mineral exploration was scheduled to be released in February for public consultation, Mr Brownlee said.
Schedule four bans mining access to 13% of New Zealand's land, including its highest-valued conservation areas, such as national parks.
"The review will result in little change to the way New Zealand public conservation land is managed," Mr Brownlee's letter said.
A leaked memo, released by the Green Party last month, contained recommendations from a MED report for a 20% sector of the 350,000ha Mount Aspiring National Park to have its protection from mining exploration removed.
The leaked recommendations have upset interest groups, who are trying to pressure Mr Brownlee via a protest page on social-networking website Facebook.
Mr Brownlee's letter to Mr Jefferies says removing an area from schedule four would not automatically allow mining to occur on public conservation land.
It would "merely allow" for applications for exploration or mining access to be considered on a "case-by-case" basis, such as the existing situation for the majority of public conservation land.
"Any activity allowed would be subject to strict environmental and conservation standards," he said.
Recently "gazetted marine reserves and additions to a national park" were "some" new conservation areas which should be considered for addition to schedule four and therefore "completely closed" to mining.
However, underground mining, "because it does not disturb the land surface", would be a possible exception when reviewing what areas might be added to the protected list under schedule four.
