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Mining projects in the fast-track process had taken on “the form of some constipated bureaucratic beast”, according to the Minister of Resources Shane Jones.
Mr Jones was speaking at a Santana Minerals event on Tuesday.
New Zealand First was looking at “further refinements” to the fast-track legislation because they do not want to be “hobbled by the weaponisation of wildlife or the peddling of mythology”.
Mr Jones was at Ardgour to open Santana Minerals’ exploration base before holding a candidates meeting in Cromwell.
“If we don’t get the outcomes we want we will look to ensure it is fit for the purpose of growing jobs, industry and taking care of the next generation of families who want to prosper in New Zealand,” he said.
Fast track had become too “pettifogging” at the level of the Environmental Protection Act.
“The original fast track was designed to accelerate industry, green farming, quarrying, mining and energy."
Cutting the ribbon at the exploration base, where core samples arrived from drilling on the proposed mine site, Mr Jones said he was “cutting through the enfeebled minds of my opponents”.
He said he had been told by “that malignant rag otherwise known as the Otago media” he was not welcome at the event.
"I was told if I came here I would corrupt my role as the Minister for Resources and that my presence here would represent improper pressure upon the panel that is considering the statutory application [to mine the site].
"On your behalf, I utterly reject that woke-riddled ideological hostility to mining given that I am [the] number one mining politician in New Zealand.”
When he came to the site more than two years ago, he did not know “that mythology, falsehoods and misinformation would mar what is a legitimate process — securing the necessary consents — so that our country can grow, Otago can create more jobs and . . . families have a better sense of what their future is in our country.”
Asked later what falsehoods and misinformation he was referring to, Mr Jones said there had been no shortage of catastrophising.
“I’m only disappointed [other fast-track panels] have not followed the template laid down by the Oceania Waihi Mining proposal.”
The Wildlife Act had outlived its relevance and needed substantial changes, he said.
“I’ve just come through thousands of hectares of agricultural land, some of it ploughed. Not one of those owners have to meet the burdensome obligations of lizard plans that are being foisted on the mining industry.
"It’s a convenient, idealogical hit job on mining.”
A small group of protesters were at the entrance to the site.
Some were holding Green Party banners and wearing matching T-shirts, while other had handmade banners bearing anti-mining slogans.
Mr Jones said he know all economic development projects encountered resistance, but he had a message for the protestors.
"Meet me at the ballot box. We mean to boost the economy.”
One of the protestors, who said they lived “over the hill”, but declined to be named, said people were too frightened of personal attacks to hang protest signs near their property or to join the group.
Clyde resident Chris Naylor said he was protesting as he was concerned about potential damage to the Clutha River if the mine’s storage dams failed.
"I’m the seventh generation [in my family] to drink water from the Clutha. I fear I might be the last.”
If Santana were taking their ore to be processed at Macraes mine he would not be so concerned, Mr Naylor said.
There was nowhere in the world and no mining company that had not had a dam fail, he said.