News from Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM)
Kia ora koutou
2017 has been a huge year for seabed mining, with the EPA approving the application by Trans Tasman Resources to mine the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight. But it only just got the go-ahead – with two of the four EPA decision making committee members voting to decline, the Chair used an extra casting vote to get it over the line.
More than 13,000 of you submitted on the application, and many of you took the trouble to go to the hearings, or appear on Skype: not easy. We did our best, alongside the mana whenua Ngati Ruanui, Greenpeace, Forest & Bird and fisheries organisations and groups. But the fight is far from over.
What’s next?
The next step is our appeal to the High Court, which will be heard around mid-April next year. From there, we will expect a decision possibly by the end of 2018 – these things take a while. At this point, the High Court would direct the EPA to look at certain points of law, or even (as we are asking them to) to reject the decision altogether. We have a fantastic legal team – see here for our notice of appeal where we have identified 15 points of law on which we are appealing. Here’s our press release.
It is almost certainly the case that whatever the High Court ruling is, it will be appealed – either by the company – or by KASM and other parties who are currently appealing. It could easily end up in the Supreme Court, not least because the whole case is precedent-setting – it’s new legislation and the first seabed mining case to be approved under that legislation
What was in the decision?
Our fantastic legal team has now completed a detailed summary of what was in the decision. You can find it here on our website. We’ve also written a much simpler, two-page version, also on our website – here.
Fundraising for our appeal
The response from all of you to support us in our appeal has been truly humbling. We have heard stories of kids raiding their piggy banks to help us, of buckets being passed round, cake stalls and the like – all of it has added up to a kitty that will help us get through the legal processes.
It has been extraordinary. The outpouring of fury from everyone about this go-ahead for an all-out assault on our ocean environment has been heard far and wide.
I have to make special mention of the most amazing contribution by Athol Steward and family (right) who walked 400km from Raglan to Whanganui and raised an enormous $10,000 for KASM’s appeal.
To contribute to our appeal fund, please go to our website. It’s easy.
If you want to support us while you’re out and about this summer, get a fabulous KASM t-shirt or a surf hoodie from our shop.
The elections – and the possibility of a marine mammal sanctuary?
The new Labour/Green/NZ First coalition government agreement has brought about some hope for the future of seabed mining. While the government was reluctant to interfere in the legal processes around the EPA decision and the appeal, what was agreed was that the Greens could “look at” how to set up a marine mammal sanctuary in the South Taranaki Bight.
The Bight is, we now understand, home to what could possibly be Aotearoa’s own population of blue whales. They certainly come to the Bight to feed on the huge amount of krill found there (that could be threatened by the ‘plume’ of sediment from seabed mining).
If we were to get a marine mammal santuary in the Bight, it would not only protect the blue whales, but also other types of whales, and preserve the “corridor” between Hectors and Maui Dolphins that could be the only way to preserve the critically endangered Maui.
Changes at KASM
Just after the decision we had the KASM AGM in Raglan, and said goodbye to the absolutely awesome Phil McCabe, who has led KASM through the last five years of turbulence, with three different applications on seabed mining. He has worked SO hard for the cause, including many trips down the West Coast, some on foot, and impressing everyone with his calm demeanour. We couldn’t have done it without Phil. He wrote a blog not long after he stepped down, which I encourage you to read.
I now have very big shoes to step into as Chair. I am a campaigner who works on climate change and coal, both here and internationally, and have been on the KASM Committee since 2013, running KASM’s communications. My reason for getting involved? I live on a black sand beach – further north at Piha. My love for our black sand and our oceans meant that once I moved to Piha and became a west coast beach dweller, I had no choice but to get involed.
I’m very happy we now have another Piha member of the KASM crew – Hannah Slade. Our other new committee members are Heather Cunningham, from Raglan, and Mike Moss, an organic dairy farmer from just outside Raglan, who’s our new Treasurer. They join longstanding members Chris Wilkes (Taranaki), Malibu Hamilton (Raglan), June Penn, our Secretary (Raglan) and our fabulous administrator Paulina Sadowska, also from Raglan.
From all of us, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your amazing and spirited support – from your facebook likes (we are now at 12,000!), comments and shares, to your donations, your protests and placards. It all makes a huge difference. 2018 will be another big year for KASM, but right now it’s that time of the year to spend with those you love, and to enjoy the ocean that we all love and want to preserve.
Nga mihi
Cindy Baxter, KASM chair