Seabed mining Taranaki 2016
DECISION: UNDER REVIEW
Latest Update
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) approval in 2017 to grant resource consent to Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd (TTR) to mine the South Taranaki seabed was highly criticised by multiple interests. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui and Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) challenged the EPA’s decision.
In 2018 the High Court overturned the 2017 EPA decision. TTR appealed. The Court of Appeal upheld the High Court decision. TTR appealed for a review by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeal.
In 2021 the TTR application was sent back to the EPA for their review. TTR confirmed it wanted the EPA to reconsider its application.
In 2022 the EPA appointed a new decision making committee to reconsider the application.
The EPA is currently receiving submissions from parties to the application. As of September 2023, no public submissions are required.
2017 Update
On Tuesday 8th November 2016 the Environment Court upheld a challenge by Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM), local Maori and fishing interests, against a foreign-owned seabed mining company Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR).
On Monday 7th November the Environment Court heard the case brought by KASM, asking the Court to order TTR to reveal information hidden in the company’s application to mine iron sand from the South Taranaki Bight. The judge has delivered his verdict and it was a good one for KASM and all Kiwis.
Submissions to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on the TTR application closed on 14 November 2016. Unfortunately, on 3 August 2017, EPA approved the TTR marine consent and marine discharge consent applications, with some conditions.
Introduction
On 23 August 2016, Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd (TTR) submitted an application with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed off the coast of Patea, South Taranaki Bight, for iron sand. Their intention is to extract a maximum of 50 million tonnes of the seabed each year for a period of 35 years. This follows from an application to mine in the same area in 2013.
Excavation would occur in depths ranging from 19 to 42 metres. The proposal area covers 65.76 square kilometres of seabed between 22 to 36 kilometres offshore of Patea.
TTR will process the extracted material, remove then export up to 5 million tonnes of iron sand per year, for up to 35 years.
Through LegaSea the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council has worked with Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) to better understand what the application might mean for the west coast. KASM provided guidance as a submission was developed.
A submission recommending the application be declined was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on 14 October 2016.
After the submission was sent the EPA advised the deadline had been extended until 14 November 2016.
Relevant information
The NZSFC has been previously involved in seabed mining processes off Taranaki. See below.
Seabed mining Taranaki 2013-14
2017
Decision
Decision. Marine and marine discharge consents. EPA. 3 Aug 2017.
Decision by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to approve the application for marine consents and marine discharge consents by Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd to undertake restricted activities and the consents are issued subject to conditions. These marine consents and marine discharge consents expire 35 years after the date of the granting of the consents.
2016
Media coverage
LegaSea update. Win for KASM.10 Nov 2016.
On Tuesday 8th November the Environment Court upheld a challenge by Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM), local Maori and fishing interests, against a foreign owned seabed mining company Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR). At this stage submissions to the EPA close on Monday 14th November.
Submissions
Submission. Seabed mining South Taranaki. NZSFC. 14 Oct 2016
Submission recommending the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) decline the Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd marine consent application to mine iron sand in the South Taranaki Bight. Submission follows earlier submissions in 2013 and 2014. Submission by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. 14 October 2016.
NPSUC submission. Seabed mining Taranaki. 14 October 2016
The New Plymouth Sport Fishing and Underwater Club submission opposes the Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd application based on the grounds that the applicant, TTR, has not provided all available data on the environmental impacts. The information that has been presented fails to address the Club’s concerns, and there is no evidence that the seabed mining work can be carried out in a way which will not negatively affect the marine environment.
Application and relevant documents
TTR application. Seabed mining Taranaki. 23 August 2016
Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd application to mine the seabed off Patea for iron sand. TTR plan to extract a maximum of 50 million tonnes of the seabed each year for a period of 35 years, in depths ranging from 19 to 42 metres. The proposal area covers 65.76 square kilometres of seabed between 22 to 36 kilometres offshore of Patea, in the South Taranaki Bight. TTR will process the extracted material, remove then export up to 5 million tonnes of iron sand per year, for up to 35 years.
TTR discharge consent application. South Taranaki Bight. 23 August 2016
Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd application for a marine discharge consent to undertake a notified or non-notified discretionary activity, under s87B of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012.
TTR impact assessment report. South Taranaki Bight. August 2016
Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd impact assessment report in support of their marine consent and marine discharge consent applications relating to the South Taranaki Bight seabed mining application. These applications follow a previous application to mine the seabed for iron sand in 2013. That 2013 seabed mining application was declined on a number of grounds. 320 pages of detail.