Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board to appeal seabed mining decision

The decision in favour of Trans-Tasman Resources Limited was announced on 10 August 2017 and required a casting vote from the chairperson of the Authority’s four-member Decision Making Committee.

Board chairperson Brendon Te Tiwha Puketapu said the Board had submitted against the proposal during the public consultation phase and had now carried that action further by lodging a formal appeal against the EPA’s decision within the deadline date of 31 August.

‘The Board discussed its options at great length at a meeting last week (24 August). The EPA’s decision could only be appealed on matters of law and the Board received advice that there were genuine and reasonable questions of law within its conservation management functions to proceed.

‘The Board has therefore focused its appeal on questions of law relating to how the EPA should discharge its duties in obtaining the best available information, apply the precautionary principle and what falls within the scope of an adaptive management approach. 

‘It has also sought to clarify how the EPA should have taken into account the Resource Management Act and in particular the strong directives of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.

‘The Board is committed to participating appropriately in the High Court process as it progresses. The Board is aware the High Court will set a timetable in due course,’ Mr Puketapu said.  

More information about the Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board.

Notice of appeal - 30 August 2017 (PDF, 1,271K)

Contact

Adrienne Corfe
Board Support Officer
Email: acorfe@doc.govt.nz
Phone: +64 27 357 0822