South Taranaki seabed mining case to be heard in Court of Appeal

Monday, 23 September 2019

A Court of Appeal hearing related to a mining company's attempt to mine for iron ore off the South Taranaki coast begins on Tuesday. (FIle Photo).

The next chapter of what a Taranaki iwi describe as a 'David and Goliath battle' is due to be written in the Court of Appeal this week.

On Tuesday, Justices Kos, Goddard and Courtney, will hear legal arguments in relation to Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd's (TTR) attempt to appeal against a decision which had thwarted its plans to mine the seabed off the South Taranaki bight for iron ore.

In August last year, the Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui and others won an appeal in the High Court to quash the marine consent granted to TTR by the Environmental Protection Authority to undertake the mining.

The hearing will consider the appeal and cross-appeal of all parties involved and the points of law to be considered in the case relate to the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012.

In an emailed statement, Ngāti Ruanui kaiarataki Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the last five years fighting against TTR was like a 'David and Goliath battle' but the iwi was determined not to give up.

The appeal hearing, held in Wellington, is set down for three days.