Climate warriors lobby ANZ over mine expansion

Saturday, 9 August 2025

Kirsty Porter uses a megaphone to spread the word about ANZ’s support of Bathurst Resources, the company pushing for a coalmine on the Denniston Plateau.

A dozen members of Extinction Rebellion Manawatū protested outside Palmerston North’s ANZ branch in Rangitīkei St on Friday afternoon, joining a national action against the bank led by Climate Liberation Aotearoa.

At issue was the bank’s support for its customer Bathurst Resources, which is seeking fast-track approval to mine 20 million tonnes of coking coal at the Denniston Plateau on the South Island’s West Coast.

Group spokesperson Jean Hera said the mine could be responsible for the equivalent of New Zealand’s total annual emissions while also destroying unique ecosystems.

“This is such an important issue to raise public awareness about,” she said.

She congratulated group member Rachael Andrews for her commitment, which included being suspended in a coal bucket above the proposed mining site for more than a week.

“This is one of the most climate-wrecking projects in the country,” Hera said.

The protesters said ANZ had the power to shut the project down and should stop supporting any “fossil fuel expansionists”.