Shock and disappointment as Santana chairman's race comments revealed

Sunday, 17 May 2026

Comments about race by the chairman of a company proposing a contentious Central Otago gold mine have left iwi “shocked and disappointed”, Mike White reports. But the company is backing their man and says Peter Cook’s record running gold mines stands on its merits.

In late-April, Peter Cook arrived in Dunedin, ahead of the first day of hearings into his company’s plans to build a large gold mine in Central Otago.

Cook, the chairman of Australian company Santana Minerals and its New Zealand subsidiary, Matakanui Gold Ltd, was appearing in front of a Fast-track panel that would decide if the controversial mine was given the go ahead.

That day’s hearings were on Ōtākou Marae, hosted by Kā Rūnaka, the governing authority of four southern Ngāi Tahu rūnaka affected by Santana’s proposed Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.

Despite discussions, Kā Rūnaka strongly opposed the mine, which will include four open pits, underground mining, a 24/7 operation for at least 14 years, and a 2km tailings dam for chemical waste that will remain forever in the hills between Tarras and Cromwell.

Read more:

• Ngāi Tahu calls for controversial Central Otago gold mine to be rejected

• Poisoning paradise? The gold mine set to tear apart a community and country

• The week a gold mine laid bare a region’s deepest fears and fiercest loyalties

• Commissioner warns proposed Santana gold mine should be declined

After a welcome, Cook listened to submissions from Kā Rūnaka members and experts, occasionally twirling a pen in his fingers while waiting for Santana’s opportunity to respond.

When it came, Cook briefly debated with Santana’s CEO, Damian Spring, sitting beside him, who would speak first, before pressing a button on the microphone.

“I think I’m switched on,” Cook said with a small smile.

Cook said it was an honour to be invited on to the marae, and talked of developing “a respectful, chiefly relationship” with Kā Rūnaka, including “mutual trust and respect for each other’s rights and obligations.

“We have varied responsibilities, perceptions and world views.”

Switched on?

Those varied perceptions and world views now appear to have been laid bare, with revelations of Cook’s comments about race on social media.

Over the last three years on LinkedIn, Cook, an Australian geologist and mineral economist, has made a number of statements that Kā Rūnaka says are “shocking and disappointing”.

In reference to debate over keeping Australia Day, Cook referred to it as: 'Rescue Day. Rescued from poverty, poor health, brutal tribal law, propelled into modernity etc. Time for some real truth telling!!'

In response to a post by his friend Peter Schwann that, 'We are no longer Australia. The white straight majority population is marginalised by its own guilt and blame pushed Government and encouraged by minority power groups backed by government broadcasters, Woke Press, Universities, and policy!', Cook replied: 'I'm with you Schwann's. No more colonial guilt!'

Cook questioned reference the use of the phrase 'a first nation's voice' in Australia by stating: 'What First Nation? There never was a nation?'

And regarding concerns with indigenous rights in mining areas, Cook stated: 'The issue is not physical heritage - everyone can see and deal with that. It's the mythological and spiritual part. How can you define property rights over them? They are religious-type beliefs!'

When supermarket chain Woolworths consulted its indigenous advisory board over Australia Day merchandise, Cook responded: “What a cop out! A spineless board who made a political stance to please the small percentage of loud voices who have no understanding of the consequences of their personal virtue signalling.”

Cook repeated his opposition to the 2023 referendum which proposed giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people greater input into government decisionmaking: “The Voice - No,” Cook stated, before questioning what was the definition of “indigenous”.

“If it’s more than 1/8, hadn’t there already been reconciliation?”

Another post by Cook refers to “excessive immigration intake.”

A spokesperson for Kā Rūnaka has responded with disbelief to the statements of Cook, who they are currently in discussions with over Santana’s proposal.

“We are shocked and disappointed by these comments.

“As iwi Māori, we feel aroha for first nations whānauka (whānau/family) who may have heard or read these words and felt the weight of them. Collectively, we carry long histories of hurt, dispossession, and being spoken about in ways that seek only to diminish.

The spokesperson said Māori sadly still heard echoes of these views, “although thankfully these are now held and shared by an increasingly small number of voices.

“We hope this moment allows Mr Cook to reflect and take a greater understanding, and careful appreciation when engaging with mana whenua, including building a better understanding of the responsibilities we have for our environment.

“For Kā Rūnaka, this goes to the foundation of any meaningful relationship: trust, respect, and the willingness to listen carefully before drawing conclusions about people, place, and history.”

When approached for comment about his social media posts by the Sunday Star-Times, Cook did not resile from his views, or apologise.

“Over many years in business and public life I’ve expressed personal views on a wide range of issues, sometimes bluntly. I understand that not everyone will agree with every comment I’ve made.”

The Star-Times asked Cook if he considered Māori had also been rescued from “poverty, poor health, brutal tribal law, and propelled into modernity”; whether, given his views, he should be involved in discussions with Kā Rūnaka.

Cook didn’t answer these and other questions, instead saying: “What matters in this process is conduct, respect and engagement.”

He said Santana had spent years dealing with Kā Rūnaka.

“I reject any suggestion that I or Santana Minerals approach these relationships without respect,” and said the company’s focus remained on continuing constructive engagement.

The $180 million question

The revelations about Cook’s apparent attitudes on race follow claims made by Cook that Ngāi Tahu demanded $180 million to support Santana’s application.

In a letter to Kā Rūnaka, Cook warned against “oppressive negotiating tactics”.

This led ACT MP Simon Court to accuse Ngāi Tahu of “standover tactics”.

But a Kā Rūnaka spokesperson strongly rejected Cook’s claims, and how their position had been characterised in material Santana chose to release.

“The suggestion that our engagement has been driven by financial considerations is wrong and misrepresents and undermines our role as kaitiaki.

“We also reject the accuracy of the minutes and correspondence that have been publicly released. They provide a partial and selective account of evolving kōrero, and do not fairly represent Kā Rūnaka’s position.

“Engagement of this nature relies on trust — the ability to speak openly, test ideas, and work through complex issues. The selective release and framing of that engagement has undermined that trust.”

The spokesperson repeated that Kā Rūnaka remained opposed to Santana’s plans in their current form.

“We are not opposed to development. We have supported projects across our takiwā (territory) where impacts are understood, managed properly, and aligned with our values.

“In this case, we do not believe that balance has been achieved.”

Cook’s views on social media frequently challenge “the hysteria of climate change”.

These include numerous comments on LinkedIn, including:

• 'Climate change is the biggest fraud of the past 50 years. All those using it as a reason to change are also fraudsters.'

• 'Science is never settled!! Carbon dioxide is the gas of life! Decarbonisation is a scurrilous concept without proved scientific consequences or implications.'

• 'Carbon dioxide is not a greenhouse gas - it's a plant food essential to balancing the ecosystem.'

• 'There are only three things that really impact climate change. The sun, the ocean, and volcanoes. We can't stop any of them. The evolution of life on earth, and more pertinently plant life, needs it to exist. We have no right, place, or capability to interfere with natural earth processes.'

• 'Evolution and extinction of species will continue as natural earth processes.'

Cook celebrated a report indicating US president Donald Trump's policies would add 4 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, and denounced former US vice-president and advocate of combating climate change Al Gore as: 'A complete fraud'.

The Santana chairman has also panned renewable energy ('You can't fry an egg on a solar panel!!'), saying, 'They are already proving to be an evangelistic, disruptive, and inadequate source.'

This is despite Santana championing the fact the 14-18MW of electricity the mine needs will be provided by renewable hydroelectricity or “low cost green energy”, from the Clyde Dam.

Cook’s views on climate change are relevant because Santana’s mine will emit significant greenhouse gases, largely from the 10-15 million litres of diesel its vehicles will burn each year, for at least 14 years.

Climate change researcher and Victoria University professor James Renwick says Cook’s remarks “are typical of the climate change denialist cohort, and have been debunked and refuted many many times.

“Someone in his position of authority in the business sector, responsible for many tons of greenhouse gas emissions, should be on top of the science of climate change and be able to take responsibility for his company’s actions.”

Renwick says carbon dioxide’s role in the climate system has been understood for close to 200 years, and the science behind climate change has been settled for a long time.

“If climate change is a fraud, then so is a great deal of physics and chemistry.

“If one says, ‘Science is never settled!!’, would you say we can’t be sure about the force of gravity, about electricity?”

Renwick corrected Cook’s claim carbon dioxide wasn’t a greenhouse gas, saying it was the first identified greenhouse gas, a discovery made in the 19th century.

While plants needed carbon dioxide to grow, adding it to the air changed the availability of water and raised temperatures, meaning most crops suffered, even though they had more ‘food’, Renwick says.

And responding to Cook’s wider claims, Renwick says there are only two things that impact climate change, “the brightness of the sun, and the amount of greenhouse gases in the air.

“The oceans move heat around but don’t change the climate. Volcanoes block out sunlight for a year or two. Humanity has become a geological force, emitting millions of years of stored carbon in a matter of decades.”

More ‘blunt’ views

Cook’s comments on LinkedIn encompass a range of other political and social issues:

• On former prime minister Jacinda Ardern receiving a damehood: “The royals clearly don’t understand the pain she caused her peasants!”

• On pro-Palestine protesters in the Netherlands: “Take away their democratic right to vote and access welfare. They should be picking up rubbish on roadsides as a protest against littering.”

• On the United Nations: “There’s not much that the UN has been involved in that doesn’t have a scurrilous and underhand tone”; with Cook accusing its secretary general, Antonio Guterres, of “scaremongering on the climate catastrophe. We don’t need these unscientific mouthpieces and bureaucrats destroying our future!”

• Cook frequently lambasts the Australian Greens, asserting their views are “unhinged”.

• He also called on the chair of the Australian Climate Change Authority, Matt Kean, to “stand down voluntarily if you have any ethical fortitude” over comments about climate change inaction, which Cook labelled “scaremongering to justify your personal fantasy”.

• However, Cook lauds New Zealand First MP and Resources Minister Shane Jones, who has strongly supported mining in New Zealand and Santana’s project: (“The most inspirational and fearless politician in the western world … How can one man have so much talent?”), and encouraged Jones to continue cutting red tape for the mining industry: “Now to reign (sic) in the local councils.”

The Star-Times asked Santana Minerals if it agreed with Cook’s views on race, and supported his continued role in negotiations with Kā Rūnaka; and if it shared Cook’s views on climate change.

Santana’s chief executive, Damian Spring, didn’t answer these and other questions, but continued to strongly endorse Cook, noting the company would meet environmental standards.

“Peter Cook is an award-winning gold mining leader who has spent more than 30 years building and guiding some of Australasia’s most successful gold mining companies.

“He is widely regarded as one of the foremost gold mining executives, and his record stands on its own merits.

“We do not intend to comment further on either matter.”

The Star-Times previously asked Spring about Cook’s claims Kā Rūnaka had requested $180 million to support the mine, but he declined to comment, and wouldn’t say why he wouldn’t comment.

Santana’s difficult relationship with Kā Rūnaka was highlighted on the last day of the recent Fast-track hearings when expert panel chair Matthew Muir, KC, asked Santana’s counsel, Joshua Leckie, what issues the company saw scope for further work.

Leckie mentioned the delivery of long-term outcomes, water quality, and the mechanics of management plans, at times appearing to struggle to itemise “workstreams”.

Muir interjected, suggesting that sitting above or alongside everything Leckie was mentioning, was mana whenua engagement.

“Oh, sorry sir,” Leckie quickly apologised. “I hadn’t left that out intentionally, and that’s top of the list from my perspective … and I can assure the panel that it’s certainly something the applicant is taking very seriously.”

A spokesperson for the Institute of Directors in New Zealand wouldn’t comment specifically on Cook’s statements, but said while a board chair’s public duties were limited to chairing stakeholder meetings, they were perceived as a public face of their organisation.

“Chairs should bear in mind their media comments, speeches, and even social posts can influence the perceptions of stakeholders, regulators, and potential business partners.

“Public-facing comments from a board chair always have the potential to impact their governance role, and the success of the company.”