Poutini Ngāi Tahu oppose sand mine over concerns about sacred waterway
Friday, 4 April 2025
Neighbours and mana whenua of a proposed sand mine on the West Coast fear it will degrade a sacred creek nearby.
Westland Mineral Sands Co Ltd has lodged resource consent applications to the West Coast Regional and Westland District councils to mine 300,000 tonnes of ilmenite, garnet, gold and other minerals each year for at least 10 years from about 112 hectares of land at Mananui, about 7km south of Hokitika.
Of the submissions uploaded by the regional council on Friday, 49 were in support, 21 against and four neutral.
Residents from 21 properties in nearby Ruatapu put in a joint submission, mostly concerned about traffic on that area of State Highway 6, which they said was already hazardous to pedestrians and cyclists. They called for a safe lane and safe crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists, and to reduce the speed limit to 80kph near the mine. Other neighbours who submitted were concerned about potential noise, dust and ecological damage.
A joint submission by Poutini Ngāi Tahu, made up of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi waewae and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, said the proposed mining site bordered Tūwharewhare/Māhinapua Creek and was near Lake Māhinapua, which were both recognised as tapu/sacred and a taonga.
Lake Māhinapua’s significance to Poutini Ngāi Tahu was statutorily recognised by the Crown and its bed was vested in Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as part of Ngāi Tahu’s claim to the Waitangi Tribunal.
It was a vital kōhanga nest, or nursery, for native fish, birds, plants and other fauna, and an outstanding natural landscape and significant ecological area, the submission says.
“The maintenance of the pristine water quality of Lake Māhinapua is of vital importance.”
Poutini Ngāi Tahu wanted to ensure appropriate mitigation measures and controls were in place and sought a “more precautionary approach”.
It asked for trials of the proposed water management system before any mining happened close to the creek and riparian wetland.
It noted different opinions from experts on the application in relation to ecological matters and sought more information, including a peer reviewed leachate water quality assessment. It also requested any pounamu unearthed be returned to them.
Development West Coast and Grey district mayor Tania Gibson strongly supported the application due to the estimated $37.9 million it would add to the local economy every year and 70 jobs it would create. They said the rare earth minerals to be mined were needed for items like wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries.
Gibson said the shipping required would revitalise Greymouth’s port.
“I have visited the West Coast Mineral Sands site in Buller and it was hard to find, was not visible from the road and once there it was quiet and peaceful blending in with the surrounding farmland,” she said.
Department of Conservation director-general Penny Nelson, in her submission, said she was concerned the application did not adequately address adverse effects on the forest proposed to be cleared, the threatened West Coast green gecko and native birds, and the nearby Māhinapua walkway.
The West Coast Penguin Trust was neutral on the application, noting the mine site and the Mananui coastal area was not on the main flight path of nesting Westland petrels and had very few penguins.
A spokesperson said Westland Mineral Sands appreciated the time and effort each submitter took.
“We are committed to addressing their concerns by providing further technical assessments and mitigation measures to ensure that any adverse effects are carefully managed, and that the cultural, ecological, and indigenous biodiversity of the area is preserved,” they said.
The company is the owner of the Manahau barge, which hit sandy ground during strong winds in August. The stranding is being investigated by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission and mineral sand from its Westport mine is now being trucked to Nelson for export overseas.