Greenpeace Aotearoa is applauding the Green Party’s commitment to revoke any Fast-track consents, licences, or permits issued for coal, seabed, and hardrock gold mining projects, describing it as a crucial step toward protecting communities and the environment.
The commitment would affect seven current projects, including the destructive Trans-Tasman Resources’ proposed seabed mine in the South Taranaki Bight, the Waihi North gold mine in Coromandel, and the Buller Plateau coal mine on the West Coast.
“The fast-track process is designed to bulldoze over environmental protections, so it is essential that the consents for the most devastating projects are revoked,” said Niamh O’Flynn, Greenpeace Aotearoa programme director.
“Revoking these specific fast track consents is non-negotiable for nature and the climate. These are toxic, destructive mining projects so we expect the Green Party will make revoking these consents a bottom-line if they are in a position of negotiating a coalition agreement in 2026.
“The Fast-Track Approvals Act is a disaster that needs to be completely repealed. It builds in a lack of transparency and consultation and is anti-democratic. It allows projects that have already been denied by the highest court in the land, and overwhelmingly opposed by iwi, local communities and experts.” O’Flynn says.
Greenpeace Aotearoa is also urging all political parties to go further and commit to a permanent ban on seabed mining, and all new mining on conservation land.
“This commitment sets the stage, but the ultimate goal must be to ban this destruction outright, regardless of the consenting mechanism. We must secure Aotearoa’s wild places for future generations,” says O’Flynn.