Confusion and Concern over New Zealand's Mining Rules
Confusion over New Zealand's mining rules are causing the mining industry heartache. The recent change on the stance of mining on conservation land by the government has not gone down favorably.
Gavin Wendt the founding director of Mine Life Ltd, publisher of the MineLife Weekly Resources Report said that it was important for New Zealand to decide exactly what it wants from the mining industry. This was in response to the government taking "Schedule 4" conservation land off the table for mining activity.
New Zealand has 14 national parks, and a wide number of other conservation lands with varying levels of environmental protection, called the "conservation estate" in total. About one third of this estate, generally the land considered most valuable, has been protected from mining since 1997 via being listed in "Schedule 4".
The changing rules did not support the perception of New Zealand as a favorable place for mining resource investment to the global financial community as per Mr. Wendt. With 40% of the country's total mineral wealth in the restricted conservation lands attracting investments will be difficult for other mining projects.
Not everyone is unhappy with the government's decision to protect "Schedule 4" as was demonstrated by Greenpeace. They felt that the about face from the government was a heartening example of people power in action.
Written by
Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
APA
Scanlon, Joel. (2019, March 19). Confusion and Concern over New Zealand's Mining Rules. AZoMining. Retrieved on February 09, 2026 from https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=152.
MLA
Scanlon, Joel. "Confusion and Concern over New Zealand's Mining Rules". AZoMining. 09 February 2026. <https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=152>.
Chicago
Scanlon, Joel. "Confusion and Concern over New Zealand's Mining Rules". AZoMining. https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=152. (accessed February 09, 2026).
Harvard
Scanlon, Joel. 2019. Confusion and Concern over New Zealand's Mining Rules. AZoMining, viewed 09 February 2026, https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=152.
We're committed to providing free access to quality science. By registering and providing insight into
your preferences you're joining a community of over 1m science interested individuals and help us to
provide you with insightful content whilst keeping our service free.
or
Terms
While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena
answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses.
Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or
authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for
medical information you must always consult a medical
professional before acting on any information provided.
Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with
OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their
privacy principles.
Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential
information.
Read the full Terms & Conditions.