__NOTOC__ The Crown Minerals Act is an Act of Parliament passed in 1991 in New Zealand. It controls the management of Crown owned minerals. Potential changes to Schedule 4 of the Act created controversy and opposition in 2010. The definition of minerals under the Act is very broad - it includes gravel, industrial rocks, building stone, coal and petroleum. All gold, silver, uranium and petroleum is under Crown ownership as well as any other minerals that are on Crown owned land.

Schedule 4 Review

In 2009 the National-led government announced that it would review Schedule 4 of the Act, a list of conservation areas for which access for mining cannot be granted by the Minister of Conservation. The proposal was condemned by critics not only because of the potential environmental impacts, but also because of the associated effects that were feared for the tourism industry. Major NGOs such as

Federated Mountain Clubs The Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand (Inc) (commonly referred to by its acronym, FMC), is a New Zealand environment and conservation NGO. It is the only national association of over 110 tramping, mountain climbing clubs and schools. Membe ...

and

Forest and Bird Forest & Bird ( mi, Te Reo o te Taiao), also known by its formal name as the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, is an environmental organisation specialising in the protection and conservation of New Zealand's indigenous f ...

came out in opposition to the plans. In March 2010 the government requested public feedback on a discussion document on the removal of 7000 ha of land from Schedule 4. There was a record 37,500 submissions on the document. A protest March Against Mining was organised by

Greenpeace NZ Greenpeace Aotearoa (GPAo) is one of New Zealand's largest environmental organisations, and is a national office of the global environmental organisation Greenpeace. History Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand was founded in 1974, two years after ...

on 1 May in Auckland and it attracted an estimated 40,000 people. On 20 July 2010 the Government announced that in response to receiving 37,552 submissions, the vast majority of which opposed mining, it will not remove any land from Schedule 4.

2013 Amendment

In April 2013 a group of well-known New Zealanders including actress Lucy Lawless, Geoffrey Palmer and

Anne Salmond Dame Mary Anne Salmond (née Thorpe; born 16 November 1945) is a New Zealand anthropologist, environmentalist and writer. She was New Zealander of the Year in 2013. In 2020, she was appointed to the Order of New Zealand, the highest honour ...

, as well as

Greenpeace Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, immigrant environmental activists from the United States. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth t ...

and Forest & Bird, said proposed amendments by the

Crown Minerals (Permitting and Crown Land) Bill The Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2013 (introduced as the Crown Minerals (Permitting and Crown Land) Bill) is an Act in New Zealand. The Act amends the Crown Minerals Act 1991, the Conservation Act 1987, the Continental Shelf Act 1964, the Rese ...

suggested by Energy and Resources Minister

Simon Bridges Simon Joseph Bridges (born 12 October 1976) is a former New Zealand politician and lawyer. He served as Leader of the National Party and Leader of the Opposition between 2018 and 2020, and as the Member of Parliament for Tauranga from the to ...

were "a sledgehammer designed to attack peaceful protest at sea". This Bill was passed as the

Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2013 The Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2013 (introduced as the Crown Minerals (Permitting and Crown Land) Bill) is an Act in New Zealand. The Act amends the Crown Minerals Act 1991, the Conservation Act 1987, the Continental Shelf Act 1964, the Rese ...

References

External links

Text of the ActCrown Minerals Act
at the Ministry of Economic Development
Maximising our Mineral Potential: Stocktake of Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act and beyond - Summary of Submissions
Statutes of New Zealand 1991 in New Zealand law Mining in New Zealand Mining law and governance

Schedule 4 Review

2013 Amendment

See also

References

Further reading

External links