Mining the seabed for iron sands in New Zealand

Sand mining for construction aggregates often gets the lion’s share of attention but sand is also mined for various industrial minerals. Our main story this month unfolds in New Zealand. First, some context:

In August 2017, Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (TTR) was granted consent to mine up to 50 million tonnes of iron sands each year from a 66-square-kilometre area off the South Taranaki Bight in New Zealand. As of that year, they had invested more than $60 million in this project. In highly simplified terms, the plan was to use a remote-controlled dredger to vacuum up sand from the seabed, which would then be processed at an offshore facility and exported directly from there to make steel in China.

The decision was hugely unpopular in Taranaki and it did not help that a casting vote had been used to break the deadlock. The region is extremely high in cultural significance for the iwi. Although there are oil and gas rigs in the region, it is still very rich in biodiversity (34 species of marine mammals, including Hector's and Māui dolphins and humpback whales). The recent discovery of a genetically distinct population of blue whales in the region further added to this bounty. A number of environmental organisations, fishing organisations and iwi came together to appeal the decision.

The High Court overturned the decision to grant consent. The company appealed the High Court decision and their opponents cross-appealed the mining appeal. The Court of appeal upheld the High Court’s decision. If you're finding this whole saga very unappealing, let's cut to the chase.

As of July 2020, the mining company has been granted permission to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court. If they win, it could set a whole new precedent for seabed mining in the region. Kiwis against seabed mining (KASM) and other environmental groups have vowed to 'fight this every step of the way'.