Coal mining on reserve land
Coal mining on reserve land
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
An open-cast coal mine is on the table for reserve land near Westport, on the South Island's West Coast. The area is home to several endangered species including the Great Spotted Kiwi. The Buller District Council has approved Rangatira Development Limited's application for the mine, prompting Forest and Bird to go to the Christchurch High Court, asking for a judicial review of the council's approval. Wire host Mack Smith spoke to Forest and Bird's Chief Executive Kevin Hague about what this mine could mean for the local environment.