Coalition Government Discusses Exporting Critical Minerals to United States w/ Climate Justice Taranaki’s Catherine Cheung and Te Kuaka’s Marco de Jong: 4 February, 2026

Opposition parties have criticised the coalition government for its talks with the United States regarding New Zealand supplying the nation with rare and critical minerals. 

This comes as US President Donald Trump has stated he aims to reduce America’s reliance on China for materials essential to tech innovation and military interests. 

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Catherine Cheung, researcher for Climate Justice Taranaki, about the environmental impact of New Zealand scaling up its mining sector.

They then spoke to Marco de Jong, Pacific historian and lecturer at AUT law school and co-director of Te Kuaka, about what this means for New Zealand’s foreign policy stances and relationship to the United States.