Mining giant starts airborne survey

By NZPA

Thursday 14th June 2007

International mining giant Rio Tinto has started an airborne survey of 1200sq km of mineral-rich ironsand deposits along the west coast of the North Island.

The search area is split into two sites -- on the west coast of south Auckland and at Mokau, north Taranaki.

Rio Tinto is managing the hunt for iron and other metals in a joint venture with Iron Ore New Zealand, which has a prospecting permit.

Meanwhile, iwi and environmental groups and the Auckland Regional Council were seeking more information about the venture, The New Zealand Herald reported today.

Auckland Regional Council coastal project leader Andrew Benson said the Auckland Regional Coastal Plan allowed prospecting in which a small quantity of material could be taken.

Coastal permits, which were a resource consent allowing prospecting activity, had not been sought.

The company had advised it might take physical samples early next year and would then assess their need for coastal permits to provide for prospecting.

Comments from our readers

No comments yet