Protesters took to Kōpū’s streets on June 21, in a bid to get the attention of the visiting Minister of Regional Development, Shane Jones.
Mr Jones was in Kōpū for the opening of the new marine precinct. In anticipation of his arrival, around 30 people from various community groups, led by Coromandel Watchdog Hauraki, set up camp on the corners of Kōpū Rd and Queen St with banners and flags. Coromandel Watchdog chairperson Catherine Delahunty said the intention of the peaceful gathering was to show their opposition to the proposed fast track bill, currently being debated in Parliament.
“We’re here to protest the fast track bill and the Minister’s attack on the Coromandel, Hauraki area on mining. He’s been very clear that he is going to do everything in his power to help this area be mined, including areas where sensitive creatures live: 200 million-year-old frogs and other things,” Catherine said.
“People around here really, really care about the future of the environment, they really care about the right to make decisions. And this bill… takes away people’s right to make decisions locally, and it also takes away people’s right to pass on our land in good shape for our children.
“There’s quite a lot of activity going on that we need to be aware of, and normally that would be preparing to go to court. The court has never been a level playing field because we don’t have the money for the expensive witnesses, but now they’re taking away the playing field altogether.”
Catherine said the protesters were not opposed to the new marine precinct, and had deliberately placed themselves several metres away from the official proceedings.
“We’re not here to disrupt that moment – we’re here because Minister Shane Jones is coming.”
Mr Jones fronted up to the protesters after the opening ceremony. He could be seen chatting to protesters on the roadside as the deputy Prime Minister, dignitaries and invited guests dispersed from the marine park.
He told The Profile the natural resources of New Zealand needed to be utilised if the region wanted to grow.
“Economic growth at the moment in this rohe is stagnant, zero. So there will be trade-offs. And I have never hidden from the fact that I am a pro-industry, development-orientated politician,” he said.
“Whether it’s more aquaculture or more gold mining, that’s what I came into politics to push. Now, I fear that the odd frog has been given biblical status, [but] there’s probably more frogs in the belly of the local wild pig population than under the machinery of the local miners.”
