‘Dark day for New Zealand’: outcry as bill to fast-track controversial mining projects is approved

Critics and opposition parties vow to oppose major projects they fear could damage the environment

A new law that could see controversial mining and infrastructure projects fast-tracked for approval across New Zealand has sparked protests in parliament and vows from critics and opposition parties to stop proposals that they fear will wreak havoc on the environment.

The coalition government’s Fast-Track Approvals legislation passed into law on Tuesday, despite thousands of public submissions opposing it.

“The passing of this law is a dark day for New Zealand,” said Richard Capie, a spokesperson at conservation organisation Forest and Bird. “It slashes environmental protections, silences local voices, and is an affront to good law-making.”

The law creates a “one-stop shop” consenting regime for regionally and nationally significant projects, to help rebuild the economy, said two of the ministers responsible for the law, Chris Bishop and Shane Jones.

“For too long New Zealanders have had to put up with overly restrictive planning rules that stifle much-needed economic growth,” infrastructure minister Bishop said in a statement.

The law will allow some projects – including mining, roads, marine farms and renewable energy – to access fast-track consent, which could bypass existing environmental protections and consenting methods.

The government has selected 149 projects for referral to an environment committee, which will then approve or reject an application. The list of projects includes 44 housing developments, 43 roading, rail and public transport projects, 22 renewable energy projects and 11 mining projects.

Among the proposed mining projects is a contentious application to mine iron sands from the seabed off Taranaki, which the supreme court blocked from going ahead in 2021 due to environmental concerns, and which faces widespread community opposition.

The law has faced criticism since it was announced as part of the coalition agreement between the major centre-right National and minor populist New Zealand First parties.

Possible conflicts of interest and industry interests were regularly flagged, including roughly $500,000 in donations to the parties from companies or shareholders connected to some of the projects. Bishop and regional development minister Shane Jones told RNZ that perceived or actual conflicts of interest were managed during the selection process for projects to be included in the bill.

The government’s initial plan to give three ministers unprecedented power to approve applications had to be watered down after a strident backlash, while issues of transparency over the projects were highlighted by the ombudsman.

The potential threats to the environment have generated heated opposition, with thousands marching in protest and nearly 30,000 public submissions on the bill, one of highest numbers ever submitted about a piece of legislation.

Bishop told media in June that looking after the environment was “extremely important” but the government had a mandate to grow the economy.

“There’s no doubt that we are changing the balance away from a sole focus on environmental effects and management of those effects towards development.”

When asked to respond to criticisms over the law, Bishop told the Guardian: “The [bill] will help rebuild the economy and fix our housing crisis, improve energy security, and address our infrastructure deficit.”

He said applications for fast-track consent will include a description of the project’s impacts on the environment, which the panel will need to consider.

But for environmental groups, this is cold comfort.

“This is some of the worst law-making Forest & Bird has seen in our 100-year history,” Capie said, adding that the group would “vociferously” oppose any environmentally damaging projects approved under the law.

Climate group 350 Aotearoa staged a protest in the chamber during the final reading of the bill, dropping large banners from the public gallery and chanting “kill the bill”.

The group’s spokesperson, Adam Currie, said the bill would enable projects currently prohibited by local councils, the Environmental Protection Authority or the supreme court, to go ahead.

“Thousands of New Zealanders are ready to stop these projects from being built in our communities,” Currie said.

Opposition parties also pledged to fight the projects, which they believe will be unsustainable and destructive.

“[The law] flies in the face of official advice, which says sustainable management must remain central to any fast-track process,” said Rachel Brooking, Labour’s environment spokesperson, adding the party would call out any attempts to bypass proper environmental protections.

Both the Greens and Te Pāti Māori (the Māori party) said they would reverse consents if they returned to power.

“The industry is on notice: consents granted under this regime that shortcut our democracy, sidestep environmental protections and degrade [the natural world] will be revoked,” said Lan Pham, the Greens’ environment spokesperson.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told Te Ao Māori News the party would also hold mining applicants retrospectively liable for any damage to the environment.

“Exploit the [land], face the consequences. [New Zealand] is not interested in corporate exploitation driven by the greedy,” Waititi said.

Cover photo: The Punakaiki Pancake rocks in New Zealand’s South Island. The area may soon be home to a new mine under the new government’s Fast-Track Approvals law. Photograph: Jos Buurmans/Getty Images/500px