Resources Minister Shane Jones calls the government’s plan to double mining exports by 2035 an economic lifeline.
Environmental groups warn it will leave New Zealanders with the clean-up bill.
Jones’ announcement in Waihi was met with some protests, as activists condemned the push for more coal and gold mining.
They argue it contradicts climate commitments and risks handing profits to foreign corporations.
However, Patrick Phelps of Minerals West Coast argues that mining, particularly on the West Coast, provides high-paying jobs—especially for Māori, who make up approximately two-thirds of the workforce.
“Mining is the highest-paid sector in New Zealand, with average Māori earnings in the industry reaching $120,000 a year—nearly double the national Māori average,” he noted.
Phelps also dismissed claims that mining exploits Māori communities, pointing to the large number of Māori workers who actively choose to work in the sector, both in New Zealand and Australia.
Given the economic benefits of mining to Māori families, Phelps noted the irony of Te Pāti Māori’s history of threatening companies seeking approvals.
Jones defended the government’s stance, insisting that mining, when properly regulated, supports regional economies without compromising environmental safeguards. He also announced plans to force banks to finance fossil fuel expansion, warning that “we do not bankrupt communities, we do not destroy employment prospects.”
Centrist