There's fears the Australian company will take advantage of the Government's fast track consenting process.
The trapped miners were pinned down by rockfall.
Santana Minerals is hoping to mine the 27,000-hectare Otago site, but is yet to obtain resource consent or consult the community
"Clearly Shane Jones has been lobbied," Graham Young from Ngāti Ruanui said.
Built specifically to retrieve gold from central Otago rivers, the submarine is a pioneering masterpiece.
"I wouldn't do it for my health, but I will do it for the kids in the Congo."
It would let OceanaGold build mining infrastructure on a 'paper road' running through DoC land.
There are plans to establish another mine at Mananui, south of Hokitika.
But the party leader says he knows "from experience that these things do take time".
The Snowy River Mine on the West Coast is near a historic mine that was also known for its riches.
The party is spotlighting permits held in New Zealand by an Australian billionaire.
"Here we are only a few months away from an election and yet there’s more prospecting and mining threats."
Mineral Resources is looking for a wide range of Kiwi workers, from administrators to labourers.
Ardern's Government has granted 78 mining access arrangements on conservation land.
"We believe this is no longer fit for purpose."
"That promise remains unfulfilled."
Conservationists say the Government's reneging on a promise to ban new mines on conservation land.
An activist said it "better not be" a broken promise by the Government.
Watch the interview with co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
It comes amid concerns that practice could cause extensive environmental destruction.