Trans-Tasman Resources is mulling an appeal to the High Court after its marine content for an offshore iron sands project was quashed.
The New Zealand mining company is discussing the appeal decision with legal advisors, executive chair Alan Eggers told Business Desk, and it has until 25 September to make a decision.
"There are certain timeframes and we are aware of those but we have not, the company has not, made a decision to appeal the High Court decision," he said.
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South Taranaki Iwi Ngati Ruanui spokesperson Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says they have to keep up the struggle, telling Newshub it is "far too important for the next generation not to see it through."
The High Court overturned Trans-Tasman Resources' application to mine iron sands from the South Taranaki seabed last month, after conservation, fishing and iwi groups sought to stop the project.
Trans-Tasman Resources was initially granted consent by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to dig up 50 million tonnes of the South Taranaki Bight Seabed over 35 years. That would allow them to mine 5000 tonnes of iron ore per year.
The company has faced a number of obstacles in its bid to begin mining, with its initial consent bid for the project turned down in 2014, Business Desk reports. This was mainly due to a lack of information on the impact the mining could have.
Greenpeace New Zealand opposed the mining project, saying seabed mining would further threaten the ability to sustain life, with executive director Russel Norman saying: "I certainly hope this will be the last we'll see of these wannabe miners."
Newshub.
