About Us – Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki

About Watchdog

WHO WE ARE

Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki is an incorporated society. Founded in 1980 we are an umbrella group for all the anti-mining groups in communities across the across the Hauraki Coromandel. We provide information and support with research, public education, policy advocacy, capacity building, political lobbying and direct and legal action, as needed by our communities.

Our executive committee is comprised of people who share the belief that the Hauraki Coromandel, from Te Moehau in the north to Te Aroha in the south, the Coromandel Range, is too precious to mine. The impacts of the industry would undermine the environment, culture and economy of this unique and special corner of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The geographic area that we work within is informed by the view that this ridge of land, this ‘spine’, is all connected. Often described as the barb on the fish caught by Māui: Te Tara o Te Ika a Māui; some local iwi and hapu describe the peninsula is a great waka (canoe). It’s stern at Moehau, its bow at Te Aroha and the many rivers that flow from the mountains to the sea are its ribs. It is unarguably a vital and interconnected ecosystem, and provides a significant connection between other precious remnants of the great forests of Aotearoa New Zealand.

We work for the protection of the Hauraki Coromandel for the many special and unique species and landscapes that are found here, for our lifestyles and for future generations.

We have a long and proud history of passionate and dedicated work to prevent mining returning to the Hauraki. Our campaigns have been well documented by national and international media and Te Papa Museum holds a collection of our campaign posters over the years.

The previous campaign to save the Coromandel from mining, saw CWoH achieve landmark legislative change – the development of Schedule Four in the Crown Minerals Act. A classification that provides for protection of all Coromandel conservation lands north of the Kopu-Hikuai road. We continue to campaign to have this line moved to include all of the Coromandel ecological area – the whole range.

As an organisation, we have a wide and varied range of people involved, from those who are on the executive committee, to those who support from afar and the many who contribute in a range of different ways; we see all peaceful means of participating as equally important. Valuing the people who are looking after the children or baking scones, as much as the media spokesperson or the activist lying down in front of a truck.

We are our community. And in standing together for this land and all that it holds, we have kept the miners out for the past 40ish years!

OUR HISTORY

The Crown Minerals Act 1991 was amended in 1997 to say that mining could not occur on all conservation land and coast, and most off shore islands north of the Kopu-Hikuia Road. This Amendment arose directly out of the public campaign of opposition to mining on the Coromandel Peninsula begun by Coromandel Watchdog over 15 years earlier.

In the early eighties a wave of prospecting applications began which culminated in most of the Coromandel Peninsula being under prospecting license. (click the map to the left to see larger image) Local communities and environmental groups were under siege, as they tried, on a case-by-case basis, to defeat or impose stricter conditions on scores of these license applications that came before the Planning Tribunal.

An application was made by Spectrum Resources Ltd for an underground mining license in the conservation estate near Waiomu on the Thames Coast. This application went before the Planning Tribunal but was only defeated when Helen Clark, as Minister of Conservation, refused access under the newly passed Conservation Act, before the Tribunal could make its decision.

It became clear that the community could not sustain this opposition, and that amendments to the laws relating to access on to Crown land for prospecting and mining were needed. By this time, the Bolger National Government was in power and it was unlikely that they could be persuaded to amend the law, although Christine Fletcher indicated she would support such a change.

Denis Tegg of Coromandel Watchdog drafted a Private Member’s Bill which prohibited all prospecting and mining on all of the conservation estate on the Coromandel Peninsula north of Te Aroha. Denis and Mark Tugendhaft as a delegation from Watchdog then approached Christine Fletcher with the draft bill and discussed with her whether she would be prepared to sponsor it. She thought that the bill would have more chance of success it was sponsored by someone else and so we then approached Labour MP Judith Tizard, who readily agreed.

Almost immediately the bill won a Private Member’s Ballot, and was introduced into Parliament in June 1995. It was referred to a Select Committee after a massive lobbying effort by Watchdog supporters. Somewhere in the region of 1000 self-composed letters were sent to key MPs and Ministers. Jonathan Hunt said that the time that it was the largest lobbying letter-writing campaign on a bill he had ever seen. (click image to see results of nationwide UMR opinion poll in 1995)

The Select Committee had hearings in Wellington, Auckland, and Thames and several hundred submissions were lodged. The Thames Coromandel District Council strongly supported the bill in its submission.

Parliament at the time was finely balanced and the National Government, fearing that the Tizard Bill might pass in spite of its opposition, decided to introduce its own Bill. This culminated in the Amendment to the Crown Minerals Act, including the Fourth Schedule, and the reference to access for prospecting or mining being severely restricted north of the Kopu-Hikuai Road. At the time Watchdog believed this was an unfortunate compromise as there were areas of great natural beauty and with special conservation values south of the Kopu-Hikuai Road which were equally deserving of protection. However Watchdog supporters were exhausted from the campaigning and the compromise Amendment was generally accepted as the best that could be achieved at the time.

WHAT WE DO

Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki works with communities to stand against gold mining from Te Moehau to Te Aroha and we network with other similar organisations around Aotearoa and the world, supporting each other in this struggle to protect our environment, our homes, our lifestyles and livlihoods.

We provide support, resources and information to community groups wanting to raise awareness, lobby politicians, run events, practice non violent direct action, participate in legal proceedings and build campaigning skills. You can find the contact details of the different community groups below.

We also do the important work of advocating for sensible laws and regulations for the mining industry; From initiating the concept of Schedule 4, to submitting on changes to Crown Minerals Act, we are dedicated to advocating for the rights of local communities to protect their local environment from exploitative industries, and to participate in the decision making about such activities in their communities.

Through the Waikato Regional Policy Statement we were able to get the allowance for areas within the region to be classed as inappropriate for mining. This, plus the work of previous court cases, means we were able to advocate for widespread and sensible protections throughout the peninsula in the Thames-Coromandel District Plan process.

We also provide information and presentations for schools and tertiary education centres wanting to learn more about the issues and history of gold mining.

We understand that keeping the community and culture of Watchdog strong is essential for long term success, and host regular community events (concerts, quiz nights and feasts) to bring people together and raise funds – get in touch if you want to be involved with these!