11:00 am today
Green Party environment spokesperson Lan Pham.
A Green Party bill aimed at banning mining activity on public conservation land has been drawn from Parliament's ballot, reigniting debate over the future of New Zealand's protected areas.
The member's bill, introduced by Green Party environment spokesperson Lan Pham, would prohibit new mining, prospecting and exploration permits across New Zealand's 8.5 million hectares of public conservation land.
"Conservation land belongs to all of us. It is set aside to protect native plants, wildlife and the places New Zealanders love, not to be dug up for private profit," Pham said.
