Mining verdict expected soon

Commissioners are currently determining whether to allow sand mining to continue off Pakiri and Mangawhai, following the end of a lengthy hearing into McCallum Brothers’ applications to renew resource consents that ended on September 1.

Panel chair Richard Blakey said at the close that he expected the decisions may take longer than the usual 15 working days, due to the fact that there were two separate applications – for inshore and midshore – and due to the complexity of the case.

“Our decision will be taken in a sincere manner,” he promised.

Consultant planner for Auckland Council Colin Hopkins said that, based on the evidence presented during the hearing, he was still recommending that both applications be refused.

Meanwhile, the Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust shocked McCallum Brothers when members said they were opposing the plans during a session at the old Warkworth Masonic Hall on August 15.

Chair Mook Hohneck said that despite the fact that they had met with McCallums “on many occasions” to discuss the potential for a relationship, the hapu and its people were unwilling to agree to either inshore or midshore sand mining.

“Ngati Manuhiri understand that the applicants have invested significantly in this proposal. For that reason, Ngati Manuhiri have thought carefully about their approach to this application,” he said.

“We have engaged intensively and expended significant resource ourselves – not just with the applicant, but also with our people. Our people cannot agree and therefore, neither can we.”

He said it was a case of their whenua once again being sold to others.

“Everyone seems to profit from the sale of our lands. Everyone takes their cut and they don’t want to talk to us until the consents are up for renewal. It frustrates me to see so many people profiting from the disempowerment of our hapu.”

Ngati Manuhiri kaumatua and Pakiri resident Ringi Brown agreed.

“I understand that the applicants want to continue their enterprise and I understand that they want to maximise their profits, but at what cost to us?” he said. “Have we, Ngati Manuhiri, not already given enough?

“We are always being asked to give and everybody that comes just wants to take. Enough is enough.”
McCallum Brothers’ cultural adviser, Tame Te Rangi, said in his evidence in reply on September 1 that an earlier Cultural Values Assessment completed by Ngati Manuhiri had identified eight recommendations for avoidance or mitigation of cultural impacts, which had formed the basis for discussions that were ongoing.

However, Commissioner Robert Scott said the panel’s issue was that it had nothing in writing to say that negotiations were ongoing and they only had Ngati Manuhiri’s evidence to consider.

McCallum’s counsel, John McCrae, had earlier pointed out that the company was proposing a number of modifications and changes to the applications and conditions. These included the possibility of sand extraction ceasing at two points if “an erosional trend” was detected on the beach and dunes, and the length of consent for the inshore consent being reduced from 35 to 20 years.

Company director Callum McCallum said while he was open to suggestions of alternative products or sand sources, none currently available were either suitable or viable.

A decision is expected in the next two weeks.