Trans Tasman Resources Case 2017

Introduction.

In 2016, Trans Tasman Resources Ltd (TTR) applied to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine 50 million tonnes of the seabed a year (for 35 years) off a 66 sq km area in the South Taranaki Bight.  The EPA hearings began on 16 February 2017, and decision was released 3 August. 

EPA grants a marine licence to Trans Tasman Resources, 3 August 2017.

• KASM press release on the decision: KASM stunned by seabed mining green light, will appeal decision. 

• KASM’s Notice of Appeal filed with the High Court (and Press Release) 

• KASM legal summary of the decision 

• Short briefing on the decision

• Link to the actual decision from the EPA. 

KASM documents relating to the case.

• KASM and Greenpeace closing submission, 25 May 2017

• KASM and Greenpeace opening submission to the EPA hearing, 16 February 2017

• KASM and Greenpeace memo to the EPA about their submissions analysis, 28 February 2017

• KASM and Greenpeace memo to the EPA about calling more evidence (Memo 41), April 2017 

KASM expert evidence submitted to the EPA .

• Shaw Mead - ecology

• Ngaire Phillips – toxicology

• Leigh Torres – marine mammals and noise

• John Cockrem – penguins and birds

• Jim Binney – economics

• Dougal Greer – benthic

November 2016 KASM challenges redacted documents in the Environment Court .

The EPA agreed to TTR’s application to redact hundreds of pages of its application, so KASM (with Ngati Ruanui and Talley’s Fisheries) challenged this in the Environment Court – and won.  

• Environment Court decision

• KASM submission

2014 case – EPA refused consent .

KASM summary of EPA decision refusing TTR consent for seabed mining, 2014