The Minister would not have signed the Taranaki Seabed Mining Permit

The Minister of Conservation says that if it were up to her, a deep seabed exploration permit would not have been approved off the coast of Taranaki.

license, which was granted to Ironsands Offshore Mining Limited, falls two nautical miles into a marine mammal sanctuary that houses the critically endangered Maui dolphin and the rare Southern Right Whale.

Mining is authorized by the Taranaki Regional Council.It is estimated that there are between 57 and 75 maui dolphins left in the wild and the permit will cover an area that falls to two nautical miles in the 12 miles that make up the sanctuary, which is designed to protect them.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, from South Taranaki iwi Ngāti Ruanui, said the iwi was against the decision because it had not had any Good Validation Practices.

"In a breath, we are told part of the ocean is h ors limits … [but] we are told another party, which is right in the middle of a marine sanctuary for maui dolphins is open for the extraction business, "she said.

Ms. Ngarewa-Packer said Although the permit was not located directly in their area, the sediment plumes were heading south into the Ngāti Ruanui border

Greenpeace called the permit absolutely absurd

. by the decision made by New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, which is a division of the Ministry of Innovation and Employment (MBIE), but not surprised

"The question is why the government does not have a problem. He did not intervene to stop them, "But he said that all government parties should have an interest in the permit and any legislation of how to change.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said that if the permit had crossed her office, she would not have approved

"I am very much aware of the shortcomings of the Marine that's why I asked [the Department of Conservation] to do some work in this space, to have written and advised Minster [Megan] She said that if the exploration permit gave rise to a request for a mine would be when it expected the DOC to involve it.

A spokeswoman for Ms. Wood's office stated that the decision had been made under very strict criteria.

However, they said that there would be a full process of consultation if mining rights were requested.