About this episode
Duncan Garner discusses the contentious Santana Minerals gold mine proposal in Central Otago, exploring its implications for investment and regional employment.
Duncan Garner takes aim at the growing fight over Santana Minerals’ proposed gold mine in Central Otago, after Ngāi Tahu opposed the project following reports of a $180 million figure being discussed. Duncan argues this is no ordinary consent battle. He says it goes to the heart of whether New Zealand is still a place where major projects can get built, investors can have certainty, and high paying regional jobs can actually exist. ACT MP and undersecretary Simon Court joins the show to discuss the Santana mine, the RMA changes coming through Parliament, and whether the Government’s reforms will stop what he calls “shakedowns” in the planning system. Duncan also shares the story of a local business owner giving up on New Zealand and heading to Australia to try his luck in the mines. Is this about protecting the environment, or has the system tipped too far? And if New Zealand keeps making it this hard to build, who will be left to pay the bills? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Duncan Garner
Guest: Simon Court
Topics covered
- gold mining
- environmental impact
- investment certainty
- regional jobs
- planning system
- RMA changes
- local business challenges
Keywords
- Santana Minerals
- gold mine
- Ngāi Tahu
- Simon Court
- RMA changes
- New Zealand
- environment
- regional jobs
- planning system
- investment
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Ngāi Tahu, ACT, Government
Places: Central Otago, New Zealand, Australia
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