Source: Caritas
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand welcomes the New Zealand Government’s call for a conditional moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters, until strong environmental rules can be agreed and backed up by robust science.
“It is welcome news before the International Seabed Authority meets again next week to push through mining rules that could allow deep sea mining from July next year. We hope New Zealand will use its position to promote strong, robust rules and frameworks, supported by science, to protect the Ocean for all humanity,” said Caritas Director Ms Antonio.
“We commend Minister Nanaia Mahuta and her officials for listening to the science and to the range of opinion on the topic in the Pacific, while respecting the sovereign rights and mana of countries to manage their own kaitiakitanga responsibilities,” said Ms Antonio.
“However, it’s imperative that national governments and international bodies take into account the many local and coastal communities around the Pacific that would be devastated by further damage to our stressed and abused Moana through seabed mining.”
Caritas Oceania has been calling for a total ban on seabed mining in national and international waters throughout the Pacific since 2019.
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has also opposed an application to mine ironsands 30 kilometres offshore from South Taranaki, on the grounds that it would damage the ocean and have wider potential impacts through sediment plumes and did not respect the territorial rights and responsibilities of the local Ngāti Ruanui iwi.
“Our government’s stance will give heart to many of our partners and associates throughout the region who are battling against seabed mining interests in both national and international waters,” said Ms Antonio. “But we need to go further and give a clear signal that seabed mining in New Zealand waters is also unacceptable and a threat to our ocean ecosystem and coastal communities.”
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ agency for justice, peace and development, and incorporates Catholic Volunteers Overseas. We are working for a world free of poverty and injustice through community development, advocacy, education, and emergency relief. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies active in over 200 countries and territories.
