Shane Jones: Resources Minister on the lizards blocking the expansion of Central Otago's Macraes gold mine

The Resources Minister says a setback for expansion of the country's largest gold mine could result in the loss of up to a thousand jobs. 

Central Otago's Macraes gold mine applied for a permit under the Wildlife Act to clear vegetation on its site in a bid to expand its operation.  

Last month the Department of Conservation declined it, stating the company hadn't made clear how it would relocate more than 10 thousand lizards. 

Shane Jones told Heather du Plessis-Allan the lizards are as common as acne on a teenager.  

He says they're scattered throughout Otago, and farmers don't need special permits when carrying out work on their land. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now there's been another setback, yet another one for the
largest mine in the country, largest gold mine after battling
authorities over a native moth. This is McRae's gold mine
in central Otago. It's now been told no on expansion
plans because of a lizard. Doc has worried about ten
thousand lizards dying. Shane Jones is the Minister for Resources
and with.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Us morning Shane Hey in morning folks, scale of.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
One to ten. How much is this annoying you?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Oh? Like mate? This is getting into double figures, nigh
on nine hundred, could be up to one thousand jobs.
Flies in the face of what the Prime Minister has
asked as cabinets deliver. We just had a major investment
seminar this year. People associated with the mining sector were there.

(00:47):
They loved what we had to say. We've got quizzlings
in the system who, in my view, are catastrophizing and
I don't even think they're telling the truth about this
application in terms of ten thousand lizards. And what's the
point of pushing a growth agenda if you've got quizzlings
that are actually making decisions which cabinet doesn't even know

(01:10):
about until someone breaks wind in the public sector. And
that's why I'm taking the matter to cabinet because I
feel that I'm becoming indistinguishable from Justinda a durned or
listen to carry on taking place.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
What's the deal with the lizards. Let's say that they
are right and we lose ten thousand lizards. Are the
lizards extinct?

Speaker 2 (01:33):
These lizards are as common as acne on a teenager.
That's first thing. Secondly, they are scattered throughout the entirety
of Otago. Every time a farmer does something on his
or her land. They don't need a special wildlife permit.
This piece of legislation is actually older than my good self.
But the most important thing is does the public want

(01:56):
jobs in Otago? Does the public want seven hundred million
dollar worth of export revenue? I do, and of the
view that the decision makers in this case have have
just taken the public for a ride. But more importantly,
these are companies that have been mining for thirty forty years.

(02:19):
This is not some fjordland Christine environment. This has already
compromised area and all they wanted to do was move
some soil, move some rocks, change the top soil, get
a whole bunch of hairy legs melloy colic ecological people
picking up the lizards in front of a bulldozer happens

(02:40):
all the time. But no, no, these decision makers and
understand that they're in dock, have decided they've got more
power than cabinet and they've got more power than the
Prime Minister. They don't.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
So what are you going to do about it?

Speaker 2 (02:53):
Oh well, you'll just have to wait and see. Oh no,
If I have my way, those jobs will be protect
that revenue will grow, and we'll just have to deal
with the fact that we'll take care of what lizards
we can and those that get in the way. Sorry,
it's a trade off.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
So you'll go into are you going to override dock here?
And let mccraze just build thoze over those lizards bearing
common as monkey.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Sadly, I'm not the decision maker under the Wildlife Act.
It's someone nestled into the dock. So the CEO of
DOC and the clear and the bureaucratic leaders of DOC
have to ask themselves, are you the reserve Bank? Do
you operate independent from the cabinet based government of New Zealand?
And if you do well, I'm briancause he promised that

(03:41):
he would take care of this heresy within the bureau.

Speaker 1 (03:44):
Well, I want to know is he actually going to
do something about it or just complain about it.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
I think Keewis know that Muttell Shane Jones stands for mining,
stands for economic development. In every other case, I've actually
done something about it, but I've got to work within
the collective responsibility because we're cold. I should go over it,
but i know I've got the majority of keys on
my side as I had them on my side here
in Sydney with my team from Queensland won the game.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
Congratulations to Shane Jones, Minister for Resources. He is hoping
he does do something for more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
listen live to news talks. It'd be from six am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio