Tama Potaka: Conservation Minister on the expansion of Macraes gold mine in Otago - The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A potential change of heart from the Department of Conservation, which rejected a bid to expand the country's largest gold mine in Otago.  

It initially declined Macraes' permit because details were missing on rehoming endemic lizards, a decision heavily criticized by Resources Minister Shane Jones.  

DOC now says there was a miscommunication, and it will work to progress the application.   

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka told Heather du Plessis-Allan DOC and the company which owns Macraes, OceanaGold, worked on the matter yesterday.  

He says they had a very productive meeting, and he expects they'll process the application swiftly. 

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