Maureen Pugh
West Coast - Tasman MP
During my time in public life I have seen many groups of people go to obstructive and sometimes dangerous lengths to voice their concerns against mining. Whilst I respect their right to protest I think it’s time we look ahead a couple of generations and get real about the minerals we are lucky enough to have.
Mining has been an important part of our communities for more than 150 years. It has helped sustain towns, create jobs, and supported families across the region. It is the reason my great-grandfather came to New Zealand in the 1800s.
Today, mining continues to play an important role in the local economy, providing the minerals that make many of the everyday items we use possible.
It is easy to forget that almost everything around us starts as a natural resource. The house we live in contains minerals in its concrete, bricks, roofing, glass, pipes, electrical wiring, and paint. The steel used in nails, screws, and building frames comes from iron ore. Copper is used in electrical cables, while silica is used to make windows. Even the plasterboard on our walls and the tiles on our floors depend on minerals that have been mined.
Cars also rely heavily on mining. Steel and aluminium form the body and engine, while copper carries electricity through thousands of kilometres of wiring.
Batteries contain minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite. The tyres contain carbon black, which is made using mineral resources, and the windscreen is made from silica sand. Even electric vehicles, often seen as environmentally friendly, require large amounts of mined minerals to build their batteries and motors.
Mining also supports the modern technology we all know well. Smartphones, computers, televisions, and gaming consoles all contain gold, silver, copper, rare earth elements, and many other minerals.
Our health professionals need minerals for medical equipment, and renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels depend heavily on mined materials. In fact, the move towards cleaner energy will increase the demand for many minerals.
For the West Coast, mining provides more than just products. It creates skilled jobs, supports local businesses, and that helps keep schools, sports clubs, and community organisations strong. The money earned through mining is spent throughout the region, benefiting shops, transport companies, and tradespeople. A successful mining industry helps young people find rewarding careers without having to leave the region.
Looking ahead, responsible mining has the potential to provide opportunities for future generations. Modern mining companies use improved technology to reduce environmental impacts, restore land after mining, and operate under strict regulations.
By balancing environmental care with economic development, the West Coast can continue to benefit from its natural resources while protecting its unique landscapes.
I recently visited some remediated land near Hokitika which had been unproductive scrub land before it was mined. Over several years past the mining stage, it has been put back to productive land for its original owner – a wonderful outcome.
A strong minerals-based economy can help secure the future of the entire West Coast. As the world needs more minerals for housing, transport, technology, and renewable energy, the region is well placed to contribute.
By developing its mineral resources responsibly, this region can continue to create jobs, support local communities, and build a prosperous future for generations to come.
A future without mining is a future where someone else does the mining, while we lose the jobs.
