Standing United Against Seabed Mining
- Natalie Jessup
- Jun 8
- 2 min read
Today we stood in solidarity with tāngata whenua, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and local communities at Whaingaroa, opposing seabed mining on the west coast of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd (TTR) is proposing to dredge 50 million tonnes of seabed each year for 35 years in the South Taranaki Bight. From this, 5 million tonnes of iron ore would be extracted. The remaining 45 million tonnes—fine sediment and debris—would be dumped back into the ocean, disrupting and degrading marine ecosystems.
This is not just a local issue. It’s a direct threat to one of Aotearoa’s most ecologically rich and sensitive marine regions, stretching from Taranaki to Auckland. The area is home to species found nowhere else on Earth.
Blue Whales
A genetically unique population of pygmy blue whales feeds and possibly breeds in this area. Globally endangered, they are highly vulnerable to noise pollution, sediment disturbance, and shipping traffic.
Pōpoto / Māui Dolphins
With fewer than 50 individuals left, these dolphins are among the rarest in the world. Their only known habitat overlaps directly with the proposed mining zone. Increased sediment, noise, and vessel movements could push them further toward extinction.
Basking Sharks
Once a common sight, these gentle giants are now endangered and rarely encountered. Their feeding grounds, rich in plankton, are threatened by sediment plumes that reduce food availability and visibility.
Grey and Black Petrels
These threatened seabirds rely on intact marine ecosystems to forage. Disruptions to the food chain caused by mining operations put them under even more pressure.
Deep-sea Corals, Sponges, and Invertebrates
These ancient and fragile species grow slowly over centuries. They cannot withstand mechanical disturbance or the suffocating impact of fine sediments dumped by seabed mining.
The Reality of Sediment Plumes
Mining would generate dense plumes of sediment, spreading across vast distances. These plumes degrade water quality, reduce light penetration, and smother marine life on the seafloor—destroying habitat and biodiversity.
What’s at Stake
If this project proceeds, it could pave the way for further seabed mining across Aotearoa’s coastline. What begins in the South Taranaki Bight may not end there.
For two decades, coastal communities have resisted seabed mining. Today, we reaffirm that resistance. We say no—to protect the ocean, to honour our taonga species, and to uphold the rights of present and future generations.
