Green Mining

Worldwide, businesses are increasingly pursuing sustainability or Green Growth, and this is also true of the NZ resource sector.

Straterra believes the resource sector has a good environmental track record in New Zealand, since the passing of the Resource Management Act 1991, the Crown Minerals Act 1991, the Conservation Act 1987, and other legislation.

There is always room for improvement, and Straterra is committed to promoting green mining in New Zealand, drawing on advances in New Zealand and overseas.

Economic benefits

Case studies of green mining in New Zealand

Straterra's submission on Green Growth in html

Introduction to Green Growth

Oceans

Land

Freshwater

Green Growth

In 2011 the Government appointed an advisory group to report on Green Growth in New Zealand. Drawing on work carried out by the OECD, this is an important initiative for New Zealand, and is supported by Straterra.

The Green Growth Advisory Group produced a discussion document, which was open for public submissions until 20 September 2011. View Straterra's submission as a pdf here.

View the GGAG's report, Greening Growth, released in March 2012. Among the 26 recommendations is a call to renew the national conversation on minerals and mining.

The NZ resource sector is relevant to Green Growth in many ways:

Minerals and energy are essential inputs for global society, and in New Zealand, regardless of the economic path taken.

The NZ resource sector aims to be environmentally responsible, because it is a legal requirement, for reputational reasons, and as part of gaining a "social licence" to operate.

Properly managed and encouraged, the resource sector could make a much greater contribution to the national economy, and in regions. The healthier the NZ economy, the better position the nation will be in to pursue Green Growth.

The NZ Government is actively pursuing legislative and regulatory reforms for New Zealand's oceans, land and freshwater. Straterra is a stakeholder in public policy processes.