Statements by Newmont Waihi Gold Company and other miners (NZ Herald 18 March)1 that they are not interested in Coromandel conservation areas simply cannot be trusted, says Coromandel Watchdog spokesperson Denis Tegg.

"With its partner company Glass Earth Gold, Newmont has been actively exploring near the Otahu and Parikiwai ecological reserves close to Whangamata.2 And Newmont has a prospecting licence over the conservation land near Thames 3" said Mr Tegg

"All these reserves are in schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act and on the list disclosed by Forest and Bird as land the Government wishes to remove from the schedule.

"Newmont's own mineral activities in these areas totally contradict the vortex of spin they have been engaged in, that they are not interested in mining this land."

The Forest and Bird disclosures had been given added credibility today, by the announcement that the Government has asked for a State Services Review of the mining leaks. "The Government would hardly be bothering if the list were not accurate."

Recently, Coromandel Watchdog challenged Newmont's spokesperson to explain why they had a prospecting licence near Thames if they were not interested in the Thames conservation land. The answer given was that it was to "keep out the competition!"

"So if Newmont is being honest about its intentions it will have no difficulty in meeting two challenges Coromandel Watchdog has for the gold company.

First, it transfer its current prospecting licence near Thames to Coromandel Watchdog

Second that it publicly call on the Government to completely abandon its review of schedule 4."