John Key's attempt to shift the debate away from Schedule 4 land proves the unpopularity of the Government's mining proposals, the Green Party said today.

"The issue is now, and always has been, the Government's plan to desecrate our most treasured places for profit," said Metiria Turei, Green Party Co-leader.

"Talking about other areas of the conservation estate, which can already be mined with DoC approval, is an attempt to backpedal and confuse the issue."

Yesterday, the Prime Minister expressed frustration over the issue and acknowledged further delays with Cabinet decision-making about mining.

"John Key needs to accept that his Government has got it wrong on Schedule 4 mining and put the issue to rest," Mrs Turei said.

"Week after week the Prime Minister is torturing both himself and the public, with his shifting rhetoric about balancing the environment against the economy.

"There is no way to 'balance' permanently destroying our last remaining wild places against a short term, one-off gain for foreign mining companies.

"It is time that John Key's Government swallows the dead rat that is Schedule 4 mining, and re-affirms the cross-party consensus that created Schedule 4 in the first place," Mrs Turei said.

Links: DoC's warning that mining should not occur in Schedule 4: (para 23) http://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/OIAMinistersAdviceMining29Sept2009.pdf

The Green Party's Don't mine our future e-card: http://www.greens.org.nz/ecards/dont-mine-our-future-send-e-card-prime-minister

Link to the Green Party's mining petition: http://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/Mining_petition_web.pdf