Phil McCabe, a long-time advocate for ocean conservation with Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) and the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, discusses the latest twist in the ongoing battle over seabed mining in New Zealand.
With the Fast-Track Approvals Act coming into effect on 7 February, Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) has been handed a fresh chance to resurrect its long-contested iron sands mining proposal off the South Taranaki coast.
Rejected time and time again due to fierce opposition from mana whenua, environmental groups and the fishing industry, TTR’s plan has been stalled by court rulings demanding solid scientific evidence of its environmental impact. But instead of producing new data—missing since 2016—TTR seems to have found another tactic: waiting for a government willing to greenlight its proposal.
Fast-Track Legislation: A Backdoor for Seabed Mining
The Fast-Track Approvals Act promises to speed up infrastructure and economic projects by cutting red tape. Phil McCabe argues that Trans-Tasman Resources’ (TTR) controversial seabed mining bid exposes the dangers of this legislation.
A project repeatedly ruled environmentally unjustifiable in court is now back on the table—not because of new scientific evidence, but thanks to a legislative shortcut. Under the Fast-Track system, only local councils and mana whenua have a say—shutting out environmental groups like KASM and the wider community.
“I was also informed that it’s only settled iwi—those with settlements with the Crown. That’s another exclusionary parameter,” says Phil.
Critics of the Act argue this creates a system where an iwi’s voice depends on Crown recognition, sidelining many with deep cultural and historical ties to affected areas. By shutting out numerous iwi and hapū, the Act undermines tino rangatiratanga—the authority guaranteed to Māori over their lands and resources—and clashes with Te Tiriti o Waitangi’s principles of partnership and equity.
Political Interests at Play
As the Fast-Track debate heats up, concerns are growing over political influence and potential conflicts of interest. Minister for Resources Shane Jones has long championed seabed mining as an economic win for New Zealand—despite his ties to the fishing industry, which strongly opposes the practice. While Jones has stated that he would recuse himself from TTR-related decisions, his vocal support for seabed mining raises serious questions about political sway over the Fast-Track process.
Fishing industry leaders have slammed seabed mining, warning of its devastating impact on marine ecosystems and commercial fisheries. The South Taranaki Bight is home to 38 marine mammal species—including a distinct population of Pygmy Blue Whale—and in the range of the critically endangered Māui dolphin.
"The South Taranaki bight is the most diverse area for marine mammals in the world. There's only one other area off the coast of Argentina that has similar diversity.”
Phil warns that disturbing the seabed could trigger irreversible damage to marine habitats and ecosystems, impose constant noise pollution and degrade water quality.
What Happens Next?
“KASM will write to the EPA to state that we have an interest greater than the general public and have engaged in the hearing and appeal processes, so there’s a remote chance they might include us in it,” Phil explains.
While TTR's renewed attempt to secure approval under the Fast-Track Act is being closely monitored, if granted, it could set a precedent for future environmentally contentious projects to be approved without robust scientific assessment or public consultation.
A Wider Pacific and Global Concern
New Zealand’s stance on seabed mining is part of a much bigger fight playing out across the Pacific. At a recent Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Fiji, NGOs were shut out of key discussions while government leaders debated the future of controversial deep-sea mining behind closed doors.
Some Pacific nations, like Palau, Vanuatu and Fiji, are pushing for a moratorium, citing irreversible environmental risks. Meanwhile, the Cook Islands has sparked outrage by signing a deal with China to advance deep-sea mining research—without proper consultation. Prime Minister Mark Brown, a staunch supporter of the industry, this week faced a vote of no confidence as local opposition grows.
Globally, the tide is turning against deep-sea mining. Thirty-two countries, including New Zealand, are backing a moratorium until science proves it would be safe—and the number of countries in support is growing. Rules and regulations for deep-sea mining in international waters are not yet in place and several years away from completion. But with Nauru set to submit a mining application in June, ahead of the upcoming International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting in July, the pressure is mounting.
Deep-Sea Gold Rush
Hidden in the depths of the Pacific, polymetallic nodules—rich in copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese and iron—are sparking this deep-sea battle. These “coal-like rocks” take millions of years to form, growing just a few millimetres per million years around tiny nuclei like shark teeth. Found 4,000 to 6,000 metres below the surface, the largest deposit lies in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, stretching east from Hawaii to Mexico.
But as mining companies race to extract these rare metals, scientists warn of catastrophic consequences. New research has revealed that polymetallic nodules may play an unexpected role in oxygen production—without sunlight. While sampling the seabed in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, researchers detected oxygen 13,000 feet underwater, in conditions where photosynthesis is impossible. Initially suspecting a malfunction, they eventually theorised that the nodules themselves could be the source of this “dark” oxygen.
Phil is worried that deep-sea mining’s long-term impacts are dangerously uncertain, with fears it could disrupt carbon absorption and oxygen production—key processes that sustain life on Earth. With Pacific nations fighting to protect their waters, the battle between profit and preservation is reaching boiling point.
