Theresa Clifford reports from New Zealand, where environmentalists prefer to save snails than dig for minerals
Following the recent national elections in November 2010, the thorny issue of mining in New Zealand is back on the agenda. NZ prime minister John Key has put economic growth and jobs at the top of his agenda, with the prime slots in his new cabinet handed to ministers whose main role will be to boost the economy. Steven Joyce has been appointed the new jobs tsar’ and given responsibility for lifting economic growth. A key task will be to sell the advantages of mining exploration to the NZ public.
The need to look at mining is now a serious discussion in NZ. New Zealanders know that Australia’s mining industry has been the catalyst for its economic growth in the past decade. Large quantities of minerals and resources are found in Australia and they are in high demand in China. This demand has led to massive Chinese investment in Australia’s mining industry. From 2007 to 2010, Chinese investment in Australia amounted to nearly US$60 billion. Australia’s mineral exports grew by 55 per cent to US$139 billion in 2010 and are projected to reach US$180 billion in 2011, thanks to China’s strong economic performance.
Spiked-online.com
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