Iwi leaders are divided over a view that mining in Northland could be a silver bullet for solving Maori unemployment in the area.
Northland-based Labour list MP Shane Jones said mining would create job openings for low-income Maori families and he was tired of "hostile rhetoric from the greenies''.
Mr Jones said that with limited opportunities in farming or tourism, the extractive industries were the best opportunities for jobs and economic advancement for Northland Maori.
Latest unemployment figures show there are about 6500 unemployed in Northland and almost two-thirds are Maori. The median household income in the region last year was $19,200.
Te Rarawa chairman Haami Piripi said he agreed with Mr Jones.
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NZ Herald
Editor's Note: What is it with politicians? Doesnt matter where they call home. They are all of the mind set that mining is the answer to everything - World peace, food shortage, housing, jobs ... when will they learn that the problems for all these problems lie within the politicians themselves?
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