The site on conservation land was originally supposed to be replanted and the hole filled in. How rehabilitated does conservation land have to be before a mining company gets its bond back from the Department of Conservation? A mine on conservation land on the West Coast conditionally signed off as rehabilitated has been described as a desolate wasteland. "Our records show no mining companies have left sites that have not been rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the Department of Conservation on public conservation land in the West Coast area." No new mines on conservation landIn November 2017 it was announced there would be no new mines on conservation land.

Source: Stuff June 02, 2020 05:15 UTC