Four iwi authorities — collectively comprising Kā Rūnaka — had already raised possible treaty breaches in a January memo to fast-track authorities. Mr Muir stressed that he did not wish to express any view on what breach concerns were held by Kā Rūnaka. The matter was important because Kā Rūnaka had "serious concerns" over the potential for "cumulative and long-term environmental effects of the proposed large mine." Santana’s legal counsel, Joshua Leckie, said in the meeting that the firm was engaging with Kā Rūnaka and in Santana’s view there were no treaty breaches. "It is our case there are not treaty breaches at play here."

Source: Otago Daily Times March 08, 2026 15:37 UTC