From AVAAZ

Dear friends across New Zealand, 

A mining company is racing for government approval for a pit that would destroy the pristine Denniston Plateau. But the government is still unsure and if we all speak out together now we can stop the greedy corporation from destroying this national treasure. Sign the petition to tell John Key and the Minister for Conservation to block the mine and stand firm to preserve our precious plateau!

It’s a race -- right now a mining giant is trying to fast-track approval to build a huge open coal mine that would trash a unique wilderness. But we can stop the greedy corporation destroying this delicate ecosystem. 

The Denniston Plateau is a national icon, one of the few places you can find the Greater Spotted Kiwi, and cicadas and butterflies that exist nowhere else in the world. Mining giant Bathurst Resources is racing to turn these pristine forests into barren pits, but this is public land and so the corporation needs approvals from the Minister of Conservation.

The decision is still in the balance -- let's transform the weight of our numbers into political might and force the government to say no to the mine. Sign the petition to John Key and Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson to block Bathurst and preserve our precious plateauand tell everyone: 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/No_coal_mine_on_the_Denniston_Plateaux/?vl 

Community organisations have temporarily halted progress on the mine by filing appeals in the Environmental Court. Under pressure from their investors, Bathurst Resources are now planning to attack from a new direction -- using the Environmental Protection Authority’s process for projects of ‘national significance’. This means that chainsaws could soon start cutting down the first trees.

The plateau's ecosystem where Bathurst Resources wants to mine is like nowhere else in the world. There are new and as yet unidentified species of plants and animals, including moths, butterflies, spiders and cicadas. The plateau is also home to a number of threatened species, like the iconic Greater Spotted Kiwi, a ground dwelling Weta and a giant land snail. 

This biologically diverse area is publicly owned land -- it belongs to the people of New Zealand, not to a foreign corporation. If we act now we can protect our precious lands -- now and into the future. Sign the petition to build a massive public outcry that can protect the plateau from Bathurst's bulldozers:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/No_coal_mine_on_the_Denniston_Plateaux/?vl

In 2010, tens of thousands of New Zealanders successfully got the Government to block mining on high value conservation lands. It’s now again time to demand our right to decide what New Zealand stands for. 

With hope and determination, 

Alex, Michelle, David, Alice, Ricken, Alice and the whole Avaaz team

PS: This petition was created by Alex, an Avaaz member. It's quick and easy to create a campaign on any issue you care strongly about here: http://avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bv14457 


MORE INFORMATION 

Bathurst to seek fast-track for new mining infrastructure (Scoop Business):
http://business.scoop.co.nz/2012/05/04/bathurst-to-seek-fast-track-for-new-mining-infrastructure/

Mining will destroy unique plateau and harm planet (Dominion Post):
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/5671627/Mining-will-destroy-unique-plateau-and-harm-planet

New species confirmed on Denniston plateau (NZ Herald):
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10804093

Miner eyes fast-track option for Denniston (Manawatu Standard):
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/business/6857000/Miner-eyes-fast-track-option-for-Denniston