A while ago (sheez, 7 years!) I posted on Indigenous Peoples and Mining, specifically in response to Schedule 4 land in Aotearoa.
One of the links, to Bolivian lithium reserves, went to a site that has recently shifted domains. So, in the interests maintaining the information exchange, the new site can be viewed at...
https://www.expertsure.com/
Showing posts with label mining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mining. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Sunday, March 09, 2014
Maori and fracking
What do we make of the power (technology with intent) to rouse Ruaumoko?!
US Geological Survey research connecting fracking with earthquakes.
U.S. Geological Survey confirms: Human activity caused 5.7 quake in Oklahoma (via Raw Story )
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a press release yesterday indicating that the magnitude 5.7 earthquake that struck Prague, Oklahoma in 2011 was unintentionally human-induced. The USGS claims that the magnitude 5.0 earthquake triggered…
US Geological Survey research connecting fracking with earthquakes.
U.S. Geological Survey confirms: Human activity caused 5.7 quake in Oklahoma (via Raw Story )Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Maori and Mining ... and new book from University of Otago
With the current debate on mining in Aotearoa, the publication of a new book by University of Otago researchers is timely.
The small but packed book includes chapters on He Tirohanga Whānui (Māori and Mining Overview), Te Hātepe (The Process of Mining), Ngā Uara (Values), Te Ture (Mineral Law and Māori) Te Umanga (The Economics of Mining for Māori), Te Taiao (Environmental Impacts of Mining) and concludes with He Kupu Whakatepe.
There is also a chapter on ‘Who’s Who in Mining’ with a selection of companies currently operating in Aoteaora/New Zealand.
Authors are Katharina Ruckstuhl, Lyn Carter, Luke Easterbrook, Andrew R. Gorman, Hauauru Rae, Jacinta Ruru, Diane Ruwhiu, Janet Stephenson, Abby Suszko, Michelle Thompson-Fawcett and Rachel Turner.
The book is available FREE and just a click away @ Maori and Mining
The small but packed book includes chapters on He Tirohanga Whānui (Māori and Mining Overview), Te Hātepe (The Process of Mining), Ngā Uara (Values), Te Ture (Mineral Law and Māori) Te Umanga (The Economics of Mining for Māori), Te Taiao (Environmental Impacts of Mining) and concludes with He Kupu Whakatepe.
There is also a chapter on ‘Who’s Who in Mining’ with a selection of companies currently operating in Aoteaora/New Zealand.
Authors are Katharina Ruckstuhl, Lyn Carter, Luke Easterbrook, Andrew R. Gorman, Hauauru Rae, Jacinta Ruru, Diane Ruwhiu, Janet Stephenson, Abby Suszko, Michelle Thompson-Fawcett and Rachel Turner.
The book is available FREE and just a click away @ Maori and Mining
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Maori views on life, the universe and everything...
Horizon Research recently released a survey - Maori Viewpoint 2012 report - that tracks our views on a range of issues (actually, not that varied a range as it happens...). The survey was done in August and is of 433 adult Maori. (Some of these results are compared with a similar survey from May, 2011).
More of us evidently think Aotearoa/NZ is headed in the wrong direction, 71.8% (compared with 63.1% in May 2011). While consistent across all age groups, concern rises to nearly 80% among rangatahi. Goodbye Gisbourne, G'day Brisbane.
We're also increasingly dissatisfied with the Government’s handling of the economy and more are reporting their household financial positions are worse than a year ago, and more expect them to worsen in the next year. Overall 34.5% of Maori expect household financial positions to crapify.
As for iwi involvement, 5% of Maori are now more involved in iwi affairs than in 2011, though a third are still not active in iwi affairs. 51% have little or no contact with their iwi and 24.6% only rate contact with them by their iwi as adequate or better.
We feel better informed on iwi issues up from 42% in May 2011 to 55%. Nearly 44% of us think our iwi is/are adequately consulting. However, a small majority of 56% feel this consultation is inadequate (it was 72.3% in the previous study). Most of us - 82.3% - want more involvement.
53.7% of Maori say we have received no personal benefit from treaty settlements; 58% feel only a few cousins are benefiting. There has been a 14% fall in the number who feel their iwi are adequately managing their fisheries. Two thirds (64%) feel we have no influence on iwi fisheries policy.
No surprises that 81% of us oppose the Government’s policy to sell shares in state owned energy companies. The party splits are Labour 95%, Mana 100%, Maori party 79% and Green 82.2%. But we're a diverse mob nowadays, so of those who voted National, 67.03% support (14.40% of strongly). There is less certainty over whether Maori own water rights and can attach a value to them: 48.7% say yes, 32% no. The survey was taken in the week the Waitangi Tribunal started hearing an application from the Maori Council and others regarding asset sales and water rights.
Health, unemployment and secondary education are seen as the most important future challenges. Less important are mining and gas and oil exploration; marine and coastal area rights are still viewed as a priority by most Maori.
More of us evidently think Aotearoa/NZ is headed in the wrong direction, 71.8% (compared with 63.1% in May 2011). While consistent across all age groups, concern rises to nearly 80% among rangatahi. Goodbye Gisbourne, G'day Brisbane.
We're also increasingly dissatisfied with the Government’s handling of the economy and more are reporting their household financial positions are worse than a year ago, and more expect them to worsen in the next year. Overall 34.5% of Maori expect household financial positions to crapify.
As for iwi involvement, 5% of Maori are now more involved in iwi affairs than in 2011, though a third are still not active in iwi affairs. 51% have little or no contact with their iwi and 24.6% only rate contact with them by their iwi as adequate or better.
We feel better informed on iwi issues up from 42% in May 2011 to 55%. Nearly 44% of us think our iwi is/are adequately consulting. However, a small majority of 56% feel this consultation is inadequate (it was 72.3% in the previous study). Most of us - 82.3% - want more involvement.
53.7% of Maori say we have received no personal benefit from treaty settlements; 58% feel only a few cousins are benefiting. There has been a 14% fall in the number who feel their iwi are adequately managing their fisheries. Two thirds (64%) feel we have no influence on iwi fisheries policy.
No surprises that 81% of us oppose the Government’s policy to sell shares in state owned energy companies. The party splits are Labour 95%, Mana 100%, Maori party 79% and Green 82.2%. But we're a diverse mob nowadays, so of those who voted National, 67.03% support (14.40% of strongly). There is less certainty over whether Maori own water rights and can attach a value to them: 48.7% say yes, 32% no. The survey was taken in the week the Waitangi Tribunal started hearing an application from the Maori Council and others regarding asset sales and water rights.
Health, unemployment and secondary education are seen as the most important future challenges. Less important are mining and gas and oil exploration; marine and coastal area rights are still viewed as a priority by most Maori.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
How Indigenous Peoples are changing the economics of the energy and resource sectors...
An interesting debate taking place regarding Canadian First Nations engaging in direct negotiations with large corporations over transmission logistics which provide some insight into how Maori may benefit. Two examples given by Suzanne LeClair are:
Enbridge’s Northern Gateway, where Aboriginal land leverage is now worth 10% of the $5.5 billion project with $1 billion worth of economic benefits to native communities along the route.
Source: Native leaders vow to block Northern Gateway pipeline, The Globe and Mail.
Source: Welcome to Nunavut
Staggering sums, although it is often employment that is dangled as the carrot for Indigenous Peoples. Rio Tinto, Australia, has increased its Indigenous workforce to six per cent, up from 0.5 per cent in 1996. What is the Canadian data?
Found this nice historical piece on Maori and the goldrushes on 'The Prow' dot org, korero from Te Tau Ihu, top of the South Island). Maori employment in agriculture and mining has recovered from a previous decline recorded from 2004-2009:
Māori and non-Māori employment by industry, 2004–2009
.
Māori employment growth has recently been relatively strong in mining and agriculture, although I've yet to find this data decomposed into just mining employment.
Percentage change in employment by ethnicity and industry, June 2008 to June 2010
Source: Dept. of Labour.
Mining is yet to feature in the Maori economy data (see the BERL analysis...currently 0% exposure). However, the Iwi Chairs forum recommended discussion on "the strategic relevance of the exploration of mining within the conservation estate as a direct issue as well as more broadly reflecting a change in policy toward reconciling economic and environmental interests." There are plenty of caveats for Indigenous engagement in mining of course. Two Maori commentators have chipped in with their perspectives.
Mikaere paints a rather tidier picture than actually exists in Aotearoa. The Maori Party is twisting itself into a characteristic knot where it opposes asset sales but if/when they take place (and the senior coalition party is committed to the sale of these assets despite the economics of such a deal being very shonky), they argue iwi corporations should be front of the queue.
Australian initiatives show dedicated resources and a comprehensive strategy of improving Aboriginal employment in what is a very strong sector, albeit one whose history is written in blood with ongoing issues for those communities in which it is embedded. The issues at this point in Aotearoa are primarily environmental and are resonating throughout many Maori communities, particularly along the East Coast, and look set to be a key environmental issue over the next generation for all Aotearoans. Look for a continuation of the classic development (jobs, economic growth, import substitution) versus the environment dichotomy battle lines. Surely this is precisely the context in which an Indigenous philosophy should be able to both broaden and deepen the debate?
Readings:
Aboriginal Peoples and Mining in Canada: Consultation, Participation and Prospects for Change by William Hipwell, Katy Mamen, Viviane Weitzner and Gail Whiteman, (2002).
IMPACT BENEFIT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES AND MININGCOMPANIES: THEIR USE IN CANADA by Irene Sosa and Karyn Keenan (2001)
Moving mountains: Communities confront mining and globalizatio by GR Evans, J Goodman (2002).
Enbridge’s Northern Gateway, where Aboriginal land leverage is now worth 10% of the $5.5 billion project with $1 billion worth of economic benefits to native communities along the route.
Source: Native leaders vow to block Northern Gateway pipeline, The Globe and Mail.
Nunavut Land Claim and royalties on Arctic resources
The powerful mining sector has spent $2.2 billion in Nunavut since 1999. Nunavut Tunngavik Inc (NTI) will begin collecting 12% royalty on all resources located in its jurisdiction. Estimates are that NTI will collect about:- $219m between 2013 and 2019 from Agnico-Eagle’s mine
- $400 m by 2023 for Areva’s Kiggavik uranium mine (if approved...)
- $256m by 2031 from Newmont Mining
- $1.8 billion in royalties from Arcelor Mittal’ Mary River iron project by 2021.
Source: Welcome to Nunavut
Staggering sums, although it is often employment that is dangled as the carrot for Indigenous Peoples. Rio Tinto, Australia, has increased its Indigenous workforce to six per cent, up from 0.5 per cent in 1996. What is the Canadian data?
Canadian First Nations Employment in Mining
A 1998 survey of 53 operating mines indicated that: 18 mining operations had hired Aboriginal employees in 1997; the total number of Aboriginal employees was 422; the most frequent types of jobs filled by Aboriginal people included labourers, miners, truck drivers/equipment operators, trades and maintenance operators. These figures had increased somewhat from an earlier survey administered in 1991/1992 (IGWG 1998). A 1996 report (IGWG 1996) noted that Aboriginal employment in Canada averages 4.2%, with higher rates in Saskatchewan (5.7%), Manitoba (9.7%) NWT (28.3%) and Yukon (12.5%). (Source: Hipwell et al. 2002).
Found this nice historical piece on Maori and the goldrushes on 'The Prow' dot org, korero from Te Tau Ihu, top of the South Island). Maori employment in agriculture and mining has recovered from a previous decline recorded from 2004-2009:
Māori and non-Māori employment by industry, 2004–2009
.
Māori employment growth has recently been relatively strong in mining and agriculture, although I've yet to find this data decomposed into just mining employment.
Percentage change in employment by ethnicity and industry, June 2008 to June 2010
Source: Dept. of Labour.
Mining is yet to feature in the Maori economy data (see the BERL analysis...currently 0% exposure). However, the Iwi Chairs forum recommended discussion on "the strategic relevance of the exploration of mining within the conservation estate as a direct issue as well as more broadly reflecting a change in policy toward reconciling economic and environmental interests." There are plenty of caveats for Indigenous engagement in mining of course. Two Maori commentators have chipped in with their perspectives.
For Buddy Mikaere "...there are many good reasons for Indigenous People to have equity positions or ownership (whether sole or in partnership) in vital infrastructure such as pipelines or transmission lines." He rightly points out the needed investment diversification outside the normal iwi interests of farming, fishing and forestry and the opportunities for employment and gaining management experience and partnering with utilities in future projects.
Mikaere paints a rather tidier picture than actually exists in Aotearoa. The Maori Party is twisting itself into a characteristic knot where it opposes asset sales but if/when they take place (and the senior coalition party is committed to the sale of these assets despite the economics of such a deal being very shonky), they argue iwi corporations should be front of the queue.
Te Taru White argues "...it is ultimately about relationship and respect and to ignore this, will be very costly in time, energy and money." For Te Taru, "consultation must move from the ground level up and that quasi-tribal organisations and those established and often fed by the Government's hand, cannot be construed as representing communities. They are in conflict and are prone to being attracted by perverse incentives." He further notes the 'convenient short cuts' available to Government and corporates "to get a decision through without having to deal with the 'riff raff' otherwise referred to as communities. Amazing what a swanky environment, rubbing shoulders with the hoi poloi, a nice glass of chardonnay and of course a promise of continued Government handouts ..."
Australian initiatives show dedicated resources and a comprehensive strategy of improving Aboriginal employment in what is a very strong sector, albeit one whose history is written in blood with ongoing issues for those communities in which it is embedded. The issues at this point in Aotearoa are primarily environmental and are resonating throughout many Maori communities, particularly along the East Coast, and look set to be a key environmental issue over the next generation for all Aotearoans. Look for a continuation of the classic development (jobs, economic growth, import substitution) versus the environment dichotomy battle lines. Surely this is precisely the context in which an Indigenous philosophy should be able to both broaden and deepen the debate?
Readings:
Aboriginal Peoples and Mining in Canada: Consultation, Participation and Prospects for Change by William Hipwell, Katy Mamen, Viviane Weitzner and Gail Whiteman, (2002).
IMPACT BENEFIT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES AND MININGCOMPANIES: THEIR USE IN CANADA by Irene Sosa and Karyn Keenan (2001)
Moving mountains: Communities confront mining and globalizatio by GR Evans, J Goodman (2002).
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