After a couple of very wet days in steep valleys have managed to get a satelite connection. Thought I was humping this extra weight in to no avail.
It is just about unimaginable that the Nats will go ahead and mine these beautiful and pristine areas. Some beautiful alpine meadows here too. What about some more dairy cows too? I suspect this will end up as an attempt to make mining easier in the Coromandel and maybe Kahurangi National Park. Perhaps they are also going to remove the requirement of the consent of the Minister of Conservation as a prerequsite to DOC land being open for mining. They have already done something similar in respect of developments in the foershore and seabed under their RMA changes this year. this would be a mistake. We effectively as citizens delegate these decisions to the government to take on our behalf. We take these decisions for ourselves for our own land, but rely upon them to protect our collectively owned lands in the DOC estate.
Came over Gillespie Pass in winds and rain. Was a little worried some of our lighter track party would get blown off ridge. Not too much snow on the pass so once we were up there it was easy going down into Siberia.
Running out of battery.
Stopped raining so heading off to Crucible Lake today.
A beautiful place
I wish they would keep their greedy mits off it. 
Merry Christmas David 
Such a brownlie kind of thing to do though – mine DOC land. After all, its not like he will ever see it first hand, by tramping in, now is it. Therefore, he has no connection with the value this land has for the future generations and for our image across the world. He is instead, a greedy and selfish individual happy to line the pockets of his rich cronies and to heck with the average kiwi. Boy are we proud to have him covering our back – not.
I worry that many of the voters feel no connection with this land either. Mining these parts of the country should be unthinkable. This should have people rioting in the streets. The fact that it doesn’t shows you how effective this ’shock troop’ government has been at bullying voters into submission. Well, some voters…
Why would you carry IT into the wilderness? deleted Trevor take a break!! As a bike commuting- composting- rain water collecting- vege gardening- recycling- BlueGreen I welcome the prospect of mining. #1 we need to differentiate between Conservation Estate and National Parks. #2 No mining in Nat Parks but Cons Estate..why not? it is 13% of NZ, it is public land and ‘No Mining’ is too simplistic.. bikes comes from mines, plastic recycling bins from mines and that laptop you’re lugging around comes from a mine. Why are we so precious?..better to mine in NZ where we have higher enviro standards than subjecting our fellow 2nd worlders who have lower standards to toxicity. Like nuclear power..are we not even allowed to debate it. No debate feels like Helengrad. Enjoy the rest of your tramp. ps why isn’t Gerry’s holiday equally as valid..even if he’s having KFC and G & Ts on the couch. And FYI nannystate killed school outdoor ed.
Is it cold up there, wearing only your boots?
LOL
Or is he snuggling up? …
Pike River?? How was that so different. The reality is that no decisions have yet been made – As I understand it the national Government is undertaking a stocktake. If there are billions of dollars of resources then NZ will be fools not to exploit the minerals. Given the money involved the government will be abble to reinstate the land at the end of the project.
I think you are scaremongering. Good on Gerry for having the vision to determine what is available. Keep up your objection – it will sideline the Greenies out of the debate and all intelligent NZers will see that you are being fools.
We have a problem Nasa. A vision is a ‘preferred future’. Gerry, let alone the National Party, does not possess such a thing. Mining in the conservation estate is not the preferred future New Zealanders want. Having successfully initiated the closure of Aorangi School, the minister for mining in crazy places is still to realise that New Zealand’s wealth lies above the ground, not below it.
Deleted. Use another argument. Clare