Conservation groups are calling on the New Zealand Government to protect the Denniston Plateau by reclassifying it as a scientific reserve. This high-altitude “lost world” landscape is home to rare wetlands, endemic species, and some of Aotearoa’s most threatened wildlife, including great spotted kiwi and ancient land snails. Campaigners warn that large-scale open-cast coal mining would permanently destroy these fragile ecosystems, undermining biodiversity protection and climate commitments on public conservation land.
Denniston should be scientific reserve, not fast-tracked coal mine
Added 1/27/2026, last updated 1/27/2026 *
* older dates may be inaccurate due to tech changes along the way
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