WELLINGTON, New Zealand – 5 March 2025
Photo by Moha Winders: Pictured from left: Natalie Jessup, GM ESF, Stu Muir, Advisor, ESF, Emma Giesen, Co-Chair, ESF Chloe Swarbrick, Co-Leader, Green Party, Celia Wade-Brown, Green Party, Richardo Menedez March, Green Party, Hūhana Lyndon, Green Party, Tawera Nikau, Co-Chair, ESF.
Former rugby league star and environmental advocate Tawera Nikau today presented a 14,000-signature petition to Parliament, opposing a controversial sandmining project at Te Akau Bream Bay. The petition, gathered in just four months, reflects widespread opposition to a proposal by McCallum Bros Ltd to extract sand from the bay for the next 35 years.
"The sheer number of signatures shows just how strongly people oppose this project," Nikau said. "Sandmining threatens whole eco-systems including tāmure, snapper habitats. We need to prioritise sustainable solutions over short-term profits that benefit only one company, McCallum Bros, while putting our local communities and our environment at risk."
Nikau, co-chair of Tāngaro Tuia te Ora, Endangered Species Foundation (ESF), handed the petition to Hūhana Lyndon, Green Party MP. Lyndon, a descendant of Ngā Hapū o Whangārei, who has been actively mobilising opposition to the sandmining proposal. Sandmining devastates marine ecosystems, creating plumes that smother marine life and threatens key industries like fisheries and eco-tourism.
"We are here to call for an end to sandmining. We need to harass. We need to lobby local government and all MPs of Te Tai Tokerau to let them know that the Fast Track Bill, and the proposed projects in Whangārei are not welcome", said Lyndon.
There are many alternative sand sources, such as quarry by-products, and active on-land solutions.
There’s no public consultation in the fast track process," says Natalie Jessup, ESF’s General Manager. "We want to draw attention to the lack of democracy and give a platform for community voices to be heard."
A scathing economic review by leading economist Hayden Green has exposed major flaws in McCallum’s proposal, calling the projected economic benefits into question. Green’s evaluation found the company’s economic report to be riddled with errors, labelling it unreliable and misleading.
“This is junk economics disguised as economic growth,” says Natalie Jessup, ESF’s General Manager. “Allowing this project to proceed would not only damage fisheries and eco-tourism it will also stifle innovation in sustainable sand manufacturing. Globally there is a shift away from dredging because of its environmental destruction - we need to support real growth and the innovative sand solutions that already exist”.
The petition follows a wave of public demonstrations against the project. Last month, more than a thousand people gathered at Ruakākā beach to spell out "SAY NO" on the sand.
What next?
The petition will be referred to the Petitions Committee, where a group of MPs will review the issues raised. The committee may then request further information, invite representatives to speak, or seek input from other relevant organisations before deciding on the next steps. This is an open petition and we will continue to gather signatures. You can sign and share the petition here.
We Need Your Support!
Our fight isn’t over, and we need urgent funding to:
Complete a formal report on sand alternatives.
Travel to meet decision-makers and present economic and sand alternatives evidence.
Support communities for sustained advocacy to oppose fast-track projects that destroy whole ecosystems and the habitats of endangered species.
Much of this work is voluntary, including countless hours spent liaising with the community and the expertise and dedication of our trustees and advisors. Every contribution you make goes directly toward the mahi (work) we are doing for this important kaupapa (cause).
Contact for more details:
Natalie Jessup, General Manager Tāngaro Tuia te Ora, Endangered Species Foundation natalie@endangeredspecies.org.nz