Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says "hysteria" about the Government's discussion paper on mining the conservation estate is not helping New Zealand's international reputation.
Ms Wilkinson made the comments when she visited Franz Josef Glacier on Saturday to take part in 50th anniversary celebrations for Westland Tai Poutini National Park.
The Government's discussion document outlines plans to open up 7058 hectares of conservation land for mining.
The proposals target land in the Coromandel Peninsula in the North Island, the Inangahua sector of the Paparoa National Park in the South Island and on Great Barrier Island, representing about 0.2% of protected land.
The announcement was made last week after the Cabinet considered a discussion document on the extent of mineral deposits in New Zealand, in particular in areas protected under Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act.
Schedule Four bans mining from a range of high-value conservation areas including national parks, marine reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and wetlands.
Les Molloy, who was involved in getting Westland Tai Poutini National Park extended in the 1980s, says he is relieved no land from the park will be removed from Schedule Four protection.
However Dr Molloy says he is still concerned about other areas in the discussion document and does not believe the Government fully appreciates the reputation of New Zealand's national parks and protected areas overseas.
Ms Wilkinson says the Government is not going to mine iconic landscapes such as Westland Tai Poutini National Park.
The minister says parts of the conservation estate have been mined for years and "hysteria" over the discussion paper will not have helped New Zealand's international reputation.
