Most of the area the Government is considering offering for platinum exploration is conservation land.
Six parcels of land making up 4422 square kilometres are proposed for exploration in the South Island, of which 76% forms part of the conservation estate.
Within those areas are key sites renowned for their landscapes or biological diversity and environmentalists are demanding they be removed from the bidding selection.
New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals which regulates the mining sector says the most important conservation land is already protected under the Crown Minerals Act.
It says the area borders may alter after consultation which will end in July.
The organisation representing oil and mineral companies, Straterra, says those unhappy with certain areas being mined could always appeal against consents if mining was to ever take place.
