Consent hearings for a new open cast coal mine in north Waikato have been taken to the local marae.
Glencoal Energy, which is owned by Fonterra, wants to establish a mine at Mangatawhiri, to replace an existing open cast mine nearby.
More than 100 submissions have been made on the proposal, and hearings are set for the next three weeks at Mangatangi Marae.
The mine will cover about 30 hectares and the coal will be used to power three of the dairy company's factories.
