A marine protest was held in Coromandel this afternoon against the proposal to mine for gold in the Coromandel Harbour.

Green MP Catherine Delahunty was at the protest and says it is all about protecting the environment.

Green MP Catherine Delahunty joined the protest in Coromandel this afternoon.

'A company called Sea Holdings have got a prospective licence in an area which is schedule 4.

'Schedule 4 means you are not supposed to mine, but these people have been given a permit by the Government to prospect in the middle of the Coromandel Harbour. So we are doing a marine protest against that happening.”

Boats from Auckland and Waiheke, as well as local kayaks, fishing boats, all different kinds of boats of all shapes and sizes gathered at 12pm with banners on the boats to do a sail around.

'One sign says 'toxic mud soup not on the menu” because people are opposing the digging up of the Coromandel Harbour for gold because it is under a lot of mud and it associated with lots of toxic chemicals.

'I'm here because the Green Party is concerned the Government is undermining schedule 4.”
Catherine says people stood up for schedule 4 and marched the streets of Auckland saying lets protect our precious places and the Government is allowing prospecting in schedule 4 areas.

'It is undermining of the integrity of this area.

'People just want to say no while saying yes to our beautiful area.”