Grandmother arrested and charged for chaining herself to fence...

Grandmother arrested and charged for chaining herself to fence in mining protest
Jake McKee Cagney 16:54, August 15 2018

SUPPLIED
A police officer breaks the chain around Linda Gilmore, who was arrested and charged after chaining herself to a fence, blocking mining vehicles from getting to a mine site.

A 65-year-old grandmother of five was arrested and charged for obstruction on Mount Karangahake, near Paeroa.

Linda Gilmore chained herself to a gate on Crown Hill Rd, blocking mining vehicles from getting to the mine site, on Monday morning.


She said the mining company's contractors were degrading the Dubbo track, which is popular with walkers and cyclists.

"I love walking up the mountain ... with my grandchildren, but the last thing I want to come across is a mining ute hurtling down towards us. Some parts of this track are really narrow and it's simply unsafe having it used as a mine access route."

Gilmore was also arrested whilst protesting on Mt Karangahake on August 14, 2017. On that occasion she was given a pre-charge warning and let go.

Gilmore is part of local anti-mining community group Protect Karangahake, who have been working to stop new mining activities on Mt Karangahake for four years.

She was calling on the Minister for the Environment David Parker to come through on his commitment to extend Schedule 4 across conservation land down to Te Aroha.

Protect Karangahake launched an open letter last month calling for the Government to keep its promise on extending mining bans to Te Aroha.

New Talisman Gold Mines Limited chief executive Matthew Hill said "there was a minor delay while police removed the party involved".

He said there was "no impact on the activities as such are underground, almost a kilometre away from where the handful of protesters gathered".

"As one of the highest grade underground gold mines in New Zealand we continue to progress this project, which has significant benefits to the local economy and the NZ gold mining industry."

In July, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage told Stuff she could not comment on the matter whilst it was in front of the Environment Committee.

She said the Select Committee had been presented with a petition on the matter, and was waiting for the report before there could be any further consideration.

The petition is still before the Select Committee.

Gilmore is set to appear in the Waihi District Court on August 20.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times...r-chaining-herself-to-fence-in-mining-protest