Schedule 4 doesn't apply to extraction of crown minerals...

Schedule 4 doesn't apply to extraction of crown minerals underneath land owned by the Department of Conservation. It's a complex equation but the Talisman mine is not a binary outcome depending on the election and/or Schedule 4. The real hint is that the underground mine workings, portal and mine are already there and - of course - there's a mine being constructed there right now.

Some of the Rahu resource is under land owned by the Department of Conservation but most of the land is private. Privately leased access adjacent to Rahu areas should mean Schedule 4 makes no difference to an underground mine accessing those resources that are beneath land owned by DOC.

NTL has revolving access agreements with many landowners along Rahu, I don't think it will be a big deal for them to lease a small portion for an underground entrance if the price is right! Maybe Bullswool Farm is keen???