Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Mining · New Zealand · 2022–2026

Pakiri sand mining refused on appeal; applicant seeks Bream Bay consent

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 3 none on record · 1 not measured See the gaps

New Zealand's Environment Court dismissed an appeal against a refusal of sand extraction at Pakiri, and the company later sought fast-track approval at Bream Bay. The sources reviewed do not describe the effects of the extraction on the beach or marine life.

What?
A sand extraction application at Pakiri was refused in 2022 and the refusal upheld on appeal, after which the company sought consent at Bream Bay. Newsroom
Where?
Pakiri and Bream Bay, New Zealand Newsroom
When?
2022 refusal; 16 April 2024 appeal dismissed; April 2026 Bream Bay application Newsroom
Who?
Gained
  • The applicant company — sought consent for up to 150,000 cubic metres a year at Pakiri and 8 million cubic metres over 35 years at Bream Bay Newsroom
Lost
None on record
Harmed
None on record
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Consent application for beach sand extraction, refused by a council panel and dismissed on appeal; a fast-track application followed at Bream Bay. Newsroom
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

Newsroom reported that a council hearing panel had refused in 2022 an application for up to 150,000 cubic metres of sand a year over 44 square kilometres at Pakiri.

Newsroom reported that the Environment Court dismissed an appeal by McCallum Bros on 16 April 2024.

1News reported in April 2026 that the company had withdrawn from Pakiri and sought fast-track approval to take 8 million cubic metres of sand over 35 years at Bream Bay.

1News also reported that the Environmental Commissioner had found the assessments incomplete.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    1. 2024-04-16Dismissed
      McCallum Bros appeal against the Pakiri sand extraction refusal
      Environment Court · Administrative · McCallum Bros → Council hearing panel (consent decision)

      The Environment Court dismissed the appeal against the council panel's 2022 refusal of consent for up to 150,000 cubic metres of sand a year over 44 square kilometres. Newsroom

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record The sources reviewed do not give the outcome of the Bream Bay application, which 1News reported was expected on 1 October 2026.
    • None on record A 1News headline says the Department of Conservation decided no action was needed over sand mining at Pākiri; the sources reviewed do not explain how this relates to the Environmental Commissioner's finding.
    • None on record The sources reviewed do not say who would be affected by the extraction at either site.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

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