Kenneth J Landaus

PO Box 56, Collingwood 7171, Golden Bay, New Zealand

 

 

15 July 2002

 

 

Paul Stigley

Business Manager Minerals

Crown Minerals

Ministry of Economic Development

PO Box 1473

WELLINGTON

 

 

Dear Mr Stigley

 

Thank you for your letter of reply dated 3 July 2002.

 

Concerning my question; “Can I apply for a new licence?”

 

As you may well imagine, it is difficult for me to believe it is possible Crown Minerals have the view or interpretation as you have explained in your letter.

 

On page two you have said that; “ Issues concerning the relationship between the right of renewal for mining licences for pounamu and the Ngai Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act are far from settled”.

It is for this reason I will not enter into any argument on the issue, but rather highlight the facts that I have put to you or your office from the very outset.

 

I have been continually denied the right of application for the renewal or application for a new licence, irrespective of Sections 43 and 77 of the Mining Act 1971 and the fact that I applied for the appropriate application forms to undertake this procedure in my letter dated 14 August 1997, being fifteen months prior to statutory commencement date of the three month prior to expiration date of my existing mining licence, notwithstanding the fact that the request was also made prior to the enactment of the Ngai Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997.

 

I also wish to remind Crown Minerals that a vast paper trail between us proves that I have repeatedly been refused any right of application, in particular from the then Minister of Energy, Mr Max Bradford and the Crown Minerals legal section adviser.

 

It therefore is very obvious that my Mining Licence only ever expired without renewal due to the fact that the Crown denied me the right to have it renewed or to make application for a new licence.

Which you are aware has caused extreme damages to my business and me personally.

 

In light of the Glenharrow Case, I was hoping Crown Minerals may have finally conceded that my legal arguments over the years were finally being heeded, but this doesn’t seem to be the case.

 

Regardless, thank you for your assistance to date.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Kenn Landaus