Jones takes aim at Green Party's mining stance

Labour MP Shane Jones is taking a swipe at the Green party and its attitude to mining.

He believes more needs to be made of mining opportunities to create income and employment, particularly for low income Maori families.

"We don't have enough water and land to continually grow food. We've got to look at other industries and what I'm saying is I don't think Maoridom should be sucked in any longer by the Green rhetoric."

Mr Jones says there has to be a compromise, because New Zealanders need jobs and the ability to have a good quality of life.

He says we can't afford to blind ourselves to the potential of getting mining projects up an running.

The Greens maintain the public's got the right attitude to mining.

Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei's responding to a Herald poll which found almost 40 percent of people cautiously support increases in mineral and oil exploration and just over 30 percent are opposed to the Government's plans.

She says the public's right to be cautious about the Government's mining plans because they pose serious environmental and economic risks.

Ms Turei says the public will rightly consider what's being mined, how it's being mined, and where it's being mined before supporting the Government's agenda.

Photo: NZ Herald