A community group is calling for Government response as miners hack away at a conservation area in search of gold.
The group are protesting as mining company New Talisman begin work on Mount Karangahake, an area well-known for its scenic bush tracks.
Head of Protect Karangahake, Duncan Shearer, said mining will hurt the local ecology and the area's tourism.
He believes our politicians need to make their stance on protecting conservation areas known.
"At least express an opinion about whether conservation estates should be for conservation, or whether they should be exploited for private companies' gain."
Mr Shearer said they're marching up the mountain to the mine's gate in protest of the industrial action, as the conservation estate is an iconic place where mining should not be going ahead.
"It's not a public good to allow a private company in to make money by gold-mining in a very precious, and fragile, ecological area," he explained.
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