At the beginning of the month Australian mining company GreyWolf announced that it was applying for exploration rights in and around Golden Bay, including the coastlines of Abel Tasman and Kahurangi national parks. Today, they announced that they are withdrawing those applications. The reason? Public opposition:

Mr Rutherford, a Christchurch lawyer and ironsands mining advocate who joined the Greywolf board "a month or two" ago, said the Australian company had met with considerable public opposition in the Nelson region.

"It is pointless Greywolf putting millions of dollars into the area to find out what is there, if the public are so opposed to it."

This is a definite victory for the environment. But it also shows that public opposition and protest can change things. If we scream loud enough, they have to listen.