Tama Potaka: Conservation Minister on the expansion of Macraes gold mine in Otago

A potential change of heart from the Department of Conservation, which rejected a bid to expand the country's largest gold mine in Otago.   It initially declined Macraes' permit because details were missing on rehoming endemic lizards, a decision heavily criticized by Resources Minister Shane Jones.   DOC now says there was a miscommunication, and it will work to progress the application.    Conservation Minister Tama Potaka told Heather du Plessis-Allan DOC and the company which owns Macraes, OceanaGold, worked on the matter yesterday.   He says they had a very productive meeting, and he expects they'll process the application swiftly.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.