{"url":"https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake","title":"Seaside celebration and protest planned at Ōpunakē","domain":"thepost.co.nz","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/7420032/pexels-photo-7420032.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"beach protest surfers","category":"Nature","language":"en","slug":"a87ec77b","id":"a87ec77b-c52e-47fd-bdeb-86a408a29753","description":"Surfers, musicians and environmentalists plan a protest and celebration at Ōpunakē beach on Friday and Saturday.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Surfers, musicians and environmentalists plan a protest and celebration at Ōpunakē beach on Friday and Saturday.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake)\n- Event organised by Protect Our Moana - Taranaki starts Friday evening with ocean films at Ōpunakē.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake)\n- Gathering opposes seabed mining off South Taranaki amid ongoing community beach protests.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake)\n\n## The story at a glance\nSurfers, musicians and environmentalists are set to gather at Ōpunakē for a combined protest and celebration against seabed mining. The event is organised by **Protect Our Moana - Taranaki**, with support from groups like **Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM)**. It is being reported now ahead of the Friday evening start. Beach protests have featured in the long-running fight over mining plans off South Taranaki.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake)\n\n## Key points\n- Gathering at Ōpunakē on Friday and Saturday combines protest activities with celebration of the ocean and community.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake)\n- Friday evening features a showing of ocean films from **7pm to 9pm** at Ōpunakē, launching the weekend.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake)\n- Focuses on opposition to seabed mining by **Trans-Tasman Resources** in the South Taranaki Bight, a battle spanning over 15 years.[[2]](https://climatejusticetaranaki.info/2026/03/31/panui-april-2026)\n- Protests on beaches have been a key part of community resistance to the mining plans.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake)\n- Involves local iwi, surfers doing paddle-outs, and musicians performing.[[3]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/06/09/seabed-mine-fears-ignite-coast-towns-on-ocean-day)\n\n## Details and context\nŌpunakē is a coastal town in South Taranaki, New Zealand, near the proposed seabed mining site in the South Taranaki Bight where iron sands would be extracted. The project by Australian company **Trans-Tasman Resources** has faced strong local opposition over environmental impacts on marine life, fishing, and cultural sites.[[4]](https://www.kasm.org.nz/)\n\nGroups like **Protect Our Moana - Taranaki** and **KASM** have organised paddle-outs, hearings protests, and public events. Recent fast-track consenting processes have renewed activism, with communities chanting outside hearings and submitting opposition.[[5]](https://www.ruanui.co.nz/press-releases/community-opposition-at-seabed-mining-hearing-in-south-taranaki)\n\nPast events include hundreds gathering for whānau weekends with speeches, kai, and paddle-outs saying \"no to seabed mining\". This latest event blends activism with music and films to rally support.[[6]](https://www.facebook.com/tekareremaorinews/videos/protect-our-moana-taranaki-wh%C4%81nau-stand-firm-against-seabed-mining/1796128547629912)\n\n## Key quotes\nNo direct quotes from the article available due to access limits.\n\n## Why it matters\nThe event highlights ongoing community pushback against seabed mining that could harm Taranaki's ocean ecosystems and economy. It means locals, iwi, fishers and surfers risk long-term damage to their moana unless mining consents are blocked. Watch for turnout at the weekend gathering and any government updates on fast-track applications.[[1]](https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake)","hashtags":["#environment","#protest","#newzealand","#taranaki","#seabedmining","#ocean"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360986992/seaside-celebration-and-protest-planned-opunake","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://climatejusticetaranaki.info/2026/03/31/panui-april-2026","title":""},{"url":"https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/06/09/seabed-mine-fears-ignite-coast-towns-on-ocean-day","title":""},{"url":"https://www.kasm.org.nz/","title":""},{"url":"https://www.ruanui.co.nz/press-releases/community-opposition-at-seabed-mining-hearing-in-south-taranaki","title":""},{"url":"https://www.facebook.com/tekareremaorinews/videos/protect-our-moana-taranaki-wh%C4%81nau-stand-firm-against-seabed-mining/1796128547629912","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-16T11:07:55.478Z","createdAt":"2026-04-16T11:07:55.478Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z"}