Conferences, workshops and hearings

This application has been withdrawn

This page contains information about an application that was withdrawn by Trans-Tasman Resources Limited on 19 February 2026.

Read about the applicant's withdrawal (PDF, 200KB)

Legal issues hearing

On 11 November 2025, the expert panel issued a notice of hearing for the Taranaki VTM project.

Notice of Hearing (PDF, 311KB)

On 4 November 2025, the expert panel issued Minute 11 regarding the proposed hearing on legal issues. Documents relating to this hearing were circulated to relevant parties and provided below.

Minute 11 of the panel (PDF, 223KB)

The hearing occurred at 9:00am on Wednesday 26 November 2025.

Transcript of legal issues hearing (PDF, 578KB)

Part 1 of a recording of the legal issues hearing that was held for the Taranaki VTM Project on 26 November 2025.

Part 2 of a recording of the legal issues hearing that was held for the Taranaki VTM Project on 26 November 2025.

Part 3 of a recording of the legal issues hearing that was held for the Taranaki VTM Project on 26 November 2025.

Hearing procedures

The hearing procedures set out the rules and timeframe by which the hearing process will ran. They provide information on matters such as communicating with the panel, evidence requirements, and guidelines for the media.

Taranaki VTM hearing procedures (PDF, 129KB)

Written submissions

The EPA received the following submissions.

Ōkahu Inuāwai, Kānihi Umutahi, Ngāti Manuhiakai, Araukuuku, Ngāti Tū, And Te Patutokotoko (PDF, 197KB)

Ōkahu and Kanihi (PDF, 287KB)

Various Ngaruahine hapu (PDF, 294KB)

Te Kaahui Rauru (PDF, 269KB)

Talleys and Seafood NZ (PDF, 122KB)

Environmental Defence Society (PDF, 222KB)

Forest and Bird (PDF, 484 KB)

Ngāti Hāua (PDF, 140KB)

South Taranaki District Council (PDF, 359KB)

Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (PDF, 272KB)

Taranaki Regional Council (PDF, 568KB)

KASM/Greenpeace (PDF, 271KB)

Te Ohu Kai Moana (PDF, 1163 KB)

Te Korowai o Ngāruahine (PDF, 433KB)

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui (PDF, 1096KB)

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui study (PDF, 5193KB)

Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Trust (PDF, 151KB)

Te Tōpuni Ngārahu (PDF, 320KB)

24 November 2025

The panel received a joint memorandum of counsel ahead of the legal issues hearing.

Joint Memorandum of Counsel (PDF, 574KB)

Hawera conference

The documents pre-circulated or presented at the expert panel conference in Hawera on 21–23 October 2025 are provided below.

Minute 8 regarding the conference (PDF, 201KB)

Conference agenda updated 22 October 2025 (PDF, 112KB)

Conference procedures (PDF, 235KB)

A joint memorandum was provided by multiple parties to supplement conference proceedings.

Joint memorandum (PDF, 242KB)

Hawera conference documents

Expert panel overview conference

On 2 September 2025, the expert panel attended an overview conference where the applicant of the Taranaki VTM project provided a summary of the application. The conference was recorded as audio and transcribed.

Part 1 recording (M4A audio file, 31MB)

Part 2 recording (M4A audio file, 40MB)

Part 3 recording (M4A audio file, 41MB)

Part 4 recording (M4A audio file, 43MB)

Transcription (PDF, 1.4MB)

The applicant's presentation (PDF, 17MB)

Clarification regarding DOC concerns on TTR presentation (PDF, 190KB)

Panel convener conference

On 7 July 2025, the panel convener held a conference with the participants for the Taranaki VTM project.

A recording of the panel convener conference that was held for the Taranaki VTM Fast-track project.

Invitation to conference

On 26 June 2025, the panel convener issued a Minute inviting participants to provide a written response to the matters raised in the Minute.

Minute regarding the conference (PDF, 218KB)

Responses to invitation

Correction to EPA response

On 31 July 2025, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) provided a letter requesting the memo supplied as their response to the convener's invitation be replaced with a corrected version. The panel convener issued a Minute regarding this request.

Letter from the EPA (PDF, 137KB)

Corrected EPA memorandum (PDF, 136KB)

Minute regarding correction to EPA memo (PDF, 120KB)