News of Zealand: Taranaki Iron Sand Dredging Given Go Ahead

Iron Sand Dredging Given the Green Light A split decision has been made by the Environmental Protection Agency to allow an Australian company to dredge millions of tonnes of iron sand from the seabed off the coast of South Taranaki. The Australian company, Trans-Tasman Resources, will also be allowed to return the processed spoil to the water but it claims the operation will create three hundred jobs and add $160 million to New Zealand's economy. At least three appeals are already planned, one by Talley's Fisheries, another by environmental group Kiwis Against Seabed Mining and a third by the Ngāti Ruanui iwi.

Multinationals Exempt From Labour Water Tax
Some of the largest multinational bottlers, including Coca-Cola, will not be subjected to Labour's planned water tax. Earlier this week, Labour leader Jacinda Ardern announced commercial water bottlers will pay a royalty under the party's proposed water policy. However, Labour's plan would mean any companies getting water through a city or district council water system would be spared from paying royalties. Coca-Cola Amatil currently pays approximately $40,000 a year to take around 36 million litres of water from New Zealand, but this charge only covers services for bottling, such as infrastructure and maintenance—they get the water for free.

Euthanasia Bill Receives Legal Approval
A bill proposing to legalise euthanasia has been given a legal tick of approval by the Attorney-General Chris Finlayson. The End Of Life Choice Bill was proposed by ACT leader David Seymour. It provides a legal framework for those with grievous or irremediable medical conditions or a terminal illness to request assisted dying. Finlayson said the bill passed the legal check requirement because it would not infringe on basic human rights if enacted, and was consistent with rights regarding freedom of conscience and freedom of expression.

Protecting the Home of the Vampire Fish
An extra $3 million will be spent on the redevelopment of a Christchurch intersection to protect a threatened species of fish. A drain at the intersection runs close to a a spawn and rearing area for an eel-like fish called the lamprey. The species has no bones and is often called the vampire fish because it survives by attaching itself onto other fish, sucking their blood and other bodily fluids. NIWA principal scientist Dr Don Jellyman said he was pleased to hear the council had taken steps to protect the area.

Violence Flares in Kenya Following Early Election Results
At least five people were killed as violence flared in Kenya Wednesday following the disputed early results of the country's presidential election. According to police in the Tana River area, one person was stabbed to death when five men stormed a counting station. President Uhuru Kenyatta leads Raila Odinga 54.4 percent to 44.8 percent, with 94 percent of votes now in. Odinga claims the results have been doctored by hackers

Japan Claims It Could Intercept North Korean Missile
Japanese defence minister Itsunori Onodera said his country would be legally entitled to shoot down any North Korean missile fired at Guam, after Pyongyang claimed it would draw up a plan to attack the US territory. Meanwhile, a spokesman for South Korea's military said North Korea "will face a strong response" if it "commits provocations."

29 Migrants Dead After Drowning Off Yemeni Coast
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) discovered the bodies of 29 migrants buried in shallow graves on a Yemeni beach. The UN agency said the dead were among more than 120 Ethiopian and Somali migrants "deliberately pushed" from boats into the water by human traffickers, before being buried by others who survived. The IOM said 22 of the migrants pushed into the sea were still missing.

Canada Building Migrant Camp Near US Border
Canadian troops are constructing a camp for up to 500 migrants near the US border to deal with the rising number of asylum seekers leaving the US in fear of deportation. The military is putting up tents at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, north of New York State. More than 4,000 asylum seekers have entered across the border since the start of 2017, according to the Canadian government.

Reporting by Reuben McLaren, Ximena Smith, and Ollie Powell.