regionalsA West Coast man who admitted illegally mining gold on his own property was today discharged without conviction in the Greymouth District Court. Daniel Scheepers, 55, appeared for sentence after he last month admitted a charge of contravening the Minerals Act by mining 2.45 ounces of gold on his Moonlight Rd property in January this year. What was not explained to him, he said, was that he still needed a permit from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE). "There is this confusion where people are approaching councils but they don't understand the overarching need for a mining permit (from MBIE).'' Scheepers was ordered make a $1000 donation to the Pike River Families Group Committee.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 07, 2016 02:15 UTC