19 January 2026

The Department of Conservation has confirmed it’s investigating NZ company McCallum Brothers Limited (MBL) for alleged breaches of the Wildlife Act while sand mining at Pakiri, north of Auckland.

The investigation is underway as the company applies through the Fast Track process to mine more than 8 million cubic metres of sand out of Northland’s Bream Bay.

MBL is alleged to have illegally taken or disturbed Stony Coral at Pakiri without authority and failed to report the accidental or incidental death or injury of marine wildlife.

Pakiri local and lawyer, Damon Clapshaw, who successfully fought to end sand mining at Pakiri, said MBL continued to dredge at Pakiri after discovering the presence of Stony Coral – an at-risk species that is absolutely protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. He said the company breached multiple consent regulations by continuing to dredge in the area and failing to disclose it as required.

Evidence provided to DOC investigators by Mr Clapshaw show Bioresearches, an ecological testing company working for MBL, discovered stony coral in early March 2025. It took close to three months before it was formally identified and during that time, dredging continued throughout the extraction area for 3 months.

DOC Border and Species Trade Manager, Benjamin Cornelius has confirmed MBL has been notified and spoken to about the investigation.

He said the investigation began in late August 2025.

“The preliminary investigation has been completed, and we will undertake an internal review before determining the next steps.  We expect to confirm an outcome in the first quarter of 2026,” said Mr Conelius. He also confirmed the penalty for a company convicted could be up to $300,000.

The Bream Bay Guardians are fighting the Fast Track application to sand mine at Bream Bay.

“This investigation raises serious concerns.  If an operator is allegedly failing to comply with environmental and wildlife protections elsewhere, it is entirely reasonable to question what risks Bream Bay would face if sand mining were approved under a fast-tracked process,” said Malcolm Morrison.

“Fast Track is meant for projects that have responsible operators, are compliant and in the national interest – not for operators who are already facing

questions about their conduct.”

Mr Clapshaw said the behaviour of MBL towards stony coral at Pakiri raises grave concerns and questions over MBL’s compliance in the future.