John Key

Wellington, March 1 NZPA - Cabinet will today start discussing mining on conservation land but decisions might not be taken right away, Prime Minister John Key says.

The Government last year carried out a stocktake of minerals in the conservation estate, and intends taking parts of it out of the schedule in the Crown Minerals Act which protect it from mining.

The plan has caused an outcry, with the Green Party and environmental organisations strongly opposed to it.

Mr Key said today a discussion document would be finalised in the next two weeks which would look at which parts could be removed from protection.

"We're not going to have massive open cast mines," he said on TV One's Breakfast programme.

"But a bit more could be taken out...in the end, if we do this and the country makes money, it provides better education and health services."

Facing strong opposition in Parliament, the Government is pointing out that 82 mining concessions on conservation land were granted by the previous Labour government.

The value of minerals in conservation land has been put at about $140 billion, but it could be much more than that.