Our
people
Kiws's Against Seabed Mining is for all New Zealanders who want to protect our oceans from seabed mining.
Join the stand today and become a member - together we are powerful.
KASM members
& community
KASM represents coastal communities and people from all around Aotearoa who oppose seabed mining.
Becoming a member of KASM is a great way to support our fight, join us today
Our committee
Our committee are all volunteers, passionate about protecting our ocean from the impacts of seabed mining. Meet them below
Cindy Baxter
Chair
It was when Cindy, a climate campaigner, moved to the black sand beach of Piha and discovered Rio Tinto had a seabed mining licence off her beach that she became alert to the threat. In 2012 she started a Piha branch of KASM to welcome a surfer who’d paddled up the coast from Taranaki to raise awareness around the issue. She then moved to the national committee just as TTR was applying for its first consent in 2013. “Black sand beaches right up our coastline are at risk. Seabed mining will not happen on my watch.”
Cindy took over chairing KASM after Phil McCabe stepped back in 2017.
Kate Paris
Secretary
Kate grew up on the West Coast of the South Island, nestled amongst a wild and passionate landscape that shaped a strong connection to taiao. She now lives and works as a kaiako in Pātea and has been an activist with Greenpeace for almost twenty years serving as a core volunteer and mucking about in boats, including as crew on the Rainbow Warrior III. It made sense to become involved with KASM as the secretary a year ago to help organise the local opposition to seabed mining off the South Taranaki Bight. "Seabed mining threatens to disturb the unique populations of marine life that deserve our protection and respect. I proudly stand with our people here to help defend Tangaroa."
Nenya Chapman
Treasurer
Nenya grew up swimming in the waters of Coromandel beaches and is now based in Whāingaroa. Her work in waste management has shown her the importance of preventing environmental damage rather than dealing with its aftermath - which drew her to join KASM's committee in 2024.
Her vision for our oceans is for them to be loved and nurtured, appreciated and flourishing
Angeline Greensill
As environmental representative for Tainui o Tainui with deep connection to Whāingaroa's coastal environment, Angeline helped establish KASM in 2005. Her academic background in law and environmental studies, combined with decades of experience in resource management, strengthens KASM's mission. Understanding how coastal communities from Whāingaroa to Taranaki are connected by the threats of seabed mining, she works to preserve our marine environments for future generations while honoring traditional kaitiakitanga principles
James (Hēmi) Hita is a Māori activist and campaigner from Aotearoa New Zealand dedicated to protecting the ocean from the threats of deep-sea mining. In 2022, he confronted the deep-sea mining vessel ‘Hidden Gem’ off the coast of Manzanillo, Mexico, delivering a message to its captain to cease operations that endanger the ocean. In 2023, Hita led a peaceful protest against the UK Royal Research Ship James Cook in the Pacific Ocean, highlighting the potential harm of deep-sea mining to marine biodiversity. He continues to urge Pacific leaders to halt further exploration of our shared oceans, emphasising the collective responsibility to protect Te Moana Nui-a-Kiwa. Hita underscores the vital role of Indigenous voices in environmental advocacy.
James (Hēmi) Hita
Paulina Sadowska
Paulina moved to Whaingaroa in 2014 and got involved with KASM straight off the boat. Fascinated by nature since she was a small child, she continues to appreciate all it gives us. With a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Studies and a Masters in Environmental Management, she realises how important it is to protect the waters around Aotearoa from mining and preserving these habitats. She is a strong believer in using our resources to work with nature and adopting sustainable practices to safeguard our ecosystems. The health and well being of humanity are intrinsically tied to the health of our environment! Without a healthy environment we won’t have a healthy economy.
Phil McCabe
Phil McCabe is a long-time ocean advocate, coastal resident and surfer. As Chairperson of KASM from 2012-2017, Phil led public campaigning efforts and official engagement in seabed mining applications through the EPA. Since 2020 Phil has been active in the Pacific region and global campaign to stop deep seabed mining in international waters acting as the Pacific Campaign lead for the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.
Stacey Hill
Though Southland-born, Stacey has developed a strong connection to the North Island's West Coast black sands through living in Whāingaroa and many years working with coastal communities in the Coastcare-Waikato programme. With over 20 years working in conservation across Aotearoa, combined with an honours degree in biological sciences and postgraduate training in science communication, she brings both practical and scientific understanding to her advocacy work. Stacey believes in Kiwis' natural connection to our ocean and sense of kaitiakitanga, and hopes to help others find their voice against seabed mining.