Happy Valley is a stunning landscape of rocky pavement, native bush, and fragile wetlands on the West Coast of New Zealand, just north east of Westport. It is home to many threatened species including the Great Spotted Kiwi and a large native Patrickensis land snail.... and it is under attack from state-owned coal company Solid Energy!

Solid Energy’s open-cast coal mine - a planned 96 metre deep pit - would completely obliterate this pristine valley, and pollute local rivers with heavy metals and acid mine drainage.

The coal produced would create as much carbon dioxide as all of New Zealand’s domestic transport, making it a significant contributor to climate change.

We believe this mine must be stopped!

>> Find out more about Happy Valley and the proposed mine

Support the Occupation!

On 28th January 2006 over 75 people began an indefinite occupation of Happy Valley in an effort to halt development of the mine. Now, more than a year on, we need your support to maintain the occupation - whether it be coming in a camping with us, donating food or helping us with costs. Also check out those businesses which are supporting the occupation!

>> Occupation information

Get Involved!

This campaign is a grassroots campaign and we need the help of as many people as we can get. If you're interested in helping out, then there are a number of things that you can do ranging from writing letters and making donations to getting involved in a local group working to stop the mine.

>> Help us out and get involved

Send a Postcard to the Government

There are postcards available to be filled in to voice your opposition to the Happy Valley mine. We strongly encourage that you get hold of a set of these yourself, or some for friends too, and send them away!

>> Get hold of some postcards

Stay Up To Date

Join the announcement list and receive the latest news about the campaign, upcoming events and protests, and calls to action. Simply email us at contact@savehappyvalley.org.nz with the subject as "Announcement List" to stay up to date.