Environmental groups are urging the Southland District Council to reverse a decision allowing coal exploration in the region.
The council has granted Australian-owned mining company New Brighton Collieries access to its forestry block at Ohai - about 60 kilometres north-west of Invercargill.
In a letter to the council, Forest & Bird, Greenpeace, Generation Zero and five other organisations say it is inappropriate for Aotearoa to continue exploring for coal in the midst of a climate and ecological emergency.
Forest & Bird Youth chief policy lead George Hobson and Southland District mayor Gary Tong spoke to Guyon Espiner.
