I have spent nearly two years of my life now in the Cobb Valley in roughly two month stints while building and packing down Twisted Frequency Festival. That's more time than I have spent in most flats I have rented. It is my second home, and I often find myself there in my dreams. It comes with a mix of emotions as I have spent many of those months stressing and grinding, but I have also had the privilege of waking up in one of the most special places on earth with many dear friends on a mission to do something we love.

I have known about the potential for mining operations in the region since the very early years of running Twisted there. In a rather fitting real-life metaphor, one of the companies with a “claim” to explore mining in the mighty Kahurangi national park would fly their chopper past our crew campsite at 7.00 am, ferrying a portaloo for the workers who were carrying out their dastardly deeds: taking core samples of ancient rock in practically untouched native bush to protect their “claim.” We would stand in the shade of the beautiful cliff face that frames the valley, pulling the finger and screaming obscenities at some probably unaware/unbothered helicopter pilot.

It's always been such an absurd concept to me, how anyone could have let these offshore, big-money moguls get their filthy mitts on the right to bring their machines into such a glorious and pristine part of the world. They would turn up, carve out a few pallet loads of earth and rock and then fuck off back to wherever they came from. All we knew for sure is that they needed to do this to be able to hold onto their “rights” to potentially mine in the future, a dreadful thought but one that was well and truly out of our control and which seemed unlikely because they had been doing it for many years and had never found any concentrations of minerals high enough that they could justify the FINANCIAL risk of gouging the earth for profit.

Now things have changed, and the bastards are getting desperate. Siren gold and companies like them around the world have exhausted other precious natural spots and are turning their sights on Aotearoa, while the seemingly heartless National Party, alongside their boot-licking cronies, are welcoming them with open pockets.

The Cobb and the crystal clear waterways of Tākaka are sacred in more ways than I can list in this piece.

It was never anyone's right, and most especially any Pākehā, to sell in the first place.

It is home to a circus of cheeky Kea who swoop down from the mountaintops in the early morning, skraarking and tussling right above the swimming hole at the end of the site.

It is home to the Weka, who scramble around our crew kitchen and through our tents looking for sneaky snacks or shiny things to take home and add to their treasure piles.

It is home to hoards of Tuna, including the highly endangered Manaaki Tuna (or Longfin Eel), as well as Kōura or fresh water crayfish, mystical, shining emblems of the health of these stunning awa. It is the home of countless rare and even recently discovered species and without a doubt some that have yet to be found. It is the home of Huriawa - the powerful taniwha that protects our awa.

It is also the home of underground music and culture here in Aotearoa.

Seeing the threat that these disgusting companies pose and the corrupt politicians that are letting them in has been a harrowing experience for anyone that holds spaces like this dear and those who care for the environment. The people of Tākaka are rightfully angry, as are many other folks from across Aotearoa and the world, when they hear of the intention to desecrate Sams Creek which lies up the valley and feeds into our awa and then onwards to Te Waikoropupū Springs - the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand and the largest cold water springs in the Southern Hemisphere which contain some of the clearest water ever measured on earth. Some phenomenal humans have stepped up to take on the giants: Save Our Springs AKA S.O.S & The Sam’s Creek Collective. They have been working tirelessly to stand up for rivers and water ways that cannot speak for themselves. There is so much fiery passion in every person I have encountered in these groups and more than ever they need our support to help fight this most crucial battle. As much as our community would happily set up camp and do our best to ensure things are VERY FUCKIN HARD for them, battles like this are rarely won on the ground. Once the digging equipment is showing up, it's usually too late. These battles are won in court rooms and lawyers are FUCKIN SPENNY. Although we are in the midst of fighting for the survival of Twisted Frequency, we cannot forget or ignore the survival of the countless species of flora and fauna that are at risk of being poisoned by toxic arsenic as a result of a greedy grab for cash. Stopping Siren Gold and any other faceless organisation from trying to destroy the ecosystems that make places like this so special is the most important thing right now. If they do get the green light, festivals in the valley will be no more and that would fucking suck. But parties come and go, the native inhabitants that are at risk cannot just up and move somewhere else and survive.

If you have ever spent time on a dance floor in the Cobb Valley or swam in the rivers of Tākaka then you will know how deeply important it is that we all do our very best to support, campaign and raise awareness and funds to take on these evil cunts. This Friday we are joining forces with the amazing folk at Ambient Headquarters to throw a not so lil shindig featuring a local lineup of legendary producers and DJs in the hopes of raising funds for Save Our Springs. If you are in or near Ōtautahi and you can afford to attend, please get yourself a ticket now. If you aren't able to make it you can donate to SOS directly here, sign the petition here and/ or write to the politicians here to let them know how you feel and what is at stake. It has never been more important for us to band together and help protect our sacred awa. If you are in Ōtautahi and are able to make it please get down to our collab fundraiser with @Ambient Headquarters and whether you are able to join us or not, get yourself in the draw for their incredible raffle!