This paper is intended as a review from a planner's viewpoint, of the relationship between town and country planning, a primarily government activity, and the minerals industry, which, with the exception of coal, is a largely private enterprise activity._x000D_
The paper first considers the nature of the system of planning in New Zealand, and the objectives sought by planners in relation to minerals are discussed. The reasons why these objectives are not generally being achieved are investigated. A final section deals with the gap between objectives and achievement, and suggests a number of ways in which this gap may be narrowed.