The Green Party says the government's decision to grant a prospecting permit on heritage land is unacceptable. It comes after a permit was approved within Te Wāhipounamu, one of the country's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The permit covers 157sq km, and allows prospecting for all minerals except uranium. Green Party list MP and resources spokesperson Steve Abel said heritage sites had long been ruled out for mining, and should remain that way. "This is among our most precious ecology and magnificent landscapes that are recognised globally, hence it's a world heritage area, this is exactly the space that should be out of bounds to mining, to prospecting and to exploration.  "It's utterly unacceptable this government in its fervour for the boom and bust industry of mining has issued a permit within a world heritage area." Abel noted that former Prime Minister Sir John Key had ruled out mining in Te Wāhipounamu, in the south-west corner of the South Island, in 2012.…