Government attacks on nature conservation

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Government attacks on nature conservation

(35 posts)

Started 2 years ago

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Mining of conservation land, freeholding high country lake shores, IUCN slams NZ Govt, Mining Fiordland, Blue Greens a sick joke, Environmental Barbarians

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Tawaki
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What on earth is going on with this Government and nature conservation?. At a time when we should be celebrating being the leading nation in the world that has protected the largest proportion of our country as conservation land, the Government seems determined to attack the conservation portfolio in every possible way.

Tonight, Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee expressed his desire for conservation land to be made much more available for the mining industry. He held out that the economic future of New Zealand could be guaranteed by greater access to mining conservation land. Interestingly this comes only a day after a further collapse in coal miner Pyke River's shares after they announced yet another coal production delay. Pyke River's delays are nothing to do with conservation issues. The miner was granted access through and under conservation land (Paparoa National Park) years ago. Their delays are because of a whole string of technical and engineering delays in the company operations that reek of industry incompetence, none of which can be blamed on DOC!

Yesterday, Agriculture Minister David Carter was the lead spokesman in a joint policy announcement from the Ministers of Agriculture, Conservation and Land Information that proposes a major liberalisation in the freeholding of South Island Pastoral Lease land. Restrictions on freeholding around the iconic high country and southern lakes shores have been massively weakened. This totally reverses the significant progress made in protecting these areas under the previous government.

Where is the voice of the Conservation Minister or the Associate Minister of Conservation on these issues? They are publicly silent. In consequence their silence will sanction the destruction of perhaps the world's finest and most famous Parks, Reserves and Conservation lands networks in any single country, New Zealand.We were regarded as a leading nation for the protection of nature and the environment. The government seems determined to destroy that reputation and why????? How do they reconcile this with 100%Pure NZ?

Come on Tim Grosser and Kate Wilkinson. Your job is to uphold the Conservation, National Parks and Reserves Acts. It is also to be a brave advocate for conservation in the face of this determined attack both around the cabinet table and out in public. If you can't or won't do it then bring back someone with courage. Where is Ian Shearer these days? 25 years ago, he had the courage to take on his fellow National Party PM, Rob Muldoon on environment and conservation issues when Rob's government was going badly wrong. Shearer understood that conservation is everyone's business not just the preserve of the political left wing.

PM John Key must understand just how offensive so many New Zealanders from all political persuasions find his anti-conservation, anti-environment stand. No amount of smiles will cover up the conservation tragedy that is taking place right now.

Posted 2 years ago #
Helen
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Brownlee doesn't seem to get that we are already sitting on a goldmine in conservation land - only it is a tourism goldmine. Similarly they don't "get" that tourism earns many many times more in our high country than farming does. National made many promises before they were elected about how important the environment was going to be for them, and now this sort of nonsense - and where is the Minister of Conseravtion in all of it? Overseas.

Posted 2 years ago #
kiore
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Gerry (plus Rodney and the rest of the gang) don't care, as long as the miners don't go around digging up private land for minerals. Would they allow gold miners to do over dairy farms on the West Coast, Hawkes Bay vineyards for gravel or rich suburbs for scoria - hell no!

Let them loose on DOC land - all you need is a patsy Minister who's never around and bingo, a new mine and tailings dam that will be a new tourist attraction. Talk about win-win. And you sceptics all thought Gerry was a woodwork teacher with shavings for brains - oh you doubters.

Posted 2 years ago #
Helen
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For those who haven't caught up with the Energy Minister's mining plans for conservation land: http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/govt-plays-down-plans-mine-doc-land-2951272/video

Posted 2 years ago #
Pelorusjack
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The current government and even some of the leaders of the Department of Conservation seem to have no real understanding of the real history and values of the public lands that are presently managed by DOC.

One can appreciate the arguments behind the so called `conservation economy’ and the fact that for a rather modest investment the tax payer makes in managing the public park, reserve and conservation lands, they deliver return on investment that our big corporations can only dream of. For example, tourism based on the high country is estimated to deliver $4 billion in tourism revenue and by comparison the High County Farm gate revenue (in 2005) was only $113M.

This land was protected over the past 100+ years for more than just its economic value. This is why generations of government officials and nature lovers - and since 1923, Forest & Birders have worked so hard to put iconic scenic features, landscapes and natural environments into a network of parks, reserves, and conservation lands that are owned by the Crown on behalf of all the people in New Zealand.

These heritage lands have survived and continued to be enhanced through two world wars, the great depression, the Black budget, Muldoonism, Rogernomics, Ruthonomics and social changes thrown at it up to the present day. In fact, some of the major gains to conservation in New Zealand were made during the 80s and 90s when logging of native forests was finally stopped and the tenure review process was commenced.

Now we have a major assault on the whole concept of conservation lands. The Governments latest move to change high country policy seems to be based totally on the view that there is too much conservation land and even some DoC staff are starting to suggest that. It is not a matter of whether it is too much or too little but rather whether land and marine areas with particular natural, landscape or recreational values should be kept in public ownership. Land owned by the people is where the public interest comes first and people normally have freedom of access and use. When land is privately owned the primary objective of the organisation or person who owns it is to pursue, quite rightly, their own private interests.

The retention of key natural and scenic areas, and particularly wildlife, in public ownership was one of the first imperatives of the settlers coming here from England and Europe where those resources were invariably in the hands of the gentry.

Let’s remember basic principles and not be conned by the rhetoric of the self interest and uninformed.

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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Maybe they have a few plans to make some large open-cast mines into adventure-tourism opportunities, Helen? Maybe cycle veladromes are going to be part of the bike-way now, and giant skateboard bowls too...The opportunities are endless....

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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Joking aside (I think it's a form of hysteria), what kiore and Pelorusjack said really hit a nerve - I hadn't thought of the govt's actions in that way before, but now it makes perfect sense. Avoid private property, and attack the commons! Of course...We have to fight back to try to subvert this attack. I mean, it certainly wouldn't be the first issue in recent months where public opinion has forced the govt to back-track and change their minds about something. It's sort of like kids who try it on with their parents to test where the limits are for what they can get away with...

Posted 2 years ago #
Tawaki
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The "missing-in-action" Conservation Minister emerged from hiding or yet another overseas trip and called today for caring New Zealanders to halt their "emotional hysteria" and recognise that conservation land should be mined for minerals (Christchurch Press 29 Aug front page).

The Minister's position under the various conservation acts requires him to champion the protection of the third of New Zealand and its wildlife that we have protected as parks, reserves and conservation land. Instead he seems hell bent on supporting his colleagues who want to plunder these lands.

Had the Minister and his colleagues played any part in the herculean efforts of ordinary people made over many decades to create NZ's protected area network, he might understand why protection of these lands is an emotional issue. We care! If Minister Tim Grosser. Gerry Brownlee and David Carter and their boss John Key think that they can destroy the integrity of our protected area heritage, they'd better think again.

"Mining at its worst is dreadful but mining in a modern, technological way can have a negligible effect" said Conservation Minister Grosser in the Christchurch Press today 29 August.

The Nature Heritage Fund and Land Information New Zealand three years ago bought for conservation the iconic Otago tussock ranges of Michael Peak Station. This rises from the Manuherikia River in Central Otago to the St Bathans Range. This purchase was to be the centrepiece of the new Oteake Conservation Park. This Park also protects much of the Dunstan Range much celebrated in the paintings by artist Graeme Sydney.

Probably the most important and, ecologically, the rarest part of the new Park was the tussock and shrubland that went right down to the banks of the Manuherikia River. Here the public have easy access along Home Hills Run Road and Hawkdun Run Roads. These interlinking gravel roads meet at an old fashioned one lane bridge across the Manuherikia River. These roads are the gateway to the new Park. The National Government has however recently excised 400 hectares from the proposed new Park. The part that they have cut out from the Park gazettal area is the accessible tussock and shrublands alongside the river and the county road right near the bridge. Why? Because beneath the native plants and tussock flat there is lignite. This lignite may have potential for mining to then generate one of the world's dirtiest and most CO2 polluting form of energy.

If Minister Grosser thinks a lignite mine beside a pristine high country river, next to a public road and immediately alongside the Oteake Tussockland Park will have a "negligible effect" then he is in a dreamworld. Look at the devastation caused by tar sand mining in Northern Alberta, Canada to get some idea of what an opencast lignite mine would look like. Look up any reference text and see the huge amount of CO2 and other pollutants that lignite mining and burning releases.

Burning lignite is a fast track way to destroy the planet.

If Minister Grosser is prepared to concede that lignite mining is grossly polluting and has hugely more than a "negligible effect", why didn't he oppose the recent excision of the Manuherikia River 400 hectares of conservation land from the Oteake Conservation Park?

Platitudes expressed by the Minister today such as saying that mining could be done in "small discrete areas" and "If you can extract wealth from that (conservation land) then that's what we should do" when set alongside the Oteake Park decision tell us that no conservation land is safe from the clutches of him and his colleagues if they think they can make a fast buck out of it.

If he thinks we are emotional now, believe me, he ain't seen nothing yet! His job is to be the Kaitiake, the guardian, of NZ conservation lands not their auctioneer.

Posted 2 years ago #
kukupa
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Dead right....he ain't seen nothing yet!!

Posted 2 years ago #
Tawaki
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Writing a post about the subject and sharing viewpoints is important but it isn't enough. There is outrage out there at the cavalier way the Government seems to regard the conservation estate as an unexplored outback awaiting conquering and exploitation. The Government needs to get the message loud and clear from across the political spectrum that its attiotude to conservation lands is totally unacceptable.

Will people please consider writing to their local paper, ringing talkback and really putting the heat on this government that seems determined to squander all the hard work and wonderful conservation achievements of recent years?

Posted 2 years ago #
Graham Bellamy
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What is next? Is nothing "sacred" in this land any more.
Even more than before, we absolutely need to get the "inner ear" of these current ministers who think they know what to do and how to use our public conservation land. It is about time they learned that the "mighty dollar" does not rule.Do they not realise that once conservation land of any type is damaged that it does not return to it's original state for many-many years and if NZ wants to be a tourist "Mecca" for it's clean/green image then leave our
pristine land alone.
Mining, farming, water take, timber take, roading, subdivision for housing etc, are not on the agenda for areas that are of national significance.
We need to tell them to keep to the grass were there is no conservation
agenda.

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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Goodness me, it's more long-lasting than an Energiser Bunny is the mining in Coromandel issue - it just keeps going on and on. Is it time to dust off those old Coromandel Minewatch buttons!!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10593900

Posted 2 years ago #
ruby
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Seems the goverment has made a decision based on financial reasons ie the future mining profits ,and i can understand that its about making profits fine i dont agree with it personally but if they do mine there they can soon replace a few shrubs and tussocks after.
ah but what about the polution potential i hear you say well you have only got yourselves to blame your the ones advocating polluting and poiosning the country and now when someone in the goverment duly elected takes it one step further you dont like that.
to late i am afraid as when you agreed to mass poisoning of the earth you went to bed with the poisoners for profit brigade ,now that they are poor bedfellows ,well you should have took a more ethical stance.

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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Sad really.

Posted 2 years ago #
Diane Cowan
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The point has been made already but its true that we each need to focus on the issue and get the letters rolling to the appropriate ministers (the PM, mining, environment, conservation and tourism are all affected and should all be paying attention). There is little point and little to gain in discussing amongst ourselves and agreeing with one another. We are all on the same side. We need to convey the anger. It took me 3 days to cool off enough to write something coherent but it finally went out this morning. I'd like to see an email go out to all members from F&B - even if it has a form email for those who don't feel articulate enough to write on their own - so members can respond en masse. Either that or a website set up we can register our disgust on but available to all users and appreciaters of the great outdoors and what is left of our biodiversity.

We need to hit them hard and fast!!

Just been watching Marcus Lush make his way around Fiordland, which is so breathtakingly beautiful. He made this slightly ironic comment, talking about the introduction of stoats etc to paradise...

" our history is predicated on great acts of stupidity"

Well here comes another one................

Posted 2 years ago #
ruby
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I was watching the same programme it was awesome ,funny how the guy who first started conserving the kekapo, apogies for forgetting his name (hero that he is).
Was in them days regarded as a crackpot ahead of his time and as was said founder of conservation.
How times changed and peoples views and reasoning change and develop to suit the times amazing where do we go from here.
who knows

Posted 2 years ago #
JamieS
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Richard Henry was government funded and supported, and part of a wider conservation movement which included island sanctuaries on Little Barrier and Kapiti. I'm not sure they were ahead of their time (it seems a good solution to the problem they faced) but I do wonder sometimes what happened to the New Zealand conservation between 1900 and 1960, blame the wars I guess.

A lignite mine in the Manuherekia, how ridiculous. I can think of 350 reasons why this is a terrible idea. But mind you most of those also apply to the "tourism" argument that people toss up to match resource exploitation....both have terrible environmental costs. Lets not talk apples and oranges.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tawaki
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It was interesting that the Prime Minister chimed in on cue earlier this week to make a lot of soothing noises that if there was anything really special in the protected public conservation land then it wouldn't be mined. He wasn't convincing.

I'd encourage anyone interested in this issue to leave a message with the NZ Tourism Industry Association NZTIA.(phone 04 4990104) Their Chief Executive Tim Cossar was outspoken in his defence of conservation land and National Parks not being made easier to open up for mining as promoted by Conservation Minister Tim Grosser and Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee.

This is the first time that I recall the NZTIA attacking the Government in defence of and long may this new advocacy continue. Too often we only hear from NZTIA when it supports one of its members who want to exploit our public conservation land in some way for tourism. For example NZTIA recently gave its submission to DOC in support of tourism helicopter operations being allowed to land on the snowfields on the western side of Mt Aspiring National Park. Ever since the establishment of the National Park in 1968 they have been banned from lnding on these western snowfields. This has been the policy position of the Park Management Plan and has been supported by all wilderness and World Heritage lovers. The lazy rich can land all over the place in Mt Cook National Park, Westland National Park and Northern Fiordland National Park including the snowfields nearly at the top of Mt Tutoko.

Well done Tim Cossar opf NZTIA. Come on Minister Tim Grosser. Where is your staunch defence of our public conservation land treasures against the rapacious mining industry.

Has anyone else thought about the parallels between the National Government wanting to make mining easier on NZ public conservation land and the Bush Government in the USA who were obsessed with opening up the Northern Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling? Both were promoted as the answer to economic woes. Both involve an attack on places that the public of both countries regard as precious and special. Both resulted in a very angry conservation movement and mobilised lots of citizens to get off their bums to stop such silly moves.

Finally don't forget that National have already taken action to make it easier to mine conservation land(even though they say they are just thinking about it) They excluded 400 hectares of conservation land alongside the Manuherikia River in the heart of Central Otago from the Oteake COnservation Park (see above). Firstly this makes it impossible to drive into the Park directly on a public road and secondly it strips the Park of the rarest ecological communities, the valley floor tussock land. Of course the reason they did it was to make it easier to set up a lignite mine.

What is next on their agenda?

Posted 2 years ago #
Tawaki
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World Commission on Protected areas of IUCN slams NZ Government proposals to investigate mineral resources and mining opportunities in NZ protected conservation areas including our 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Te Wahi Pounamu-South West New Zealand, Tongariro National Park and the Sub Antarctic Islands

Gland, 23 September 2009

Dear Prime Minister Key and Ministers Brownlee and Groser,

I write as the Chair of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World
Commission on Protected Areas, an apolitical global body of specialists. Some 200 global leaders
in biodiversity conservation, especially through protected areas, have just completed a meeting in
Jeju, Korea in response to an invitation of the signatory parties to the Convention on Biodiversity.

The purpose of our meeting was to review the progress in the implementation of the Programme
of Works on Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and make
suggestions for its strengthening in 2010. As you would be aware we are leading up to the
International Year of Biodiversity and the culmination of the first decade of the CBD.

Many of the participants at the Jeju meeting were surprised and concerned to hear a report that
the New Zealand Government had decided to audit the mineral resources under land administered
by the Department of Conservation (DoC) and to consider exploitation.

The international community has long seen New Zealand as a country with strong protection of its
outstanding natural values and a country seriously committed to biodiversity conservation. We
also note that the successful national branding of ‘100% natural’ can only retain its credibility by
assuring the intactness of the conservation lands of New Zealand.

With biodiversity severely threatened worldwide we look to countries to show leadership and
inspire others by their example. Many New Zealanders have been inspirational figures in
conservation, most prominently, Sir Edmund Hillary. It has a strong model of clear goals,
objectives and actions under its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAB). New
Zealand played a critical role in the negotiations that culminated with the ratification of the
Convention of Biodiversity by over 190 countries.

A decision to embark on a course which could lead to mining in New Zealand’s conservation areas
would be a marked departure in direction and of significant concern to my Commission. New
Zealand is an IUCN member and supported the IUCN resolution passed at its Amman Meeting in
2000 on the policy of no mining in Category I-IV Protected Areas. New Zealand is also a signatory
to the CBD and therefore the Programme of Work on Protected Areas which seeks strong
protected area systems worldwide where their principal role for nature conservation are not
exploited in a manner harmful to nature.

The mining industry itself in 2003 has undertaken
through the International Council on Mining and Minerals not to exploit World Heritage Areas.

All participants of the Jeju International Workshop have shared a sense of urgency on the need to
address the global loss of biodiversity in the face of escalating threats, especially from climate
change and population pressures. Progress on nature conservation has never been more
important.

The news that a modern, comparatively wealthy nation such as New Zealand is
prepared to exploit its resources in lands set aside for biodiversity sends a disturbing message to
more populous poor countries. They could well argue that if such nations put development before
conservation then they should follow suit.

We hope the New Zealand Government will reconsider this decision and thus continue to be an
inspiring nation which recognizes the value of conserving biodiversity and the critical social and
economic values of protecting nature, particularly through its protected areas.

Sincerely,

Nik Lopoukhine

Chair, World Commission on Protected Areas
International Union for the Conservation of Nature
cc Alan Morrison

Posted 2 years ago #
kukupa
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Piss off!!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/northland/local-news/northern-news/2912290/Aussie-giant-to-prospect-in-Far-North

Posted 2 years ago #
Tawaki
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I'm not quite sure if Kukupa is telling the Aussie miners to P...off or whether you are telling IUCN's World Commission on Protected areas to go away.

I'm sure it is the Aussie mining giant that you don't want digging up the seabed around Northland.

When the World Commission on Protected Areas sends a letter(see above) to the NZ Government critical of their actions over managing NZ's protected areas we should all wake up and take note.

It is a very serious blow to our international conservation reputation that can't be fixed by any number of John Key comedian appearances on the silly David Letterman Show.

For generations, New Zealand has been seen worldwide as a shining beacon that shows what is possible when the whole nation decides that it wants to protect its special places as reserves, conservation lands, National Parks and World Heritage Sites. Other countries have ancient cathedrals, paleolithic sites and great monuments. We have the largest proportion of any country on earth in protected conservation areas. We value them. We enjoy them. So do the 2 million plus people who visit our country every year.

We are very proud of NZ conservation and we are increasingly involved in protecting these areas. Look at the "Meet the Locals" TV series to see just how involved huge numbers of dedicated people and communities are in NZ nature protection.

This is why it is so bizarre that the Government seems determined at every opportunity to downgrade and demean these special areas and the work done by DOC and conservation volunteers like Forest and Bird's 57 branches.

Unfortunately it isn't just Energy Minister Brownlee who is determined to destroy the international reputation of our NZ Parks, Reserves and World Heritage Sites. He wants to survey them for mining and mineral resources. Agriculture Minister David Carter expresses contempt for DOC at every opportunity and is absolutely determined that no additional land areas to what DOC already manages should be protected and managed by DOC.

Even more extraordinarily, the Associate Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson, in a recent interview in "Canterbury Farming" as good as accused her Department, DOC, of being incapable of looking after the high country reserves and parks under its control. This Minister who should be supporting her department's work in the high country, actually rubbished their work. In reality she hasn't got a clue. Unlike her boss Conservation Minister Grosser who at least did a high country field trip (and then probably left the country!), Wilkinson hasn't looked at what DOC has been protecting in the high country over the last 10 years. She hasn't visited these areas apart from one Park opening. She hasn't investigated the extensive weed and pest control programmes DOC have been doing there. She hasn't looked at the recovery of threatened native species or at the extensive areas where there are now public walking tracks and mountain bike routes where previously there was no public access. In the "Canterbury Farming" article, Wilkinson simply spouts all the same old cliches and prejudices she has absorbed in the course of her lawyer and political work with farmers.

I still can't fathom what audience these National Ministers are playing to. Their speeches and actions seemed designed to do their best to destroy New Zealand's protected land reputation as a clean, green wonderful sanctuary for people to visit from all over the world. What is the gain out of picking a fight with IUCN and the world's leading nature conservation organisations.

Even if they, like the Iranian President, don't care about world opinion, they should at least care about what New Zealanders think. A huge majority of New Zealand people of all political persuasions value and treasure our conservation lands and the special native plants and animals that they contain.

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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Which leads us to suspect that it was another, third party, who Kukupa might have been telling to go away....And he wouldn't be alone there!

You'd see more maturity down at the local childcare centre than we're seeing in some of our so-called "leaders" at the moment.....And we're told that it's mostly teens delight in self-absorbed petulant carry-ons. Yeah, right!

Posted 2 years ago #
Kim
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Looks like they're also going to carve up Fiordland National Park, a place that attracts over half a million visitors a year....Outrageous

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/2930185/Oil-drives-plans-to-mine-Fiordland

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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Thanks for that link, Kim. I went on to look at some of the other items on it. This one made me smile a bit
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/2930316/Mining-protesters-say-it-with-sand

Posted 2 years ago #
Tawaki
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The (ir) responsible Government Ministers and Ministry of Economic Development official who want to do oil drilling in Fiordland's magnificent Waitutu forest are total idiots.

The taxpaying people of New Zealand paid nearly $20 million 14 years ago to covenant in perpetuity the Waitutu maori-owned forests and protect them from planned rimu logging. Waitutu Incorporation leader John Southerwood recently reminded the government of its obligation to protect these forests. He strongly supports a DOC 1080 operation proposed for Waitutu early next year to save mistletoe, fuchsia, rata and all its special birds including South Island kaka.

One of the greatest historic threats to Waitutu was that logging would not only destroy the trees but also carve a road into this pristine wilderness. Fly over northern Canada and you will see that oil and gas prospecting and drilling result in a netwok of roads devastating the wilderness.

The 45,000 hectare Waitutu forest behind the Maori owned Waitutu lands is all now part of Fiordland National Park. It is also part of the Te Wahi Pounamu-South West New Zealand World Heritage Site that the New Zealand Government in 1990 on behalf of all of us pledged to the world that we would protect in perpetuity.

And now National and the mindless official of the MED want to look for oil and gas in Waitutu. This is not West Papua or the Congo where a government can walk all over the people, ignore international agreements and allow the mining industry to march into our most treasured protected areas.

Blue Green self styled "environmentally aware" members of the National Party should hand their heads in shame and either wind up their group or change its name to the "Black" group. I gather the next field trip of the Blue Greens is into St James/Molesworth to look at opportunities to expand cattle grazing into the St James conservation lands! What's next?

Minister Tim Grosser should immediately resign his commission.

They are total barbarians!

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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So glad to see someone else talking about the devastating infrastructure associated with this mining. Even if the mines themselves are done on "useless" land, and "with ultimate precision" (to quote John Keyhole-precision-accuracy-miner), what about all the roads and stuff. Good grief, if Brownlee is so rude as to claim that the only people opposing this nonsense are being hysterical, he needs a wake-up call and a half!! Besides, hysterical Mr Brownlee, is better than arrogant and stupid.....

http://blog.forestandbird.org.nz/undermining-nz%E2%80%99s-clean-green-image/#comments

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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This puts even more value on F&B's reserves. Exploration and mine -free areas....

Posted 2 years ago #
Tawaki
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Actually Anne it was the Minster of Conservation Tim Grosser who in my view said the worst things about people opposing the mining of National Parks.

From my first posting above this is what he was quoted as saying at the time (29 August).

"The "missing-in-action" Conservation Minister emerged from hiding or yet another overseas trip and called today for caring New Zealanders to halt their "emotional hysteria" and recognise that conservation land should be mined for minerals (Christchurch Press 29 Aug front page).

The Minister's position under the various conservation acts requires him to champion the protection of the third of New Zealand and its wildlife that we have protected as parks, reserves and conservation land. Instead he seems hell bent on supporting his colleagues who want to plunder these lands.

Had the Minister and his colleagues played any part in the herculean efforts of ordinary people made over many decades to create NZ's protected area network, he might understand why protection of these lands is an emotional issue. We care! If Minister Tim Grosser. Gerry Brownlee and David Carter and their boss John Key think that they can destroy the integrity of our protected area heritage, they'd better think again.

"Mining at its worst is dreadful but mining in a modern, technological way can have a negligible effect" said Conservation Minister Grosser in the Christchurch Press today 29 August."

If this is what these Ministers think they are not worthy to hold a Minsterial warrant or to have any responsibility to be guardians of our National Park and conservation treasures.

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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Must be what too many years in opposition does to you. Knocks all the stuffing out of ya!
Is this the ultimate in "Yes (Prime) Minister"? "..anything you say, John"...Pathetic!!

Makes you wonder that the Minister of Conservation isn't outside the cabinet.. "But he is" I can hear you all yelling. "Outside the cabinet and outside the country more often than not..".

Posted 2 years ago #
auckland anne
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And today's little addition, and more Greens hysteria (yeah, right)...

Govt docs reveal secret mining veto on new parks

Government mining papers released by the Green Party this week, and confirmation from the Minister’s office, show that the minerals industry will now have the privilege of being able to veto new conservation park boundaries, in secret.

“The Government has given its mining department a right of veto over all new Park and reserve boundaries, giving the mining industry an advantage over conservation and the public interest,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“It is unacceptable that Crown Minerals will have the power to veto, behind closed doors, the boundaries of new public parks and reserves.”

Crown Minerals and the mining industry work closely together. Crown Minerals describes the mining industry as ‘clients’, on behalf of whom it will “promote the potential contribution of the mineral estate to regional economic development”.

“Giving one industry such privilege and potentially denying the public a right to know is anti-democratic and effectively privatises decisions over managing our public conservation land,” said Mrs Turei.

“If the Government proceeds with this change, the public may never know if Crown Minerals vetoed a boundary. That’s not open and honest Government.”

The Government has adopted the Ministry of Economic Development’s (MED) recommendation: “that DOC notify MED a month prior to publicly notifying a DOC proposal to classify or reclassify an area”. DOC recommended against this veto. The veto is soon to be formalised between the two agencies.

“Classifying or reclassifying an area can mean creating a new park, extending park boundaries, or elevating general conservation land to a higher protected status because of endangered species or special values,” said Mrs Turei.

“Large tracts of conservation land obtained through tenure review, or purchased by Government funds, will become Conservation Parks; however, now the mining industry will be able to control the boundaries.

“In April, the Conservation Minister excluded a high-conservation value area from the Oteake Conservation Park due to lignite deposits, against DOC’s advice. We disagreed completely with his decision, but at least it was done in public. In future such deals will be done in secret.

The MED advice notes that this option: 'Minimises the risk of potential adverse public reaction arising from subsequent amendment of a proposal for mineral related reasons'. Mrs Turei said that this shows the clear intention to allow boundary changes in secret to avoid public outcry.

“It is entirely reasonable that Crown Minerals should advocate for the interests of the mining industry, but it is only fair that there is a level playing field with advocacy for conservation and recreation values, and the public interest." said Mrs Turei. "At the end of the day, it’s public land.”

“This Government, not content with seeking to reverse a political consensus on Schedule 4, is happy to let the mining industry veto public conservation land decisions. It’s not OK, Minister Brownlee.”

References:
The OIA papers: http://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/OIAMinistersAdviceMining29Sept2009.pdf
Crown Minerals strategic plan: http://www.crownminerals.govt.nz/cms/pdf-library/about/strategic-plan-2008-2011

from a non Green Party member, so I can't possibly be hysterical, right?

Posted 2 years ago #

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