30 August 2004

Aussie Bank Does DOC's Job

New Zealand First conservation spokesperson Edwin Perry is asking why the Department of Conservation is putting begging bowls in an Australian owned bank to save the kiwi while DoC spends millions of dollars buying South Island high country.

“On Thursday the Minister announced that the Nature Heritage Fund had paid $3.5 million for 8,517 hectares of Castle Hill Station at Porters Pass to secure permanent public access to a skifield, rock climbing areas and tramping, hunting and mountain biking spots.

“Meanwhile, back in the real world the Australian owned Bank of New Zealand is running a campaign asking customers for spare change to help stop the decline of the kiwi population.

“It is time the Minister explained to taxpayers exactly how it comes about that on one hand we can afford to spend millions of dollars buying up the South Island high country while on the other the Australians have to help out with kiwi preservation.

“This can only be described as a cynical public relations exercise by everyone concerned,” said Mr Perry.

ENDS

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