ACT Conservation Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today called for Sandra Lee to get her head out of the clouds and allow far more private franchises to set up eco-sustainable businesses.

“We are spending billions of dollars promoting tourism, yet environmentalists want to ‘protect’ the environment by keeping tourists out. There must be a way ahead, and that can only come from getting rid of the current stagnated attitude, and getting private enterprise in.

“New Zealanders love the outdoors, so the State shouldn’t make our environment a ‘no go’ area as some environmentalists advocate. However, we need cash-flow to protect the environment. That can only come from allowing many more private franchisers in, to set up eco-friendly, sustainable businesses.

“DoC and Ms Lee have pussy-footed for far too long. The protection and sustainability of the environment will only be assured when we have cash-flow large enough to maintain and enhance our assets.

“The royalties that DoC would receive would let the Department focus on their core activities, while not constantly reaching into the taxpayer’s back pocket.

“DoC must hand over franchise rights to operators who know how to meet tourist needs and how to protect their resources.

“The alternative is to lose the lot,” Gerry Eckhoff said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>