Media Release
11 April 2005

Doc Priorities Need Review

News of a funding boost for the Department of Conservation will be welcomed by all New Zealanders who want to see our heritage preserved for future generations says New Zealand First conservation spokesman, Edwin Perry.

“However the extra $24.6m over four years will only be useful if expenditure is prioritised wisely and the taxpaying public must have some doubts about DoC’s ability in that regard.

“Neither will the public be taken in by the Minister’s somewhat cynical ploy of making the announcement from Codfish Island in order to exploit a photo opportunity with a threatened species. That one has been done to death – it would be more impressive if the Minister posed alongside a pile of dead stoats or possums,” said Mr Perry.

“In 2003/2004 62,500 hectares of land was added to the conservation estate and the estimated cost of managing this is $768,000 per annum so there goes a slice of the extra money already.

“DoC needs to review its priorities before spending its extra funds and I would urge the Minister to tackle that at the first opportunity and in the meantime leave the kakapo in peace to get about their business,” said Mr Perry.

ENDS

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