Maryan
STREET
Environment Spokesperson
12 March 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
Minister's contradictions not good for the environment

The Minister for the Environment needs to explain inconsistencies that appear in two recently released documents and which, bizarrely, seem quite contradictory in their purpose, says Labour's Environment Spokesperson, Maryan Street.

'In the Resource Management Act discussion paper, Amy Adams is pushing for more Ministerial control over local decisions which are likely to affect individual people who want to build a deck on their house.

“But in the latest proposals for the quality and management of waterways, she is pushing for local councils to make decisions over the restoration and use of rivers and lakes which are precious to all New Zealanders.

“The quality and management of our rivers and lakes require some national oversight, such as that invested in the Environment Court, so that all New Zealanders can benefit from these natural assets.

“Similarly building a deck on a residential home is surely an issue for each local community, not the Beehive.

“We can only assume that the Government's proposals in both cases are designed to promote their development agenda at the expense of the environment. And that’s a real shame.”

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

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