Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland
29 MARCH 2017

Conservation’s Low Spend on Weed And Pest Control Revealed

Kiwis will be stunned by how little the Minister of Conservation and National are putting into pest and weed control on the Conservation Estate, says New Zealand First.

“Minister Maggie Barry on Conservation is just like how Maori viewed James Busby in the 19th Century – a ‘Man-o-War without guns’,” says the Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First and whose Northland electorate is on the conservation frontline.

“To protect over 8.6 million hectares of the Conservation Estate from animal pests, this government is spending a pitiful $5.31 per hectare and just $1.64 a hectare to fight weeds. Even these sums are a recent improvement on what National has previously spent.

“In January 2014, another ‘Man-o-War without guns,’ Dr Nick Smith, beat his chest over the so-called Battle for our Birds. To save each of the 25 million birds, he claimed were being killed each year by pests, his government increased spending by just 28 cents a bird.

“But what did the Hon Maggie Barry do after succeeding Dr Smith in her first Budget? She cut DoC’s animal pest budget by $6.7m and weed and wilding conifer control by $901,000.

“She has made up for these short-sighted cuts in the current Budget but that includes multiyear spending that demands multiplication to make it look reasonable. Minister Barry cannot hide under investment in seven of the previous eight Conservation budgets.

“And does she seriously believe that since 2009, a $19.7m net increase in pest control and just $729,000 net for weeds and wilding conifers is anywhere near to cutting the mustard?

“Then again Minister Barry ONZM is an expert in OBE – ‘other blighter’s efforts’. She is such an unimaginative advocate for what’s needed, she tries to take credit for other budgets and industry spending, not to mention pushing the goodwill of volunteers to breaking point.

“Now she has a ‘War on Weeds,’ a ‘Dirty Dozen’ and an aim to make New Zealand predator free by 2050. Not on these levels of funding she won’t. Her policies by press release are so far out into the future that no one will remember either her or what she promised,” Mr Peters said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media