Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Forest & Bird welcomes Labour environment policy

Forest & Bird welcomes Labour environment policy but seeks more detail

Independent conservation organisation Forest & Bird welcomes the Labour Party’s new environment policy announcements, and supports the party’s view that the quality of New Zealand’s environment is integral to the country’s economic wellbeing.

But Advocacy Manager Kevin Hackwell says the policy announcements made by Deputy Leader David Parker are missing key details. Kevin Hackwell is disappointed they don’t preclude the continued sell-off of the rights to mine and frack on conservation land, and the rights to drill for oil and gas in some of New Zealand’s deepest waters.

“We are pleased that Labour says it won’t subsidise the oil and gas sector any longer. But its policy appears to allow the continued search for new reserves in some of our best parks and in our deep seas to continue,” Kevin Hackwell says.

“If Labour is taking climate change seriously it would realise that its fossil fuels policy is at odds with the party’s overarching policy statements on sustainability and climate change.

“The science tells us the world can only burn a third of the proven reserves of fossil fuels, if we are to keep global warming to a two degree average. Therefore there is no point in New Zealand drilling for more of the world’s riskiest deep sea oil, or allowing oil and gas exploration and coal mining in some of our most important conservation areas.”

Kevin Hackwell says Labour’s policies on strengthening freshwater protection by requiring any increases in the intensity of land use to be controlled rather than permitted as of right are in line with the recommendations of the Land and Water Forum.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Introducing a price for the commercial use of water was also one of the possible tools that the Land and Water Forum considered. This could be used to ensure efficient use of water and to provide funds to help manage and restore water quality.

“On another note, it’s good to see the promises to increase the number of frontline staff to replace those lost from the Department of Conservation since 2008, and to not block the department from advocating for indigenous biodiversity protection beyond the public conservation estate,” Kevin Hackwell says.

Ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.