BLUEGREENS NORTHERN

From Desk of E A J Holdaway CNZM, OBE, DFC, Spokesman on Environment Issues Tel (09) 418 3242 - Fax (09)480 2808

5 August, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Act MP Owen Jennings has been accused of misleading the country in the way he opposed the report back of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Bill to Parliament last week.

This accusation is made by Mr Jim Holdaway, environment spokesman for Bluegreens, the National Party task force on environmental and heritage issues.

Mr Holdaway said that he speaks also as a farmer at Dairy Flat which is within the catchment area of the bill.

"Not only has Mr Jennings misrepresented the real objectives of the park bill, he has done a disservice to the farmers he claimed to speak for.

Mr Jennings has made it appear that farmers are opposed to protection of the Hauraki Gulf for future generations.

In doing so, he seems to give substance to the allegations by people like those planning a website claiming that farmers are guilty of pollution of our waterways," said Mr Holdaway.

"Mr Jennings made frequent references to extra burdens on farmers when they apply for resource consents.

This misrepresents the aims of the bill, which seeks only to ensure that local authorities are required to take account of the objectives of the legislation when considering any applications for resource consent.

The bill itself, and the Minister of Conservation, have made it clear that this is to ensure consistency of approach across the various local authorities whose regions are covered by the bill.

It is this very lack of consistency which has, in the past, caused so much dissatisfaction with the Resource Management Act.

At least in matters relating to the protection of the Hauraki Gulf and the enhancement of its natural state, there will be consistency of approach.

"This is not some plot to place any more restrictions on farmers, or anyone else for that matter, than are already applied under the Resource Management Act.

The more strongly Mr Jennings opposes the present RMA restrictions on run-off from farms to waterways, the more he reinforces the allegations of adverse environmental practices by our farmers.

I believe we are generally pretty good at protecting our waterways, but when there are lapses we should be told about them.

I don't think Mr Jennings is acting in the interests of the farmers for whom he claims to speak," said Mr Holdaway.

E n d s

T J Dunleavy MBE,JP 14A Bayview Road, Hauraki, Takapuna, North Shore City, New Zealand 1309 Tel +64+9+4863859. Fax +64+9+4862341. Mobile Tel 025 836688