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

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

National Park Status for Alpine Wetland Needed

Press Release 21-7-2010
For Immediate Release


Save Happy Valley Coalition Calls for National Park Status for Alpine Wetland

The Save Happy Valley Coalition offers support for the National Government's decision to scrap plans to mine NZ national parks under schedule 4, though continues to urge policy makers not to mine valuable biodiversity hotspots that lack state protection as National Parks, such as Happy Valley, near Westport in the South Island. 

The planned Cypress Mine imposes severe threats to this irreplaceable New Zealand alpine wetland habitat, and National's recent change of policy will not save places like this.  Happy Valley is a very rare alpine red-tussock grassland home to thirteen threatened species, including a breeding population of Great-spotted Kiwi and the core population of the endangered landsnail  Powelliphanta patrickensis.

Spokesperson Graham Jury says "New Zealanders have successfully stood up together for the protection of iconic places of natural beauty such as Great Barrier Island and the Corromandel Peninsula.  Despite this, our natural heritage is not sufficiently protected under our current national parks, and the changes to schedule 4. Moreover, the new joint-decision making powers over such areas granted to The Minister of Energy and Resources puts them at even greater risk."

"While Cyprus remains on the cards, endemic species are in grave danger.  So lets see Happy Valley preserved as a valued national treasure too.  This precious area needs national park status before it is reduced to coal slag and weeds."

Jury states "all biodiversity rich areas deserve our protection from unsustainable industrial development, especially remote ones that are made vulnerable due to being out of the public eye".

ENDS

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.

© 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.