Wednesday, 4 August 2004

ORNZ chairman accuses DOC of ‘despotic behaviour’

Outdoor Recreation NZ Chairman Paul Check today slammed the Department of Conservation for ‘time and time again demonstrating behaviour worthy of a Third World dictatorship’.

“In an amazing interpretation of the public submissions received on the proposed Great Barrier Island Marine Reserve, DOC has interpreted a resounding 73% of submissions against the proposal as a public mandate to proceed,” he said.

“It is a poor reflection on a Government department when it chooses to ignore the very people it purports to represent.”

Mr Check said “DOC claims ‘Conservation is based on societal support’. Well, it is high time DOC walked the talk and heeded the advice of their employers, the public of New Zealand.

“To the Minister of Conservation, Mr Carter, we say, ‘No really does mean no!, and the New Zealand public have said a resounding NO! to the Great Barrier Island Marine Reserve.”

ENDS

Actual Figures:

NO

1374

73.7%

Not Given

25

1.3%

Unsure

5

0.3%

YES

446

23.9%

Y/N

14

0.8%

TOTAL REPLIES

1864

100.0%

ENDS

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