State-owned enterprise killing kiwi

Despite findings that kiwi could be extinct on the mainland within twenty years, state-owned coal miner Solid Energy continues to hunt, kill and possess kiwi in one of their natural strongholds, the Stockton plateau, and plan to kill more if they proceed with their Happy Valley mine, says the Save Happy Valley Coalition.

"Habitat protection is going to become increasingly critical for this species. Solid Energy is currently mining habitat of great spotted kiwi at Mt Augustus (Stockton mine), and plan to destroy a prime area in Happy Valley," says Frances Mountier, Spokesperson for the Coalition.

"According to an independent review, New Zealand's Biodiversity Strategy is failing to protect natural areas and species on public and private land. This is no surprise when the Government's own bulldozers are desecrating high value habitat," says Ms Mountier.

"Which is more important to New Zealanders - habitat for our most iconic species, or an opencast coal mine?"

The Save Happy Valley Coalition has received information from the Department of Conservation under the Official Information Act on a recent application from Solid Energy for further Wildlife Permits to kill yet more endangered species at their Stockton mine, including great spotted kiwi, Powelliphanta patrickensis and absolutely protected lizards.

ENDS

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