Forest folk rise up to protect Fiordland during Wearable Art Week

4 October 2012

The wee forest folk of Fiordland, led by the mayor of Southland, are coming out of their trees and mossy holes in Southland to protest at the disgraceful threat of a monorail and a tunnel in our beautiful World Heritage protected paradise.

The Gnuffs (Gnomes of Fiordland Forest) have told the Save Fiordland campaign that they have “had enuff and will not tolerate such ridiculous schemes ripping through their forests for no reason”, and are consequently joining the campaign.

The Gnuffs will be staging street protests and collecting petition signatures in support of Save Fiordland around New Zealand, starting in the heart of government by hitting the Wellington high streets for a photo call on Thursday morning. The protest will be staged to coincide with Wearable Art Week, with the Gnuffs wearing their traditional forest outfits.

One of the Save Fiordland protesters dressed as Gnuffs in Wellington will be Mayor of Southland Frana Cardno, who will be available for interview at the photo call. She said: “I am passionate about our world heritage status and I am proud to be a protesting Gnuff in order to protect these special areas under threat. This is about standing up for your principles.”

Fellow Gnuff Mary Hill said: “Save Fiordland campaigners have been overwhelmed at the nationwide, and indeed international, level of support for our campaign to stop the tunnel and monorail projects which would rip up tens of thousands of native trees and tear through World Heritage areas. The Gnuffs have had enough, and we hope that they will give people everywhere a better opportunity to sign our petition and get involved.”

Time: 10.30am, Lambton Quay, in the vicinity of Kirkcaldie and Stains department store. The Gnuffs will be identifiable in their green woodland outfits and hats and carrying red Save Fiordland placards (see attached picture of the Gnuffs emerging from their trees on the start of their journey from Fiordland earlier this week).

Save Fiordland is a not for profit, non-political, volunteer-led organisation aiming to protect Fiordland’s wilderness and World Heritage status. For more information about Save Fiordland’s position on the monorail and road tunnel projects, go to www.savefiordland.org.nz

ENDS

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