Mining & the sly dismantling of conservation protections

32 comments on “Mining & the sly dismantling of conservation protections ”

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1. Peter 1

   28 March 2013 at 11:36 am

   That and two rounds of RMA changes…
2. Peter 2

   28 March 2013 at 11:40 am

   What I should have said was that this Bill is worse than just mining. It gives the Minister of Energy joint sign-off on access arrangements to conservation land. It also removes the ability of the Minister of Conservation to declare any new area as a reserve (unless it’s a scenic reserve or scientific reserve). This power is instead given to all of Cabinet.

   So, we won’t be seeing any new high-grade conservation land. Cabinet can also remove wilderness area designations from all non-National Park conservation land, allowing for roads, tracks, huts and other things to spoil pristine areas for recreation (that are world renowned).

   Mining on all non-schedule 4 land will be basically permitted under the new framework. They’ll still need resource consents, but with the proposed RMA changes, you can bet that’ll be a rubber stamp.
   • karol 2.1

     28 March 2013 at 12:05 pm

     Thanks, Peter. Yes this is the way NAct does it: a raft of smaller changes that add up to a significant shift. In doing so, it slips under the radar of many people.

     The RMA changes are another piece in the sly undermining of democracy as well as conservation, environment protections and climate change responses.
3. Chris73 3

   28 March 2013 at 12:54 pm

   While I support more mining I’d prefer it if National just said “we’re mining, get over it” rather than sneaking about
   • Peter 3.1

     28 March 2013 at 12:59 pm

     Why would you support more mining? It doesn’t really create extra jobs, and the royalty regime is so pitiful that only a few, generally overseas people, get to benefit?

     If you want to back an industry, back manufacturing… Lots of well paying jobs for lots of people, and lots of downstream work.
     • Chris73 3.1.1

       28 March 2013 at 1:04 pm

       “It doesn’t really create extra jobs”
       – Tell that to the people on the coast

       “back manufacturing”
       – Maybe but we’d have to start putting tariffs back in place and who’ be brave enough to tell the people of NZ the stuff they buy is now more expensive…
       • Peter 3.1.1.1

         28 March 2013 at 1:08 pm

         That’s coal mining, and last time I saw, it has been losing lots of jobs. Sure an open cast mine on conservation land might make say 10-20 low paid jobs driving earthmoving machinery, but it’s a pittance compared with manufacturing.
         • Chris73 3.1.1.1.1

           28 March 2013 at 3:44 pm

           Do you know how much drivers get paid? Its not bad money.
           • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1.1.1

             28 March 2013 at 3:53 pm

             experienced manufacturing tool maker $60K to$80K pa.
             • Chris73 …

               28 March 2013 at 4:29 pm

               How many manufacturers would be willing to set up on the coast?
               • Myrlock …

                 31 March 2013 at 8:06 pm

                 What a joke, manufacturers? What manufacturers do we have left in New Zealand?
       • Jenny Kirk 3.1.1.2

         28 March 2013 at 5:24 pm

         To Chris73 – its a myth that mining will bring economic benefits to NZers. And its disastrous for our environment.
         Mining appears to only create high-wage jobs for people with specific expertise who come in from overseas.
         In both Reefton and Waihi – gold mining towns the median wage is $20,000 pa and the unemployment is higher in these towns than in the regions surrounding them (Dept Stats figures). The jobs for locals in Waihi is mainly labouring, and in Reefton labouring and machine driving. (again Dept Stats).
         Waihi Gold (Newmont USA) pays NO royalties to the NZ Govt . ( source – Parliamentary questions)
   • fender 3.2

     28 March 2013 at 1:00 pm

     Yes I look forward to National kicking you from your home because “we’re mining, get over it”.

     Just as well you have no children.
     • Chris73 3.2.1

       28 March 2013 at 1:05 pm

       Not sure whats in Hornby worth mining
       • fender 3.2.1.1

         28 March 2013 at 1:14 pm

         You’re shooting blanks again until it affects you personally. Typical selfish right-wing attitude.
         • Chris73 3.2.1.1.1

           28 March 2013 at 3:46 pm

           My response was on the same level as yours, facile and childish.
           • fender 3.2.1.1.1.1

             28 March 2013 at 4:24 pm

             “We’re mining, get over it” is about as facile and childish as it gets.

             What’s next?…”we’ve got a mandate”?
             • Chris73 …

               28 March 2013 at 4:30 pm

               Yeah its odd that National thinks they can put through stuff simply because they’re in charge…
               • fender …

                 28 March 2013 at 4:35 pm

                 You may have a point if “brighter future” had been replaced with “we’re mining, get over it”.

                 Don’t know why National got upset with the “mine it, drill it” additions to their billboards.
                 • Chris73 …

                   28 March 2013 at 4:47 pm

                   I think people would have appreciated the honesty, I know I would. I’d rather politicians come out and say “we’re doing this, you don’t like it but we think its the right thing to do so we’re doing it” as opposed to using weasel words and doing it anyway
                   • fender …

                     28 March 2013 at 4:51 pm

                     National and honesty don’t fit together very well, sorry Chris.
                 • Frank Macskasy …

                   28 March 2013 at 5:40 pm

                   “Yeah its odd that National thinks they can put through stuff simply because they’re in charge…”

                   Chris73, we’ll remember that comment after 2014, when National is thrown out and a centre-left government elected. You won’t mind if we nationalise a few essential services (eg electricity) and regulate the financial sector… After all, “Yeah its odd that Labour-Greens thinks they can put through stuff simply because they’re in charge…”

                   No doubt you’ll be 100% behind a Labour-Green government then? Looking forward to it. 😉

                   Like you were supportive of the 2000-2008 Labour-led government?
                   • Chris73 …

                     28 March 2013 at 5:58 pm

                     Naah I’ll bitch about it and probably point out that National won more votes than any other party.

                     IF Labour wins power and with Shearer in charge (sounds like a sitcom) thats not a given…
4. Macro 4

   28 March 2013 at 2:06 pm

   The former public relations manager at Newmont Gold, Sefton Darby, is going to start a new job as national manager for minerals at New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals – an arm of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
   This is the supposed “govt” Watchdog for mining – talk about putting the fox in charge of the hen house! However our local MP Scott Simpson says of Sefton – “he’s a nice bloke” or words to that effect. So everybody you can relax now – things are gonna be alright! We got a nice bloke looking out for us.
   http://blog.greens.org.nz/2013/01/31/spin-doctor-goes-from-newmont-to-manage-mining-for-govt/
   ps we in the Coromandel have know for sometime that prospecting over a large area of Schedule 4 land even behind the town of Thames was being prospected.
5. tc 5

   28 March 2013 at 3:46 pm

   A masterclass in machiavellan moves all planned and scripted by the hollowmen using taxpayer funded consultants and lawyers probably.

   It’s like NZ is this realife sim city for the rich and powerful as they are just carving it up and selling future generations down the river.

   Except unlike Simcity there’s no ‘start new saimulation’ feature, break it, flood it, mine it and it’s gone.
6. Tom 6

   28 March 2013 at 4:12 pm

   T’was ever thus.

   Ask the tangata whenua ..
7. Jenny Kirk 7

   28 March 2013 at 4:27 pm

   It’s almost too late, and certainly too close to Easter, but if people with a concern for our environment haven’t already done so – perhaps a quick comment could be sent thru before the deadline of Tues 2 April about the Govt’s proposed changes to the RMA. Some of the worrying items in the RMA discussion document include the following :

   · Rewriting the Resource Management Act’s matters of national importance as a set of ‘principles’ – including removing key environmental matters, and adding economic ones.

   · Altering sections 6 and 7 of the Act extensively – placing economic reasons on an equal footing with environmental principles, removing iwi guardianship, Deleting environmental principles such as maintaining the quality of the environment and enhancing amenity values

   · Weakening other sections – e.g. only significant indigenous vegetation, habitat and outstanding landscapes that are “specified” would qualify for protection (meaning areas that are identified only when a developer seeks consent would not qualify, yet this is when detailed surveys are usually carried out)

   · Allowing Ministers to directly intervene in local decision-making, including powers to direct Councils, and amend operative local plans. This risks exposing planning decisions, currently independently done, and subject to Environment Court oversight, to lobbying influence

   · Creating a Crown-established decision-making entity as an alternative consenting body – this body would not be elected or representative and would be under the control of Ministers

   · Reducing the Environment Court’s role in resource management, by limits on appeal rights in some cases and the scope of appeals. The Environment Court provides important independent expert oversight of consent and planning processes, and ensures high quality outcomes are achieved

   · Reducing the involvement of the public, by limits on submissions and appeals – public participation is a key aspect of our resource management system. It increases the diversity and quality of information available to decision makers, and leads to better outcomes

   To view the Discussion Document go to: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/improving-our-resource-management-system.html

   Submissions can be emailed to – rmreform@mfe.govt.nz or posted to RM Reform, P O Box 10362, Wellington 6143. Include the titale of the document “Improving Our Resource Management System” in your submission. Deadline 5pm, Tues 2 April 2013.
8. millsy 8

   28 March 2013 at 11:01 pm

   To be honest, I dont think its really anyone’s business whether Chris73 has kids or not (or wants them).

   Regardless of where they sit on the political spectrum.

   As for our mining, there are plenty of places in NZ that are not in National/Forest parks, or other DOC land. People can mine as much as they like as long as they keep out of our conservation estate. It is a taonga that should be preserved for the enjoyment of all New Zealanders, but at the moment, you have National wanting to dish half of it out to iwi and dig up the other half.
9. BLiP 9

   29 March 2013 at 3:21 am

   ‘

   Yep . . . its full steam ahead. Now that all the necessary tweaks and wrenches have been applied to the legislation, the single regulatory body gutted, and the miners all warming up their bulldozers, its pretty much game over. Can’t say its much of a suprise. Since its election, the John Key led National Ltd™ government . . .

   has been caught out repeatedly lying in the run up to and during the election campaign about its real intentions in relation to the environment

   celebrated the opening of the foreign-owned Pike River Coal Ltd mine on DOC land adjacent to the Paparoa National Park from which 1 megatonne of coal will be extracted per year for the next 20 years – Pike River Coal Ltd has announced that it has found additional coal in the national park

   cancelled a proposed efficiency standard (MEPS) on incandescent lightbulbs

   reversed a moratorium on building new gas/oil/coal power stations

   removed the bio fuel subsidy

   scrapped the scheme that would have penalised imported vehicles producing high emissions

   removed regulations for water efficient new housing by Order in Council

   renewed leases on sensitive high country farms which were meant to return to DOC

   reversed restrictions on the freeholding of vast swathes of land on the edge of the Southern Lakes

   arbitrarily excised 400 hectares from the brand new Oteake Conservation Park, including the most important and, ecologically, the rarest part of the new Park, the tussock and shrubland that went right down to the banks of the Manuherikia River, to enable future access to lignite

   said nothing to say in regard to the World Commission on Protected areas of IUCN’s severe criticism of its intention to investigate mineral resources and mining opportunities in protected conservation areas including our three UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Te Wahi Pounamu-South West New Zealand, Tongariro National Park and the Sub Antarctic Islands

   approved two prospecting permit applications lodged by Australian iron-ore giant Fortescue Metals Group subsidiary FMG Pacific lodged in June – areas covered by the two-year permits include an 8204-square-kilometre area of seabed adjoining the west coast from Cape Reinga to the Manukau Harbour and a 3798-square-kilometre prospecting area of land from Cape Reinga to the Kaipara Harbour including Ninety Mile Beach, the west side of the Aupouri Peninsula, Kaitaia and the Hokianga.

   approved an additional prospecting permit for Fortescue Metals in relation to 3568sq km right next door to the Kahurangi National Park where the Heaphy Track is

   was forced to release its Ministry of Economic Development (MED) report under the Official Information Act that proclaims “significant mineral potential” in the Fiordland, Kahurangi and Paparoa national parks – the report said the Waitutu area of the Fiordland National Park had sufficient petroleum reserves to be “worthy” of inclusion in a review of conservation land protected from mining

   secretly granted the minerals industry the right to veto proposed National Park boundaries and permission for any such vetoes to be kept confidential – in spite of recommendations from its own officials against any such a veto

   Minster of Conservation Tim Grosser, on 29 August 2009, called for caring New Zealanders to halt their “emotional hysteria” and recognise that conservation land should be mined for minerals and went on to say “Mining in a modern, technological way can have a negligible effect”

   Associate Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson, in an interview in “Canterbury Farming” (June 2010 issue now offline) rubished her own department, DOC, suggesting it was incapable of looking after the high country reserves and parks under its control

   gutted the home insulation scheme

   pulled $300 million out of public transport, walking and cycling schemes and added it to a pot of $2 billion to ‘upgrade’ state highways

   changed the law to provide billions of dollar in subsidies for polluters via the ETS casino which is now a target for scamming by international criminals

   begun a process of gutting the Resource Management Act to make it difficult/impossible for the public to lodge appeals against developers

   removed the ability of Auckland to introduce a fuel levy to fund planned public transport upgrades

   left electrification of the Auckland rail network up in the air without promised funding commitments and then came through with a dodgy loan scheme and then unilaterally reorganised the local government structure before finally setting about the privatisation-by-stealth model when busting KiwiRail.

   removed the programme to make Government Departments ‘carbon neutral’ and also began its first wave of public sector redundancies starting with the Ministry for the Environment which was responsible for the scheme.

   removed funding for public tv advertising on sustainability and energy efficiency

   pulled funding for small-town public litter bin recycling schemes

   displayed cabinet ministers expressing public support the bulldozing of Fiordland

   reduced Department of Conservation funding by $54 million over three years

   canceled funding for the internationally acclaimed ‘Enviroschools’ programme

   usurped the democratic role of local Councils of determining policies for their citizens by requiring the abandonment of the efficient and well-established tree protection rules for urban areas

   set about revamping Auckland governance in a way that is likely to greatly reduce the ‘Environmental Watchdog’ role of the the current Regional Council (since completely fucked it up with the SuperShitty)

   removed Auckland’s metropolitan limits and opened the gateway for unfettered urban sprawl

   defended internationally the importation of rain-forest-wrecking palm kernel and stood silent while Federated Farmers called Greenpeace “terrorists” and criminals.

   stood silent while Godfrey Bloom, a Member of the European Parliament and infamous Climate Change Denialist, publicly rejoiced in the 1985 bombing of the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior – who was doing so while standing on a dock next to the replacement vessel

   took a 0% emissions reduction target to Copenhagen. Yes, seriously, that isn’t a misprint – that was the lower bound of their negotiation platform – then missed the 01/02/10 deadline for commitment to action it had agreed to – meanwhile 55 of the 80 countries which attended did make the deadline

   secretly cancelled the internationally recognised scheme for the mandatory labelling of exotic woods to ensure the timber has not been taken from rain forests in direct contradiction of its own statements made at the 13th World Forestry Congress in Argentina

   supported the Department of Conservation’s decision to open up the pristine Cathedral Cove to an ice-cream franchise

   gave the Department of Conservsation $1.7 million to further develop commercial activities on DOC land and started an “off set” plan allowing company’s to damage the conservation estate if they agree to improve land elsewhere – no monitoring regime has been suggested on put in place

   left DOC director-general Al Morrison to announce that DOC is to charge for services that had been free and, to soften the public up to the idea that there will be more “energy generation schemes” operating on DOC land

   took no action to reduce existing pollution pouring into the Manawatu River and is “leaving it up to industry” to come up with solutions to heal the river which was described by the Cawthorn Institute as “one of the worst polluted in the Western world”

   announced a $1.69 million industry subsidy to kick start marine farming without identifying no-go areas nor putting in place a consultation process for individiuals, communities, and other general coastal users

   was forced to release documents under the Official Information Act which confirm that DOC has “giving up” on ecologically valuable high-country land in the Mackenzie Basin because of funding cuts. The released documents cite “statements made by ministers”, “diminishing funding” and the Government’s new high-country policies as reasons for the changed stance – the comments from DOC were made after Land Information New Zealand (Linz), which manages the tenure review process, ignored DOC’s previous conservation recommendations for the farms

   used former National Party minister and current director of Open Country Cheese – a company convicted of filthy farming practices and found by the supreme court to be a dodgy employer – Wyatt Creech to head up an enquiry into Environment Canterbury which had been standing up the dairy farmers’ demands for more and more water resources and less and less regulation. The Creech report recommended the Environmental Canterbury be sacked and replaced with government appointments and the voters of Canterbury do without democracy until the water situation had been resolved. The Canterbury area holds 50 percent of New Zealand’s fresh water reserves and 50 percent of the water required for hyrdo energy. The Creech report said Environmental Centerbury put too much focus on the environment.

   Was subjected to international condemnation for knowing next to nothing about the parlous state of the New Zealand fisheries,

   bucked international trends and poured more acid on the 100% Pure brand and increases the bluefin tuna quota.

   Squirmed when New Zealand is subject to international criticism for its backing of commericial whaling which National Ltd supports

   Funded Government-owned company Solid Energy runs an essay competition entitled “ The role of coal in sustainable energy solutions for New Zealand” for school children. First prize is a trip to New Zealand’s largest coal customer, China.

   Supported access fees for entrance onto DOC walkways – fee introduced following cuts to DOC’s budget.

   Pressed on with PR bullshit about how New Zealand’s environment would profit from mining national parks, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

   Department of Conservation director-general Al Morrison said the conservation estate created “opportunities to do a whole lot for a lot of different people . . . we’ve got to get away from this idea that somehow we have to protect one-third of New Zealand for a certain constituency and put it in a jar of formaldehyde and leave it.”

   Created random fantasies of abundant wealth to promote all forms of mining

   Ignored reports on sustained non-compliance with resource consents and worsening pollution of water ways.

   Ignored its own Ministers possible conflicts of interest

   Did nothing as both its own SOE Meridian and the Department of Conservation to withdraw appeals against an 85m high damn with a 14km long reservoir on conservation land.

   Granted Energy Resources permission to ship Australian yellowcake uranium ore through New Zealand.

   Apologised but does nothing else for breaching the Treaty of Waitangi by granting a mining exploration permit to Brazilian company Petrobras

   Continued to remove environmental protection powers from local authorities

   Totally reversed gains made in the protection of National Parks and other high-value conservation areas in the South Island.

   commenced a divide-and-rule strategy by attempting to paint New Zealanders interested in protecting the environment as outside of the “mainstream” and in defence of the fact that the media is catching to its bare-faced lies in the lead up to the 2008 election.

   Carried on with more lies by talking about modern mining like that at Reefton being carried out by Oceana Golds as being like “key hole surgery”

   Appeared to believe that the tourists it is attempting to bring to New Zealand are all blind and won’t see for themselves the impact of the dairy farming it is subsidising to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars

   Appeared itself to be blind when it comes to the Chairman of Fonterra

   Supported the Commissioner for the Environment’s decision to delay the release of a report into the ramifications for climate change in regard to lignite mining and proposals to convert the lignite into diesel.

   Employed financial sleight of hand in shuffling funds towards business interests and away from community groups looking to protect the environment

   Made more empty promises when a report showing that a third of New Zealand lankes have poor quality water is released.

   Backed down on promises to protect New Zealand children (and the environment cleaner by more informed disposal) from harmful chemicals by improving labeling and imposing mandatory standards on containers

   Ignored the findings by attacking the messenger when a World Health Organisation report confirms that New Zealand’s main centres have the worst air in Australasia and Auckland is the most polluted with twice the concentration of damaging airborne particles as Sydney.

   Studiously ignored so as to take piss about dire warnings concerning the quality of drinking water in Reidstone.

   Didn’t mention in its 100% Pure promotions that visitors to the Kerikeri Basin near the Stone Store – one of Northland’s iconic tourism and heritage sites – could come face-to-face with warning signs telling them the water is polluted.

   Didn’t mention in its 100% Pure promotions that tourists in the Coromandel could come face to face with New Zealand’s environmental standards when finding hundreds of dead snapper washed up on Beaches.

   Presented bogus evidence concerning air pollution

   Made more empty promises in relation to air pollution while also extending deadlines for local councils to reduce air pollution.

   extended deadlines for businesses previously require to reduce air pollution by 2013.

   Put tourism operators in Akaroa at risk by refusing to make the harbour a marine reserve . . . and then rubs salt into their wounds

   Done nothing after the United Nations finds that National Ltd™’s targets for reducing pollution are not consistent with the measures put in place to achieve those targets:

   Attempted to defend the Emissions Trading Scheme from comparisons with the Australian model while Environment Minister Nick Smith indicates there’s little chance of the two schemes being integrated any time soon.

   Then further slowed down the implentation of New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme:

   Allowed major retailers to reap the benefits of its earlier and secret decision to abandon the mandatory labelling of exotic woods after it is found that the retailers are contributing to the death of native Australian forests despite an independent, year-long investigation which finds otherwise.

   tried to keep a meeting between John Key and mininng company Anadarko’s boss secret. The company is responsble for a massive oil spill and is looking to to start drilling off New Zealand soon.

   Continued to ignore yet more evidence of farmers failing to comply with environmental regulations

   handed over $400 million to farmers to extend water storage and allow for more land to be used for dairy farms. No mention or provision is made for additional protections required to deal with the increased pollution.

   Didn’t point out in its 100% Pure promotion that tourists (and locals) should avoid the Opihi River along State Highway 1 because of the risk of exposure to toxins from phormidium.

   Didn’t point out in its 100% Pure promotions that tourists arriving at New Zealand’s “nuclear free” sea ports will be sharing the environment with up to 5,000 tonnes of radioactive yellow cake uranium.

   Lied about how bad the RMA is

   ignored top scientists and academics who point out that its underfunding of the Department of Conservation will send more species into extinction and hurt its 100% Pure image.

   Ignored John Key making an international arse out of himself in regard to New Zealand’s 100% Pure image:

   Carried on with its lies as New Zealand is identified as jeoparising its good name by allowing us to become one of a small number of states stalling progress in forming an international climate agreement.

   Kept stringing us along even after Next thing, New Zealand received the 2nd place Fossil Award for “proposing the most Flexible Mechanism imaginable with no oversight or review. Bring on the wild west. They want to be able to use any market mechanisms they wish with absolutely no oversight or international review! There would be no way to ensure that the units from one mechanism have not been sold two or three times to another such mechanism. This would likely unleash a wild west carbon market with double or triple counting of offsets and a likely increase of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.”

   Stood silent when Fonterra was caught out lying by overstating its farmer’s compliance on excluding stock from waterways by 100%.

   Put World class surfing waves and Maui’s dolphin’s at Raglan at severe risk by encouraging a proposed iron ore seabed mining in New Zealand’s coastal waters:

   Never followed up after the scientific models created by New Zealand and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to allow fishing are called into question:

   Sets the scene for our children heading down to the park to find an overseas’ owned company had set up a dairy farm in one corner. Over time the shit builds up

   Ignores data which shows the expansion of fish-farming in the Marlborough Sounds could cause unacceptable changes in the coastal environment.

   Strategically removed the word “environment” from the lexicon of local and central government.

   Didn’t tell the tourists it hopes to attact with its 100% Pure campaign that every year, New Zealand drops huge quantities of poison-laced food into its forest ecosystems; enough poison to kill its human population 4 times over, every year. No country has ever done anything remotely similar, on such a scale

   Didn’t tell the tourists it hopes to attract with its 100% Pure campaign that more than a third of Auckland’s beaches fail water quality checks and are closed for swimming

   Still ignored the closing of the beaches, this time as extremely high concentrations of the bacteria enterococci are identified.

   Still ignored Ministerial conflicts of interest, this time involving John Key who is identified as shareholder in the Bank Of America which is backing mining in New Zealand and Australia . . . even when more information is made available . . . and more information . . . and more information

   Pressed on with additional policies that move away from the protection of the environment towards exploitation

   Limited , as part of its effort to cash-in on the environment, access to some of New Zealand’s most endangered species and isolated islands only to those who those who contribute financially displacing conservation staff and scientists.

   ignored a World Wildlife Fund report, Beyond Rio, which makes clear New Zealand now risks some of the highest rates of biodiversity loss on Earth unless urgent action is taken.

   Fonterra director Colin Armer is convicted and fined $72,000 for “fouling” a Bay of Plenty waterway after a judge found he could have prevented the pollution were it not for his “systemic” failure to monitor what was happening on his company’s farm.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/pollution/news/article.cfm?c_id=281&objectid=10815436

   National Ltd™ lies when it says New Zealand has the environmental laws and regulations to control oil and gas development on the continental shelf because thereis no equivalent of the Resource Management Act to control oil and gas activity outside of the territorial sea (12 nautical miles offshore).
   http://www.eco.org.nz/key-issues/oceans.html

   lied when it had already agreed coastal plans to allow marine farming consent holders in the Waikato and Marlborough to move from mussel farming to finfish farming without considering the additional environmental effects imposed.

   Put short-term business interests ahead of long-term consequences to New Zealand’s environment, particularly biodiversity by allowing damage in one area on the condition that it be “off set” in another creating a dangerous precedent in that such a provisin means that one part of biodiversity can be wrecked in return for “protecting” an area that was never under threat anyway.

   Promoted proposals that include include a plant producing about 2 billion litres of diesel per year, using at least 12 million tonnes of lignite per year and another producing 3 billion litres using 12-17 million tonnes of lignite annually. A further project would produce by 2016 1.2 tonnes of the nitrogenous fertiliser, urea, using 2 million tonnes of lignite annually.

   Documents obtained under the Official Information Act have revealed that DOC was intending to turn down Meridian (application to buils a damn on the Mohikinui River) and believed “the public conservation land within the Mokihinui River has such high value that it is most unlikely to be suitable for exchange at all.
   http://www.eco.org.nz/key-issues/energy.html

   National Ltd™ continues to ignore the slow-motion extinction of Maui’s dolphins:
   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1206/S00386/protection-measures-for-mauis-dolphins-fall-short.htm

   Significant cuts to the Ministry for the Environment in the 2012 Budget are not publicly detailed or announced by Minister Amy Adams. She prefers to hide. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1205/S00478/cuts-to-environment-budget-explain-the-missing-minister.htm

   National Ltd™ ensures that New Zealand continues to ignore its international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to “protect and preserve” the martime environment.
   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1205/S00267/eez-bill-fails-to-protect-the-environment-and-nz-reputation.htm

   Despite long-standing recommendations from the Land and Water Forum, National Ltd™ continues to avoid setting national standards for water quality even after the Greater Wellington Regional Council released its state of the environment report. The report highlights the poor quality of many urban, lowland and Wairarapa waterways, and some rivers and aquifers being at their allocation limit.
   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1206/S00207/strong-national-standards-needed-to-clean-up-rivers.htm

   National Ltd™ further weakenes protection for wild rivers in Canterbury with the ECan Act and indicates that further weakening will follow.
   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1205/S00550/green-party-welcomes-pce-call-for-improved-river-protection.htm

   The Environmental Protection Authority rubber stamps a motorway project with no economic benefit and likely to waste over $1 billion of tax payers’ funds. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1206/S00336/epa-rubber-stamps-dead-duck-motorway.htm

   National Ltd™ is forced to admit that it has spent $1.67 million in a survey of minerals on the West Coast of New Zealand, including within the Te Wahipounamu South West New Zealand world heritage area. Te Wahipounamu is one of 183 natural heritage properties which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.
   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1206/S00355/world-heritage-areas-should-not-be-open-to-mining.htm

   National Ltd™ secretly ordered that world heritage sites on the West Coast be surveyed as part of a $3 million mineral study spanning more than 16,000 square kilometres. The survey was only puiblicy revealed after Green MP Catherine Delahunty asked for details in a parliamentary question:
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/7168686/Mineral-study-marked-Coast-sites\

   The former interests of members appointed to the Establishment Board for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) make them unsuitable candidates for the job
   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1103/S00071/epa-board-members-unlikely-to-protect-the-environment.htm

   Inexperienced managers, poor policy decisions and falling staff numbers are threatening New Zealand’s biosecurity.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7175215/Biosecurity-fears-voiced-in-staff-letter

   An independent report on the PSA virus outbreak was commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) following the devastation caused by the virus in the Bay of Plenty orchards with an estimated cost of $400 million. The report found New Zealand’s biosecurity system is fundamentally flawed and there is no way of identifying how the virus got into New Zealand and, thus, no way of preventing it from happening again.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/7224595/Govt-ignored-biosecurity-warning-Labour

   John Key hands over another $80 million to business and farmers to subsidise their pollution.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7208247/Nats-soften-emissions-blow-for-businesses

   National Ltd™ Minister Kate Wilkinson fobs off Save Fiordland protesters who point out that had the government’s own guidelines been followed consent for the Milford Dart tunnel and Fiordland Link Experience would never have been granted.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/7222907/Stop-the-Fiordland-tunnel-Wilkinson-told

   A National Ltd™ appointed advisory group has recommended a significant rewrite of the Resource Management Act, removing references to the protection of coastal areas, wetlands, lakes and rivers and indigenous flora and fauna.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10817613

   Documents pried from National Ltd™ under the Official Information Act show that senior government officials with serious concerns over projects in the Mackenze Basin and Waitaki Valley and hands out $180,000 of taxpayer cash. The decision to hand over the money was made by Nick Smith. More than half the cash went to environmental consultants – including about $88,000 to Ecologic, a firm run by Dr Smith’s friend Guy Salmon. Mr Salmon is also linked to the National Party ginger group the BlueGreens. The money trail shows: Ecologic consultant Guy Salmon: received $88,010 (includes $682 in restaurant and bar charges), Whanganui-based consultant Richard Thompson received $13,130 (includes $149 in restaurant and bar bills), the Environment Defence Society received $2256. Other expenditure included: restaurant and bar charges (at May, June and August meetings): $5495, and $30,800 for the production of two reports.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7327570/Money-for-mates-claims-to-be-probed-says-PM

   A further weakening of the already gutted resource consent process is being considered for foreign-owned mining companies, according to Energy and Resources Minister. Phil; Heatley.
   http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/resource-consents-mining-might-be-speed-heatley-ck-124676

   New Zealanders are locked out of the consultation process on the alloting of areas being made available by the National Ltd™ for resource exploration.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/7366483/Oil-firms-first-to-seek-information

   National Ltd™ scraps government grants for solar water heating and Parliamentary Commissioner comes out against them:
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10822323

   National Ltd™ use the Navy along with police and Crown Law to bully environmental protesters in a legal case they knew could not be won.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10822405

   National Ltd™ puts out an international call for foreign companies to drill for oil and gas in 23 blocks of deep and wild waters east of Wellington and Dunedin.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10811689

   National Ltd™ consultants do a u-turn on the economic benefits of additional roading and then get handed a $200 million contract for further consultation work.
   http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/doubts-worth-holiday-highway-4992534

   The Department of Conservation grants foreign-owned multinational mining company OceanaGold permission to destroy 55 hectares of beech forest so as to extend its Reefton mine to a total 81 hectares without public notification:
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/minerals/news/article.cfm?c_id=259&objectid=10818463

   As National Ltd™ prepares to ease the resource consent process for mining companies, the Minerals Industry Association starts putting pressure on local authorities to step aside.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10823321

   Economic commentator Gareth Morgan details National Ltd™’s ramshackle collection of underfunded agencies with no direction or policy for dealing with the vast marine resources of New Zealand:
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10823294

   A further erosion of New Zealand’s bio-security is highted when Christchurch Airport is found to have failed a survey:
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10823549
   National Ltd™ ignores Open letter to Minister for the Environment from the Environmental Defence Society, Forest and Bird, Fish and Game, Ecologic, Greenpeace, and World Wildlife Foundation New Zealand. Inter-alia, the letter points out that the removal of the directive terms “protect”, “preserve”, “maintain” and “enhance” from the RMA fundamentally weakens the legislation and introduces confusion as to its overall intent.
   http://www.eds.org.nz/content/documents/pressreleases/ENGOs%20letter%20re%20TAG%20report.pdf

   National Ltd™ ensures that New Zealand tax payers continue to subsidise 95% of big polluters’ emissions.
   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1209/S00143/ets-changes-a-farce-environment-commissioner.htm

   Proposed marine reserves off the West Coast have been drastically reduced in size so much so that one advocate says they are “an insult” to those who spent years trying to establish them.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10835374

   National Ltd™ instructs its delegates at the world’s largest conservation conference, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s conference in Korea, to oppose any further measures to protect Maui and Hector dolphins in defiance of 117 other countries and 460 environmental organisations requesting New Zealand ban gill and trawl nets in waters up to 100 metres deep.
   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/116332/nz-votes-against-protecting-dolphins

   Emergy Minister Phil Heatley is caught out lying about the environmental impact of fraking.
   http://www.3news.co.nz/Taranaki-gas-field-contaminates-soil/tabid/1160/articleID/269871/Default.aspx

   Regional council are caught out not enforcing regulations, Government says no action is required
   http://www.3news.co.nz/Fracking-in-Southland-exposed/tabid/423/articleID/259325/Default.aspx

   National Ltd™ ignores concerns about fracking which has seen the practise banned around the world.
   http://www.tv3.co.nz/Mar-18—Meet-The-Frackers/tabid/2059/articleID/76270/Default.aspx

   National Ltd™ Minister Stephen Joyce twists the knife by exploiting news of redundancies at Solid Energy in a statement which claims opponents to a proposed mine are “getting in the way of” potential jobs.
   http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/publications/media-release/forest-bird-rejects-inappropriate-request-withdraw-appeal

   A High Court decision says the effects on climate change cannot be considered under the Resource Management Act (RMA) as updated by National Ltd™. The Court decision came after an appeal was made against an earlier decision to allow Australian-owned mining company Bathurst Resources (also known as Buller Coal) to build a 200-hectare open-cast coal mine on the plateau and mine 80 million tonnes of coal that, when burnt, will release about 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
   http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/publications/media-release/forest-bird-disappointed-climate-change-ruling

   The extinction of New Zealand sea lions is further ensured after fishing restrictions announced by the National Ltd™
   http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/publications/media-release/squid-fishery-decision-won%E2%80%99t-save-sea-lions

   The Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf Bill, as reported back from select committee fails to protect New Zealand’s marine environment and ignores our international legal obligations.
   http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/publications/media-release/eez-bill-bad-news-both-industry-and-the-environment

   More than half of monitored recreational sites on our rivers are unsafe for swimming, a report has revealed.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10841013

   Submissions to a select committee considering the Emissions Trading Scheme by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Jan Wright’s, and those of thers, to a select committee reviewing the Emissions Trading Scheme are ignored resulting in a Trading Scheme which “will have very, very limited effectiveness and has locked in subsidies to to the worst emitters indefinitely.”
   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/118536/commissioner-dismayed-by-emissions-report

   Environment Minister pulls out of participation in legal action to prevent more pollution being poured into New Zealand’s fresh water supplies.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7824674/Fish-Game-gets-hooks-into-minister

   National Ltd™ seeks changes to the law which will make it more dificult to get consent to build a deck onto a house than it is to drill for oil.
   http://www.3news.co.nz/Consent-for-oil-drilling-exploration-could-get-easier/tabid/1160/articleID/273254/Default.aspx

   New Zealand continues to avoid its international obligations “to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use” while its fishers carry on with the barbaric practise of shark finning.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/in-our-nature/7848342/Shark-finning-a-national-disgrace

   Recent survey results show that two thirds of New Zealanders believer spending on environmental conservation is a good use of tax payers’ money. National Ltd™ responds with further cuts to the Department of Conservation budget.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/in-our-nature/7807524/Endangered-rangers

   Signatures from 30,000 people in a global email petition urging Prime Minister John Key to save the endangered Maui’s dolphin are ignored by National Ltd™ while the World Wildlife Fund points out that New Zealand was the only country to vote against more protection for the species at the world’s largest conservation summit.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/7793952/Indifference-to-dolphins-seen-as-blot-on-NZ-image

   Finance Minister Bill English begins the process of further gutting urban environmental protection legislation to speed up the building consent process for developers.
   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7874263/RMA-changes-mooted-to-speed-up-building

   The Government is stopping the five-yearly State of the Environment report. Put together by the Ministry of the Environment, the report is the largest stock-take of trends relating to land, water, air, plants and animals. The next report was expected in December, but the Government has decided instead to look at the basic data for each area.
   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/119350/state-of-the-environment-report-stopped

   New Zealand abandons the Kyoto agreement
   http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/john-key-defends-kyoto-decision-5209727

   A government lobbyist who attacted a prominent New Zealand scientist for speaking truth about New Zealand’s environment remains unrepentent in his efforts to silence the accurate reporting of scientific evidence.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10849308

   The New York Times highlights the fact that the pristine landscape featured in The Hobbit and used as the basis for the 100% Pure New Zealand campaign as fantastical as dragons and wizards.
   http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/17/business/global/new-zealands-green-tourism-push-clashes-with-realities.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

   An international study measuring countries’ loss of native vegetation, native habitat, number of endangered species, and water quality reported in the journal PloS One shows New Zealand is 18th worst out of 189 nations when it came to preserving its natural surroundings. John Key remains relaxed.
   http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0010440

   Pulls out of Kyoto just weeks after the OECD reports that global greenhouse gas emissions could rise 50 per cent by 2050 without more ambitious climate policies, as fossil fuels continue to dominate the energy mix.

   New Zealand has received two “Fossil of the Day” – first-equal and second place – awards on the first day of international climate talks in Doha, Qatar.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10850322

   Hobbiton – Waikato – is a major source of pollution within the Hauraki Gulf yet is at the centre of the John Key led National Ltd™ government’s 100% Pure campaign
   http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/representativesbodies/haurakigulfforum/Documents/hgfstateoftheenvreport2011.pdf

   The use of the “fraking” technique in oil and gas drilling/exploration is given the go-ahead by National Ltd™ despite the Parliamentary Commissioner for the environment pointing out there exists no effective regulations in case of disaster nor the ability to enforce what regulations are available. Instead, monitoring and reporting and adherence to existing legislation is being left entirely up to foreign-owned multinationals doing the drilling.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10850431

   http://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-fact-and-fantasy/?p=276592#post276592

   lied, obfuscated and used government resources to attack and undermined local authority plans to improve water quality

   sanction an unnamed foreign-owned multinational to go ahead with a major road through pristine South Island National Parks

   employed disingenuous gobbledeegook to defend its decision to withdraw from the Kyoto Agreement.

   turned a deaf ear to calls for New Zealand to assist pacfic island nations by taking a stronger position on climate change

   displayed contempt for existing agreements and Environment Case law by approving new salmon farms in recreational areas within the Marlborough Sounds

   refused to investigate the impact on increasing use of neonicotinoid pesticides which is likely to be a major contributor to the sudden and dramatic decline (aka colony collapse disorder) of the New Zealand honey bee population, National Ltd™ also refused to consider the development of a strategy to protect what is left of the honey bee population.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10858064

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10857992

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10857798

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/climate-change/news/article.cfm?c_id=26&objectid=10856154

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/climate-change/news/article.cfm?c_id=26&objectid=10855149

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/125522/sanford-pollution-%27will-blemish-nz-image%27

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/125649/apache-pulls-out-of-second-oil-exploration-phase

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10860411

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10860552

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8208317/Govt-could-run-housing-land-supply-English

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/8181859/Environment-Canterbury-holds-off-on-meter-fines

   mixed the cooperative model of climate change negotiations with the competitive model used in trade negotiations, thus putting outcomes in both areas a risk

   ducked questions asking for evidence as to the safety of genetically engineered food

   ignored the fact that New Zealand carbon credits are no longer the unit of choice in the New Zealand’s own carbon market. Figures from the official Emission Unit Registry show that emitters who initially supported NZUs are now using a range of international units to meet their carbon obligations under the Emissions Trading Scheme

   used highly dodgy figures in calculating the reduction New Zealand’s net carbon emissions by including trees due to be harvested in the next few years

   ignored news that New Zealand’s first glyphosate resistant weed has been found and the resulting call for the use of glyphosate (Monsanto’s “Roundup”) to cease

   stayed silent for five months after being advised that Fonterra’s milk product were contaminated with dicyandiamide (DCD) and now face an international backlash.

   set no maximum level of contamination of dicyandiamide (DCD) (AKA cyanoguanidine) in milk products for consumption by New Zealanders, stood silent while the farming industry says the withdrawal of dicyandiamide (DCD) will result in yet more pollution of New Zealand’s waterways

   stood silent as NIWA announced findings of research which showed 20 per cent of marine life in the Milford Sounds port area could be killed off as a result of copper leaching from anti-fouling paints on boat hulls

   we should always measure a Government’s environmental rhetoric against its environmental record.

   I’m confident that with the right policies New Zealand can make its environmental credentials an important part of its comparative advantage

   And, in seeking the balance between environmental and economic goals, National will never forget that New Zealand’s outstanding physical environment is a key part of what makes our country special. Kiwis proudly value our forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, and oceans.  They are part of our history and they must continue to define our future. 

   Having lived in Singapore and in London, I feel strongly about this point.  There is something very special about raising a family in a  country where we can take for granted going fishing in a local river, taking a family outing to a beach, or walking through the bush without bumping into anyone for kilometres on end.

   http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleId=28477

   It is disgusting that if you are a sportsperson you get no conviction for an offence that endangered peoples lives because it might affect their ability to play overseas, but an actress convicted for taking part in an environmental protest gets no such consideration.

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/blogs/first-reading/7954334/Backtracks-on-climate-change-cause-little-heat

   http://www.andersonlloyd.co.nz/rakaia-water-conservation-order-amended/

   http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/climate-change-locked-out.html

   http://thestandard.org.nz/save-the-trees/

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10869657

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10869801

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10869664

   So far, the best coverage of Key’s Latin American trip can be found in Claire Trevett’s Leaders swap praise and promises. Trevett reports, for instance, on the flattery directed at us by Mexico’s president: ‘New Zealand was a role model in international diplomacy and had a vigorous civil society. It had a wonderful landscape and respect for the environment. It was tolerant, pluralistic, had an inclusive society and a dynamic economy’.
   ^^^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10869811

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8404222/Chile-more-Pure-than-NZ

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10872277

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10872058

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10872430

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8446469/Time-savings-justify-road-projects-says-Brownlee

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10873425

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/department-of-conservation/news/article.cfm?o_id=258&objectid=10859571

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10873708
   • Draco T Bastard 9.1

     29 March 2013 at 10:02 am

     That list sure is getting long.

Links to post

1. How austerity is destroying Britain... coming soon near you - The Standard: posted on 1 April 2013 at 9:23 am
2. The stealthy dismantling of democracy - The Standard: posted on 12 April 2013 at 9:45 am

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