Conservation

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A Takahe is not a Pukeko

Written By: - Date published: 9:08 am, August 22nd, 2015 - 57 comments

The Department of Conservation let some volunteers from Deerstalkers onto Motutapu with shotguns to shoot Pukeko to make more room for endangered Takehe. But four Takehe were killed by stray shot gun pellets. DOC is now talking about prosecuting the Deerstalkers. Time for them to accept blame for allowing such a stupid thing to occur. And the Government for compromising DOC’s ability to function by starving it of resources.

Greenpeace activism

Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, July 5th, 2015 - 23 comments

Herald columnist Paul Little has done some good stuff in the past, but today’s effort on Greenpeace is a disgrace. Nothing but ill-informed prejudice on parade.

Ports of Auckland is out of control

Written By: - Date published: 8:33 am, May 3rd, 2015 - 30 comments

Ports of Auckland’s recent behaviour outlines a major weakness with Auckland super city.  Corporate interests are able to take precedence over the wishes of our democratically elected representatives.

Tauranga oil spill

Written By: - Date published: 10:08 am, April 30th, 2015 - 58 comments

If we can’t even do simple things like refuel safely there is no way that we can guarantee the safety of deep sea drilling off the coast of NZ.

Greenpeace activists on oil rig

Written By: - Date published: 11:25 am, April 7th, 2015 - 74 comments

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Peak soil

Written By: - Date published: 12:32 pm, April 5th, 2015 - 50 comments

No, not a typo. Just in case you’re short of things to worry about, you can add soil to the list.

Rod Oram on the RMA and spin

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 am, April 5th, 2015 - 66 comments

An excellent piece by Rod Oram on the RMA and the government’s attempts at spin.

Drill baby drill will not work

Written By: - Date published: 11:14 am, March 31st, 2015 - 25 comments

Simon Bridges announced yesterday the release of the 2015 block offer. Potentially oil companies could be drilling in deep sea pristine environmental areas off the West Coast where the endangered Maui’s Dolphin lives. He calls for a “mixed balance” of energy generation. But all this means is that he wants the good mixed with the bad.

RMA backdown?

Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, March 30th, 2015 - 32 comments

If this is accurate it is good news for the RMA and good news for NZ…

National still attacking democracy in Canterbury

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 am, March 20th, 2015 - 10 comments

The Nats’ takeover of Environment Canterbury is the greatest attack on democratic rights ever seen in this country. They are about to extend the period of imposed rule, because a fully elected body carries “too many risks”. If you think the people of Canterbury can actually be trusted with democracy you can sign the petition.

Two views on Titirangi’s Kauri

Written By: - Date published: 12:24 pm, March 15th, 2015 - 24 comments

Rodney Hide has published a column about the ancient Titirangi Kauri which predictably argues that land owners should do what they want. But John Roughan has argued to the contrary in an article that will make you wonder if he is actually a greenie at heart.

UPDATED: Developers will save Kauri – for a Price

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, March 11th, 2015 - 40 comments

Was driving through Henderson today toward the City centre and spotted a car with screen painting on its bumper…

“Keep Kauri standing”…

Save our kauri!

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, March 9th, 2015 - 100 comments

The clash between those who value our natural environment and those who think money is king is playing out in Titirangi this morning.

Spock was a socialist

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, March 1st, 2015 - 23 comments

If you analyse the many things said by Spock you would come to the conclusion that he was a strong progressive.

Sand sculpture competition at Whatipu

Written By: - Date published: 7:37 am, March 1st, 2015 - 2 comments

If you are looking for something to do today there is a sand sculpture competition with an environmental theme happening at Whatipu.

The image of farming

Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, January 25th, 2015 - 98 comments

Farmers are copping stick for doing what the rest of us are doing. We all need to change, not just them.

Save the Pohutukawa Six

Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, January 3rd, 2015 - 34 comments

Despite local opposition Auckland Transport intends to fell six prominent Pohutukawa to make way for an extra road lane with dubious transport benefits.

The Socialist Pope

Written By: - Date published: 1:26 pm, December 29th, 2014 - 54 comments

Pope Francis has created a stir recently.  He has been instrumental in the ending by the United States of sanctions against Cuba, he has criticised the Curia for being inwardly focussed and not sufficiently concerned for the poor and he has reached out to Muslims.  And to top things off he is intending to issue a Papal Encyclical on climate change and will be urging countries to enter into a meaningful agreement on climate change.

R0b’s christmas suggestions

Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, December 20th, 2014 - 11 comments

So suggestions on how to have an ethical christmas that is light on the planet and will improve the plight of humanity.

Conservation Week

Written By: - Date published: 11:07 am, November 2nd, 2014 - 2 comments

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NRT: National lets Shell drill illegally

Written By: - Date published: 10:28 am, October 26th, 2014 - 14 comments

Illegal drilling in our “Exclusive Economic Zone” gets let off with a “warning”.

Clean rivers

Written By: - Date published: 11:31 am, August 7th, 2014 - 84 comments

Labour has announced its water policy and proposed that a fair price for irrigation takes be imposed and that the country’s waterways be improved over this generation.  But Amy Adams thinks that providing clean rivers is somehow an attack on rural New Zealand.  It is strange that she thinks that clean rivers should be such a terrible thing.

NRT: National standards for pollution

Written By: - Date published: 4:30 pm, July 3rd, 2014 - 15 comments

Today the government announced the final version of its national standards for freshwater. They’re trying desperately to pretend that these will improve water quality, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is not a “balance” between the economy and the environment. It is destroying the environment for the profit of a few. And I’d like to see political parties making clear statements that these “bottom lines” will be improved, to outlaw pollution and make our rivers safe to swim in.

Smith plans sale of trees to fund DOC

Written By: - Date published: 11:24 am, June 25th, 2014 - 135 comments

Nick Smith is proposing to introduce under urgency legislation which will allow the removal of felled trees from conservation areas on the West Coast. The sense of cynical politics involved in this measure is strong …

NRT: MBIE doesn’t care about conservation

Written By: - Date published: 2:37 pm, May 18th, 2014 - 4 comments

No Right Turn turns his attention back to the hapless ministerial fool , Simon Bridges. It turns out that when he approved oil exploration in our biggest forest park without realising that he had, it was also what his advice had been. MoBIE simply didn’t consider if the oil exploration and presumably the eventual exploitation would conflict with something as economically vital as tourism. In fact, they appear to have ignored all other claims and uses of the land.

The local in the bigger picture: new Green conservation policy

Written By: - Date published: 9:47 am, April 30th, 2014 - 12 comments

Largely overlooked yesterday, the Green Party launched their “Conservation in Our Backyards” policy. Focusing on protecting New Zealand’s socially and environmentally rich biodiversity, it provides a means to act locally in countering the current track towards global social, environmental and economic destruction.

NRT: Is the Minister of Energy a muppet?

Written By: - Date published: 3:55 pm, April 9th, 2014 - 11 comments

When looking at Simon Bridges – a purported government minister. You have to remember that he is damn sloppy even for a politician. But oh so typical of his usual muppet behaviour is that he wasn’t aware that he was opening up our biggest forest park for oil and gas exploration. Of course it could just be National’s bulldoze anything for a little immediate profit….

Whales 1 Japan 0

Written By: - Date published: 11:45 am, April 1st, 2014 - 12 comments

The International Court of Justice has ruled that the Japanese yearly slaughter of whales is not for the purposes of scientific research and is illegal.

Amy Adams has some explaining to do

Written By: - Date published: 12:12 pm, March 12th, 2014 - 33 comments

Amy Adams is now facing questions of conflict of interest after details have been published that land and company shares she owns may increase in value because of the proposed Canterbury Irrigation Scheme.

Sea Shepherd v the Institute of Cretinous Research

Written By: - Date published: 11:55 am, February 4th, 2014 - 31 comments

The Sea Shepherd fleet and the Japanese Whaling fleet are again engaged in battle on the south seas over the right to kill whales.  The Institute for Cetacean Research’s spokesperson Glenn Inwood has claimed that the Sea Shepherd is totally in the wrong and the Japanese are completely within their rights.  But how credible is this?

Oil rigs – coming to a beach near you?

Written By: - Date published: 7:58 am, November 19th, 2013 - 98 comments

The Government is in the process of handing out oil exploration permits which would if unchanged allow drilling 6 nautical miles out from the west coast beaches of Auckland.  And Auckland Council had the chance to submit on the proposal and did so, in a very gentle way, but forgot to ask the locals including the local board.  There has to be a better way.

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