Labour finally on board?
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10:36 pm, August 27th, 2009 - 20 comments
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I was shocked but not surprised to hear that National are considering opening our National Parks up for mining. At the same time, I can’t help but feel an unfortunate sense of deja vu. Labour’s Conservation spokesperson David Parker is quoted by 3News today as saying:
We were certainly not told this before the election that parts of the conservation estate including national parks would have big coal mines on them. How absurd!
Indeed. How absurd that the government could decide to open up parts of our conservation estate for coal mining. What then, do Parker and the Labour Party feel about coal mining in Happy Valley on the West Coast, a beautiful pristine area on public conservation land?
The previous Labour Government chose not to intervene, despite having the power to do so with Solid Energy being a State Owned Enterprise. Labour’s Conservation Minister at the time, Chris Carter was in fact all in favour of the Happy Valley mine. Carter approved permits under the Wildlife Act for the rare, native Powelliphanta ‘Augustus’ snails to be removed from most of what was left of their natural habitat, thereby allowing the mining to go ahead. This was despite recommendations from his own department – DoC’s snail expert Kath Walker advised that moving the snails would likely result in their extinction.
Instead of protecting our conservation estate, Labour were complacent in the spying on Save Happy Valley, the group protesting the Happy Valley coal mine. Labour’s Minister of SOE’s at the time, Trevor Mallard, warned Solid Energy to stop employing private investigation firm Thompson & Clark, but took no further action when they were ousted for spying on activists for the second time by investigative journalist Nicky Hager.
Now Labour is seemingly taking a strong stand against coal mines on our conservation estate, and so they should. In my opinion however, the first step along the way would be to apologise to Save Happy Valley, and join their campaign against the Happy Valley coal mine. That would be a good start in signaling to the present National Government that further destruction of our heritage is not worth the hassle.
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- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
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- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
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- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
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- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...3 days ago
- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...3 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
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- Appointments to the ENZ board
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...4 days ago
- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
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- Judicial appointment announced
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- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
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- Inspector-General of Defence appointed
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- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
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- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
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- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
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- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
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Awesome post Rocky – couldnt agree with you more 🙂
Well called.
Agreed, a bunch of complacent solipsistic buggers Labour were.
And look at the juggernaut with teeth they’ve left us exposed to now.
PS is it true that the powelliphanta population moved is actually fading away, as was suggested on radio news today?
The meek shall inherit the Earth – excluding the mineral rights thereunder.
Interesting to see that National have resumed the High Country Hijack too.
Kept the rentals down to State House levels, and flogging off prime lakeside real estate for grazing prices………great stuff.
Ah, yes, National is continuing the Great High Country Giveaway, a longstanding Labour Party tradition.
Minings what NZ does, grass mining for protein, rip shit and bust on everything. No balance so long as you can extract the dollar. Labour dont think any differently.
Exactly mrs bored.. see my post on the 100% thread
Mr Bored actually VTO. You are right that farming can be environmentally more unfriendly than mining. Looking at your 100% thread its fine but for the long term impact.
I have never seen a mining company that restores the environment or pays for the damage, nor have I ever seen a sustainable mine. Once the minerals are gone all that is there is a scarred area and no work for anybody.
Although to be fair, there were substantial measure taken in Happy Valley to ensure that mining itself had as little an impact on the local wildlife.
For example thanks to the campaigning by save happy valley many of the rare indigenous snails, threatened by the mine, were relocated with the intent of moving them back once mining had finished. The same was done with much of the local vegetation.
James,
latest reports indicate that the snails are not handling the move, extinction beckons. Who cares? Just another species gone.
Hi rocky, got a question around this, because the first Iheard of this was in the radio this morning and I immediately thought of the Stockton mine (where on earth is ‘Happy Valley’ btw, I have never heard of the name and it is not on any map I have ever seen).
What was the land gazetted as before the mines were announced? I gather it must not have been schedule 4, because that land was protected under Labour.
From Wikipedia:
“there were substantial measures taken in Happy Valley to ensure that mining itself had as little an impact as possible”
And that’s just what National will do as well.
Great post!
Aw come on Rocky, you’re being too hard on Labour. Of course they’re on board. They’re always on board when National is doing it, when they’re in opposition
Lets be fair to Labour, its alot easier to be a critic when you’re not making the decisions. As soon as they are back in office it will be business as usual.
Perhaps you can answer my question above George D. Was Pike River or Stockton on schedule 4 land? I assume it must have been. I am trying to see what exactly the precedent there was and you are making it fairly apparent that there is a clear one…
Save Happy Valley is a bunch of extremists who should not be surprised that Labour doesn’t want to play with them.
Okay, if trying to prevent the unnecessary extinction of a life form is extreme, then what is trying to make “100% Pure New Zealand” the country’s “master brand” while running great diesel bulldozers through national parks?