Dependence on corporates puts endangered whales at risk

The decision to cancel surveys of endangered humpback whales in the Cook Strait this year shows National’s reliance on corporate sponsorship for conservation is failing our endangered species, the Green Party said today.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) acknowledged today that a survey of humpback whales will not take place this year, after oil and gas exploration company OMV New Zealand decided to pull funding for the project.

"Relying on corporate goodwill to protect our endangered and threatened species means they’re at risk when that funding is pulled,” said Green Party conservation spokesperson Kevin Hague.

“Corporate sponsorship is incredibly helpful, but it needs to be the icing on the conservation cake. The National Government needs to stump up with the core conservation funding that our precious wildlife need or more species will inch closer to extinction.

“Rebuilding the number of endangered humpback whales in our oceans is a long-game that needs consistent funding, year-on-year.

“This is the third high profile corporate funded project to stop when funding dried up. In 2015 BNZ ended its sponsorship for Kiwi conservation and Rio Tinto pulled funding from DOC’s Kakapo recovery programme.

“Under National, DOC’s spending in real terms has been $52 million less every year than it was under the Labour-led government in 2008-09.

“DOC should be guaranteed consistent, reliable funding from the Government to do its core conservation work, like the protection of endangered humpback whales,” said Mr Hague.

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Green Party calls for stronger action by Auckland Council to protect urban trees and native forest

The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and repla...
Read More

Story

You *wood* not believe it: Greens secure win for urban trees

The Green Party’s advocacy has secured an amendment to the Natural and Built Environment Bill at a crucial stage of the Parliamentary process to en...
Read More

Story

Forestry sector must compensate for slash damage

The Green Party welcomes today’s release of the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into slash and sediment, and are clear that the forestry industry...
Read More

Story

Greens launch petition to protect conservation lands from mining by Mineralogy International Limited

The Green Party has today launched a petition calling for conservation land to be protected from mining by big overseas companies such as Mineralog...
Read More

Story

National's drought of ideas won't help farmers facing climate change

Christopher Luxon and the National Party have once again presented another lazy, back-of-the-napkin policy to Aotearoa.
Read More

Story

Freshwater crisis needs stronger government action

New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and freshwater are in crisis and there needs to be a more ambitious Government plan to clean them up and protect agains...
Read More

Latest Conservation Announcements

Story

Labour must deliver on No New Mines

The Green Party is disappointed tonight that the Government has voted down Eugenie Sage’s members’ bill to stop new mining on conservation land. Th...
Read More

Story

Inquiry into forestry slash and land use welcome, but more needed

Today’s news of a Ministerial inquiry into forestry slash and land use in Te Tarāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa is welcome, but the forestry sector shou...
Read More

Story

Time for Labour to deliver on No New Mines

The Green Party is today welcoming reports of Government progress towards having no new mines on conservation land.
Read More

Story

Urgent action needed at home following global deal for nature

The Green Party welcomes an historic new global agreement to protect 30% of the planet for nature by the end of the decade and calls on the Governm...
Read More

Story

Swimmable rivers and healthy lakes could soon be out of reach

The Green Party is calling on the Government to tighten the rules on synthetic fertiliser use and intensive land use, including intensive winter gr...
Read More

Story

Bill to ban mining on conservation land pulled from biscuit tin

Following months of work by the Green Party and community and environmental organisations, Parliament will have the opportunity to pass legislation...
Read More