Government washes its hands of better protection for nature

The Government has distanced itself from the Auckland Council decision to allow the destruction of a centuries-old kauri and rimu trees in Titirangi to make way for two houses, the Green Party said today.

When asked by Green Party conservation spokesperson Eugenie Sage in Parliament today about the lack of protection afforded to the kauri by the Resource Management Act, Environment Minister Nick Smith said it was up to councils to decide the fate of such trees and he would not change the RMA or use it to give them more protection.

“Slashing the protection for urban trees like these kauri and rimu in the last round of changes to the RMA have left our most treasured species exposed,” Ms Sage said.

“Nick Smith cannot justify gutting the RMA further when trees like these magnificent kauri and rimu can be felled so easily. What’s next?  When are we going to see kiwi nests concreted over?

“National’s proposals to strengthen private property rights in the RMA will make it even easier for developers and landholders to destroy or degrade natural landscapes and indigenous habitats for commercial gain.

“In January, Dr Smith told Nelson Rotary Club that there needed to be stronger national consistency and direction around the RMA. Yet today he refused to progress a national policy statement on indigenous biodiversity to give councils like Auckland clear guidance on how to implement their RMA responsibility to maintain indigenous biodiversity.

In recent years, kauri dieback disease has claimed thousands of trees. Research shows that less than one percent of old growth kauri forests are still alive today.

“With Government washing its hands of responsibility for ensuring councils better protect our wild nature and indigenous habitats, the outlook for urban trees and kauri, rimu and other habitat on private land is grim,” Ms Sage said.

 

Latest Environment Announcements

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

Story

Greens welcome waste strategy release and work

The Green Party is today welcoming the release of the Government’s waste strategy, but says it has a big gap without action on the container return...
Read More

Story

NZ needs strong protection against water privatisation

New Zealanders deserve strong protection against the future privatisation of water assets, the Green Party says.
Read More