A new report released today shows that officials under Environment Minister Nick Smith are largely ignoring councils who fail to enforce environmental law, leaving our natural places vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. On the enforcement of environmental law under the Resource Management Act (RMA), the Environmental Defence Society and Law Foundation report found that: “The Ministry for the Environment gives compliance and enforcement relatively little priority…" and that “Councils have, for the most part, been left to do the job...

The Green Party is today expressing its sympathy and support to people who have lost their homes and have been affected by the Christchurch fires. The Green Party also wants to acknowledge the incredible emergency service personnel, firefighters, helicopter pilots, Police, Defence Force, Christchurch City and Selwyn District Councils, Civil Defence staff and volunteers working around-the-clock to control the fires. "Christchurch has been through so much in the last decade, and it’s heart-breaking to see people experiencing trauma and loss all...

National's Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, is sidelining the concerns of the Marlborough community by preparing to decide unilaterally on new salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds, the Green Party said today. The Minister has chosen to use special regulation making powers under the Resource Management Act (RMA) to hand pick a special panel to consider King Salmon’s proposal for six new salmon farms in Pelorus Sound and Tory Channel. The Minister will then make the final decision and...

The National Government has once again shown it’s more interested in plundering the environment than protecting it, the Green Party said today. The comments come on the back of news that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will challenge an Environment Court ruling that allows regional councils to use the Resource Management Act (RMA) to put limited controls on fishing to provide for marine protection. “National appears determined to stop local communities protecting their own big blue backyard. Obviously National...

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must stop its light-handed approach to fish dumping by commercial operators or we risk further declines in fish stocks, the Green Party said today. The comments come on the back of figures that reveal MPI has only prosecuted four commercial fishers for fish dumping since 2009. “Fish dumping is widespread amongst commercial fishers, which not only wastes a precious resource but also puts our fish stocks in jeopardy,” said Green Party fisheries spokesperson Eugenie...

The Green Party is calling on the Government to end bottom trawling, dredging, purse seining and other destructive fishing methods in Tikapa Moana/the Hauraki Gulf, which damage the ecosystem and put livelihoods at risk. The comments come on the back of last night’s release of the Tai Timu Tai Pari/Sea Change report, a marine plan for the Hauraki Gulf produced by a collaborative co-governance group. “Tikapa Moana/the Hauraki Gulf supports the livelihoods of more than 1.5 million people. It needs...

The Government has put East Coast snapper fisheries at risk by prematurely slashing the number of observers charged with monitoring and preventing commercial fish dumping, and undersize fish and wildlife being caught, the Green Party said today. Information obtained by the Green Party shows the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) cut the number of fisheries observers on trawlers by 60 percent in 2015/16 in the East Coast snapper fishery, which runs between the North Cape and Cape Runaway. Observers were...

The Green Party is working to improve earthquake legislation currently before Parliament, the Party said today. The Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Emergency Relief Bill will pass today with changes to ensure local people can have more of a say, while still enabling Kaikōura to get back on its feet again. “During recent cross-party talks on the legislation, we were able to put some of our concerns to the Government. We are pleased that Government took some of these on board and we’d...

Government-owned Landcorp’s decision to sell a further 10 farms, totalling 11,650 hectares, is a short-sighted decision that could see valuable farmland go into offshore hands, the Green Party said today. “We need local farms to remain in local hands,” said Green Party land information spokesperson Eugenie Sage. “Fertile land is one of the building blocks of our economy and the basis of a productive primary sector. New Zealanders will miss out on the benefits of owning our production base if these...

The Green Party supports the Government’s move to close temporarily shellfish and seaweed fisheries on the east coast of the South Island in the wake of last week’s Kaikōura earthquakes. “Closing the crayfish fishery for a month and paua and other shell fisheries for three months to investigate the impacts of the earthquake on them is sensible,” said Green Party primary industries spokesperson Eugenie Sage. “A one month temporary closure, however, is not nearly enough time for crayfish and paua...