Cult Spirituality Leaves Lahar Risk

ACT New Zealand Maori Affairs Spokesman Stephen Franks today said that the Government's re-affirmation of its refusal to clear a trench to release crater lake overspill is evidence of its conversion from rational materialism to spiritual quackery.

"It's unfair to blame this only on pandering to Maori superstition. Labour is also pandering to eco-spirituality. It has a romantic view of untamed nature. It is trampling across our constitutional tradition of the rational secular state, and subordinating the tangible interests of the majority under the sickly sentiments of the few," Mr Franks said.

"I've been on the rim. It's nonsense to suggest that an experienced machinery operator would be at any more risk in making the trench than forestry and farm roading contractors face every day.

"No one could see the works except from a low-flying helicopter, or having climbed to the summit. The trench will go where the lake will itself gouge an exit sometime in the next year.

"What would this Government's attitude be to any other property owner who had works, or an avoidable natural hazard, on their property that presented a four percent risk of injury and a much higher risk of property damage or contamination of Lake Taupo?

"The answer is simple: they'd dong them with liability. Imagine OSH, if an employer told employees to run the lahar risk for spiritual reasons" Mr Franks said.

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