Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Forest & Bird welcomes Greens' proposal to detox waterways

13 July 2014 - Wellington

Forest & Bird media release for immediate use

Forest & Bird welcomes Greens' proposal to detox waterways

Forest & Bird is welcoming the Green Party's announcement that it will campaign on implementing key recommendations of the Land and Water Forum to clean up New Zealand's lakes and rivers.

The announcement was made by the party today.

"Strengthening the newly-released National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management would be a good step towards cleaning up New Zealand's lakes and rivers," Forest & Bird Advocacy Manager Kevin Hackwell says.

"Creating a National Environmental Standard for water quality, which would not allow lakes and rivers to become toxic to aquatic life - and that would allow people to swim - would be another very positive step.

"We are pleased the Green Party is supporting the Land and Water Forum's recommendation that collaborative processes need to be established to allow all the stakeholders to work out together how to curb pollution, and meet the national water quality standards.

"Forest & Bird would like to see a commitment from the Green Party that these efforts would be properly resourced, at both central and regional government level," Kevin Hackwell says.

The Green Party also says it would establish a network of protected rivers. The New Zealand Conservation Authority made a similar recommendation several years ago.

"We have national parks and marine reserves, but the systems for protecting our outstanding rivers are inadequate," Kevin Hackwell says.

The party also says it would not allow any more wild rivers to be dammed, and that it would transfer the management of river beds to the Department of Conservation.

"That would avoid the problems that have stemmed from having unprotected rivers flowing through protected national parks and conservation areas," Kevin Hackwell says.


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.