Outdoor Group Urges More Honesty in Government

An outdoor recreation council has called for more honesty and respect for democracy and the public interest by government and in Parliament. The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of New Zealand (CORANZ) an umbrella group for national and regional outdoor organisations in its report to the annual meeting in Wellington yesterday said exploiters and developers were getting fast track and "red carpet" treatment by government at the expense of the public's environment and outdoor recreation..

The annual report co-authored by co-chairmen Bill Benfield of Wairarapa and Tony Orman of Marlborough and secretary Hugh Barr of Wellington said there was a scramble to use use public resources for private profit.

The report cited government's proposal to alter the Resource Management Act at the expense of environmental values, government's banning of protest rights to deep sea drilling and the Prime Minister's disdain to a public referendum opposing asset sales.

CORANZ  firmly describes itself as "apolitical". However while it does not align itself to any political party, that does not prevent it from criticising any government's policies. The report described the current National-Act-Maori- Peter Dunne coalition as more entrenched with arrogance than the Labour "Rogernomics" government of the 1980s and the National "Ruthenasia" National government of the 1990s.

"The National coalition has shown little interest in the public's outdoor recreation. Indeed it has threatened to erode the public estate with mining in National Parks while the Department of Conservation has swung to commercialisation. There are also proposals to slash recreational snapper bag limits to benefit corporate fishing companies to name just a few more examples."

Parliament should be the court of last resort where the public got a fair deal based on a history of honour, truth and justice.

"If we sound highly critical of the current government, it's because in a parliamentary democracy government has been charged with the duty and mandate to protect the public interest. If it fails then it must be criticised. Sadly government has shown itself to favour wealthy foreigners and exploiters and sneers at ordinary New Zealanders and the nations traditions. Weak and/or corrupt governments produces that fatal combination of wealth and opulence alongside poverty and despair."

CORANZ produces an outdoor recreation charter each election and invites comments from political parties and MPs. It will produce a charter for next year's election.

Officers elected were Co-chairmen Bill Benfield and Andy Cockcroft and secretary Hugh Barr.

ENDS

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