16 June 2002

From the desk of Terry Dunleavy national convenor, Bluegreens:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The high list placement accorded New Zealand's foremost environmental spokesman, Guy Salmon, is further confirmation of the National Party's leadership in environmental protection and sustainability. This today from Terry Dunleavy, national convenor of Bluegreens, a voluntary group formed to provide independent advice to National on environmental and heritage issues.

"Bluegreen members are proud that one of our number has been chosen by National to follow in the footsteps of the late Duncan Macintyre, New Zealand's first ever Minister of the Environment, appointed by the Holyoake Government in 1969, and the visionary Simon Upton who brought renewed passion and commonsense to that portfolio during the 1990's, said Mr Dunleavy.

"Guy Salmon, founder of the Native Forest Action Council in 1975, and since 1988, chief executive of the Maruia Society, which changed its name in 1999 to the Ecologic Foundation, is unquestionably New Zealand's best known and most articulate environmental advocate. He was a key member of the small team which in 1985 wrote the blueprint for the re-organisation of environmental administration which included the creation of the Ministry for the Environment and the Department of Conservation.

"Pacific and Asian countries, as well as a host of New Zealand organisations have called on Guy's expertise in fields as diverse as forestry, biodiversity conservation, resource management, electricity, transport, fisheries, greenhouse gas emissions, eco-labelling of food, landfill and waste management.

"Guy is a passionate and articulate advocate for the proposition that conservation and environmental protection can be, and should be, fully compatible with sustainable economic development for the benefit of present and future New Zealanders. His presence in future Parliaments will bring informed judgement and a raft of practical experience, in contrast to the misleading, misguided ideological rubbish which has been propounded in the house during the most recent term by small loony leftwing parties," said Mr Dunleavy.

ENDS

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