Government should be ashamed going to Rio

The Green Party agrees with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) chair Dr Morgan Williams that the WWF report released today is a “wake up call for NZ”.

“The National Government is criticising the Report because it refuses to see the hole it is digging with its ‘dig it, drill it, mine it, irrigate it’ agenda,” said Green Party Environment Spokesperson Eugenie Sage.

“That the environment wasn’t mentioned in the Budget speech is a clear steer on the priorities of this National Government.

“New Zealanders love and treasure our wild places and want to see them protected so our children can enjoy them for years to come.

“This Government is putting our natural heritage at risk.

“The WWF report released today uses the work of reputable scientists and is heavily referenced.

“Much of the information it uses on the state of our indigenous biodiversity, water quality and fisheries management has been provided by the Government own agencies.

“The WWF report and its conclusions are sound. The Government needs to open its eyes to our biodiversity crisis and recognise the damage its exploitation agenda is causing.

“We welcome this Government’s instigation of a collaborative process on water quality but the Government needs to commit to accepting the recommendations of the Land and Water Forum not implementing a watered down version.

“We need to keep the coal in the hole instead of allowing a State Owned Energy Company to dig up dirty lignite in Southland which will have a massive impact on our ability to meet emissions reductions targets.

“We need to fund Department of Conservation adequately so that it can control predators on much larger area of conservation estate.” said Ms Sage.