30 August 2004
Aussie Bank Does DOC's Job
New Zealand First conservation spokesperson Edwin Perry is asking why the Department of Conservation is putting begging
bowls in an Australian owned bank to save the kiwi while DoC spends millions of dollars buying South Island high
country.
“On Thursday the Minister announced that the Nature Heritage Fund had paid $3.5 million for 8,517 hectares of Castle
Hill Station at Porters Pass to secure permanent public access to a skifield, rock climbing areas and tramping, hunting
and mountain biking spots.
“Meanwhile, back in the real world the Australian owned Bank of New Zealand is running a campaign asking customers for
spare change to help stop the decline of the kiwi population.
“It is time the Minister explained to taxpayers exactly how it comes about that on one hand we can afford to spend
millions of dollars buying up the South Island high country while on the other the Australians have to help out with
kiwi preservation.
“This can only be described as a cynical public relations exercise by everyone concerned,” said Mr Perry.
ENDS