Minister of Conservation needs to take control of her portfolio

The Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson needs to take control of the biggest issue in her portfolio and give New Zealanders certainty that there will be no mining in National Parks, Labour Conservation spokesperson David Parker says.

“The Minister of Conservation’s refusal to take a position on the issue of mining in National Parks, and the governments refusal to even disclose the widened terms of reference referred to by the Prime Minister yesterday, is adding to the uncertainty,” David Parker said.

“Labour allowed mining in parts of the conservation estate, but never on National Parks or other schedule 4 lands in the likes of the Coromandel. National are clearly planning to tip the balance in favour of miners.

“National are proposing allowing mining on National Parks and other schedule 4 areas like the Coromandel, and relaxing controls on mining on other conservation lands.

“National tried to claim today that Labour allowed mining on the Paparoa National Park, to try and fool people into believing there is no significant change. This is demonstrably untrue.(Please see attached document which shows that there is no mining on the Park, with the surface impact being limited to four emergency exits from 1.5m diameter shafts allowed in accordance with the current schedule 4 law).

“The National Government’s handling of this entire issue has been a complete shambles – Prime Minister John Key was today asked in Parliament to rule out open cast mining in National Parks and he refused to do so.

“It is a simple; show New Zealanders the now twice delayed discussion document, stop trying to distract from the issue and guarantee that our National Parks and Coromandel will be safe from mining interests,” David Parker said.

ENDS

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