"The only endangered species National is committed to saving is the National cabinet minister," says Labour conservation
spokesperson Jill Pettis.
"Jenny Shipley's hypocritical claim today that 'conservation and the environment are a top priority for the National
Party' will stick in the craw of every New Zealander who cares about our natural heritage."
"It is particularly rich that Mrs Shipley makes the claim on the West Coast, where National is committed to the
environmental vandalism of native beech logging.
"Her pretence of a conservation policy contains nothing new except the vague and unfunded promise of five kiwi
sanctuaries. With no extra money for these, funds will have to be diverted from other conservation areas. Kiwis in five
areas might be more likely to live, while kiwis everywhere else will be more likely to die. That includes the West Coast
forests, where National's native timber logging damages the kiwi's habitat.
"The reheated promises in Mrs Shipley's announcement only serve to highlight how little National has done for the
environment in nine years. The biodiversity strategy, which still has no deadline, was promised eight years ago.
Environmental performance indicators, now due in three years' time, were promised in 1994.
"Mrs Shipley promises action on greenhouse gases, but only last month New Zealand won a "Fossil of the Day" award from
international environment groups for increasing CO2 emissions by 30% after promising a 5% cut. She boasts about creating
marine reserves when they cover less than 1% of the coastline.
"Labour has already declared its commitment to tackling New Zealand's biodiversity crisis by strengthening the
Department of Conservation. Threatened species programmes, habitat protection, weed and pest control and conservation
advocacy will be our priorities for increased funding. Labour is also committed to retaining and strengthening the
Resource Management Act and creating marine reserves to cover ten per cent of the coastline by 2010.
"National's feeble last-minute attempt to colour itself green comes nowhere close to Labour's comprehensive Green
Agenda."