Sandra Lee An Inspirational Minister Of Conservation
June 17, 2002 - Wellington
Forest and Bird president, Dr Gerry McSweeney today paid tribute to retiring MP Sandra Lee and described her as an
inspirational Minister of Conservation.
"Sandra Lee's understanding and extensive knowledge of conservation, her integrity and principled response to often
challenging issues such as mining and whaling has made her an exceptional Minister," he said.
"In only three years as Conservation Minister Sandra Lee, working with Labour, has achieved some major conservation
successes. These include:
* the $187 million five year Biodiversity Package which is giving the Department of Conservation much needed resources
to better protect our natural heritage.
* the protection of 132,000 ha of West Coast indigenous forests previously managed by Timberlands. This has included
significant additions to Paparoa and Westland/Tai Poutini National Parks and Victoria Forest Park, and the establishment
of new reserves.
* staunch and vigorous advocacy at the International Whaling Commission for the protection of these magnificent mammals
and for the establishment of whale sanctuaries.
* the establishment of Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island.
* creating New Zealand's first tussockland park, the Korowai/Torlesse Tussockland Park near Porters Pass.
* formal proposals for two new wilderness areas, the Adams in the central Southern Alps and the Paparoa Wilderness Area.
* declining GRD Macraes' application to more than double the size of its proposed open cast gold mine on conservation
land at Reefton.
* approving the Te Matuku (Waiheke Island) and Wellington South Coast marine reserve applications. These now await
decisions by the Minister of Fisheries.
* the introduction of the Marine Reserves Bill, intended to streamline the creation of marine reserves and allow
deepwater reserves."
"As Minister of Local Government, Sandra Lee has also encouraged local authorities to be more aware of their
responsibilities for biodiversity conservation."
"The Minister can be justly proud of her legacy and New Zealand's native plants, animals and wild places have much to
thank her for," Dr McSweeney said.
Ends