No New Mines on Conservation Land Welcomed

Conservation and environmental announcements in the government’s agenda outlined in the Speech from the Throne are very welcome, says the Environment and Conservation Organisations, ECO.

“It is a full agenda and we are very glad that there is commitment to climate change action, more funding for conservation, and the announcement that there will be “no new mines” on Conservation land, says Cath Wallace, spokesperson for ECO.

"These are issues ECO has worked on for decades and at last we have a government with a commitment to helping nature. Conservation Minister in Eugenie Sage, Minister knows the issues in great depth and other new Ministers have strong backgrounds of thinking about the transition to a low carbon economy and a more environmentally sustainable economy

"We would like to see changes to the Crown Minerals Act to remove the previous Government’s changes to undermine the role of the Minister of Conservation and to maximise minerals extraction. Resources Minister Megan Woods will need to revise that, both for nature’s sake and for the climate and the future.

“ECO awaits more details of the changes proposed, environmental and urban law changes, the tree planting programmes announced and other measures relating to primary industry", says Wallace

The “no new mining on Conservation land” decision is exactly the sort of thing that could be challenged under the Trans Pacific Partnership Investor State Dispute Resolution chapter as occurred with Costa Rica. We hope that Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and Trade and Exports Minister David Parker stoutly resist the many pressures to sign that Agreement.

ENDS

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