New Zealand pushes ahead with selling / exchanging 60% of its precious conservation estate

Almost a year ago, I warned that the right wing NZ government was planning to exchange and/or dispose ("sell") up to 67% of NZ's conservation land.

To be clear, that's almost 5 million hectares of our conservation land.

And all for the purposes of supposed "economic activity"; never mind that tourism and NZ's clean, green image is one of the major drawcards and never mind, the precious ecosystems, fauna and flora, and wildlife existent in these areas - much of which is endangered.

 

But of course that's moot for a government hell bent on emulating itself to the ideology and track record of America's Trump and Australia's Hanson. There's a reason why Hanson is supported by Australia's richest woman, mining magnate Gina Rinehart. It pays to be in their good books, as Hanson's new private jet gift demonstrates.

Back to Aotearoa New Zealand, the government is pressing ahead on its plans.

More than 50% of all bills by this right wing Coalition have been pushed under urgency despite there being no valid reason for doing so. 

In the case of the pay equity bill, Cabinet kept plans under wraps for over a year, and didn't even bother with the Regulatory Impact Statement, pressing ahead within 2 days of public notification, and redacting all human rights impacts in the process. Yes that's the type of government Kiwis find themselves with - but most don't even realise. 

Forest and Bird, who have been doing amazing, incredible mahi, has produced a series of maps showing the impact of the government's plans on the country's conservation estate. It looks like the number has been revised down to 60% of our conservation land, and that's still a mammoth impact.

The "red" area shows the conservation land the government plans to open up to sale and exchange. 

 

 As the Parliamentary Commissioner said last year:

“This proposal would represent a major change to New Zealand conservation law. 

Were it to go ahead, it would make around 5 million hectares of public conservation land – almost two thirds of the conservation estate – available for exchange and disposal. Many different types of conservation land would potentially be affected. Everything from local reserves covering one hundred hectares to conservation parks covering one hundred thousand hectares. 

The vast majority of this land is of high ecological value."

And today, the RNZ reports the Deerstalkers Association "worries the new revenue structure could create "perverse processes and outcomes" for DOC, where the cash-strapped department is conflicted by recommending land for sale while benefiting from the income.

National president Callum Sheridan said the organisation has many concerns about the bill."

I always knew this government emulated American right wing politics, but framing it under the perverse notion of "economic stimulation" while having so many Kiwis buy into their cynical PR efforts is what we need to awaken from.  

PS 

These areas are some of those impacted:

•  Aotea Conservation Park on Great Barrier Island,

• Coromandel Forest Park,

• Cathedral Cove Recreation Reserve,

• Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park,

• Kaimanawa Forest Park,

• Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve,

• Tararua Forest Park,

• Mt Richmond Forest Park,

• Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia Conservation Park – Seaward Kaikōura ranges,

• Takaka Hill Scenic Reserve

• Victoria Forest Park,

• Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve,

• Conservation Area Wanganui / Otira Catchments,

• Remarkables Conservation Area,

• Catlins Conservation Park