Press release
Responses to questionnaire sent to political parties by the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers (NZFFA) indicates an air of indifference to environmental issues particularly around water quality, rivers and the public’s freshwater fisheries says the organisation.
NZFFA executive member Jason Foord said the political outlook leading to the election in a few days time was in strong contrast to the 2017 election when the poor state of rivers, streams and lakes, was to the fore with the incoming Labour government then, promising a clean up.
“These are public resources and politicians should be aware of that.”
Only four political parties responded, i.e. Green party in Parliament and three others outside of Parliament, i.e. Conservative, Outdoors and Freedom and Opportunity.
No replies were received from Labour who championed the issue in 2017, National, ACT and Te Pati Maori. Indifference
NZ First referred the questionnaire to its policy which did not indicate any deep interest in the environment and to the contrary emphasised mining and opening up the public conservation estate to that and other exploitation.
“No doubt the party’s approach to resources championed over recent years by minister Shane Jones influenced NZ First’s pro-exploitation stance,” said Jason Foord.
Jason Foord said of the four parties which responded, Conservative and Outdoors and Freedom scored highest closely followed by Opportunity and Green parties.
With the incoming government it is vital that environmental organisations communicate directly with incoming ministers to raise the profile of environmental issues.
“Unfortunately inaction by the previous Labour government during its two terms and the coalition government’s moves with the Fast Track Approvals Act and impending plans such as the Conservation Amendment Bill opening the way for increased exploitation even on the public’s lands, show that conservation best defined as the wise use of resources has fallen down the priority list,” said Jason Foord. “It’s not only the environment at stake but democracy too.”
Questions were:-
- Do you support water conservation orders (WCOs) to provide full protection (akin to national park status) on New Zealand’s rivers?
- Do you support maintaining the requirement to protect the habitat of trout and salmon in any new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act?
- Do you support maintaining recreational use as a higher priority over commercial use of public conservation lands?
- Has your party any intention of limiting or curtailing the widespread increase in forestry plantings leading to monocultures (whether for timber production or “carbon farming”)?
- What policies do you have to manage nitrate runoff to waterways and aquifer groundwater, especially in Canterbury and Southland?
- Fish & Game New Zealand councils should be politically independent and free from political interference relative to restructuring the organisation. Do you support this?
- Will you take steps to restore full democracy by (a) allowing greater time for public input during the select committee process and (b) reinstating the select committee process in the Fast Track Approvals Act?
- Will you heed the deep concerns of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and former PM Sir Geoffrey Palmer about excessive ministerial powers in legislation?
Convenient apathy by political parties.
Good try, NZ Fed. Freshwater Anglers!