Todays (29/5/2025) Government announcement on replacing the RMA and undermining Councils oversight of the environment is a commitment to vandalism.
The whole announcement is a disaster, but the mining example takes the cake. They are making it that it will be, basically, easy to mine Significant Natural Areas, Wetlands and Highly Productive Land. This is despite 90% of wetlands having already been destroyed by destructive land management, Aotearoa’s uniques and special wild spaces being further eroded by Councils having to identify SNA’s in their Regions and Districts – Te Tara o te Ika a Maui is an SNA for Aotearoa – having to seek out the most ‘significant’ parts to protect at a District level was silly enough, but to just ignore them altogether?!
Its so extraordinarily reckless and out of touch, this Government are drunk with power and immune to reason – and science! So much hard work on farms, coasts and public land has gone into protecting the 10 % of wetlands left because of their key role they play in water quality improvement by filtering out pollutants, reducing flood risks and providing vital habitats for fish breeding and homes for many other diverse plants and animals. The efforts of landowners to protect SNA’s, to preserve HPL – all for the good of the country – and for the benefit of future generations. All undermined by this ‘administration’. The ignorance is staggering.
Wetlands sequester carbon which would be reason enough not to mine them. Our country signed up to the RAMSAR Convention, committing us to the wise use of wetlands and we have to report on how we are protecting them, especially those of international significance. Is the Government abandoning that commitment?
Are they abandoning the concept of leaving a country for future generations to be sustained by, to enjoy, to be proud of? A Nation renowned for its natural beauty, unique species and world leading environmental management? Instead Turing it into an exploited, hurt and barren wasteland… It certainly seems that way – in fact, it would be hard to see it as anything else.
We do not know what is driving this new attack on the environment, greed seems obvious, but surely the Government can see the economic value in SNA’s, in wetlands, in HPL! It is not the 1950s and we have a wealth of knowledge now that shows us, clearly the value of protecting the wetlands we have left in the country – as well as needing to create more. We understand the incredible longterm benefits and value we derive from SNA’s – and the HPL, that is a no brainer, even for the slowest politician!
Mining will neither create permanent jobs nor pay for public services. It is a tiny part of the economy, mostly gold and coal and the gold will go offshore while leaving toxic waste behind. Coal is a greenhouse gas we must leave in the ground. It seems the plan is to shut out Te Tiriti, iwi and public participation in decisions, to ignore both science and good sense and then set rules that facilitate vandalism towards fresh water and other habitat, it is beyond stupid.