Jones says he wants to break up DoC
He said so once during Scrutiny Week hearings, and again at a local government conference in Wellington when he said he wanted 'all of that gone'.
Now, the pro-mining, 'Make New Zealand Great Again'-wearing resources minister says there will always be a place for conservation in the government, but he wants to see the department's extensive land estate dismantled and opened for development.
Jones' support for mining projects has been constant and consistent. During an appearance at Scrutiny Week, the minister once again donned his 'Make New Zealand Great Again' cap with 'Drill Baby Drill' written below the slogan.
When asked by National's Vanessa Weenink about the prospects of future gold mining in the South Island, Jones lamented that the Department of Conservation had 'weoponised and catastrophised' preservation and endangered species. This focus on preservationism had cost the country whatever profit it might have made mining its mineral wealth, including from gold.
Earlier in the week Jones presented at Wellington's Local Government New Zealand conference, where he told a room of regional government representatives that his party didn't see the need for local government as we know it. Incoming changes to the Resource Management Act meant the justification for local government would not 'continue to exist', said Jones.
The minister then took aim at the Department of Conservation. Because the Wildlife Act enabled it to be a 'major impediment' to development, Jones said 'I want all of that gone'.
But speaking to Newsroom, Jones clarifies that what he really means is the department's land holdings.
In his eyes, Jones is actually seeking to liberate the department 'from the statutory riddle they're having to live in' as a consequence of being made responsible for stewardship land – land he says was put under their care decades ago because it simply had nowhere else to go.
Jones does not think the department is capable of – nor should even be responsible for – legislative matters like 'making expeditious decisions that open up the DoC estate to a variety of other uses'.
With legal responsibility for nearly a third of the country's land, the conservation estate includes areas containing gold and rare minerals like antimony. Jones says New Zealand 'cannot afford' not to mine these resources.
Even so, Jones does not believe the department should go the way of the Archey's Frog – a native, endangered New Zealand species found atop a rich gold deposit, to which the minister was willing to say 'goodbye, Freddie' last year.
'There will always be a need for an agency that represents conservation and national parks and other rare blocks of land,' Jones says. 'But we cannot have a situation where nearly a third of the country's landscape is managed for preservation purposes. New Zealand cannot afford that.'
Jones feels 'some sympathy for the DoC workers', as he sees them pulled in opposite directions by the dual agendas of economic development and preservationism.
The Department of Conservation has faced litigation from 'a whole variety of stakeholders, including hapū', says Jones, which does nothing to increase its efficiency.
The department is best-suited to looking after national park land and 'catching rats and killing cats and stray dogs and various other critters that are undermining biodiversity'.
Much of the tension hinges on the status of stewardship and conservation land, technically under the department's purview but never intended to be permanently so. Jones says it was just 'parked there as a part of Rogernomics'.
'There's nothing to stop us from exploring the creation of a Public Lands Commission, and that commission can hold land that isn't actually required for Department of Conservation purposes,' Jones says.
Green MP Steve Abel, who followed Jones' original remarks in the select committee hearing, disagrees.
Abel says stewardship land ought to be gazetted as conservation estate. Among it is 'some of the most extraordinary ecological values, of the highest ecological worth that we have in the whole conservation estate – it just hasn't been designated yet as that'.
Jones' description of stewardship land as unworthy of conservation 'misleads people to think that stewardship land hasn't got huge ecological value, which much of it does'.
Jones' remarks probably wouldn't wash with majority sentiment, Abel says. 'I don't believe New Zealanders want to see our environment pressed for the profits of some Aussie gold miners.'
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RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Protesters confront Resources Minister Shane Jones in Whangārei over fast-track projects
The protesters confront Resources Minister Shane Jones. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Up to 100 protesters have confronted Resources Minister Shane Jones in Whangārei in a show of opposition to two fast-track projects they say will cause long-term harm to the environment. The at times raucous protest took place in driving rain on Saturday afternoon, as party faithful were arriving for a New Zealand First meeting at McKay Stadium. Some protesters had travelled from the Bay of Islands to oppose a planned 250-berth marina at isolated Waipiro Bay, near Russell; while others came from Bream Bay to highlight their concerns about a large-scale, offshore sand-mining proposal. Both projects are currently making their way through the government's fast-tracked consenting process. Four-year-old Tahuhu-nui-o-rangi Wakefield-Bigelow at the protest. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf The Waipiro Bay Marina, if it goes ahead, will involve significant dredging and reclamation, loss of public access, and the construction of up to 250 berths - including 14 for 50-metre superyachts - as well as shops, parking and a boat ramp. Kohu Hakaraia, of Te Rāwhiti hapū Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha, said the fast-track process silenced community voices. "We're deeply concerned that nine hectares or more will be gifted to a private developer for their own profit," she said. "This has been a kai gathering spot for our whānau for generations. Our rangatira Te Wharerahi lived on the pā there. It's got a lot of cultural and environmental significance for our whole community, Māori and Pākehā." Protesters voice their feelings over two controversial fast-track projects. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Hakaraia said the fast-track system was unfair because developers had money to commission reports and hire any number of experts. All the hapū could do, with limited funds, was try to rebut their claims. "We're really marginalised and disadvantaged because we don't have the same resources as they do. It's David and Goliath," she said. Jones was unapologetic when he came out to address the protesters. He told the crowd his bottom line was that he was pro industry, and pro economic growth. Resources Minister Shane Jones addresses the protesters. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf "Politics is a contest of ideas and I accept the ideas you represent are not consistent with what I stand for, but that's what democracy is about. You have the right to protest, and I have the right to run my narrative on behalf of my leader and the party we belong we to," he said, his voice drowned out at times by chants of "Shame on Shane". If a project was rejected under the fast-track process, it should be for reasons of science, Jones said. "Let it not be on hyperbole or hysteria. Let it be on studies to do with the ocean, while also taking account of economic development. Trust in the process that's been set up. That's not unreasonable to ask," he said. Meanwhile, Bream Bay Guardians spokesman Malcolm Morrison said his community was deeply concerned by McCallum Brothers' proposal to mine roughly 9 million cubic metres of sand over 35 years. "The problems with sand mining in Bream Bay is that it's a closed sand system. Once you've taken sand out, it's not replaced by sand from the ocean, its just gone. And once that happens the beaches will start degrading." Morrison said the process of "sucking up sand with a giant vacuum cleaner" would kill or maim vast numbers of scallops. Bream Bay Guardians spokesman Malcolm Morrison of Langs Beach. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf He was hoping Jones would cancel the project's fast-track process before it even reached the expert panel stage. If that didn't happen, the group had a fighting fund ready, he said. "We will be fighting tooth and nail with our experts against anything that anyone else puts up ... and it that fails we'll be monitoring them until they want to go home." Jay Howell, who lived near the proposed Waipiro Bay development, said both Russell Boating Club and Opua Cruising Club were strongly opposed. While jobs were badly needed in Northland, the marina would not provide substantial numbers of jobs as claimed by the developers, Azuma Property and Hopper Developments, or by Minister Chris Bishop, he said. Protesters against the Waipiro Bay Marina proposal march on Western Hills Drive in Whangārei. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf "The fast-track process takes away Northland's voice to determine how Northland should be developed, and we do need development. We just need sensible development that the community is involved in. This is being imposed on us and it's being developed for the wealthy." The number of jobs cited in the marina's fast-track application had been "grossly over-exaggerated" by adding long-term jobs and short-term construction roles together, and claiming the total was valid for a 30-year period, Howell said. Kororāreka Marae chairwoman Deb Rewiri. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Kororāreka Marae chairwoman Deb Rewiri, of Russell, said her concern was with the process. "It doesn't actually give an opportunity for whānau, hapū and iwi in that whole consultation process. It's not okay, not in a democracy," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Letters to Editor: inquiry, 1080, airport
Today's letters to the Editor include discussion about the inquiry into the government response to the Covid-19 pandemic, 1080 drops by DOC, and an airport in Central Otago. It is reported that former ministers have refused to attend a Royal Commission of Inquiry hearing. (ODT 14.8.25) That is probably well advised, as we have seen the venom expressed by a few members of our society who sometimes have anonymously created a web of hatred and misleading theory over the actions of the Labour government trying to protect us from the effects of this new and unknown pandemic. Yes there were mistakes made, and some suffered the emotional loss of not being with their dearest as they died. Some found the mandates offensive, and some were concerned about loss of personal freedom. The hearing will give some more insight into the causes and effects of a worldwide pandemic such as this. The steps taken were, I believe, in good faith and given that this pandemic was a new and unknown viral variation, the government under advice, took the only steps it could. It is worthwhile reading the article "Analysing past pandemics to inform future responses" (ODT 13.8.25). This outlined just how quickly the Spanish Flu of 1918 spread; and remember, no commercial airlines. It was estimated that worldwide 50 million people died. New Zealand lost 9000 in six weeks. That is equivalent to 40,000 today. Preparedness and survival during the next pandemic will depend on readiness and mandates such as vaccines and movement control, so we should be grateful for the work that our epidemiologists are doing. You may be alive and angry, but please consider those who survived because of strong mitigation by our leaders who tried to do the right thing. David Blair Port Chalmers [Abridged — length. Editor.] Take care I have observed that for some time there has been a crashed car down the bank on one of the corners of Three Mile Hill. There is a temporary speed limit of 30kmh on a section of the corners which has now become semi-permanent, with the recommended speed signs being replaced by circular 30 signs. The question arises as to why the crashed car has not been removed? On the subject of the temporary speed restriction, I have endeavoured to reduce my normal speed and stick to the limit. This has inevitably caused some impatient motorists to tailgate and on one occasion, the person passed me on a blind corner with another car coming the other way. My message is to drive with care over Three Mile Hill, especially in winter. John Batt Wakari Surcharge woes This government is not spending wisely, as they claim. Telling thousands of retailers that they are not allowed to add a surcharge for credit and contactless etc payments will result in employing lots of people to administer/prosecute those that don't comply which is wasteful. By telling banks that they can't charge retailers extra for that service when there are very few of them to check up on is much better. Banks make huge profits: they can carry that extra cost. Retailers that are struggling won't have to increase their costs to cover what the banks are charging for that service, thus not increasing the pressure on the cost of living. What is the government afraid of? Robert Morey Dunedin Centenary North Otago Rural Women New Zealand will be celebrating the centenary of the founding of the organisation with a luncheon at the Brydone Hotel on August 29. Guest speaker will be ODT business and rural editor Sally Rae. Registration of interest from current and former members: Judy Kingan jaydeekgn@ The reason why use of 'super toxin' opposed RE the ODT article "Doc claims predators bigger threat than 1080" (9.8.25). Having monitored several 1080 poison drops, one in particular defies all the robust science I have read and what I have witnessed. In 2002 Ecological Networks carried out, at the request of Doc, a study on the effects of 1080 poison on tomtits in the Waianakarua Scenic Reserve. Three days after the drop I and a few others had a casual walk through the poisoned area and picked up 16 dead tomtits along with dead brown creeper, a grey warbler and blackbirds. More decomposed bird carcasses were found in later months. The only dead predators found were half a dozen possums: no rats, cats, mice, ferrets, stoats, hedgehogs or weasels but plenty of dead deer and birds. All tomtits were offered to the Doc for autopsy: they declined saying 'we only have funding for one autopsy a year'. Sometime later I was invited along with other interested parties to a Maf biosecurity meeting in Christchurch to discuss a pest management strategy in Christchurch at which Doc didn't turn up. I took to the meeting a map of all the grid-referenced dead birds found in the Waianakarua Scenic Reserve to show a senior Landcare scientist in attendance and asked him to extrapolate the total bird deaths in the 4000ha reserve. He said he had heard of that operation; he came up with a figure that astounded me — 10,000. Is it any wonder I and many others continually oppose the use of this poison known as a super toxin? Lewis Hore Oamaru Plot loss It seems Dunedin City Council has more interest in creating playgrounds in George St than in creating essential parking or drop-off areas for hospital staff. Have we not lost the plot here? Graham Kitchin Oamaru Common sense hoped for in airport debate There has been quite a lot of plotting to build a new international airport somewhere in Central Otago. Christchurch City Holdings seem hell-bent on a new airport at Tarras. But when you land there you would require a bus to Queenstown which would take 90 minutes or more. Not acceptable. It is my contention that these plans are seriously flawed. Firstly the government, I'm sure, would possibly like fewer airports in the South Island not more. I doubt if it would support this pie-in-the-sky plan. Secondly it would seem to me to be far more practical to expand the Dunedin airport, particularly internationally, and then arrange domestic flights to Wanaka, Queenstown or anywhere. If you fly into San Francisco and want to go inland this is achieved with a domestic service rather than building a new international airport inland. I hope common sense prevails. Andrew Burton Lowburn Letters changes The Otago Daily Times welcomes letters. They are a vital part of the newspaper, and an important forum for readers to express their views. To make it easier for us to receive your letters we have created a new email address — letters@ — for you to write to us at. The old system, whereby letters were sent to an "editor" address, meant that letters were being missed due to the sheer volume of emails received. Letters will receive an automatic reply to say that the ODT has received your submission and that it is under consideration. Letters longer than 250 words may require abridgement; in some cases they will be rejected because they are too long. Our letters rules are at the bottom of the page. Rest assured, all letters sent to the ODT are read. However, we will seldom enter into discussion about selection or editing. We look forward to receiving your letters at letters@ — Editor
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Amend away, amend away
Dunedin Labour MP Rachel Brooking has run a few marathons in her time, and she put in another long-distance effort in the House this week. She wasn't keeping count, but by my tally she delivered 31 speeches this week — and it would have been 32 but for her having to leave for the airport on Thursday afternoon to catch the last convenient flight home. As would be expected, it was the Resource Management Act which dominated Brooking's week, although she also found the time to delve into the inner workings of the Local Government (Water Services) Bill, and the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill as well. It was the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill which kept Brooking going for most of the week though. The relevant minister, Chris Bishop, has been labouring with a heavy cold all week and his heart must have sunk as Brooking — armed with pens, post-it notes and slabs of drafts and amendment papers — rose to her feet on Tuesday afternoon. Parliament is blessed with many MPs who can pick the minutest bone with any word or sentence — the Greens' Lawrence Xu-Nan and Bishop himself when in Opposition spring to mind — but few are as forensic and diligent as Brooking when it comes to working through clauses and sub-clauses. And she had plenty of material, the minister having just that morning tabled a substantial amendment paper. So substantial, in fact, that what Brooking suspected had happened was that the version of the Bill reported back from select committee — and not as yet agreed to by Parliament — had been used as the template for the soon to be amended again Bill. "This is a terrible way to make laws," Brooking lamented. "It's very frustrating, when you have been through a select committee process and have asked about the wording of different phrases and made amendments in the select committee process, to see that all upended on the day of the committee stage of the Bill." Bishop, to his credit, was somewhat repentant about that: "In mitigation, most of the changes in the Amendment Paper have been publicly announced, in some cases, a couple of months, if not earlier, than today. So members have had a good opportunity to kick those issues around." As it turned out, they were about to do a lot more kicking ... and not without good reason, as the Bill — now an Act — attempted to achieve a heck of a lot within its many pages. The much-criticised RMA is due to be axed next year: in the meantime the Amendment Act makes a many short-term changes to time frames for consent processing in areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy, farming and consenting after natural disaster. It is very broad in some places and narrowly specific in others — such as allowing the demolition of Wellington's Gordon Wilson flats and allowing Auckland to develop land around its railway stations. A lot of this is reasonable, Brooking agreed, in her third reading speech. "Labour was supporting this Bill when it was introduced and even at the second reading, despite having concerns about some of the changes that were made at select committee," she said. "But something happened on Tuesday morning. That was that a very large Amendment Paper was dropped and it made significant changes to the Bill. Changes that we were not even able to debate in this House because government members chose to stand up and close the debate on these very important aspects." Brooking then proceeded to give the government a stern and emotional telling off for its terrible law making ... none of which was enough to stop it being passed by lunchtime Thursday. Best supporting actor Taieri Green list MP Scott Willis also deserves an honorable mention in despatches for his efforts this week. Not only did he put his shoulder to the wheel with a succession of interventions on the aforementioned RMA Bill, he also had a crack at Science minister Shane Reti during Question Time on Thursday concerning job losses in the sector. Answering Willis' question about how many jobs had been lost in the sector since the formation of the government, Reti conceded that 134 jobs were to go with the disestablishment of Callaghan Innovation — the point that Willis was trying to make — but Reti also highlighted a Stats NZ survey which suggested a recent increase of people working in the sector. Which is not the same as jobs being lost, a point Willis soon made ... as well as pointedly asking if those laid-off scientists would be heading to the airport departure lounge post-haste. "I think that scientists who have been disestablished through part of the reforms will have a skill set that will be able to be applied in other parts of the science sector," Reti replied — which is true, but which also side-stepped the question of in which country's science sector that might be.
