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Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Wapiti presence key for park: advocates
Eliminating wapiti from Fiordland National Park will end up destroying the park, a backer of the exotic breed says. Earlier this month, Forest & Bird hit out at Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager's announcement the government planned to make wapiti a herd of special interest that would allow them to live in Fiordland National Park. Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki questioned why help would be given to 512 hunters shooting 86 deer in a national park. The introduced feral species damaged the natural habitat of endangered species. Fiordland Wapiti Foundation founder and general manager Roy Sloan was baffled by the comments from Forest & Bird and said the wapiti were helping conservation efforts. He was aware Ms Toki had been into the area to see the foundation's conservation work. He also said Ms Toki's figures were incorrect. ''What about the 1200 deer that we shoot every year for the benefit of conservation outcomes? ''It's not about a big vege patch, it's about who is protecting the sanctuary.'' The foundation's ''number one purpose'' was to protect Fiordland National Park, he said. Controlling the deer numbers also managed their impact and maintained the quality of the animal. ''We're the only ones undertaking deer control in Fiordland National Park,'' Mr Sloan said. Forest & Bird said undermining the incredible landscapes and habitats of Fiordland National Park so a few hunters could shoot a small number of deer each year was catering to a handful of vested interests at the expense of all New Zealanders. ''To be clear, Forest & Bird is not anti-hunting. Hunting is part of the toolbox in tackling the out-of-control numbers of browsing animals that are causing significant damage to New Zealand's environment and many of our members are keen hunters. However, we are equally clear that putting precious time and taxpayer money into a Herd of Special Interest is not a priority.'' It said the government was looking at changing the law to let a North American deer species use the national park as a ''glorified vege patch''. Hunters also donated multiple tonnes of venison to food banks and KiwiHarvest. Doc national programmes director Ben Reddiex said the organisation monitored all deer populations and vegetation but also supported the foundation's work. The foundation managed wapiti in a designated area to limit wapiti-red deer hybrid offspring being established by the red deer that were widespread throughout the park. Mr Sloan believed if wapiti were removed and the foundation closed, the park would be decimated by the red deer population which hunters helped to keep under control. The foundation had been managing the wapiti population since 1991 and members considered themselves ''guardians''. The foundation had also managed, paid for, and operated more than 550 predator control traps in five river catchments in the Glaisnock Wilderness area to protect native birds since its predator trapping programme started in 2005. Hunters reported bird species sightings via an app and had amassed more than 40,000 hours of native bird monitoring each year or the equivalent of 20 years' work for one person, he said. Since 2005, members had seen the threatened Northern Fiordland whio (blue duck) population increase to up to 3000 birds. The ducks are particularly vulnerable to stoats. Other native bird species had also benefited from the predator control programme, he said. One of the last strongholds of kiwi was in the designated wapiti area. The foundation's goals had always been conservation first and based on having a low number of high-quality healthy wapiti that enabled the native fauna and flora to thrive — a healthy environment also meant a healthy wapiti herd, Mr Sloan said. The foundation's conservation model was attracting international interest as ''one of the top models on the planet''.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Weak Environmental Standards Threaten Nature And Communities
New Zealand's environment and communities will face greater pollution, increased biodiversity loss and environmental damage, with a long-term cost to the economy, if today's Government rollbacks come into effect. The Government has announced proposals for new national environmental standards and national policy statements. These proposed changes – which include weakening protections for freshwater, coastal areas, wetlands, and native species – will put nature at increased risk from things such as water pollution under the Resource Management Act. 'This is just the latest blow in the Government's dismantling of environmental protections,' says Richard Capie, Forest & Bird's group manager, Conservation Advocacy and Policy. 'It feels like a century of evidence about how much we rely on the environment and how degraded it is becoming, has just drifted past this Government. 'Without a healthy, well-functioning natural environment, our homes, towns, farms, and infrastructure are at risk in the face of a changing climate. 'The Government seems determined to strip away protections for nature, yet most New Zealanders just want clean, healthy ecosystems and thriving communities. They have consistently said that they want to be able to swim in their local rivers and beaches, have safe drinkable water, and for our wildlife and wild places to flourish. 'Instead, these proposals pave the way for weak environmental standards that will mean more pollution and put more pressure on our already endangered species and vulnerable habitats. 'Our export economy runs on clean water, a liveable climate, low pollution, and a breathtaking natural world. Our EU and UK trading relationships are based on the promise that we will raise environmental standards, not lower them. Weakening environmental standards will harm us and our international reputation.' The proposed changes include: Making it much easier to mine and quarry in areas that contain significant indigenous biodiversity, as well as wetlands, by removing existing requirements that protect nature. Introducing a new national direction for infrastructure and amended direction on electricity generation projects, which is likely to mean a reduction in protections for biodiversity, natural landscapes, and seascapes. Amending the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 to make it easier to consent activities in the vulnerable coastal and inshore environment, including in areas with important coastal value (which are already faced with significant pressures). Removing 'Te Mana o te Wai', our overarching freshwater guiding concept which currently prioritises looking after the environment and human needs. This change will result in the weakening of freshwater protections, enabling more pollution in waterways, increased loss of essential wetlands, overallocation issues, and more. Removing the requirement to exclude grazed beef cattle and deer in low intensity farm systems from wetlands; wetlands are essential in supporting biodiversity and a haven for our threatened species. Forest & Bird will be calling for urgent improvements to the national standards and policy statements to ensure nature and communities are better protected. We urge the Government to: Prioritise nature-based solutions for managing natural hazards and infrastructure. Working with nature – rather than against it – allows local and regional government to protect nature, reduce costs, and create more resilient communities. Strengthen freshwater rules by retaining Te Mana o te Wai, seeking swimmable rivers and strengthening bottom lines for pollution and the health of freshwater. Protect biodiversity on private land by supporting and encouraging landowners to look after significant ecological areas and penalising the destruction of important habitats. Protect and restore wetlands so we can increase critical habitat for endangered species and support carbon sinks to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Safeguard our delicate coastal and inshore marine environments so that they are protected from further degradation and biodiversity loss. 'National environmental standards and national policy statements must serve future generations – our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren,' says Mr Capie. 'They need to be enduring, not focused on short-term interests.'
Scoop
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Denniston Should Be Scientific Reserve, Not Fast-tracked Coal Mine
Forest & Bird is calling on the Government to create a new scientific reserve covering the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast to save it from being mined for coal. 'Public conservation land should be for nature. Aotearoa New Zealand needs habitat for kiwi, not opencast coal mines,' says Richard Capie, General Manager for Advocacy. At a 'Celebrating Denniston' event over the weekend, Forest & Bird members and supporters visited the plateau, discussed its significance and how to save it. 'There is nowhere else in the world like this. It's a treasure trove of nature's curiosities, from unique icicle-like mosses to the unusual yellow variant of the West Coast green gecko,' says Mr Capie. 'Coal mining will destroy this forever. Once it is mined it will never be the same again, and we could be losing cryptic species we don't even know are there.' The Mount Rochfort Conservation Area, which includes most of the Denniston Plateau, is one of the conservation stewardship land areas currently being considered for reclassification by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, with decisions expected next month. The national panel convened to look at reclassifications proposed it as conservation park, and did not recommend any areas as scientific reserve which would reflect its importance and protect it from coal mining. The Denniston area is also the site of one of the projects listed in New Zealand First's original drafting of a fast-track law. Coal mining company Bathurst Resources is expected to put in an application soon to mine 20 million tonnes of coal over 25 years. 'We're in the middle of a climate crisis, and the Government is trying to lock in new coal mining right up until 2050. To allow that, they've created the fast-track law to avoid public consultation and environmental safeguards.' When resource consent commissioners granted consent for a previous mine on the Denniston Plateau, they stated they did it with 'considerable reservations and anguish", adding: "From the evidence presented to us, it is abundantly clear that large scale mining is poised to invade the entire Denniston Plateau coal reserves which if unchecked, will totally destroy the ecosystems which are present." 'The Government pushing through that massive coal mining expansion is the threat we now face,' says Mr Capie. 'That's why Forest & Bird supporters and scientists gathered at Denniston this weekend, to showcase the intricacy and significance of the landscape. 'In a climate crisis New Zealand needs to protect the homes of endangered species, not destroy them for new coal mines.'
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Better sea bird protection sought amid ‘crisis'
International experts representing 13 countries met in Dunedin this week to discuss better protection for seabirds; yesterday delegates visited the Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH New Zealand is seeking better protection for seabirds from high-seas fisheries amid a "conservation crisis" at a meeting of 13 countries in Dunedin this week, the Department of Conversation (Doc) says. The week-long Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (Acap) meeting of the parties concludes in Dunedin today. The meeting's chairwoman, Doc international manager Danica Stent, said scientists presented an "extremely grim picture of ongoing population declines of the world's albatross and petrels". Nearly 70%, or 21, of the 31 Acap-listed species were at risk of extinction, and more than half were experiencing long-term, ongoing decline. High-seas tuna longline fisheries presented one of the biggest threats to albatrosses and petrels and international studies suggested between 160,000 to 300,000 birds were killed by longline fishers each year, Ms Stent said. Representatives from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, France, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom and Uruguay attended. Taiwan attended as an observer and Forest & Bird, Birdlife International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) were also represented. "New Zealand's aim was to agree to an ambitious programme of work, acknowledging the urgency of the albatross and petrel conservation crisis. "A key focus for New Zealand was seeking countries' commitment to step up efforts to implement Acap's best practice advice about how to prevent capture of seabirds in fisheries," Ms Stent said. A northern royal albatross (toroa) chick sits on its nest at the albatross colony at Taiaroa Head yesterday. New Zealand was an international leader on seabird conservation and working to save them was a priority, she said. More seabird species bred in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world, and 90% of these species were under threat. Some were at risk of extinction within decades unless international co-operation led to change, she said. "No matter how well we do at home to get rid of predators from nest sites and reduce seabird bycatch in our waters, we will still lose our birds if we do not address bycatch on the high seas. "Acap is the leading international organisation for seabird conservation, and it enables the collaboration we need to save our birds. "The main barrier to saving our seabirds is that Acap has produced best-practice advice on how to minimise bycatch, but this is not implemented in high-seas fisheries." The meeting of the parties took place every three years and countries decided what work they would undertake together to reverse the decline of albatrosses and petrels, she said. At this week's meeting, members agreed to step up communications and engagement to ensure "the message about the seabird crisis and solutions reaches key audiences". It would also help to influence change in high-seas fisheries more effectively, she said.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
No Nature, No Economy: Budget 2025 Misses The $133b Point
Forest & Bird says the Government's lack of investment in New Zealand's environment in Budget 2025 is deeply concerning given the importance of the environment to our economy and society. The organisation says Aotearoa needs to invest around $2 billion a year to prevent extinctions and restore te taiao. This work is essential to protect more than $133 billion in natural assets that deliver an estimated $11 billion in environmental services and protect the wild places and wildlife that are so important to Kiwis. New Zealand's economy – including primary industries, tourism, or exports that trade on nature's reputation – is underpinned by a healthy and vibrant environment. Richard Capie, GM Advocacy says: "This Budget misses the mark in recognising just how vital the environment is to our economy and our society. Te taiao nature is on life-support. Seventy-five percent of indigenous species are threatened with extinction or are at risk of becoming threatened with extinction. This matters to New Zealanders. We value our beaches and our forests, our kiwi and our kākāpō. Our unique environment is a deep part of our identity. 'This Government is cutting conservation funding to the bone, and at the same time has introduced policies like fast-track, selling off conservation land, removing freshwater protections and weakening marine protections – of all which undermine environment protections further. Now we can add getting rid of the Nature Heritage Fund – which has protected hundreds of thousands of hectares of land – to this list. We can and should be doing better.' There are targeted investments in the environment that could make a real difference to New Zealand's long-term prosperity: Eradicating the ocean weed caulerpa from northern coastal areas before it smothers vast areas of the seabed. Reducing deer, tahr, goats, and pigs to levels that will protect biodiversity, farmland, and forestry. Increasing levels of pest control across conservation land and boosting support for Predator Free 2050. Fixing forestry settings to incentivise native forestry over exotic monocultures. Investing in nature-based solutions that deliver biodiversity and community resilience. This budget falls short. A healthy environment is non-negotiable.
