Latest news with #RichardCapie
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Weak Environmental Standards Threaten Nature And Communities
Press Release – Forest And Bird The Government has announced proposals for new national environmental standards and national policy statements. This is just the latest blow in the Governments dismantling of environmental protections, says Richard Capie, Forest & Birds … 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
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.'
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.
