In the case of the claim passing the Conservation Amendment Bill would allow the government to flog off 60% of the conservation estate, the explaining thus far has not allayed fears.
Conservation minister Tama Potaka, in a fraught exchange in Parliament’s environment committee during scrutiny week, insisted only ‘‘bits and bobs’’ of land with low conservation value could be sold.
Whether the government’s view of what constitutes bits and bobs, that highly scientific and specific term, accords with what others might see as such is a moot point.
Mr Potaka, and the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have referred to places such as the MetService building in Wellington, an old gravel pit reserve in Selwyn, the Belvedere Hall in Carterton, and a borstal in Levin as examples of the sorts of places which could be sold.
They are also adamant the controls around any selling of land will be stringent — the land cannot be important for threatened species or ecosystems or locally significant; Māori rights, public access, recreation values, and wider conservation impacts have to considered.
When presenting the Bill to the House, Mr Potaka described it as a ‘‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reform conservation legislation; to make it clearer, more efficient, more responsive, and, of course, protect the natural places, the historic places, the wondrous heritage, that New Zealanders value most.
‘‘It recognises something important: conservation and economic development do not sit in opposition to one another all the time. Done properly, they can support one another. That’s what we believe in. Strong conservation outcomes support regional jobs; biodiversity; recreation; our international reputation; and of course, tourism.’’
There was already concern about the weight given economic development in the Bill but opposition has ramped up following Forest & Bird producing maps identifying land which could be up for swapping or selling.
Mr Potaka has described the conservation group’s view as ‘‘an overreach and speculation’’.
Parts of Victoria Forest Park, Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve, Conservation Area Wanganui/Otira Catchments, Remarkables Conservation Area, and Catlins Conservation Park are among places in the South Island Forest & Bird say could be at risk of sale or exchange.
This would be on the grounds they might not be considered to be important for the conservation of threatened species or threatened ecosystems, or both, or if they are not considered to be ‘‘the best, or one of the best’’ examples of ecosystem types in an ecological district.
Forest & Bird accepts there are some low value parts of the conservation estate which could be sold, but it is the Bill’s lack of specificity which is concerning. Mr Potaka, on the other hand, says the Bill will provide clear and strong safeguards for processes for the infrequent disposal of low value land.
Disposal or land swaps are not prohibited under existing law. He asks the public to trust him and his passion for conservation and his track record of kaitiakitanga
In one interview, he boldly described National as the party of conservation.
However, he should not be surprised there is scepticism about the government’s enthusiasm for environmental protection.
There does not seem to have been any attempt from National to distance itself from New Zealand First minister Shane Jones with his brazen ‘‘drill, baby, drill’’ rhetoric, and disregard for the welfare of Freddy the frog.
With submissions on the Bill closing in a week’s time, it is likely the select committee will have much feedback to work its way through.
The government seems to have underestimated the public reaction to what it is proposing. As independent researcher and consultant and director of Mataki Environmental Dr Marie Doole points out, it seems unlikely the positive improvements in the Bill will offset public concern and discord over the bulk of changes in the Bill.
Such a risky proposal should have been treated with far more caution, forethought and analysis, she said.
Whether the select committee process can make up for that remains to be seen.
