[ACT] Sandra Lee's Good Intentions Were Not Enough -- Gerry

[a...@parliament.govt.nz]

Sandra Lee's Good Intentions Were Not Enough

Tuesday 18 Jun 2002
Gerry Eckhoff
Press Releases -- Environment & Conservation
(view HTML version at: http://www.act.org.nz/item.jsp?id=22672 )

Despite Sandra Lee's good intentions, her contribution to the recovery
of the Kiwi has been blighted by her failure to engage private
landowners in management of indigenous wildlife.

"Private landowners hold the key to the ultimate survival of the kiwi
through the use of "Significant Natural Areas" (SNAs) on private land.

"The Minister of Conservation's attitude to private stewardship has
been one of the major impediments to the recovery of kiwi numbers.
The Government monopoly has failed to deliver. Until the Government
fully engages private landowners in the "Kiwi Recovery Programme"
their efforts will amount to no more than window dressing.

"Over $340m has been allocated in the budget for back country huts and
tracks. How is this a priority? The money would be better spent on
predator fencing of SNAs instead of political pandering.

"Propagation of native plants by private companies has resulted in a
flourishing trade in native plants. There is no reason to suppose
that such a trade in wildlife would not be equally successful.

"The survival of wildlife should never be about ideology," Gerry
Eckhoff said.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or
contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at a...@parliament.govt.nz.