This page last modified 4 November 1999

Directory

• Conservation Policy
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • Pt Tourism Policy
• Environment Policy
• Indigenous Forests Policy
• Maori Development Policy
• Transport

LABOUR ON CONSERVATION

October 1999

THE CONSERVATION CRISIS

New Zealand has a wonderful natural and historic heritage. It has been estimated that there may be 80,000 species of native animals, fungi and plants in New Zealand of which only 30,000 have been identified. New Zealand has an unusually high representation of "older" plants and animals as a result of isolation from other land forms and many species are endemic [found only in New Zealand]. The absence of mammals in New Zealand resulted in a unique environment in which birds and insects occupied ecological niches which were usually filled by mammals in other lands.

In the last thousand years in New Zealand, humans and their accompanying animals have eliminated over 30 per cent of endemic land and fresh water birds, nearly 20 per cent of endemic seabirds and many species of frogs, fresh water fish, reptiles, bats, snails, insects and plants. Today almost a thousand animal species, plants and fungi have been identified as threatened. Perhaps the most well known of species under severe threat are kiwi, Yellow Eyed Penguin, Hooker's Sealion and Hector's Dolphin but there are many more. Numbers of surviving species have been heavily reduced also.

The main threats to most species result from habitat destruction such as forest clearance and wetland drainage, as well from over-fishing and pressure from introduced pests and weeds. Although nearly 30 per cent of New Zealand is protected in the conservation estate, it consists mainly of steep and mountainous terrain. Lowland forests, dune lands, fresh water systems and tussock grasslands are poorly represented in the conservation estate.

Labour's priorities for conservation are habitat protection and restoration, pest and weed control and eradication, and the protection and restoration of threatened species - on land, in fresh water systems and in the ocean. This will involve the protection and restoration, as far as possible to their original state, of all remaining natural ecosystems in New Zealand.

With more than a thousand years of human habitation, New Zealand has a rich heritage of archaeological sites, waahi tapu and historic structures and buildings. These historic resources are important to New Zealanders, as they tell the physical story of our history and are an important link with our human past. They are a legacy which we hold in trust for future generations. The protection and restoration of historic heritage is a priority for Labour.

Under Labour, the Department of Conservation will provide leadership and support to New Zealand communities working to protect our unique environment. Conservation creates employment as well as other benefits. Labour will reverse the trends of increasing privatisation and diminished central government responsibility characteristic of previous governments.

Our welfare as human beings is fundamentally related to maintaining and restoring indigenous biodiversity and the environment. Nature knows no boundaries. We are all affected by the environmental health of the surrounding oceans and the Antarctic and by activities such as over-fishing. New Zealand's vital primary industries and tourism are dependent on biodiversity and a healthy environment. Effective biosecurity measures are essential for the protection of our biodiversity and to protect New Zealand's primary industries.

Caring for our environment is the responsibility of every New Zealander and we will not succeed unless all sectors and communities work together. Labour will seek co-operation and partnership with conservation groups, local government, business organisations, primary industries, land owners and all communities to achieve the basic goal necessary for our well being.

New Zealand can lead the world in environmental protection, as it has in other areas such as decreasing the nuclear threat, scientific research and sport. New Zealanders possess skills in environmental protection, such as pest eradication, species conservation and research, which are much sought after in overseas countries.

Labour's conservation policy will protect and restore our unique natural and historic heritage for our children and for future generations.

CONSERVATION ADMINISTRATION

Labour led the world by establishing the Department of Conservation in 1987 as the co-ordinator of the Crown's conservation activities. Conservation priorities were paramount and must not now be diluted by commercial pressures.

Labour believes strongly in maintaining DOC as an integrated state department. It is essential for conservation that policy and operational functions remain combined within one department. However, DOC must be properly funded and efficiently run. Staff must be well trained and supported. Labour will expect the highest standards of management and performance from DOC.

DOC must play a leading role in the promotion and maintenance of biodiversity in New Zealand.

Labour will:

• maintain DOC as a key state department with adequate funding to perform its core functions of managing its land and heritage buildings for conservation purposes, advocating the conservation of natural and historic resources generally and promoting the benefits, to present and future generations, of the conservation of the natural and historic resources of New Zealand and New Zealand's Sub-Antarctic islands;
• ensure DOC is able to play a full role in the implementation of the Resource Management Act 1991 through advocacy and by working with local government, communities, conservation groups, landowners and business;
• strengthen biodiversity advice structures within DOC to ensure advice and information on habitat and species protection and on best practice in weed and pest control is available to the public, including restoration and land care groups, landowners and iwi;
• ensure that DOC operates an efficient and successful pest control programme to protect ecosystems on DOC land and that this programme includes making progress on the establishment of mainland islands;
• ensure DOC conservation management and policy is founded on the best ecological science and practical conservation management experience;
• enhance the effectiveness of Conservation Boards, in providing guidance and direction on conservation management, by restoring board membership to 12 members and by encouraging them to develop an increased public advocacy role;
• develop a performance based system to monitor DOC funding of private conservation initiatives.

BIODIVERSITY

Most of New Zealand's native plants, animals and birds are found only on these islands. More than 75 per cent of native birds and 90 per cent of insects are endemic. None of New Zealand's amphibians or land reptiles are found anywhere else in the world. New Zealand's land forms are also unique. Many ecosystems where our unique species live are special to New Zealand. Examples are Northland's kauri forests and South Island braided river systems. The health of our environment depends on retaining all of the unique biodiversity remaining in New Zealand. The nation's economic future depends on a healthy environment.

Various forms of legal protection can assist greatly in the maintenance of our biodiversity. The public conservation estate plays a leading role in this regard, but legal protection on private land is also important.

Labour will:

• complete and implement an integrated policy on biodiversity in accordance with New Zealand's ratification of the International Convention on Biological Diversity, to protect and preserve natural habitats and indigenous biodiversity, both aquatic and terrestrial;
• improve the conservation of wetland and fresh water ecosystems to protect native fresh water fish, plant and other aquatic life by, for example, implementing recovery plans for threatened fresh water species;
• make additions to the public conservation estate, and upgrade the protective status of existing areas as appropriate;
• establish a network of high country tussock land parks and reserves and promote ecologically sustainable land use under the Crown Pastoral Land Act;
• develop the role of DOC and Conservation Boards to work with the public, tangata whenua and local government to identify and protect regional ecosystems through the Protected Natural Areas Programme;
• encourage non governmental sector initiatives to protect native species, habitats and ecosystems, for example by supporting the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society's initiative to create kiwi protection zones to ensure the survival of kiwi on the mainland;
• support private land owners seeking to protect conservation areas through the Nature Heritage Fund, Nga Whenua Rahui, Landcare, Queen Elizabeth II National Trust and other conservation trusts. Encourage local authorities to exempt from rating the areas protected through such organisations;
• ensure that the Conservation Act 1987 and Crown Minerals Act 1991 provide adequate protection from mining activities for areas of significant conservation value;
• amend the Crown Minerals Act 1991 to establish an appropriate process for consideration of prospecting, exploration and mining applications on conservation land not covered by the mineral activity ban, as occurs with other commercial activities such as tourism and recreational concessions.

BIOSECURITY

Biosecurity is essential to protect both New Zealand's biodiversity and New Zealand's primary industries. It is important that all government agencies involved in biosecurity take a strategic and co-ordinated approach. Effective biosecurity protection depends on such elements as mandatory off-shore decontamination and quarantine clearances of high risk imports such as used vehicles and machinery. It also requires the development of safe trading programmes that ensure New Zealand exports gain a world wide reputation as being free of biological contaminants. Wider public input into the development of a national biosecurity policy and priorities could be achieved by appointing representatives of primary industries and environmental organisations to the Biosecurity Council.

It is essential that there are comprehensive pest and disease surveillance programmes in place, particularly around ports and airports, with prompt eradication operations if serious pests breach New Zealand's border defences.

There is also a need for an integrated education programme to raise public and overseas visitor awareness of the importance of biosecurity.

The detail of Labour's policies to address these issues is set out in our Biosecurity policy.

MARINE MANAGEMENT

In relation to its land area, New Zealand has a very lengthy coastline compared with most maritime nations. Our rich marine areas provide food, recreation and entertainment. However, we have abused our marine and coastal ecosystems. Over-fishing has occurred. The marine environment has been subject to the effects of soil erosion and urban and pastoral run-off, careless waste disposal and sewage pollution. Labour will increase protection of marine species and land forms on the ocean floor for the benefit of all New Zealanders by encouraging a more integrated and comprehensive management of the marine environment and the establishment of an ecosystem based management approach.

Labour will:

• develop an integrated approach to marine protection strategies. Review the Marine Reserves Act 1971 to widen the purposes of the Act to include biodiversity protection, education and recreation;
• increase opportunities for public involvement in marine management and ensure genuine consultation with interest groups;
• review other reserves legislation such as the National Parks Act to ensure the interface between the land and the sea is appropriately protected;
• involve Conservation Boards and community groups in the creation of marine reserves to cover 10% of coastline by 2010, ensuring representation of the different types of coastline found in New Zealand, with associated land reserves where possible. This will involve full consultation with New Zealand communities, recreational and commercial fishers and the tangata whenua;
• examine the number, distribution and management of New Zealand's marine mammal sanctuaries to provide more effective protection for marine mammals, including those protecting the Hooker's Sealion around the Auckland Islands and Hector's Dolphin around Banks Peninsula. Labour will also urgently investigate strategies to protect the Hectors Dolphin off the Manakau coast;
• work with the fishing industry to reduce and, where possible, eliminate the by-catch of marine mammals, sea birds and non target fish species in New Zealand's fisheries;
• work through international organisations to achieve stronger protection for whales in the southern oceans, in particular an end to "scientific" whaling;
• increase research as part of a programme to improve the understanding of ocean ecosystems and the provision of more easily accessible information;
• work to ensure that the development of aquaculture does not unduly compromise the natural and recreational qualities of the coast;
• retain Crown authority over fisheries management, enforcement and relevant research, while developing a more co-operative relationship with the fishing industry and other stakeholders;
• improve liaison between DOC and the Ministry of Fisheries to develop strategies to protect fish biomass and marine organisms, such as environmental assessment, method area impact studies, "no take areas" and the requirement for research programmes to estimate environmental baselines and impacts;
• enhance research on sustainable yields based on the best available data to assess fish biomass. Provide adequate observer coverage on fishing boats to avoid destructive fishing methods such as dredging, bottom trawling and bycatch. Advocate the precautionary approach especially in cases of uncertainty.

Labour will also consider establishing an Oceans Commission to bring fisheries, environment, scientific, conservation, Treaty and other issues together in a more holistic approach to marine management.

An Oceans Commission could:

• review the interface between the Resource Management Act, the Fisheries Act and other legislation affecting the marine environment to ensure New Zealand law takes an integrated approach to marine management, including aquaculture management;
• monitor and provide ongoing advice on marine management issues within New Zealand's exclusive economic zone, coastal areas and marine reserves.

MÄORI AND CONSERVATION

Our first National Park, Tongariro, was made possible by a gift from Ngati Tuwharetoa to the Crown of the three peaks Tongariro, Ngaruahoe and Ruapehu.

Mäori are concerned about the loss of species of particular value to Mäori because of their cultural significance. Effective consultation with Mäori is important both directly and through representation on statutory boards such as Conservation Boards and the Conservation Authority.

Large areas of conservation land are subject to Treaty of Waitangi claims. In some cases, these relate to a specific site or area. In others, conservation lands are involved because they represent most of the land remaining in Crown ownership in a given region. It is essential that outstanding Treaty claims be processed within a reasonable period. Delays may compromise protection of conservation values.

Labour will:

• continue to build and support co-operation between management agencies, iwi and hapu in the conservation management of habitats and native species within rohe or tribal areas in order to give better recognition to the relationship of Mäori with the natural environment of New Zealand, as provided for in the Treaty of Waitangi
• involve Mäori in conservation management through consultation and representation on statutory advisory boards and participation in practical conservation management projects
• promote the conservation and restoration of valued species of significance to Mäori such as kereru, tuna [eel], harakeke, pingao and totara.
• promote conservation on Mäori land by increasing funding for Nga Whenua Rahui.
• facilitate development of taiapure reserves, provided for in the Fisheries Act 1996, and mataitai reserves managed by kaitiaki under the Mäori customary fishing regulations
• develop a national policy on customary use of native plants and animals that promotes the conservation and restoration of native species and does not compromise the existing protection status of native wildlife

HISTORIC HERITAGE

With more than 1000 years of human habitation, New Zealand has a rich heritage of archaeological sites, waahi tapu, and historic structures and buildings. These historic resources are important to New Zealanders, as they tell the physical story of our history and are an important link with our human past. They are a legacy which we hold in trust for future generations.

Over the last 20 years there has been a huge loss of historic buildings and sites of significance to Mäori. Like many of our indigenous plant and animal species many historic heritage places are endangered and are irreplaceable.

Labour recognises that the vast majority of historic places and sites are in private ownership and will remain in private ownership. Many of these privately owned sites and places are of national significance and their protection and preservation is in the interests of all New Zealanders.

Labour also recognises that there are a smaller number of nationally significant buildings and sites that must be retained in public ownership. They are of such outstanding cultural or historic significance that their retention and conservation are of the highest importance to the nation.

Central government has a responsibility wherever practicable to lead by example in the retention and maintenance of Crown owned nationally significant heritage buildings and sites outside of the conservation estate.

Historic heritage is also an important economic resource, adaptive re-use and heritage based tourism are already making a contribution to the economy and have significant potential to grow in importance. Recent heritage projects in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington and Napier are evidence of the growing recognition of the positive role that heritage can play in economic development.

Protecting and restoring historic heritage requires fresh thinking and a partnership between central government, local government, iwi and private property owners. We hold this legacy in trust for future generations.

Labour will:

• recognise the national importance of retaining and protecting heritage buildings, places and objects and wahi tapu;
• develop a nationally consistent strategy for identification and assessment of heritage places and a nationally co-ordinated publicly available database of heritage places;
• encourage local communities, central and local government to protect, restore and enhance their historic heritage by economic and other incentives;
• provide funding for the New Zealand Historic Places Trust so that it can continue to promote the protection of New Zealand's historic places and to fulfil its statutory functions;
• acknowledge the tangata whenua and the Treaty of Waitangi by providing support for the development of protocols between Mäori groups and local authorities to protect Mäori taonga.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

New Zealand's unique natural heritage offers a wide range of exciting recreational opportunities from the mountains to the sea. Labour believes that our mountains, forests, wetlands, lakes, rivers and coastal waters must be accessible to New Zealanders of all ages and lifestyles. Time spent in the outdoors improves physical and mental health, awareness of the environment and pride in ourselves as a nation.

As the population becomes more urbanised, people will seek areas in which to enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation. The increase in outdoor education programmes in schools and training courses has also increased awareness of the recreational capacity of our forests and natural landscape.

Access to waterways and wilderness areas will give us a unique advantage as both New Zealanders and tourists seek new and different forms of recreation.

Co-existence between the natural environment and recreational activities is essential if we are to gain maximum benefit from outdoor recreation.

Labour will:

• protect the quality of outdoor recreational experiences for all New Zealanders, including those who are currently under represented among those who enjoy outdoor recreation, including people with disabilities or on low incomes;
• develop a strategy for the extension of the Queen's Chain to ensure New Zealanders have improved access to our waterways and coastline;
• undertake an urgent review of the condition of back country huts and tracks with a view to restoring them to a state that will ensure safe access to the back country;
• ensure that free public access is maintained to Crown lands where it does not impede the functions of the administrative organisation;
• increase free public access to our waterways and coastline by improving the effectiveness of the esplanade provisions of the Resource Management Act;
• ensure that New Zealand's natural recreational resources are not captured for exclusive commercial use but remain freely available for reasonable public enjoyment;
• protect public sports fishing and game bird hunting, and if necessary amend the provisions of the Conservation and Wildlife Acts relating to the sale of fishing and hunting rights to close any loophole that permits the sale of access rights for these activities;
• increase promotion of outdoor recreation;
• ensure that DOC's visitor policy is consistent with DOC's paramount focus on conservation "to foster the use of natural and historic resources for recreation, and to allow their use for tourism";
• encourage the completion of Te Araroa, "the long pathway" from North Cape to Bluff, in the South Island.

ANTARCTICA AND THE SUB-ANTARCTIC ISLANDS

The beautiful and unique continent of Antarctica has one of the world's harshest climates yet the surrounding oceans and Sub-Antarctic islands are rich in bird and marine life, including krill vital to the ocean food chain. Marine and bird species are under attack by uncontrolled or illegal fishing. Whales are threatened by so-called "scientific" whaling.

Labour will:

• ensure New Zealand is an active member of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty;
• protect Antarctic species through the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources;
• advocate the protection of Antarctica as a world park, free from mining and other threats to its near pristine environment;
• support scientific research initiatives so that New Zealand can learn from the unique scientific opportunities available in Antarctica;
• establish marine reserves around the Sub-Antarctic islands to protect marine life and to enhance sustainable fisheries management.

ECO-TOURISM

Tourism is a vital part of the New Zealand economy providing jobs and economic growth for communities throughout New Zealand. Eco-tourism based on New Zealand's beautiful scenery and environment is possibly the single most important part of the tourist industry. Sustainable development of tourism is essential to protect the attractions which bring millions of visitors to New Zealand each year.

Labour will:

• promote more eco-tourism opportunities, including historical heritage tourism, by ensuring better co-ordination of central and local government and private sector initiatives;
• ensure that tourism strategies encourage the appreciation of New Zealand's natural and historic heritage and avoid harmful impacts on the conservation estate;
• involve the Department of Conservation in developing a strategy for sustainable tourism for New Zealand.

CONSERVATION FUNDING

Labour has a long-standing commitment to investment in conservation. Labour established the Department of Conservation in 1987 to ensure that New Zealand's natural wildlife, forests, shrub lands, mountains, lakes, rivers and wetlands are protected and will be here for our children to see.

This is our heritage, and it is under threat. One of more than 1000 threatened species in New Zealand is the kiwi, whose population is dropping every year.

Turning the tide on biodiversity decline requires committed and ongoing investment. Labour recognises that investing now in successful pest eradication and pest control programmes will lessen the problem and reduce the need for greater funding in the future. Investing in protection of areas with high conservation value means that those areas can be saved before they are irreparably damaged.

Funding Priorities

1. Threatened species conservation, habitat protection, weed and pest control and conservation advocacy by the Department of Conservation.

2. Implementing a national policy on biodiversity to maintain and enhance New Zealand's natural habitats and indigenous biodiversity.

3. Increased research on New Zealand's biodiversity, marine management and fisheries.

Labour will:

• direct funding increases at:
• integrated pest eradication and control to preserve the habitats of threatened species and protect them from predators;
• threatened species programmes;
• habitat protection;
• marine management;
• ensure that the implementation of conservation policy is well focused, to achieve maximum value for money spent and that the conservation infrastructure is progressively improved to sustain a much higher level of activity;
• welcome local government, community and corporate support for conservation projects, including, for example, community education and involvement in conservation.

Excerpt from Tourism Policy

• Labour will:
  establish a specialist group within the Department of Conservation to develop consistent policy for managing visitor growth and the increasing pressure for commercial concessions on the public conservation lands;
• ensure that applications proceed effectively and efficiently in a user friendly manner.
  

LABOUR ON THE ENVIRONMENT

October 1999

Achieving Sustainable Development

Environmental Policy Principles

Consultation
Partnership
Social Equity

A Key Role for Government

1. Government Agencies

2. Resource Management

RMA Amendments and Review
Guidance and Monitoring
Mediation and Litigation

3. Environmental Quality and Performance

Environmental Research and Reporting
Natural Resource Accounting
Consumer Information and Green Marketing
Environmental Education

4. Working with Business

Action on Environmental Issues

1. Biodiversity (see also Conservation policy)

2. Biosecurity (see also Biosecurity policy)

3. Sustaining the Urban Environment

4. Population

5. Waste

The Principles of Good Policy
Labour's Timetable
A Waste Reduction Working Party
Contaminated Sites
Sewerage (see also Health policy)

6. Sustainable Land Management

Improving Land Management Practices (see also Rural policy)
Natural Resource Accounting in Primary Production
Genetically Modified Organisms (see also Genetic Modification policy)

7. Atmosphere and Air Quality

Dealing with Climate Change
Greenhouse Gas Control (see also Energy policy)
Ozone Layer Protection and Enhancement

8. International Marine Agreements

UN Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
MARPOL
Migratory Fish
Migratory Species of Wild Animals
Land-based Marine Pollution
Whaling

9. Antarctica

10. Nuclear Non-Proliferation (see also Foreign Affairs policy)

11. Trade and Aid (see also Development Assistance policy)

12. Deforestation

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Labour is committed to sustainable development in which economic, environmental and social considerations are not considered separately but are melded into one.

There is much to be done to maintain and restore New Zealand's environment and to protect our clean, green image. But the most serious environmental problems facing us do not acknowledge the boundaries of nation states, but are global. The problems of over-population, over-consumption, deforestation, climate change, ozone depletion, toxic waste, nuclear waste, deteriorating fish stocks and loss of biodiversity threaten the future of the planet and all its inhabitants.

The solutions must also be global, and leadership can be taken by smaller states. Under Labour, New Zealand has been just such a world leader on environmental issues. The next Labour Government will rebuild that reputation.

Labour remains committed to the UNCED process as a principle of both our economic and environmental policies, and to Agenda 21 as an action plan to promote sustainable development on a world-wide basis.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PRINCIPLES

Consultation

Labour's environmental principles are not negotiable, but our policies and the detail of our goals will be developed with the widest possible consultation. Labour believes that comprehensive consultation is the most effective tool in achieving enduring environmental solutions.

Partnership

Partnerships are needed with communities, tangata whenua, business, environmental groups, and local government. Labour will build the partnerships and maintain constructive dialogues with those partners.

Labour's economic policy emphasises the need to integrate economic and environmental strategy. Government must consult with those concerned with both areas if we are to maximise the effectiveness of policy and planning.

Social Equity

As Labour's economic and environmental policies move our nation towards environmentally sustainable development, care must be taken to ensure that the transition is socially equitable. Some environmental policies hurt disadvantaged groups in society, while others assist them. Labour will develop environmental policies which identify and address the social costs of change.

A KEY ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT

Government must play a more active role than in recent years if the principles of consultation, partnership, and social equity are to be successfully applied and sustainable development is to be achieved. A particular challenge is to improve the way government processes work.

Government Agencies

Government has a vital role in establishing and adequately funding institutions of State that are a prerequisite to sustainable development.

Between 1984-90 Labour created the Ministry for the Environment and the Department of Conservation and established the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment as an environmental watchdog.

Labour will:

• strengthen and refocus the Ministry for the Environment. Its functions will be enhanced to include active promotion of ecologically sustainable development and increased public awareness of environmental issues;
• subject government policy to formal environmental assessment by, or on behalf of, the originating departments or ministries. The Ministry for the Environment will ensure that each assessment adequately covers the relevant issues;
• expand the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to enable a more timely review of the environmental actions or inactions of central and local government;
• refer all of the Commissioner's reports to the relevant Select Committee to ensure there is public follow-up into any of the Commissioner's reports as the Select Committee sees fit.

Resource Management

Sustainable management of our unique natural and physical resources is vital to New Zealand's social, economic and environmental well-being. Labour strongly supports the Resource Management Act because it provides an integrated, participatory, and transparent approach to planning for sustainable management.

The RMA could benefit from some amendment but wholesale revision is not required.

However, Labour has concerns regarding cost and delay, and inconsistent application of the Act. These issues have arisen primarily because the Act has been poorly implemented and monitored by the National Government since its enactment. In particular, National has failed to develop national policy statements and environmental standards, which would have provided guidance, strategy and consistency.

Without adequate central government guidance, local authority performance has varied considerably across the country. The Government's failure to fund or direct the Ministry for the Environment into a capacity building role has forced local authorities to meet their responsibilities as best they could. Cost and confusion has resulted for communities and businesses. Some councils, for example, require unnecessary duplication of reports from parties to an application.

There are additional problems such as the following. The planning process is often difficult for ordinary citizens to access, and the cost of challenging a major consent decision often prohibitive. Issues of notification, non-notification and consultation are treated variably from region to region. Issues of cumulative effects are often difficult to address in the RMA framework.

The Government recently introduced, but has not passed, amending legislation that addressed virtually none of the problems. Instead, in a bizarre combination of outcomes, the bill tilts the balance away from environmental standards and protection while increasing costs.

Some of the amendments proposed are technical in nature, and have merit, but the large policy changes that lie within the legislation are, for the most part, unacceptable to Labour.

RMA Amendments and Review

Labour will:

• ensure that sustainable management continues to be the purpose of the Resource Management Act and that all decisions made under the Act are consistent with sustainable management;
• ensure that Treaty obligations are reflected in the RMA and its operation;
• support democracy in decision-making by ensuring that councils or their chosen delegates retain control over the planning and consent process;
• split the present Resource Management Amendment Bill and bring back to the House a small Bill addressing widely agreed and urgently required amendments including:
• providing a right of review against non-notified decisions;
• removing "economic" from the definition of "environment" to stop trade competitors misusing the Act;
• initiate urgent research into RMA implementation and in particular planning and consent application procedures, in order to determine the need for any further amendments. This work will review submissions made to date and include:
• improving access to and involvement in the planning and consent processes for communities and iwi;
• ensuring cumulative effects are taken into account in the planning and consent processes;
• streamlining processes where this does not threaten good environmental outcomes, such as by encouraging pre-hearing conferences;
• rights of written questioning at consent hearings;
• determining means of ensuring Assessments of Environmental Effects are more comprehensively undertaken and their authors held to account for their AEE reports;
• developing means for facilitating constructive community involvement in Environment Court hearings without risk of costs.

Guidance and Monitoring

The focus of the Ministry for the Environment must be more explicitly in capacity development to increase efficiency and effectiveness and reduce costs associated with the Resource Management Act.

Labour will:

• guide and support environmental sustainability by providing the leadership and central guidance envisaged under the Act;
• develop a series of national policy statements, in areas such as energy, Treaty issues, sustainable land management, tourism and other areas as the need arises;
• undertake a series of monitoring programmes of, and with, local government and identify, with Local Government New Zealand, local authorities that may benefit from direct assistance in resource management issues;
• amend the present annual survey of local government to measure sustainability outcomes as well as financial and throughput indicators. Relevant aspects of performance under the Local Government Act would be included;
• develop, and promote around the country, benchmarks for best practice in different aspects of resource management administration;
• draw on industry case studies, especially those involving multiple consent applications, to refine best practice options;
• provide guidance on issues such as how to determine thresholds of significance;
• review district plans prepared to date to develop guidance on effective and lower cost planning for effects management, and how to make the plans more user-friendly.

Mediation and Litigation

Labour will:

• ensure adequate mediation services are available. Mediation is ordinarily a better way to solve conflicts than legal dispute, and the philosophy of the Resource Management Act is towards mediated settlements where possible;
• remove the barriers to public participation by ensuring that environmental and community groups will be eligible to apply for a capped legal aid fund at an Environment Court hearing, as will eligible applicants. Labour will develop criteria against which the validity of applications will be assessed;
• further remove barriers to public participation by promoting and providing funding for a Community Environmental Advocates network. Its primary roles will be in giving advice and carrying out some research into resource management cases brought to it. Its focus will be on giving community and environmental groups knowledge and skills useful in pursuing the resource management process.

Environmental Quality and Performance

Environmental Research and Reporting

New Zealand's lack of high quality environmental data is a significant barrier to effective environmental planning and management.

This information gap is partly due to a lack of funding and a lack of Government focus. Without good information, it is difficult to set environmental priorities or monitor progress towards environmental goals.

Labour will:

• ensure a significant increase in environmental research;
• complete the development of environmental standards, reporting systems and indicators and develop adequate environmental monitoring techniques through the Ministry for the Environment;
• ensure that the State of the Environment reporting process will gather information currently held at the local or regional government level and make it freely available nationally;
• make the reporting of serious environmental accidents compulsory. This will raise public awareness and will also enhance the prospects of effective remedial action. Failure to disclose will be an offence, additional to any offence arising from the accident itself.

Natural Resource Accounting

The international system of national accounts has serious shortcomings when it comes to accounting for environmental or social losses and gains.

The most obvious example is Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a common measure of our economic activity. We have become conditioned to the idea that an increase in GDP is a good thing, without looking behind the statistics to see what is going on.

GDP increases from pollution clean-ups and road accidents, and from mining, without recognising the associated decrease in natural resources.

Labour will:

• progressively develop natural resource accounts to the point where they can stand alongside our national accounts as part of the budget.

Consumer Information and Green Marketing

Green labelling has an important role to play in advising environmentally conscious consumers. On a day-to-day basis, consumers should be able to support businesses which are environmentally friendly.

New Zealand trades on its clean green image. The opportunities for green marketing abroad are growing, but to make the most of them, we will need to justify our clean green claims. Increased consumer demand for environmentally friendly products is likely, particularly in the EU and the US.

Labour believes that the Environmental Choice labelling scheme is a good concept. We also see potential for extending the ecolabel concept to food and beverages.

Labour will:

• actively promote the Environmental Choice scheme. In appropriate instances we will support it with Government procurement policies;
• investigate the potential for developing a Government-accredited ecolabel for food and beverages;
• complete the development of an accreditation scheme for organic products in New Zealand.

Environmental Education

Environmental education in our schools and through public awareness campaigns will play an important role in Labour's environment policy.

Labour will:

• ensure that environmental education is integrated into all areas of the school curriculum;
• promote the integration of environmental education into all further education and training programmes.

Working with Business

The move to sustainable development will require active involvement and leadership from business, which Labour will encourage. We welcome the recent formation of the New Zealand Council for Sustainable Development, and will work with the Council to expand its size and effectiveness.

The best businesses are already moving towards cleaner production, waste minimisation, energy efficiency and higher environmental standards generally. They are doing so in the interests both of good corporate citizenship and improved profitability.

New Zealand's clean green image is a rapidly increasing source of international market advantage. It is therefore imperative that our image is matched by high environmental performance.

ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Biodiversity

The main pressures on our indigenous biodiversity are caused by the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, as well as by pests and weeds.

See Labour's Conservation policy for further details.

Biosecurity

Of the various security issues facing New Zealand, biosecurity is at present arguably the most important. Introduced animal and plant pests degrade our natural heritage, and threaten our primary industries and clean green image. New pests are establishing themselves here far too often.

Labour will substantially upgrade our border biosecurity to prevent the accidental or illegal introduction of unwanted organisms.

See Labour's Biosecurity policy for further details.

Sustaining the Urban Environment

More than 80% of New Zealanders live in urban environments, covering 3% of New Zealand's land area. The importance of urban environments in the lives of most New Zealanders has not been reflected in environmental policy. At a national level environmental policy has consistently focused on non-urban biophysical environmental management. No urban environmental policy goals are formally stated in the National Government's Environment 2010.

Paying specific attention to urban environments is a priority for Labour. We recognise that there are important linkages between sustainable urban environmental policy and other policy areas such as energy, transport, heritage, immigration, housing, industry development and infrastructure provision.

The problems of urban growth are found in a number of locations around New Zealand but are at their most obvious in the Auckland region. They include sprawl, water and air pollution, private transport dependency, loss of heritage buildings, loss of amenity, noise, failing infrastructure and inappropriate infill development.

Urban sprawl has characterised the growth of New Zealand cities since the Second World War, and is now creating enormous environmental, social and economic costs. These costs can no longer be ignored.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recently found that "sustainable development of urban environments has been plagued by a lack of vision, lack of concern", and that "this attitude is a strategic risk for the environment, the economy and resilience of urban communities."

Labour is greatly concerned by this risk. In government we will make urban environments a high priority, in order to achieve the environmental qualities and urban system efficiencies that are within our grasp.

Labour recognises that urban development and management is primarily the responsibility of local authorities. A strong partnership between local and central government will therefore be essential for enhancing the quality of urban environments and the lives of those who live there.

Labour will:

• instruct the Ministry for the Environment to investigate how central government can most effectively support and strengthen urban sustainability work at regional and local government level;
• continue the work that the Ministry for the Environment currently has underway on the development of urban environmental indicators;
• ensure that local and regional government retains the ability, under the RMA, to control urban sprawl and development, and to give full consideration in those deliberations, to the costs of infrastructure and transport.

Population

The most compelling threat to the global environment is the human population explosion. Labour accepts that internationally the empowerment of women is the single most important ingredient in addressing this issue.

Labour will direct aid to population programmes especially in those parts of the South Pacific where population growth is high. This will be consistent with the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on Population and Development.

Labour seeks to establish in New Zealand a level of human population that is ecologically sustainable and in the country's best economic and social interests.

Labour's population policy for New Zealand will consider issues such as our carrying capacity of human population, and the impacts of population numbers, distribution and composition on the country's physical and social infrastructure. The outcomes will be used to inform a range of other policies, including immigration, health and education.

Waste

New Zealand must confront the issue of waste. Waste minimisation and cleaner production inevitably reduce New Zealand's level of pollution. Good waste management policies create real jobs.

The Principles of Good Policy

1. Those who generate waste should meet the disposal costs, including indirect costs such as the costs of managing a landfill after closure. Owners of all waste disposal facilities (mainly local government) should be required to move progressively to a position where waste generators meet all disposal costs.

2. Waste should be managed according to the internationally recognised hierarchy of:

• Reduction or minimisation
• Re-use
• Recycling
• Recovery
• Residue.

This hierarchy ranks the relative benefits of various approaches to waste.

New Zealand's approach so far has under-emphasised the role of waste reduction or minimisation schemes.

3. Policy detail must be consultatively developed and must be integrated in its approach.

Labour's Timetable

Labour will require that:

• by 2010 all waste management be on a full cost recovery basis;
• by 2010 all existing landfills be upgraded to standard or, where necessary, closed;
• all new landfills meet stringent standards.

Landfill upgrades or closures will be achieved by negotiation, with regulation employed as a last resort. All landfills closed within the past 30 years will also have been monitored for discharge and remedial action taken where necessary.

The design criteria for new landfills will ensure that they act as living biodigesters with proper management of moisture content, leachate and methane discharges. These landfills will be capable of handling co-disposal of modest loads of hazardous waste. Intractable wastes will not be landfilled.

The volume of the waste stream must reduce significantly. Labour's target is a 40 per cent reduction in the solid waste stream by 2010. Overseas experience suggests that this goal is rational and achievable.

By 2010 the recycling industry should be an established and permanent feature of our economy.

A Waste Reduction Working Party

Labour will:

• establish a New Zealand Waste Reduction Working Party, funded by a modest levy to be collected by the owners of all landfills, and serviced by the Ministry for the Environment.

This body will comprise representatives from the Ministry for the Environment, regional and territorial local government, industry, environmental groups, specialist groups, Mäori interests and the community.

The landfill levy will be phased in over the same timeframe as the shift to full cost recovery on waste.

The Working Party will implement the principles, timetable and targets of Labour's policy. It will fund relevant research, promote waste technology transfer, examine overseas projects and trends, fund investigations into industrial waste reduction, establish voluntary targets for waste reduction with industry groups, analyse waste markets and employment opportunities, advise government and local government on how best to promote reduction, re-use and recycling, and monitor changes to the size and composition of the waste stream.

The Working Party will work with Cleaner Production functions within Industry New Zealand to ensure that waste minimisation is an integral part of the overall industry strategy. Waste minimisation represents an economic opportunity; waste production is often economically inefficient.

Contaminated Sites

New Zealand has 8,000 potentially contaminated sites, 1,500 of which may pose a high environmental risk. These include timber treatment sites, pesticide dumps, leaking petrol storage facilities, electrical insulation contaminants, solvents and bleaches.

Our knowledge of these sites is rudimentary. In some cases there is known pollution of waterways, ground water, or soil. But in most instances our knowledge is simply insufficient to quantify the level of real or potential environmental risk.

There are sites owned by the Crown, and some of these have already been fully or partly cleaned up.

Labour will:

• establish a national database in respect of contaminated sites, including their location, ownership and liability details, the environmental impact of each and the state of clean-up;
• set up a clean-up fund for orphan sites, partly or fully derived from an environmental user charge on the use of hazardous substances;
• give priority to the clean-up of Crown-owned sites, consistent with the availability of appropriate technology.

If the contamination occurred before the passage of the Resource Management Act 1991, liability for clean-up costs rests with the polluter. Public funding would be necessary to clean up orphaned sites, in partnership with local authorities.

If the contamination occurred after the passage of the RMA, liability rests entirely with the polluter and includes criminal liability. In the unusual instance of an orphaned post-1991 site being created, the clean-up fund will be deployed.

This partnership approach is superior to a strict adversarial one which would be slow, litigious and hampered by secrecy.

Management and clean-up will be based on the Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) guidelines.

Sewerage

The practice of discharging untreated sewage into waterways is offensive to most people. It presents a health risk and is environmentally damaging.

Labour will introduce a sewage treatment subsidy scheme to provide assistance to small and medium sized communities which have an insufficient rating base to fully fund their own upgrades, and which face significant health risks from inadequate sewage treatment.

See Labour's Health policy for further details.

Sustainable Land Management

Improving Land Management Practices

Many of our current land management practices are unsustainable, and challenge us to avoid, mitigate or remedy actual or potential environmental damage. The intensification of land use in some areas is contributing to a range of environmentally harmful effects. Biodiversity conservation is also impacted by land management.

There is a widening acceptance amongst those who use the land that further changes in management practices are needed.

Sustainable land management is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of our land-based industries, and to protect our natural environment. Ongoing research, and the adoption of appropriate practices and technologies, will be required.

Once other measures have been implemented, Labour believes that the national policy statement process would be an effective way to make progress and build on the sustainable land management strategy.

A particular sustainability issue is the excessive or careless use of agrichemicals, especially pesticides. Also, they sometimes drift to neighbouring properties. Such "chemical trespass" is unlawful though difficult to monitor and prove.

Labour will:

introduce a land care scheme, similar to the FARM partnership scheme introduced by Labour in 1990;

• promote sustainable land management, integrated pest management, safe agrichemical use, biological controls and organic production, through support for education, research, marketing, and labelling initiatives;
• evaluate the full range of policy approaches to achieve sustainable land management, including the role of financial incentives, self-regulation, and a national policy statement;
• develop, in consultation with local authorities and landholder groups, sustainable land management standards and goals, and the best way to monitor progress towards the goals;
• give the Ministry for the Environment an increased role in co-ordinating the sustainable land management strategy and ensure it is adequately resourced for this role.

See Labour's Rural policy for further details.

Natural Resource Accounting in Primary Production

Natural resource accounting has an important role in primary production, but cannot be comprehensively instituted until landholders have the necessary information at their finger tips. Farmers need to know whether soil formation exceeds or trails soil erosion, whether chemical contamination exceeds or trails chemical neutralisation, whether waterways have an increasing or decreasing nutrient load, and what the long term impacts of agricultural practices on soil structure might be.

Labour will:

• fund research to develop appropriate assessment techniques and agreed natural resource accounting standards.

Only when we get to the point where those parameters are included in a farm's valuation or assessment will landholders know that their efforts as curators have had a measurable value. This is not another form-filling exercise - it is the development of technologies to allow landholders to measure their effectiveness as trustees of the nation's land heritage.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Labour believes that a precautionary approach is essential when considering the release of genetically modified organisms into the unique conditions of the New Zealand environment. The potential risks to the environment must be minimised, with particular regard to protecting biodiversity and the productive capacity of our primary industries.

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) was established in 1997 under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO Act). It is required to assess environmental risks in its deliberations, to hold public hearings when requested, and to adopt a precautionary approach. ERMA has yet to consider an application for the release of any GMO.

See Labour's GMO policy for further details.

Atmosphere and Air Quality

Dealing with Climate Change

Climate change is happening. Increased average global temperatures are being recorded consistently. In New Zealand historic rainfall and storm patterns appear to be changing and droughts appear to be more frequent. Sea level rises may not be far behind. Such national and international trends cannot be reversed in the short term.

The changes and their long-term significance need to be better understood and built into our planning for agriculture, infrastructure development, emergency response, and public health.

Labour will:

• set up an inquiry into the impact of climate change (and also ozone depletion) on all sectors in New Zealand. This will report to the Government on research, investment and other measures required to protect the public, the environment and the economy, or to take advantage of the changes.

Greenhouse Gas Control

Climate change caused by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere remains one of the most serious environmental issues facing the global community. Labour views with grave concern the poor record of the National Government on this issue.

Transport contributes significantly to New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions. A key ingredient in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is greater public awareness of the need to urgently address the problem.

Labour will:

• ratify the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention;
• ensure that New Zealand plays an active role in international fora to promote targets and timetables for further reduction of greenhouse gases;
• substantially increase public education programmes on climate change and emissions control;
• invest in and promote public transport.

Energy inefficiency in New Zealand is a significant contributor to our relatively high CO2 emissions. Labour's energy policy embraces the need for strategic planning, a strong commitment to renewable energy technologies, a comprehensive policy on energy efficiency, a commitment to removing pricing barriers which hinder the quest for a more sustainable energy future, and a commitment to the use of appropriate economic instruments.

See Labour's Energy and Transport policies for further details.

Ozone Layer Protection and Enhancement

New Zealand has ratified international agreements on the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances. It is imperative that we remain at the forefront of this issue because, by our geography, we are so much at risk from the ultra-violet radiation resulting from the "hole" in the ozone layer.

Labour will:

• strongly promote an accelerated phase out of the production and release of ozone depleting chemicals, including HCFCs and methyl bromide;
• work with industry and local government to achieve a high rate of capture of the chemicals currently in use, and introduce a mandatory training course to ensure that those handling the chemicals avoid their inadvertent release.

International Marine Agreements

UN Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

This Convention promotes the protection of the marine environment, the development of marine reserves, protocols for research, and rules for safe voyaging on the high seas, as well as dealing with issues such as coastal sovereignty. Labour will ensure that New Zealand implements its obligations under this convention.

MARPOL

This convention deals with marine pollution. Labour will ensure we implement our obligations under the MARPOL Convention. Under Labour, New Zealand will promote the development of a strong and binding annex to MARPOL to deal with threats to our coastal marine ecosystem from ballast water and hull fouling.

Migratory Fish

Labour will ratify the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and will actively encourage other countries to do likewise. Labour will urge effective international action to resolve issues of depletion of straddling fish stocks, such as orange roughy and southern blue fin tuna.

Migratory Species of Wild Animals

The Bonn Convention protects migratory birds. Labour will examine the international benefits of New Zealand ratifying this convention and in particular the potential for it to be extended to cover seals and dolphins.

Land-based Marine Pollution

Most marine pollution comes from the land. This pollution is from varied sources including sewage, plastics and persistent organic pollutants. Labour will ensure New Zealand takes a strong stand in developing a legally binding convention to deal with land-based persistent organic pollutants.

Whaling

Under Labour, New Zealand strongly pursued and helped achieve a moratorium on international whaling through active membership of the International Whaling Commission.

Labour will:

• strenuously defend the whaling moratorium;
• continue to oppose Japanese and Norwegian "scientific" whaling;
• not allow whaling vessels to be provisioned or serviced in New Zealand, except in an emergency;
• promote the extension of the Southern Ocean whaling sanctuary.

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean

Antarctica is a beautiful and unique continent and the world's largest wilderness area. It has one of the world's harshest climates. The plants and animals which inhabit this part of the world are extremely robust, yet because of their high degree of adaptation, are very vulnerable to small changes in their environment. Antarctica is also extremely significant in the determination of world weather patterns and in providing a habitat for the krill which form such a vital part of Antarctic marine food chains.

Labour will:

• urge Antarctic Treaty Consultative States which have not yet done so, to finalise ratification of the Protected Areas Annex of the Antarctic Environmental Protocol;
• support the negotiation and ratification of a strong agreement on liability for damage to the Antarctic environment;
• advocate the protection of Antarctica as a world park, free from mining and other threats to its near pristine environment;
• actively pursue an end to uncontrolled toothfish fishing in the Southern Ocean, to prevent unsustainable, illegal and unregulated fishing and to protect albatross and petrel populations.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation

Under Labour, New Zealand became one of the first nuclear free nations in the world. Labour remains resolutely committed to a policy of no nuclear weapons, nuclear powered ships or nuclear power stations in New Zealand territory, including its waters and air space.

Labour will:

• work to extend the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone by linking it with other Nuclear Free Zones in the Southern Hemisphere;
• promote universal ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and actively work for a treaty to completely eliminate nuclear weapons;
• strongly oppose plutonium shipments and the industry it supports.

See Labour's Foreign Affairs policy for further details.

Trade and Aid

The relationship between trade and environmental protection can be one of tension and conflict. Labour is adamant that trade must be consistent with international environmental agreements, and unable to override those agreements.

One particular concern to be resolved is that the World Trade Organisation forbids discrimination on the basis of how things are produced. This can conflict with an environmental emphasis on methods of production.

Labour acknowledges that poverty degrades the environment. Poverty limits opportunities to develop environmentally sustainable practices.

Labour will:

• actively promote "greening" of the World Trade Organisation, to ensure that environmental concerns are properly taken account of in its policies and development;
• examine the benefits of New Zealand ratifying the Waigani Treaty on waste trade in the South Pacific;
• ensure that New Zealand's overseas development assistance complies with the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Some aid will be channelled through non-governmental organisations to support grass-roots projects.

Deforestation

New Zealand imports only a tiny fraction of the world trade in tropical timbers. But we have an important role to play in assisting tropical nations to move towards sustainable management and harvesting of this highly threatened resource, and the creation of a regime of protected areas.

The problems of tropical forest destruction are linked with third world debt burdens, soil erosion, loss of biological diversity and displacement of forest-dwelling societies.

New Zealand practises many silvicultural and harvesting techniques in planted forests that can be of use to developing nations. Our forestry industry has already attracted much international attention.

Within New Zealand Labour is moving to protect all Crown owned indigenous forest with significant conservation values, and to bring all harvesting of privately owned natural indigenous forest under a sustainable management regime.

Labour will:

• move to a position where only sustainably logged tropical timbers reach New Zealand. To this end we will ask timber importers, environmental groups, and countries of origin to work with us. We would expect a rise in the price of tropical timber to be an inevitable consequence.

INDIGENOUS FORESTS

10 September 1999

Our remnant indigenous forests are one of our most significant natural assets, and form an integral part of an essential worldwide conservation resource. In 1986 Labour made an exception to our general principle that Crown owned natural indigenous forest should not be logged and negotiated the West Coast Accord which allowed for some production forestry to continue in Crown owned forests on the West Coast.

Labour now believes the time for that exception has passed. The value of indigenous forests to the world environment is increasing, and Labour believes that as a responsible government concerned for both the New Zealand and global environment, we should no longer be logging Crown owned indigenous forests with significant conservation values.

Labour recognises that to give effect to this policy, action will need to be taken to rationalise the current logging regimes on the West Coast.

To this end Labour will:

• establish a panel of experts to apply appropriate conservation criteria, for example, the criteria used by the Nature Heritage Fund, to all Crown owned forestry land on the West Coast with a view to transferring any land meeting those criteria to the DOC estate;
• transfer the management of the remaining land, along with the cutting rights for any timber on those lands, to a local economic development trust with the West Coast community being the beneficial owners.

As a consequence of this policy:

• the current beech "trials" will be stopped;
• the beech scheme proposed by Timberlands West Coast will not proceed;
• all logging of crown owned indigenous forests will be halted as soon as supply contracts in existence at the time this policy is announced are completed.

Labour will not honour, or pay any compensation in respect of, any contracts entered into for the supply of indigenous timber from the crown estate, from the time of announcement of this policy, and will if necessary legislate to this effect.

In 1993 the Forests Amendment Act was passed. The purpose of the legislation was to ensure that privately owned indigenous forest could only be logged on a sustainable basis, and that exports of indigenous timbers were restricted to sawn beech and rimu from certified sustained management forests and finished or manufactured products. Exceptions to this legislation were granted to the West Coast Forests managed by Timberlands and to SILMA forests.

This legislation was backed up by export controls under the Customs Act which placed similar export bans on indigenous timbers from forests not covered by the legislation, unless permission was granted by the Minister.

Earlier this year the High Court ruled that the Customs Act export bans were ultra vires. The effect of this was to allow the exporting of any form of indigenous timber, including woodchips and logs, from the forests which are exempted from the Forests Act.

The National Government has now introduced further amendments to that legislation which purport to be designed to bring more of the exempted forests under Act. But the amendments would also have the effect of removing the export ban on woodchips and logs making it possible to export timber in any form from a sustainably logged forest.

Labour opposes this legislation and will:

• ensure that bans are imposed on the export of indigenous woodchips and logs, no matter where they are sourced from;
• continue to work with SILMA owners with a view to bringing their forests under the Forests Act management regime;
• ensure that any indigenous forest whose management is transferred to the West Coast Trust as part of this policy, is brought under the Forests Act management regime.
•  

---

Public Access New Zealand, P.O.Box 17, Dunedin, New Zealand

---