news article, page-31

Finally someone in NZ politics willing to actually state the obvious.....what a bunch of tools they have become by continously twisting the facts. I may be in denial but I suggest they get renamed the "Deception Party"....who the hell funds these idiots?


Eugenie Sage: Does he agree with the conclusions of his own department that the mine would present a significant and permanent loss of currently high conservation values, including a loss of nationally significant wetlands within the mine footprint, a loss of distinctive assemblages of rare and threatened plant species not recorded elsewhere on the Denniston Plateau, the permanent loss of originally rare sandstone pavement ecosystems—and the list goes on?

Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The department is responsible for 9 million hectares of New Zealand. It is classified into national parks, into conservation parks, and into 12 different categories of reserve and sanctuary. The Denniston Plateau is in the lowest of all those categories. The member makes reference to the wetland and lake. I visited the site, and it was pointed out to me by the Department of Conservation that the lake was created by a dam that was put in place by previous miners. If you proposed to create the dam today, the Greens would be objecting and protesting. The final point I would make is that the mine takes up only 5 percent of the Denniston Plateau area. There is a case for protecting part of the Denniston Plateau. That is something I am happy to consider in future.

Eugenie Sage: Is not the lack of public consultation to the Minister of Conservation, separate from the Resource Management Act consultation on the Bathurst access application, just another example of the Government looking after foreign corporates at the expense of ordinary New Zealanders and the public conservation estate?

Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The part I find extraordinary about the Green Party is that I get lectured on local democracy. Well, the local council strongly supports the mine and the local member of Parliament sometimes—sometimes—supports the mine. For the Green Party to argue that an application that has been before the process for over 4 years has been a rushed process really just shows what a ridiculous party we have in the corner of the Parliament.