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ENVIRONMENT
INTRODUCTION
"Wise Governments view the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sound economics. All environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment and sustainable wealth whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages." (New Zealand First Founding Principle)
New Zealand First is a party of sensible environmentalists. We have a genuine concern for the environment and its preservation, but we are not captured by the extremist fringe of the environmental movement. We maintain that the role of the state must be to strike a balance between economic progress and appropriate environmental goals. This can only be achieved through a partnership between government, industry, and community groups.
While our environment is envied internationally as clean, green, and attractive, the image hides a number of serious environmental problems, which need to be addressed. The conservation of our country's natural and cultural heritage has international significance, and is a New Zealand First priority.
PLANS
New Zealand First will:
- develop sustainable national policies on water and air quality, but with sufficient flexibility to address local circumstances;
- promote the use of the most up to date technologies and international experience in tracking water use patterns, thereby ensuring that policy decisions are based on sound science;
- encourage strategies for soil use which maximise economic potential and limit their environmental impact;
- review the resourcing and expertise of the Ministry for the Environment, thereby ensuring that it is able to give leadership and objective advice;
- review all environmental legislation with the intention of redressing the drift toward mandatory regulations (enforced by the Ministry for the Environment) from voluntary arrangements;
- ensure that the views of key stakeholders, including local councils, are considered when making environmental policy, rather than just consulting interest groups;
- promote a region-by-region approach when implementing environmental policy;
- encourage the development of 'eco-tourism centres' such as Kaikoura;
- ensure wide public consultation occurs in the development of energy, sustainable land management and climate change policy;
- give urgent priority to the development of the Oceans Policy to provide a coherent and overarching policy framework;
- promote a marine park concept that ensures that the measures needed in the preservation, protection and sustainable management of an area begins with the local community and develops integrated management of the total marine area;
- urgently advance work on the development of rubbish disposal alternatives (including exploring international experience);
- rationalize pastoral leases to promote ecologically sustainable land use, with special attention to 'protected natural areas';
- only proceed with the implementation policies for the Kyoto protocol (aimed at reducing certain greenhouse gas emissions) to ensure they are in harmony with those of our major trading partners, and once a coherent plan has been formulated to allow the appropriate targets to be reached;
- encourage local government use of the community wage scheme for environmental activities including the beautification and maintenance of waterways, beaches, parks and roadsides;
- explore the feasibility of all practical energy options, including coal, with the aim of developing a sustainable long-term energy plan that is compatible with desired environmental standards;
- maintain the most stringent risk management processes emanating from the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and its amendments by ensuring that the Environmental Risk Management Authority is sufficiently resourced to carry out its functions with the greatest rigour;
- amend the Companies Act to require statutory disclosure of environmental impacts by companies in annual reports and amend the Public Finance Act and Local Government Act also requiring reporting of environmental impact;
- continue the phasing out of organochlorides and facilitate the development of safe alternatives by 2010;
- where appropriate provide funding to develop and promote organic farming options;
- support topo-cultural programmes with a view to the provision of a database and advisory service on alternative land use proposals and diversification;
- provide financial support for the development of water harvesting schemes that have met feasibility, viability, and environmental requirements;
- support a policy of 'proceed with extreme caution' on genetic engineering. That is, the safety of New Zealanders and the protection of our environment are paramount and the risks of developments in this technology need to be appropriately assessed. There are as many risks to the health and well-being of New Zealanders in ignoring this issue as there are in proceeding hastily;
- legislate for clear labelling of all genetically modified food (GMF) products;
- continue the rationalisation of the administration of food safety via the Food Administration Authority;
- ensure that all reasonable action is taken to reduce genuine threats to life and property, such as the risk posed by lahars;
- seek to minimise the environmental costs of generating electricity. There will be no privatisation of Meridian, Genesis, and Mighty River Power, Transpower or Solid Energy; and,
- develop plans and procedures to handle waste water in rural areas.
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