A Bluegreen Vision for New Zealand (even New Zealand's conservatives got sucked into ecofads)

National Party of New Zealand ^ | 6 October 2006 | Nicky Wagner

[NZerFromHK]

New Zealand’s environment is at the core of our quality of life, our national identity and our competitive advantage, yet it is not being well managed. New leadership and direction are needed.

The National Party is determined to sustainably develop New Zealand so as to deliver both a strong economy and high environmental standards.

We have produced a substantive environment discussion paper containing our vision for tackling New Zealand’s environment issues. I encourage you to download this document from our website or get a copy from your local National MP so you can read the full range of our proposals.

National welcomes your feedback on these bold ideas as we put together a forward looking plan for New Zealand.

The Problems

· NZ’s Greenhouse Gas emissions are soaring, increasing three times faster than Australia and four times faster than the US.
· 229 new pests and weeds have breached our borders in the last five years.
· NZ’s exotic forest estate in 2005 shrank for the first time in decades.
· 970 New Zealanders die each year from the effects of air pollution.
· Many lakes, rivers and streams are deteriorating from pollution and excessive extraction.

· Government is still allowing clear-felling of native forests.

Our proposals

Climate Change

Emissions from electricity generation should be capped and any new emissions must be offset by forest planting.

Water

National standards and a transferable water permit system are needed to ensure our rivers, lakes and streams are swimmable and fishable.

Waste

A national system for coloured recycling bins, and financial incentives to reduce waste are needed to encourage recycling.

Forestry

Unsustainable forestry should be stopped and imported wood should only come from sustainably managed forests.

New National Parks

A new Kauri National Park in Northland, including Tane Mahuta, and a Waitakere National Park in Auckland should be established.

Healthy Air

Car emissions standards should be tightened and financial assistance provided to help households switch to clean heating.

Outdoor Recreation

Hunters and fishers should have more say in managing their recreation and 25 new campgrounds should be established on public land.

Nature Conservation

Backing community conservation efforts like the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary will help us save New Zealand’s unique native species.

Biosecurity

Visitors who deliberately breach our biosecurity laws should face immediate deportation and the instant fines increased for illegally importing meat, fruit, seeds and dairy products.

[NZerFromHK]

Any more details could be found at http://www.bluegreens.org.nz

Now, are you sure you want to come and live here to escape American liberalism?

[NZerFromHK]

The correct address of the flyer is at:

http://www.national.org.nz/files/National_Environment_Flyer.pdf

[NZerFromHK]

Junk science among the conservatives in New Zealand ping!

[Gabz]

Downunder Nanny State Ping.

[steveegg]

We'll be taking over ;-)

[yankeedame]

New Zealand’s environment is at the core of our quality of life, our national identity and our competitive advan...

Hummm....I see.

And since apparently you folks in the National Party are the wisest, most caring, most concerned champion(s) of the environment -- hence guardians of NZ's quality of life, national identity, competitive advantage -- therefore, a vote against you is a vote for dirty air, dirty water, dead birds, three-eyed fish, belching smoke stacks, etc. etc.

Sounds suspiciously like a case of " L'étate c'est moi!"

[NZerFromHK]

Your countries' Tories and pundit class once again polluting ours from Kiwis on OE in Britain. The lefyt-leaning Herald quotes approvingly this as David Cameron-ization of the New Zealand National Party.

http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&ObjectID=10404762

Please, get that David Cameron chap out in disgrace as quickly as you can.

[MadIvan]

I went to UKIP. Cameron and the Tree Party are not my responsibility.

By the way, it's not Cameron who started it. Take a good look at the American politician he invited to the Tree Party conference - John McCain.

Regards, Ivan

[NZerFromHK]

Thanks. Try convincing your friends that voting for the British Tories will be a disaster in Britain. When the Tories don't get in power under Cameron, the Kiwis living in London will bring this message back home and we will no longer get this nonsense from the Nats.

[MadIvan]

Cameron has missed the boat. The country wants a party that is going to be nasty to its enemies and cut taxes. Labour is already turning on the Muslims, so they're fulfilling the nasty role. If they pick John Reid as their next leader, I am certain they'll win the next election. Then the Boy Dave will have some serious explaining to do.

Regards, Ivan

[Ditter]

I guess things have gone to rack and ruin since we were there in 2001. Or...... maybe....... it was something WE did.

[NZerFromHK]

BTW, John McCain and US conservatism's impact on NZ politics is nil - no once in this country has heard of the "tree conservative" approach until Cameron got on the bandwagon. Our political class only looks to London and Canberra for policy inspirations.

[MadIvan]

Well the way it worked this time is that Cameron got it from McCain, and then you got it from Cameron. "Tree Party" disease, let's call it.

Regards, Ivan

[TChris]

970 New Zealanders die each year from the effects of air pollution

I call Barbra Streisand!

Air pollution bad enough to kill hasn't happened since London in 1952, when there was enough smog to choke a horse, due to a very cold temperature inversion. 970 dieing would have been headline-worthy news!

[Hot Tabasco]

Here's a ping for you John

[GregH]

NZ conservatives are mostly similar to US dems, nothing similar to US republicans or the conservative movmement in those regions.

[NZerFromHK]

It is absolutely correct. For instance, on a NZ scale the US's liberal Brookings Institution is definitely deep inside the NZ National Party platforms. The Left here is more Dennis Kucinich while the Greens are Chomskyite.

The Washington Post's Anne Applebaum, a moderate liberal by any means, sounds more like the ACT Party of New Zealand than anything else when she talks about economics issues. And most New Zealanders think ACT is too right-wing!

[NZerFromHK]

Ping! If this madness continues Australia will become a prime destination that I want to consider.

Any prime city/region in Australia that employ qualified electrical engineers related to the electricity industry?

[BlazingArizona]

Although nature is a high priority in NZ, it has gone a lot more toward privatization than most people realize.why not push for more private nature preserves, like Waimangu?

[NZerFromHK]

You mean a country with conservative parts like this?

http://www.kaikoura.govt.nz/

"KAIKOURA - A GREEN GLOBE 21 CERTIFIED COMMUNITY

The Kaikoura District Council is proud to be the first local authority in the world, and the second community in the world, to achieve Green Globe 21 certification in recognition of our commitment to protecting our environment and working towards sustainability for our residents and visitors, and for the generations to come."


Hey, Kaikoura is a rock-solid conservative place in this country!

Now when it comes to privatization, let's check. Rail track. Renationalized. Air New Zealand. Renationalized. Auckland Port. Re-possessed by the Auckland Regional Council. Electricity. Re-regulated by the Electricity Commission.

Privatized. Yeah right.