by Gareth Hughes
At the end of this month, the National Party’s Bluegreens are setting sail for a harbour cruise in Akaroa. It’s a bit insensitive if you ask me, considering Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson last year set a damaging precedent by declining a long-standing marine reserve application in the harbour because it would impact recreational fishers.
I’m sure they’ll have a great time and will no doubt see some beautiful, threatened Hector’s dolphins, but for the locals who depend on tourism and conservationists who are worried about the state of the harbour it’s really rubbing the decision in.
Why are they doing it there so soon after the controversial decision?
Is it because it’s not just a harbour cruise but actually a fishing cruise? Good luck – the Minister herself has said that the Harbour is in a degraded ecological state and DoC has said ‘fish stocks in the area were so depleted it was hard to catch a legally-sized blue cod’, which are recreational fishers’ main target species.
Or is it because the Bluegreens can’t be seen in Canterbury after sacking ECan and making poor environmental decisions there so had to go far East?
Or are they really that insensitive and can’t see the irony?
Where would you recommend a more fitting get-together for the Bluegreens would be?
Published in Environment & Resource Management by Gareth Hughes on Tue, January 18th, 2011
Tags: Akaroa, Blue Greens, marine reserve, Wilkinson
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Here in the Bay of Islands we are embarking on a similar path to Akaroa, campaigning to protect our coastal waters. If we were in the same position as Akaroa, contesting a government decision, and there was a political shindig here we’d be furious.
On the other hand, perhaps a bit of controversy will help keep our eyes on this topic – whatever happens we mustn’t give in and let it go. As the adage goes, all publicity is good publicity.
@wantmorefish
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Grrr! I hate them soo much! Hope there boat gos down!
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Bluegreen (it’s a toxic algae isn’t it)
http://robertguyton.blogspot.com/2011/01/cruisin-for-bruisin.html
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I would determine that it’s all those things you have listed Gareth. Although I would not say that their conduct is ironic! It’s far worse than that.
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Has Kate read anything? Dosnt she know that there is more than enough proof that marine reserves work both for the ocean and for the township.
Sigh…National fail once again.
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I’ve been confused by the BlueGreens’ continued existence since National arrived in government.
What relevance is there for “an advisory group on environmental issues” now that the National Party and its Ministers have the vast experience, expertise and resources of the Department of Conservation to call upon? Does the National Party not trust its own department?
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Some more specific picks include:
- Hawkdun lignite deposits left out of the Oteake Conservation Park
- Waipoua forest – will it become part of a national park this year, or will pigs and kauri dieback ruin it first?
- Any area of conservation estate that contains minerals and is outside ‘Schedule 4′ lands
- For something further afield, how about a trip to see the declining sea lion population on Enderby Island?
- The Mokihinui River (although maybe this could be a good test of whether they can do any good at all).
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This ‘conference’ will be an opportunity for them to plan ways to showcase National’s unparalelled record of environmental excellence before the next election.
Wonder if Rudi Verplanke will be there?
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bluegreen…to date…has been an oxymoron…
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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But they do, they do have an interest in environmental issues Valis… How best to exploit the environment to maximize profits.
What does the science say? That half our waters should be reserves. Looks like the Natz have their ears and eyes closed again.
What say you Captain Capitalism (aka Gerrit) to reserves? Surely you can see the sense of them in that they will assure you catch fish.
Bluegreen, an oxymoron indeed.
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Gerry really should stop by Lake Ellesmere and see what the term “shitting in your own pond” means…he used to teach at Ellesmere College
Now the lake is not only polluted from Nats who are farming and polluting it with run off but I can’t imagine the amount of lead shot from duck shooting is at the bottom after all the years of this sport on the lake 
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I’m a bit surprised to see comments like “hate them so much” “hope the boat goes down” on this kind of blog…. hello people…how is that making a better world?
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I’m Sorry but it seems silly to attack a group who pragmatically are the only chance to have environmentally friendly issues tackled within Govt Caucuses for the next few years. (anyone who believes a Labour /NZFirst/Greens/united Future/Maori Party government is kidding themselves!) – How about trying to work together?
, I’m sure some common ground can be met if people stop bashing each other politically
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