Posts by Eugenie Sage

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  Water and Biodiversity - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Yesterday was the UN International Day for Biological Diversity. The theme for this year was Water and Biodiversity. In New Zealand our native freshwater species are extremely vulnerable. Our longfin eels are on a pathway to extinction yet are still being caught commercially. Other freshwater species have no or little protection compared to our terrestrial [...] read more
  May 23, 2013 2:59 pm - 1 Comment
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  Better transport planning needed in Christchurch - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  This week in Christchurch I attended a breakfast lecture by visiting planning consultant Todd Litman from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, British Colombia.  He was advocating the benefits of “multi-modalism” transport planning – which basically means modern transport planning that spreads the focus over several forms of transport options – cars, public transport, cycleways, and [...] read more
  May 17, 2013 1:44 pm - 6 Comments
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  Hawke’s Bay irrigation saga gets murkier - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  The inherent problems with one arm of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) promoting the mega Ruataniwha dam and irrigation scheme while another arm attempts to act like a regional council, came to the fore in a tangled council meeting last week. I attended a presentation by newly established Transparent Hawke’s Bay at the start [...] read more
  April 28, 2013 11:53 am - 1 Comment
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  Akaroa Harbour marine reserve welcome news - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Gareth has previously posted about the Dan Rogers marine reserve in Akaroa Harbour.  Living on Banks Peninsula and having helped promote the reserve I wanted to share my thoughts and thank and congratulate the reserve applicants, Kathleen and Brian Reid and the Akaroa Harbour Marine Protection Society who When the Government is opening up conservation [...] read more
  April 18, 2013 4:28 pm - 1 Comment
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  Before we fix water quality we need to stop allowing more pollution - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  The Prime Minister bragged about how much money his Government is spending on water clean-ups today, but he failed to admit that the money required for clean-up of our rivers and lakes will increase because of his policies. Nearly every study on water quality shows that land use intensification leads to water pollution. Yet the [...] read more
  April 17, 2013 4:13 pm - 4 Comments
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  Low flows on the Rangitaiki River - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Even before the summer’s drought began in earnest, the Rangitaiki River in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, has been victim to low flows, thanks to the TrustPower operated Matahina Dam upstream of Te Teko. On my February trip on the river our safety boat had only been in the water five minutes when it grounded [...] read more
  April 16, 2013 11:46 am - 2 Comments
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  What we want, and what we get in our cities - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Rod Oram gave a great presentation last week in Dunedin about Reinventing Paradise. He talked about this Government’s attacks on the Resource Management Act and how they are bad news not just for our environment but for our economy too. You can watch his whole talk here but one slide in particular caught my attention. [...] read more
  March 27, 2013 6:46 pm - 10 Comments
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  Urban trees please - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  The fate of trees in urban areas will be before select committee this week when hearings start on National’s Resource Management Act Reform Bill 2012. (The Bill is the second stage of Government’s efforts to weaken the RMA. The third phase changes are set out in the RMA discussion document out for public comment at [...] read more
  March 18, 2013 10:26 am - 18 Comments
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  The rapid roadshow – is this consultation? - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Monday saw the start of the Government’s rapid fire roadshow on its proposals to weaken the RMA and allow increased exploitation of our water. I’ve previously covered some of the Minister’s attempt to shut down debate on the proposals. I  just wanted to point out that that the timing of consultation meetings is important. If [...] read more
  March 13, 2013 10:43 am - 2 Comments
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  Minister brooks no dissent on RMA changes - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Hard on the heels of  its 2012 “RMA Reform Bill” and the 2009 changes, National wants to overturn other core aspects of the Resource Management Act (RMA) as a key plank in its pro development, anti-environment agenda. EDS described the proposals as “deeply troubling” and potentially lowering environmental standards in New Zealand. So shortly after [...] read more
  March 9, 2013 10:54 am - 2 Comments
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  Mourning local democracy in Canterbury - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  National’s distaste for democracy and intolerance of dissenting views is increasing. Pre ‘quakes Cathedral Square was the heart of Christchurch. Two years later the public are still fenced out and kept behind the cordon. The Government’s Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) decides who can get access beyond the Army guards and security fence. CERA allows [...] read more
  March 8, 2013 3:26 pm - 7 Comments
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  Don’t get shut out, make your voice heard on the RMA - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Environment Minister, Amy Adams recently launched a “discussion document” on National’s latest proposals to weaken the Resource Management Act (RMA).  She then sought to shut down any discussion by attacking environmental groups and the Greens by claiming we were “out of touch” and “scaremongering” with our criticisms of National’s proposed changes to the RMA. The [...] read more
  March 8, 2013 11:06 am - 10 Comments
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  Protecting our tuna/eels – Tuna legend Bill Kerr - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Bill Kerrison is a legend when it comes to tuna or eels and it was privilege to meet him during a recent Dirty Water tour in the Bay of Plenty. Over several decades he has transferred an estimated 25 million eels around Bay of Plenty dams such as the Matahina on the Rangitaiki River. New [...] read more
  February 25, 2013 5:22 pm - 4 Comments
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  National’s approach to local government is all over the place - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  As successive Ministers of Local Government,  Nick Smith and David Carter loudly criticised councils for their debt level and  said councils needed to focus on “core services “ without defining what these were. Last year National made major changes to the Local Government Act so that the purpose of local government was no longer the [...] read more
  February 15, 2013 11:18 am - 5 Comments
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  Where will cost of new property development fall? - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  The National Government continues to undermine local democracy and erode the autonomy of elected councillors with its plan to limit what local authorities can charge as development contributions. Councils can currently afford the infrastructure costs associated with new subdivisions and other land developments by charging what is called a “development contribution”. This helps pays for [...] read more
  February 14, 2013 5:14 pm - 26 Comments
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  Dirty Water Tour – the Waitara - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Taranaki’s Waitara River ranked dead last on the Ministry for the Environment recreational river water quality league table. So it was an obvious candidate for our Dirty Water Tour, highlighting community initiatives to clean up our rivers, lakes and estuaries. read more
  February 5, 2013 1:23 pm - 3 Comments
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  January water woes - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Summer should be about lazy days at the beach, picnics on the riverbank and swimming. But increasingly we have a new summer ritual of warnings in newspapers around the country; warnings telling you to stay out of the local beaches, lakes and many of the rivers where families and friends have traditionally gathered each summer. [...] read more
  February 1, 2013 1:12 pm - 4 Comments
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  The Routeburn tunnel – National Parks or National disgrace? - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Birdsong should not be replaced by the sound of diggers in our National Parks. Promoters claim that the Department of Conservation (DoC) will soon decide whether Milford Dart Ltd’s application for a proposed 11.3km private bus tunnel from the Glenorchy end of the Routeburn track to the Hollyford Valley near Te Anau goes ahead. Our six [...] read more
  January 23, 2013 12:12 pm - 2 Comments
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  Where rivers meet the sea – two North Auckland estuaries - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  The murky green water at the Matakana Wharf looked rather less inviting than the array of delicious artisan produce at the nearby Matakana Market. But we were paddling, not swimming, and the Auckland Council’s most recent (2011) monitoring rates the river as having “good” water quality, rather than “fair” as in many other rivers which [...] read more
  December 20, 2012 4:32 pm - 1 Comment
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  Yet another environmental attack from National Government - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  The Resource Management Act is a cornerstone of environmental management in New Zealand. We may hear complaints about it, but rarely do we think about what our back yards, our beaches, our streets, parks and rivers would look like without it.   Our living space would be much worse off if the RMA was not [...] read more
  December 13, 2012 3:59 pm - 6 Comments
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  Attacks on local government have no basis - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Auditor General (OAG) Lynn Provost has just released her office’s report (Matters arising from the 2012-22 local authority long-term plans) on its overview and scrutiny of local government’s long term plans (LTPs) and their financial strategy. The OAG report is evidence that councils are responding to their communities’ needs in a responsible manner. Its conclusions [...] read more
  December 10, 2012 12:47 pm - 2 Comments
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  Discontent over this loss of democracy - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  On Tuesday I was on the steps of Parliament with Christchurch based MPs from Labour and NZ First to deliver an open letter  to the Prime Minister from seven Christchurch groups and the Wizard of New Zealand seeking a restoration of democracy in Canterbury. We investigated the decision making around the Government’s suspension of Cantabrians’ [...] read more
  December 6, 2012 9:42 am - 6 Comments
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  In defence of science - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  While universities are primarily charged with promoting learning they also have a vital role as the critic and conscience of society.  Scientists ask questions, investigate, research, analyse the data and report on the results. Their work informs the public debate.  How then are we to interpret repeated attacks on university scientists such as Massey University’s [...] read more
  December 4, 2012 4:46 pm - 168 Comments
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  Fourth Dirty Water Tour starts in Southland - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  I launched our fourth “Dirty Water Tour” this week at Invercargill’s New River Estuary, with Southland Green Party member Dave Kennedy, and Maurice Rodway of Fish and Game.  Invercargill could potentially overtake Oamaru as the heritage capital of the south  – distinctive and attractive heritage buildings abound. Natural heritage at the nearby New River Estuary, [...] read more
  November 21, 2012 5:49 pm - 3 Comments
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  Land and Water Forum report a mixed bag - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  When HortNZ and Forest and Bird each issue media releases  urging the Government to implement the recommendations of the Land and Water Forum’s third and final report, its  publication is obviously a significant milestone in water management. It is certainly a major achievement that a diverse group of iwi, recreational users, environmental NGOs, agribusiness, irrigation, [...] read more
  November 19, 2012 2:20 pm - 2 Comments
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  Sandspit: Threatened bird habitat not a dumping ground - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Auckland Council and the Rodney Local Board need to protect estuarine habitats at Sandspit, the gateway to Kawau Island, not promote a destructive marina there. Recently I met with local community members and legendary marine ecologist and conservationist Dr Roger Grace. Sandspit SOS Inc (SSOSI) and other community members are is fighting to preserve the [...] read more
  November 13, 2012 10:27 am - 1 Comment
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  Changes to local government bad for local democracy - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Green Party Minority Report – Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill Some 518 individuals, organisations and local authorities took the time to write thoughtful and constructive submissions and many appeared before the committee during hearings in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. The “vast majority” of submissions opposed the Bill. Given this, the Green Party is [...] read more
  November 12, 2012 3:07 pm - 6 Comments
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  Palmer report on Wellington local government - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  There is much interest in the Palmer panel’s report on the review of Wellington local government, particularly the rejection of the Auckland super city model and of a unitary council. The panel said that this would result in an “intolerable loss of local democracy and a fracturing of local sense of community.”  The retention of [...] read more
  November 3, 2012 10:36 am - 3 Comments
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  Fair hearing for Denniston in Environment Court - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Forest and Bird deserves every success in its Environment Court case to protect the distinctive coal measures ecosystems and landscapes of the Denniston Plateau. This week the Court began hearing the Society’s appeal against West Coast councils granting resource consents under the RMA to Australian miner, Bathurst Resources’ destructive plans for an open cast coal [...] read more
  October 30, 2012 2:04 pm - 1 Comment
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  Minister confused about wellbeing - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  The Minister for Local Government said on Morning Report last Friday: I think there is a role for local government to undertake economic development within their regions. It’s contributing to the creation of jobs and that’s contributing to the wellbeing on that community. (Click here to listen) I agree with him on this point but [...] read more
  October 24, 2012 1:19 pm - 2 Comments
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  Is local government fiscally responsible? - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  As part of the Local Government and Environment select committee I have been listening to people and organisations from all around New Zealand who strongly oppose the changes to local government that National is forcing through. The Government’s claiming its main rationale for making these changes is financial, so Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) commissioned [...] read more
  October 2, 2012 12:44 pm - 22 Comments
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  Dilution is not the solution to pollution - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  I was in Napier earlier last week trying to discourage the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) from proceeding with its mega dam, mega risky, $233 million Ruataniwha irrigation and hydro scheme. The scheme involves an 83 metre high concrete and rock dam and a 5 km long reservoir flooding the upper reaches of the Makaroro [...] read more
  October 1, 2012 9:59 am - 7 Comments
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  Love Our Parks, Save Our Parks - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  I visited Te Anau and Glenorchy recently to meet with representatives of Save Fiordland and Stop the Tunnel.  They are working to protect Fiordland from Milford Dart Ltd’s preposterous proposal to mine a 11.3 km long, 430m deep tunnel from the start of the Routeburn Track to the Hollyford Valley and its destructive twin – [...] read more
  September 18, 2012 4:21 pm - 7 Comments
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  One Plan decision - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Rivers and sustainable agriculture had a win this week with the Environment Court’s interim decisions on the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council’s One Plan. Media coverage included TV3’s Firstline and News. As the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has said we want fertile soils, not fertile rivers. When nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus end up in [...] read more
  September 10, 2012 8:15 am - 5 Comments
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  Protecting the Mokihinui - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  At its July meeting the West Coast Conservation Board decided unanimously to request the New Zealand Conservation Authority to use its powers under section 8 of the National Parks Act to investigate adding the Mokihinui River catchment to Kahurangi National Park. I have written to Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson and asked her to request the [...] read more
  July 18, 2012 10:29 am - No Comments
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  History (sometimes) repeats – Saving Fiordland - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Some 40 years ago the Save Manapouri campaign began with a meeting in Te Anau. Protecting Lake Manapouri from being raised and operated as a hydro lake and the lake shore forest inundated involved the biggest public mobilisation for the environment New Zealand had ever seen. Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau together with the rest [...] read more
  July 16, 2012 1:48 pm - 5 Comments
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  For farming to be in the black we need to go green - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  With only the most backward openly saying that we can keep trashing the planet to grow the economy it can be harder to distinguish between the rhetoric of genuine environmental commitment and greenwash. The language of “balance” has reappeared.   In a speech to Federated Farmers’ conference in Auckland president Bruce Wills talked about the need [...] read more
  July 6, 2012 10:30 am - 4 Comments
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  Taking the ‘local’ out of local government - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Local government has a vital role in providing the services that can strengthen communities and make places that people want to live in. National’s Local Government Act Amendment Bill (the bill) will potentially cause the most significant changes to local government since the amalgamations and restructuring of 1989. Government uses the language of fiscal responsibility [...] read more
  July 6, 2012 9:57 am - 10 Comments
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  Government lags behind business - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  A decade or two ago there was no debate in the business community over the economic strategy for New Zealand.  The prevailing assumption was we must grow GDP and that any associated environmental damage was an unfortunate but sometimes necessary consequence. The ethos of “balance” which was part of the former Town and Country Planning [...] read more
  July 5, 2012 6:30 pm - No Comments
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  Insulation shambles needs sorting so Christchurch homes can be warmer, drier and healthier - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Our houses help determine our health. Everyone has a right to a warm, dry and healthy home.  Warm homes can reduce respiratory illnesses and mean fewer days off sick from school or work, and fewer premature deaths among older persons. Much of our housing stock is not built for our climate. Around 1.6 million New [...] read more
  June 25, 2012 2:28 pm - 14 Comments