This will be our only post today out of respect for the Coast. Kia kaha, our thoughts are with you.

When the native logging on the Coast was stopped nearly 10 years ago, the SOE Timberlands refocused on managing the Coast’s plantation forest. Unfortunately, it made a hash of it – partly through mis-management and partly because the Coast is not generally suited to radiata pine. Timberlands has recently been wound-up and the forests transferred to MAF’s Crown Forestry Group who use contractor PF Olsen to manage it.

The Green Party believes a sustainable commercial forestry is viable for the Coast and that now is the time to look at long term options for both native and exotic species planting which will work with the unique West Coast environment. Current native forests must continue to be protected, but we can plant and sustainably-harvest native trees on commercial forestry land. We think that developing new long-term diverse-species forests is a better option than abandoning the land, or converting it to less environmentally-beneficial uses, because we could create real jobs in a genuinely sustainable industry.

Green New Deal investment in green forestry jobs on the Coast would include the planting and maintenance of commercial native forests as well as the selection of exotic species which do actually suit the local environment. None of these species will grow as fast as pine, but with a mixed forest the rotations can be varied between species. There are no quick bucks to be made from this kind of forestry but there are many long term benefits. Indeed, Timberlands’ demise shows that bucks and jobs can be quickly lost if forestry is not managed sustainably. New jobs need to be developed in high-value timber products which would require the development of skills at local tertiary institutions and the development of niche markets. 

There are also a number of uses for the current low-quality pine forests if we are prepared to think laterally. These trees could be suitable for the developing biochar technology. Massey University are leading the work on carbon sequestration through making charcoal from wood and ploughing it back into the earth.  An emerging side benefit of this research is a new post-petrol form of plastic made from the byproducts of biocharcoal production which is a great example of 21st century green technology.

We could also look at high-grade pulp and paper production from a plant species ideally suited to the West Coast, that often forgotten but fantastic fibre, harakeke (flax).

By September the Government’s review of the forests will have reported and the Greens hope they are open to new ideas that will build the long-term well-being and wealth of the West Coast.

The Green Party’s West Coast-based MP Kevin Hague today lodged a submission in support of a proposed hydro scheme on the Stockton Plateau.

Hydro Developments Ltd has applied for consent to divert water contaminated by mining from the Stockton area into reservoirs and tunnels that will use a 500m drop to sea level to generate approximately 240 gigawatt hours per year.

“The scheme can power more than 30,000 homes,” Hague says “and the Stockton Plateau is heavily modified by coal mining operations so the reservoirs have a small ecological footprint. Diverting polluted water will actually improve water quality in the Ngakawau River.

“This is in contrast to Meridian Energy’s proposed hydro dam in the nearby Mokihinui River that would irreversibly impact rainforest and river species. The Stockton scheme shows we don’t need to damn the Mokihinui to satisfy local electricity demand. It completely undermines Meridian’s argument.

“Damning the Mokihinui in the face of environmentally-positive alternatives like the Stockton proposal would be bloody-minded vandalism. Meridian should withdraw its proposal which is now patently unnecessary and I invite West Coast Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole to join me in this call.”

While supporting sustainable renewable generation like Stockton Hydro, the Green Party also reiterates the urgent need to pursue energy conservation and efficiency measures such as the $1 billion fund for insulation and clean heating recently dumped by the National Government, Hague says.

“Our submission does identify some aspects of the Stockton Hydro that need to be addressed such as avoiding any risk to Hectors dolphins from discharging the scheme’s water into the sea.”

The beautiful Mokihinui River

Photo Credit: Q

Well, now the Nelson Mail have published a poll for the West Coast – Tasman electorate. And the Greens are polling even better there – 13.7% (including 27% in Golden Bay).

The Greens’ seventh ranked candidate Kevin Hague should be well buoyed by that result.  There is a false perception that coasters and the Greens do not get one well.  In fact there is very strong support on the coast for many for the core Green Party messages of sustainability and protecting our natural environment. Last election the Greens took 9 percent of the West Coast-Tasman vote. It looks like Golden Bay and Te Aro could be having another close contest for most Green polling booth this year.

Russel drew a link between the disappearing whitebait and this:

That’s some West Coast wetland, somewhere near the Grey River.  I know I’m only an urban frog, but I’ve checked and those brown furry things  standing in the river are not whitebait, and they also not good for water quality.

This evidence confirms what the Green Party has long been saying – that local authorities, farmers and the Government must start protecting waterways. Planting along streams and keeping cattle out of them is vital to the survival of the species that make up the whitebait catch.

The West Coast, famous for whitebait, has seen massive dairying conversions in the last few years. Too frequently, this has been to the detriment of the local environment, as some farmers choose to put profit ahead of all else.

Power generated from cow dung has been identified as one way New Zealand could make billions from an emissions trading scheme.

It’s good to see some coverage of  emissions trading schemes  that is not presented as ‘environment vs economy’ but of the economy operating effectively within our environment.  This story says a pilot project is already up and running in North Canterbury and that a farmer with 850 cows could save up to $30,000 a year in electricity costs. Or you could let cows put their excrement here:

Nationwide, 15 per cent of water supplies failed to meet official drinking water standards but on the West Coast, not a single reticulated water source met official standards, which required a four-stage process to eradicate the risk of contamination.

The report itself notes the causes:

“…are the mining industry by polluting our waterways with silts and heavy metals; and the farming industry, mainly dairy, polluting water with faecal material, nitrates and silts…”

It’s ironic given how much the mining industry likes to say it gives back to West Coasters.  I doubt they realised they were being given this return orally.  An ‘outraged’ Russel said of the report:

It comes at a time when polluting industries appear to have the ear of the Government and are slowing official moves to make our waters safe for activities such as swimming, let alone going as far as making them safe for drinking.”

Like yesterday I’m raising the simple question; if we are going to talk about healthcare and policies this election, hadn’t we better start with the easy to solve things that are making people sick and unwell, like food and water, as well as the hard to solve stuff that latter makes us better, like expensive pharmacology and hospital waiting lists?

This hydro dam will require Meridian to flood the Mokihinui Gorge, which is home to endangered bats, kiwi, snails, kaka and whio. It will also prevent many fish from swimming out to sea to breed. 12 of those fish species are natives, and four of them are endangered. And, of particular interest to Metiria and Russel are the long fin eels.

Long fin eels live for about 100 years if they are allowed. They swim all the way from their river in New Zealand to deep sea trenches off the coast in Tonga where they breed. The children then make their way slowly back to the same river from where their parents came.

The Ministry of Fisheries has no available estimates of the current biomass of long fin eels. It says

[T]here are no stock assessments, or reliable data or time series on which to base specific recommendations on catch levels.

Given the biology of eels, there is a high risk that the current exploitation levels for longfin eels in particular, coupled with past and present anthropogenic impacts, are not sustainable.

The West Coast Regional Council has given notice that it is considering resource consent for this dam and is accepting public submissions until April 23.

Forest and Bird opposes the dam and points out that the Department of Conservation rates the Mokihinui River as the seventh most important river in New Zealand because of its natural heritage values.

You can join Forest and Bird’s campaign to oppose the dam and find a great deal of resources on how to make a simple submission to the Regional Council opposing the dam on their website.

But the other big event this week is that Monday was the two year anniversary of an occupation of the proposed ‘Cypress Mine’ site by Save Happy Valley Coalition members, making it the longest environmental occupation in New Zealand’s history. it was also the start of the Walk the Walk protest/procession form Auckland to Happy Valley, highlighting the damage that government owned power company Solid Energy could do to Happy Valley now that it has been permitted to turn the valley into an open cast coal mine.

You can follow the walkers progress on their blog, news page and photo album.

The walkers are apparently at the marae at Rangiriri tonight and still looking for support of all sorts in their campaign to prevent the climate damage and ecological damage that a new coal mine would do to the West Coast and the planet.