Biodiversity Credit Won't Fix Damage Done By Luxon Govt
Press Release – Green Party
This is a bandaid on a gaping wound which does nothing to address a deepening crisis and runs the risk of being mere greenwashing, says the Green Party spokesperson for Agriculture Steve Abel.
The Green Party says the Government's newly announced Biodiversity Credit scheme is a tiny positive that doesn't undo the biodiversity harm caused by the Luxon Government.
'This is a bandaid on a gaping wound which does nothing to address a deepening crisis and runs the risk of being mere greenwashing,' says the Green Party spokesperson for Agriculture Steve Abel.
'While credit schemes and covenants are an important pathway to protecting vital biodiversity on farmland, these alone are not nearly enough to address the biodiversity crisis in Aotearoa.
'One tiny step in the right direction does not make up for the significant damage this Government is doing to the environment in many ways including through cuts to the Predator Free programme, Department of Conservation funding, significant natural area identification, and Jobs for Nature.
'You cannot pretend to care for biodiversity while openly making policy that destroys it, targeting wetlands as a cash cow through tax deductibility, weakening or removing protections for freshwater, and allowing significant pollution to be permitted in our most vulnerable waterways.
'Furthermore, market and corporate driven biodiversity credits can be little more than a greenwashing tool – and there's proven to be very little demand without regulatory requirements for them.
'Protecting biodiversity is in everyone's interests, especially farmers. Our Green Budget proposed significant investment in supporting landowners to protect and restore their environments, rather than leaving it to the corporate world to pick up the slack in light of extensive government cuts,' says Steve Abel.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Don't Steal The Super South's Last Govt Head Office
'Time is running out.' That from one of Aotearoa's leading ecologists and environmental academics, Dr Colin Meurk ONZM. Dr Meurk has written to MPs, iwi contacts, academics, and local Councillors, highlighting dire consequences of losing the last Government head offices to the North Island. 'In mid-March, Government announced that the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) will be amalgamated into three new Public Research Organisations (PROs) by early October. It's clear that there's lobbying to get the head offices located in the 'golden triangle' (Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton). This seems to be confirmed by an evasive answer to a recent question at Parliament during Scrutiny Week, related to where the headquarters will be,' he says. The amalgamation of Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Plant & Food, Scion and AgResearch into the so-called Bioeconomy PRO, officially commences on July 1st. Currently, the head offices of Manaaki Whenua and AgResearch are located in Lincoln near Christchurch, but the CEOs of those organisations and other Government science advisors all reside in the North Island. 'Removing our last head offices is just not on and would be a symbolic kick in the guts for the South Island,' says Dr Meurk. 'Te Waipounamu is thriving and a key part of the national representation of bioscience and agriculture. Not having a head office here in the South will negatively affect our status, voice, career pathways, and importance as well as the strength and resilience of the overall sector, nationally, not to mention the administrative funding into the local economy which will be shredded from local offices of the new PRO.' Dr Meurk says that it's misguided for a Minister of Science and Innovation, Dr Shane Reti, to state that the amalgamation is designed to 'maximise the value of Government funding and drive economic growth'. Business as usual is almost certainly unfit for looming crises that will demand critical, multi-lensed, outside-the-square science and innovation. 'I see this as continued hollowing out of the South Island,' he says. 'The south is experiencing unprecedented growth and popularity, yet government is failing to grasp the opportunities in our unique public research sector and leadership that is already well-established at Lincoln and the wider region. Climate and geo-tectonic risk, especially up north, demands government infrastructure be regionally spread; we must not put all our governance eggs in one basket.' 'Our Prime Minister is in China right now promoting Aotearoa as a place for students including agricultural students, to study. It seems totally counter-intuitive that the last head office here should be disconnected from the centre of New Zealand's agricultural and tourism enterprise, and our affordable living,' says Meurk. 'I'm somewhat surprised that South Island leaders have not voiced more concern. Unless they stand up to be heard on this issue now, the government will get away with further undermining balanced and shared regional development that is resilient and supports meaningful, respectful nationhood,' he says. Dr Meurk ONZM is standing in the 2025 local body elections for Environment Canterbury in Ōpuna – Christchurch West Additional Over the past 33 years, the South Island had at least two central Government Head Offices (HO) – for Crop & Food and Landcare Research CRIs. A decade or so ago, Crop & Food was amalgamated with Hort Research to form Plant & Food, and their head office was moved to Hamilton/Auckland. Meanwhile, AgResearch's head office was moved to Lincoln. In mid-March the Government announced that the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) will amalgamate four Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) to form three new and more focused Public Research Organisations (PROs) in early October. Legislation to formally establish the PROs will follow in 2026. There are plans underway to locate the head office to Hamilton, likely supported by Plant & Food, the CEO of Landcare Research, the interim chief of the PRO, and Sir Peter Gluckman (key Science advisor to Government) who are all based in the North Island. 'The cards are stacked to further hollow out the South unless concerted joint pressure is exerted by Councils and Iwi of the South.' Colin Meurk References Lincoln University This unique University has experienced significant growth in student numbers over the past few years. In 2025, Lincoln is ranked within the top 25% of universities globally in the QS World University Rankings. Specific numbers for qualifications conferred show a 22% increase in 2025, with 1,613 qualifications conferred compared to 1,320 in 2024. In 2024, numbers exceeded 5,000 students for the first time. This was a 21% increase in student headcount in 2024 compared to 2023. The university's strong performance is attributed to a robust portfolio of relevant research. Research Income: External research income has increased, rising by 8% to $35 million. Factors Contributing to Growth: Lincoln University's growth is linked to its focus on land-based and environmental subjects, strong industry connections, and high graduate employment rates, which are currently at 84%, according to The Press. Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Edwards has said that the strong growth signals Lincoln University's increasing influence in shaping the future of the land-based sectors in Aotearoa and globally. Canterbury University In the top 1% of world universities. Student numbers approaching 25 000 and upsurge in overseas students.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Don't Steal The Super South's Last Govt Head Office
'Time is running out.' That from one of Aotearoa's leading ecologists and environmental academics, Dr Colin Meurk ONZM. Dr Meurk has written to MPs, iwi contacts, academics, and local Councillors, highlighting dire consequences of losing the last Government head offices to the North Island. 'In mid-March, Government announced that the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) will be amalgamated into three new Public Research Organisations (PROs) by early October. It's clear that there's lobbying to get the head offices located in the 'golden triangle' (Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton). This seems to be confirmed by an evasive answer to a recent question at Parliament during Scrutiny Week, related to where the headquarters will be,' he says. The amalgamation of Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Plant & Food, Scion and AgResearch into the so-called Bioeconomy PRO, officially commences on July 1st. Currently, the head offices of Manaaki Whenua and AgResearch are located in Lincoln near Christchurch, but the CEOs of those organisations and other Government science advisors all reside in the North Island. 'Removing our last head offices is just not on and would be a symbolic kick in the guts for the South Island,' says Dr Meurk. 'Te Waipounamu is thriving and a key part of the national representation of bioscience and agriculture. Not having a head office here in the South will negatively affect our status, voice, career pathways, and importance as well as the strength and resilience of the overall sector, nationally, not to mention the administrative funding into the local economy which will be shredded from local offices of the new PRO.' Dr Meurk says that it's misguided for a Minister of Science and Innovation, Dr Shane Reti, to state that the amalgamation is designed to 'maximise the value of Government funding and drive economic growth'. Business as usual is almost certainly unfit for looming crises that will demand critical, multi-lensed, outside-the-square science and innovation. 'I see this as continued hollowing out of the South Island,' he says. 'The south is experiencing unprecedented growth and popularity, yet government is failing to grasp the opportunities in our unique public research sector and leadership that is already well-established at Lincoln and the wider region. Climate and geo-tectonic risk, especially up north, demands government infrastructure be regionally spread; we must not put all our governance eggs in one basket.' 'Our Prime Minister is in China right now promoting Aotearoa as a place for students including agricultural students, to study. It seems totally counter-intuitive that the last head office here should be disconnected from the centre of New Zealand's agricultural and tourism enterprise, and our affordable living,' says Meurk. 'I'm somewhat surprised that South Island leaders have not voiced more concern. Unless they stand up to be heard on this issue now, the government will get away with further undermining balanced and shared regional development that is resilient and supports meaningful, respectful nationhood,' he says. Dr Meurk ONZM is standing in the 2025 local body elections for Environment Canterbury in Ōpuna – Christchurch West Additional Over the past 33 years, the South Island had at least two central Government Head Offices (HO) – for Crop & Food and Landcare Research CRIs. A decade or so ago, Crop & Food was amalgamated with Hort Research to form Plant & Food, and their head office was moved to Hamilton/Auckland. Meanwhile, AgResearch's head office was moved to Lincoln. In mid-March the Government announced that the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) will amalgamate four Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) to form three new and more focused Public Research Organisations (PROs) in early October. Legislation to formally establish the PROs will follow in 2026. There are plans underway to locate the head office to Hamilton, likely supported by Plant & Food, the CEO of Landcare Research, the interim chief of the PRO, and Sir Peter Gluckman (key Science advisor to Government) who are all based in the North Island. 'The cards are stacked to further hollow out the South unless concerted joint pressure is exerted by Councils and Iwi of the South.' Colin Meurk References South Island tops the table for economic growth Lincoln University This unique University has experienced significant growth in student numbers over the past few years. In 2025, Lincoln is ranked within the top 25% of universities globally in the QS World University Rankings. Specific numbers for qualifications conferred show a 22% increase in 2025, with 1,613 qualifications conferred compared to 1,320 in 2024. In 2024, numbers exceeded 5,000 students for the first time. This was a 21% increase in student headcount in 2024 compared to 2023. The university's strong performance is attributed to a robust portfolio of relevant research. External research income has increased, rising by 8% to $35 million. Factors Contributing to Growth: Lincoln University's growth is linked to its focus on land-based and environmental subjects, strong industry connections, and high graduate employment rates, which are currently at 84%, according to The Press. Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Edwards has said that the strong growth signals Lincoln University's increasing influence in shaping the future of the land-based sectors in Aotearoa and globally. Canterbury University In the top 1% of world universities. Student numbers approaching 25 000 and upsurge in overseas students.
1News
4 hours ago
- 1News
NZ deploys aircraft to assist evacuations after US strikes on Iran
New Zealand is deploying personnel and a C-130J Hercules aircraft to the Middle East as part of efforts to assist stranded citizens from Iran and Israel, the Government has announced today. Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed the deployment following US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, announced by US President Donald Trump on Sunday. Trump said the strikes on Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were a "spectacular military success" in a speech from the White House this afternoon. "Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier." Peters called the ongoing military action in the Middle East "extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided". ADVERTISEMENT "New Zealand strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy. We urge all parties to return to talks." Follow 1News' live updates here. Peters said New Zealand remained "seriously concerned" about the risk to New Zealand citizens in Iran and Israel given the continued military strikes between the two countries. "Airspace has been closed since the beginning of the current conflict, and it is highly uncertain when it will reopen. That is why we continue to recommend that New Zealanders do everything they can to leave now if they can find a safe route. "We know it will not be safe for everyone to leave Iran or Israel, and many people may not have access to transport or fuel supplies. If you are in this situation you should shelter in place, follow appropriate advice from local authorities and stay in touch with family and friends where possible." The Foreign Minister is urging for a diplomatic resolution. (Source: 1News) Defence Minister Judith Collins said the deployment of the aircraft was part of contingency planning. ADVERTISEMENT "By positioning an aircraft and Defence and Foreign Affairs personnel in the region, we may be able to do more when airspace reopens." The Government was also in discussion with commercial airlines to assess how they might be able to assist. The C-130J Hercules was scheduled to leave Auckland tomorrow and would take several days to reach the Middle East. All New Zealanders in the Middle East – not just in Iran and Israel – were urged to register on SafeTravel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is running 24/7 consular operations, including via teams in the region. New Zealanders in Iran and Israel needing urgent consular assistance should call the Ministry's Emergency Consular Call Centre on +64 99 20 20 20.
