March 13, 2017
Water policy a cruel trick
Student-led advocacy group Choose Clean Water says it may be time for iwi to reconsider their continued support for the Land and Water Forum.
Spokesperson Marnie Pricket says the decision by Forest and Bird and Federated Mountain Clubs to join Fish and Game in leaving the forum is a major vote of no confidence.
The largest conservation and recreation groups say they had to go because the water policy announced by Environment Minister Nick Smith is completely at odds with the consensus recommendations of the forum.
Ms Prickett says that says a lot about the danger to the environment that Dr Smith represents.
"I wouldn't be surprised if iwi groups were thinking about getting out as well. People have given it a really good go. They have given the government benefit of the doubt for at least 8 years now and the government has not honoured the values of the people of New Zealand. They've just turned around and tried to trick us all," she says.
Marnie Pricket says rather than addressing the increasing pollution of New Zealand's waterways, the Government has changed the rules to allow them to become more polluted.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH MARNIE PRICKETT
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