June 24, 2024
Don’t write off species says Prime
Veteran Māori environmentalist Kevin Prime is cautioning against defeatist thinking on saving endangered species.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka told Parliament’s environment committee last week that stopping every species from becoming extinct was very aspirational and could cost trillions of dollars.
He wanted to identify and focus on priorities.
Mr Prime says he should look to iwi and community solutions.
“The crux of it is, if we can get more communities rallying around and focusing on their own priorities – whether its the kiwi, the pigeon the fish the birds, or whatever it is, I think anything is possible,” he says.
Mr Prime says the government still needs to commit funding to its environmental agencies to support that work.