Media Release, June 10,  from:

EDS questions PM's indication of interest in mining in Paparoa National Park

The Environmental Defence Society has questioned the Prime Minister's comments in Christchurch last night where he appeared to be signalling interest in opening up Paparoa National Park to mining. Mr Key is reported as saying that there was a strong case for taking it out of Schedule 4 protection.

"This is very problematical," said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor. "Even if Paparoa National Park was taken out of Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, granting access approval to a mining company would need to be consistent with the National Parks Act. That Act sets out the purpose of national parks as follows:- preserving in perpetuity as national parks, for their intrinsic worth and for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public, areas of New Zealand that contain scenery of such distinctive quality, ecological systems, or natural features so beautiful, unique, or scientifically important that their preservation is in the national interest"

"It is hard to see how a decision to allow large scale coal mining within a national park could be consistent with the purposes for which national parks are held.

"Any mining company wanting to do something as controversial as mine in a national park would face legal challenge if access consent was in fact granted by the Minister of Conservation. The chances of success of such a judicial review challenge we would rate as very high.

"There seems little sense in removing Paparoa from Schedule 4 when there are other seemingly insurmountable challenges to getting consent to mine.

"And the government has, to its credit, made a commitment that it won't amend the National Parks Act.

"I really think government needs to think this through. It would be unhelpful to create a Clayton's opportunity for the mining industry when really national parks are clearly intended to be held for their natural values rather than their extractive mineral ones," Mr Taylor concluded.

Gary Taylor, 021 895 896

Environmental Defence Society

PO Box 95 152, Swanson, Waitakere City 0653

New Zealand

Phone +64-9-835 4350

Email: manager@eds.org.nz

For more information about EDS go to www.eds.org.nz; www.edsconference.com

The Community Guide to the Resource Management Act go to www.rmaguide.org.nz

There is still time to send an e-card to the Prime Minister and/or sign a petition against mining Schedule 4 land. These are available through the following link: www.greens.org.nz/mining.

Giant groper, whale sharks, katipo spiders and all giant weta will now be absolutely protected under changes to the Wildlife Act, Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson announced on 10th June.

Newly protected species due to changes in the Wildlife Act

They are among 12 previously unprotected species of invertebrate and a number of marine species, including manta ray, giant groper and corals, which have had their protection status upgraded.

"All native species are special and have evolved key functions in our unique biodiversity, whether they are weevils, weta or beetles they deserve an appropriate level of protection," Ms Wilkinson says.

"Giant groper, whale sharks and manta ray are all highly valued, particularly by divers, in New Zealand. The upgrade in their protection status, and that of corals, recognises how unique they are in our waters."

The changes to the Wildlife Act affect more than 50 species, including a number of introduced species that have had their protection levels reduced.

Permits will no longer be required to keep some common introduced species as pets, like spotted and turtle doves and ring-necked parakeet.

There will also be no need for permits to control some wildlife, such as wild chickens and muscovy ducks - both of which are farmed species but currently absolutely protected in the wild.

"I have been pragmatic about the changes given to some species and a reduction in protection will be the best way to manage some populations.

"For instance, the grey teal often flies with mallard ducks and is shot in error by hunters so I have dropped the penalty from a $100,000 fine to $5,000, which is the same as a fine for shooting game out of season."

The new changes will take effect on 8 July 2010.

A final decision is yet to be made on the level of protection for Canada geese.

For more information and the list of changes to protection status, please click here.

Proposal to loosen national air quality standards

The country's air quality standards will be loosened under a Government proposal released yesterday morning.

Environment Minister Nick Smith has released a discussion document proposing amendments to the national air quality standard.

(If you would like to make a submission on the proposed amendments please see the link at the bottom of this page.)

It follows a year-long review by a technical advisory group which recommended the standard be changed.

Smith called the previous standard "unrealistic" and "unfair".

"The Government wants a standard that achieves material improvements in air quality without imposing unnecessary costs on businesses and communities," he said.

"These changes are about improving air quality but in a pragmatic and realistic way. It will ensure we do not put thousands of jobs at risk or unnecessarily ban home burners and open fires in areas with only occasional air quality problems."

The standard is an attempt to curb air pollution, which research estimated causes about 1100 New Zealanders to die prematurely each year, with an associated health cost of $1.14 billion.

Under the existing standard, areas called "sheds", where the air quality is closely monitored, would only be allowed to exceed the national pollution standards once a year. In air sheds that did not reach the standard, industrial consents would not be granted until the exceedances were under the threshold.

Now, under changes proposed by the advisory group and endorsed by Smith, the number of exceedances would be lifted to three per year - which is in line with the World Health Organisation standards. The prohibition on industrial consents will be pushed out to 2018.

The review of air quality standards was a National Party election promise and a key initiative out of last year's Job Summit.

Public submissions on the discussion document close on July 9. For more information on the submission process please click here.

You can make submissions on the discussion document on the Ministry for the Environment’s website http://www.mfe.govt.nz/survey/x10submpropaqs.htm

Main article by DAVID WILLIAMS - The Press

By Caitlin Duggan NZ Herald 4:00 AM Wednesday Jun 9, 2010

The Ministry of Fisheries has begun an investigation into an incident in which thousands of fish washed up on Northland beaches at the weekend.

Thousands of yellowtail and some seals and stingrays washed up along Glinks Gully and Baylys Beach last Thursday and Friday, according to holidaymakers.

The fish remained there over the weekend while the seagulls ate them and many onlookers endured the smell.

Bev Ennis was holidaying at Glinks Gully and saw the fish stretching the length of the beach. She claimed the fish were dumped illegally by fishing boats.

"There were thousands, at least 30 kilometres up. It's not on, there's no other excuse. The smell was horrific."

Geoff Nicoll, of Glinks Gully Holiday Park, said there were only yellowtails and they were not dumped.

"The theory of fishermen around here is that the kingfish are chasing in the kahawai and they are chasing in the little ones.

"They were definitely not dumped, they were still alive. This happens every year and in the last month four to five times."

Marine expert Dr Kendall Clements dismissed this claim, saying it was very unusual for this to happen along a 20km stretch of shore.

"It's too much of a coincidence, really strange. Seals and stingrays are not generally known for throwing themselves on the beach."

Darren Edwards, field operations manager for the Ministry of Fisheries Northland, said it was too early to say what the cause was.

"Possibilities are an accident like a net tearing open, a natural event such as algal poisoning or deliberate dumping at sea."

A deliberate dumping is carried out usually by fishing boats which overfish the quota on certain species.

The Ministry of Fisheries asks anyone finding large numbers of fish washed up on the beach or drifting at sea to call 0800 4 POACHER  (0800 476 224).end_of_the_skype_h

By Caitlin Duggan

Far North Organic Growers

 Organic Field Day

Waimate North 

Sunday June 13th 10am-2:30pm

Rob Downing is hosting an open field day. He has invited TOPIS (Taitokerau Maori organic group) with the suggestion of pooling joint knowledge and practical skills about providing long term sustainable care of soils.

There will be a short FNOG meeting at the beginning, which will include an update as to how well New Zealand Organics is going followed by food that is a shared (bring a plate).

Guided walk around the gardens. (Rob Downing's Mahinga Oranga is a fabulous organic vegetable farm.)

68 Whakataha Road in Waimate North,

Tel. (09) 4059435

All welcome

Far North Exposure 2010 is a celebration of the environment and the arts. As a way of celebrating World Environment Day (5th June) with a Far North focus, the Far North Environment Centre is proud to present a series of environmental photographic arts exhibitions featuring the work sourced through a community photo competition.

The 2010 competition theme:

“Our Water, Our Future”

A picture is worth a thousand words is a proverb that refers to the idea that complex stories can be described with just a single still image, or that an image may be more influential than a substantial amount of text.

The photo may be a landscape, a detail of the natural world, or an image that reveals an aspect of human impact on our environment. It is your vision and image, so we will leave it to your imagination.

The categories:

The competition is divided into three age categories

• Infant to 16 years old
• 17 to 40 years old
• 41 years and over

The prizes:

A category winner will be selected from each of the three age categories. Each category winner will win a Fujifilm J28 Splashpack underwater digital camera, plus one week’s camping at a Far North Department of Conservation campsite.

One overall winner selected from the category winners will also receive a $100 gift voucher redeemable from Trees Company Nursery.

How to enter:

• Entry is free, and the competition opens 05th June 2010 (World Environment Day)
• You can enter up to four photos per person
• Each photo needs to have been taken within the Far North District, between 05 June 2010 and 30 July 2010
• Entries must be received by 5pm on 30 July 2010
• For further details on the competition rules, please click here

To enter Far North Exposure please attach your photos to an email and send them to:

photo@ecocentre.co.nz

Alternatively, you can post your entries (please note we cannot return photos):

Far North Exposure 2009
Far North Environment Centre
PO Box 503
Kaitaia 0441

For each entry, please detail:

• Your name
• A contact telephone number
• Your date of birth
• For each photo entered please give a title and location
• You can also give a photo caption

By entering your photo/s into Far North Exposure, you agree to the competition rules and conditions. To view the competition rules and conditions please click here.

For assistance or more information please contact us here.

Far North Exposure 2010 would not be possible without the kind support of the Department of Conservation, Far North District Council, More FM, Top Print, and Trees Company Nursery.

TRANSITION TOWN KAITAIA PRESENTS

Our next film for 2010

Note new venue

Friday, 11th June, 6.30pm

in The Kauri Room

“REAP” Far North.

33 Puckey Avenue, Kaitaia

"The Two Faces of Money"

a brilliantly sane view of the way the “real economy” can work, regardless of the insanity of the “speculative economy.” Learn about what it is, not how it works, from: Bernard Lietaer, Professor of Finance at Boulder University, Magrit Kennedy, writer and economist and Michael Linton, the founder of the Green Dollar system – all influential and internationally recognised economic thinkers and activists. An opportunity to see how anyone can participate in a local economy regardless of education, or job.

Think about “No more throw away people”

and “We have what we need if we use what we have”

All welcome - we appreciate koha to assist with our expenses. Please join us for supper and some stimulating discussion after the film.

(So pencil in every second Friday of the month for some great entertainment, stimulation and enlightenment)

Headling film of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, The End of the Line is a compelling exploration into the state of the world's fisheries. Filmed across the globe, the central theme has major implications for all New Zealanders.

"Should do for our oceans what 'An Inconvenient Truth' did for climate change..." Wendy Ide, the Times.

To visit the End Of The Line website and view the film preview please click here

Far North Showings 2010, 7pm start:

17 June:   Taipa Area School Whare
18 June:   Houhora Big Game Fishing Club
25 June:   Kaitaia College Hall
02 July:    Ahipara Rugby Club

Spot prizes courtesy of ITM Fishing Show

Entry by gold coin donation

Presented and supported by: