Headline: Metiria’s Mohua wins bird of the year
“New Zealanders love the Mohua, and they have voted to protect this already endangered bird from the environmentally damaging monorail proposal,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.
Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei is thrilled her campaign for the Mohua was successful in taking out Forest and Bird’s annual bird of the year competition, and is calling on the Government to derail plans for a monorail to be built in the Mohua’s habitat between Queenstown and Te Anau.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith will be visiting the site of the proposed monorail tomorrow, Wednesday 30 October.
“New Zealanders love the Mohua, and they have voted to protect this already endangered bird from the environmentally damaging monorail proposal,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.
“This was a campaign to highlight the risk from the monorail that the tiny Mohua faces. By voting it bird of the year New Zealanders have stood up for the Mohua and against the monorail.
“The Mohua faces enough problems from the natural world, such as rats and stoats and numbers have been hit in recent years due to warm summers. The National Government should not introduce another threat for it to deal with.
“Nick Smith needs to listen to New Zealanders and decline the unnecessary monorail proposal.
“The last thing the Mohua needs right now is Nick Smith adding to their habitat loss.
“Fiordland should be alive with the sweet chirpy song of the Mohua, not the ugly noise of a monorail.
“It is time for the Government to give the Mohua a hand. New Zealanders have voted to protect this precious little bird, Nick Smith should listen.”
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