National’s Conservation Land Clearance Sale – Labour

National is treating New Zealand’s conservation estate like a clearance sale, with plans to sell off land that belongs to everyone.

“Tama Potaka wasn’t made Conservation Minister to put a price tag on our public conservation estate,” Labour conservation spokesperson Priyanca Radhakrishnan said.

“His job is to protect these places for future generations. Instead, he’s paving the way for their sale.

“National refuses to rule out selling high value conservation land. That puts places like Aotea Conservation Park, Cathedral Cove, the Remarkables and the Catlins at risk of ending up on the market.

“Two-thirds of New Zealanders oppose this because they know that once conservation land is sold, it’s gone for good. I urge people to make a submission on the Bill before 2 July and tell the Government to stop its reckless fire sale.

“New Zealanders expect conservation land to be protected, not packaged up and sold whenever the Government wants to make its books look better.

“You cannot replace native ecosystems, historic sites, public access or the sense of shared ownership New Zealanders have over these special places.

“At a time when our native species face increasing threats and conservation agencies are stretched, Tama Potaka has decided the answer is to reduce the estate he’s meant to be defending.

“Conservation land isn’t National’s to sell. It belongs to all of us. Labour will fight to keep it that way,” Priyanca Radhakrishnan said.