Plastic bag levy campaign gathers new support
Nearly half of the nation’s mayors have signed a letter putting pressure on central government to impose a mandatory charge on plastic bags but the call seems to be falling on deaf ears.
Two weeks after the mayors of Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin circulated an open letter calling for local government to support a levy, the number of signatories have grown to include 28 of the country’s 67 mayors, including Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel.
Meanwhile, a petition launched by a group of Wellington high school students calling for a levy has gained more than 8900 signatures.
Marsden Collegiate School student Cici Davie said the group was now launching a campaign, #Bagsinthewild, in which participants took photographs of plastic bag litter and emailed them to Environment Minister Nick Smith.
Davie said the group was inspired by two Balinese sisters whose campaigning convinced the island’s government to ban plastic bags by 2018.
In addition to these new calls, two independent surveys have shown Kiwis strongly support a mandatory levy on single-use plastic bags.
But Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson has maintained his stance against a legislative approach.
Wellington Mayor Justin Lester had previously pressed central government to impose a levy, or step aside and allow local authorities to do so, but a spokesman said the minister was still apposed to this.
‘‘He thinks that would just lead to a confused situation that would be uncertain and complicated.
‘‘His preference would be for a voluntary nationwide process rather than heavy-handed regulation.’’
The spokesman said Simpson was setting up a working group to explore options for reducing plastic bag consumption.
Lester said he was thrilled with the support shown from other leaders around the country.
Those who had not signed still had a few weeks before the letter was presented to Simpson.
Mayors who support a plastic bag levy: Neil Holdom - New Ply- mouth; Wayne Guppy - Upper Hutt; Grant Smith - Palmerston North; Steve Chadwick - Rotorua; Rachel Reese - Nelson; John Carter - Far North; David Ayers - Waimakariri; Sam Broughton - Selwyn; Sheryl Mai - Whangarei; Lyn Patterson - Masterton; Dave Cull - Dunedin; Lawrence YuleHastings; Phil Goff - Auckland; Justin Lester - Wellington; Jim Boult - Queenstown Lakes; Meng Foon - Gisborne; Alex Walker - Central Hawke’s Bay; Helen Worboys - Manawatu; Michael Feyen - Horowhenua; Greg Gent - Kaipara; Andy Watson - Rangitikei; Craig Little - Wairoa; Bryan Cadogan - Clutha; John Booth - Carterton; Lianne Dalziel - Christchurch; Garry Howard - Buller; Ray Wallace - Lower Hutt; Tim Shadbolt - Invercargill.