We have a problem
Our unique natural heritage, developed over 85 million years, saw feathers rather than fur dominate the ecosystem. Apart from two species of bat we had no land-based mammals.
When humans brought wave after wave of four-legged creatures they created absolute carnage. We lost 50 per cent of our bird species, and now more than 80 per cent of what remains are either threatened or facing extinction. Stopgap measures like 1080 drops, designed to give the birds a breather, are sometimes all we have to prevent localised extinctions.
Successive governments have not taken conservation seriously enough, cutting rather than increasing budgets, stressing both staff and the creatures they try so hard to protect. It’s great to see this government increase DoC funding, but even better news was Tuesday’s announcement by Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage of a new NZ Biodiversity Strategy that she said was needed to tackle a “biodiversity crisis”.
At last, a Conservation Minister actually having the guts to call a spade a spade! Our environment is in deep trouble, and the first step in fixing something is acknowledging we have a problem. But just as importantly, we need to consider the ‘how’.
Minister Sage says DoC will be working with other government departments, iwi, hapu¯ and councils over the next 16 months to set priorities for this new strategy. Recently I attended a Northland Forward Together strategic workshop, where one of the themes was ‘localism’, an alternative to the vastly centralised system we currently endure. Decisionmaking happens locally? This would be entirely appropriate for conservation.
One thing that has really irked me is how the Crown pulled a swifty in negotiating co-management agreements with Te Hiku iwi. He Korowai, the cloak of protection, gave responsibility but bugger all funding to protect indigenous biodiversity. We need to ensure that the forthcoming DOC collaboration will address this issue, along with the wider issue of devolving authority and decision-making in both the terrestrial and marine spaces. MPI needs to loosen the reins too.
We can find local solutions using local people to address the ongoing challenge of protecting the taonga we are so lucky to be gifted with. A good place to start would be building capacity to engage in conservation. Establishing workplace training and education programmes would be an appropriate place to start.
The Prime Minister said at Waitangi this year, “Ask us what we have done to give rangatahi opportunities and jobs. Ask us to form partnerships. Hold us accountable.” She made mention of the disproportionate number of Ma¯ori in our prisons.
If we want to address incarceration, unemployment, poverty, violence, meth and alcohol addiction, hopelessness and suicide, we now have a golden opportunity. By working together to protect our environment we may end up saving ourselves.
■ mikef@nrc.govt.nz
"Successive governments have not taken conservation seriously enough, cutting rather than increasing budgets, stressing both staff and the creatures they try so hard to protect. "