Better protection of native wildlife is on the legislative agenda and an unstated sum is being spent on revitalising te reo
A few days ahead of the opening of the Government’s books, when we learn what’s in the kitty to help the parties pay for their plethora of election promises and how much must be borrowed, two ministerial statements provide a measure of how public money is being spent on Hipkins’ watch.
The government is spending a few million on making Top of the North roads in the South Island more resilient (and pitching for the votes of people who live in the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions that have been affected by recent extreme weather).
And it is spending an untold sum on Māori Language Week (and pitching for the votes of Maori).
The roading spend-up involves an investment of $12 million and we are reminded that $127 million has been invested in the Top of the South’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022.
The sum which taxpayers are spending on Māori Language Week was not specified.
The only other new Beehive press statement deals with native wildlife.
No, nothing to do with the gangs that plague law-abiding citizens (and which make their own calls on government spending). This is about birds, fish and what-have-you and the announcement is about new legislation to afford them much greater protection.
The statement’s are here-
The roading spend-up involves an investment of $12 million and we are reminded that $127 million has been invested in the Top of the South’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022.
The sum which taxpayers are spending on Māori Language Week was not specified.
The only other new Beehive press statement deals with native wildlife.
No, nothing to do with the gangs that plague law-abiding citizens (and which make their own calls on government spending). This is about birds, fish and what-have-you and the announcement is about new legislation to afford them much greater protection.
The statement’s are here-
Latest from the Beehive
11 SEPTEMBER 2023
The Government is investing over $12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions that have been affected by recent extreme
Ko tēnei te wiki e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira.
9 SEPTEMBER 2023
The 70-year-old Wildlife Act will be replaced with modern, fit-for-purpose legislation to better protect native species and improve biodiversity.
The PM’s name precedes that of Transport Minister David Parker on the roading statement.
He says a dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state highway network from future severe weather disruption.
Then he trundled out some big numbers: this year’s budget provided $419 million for Transport Resilience Fund and $6 billion in funding to support the implementation of a National Resilience Plan.
The Transport Resilience Fund was established for early preventative works to protect the state highway network from future severe weather disruption.
The PM said:
“No region can foot the bill for building transport resilience on their own. That’s why the Government is coming to the table to support regions with a range of fund to help them recover.
“For example, in recent weeks we announced Nelson homeowners can access Government support, including a buyout deal for their damaged homes.
“We are absolutely committed to the region’s recovery.”
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson said Māori Language Week had been “born out of protest” but now is about promoting te reo to everyone.
This year will also mark the third Māori Language Moment, a challenge to stop and celebrate te reo for a moment.
Devised by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the aim is to get more than 1 million people taking part: because 1 million speakers are needed by 2040 to safeguard the language.
Conservation Minister Willow-Jean Prime brought news that the 70-year-old Wildlife Act will be replaced with modern, fit-for-purpose legislation to better protect native species and improve biodiversity – but not before the general election, obviously.
More than 4,000 of the country’s native species are currently threatened, with some at risk of extinction, she explained. A new Act would help to address threats they face, including impacts from climate change, invasive species and habitat loss.
Willow’s announcement follows a Department of Conservation review which determined that the current Act lacked a clear purpose and didn’t effectively protect at-risk or threatened species. For example, not all native species are currently covered by the Act.
Repealing and replacing the existing Act will follow a standard legislative process during the next parliamentary term.
Will Willow be among the species afforded better protection?
According to NIWA, Willows (Salix spp.) were introduced to New Zealand by early settlers From about the 1840s.
Pioneer farmers started planting them to stabilise river banks which had been stripped of native vegetation, a river control practice continued by many regional councils.
Introduced willow species (Salix spp.) are now a dominant component of the vegetation in areas developed for pastoral agriculture.
Over the last decade, concern has grown about the willows’ invasive natural spread along many New Zealand waterways, including wetlands.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
$12m should buy at least 20km of painted centreline. Polling in Nelson/Tasman for Labour must be really down the toilet.
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