Jones has made plain he isn’t fond of frogs (not the dim-witted ones, at least) – and now we learn he is no kinder to kina
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today ….now posted above
There we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones.
Shane Jones.
Yep. It’s the same Jones who has unabashedly given the impression he is strong on resource development and hostile to any wildlife that might get in the way of the developers.
As Resources Minister, he has said he won’t let some “dim-witted frog” stand between him and progress.
He told Parliament, while rejoicing that “mining is coming back” on his watch:
“We most certainly need those rare earth minerals. In those areas called the Department of Conservation (DOC) estate, where it’s stewardship land, stewardship land is not DOC land, and if there is a mineral, if there is a mining opportunity and it’s impeded by a blind frog, goodbye, Freddy.”
He has also labelled environmental NGOs “green politburo banshees”.
But this week Jones has flashed his conservationist stripes and announced a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens.
Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in Northland from 9am-11am.
Kina barrens are areas of rocky reef where healthy kelp forests have been consumed by an excess population of kina and long-spined sea urchins, to form a barren space that is uninviting to other sea life.
“I’ve made kina barrens a priority, due to the concerns raised from local communities and the threat that they pose to the marine environment,” Jones says.
“The involvement of the local community, both their ideas and actually getting out there to remove excess kina, will be essential to deal with kina barrens in a sustainable way that results in a long-term improvement in the health of Northland’s kaimoana and biodiversity.
“It’s also a great opportunity for a new generation of people to take part in community projects to look after their local environment. I look forward to working with Northlanders to address kina barrens.”
Just a thought: would frogs be given a better deal under Jones if they could be conditioned to prey on kina?
News of Jones’ contribution to marine conservation as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries can be found on the government’s official website along with his welcoming the resurgence of mining as the country’s Resource Minister .
The mining statement was triggered by Australian pension fund AustralianSuper being ready to invest A$75 million (NZ$82m) in Federation Mining’s Snowy River gold mining project near Reefton,
This brings financial support from the pension fund since 2020 to A$145m (NZ$160m) total.
The Provincial Growth Fund (a bountiful trough which Jones controlled) provided a $15m loan to the project in 2020.
TiGa Minerals and Metals is also welcoming a decision by independent commissioners to allow it to go ahead with a proposed mine at Barrytown Flats, also on the West Coast. TiGa has said the garnet and Ilmenite mine will provide a real boost for the local and regional economy.
Santana Minerals says it has raised A$31.2m(NZ$34m) to progress its Bendigo Ophir gold mining project in central Otago. The company says it will bring employment and prosperity to the region.
“I am delighted that word is getting around the mining sector and international investment community that New Zealand has undergone a political and ideological shift,” Mr Jones says.
“Mining is no longer a dirty word. Mining equals jobs, regional development, export growth and economic prosperity for the country. The confidence being shown in New Zealand as a place to carry out this business is extremely encouraging and I will continue to put out the welcome mat for these industries.”
More good news of an economic nature came from Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay, who said Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement takes effect.
The agreement will increase market access for New Zealand exporters and contribute to the Government’s ambitious target of doubling exports by value in 10 years.
The result of more than 15 years of lobbying, persuading and negotiating, it secures tariff reductions for Kiwifruit, wine, seafood and many other products and includes commitments on services and investment, aimed at ensuring that New Zealanders can compete fairly in the EU market in these sectors.
The EU is New Zealand’s fourth-largest trade partner, with two-way goods and services trade worth $20.2 billion in 2022, accounting for 10.3 per cent of New Zealand’s total trade in goods and services.
“This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand’s prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. It is only through a strong economy that we can reduce the cost of living and pay for quality public services like schools and hospitals. McClay said.
“The EU is an important and trusted partner for New Zealand. We look forward to deepening both economic and people-to-people connections further.”
In an earlier press statement, in March, McClay provided more detail:
The agreement is set to increase our total exports to the EU by $1.8 billion annually.
For Kiwi fruit exporters Zespri estimates tariff removals will generate an average annual savings of up to $16,000 per kiwi fruit grower this year. While Onions New Zealand expect to see annual industry savings of $6.5 million.
The Agreement also reduces regulatory barriers on service exports by 10 to 20 per cent, contributing an additional $95 to $187 million to our GDP once implemented.
McClay highlighted these points:
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
Yep. It’s the same Jones who has unabashedly given the impression he is strong on resource development and hostile to any wildlife that might get in the way of the developers.
As Resources Minister, he has said he won’t let some “dim-witted frog” stand between him and progress.
He told Parliament, while rejoicing that “mining is coming back” on his watch:
“We most certainly need those rare earth minerals. In those areas called the Department of Conservation (DOC) estate, where it’s stewardship land, stewardship land is not DOC land, and if there is a mineral, if there is a mining opportunity and it’s impeded by a blind frog, goodbye, Freddy.”
He has also labelled environmental NGOs “green politburo banshees”.
But this week Jones has flashed his conservationist stripes and announced a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens.
Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in Northland from 9am-11am.
Kina barrens are areas of rocky reef where healthy kelp forests have been consumed by an excess population of kina and long-spined sea urchins, to form a barren space that is uninviting to other sea life.
“I’ve made kina barrens a priority, due to the concerns raised from local communities and the threat that they pose to the marine environment,” Jones says.
“The involvement of the local community, both their ideas and actually getting out there to remove excess kina, will be essential to deal with kina barrens in a sustainable way that results in a long-term improvement in the health of Northland’s kaimoana and biodiversity.
“It’s also a great opportunity for a new generation of people to take part in community projects to look after their local environment. I look forward to working with Northlanders to address kina barrens.”
Just a thought: would frogs be given a better deal under Jones if they could be conditioned to prey on kina?
News of Jones’ contribution to marine conservation as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries can be found on the government’s official website along with his welcoming the resurgence of mining as the country’s Resource Minister .
The mining statement was triggered by Australian pension fund AustralianSuper being ready to invest A$75 million (NZ$82m) in Federation Mining’s Snowy River gold mining project near Reefton,
This brings financial support from the pension fund since 2020 to A$145m (NZ$160m) total.
The Provincial Growth Fund (a bountiful trough which Jones controlled) provided a $15m loan to the project in 2020.
TiGa Minerals and Metals is also welcoming a decision by independent commissioners to allow it to go ahead with a proposed mine at Barrytown Flats, also on the West Coast. TiGa has said the garnet and Ilmenite mine will provide a real boost for the local and regional economy.
Santana Minerals says it has raised A$31.2m(NZ$34m) to progress its Bendigo Ophir gold mining project in central Otago. The company says it will bring employment and prosperity to the region.
“I am delighted that word is getting around the mining sector and international investment community that New Zealand has undergone a political and ideological shift,” Mr Jones says.
“Mining is no longer a dirty word. Mining equals jobs, regional development, export growth and economic prosperity for the country. The confidence being shown in New Zealand as a place to carry out this business is extremely encouraging and I will continue to put out the welcome mat for these industries.”
More good news of an economic nature came from Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay, who said Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement takes effect.
The agreement will increase market access for New Zealand exporters and contribute to the Government’s ambitious target of doubling exports by value in 10 years.
The result of more than 15 years of lobbying, persuading and negotiating, it secures tariff reductions for Kiwifruit, wine, seafood and many other products and includes commitments on services and investment, aimed at ensuring that New Zealanders can compete fairly in the EU market in these sectors.
The EU is New Zealand’s fourth-largest trade partner, with two-way goods and services trade worth $20.2 billion in 2022, accounting for 10.3 per cent of New Zealand’s total trade in goods and services.
“This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand’s prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. It is only through a strong economy that we can reduce the cost of living and pay for quality public services like schools and hospitals. McClay said.
“The EU is an important and trusted partner for New Zealand. We look forward to deepening both economic and people-to-people connections further.”
In an earlier press statement, in March, McClay provided more detail:
The agreement is set to increase our total exports to the EU by $1.8 billion annually.
For Kiwi fruit exporters Zespri estimates tariff removals will generate an average annual savings of up to $16,000 per kiwi fruit grower this year. While Onions New Zealand expect to see annual industry savings of $6.5 million.
The Agreement also reduces regulatory barriers on service exports by 10 to 20 per cent, contributing an additional $95 to $187 million to our GDP once implemented.
McClay highlighted these points:
- An annual boost to GDP of up to $1.4 billion and increase of exports to the EU by up to $1.8 billion per year by 2035.
- Duties removed on 91% of New Zealand’s goods exports to the EU from entry into force, rising to 97% after seven years.
- Tariff savings of $100 million per year on New Zealand exports to the EU from day one.
- Significant new quota access for beef, sheep meat, butter and cheese – worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year, if filled.
Latest from the Beehive
1 MAY 2024
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.
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Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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