Mining U-turn humiliating, says Goff
National's U-turn on mining is a forced and humiliating back-down rather than a case of the party listening to the people, Labour leader Phil Goff says.
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee and Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson today confirmed that the party had ditched plans to remove conservation land in the Coromandel, Great Barrier Island and Paparoa National Park from protected schedule four status so it could be prospected for minerals.
It had proposed opening up 7000 hectares of such land but the plans sparked a huge groundswell of opposition.
Mr Brownlee said of over 37,000 submissions on the issue, most said no land should be removed from schedule four. "We heard that message loud and clear," he said today.
Mr Goff said New Zealanders would now celebrate a victory over what was a "mad-cap" scheme, and that any suggestions National had simply listened to the voice of New Zealand were wrong.
"It's not listening, it's being forced to change when 40,000 people march up Queen Street and 37,000 people sign a petition saying 'this is stupid and we'll change our votes if you don't change your policy'," he said.
"New Zealanders did not want to see their pristine conservation estate in their national parks dug up for mines."
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who rallied against the mining proposals could take a bow and celebrate the decision.
She gave the Government some credit for reacting to public opinion but said it had not gone about the process of selling the proposals well and had been arrogant towards those who spoke out against them.
Ms Turei said she was proud of the part her party played in spearheading the charge against mining in the conservation estate.
"You look after the things you love, and thousands of New Zealanders have reminded John Key of this simple truth over the last year. As a result, we've changed the agenda on mining in New Zealand."
Ms Wilkinson said today 14 areas totalling 12,400 hectares of land would be added to schedule four and future land given classifications similar to schedule four, such as national parks and marine reserves, would automatically become part of schedule four.
Ms Turei said that was just a case of rubber-stamping what the Department of Conservation already had on the table, but it was good to see some areas would get automatic protected status in the future.
She said while there could be scope to mine in areas where there was no danger of environmental damage being caused, plans to examine parts of Northland and the West Coast were concerning and New Zealanders needed to keep a close eye on the Government's future plans for mineral exploration on Crown land.
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Comments and questions16
Goff's poll rating is humiliating - the government U turn is just democracy at work.
Is John Key just Rob Muldoon reincarnated and Phil Goff, Bill Rowling?
Oh yeh Phil, I believe whatever you say....your daughter has NEVER done drugs....this is "humiliating"...
Always the mouse looking for a few votes ,Goff stay in your little snuff box.
There are some very mean things being said here, about Phil Goff.
I respectfully request that, posters refrain from saying unkind remarks. You people are undermining ('scuse the pun) Mr. Goff's credibility, as Leader of the Opposition.
Thank you for your understanding.
Since the govt has never said that they were going to allow mining in scedule four land areas, HOW can this announcement be a
U-Turn Phil?.
The govt was only proposing to investigate potential sites for mining.
No doubt the un-employed living in areas near any prospective mining will be happy to also forego any unemplyment benefits; or perhaps the Greenies, MInto's, Bradford's etc, are going to become magnaminious, and put their money where their mouths shout
Good on you National for listening to the people (although I think the people are wrong on this one!)
But never mind we have had too many years of being dictated to my Helen, Phil et al and we are so happy that we have a government that does listen (sometimes!)
Keep it up and maybe you could listen in other areas as well.
I think you need to go back to school "Phillie"
I think you will find that Humiliating, is along the lines of your party members CREDIT CARD fiasco.....remember!!!!!!! not re adusting to a democratic response from a public/employers reaction to a suggested activity, perhaps along the same lines as 30 second/5 ltr showers, and compulsory goofy light bulbs etc, etc, "Phil In" you twist and turn just like those goddamed light bulbs that you backed down from.......LOL!!!!!!!
This government has not got the experience to organise it's own affairs, beyond twisting and turning to accommodate public opinion in order to stay in power.
When the ignorant unwashed threw out the previous government they had no idea that the clever little PR boy DonKey and his right wing cronies were actually about as competent as the stupider half of the Maori party.
The level of debate in these comments confirms that position. Please at least grow up. I'm not proud to be a New Zealander when I read such immature, ill-informed rubbish as appears above.
Phillie - oooh, what wit!
And why bring Goff's daughter into it?
DonKey....what oustanding wit, so the same shoe fits many feet huh.
Really ? I'd hoped to at least inspire some intelligent response, perhaps in regard to the issues I raised, but that was... barely pedestrian.
Have another go, Mr Anonymouse!
Bob's comment makes the only sense. National NEVER said it was going to allow mining in the selected Schedule 4 areas, or any other conservation areas. It said it was going to consider it and invited comment. It got hysteria from some people, who didn't even want to consider the issues involved. At least it listened, even to the hysteria, unlike Labour with the Electoral Law Reform Act in 2008. Goff has a conveniently very short memory.
Humiliating? Interesting choice of words - probably the same attitude when you guys couldn't back away from nanny state rules being rolled out... leading to a rather humiliating defeat! Sorry Phil IN you're in a holding pattern in a departure lounge... flight reads no ideas, not likely to be PM either, I'd put my money on Cunnliffe (well timed comments, well timed incisive comments when he does talk....)
Humiliating - are these the words of someone who aspires to be PM? Would you be too proud to back down? Should we be more concered about what you're not saying? Democrarcy at work I would have thought - look it up some time Phil. Perhaps its takes a bigger man to back down?
Too Bad New Zealand will Preserve a Postage Stamp size of Land for a Tiny Minority of NZers fanatical pseudo religious ideas and Sacrifice the Country and the Poorest people that are Victims of these Green NUTTAS....
Well We make our Own luck...More of the Best Kiwis off to the Lucky Country where they make their own Good Luck.
The Filtering Process that is a Bad Government is Perfect..The Cream of a country leave when Stupid decisions are made.
It leaves the remainder far better equipped to undermine themselves as more and more Numb Skulls accumulate to make a greater and greater proportion of the Population.
New Zealand has all it needs to be the Best Nation on earth but we Kill our Future every day....and Kiwis Leave constantly.
Thank you Kiwi Chick, well said. NZ could be the best nation in the world but needs another 5 mio in population. Helen and Phil are part of the reason I came to the lucky country 3 years ago.
Today I paid $1.19 a litre for fuel. (NZ $1.30). Steak at the supermarket $6.90 kilo. Say no more!
Phil, you are a nice Guy, but please your negative "humiliating" comment does not serve you well.
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