Archdiocesan group warns of bills’ impact on the environment

Both the Planning Bill (PB) and the Natural Environment Bill (NEB) seek to “dismantle a framework of hierarchies for environmental protection” and consider “use and development for economic and growth purposes to be an equally desirable goal in the place of environmental protection”, the commission stated in a submission to Parliament’s Environment Committee.

Particular concern was expressed about making environmental protection dependent on uncertain ecological baselines and certain limits.

An expressed aim of the NEB to “achieve no net loss in indigenous biodiversity” is ecologically weak, the commission stated, and is not consistent with another goal to “safeguard the life-supporting capacity of air, soil, water and ecosystems”.

“Allowing calculated biodiversity offsets and compensation assumes ecosystems are interchangeable,” the commission stated.

“Under this assumption and model, any habitats and species are considered replaceable. However, there is an estimated 80,000 unique and endemic species to Aotearoa New Zealand. Such biodiversity implies that the New Zealand ecosystem is sustained upon intricate and complex connections and relationships between all these species.

“To only consider the net mass balance of indigenous species in an ecosystem, without assessing the relationships and connections between species, completely misses the importance of biodiversity in a sustainable ecosystem,” the commission warned.

The submission also warned that significant natural environments would only be protected under the proposed system if already-merged local council and government bodies have the budget.

“Furthermore, the Commission questions the ability of both Bills in practice to foster appropriate and adequate expertise and consultation through Te Tiriti o Waitangi. . . “

Under these Bills, Te Tiriti o Waitangi is effectively replaced by the concept of “Māori interests”, considered in line with other goals that do not conform to a hierarchy of values, the submission stated.

“If tino rangatiratanga is not specifically operative as the overarching consideration in land ‘use’ and ‘development’, it will be at the prerogative of the regional councils or the Minister of Environment to seek limited consultation from Māori from an advisory position. This contrasts with the current Resource Management Act.”

FULL STORY

Wellington EJD Commission submission on NEB and PB (NZ Parliament)