Forest & Bird accuses Conservation Minister of flip-flop

02 Dec 2011 03:54p.m.

Bruce wrote:

The only way the mining can benefit New Zealand economy is if the mining company were paying good wages to the worker such as inline with the Australian rates. The New Zealand rates are too low for the mine to impact the economy in any positive way. I doubt if an Aussie company would be operating in NZ and offering competitive rates for employees More likely they will be operating in New Zealand largely because of the rate of pay. It will be no where near Aussie pay rates. Pay parity will have nothing to do with it. Its another case of an international company raping New Zealand resources and giving little in return.

30 Nov 2011 09:23p.m.

Sean wrote:

The picture of Queenstown is a bit disingenious....

30 Nov 2011 07:37p.m.

Marmite wrote:

@whats the alternative. It's a Australian company honey. I'm too are working hard to put food on my table, please don't suggest people against this are otherwise. The amount that will return to our economy is minimal at best, the benefit of not mining there out weighs the benefits greatly. It's not really just about the mining it's also about another broken promise from the National party and I'm sure you would love the health benefits and the loss of wildlife (including the threatened kiwi specie) if it was in your town and the Deniston Plateau is a very unique place. Do you honestly think that an Australian company wouldn't give two hoots about NZ economy or our environment? Think again. The company is also planning to mine in Northern Buller and have a exploration permit to mine in Wharetea also. To get the ex pats back we need decent wages, not tax cuts to the rich.

30 Nov 2011 07:22p.m.

nicola vallance wrote:

Forest & Bird is NZ's largest conservation organisation. We represent over 70 000 members and supporters. Sir Paul Callaghan's speech, if you watch it, explains the basic economics about why exploitative industries like mining are NOT our best earners. He contends our best earners are high end tech industries that make NZ an attractive place to live. Re: my visit to Denniston, i was there as part of my job, a job i'm very proud of, that i worked extremely hard to get, that is supported by all of our members and supporters - they pay memberships so that people like me and my colleagues continue to give nature a voice. I love my job, and it's a privilege to spend my time (often longer than a 9-5) doing a job I love, for something that is important to so many New Zealanders.

30 Nov 2011 07:14p.m.

wondering wrote:

After last years mining disaster people are justifiably concerned about the government greatly reducing industrial safety and conditions in the mining industry in NZ , coincidentally timed with interest from overseas companies. Tariffs will be lower , wages will be lower, risks will be higher. That is the difference between here and Aus.

30 Nov 2011 07:07p.m.

what's the alternative wrote:

To Nicola Vallance. I have huge respect for Paul Callaghan. From what I have heard him talk about - he wants ex pats to return to NZ to grow our economy and that we can't as a nation rely on tourism. To get the ex pats back we need a strong economy. The 1 percent return you talk about doesn't look at the big picture. I'm glad you got to visit Denniston recently, I don't have the time or the money. I'm to busy working trying put put food on the table.

30 Nov 2011 06:50p.m.

Ian wrote:

Why is anyone listening to Forest and Bird. Its just an extreme group that don't agree with anyone! They can't even seem to work alongside DOC these days. Only people they can work with is Fish and Game which spend 85% of license fee revenue on court battles

30 Nov 2011 06:30p.m.

Nicola Vallance wrote:

to "What's the alternative", i can assure you i was visiting Denniston as recently as two weeks ago, and it IS an outstanding landscape. Re: the coalmine, it will be internationally owned, returning a 1% royalty. the economics, simply do not stack up. Here's a great example of what the alternative opportunities for NZ economy is though - from our New Zealander of the Year, Sir Paul Callaghan (you'll note, he's not a hippy, nor is he wearing a hemp suit, or demanding welfare). please watch it, it's an excellent video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhCAyIllnXY

30 Nov 2011 06:24p.m.

What's the alternative wrote:

The very people who are against mining want more money spent on welfare, education and health. Where is NZ going to get the money from? We just can't rely on the tourism market. There is a world recession and the tourists don't have the money to keep our economy going. Lets get on with it. There are heaps of conservation areas now. Most people who I find are against mining have never visited a conservation park in their life. It's just popular to say you are against it but if you ask them when they plan to visit the area they say probably never, but the tourists from overseas might. They might not as well. And if they do visit they will probably be Freedom campers who leave their pollution behind and contribute little to our economy.

30 Nov 2011 06:00p.m.

andrew johnson wrote:

you mean the Tories lied? then came clean after the election? go figure eh.....who would have thought them capable of that