NZ First to campaign for conservation land to be open for economic development
New Zealand First is campaigning to open conservation land for economic development, including mining and quarrying. The party aims to prioritize economic opportunities within the Department of Conservation's mandate, a move that has drawn criticism from environmental groups.
Why it matters
This policy shift highlights the ongoing tension between economic resource extraction and environmental preservation in New Zealand's political landscape.
New Zealand First says it will be campaigning for conservation land to be opened up for economic development.
The party's deputy leader and resources minister Shane Jones said he fought hard to retain a controversial clause 6ea in the Conservation Amendment Bill, which says the Department of Conservation (DOC) should recognise and enable "economic opportunities" on conservation land to "the greatest extent practicable".
This sentence is in the latest draft of the bill, which is still before the Environment Select Committee.
Conservation minister Tama Potaka backed down from other proposed changes earlier this year which could have made 2.8 million hectares of conservation land eligible for sale.
Jones said he would campaign for economic activities like mining and quarrying on conservation land - apart from in national parks.
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