Read on Twitter
Here's a thread of today's plan for Aotearoa New Zealand from @NZGreens. I'm sharing this way because everything of theirs is so succinct and tweet friendly.
Animal Welfare.Animals are worthy of care and respect, but current rules allow animal abuse and exploitation.
The @NZGreens will:Ban or phase-out harmful activities including live export of animals, use of animals in rodeo, greyhound racing, factory farming, farrowing crates, and the “backyard breeding” of companion animals under inhumane conditions.
The @NZGreens will:Support farmers to ensure animals are provided with appropriate shade, shelter, and comfortable resting areas.
The @NZGreens will:Create dedicated champions for animals by establishing a Minister for Animal Welfare and a Parliamentary Commissioner for Animal Welfare, and boost funding for animal welfare programmes.
The @NZGreens will:Review the operation of the Animal Welfare Act and increase funding for compliance monitoring and enforcement, to achieve better coordination between the Act and other Codes of Welfare.
The @NZGreens will:Ensure the accuracy of “free range”, “cruelty free” and other animal welfare product labelling.
Clean water.From the maunga to moana, water is a taonga which must be protected, but too many rivers, lakes, and wetlands have been polluted over the years, and river flows have fallen below healthy levels. At the same time, climate change puts rivers at risk.
The @NZGreens will:Create a fair system for water allocation, with commercial users like water bottling companies paying a resource rental fee, and allocation phased down to sustainable levels.
Iwi and hapū will be involved in designing a framework that recognises te mana o te wai Māori interests, prioritises ecological integrity, and protects food production.
The @NZGreens will:Uphold the kaitiaki, proprietary, and customary rights of iwi and hapū over water.
The @NZGreens will:Improve urban water quality and supply by funding green infrastructure, supporting home water storage, and requiring new buildings to include greywater recycling.
The @NZGreens will:Support farmers to reduce run-off and the need for irrigation. This will include on-farm water storage and distribution, to improve resilience to floods and droughts.
The @NZGreens will:Rehabilitate and protect wetlands, recognising this is an important part of climate change adaptation.
The @NZGreens will:Ensure regional councils have sufficient resources to properly implement Freshwater Farm Plans and the National Environmental Standard on Freshwater.
The @NZGreens will:Keep drinking water, stormwater, and sewerage infrastructure under public control.
Conservation.Everyone should be able to enjoy the dawn chorus in Aotearoa’s forests and have rivers safe for fishing, swimming, and gathering kai.
The @NZGreens will:Protect kauri from kauri dieback by investing in a National Pest Management Strategy.
The @NZGreens will:Create sustainable employment through the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme, and support conservation volunteer groups nationwide.
The @NZGreens will:Enhance Predator Free 2050 by increasing funding for research, innovation, and landscape predator control; and by establishing more protected and pest-free islands and sanctuaries, including in our towns and cities.
The @NZGreens will:Invest in restoring wetlands, riverbanks, and estuaries to protect communities against rising seas and floods.
The @NZGreens will:Increase funding support for iwi and hapū, landholders, and community organisations to restore the health of forests and waterways, …
…through programmes including the Community Conservation and Partnership Fund, Mātauranga Kura Taio, Ngā Whenua Rahui, Nature Heritage and QEII Trust Funds.
The @NZGreens will:Improve implementation of te Tiriti by Te Papa Atawhai, including reviewing key conservation policy and legislation.
The @NZGreens will:Resource the active implementation of Treaty settlements and co-management/co-governance of public conservation land.
The @NZGreens will:End new mining on and under conservation land, except for pounamu and some small scale river based gold mining.
The @NZGreens will:Eradicate pigs, cats and mice from Makauhuka/Auckland Islands in partnership with Ngāi Tahu.
Oceans.Oceans are the lifeblood of our planet. Home to a vast array of species and delicate ecosystems, and a source of kai and recreation. Our marine environments must be protected for future generations.
The @NZGreens will:Protect and prioritise recreational and customary fishing over commercial fishing.
The @NZGreens will:Ban set netting and phase out the most destructive forms of commercial fishing, such as bottom trawling, dredging, and other bottom impact methods.
The @NZGreens will:Seek to finalise negotiations on the Global Ocean Treaty, and reform and replace relevant legislation in Aotearoa to enable a network of Marine Protected Areas that recognises te Tiriti o Waitangi rights and responsibilities.
The @NZGreens will:Investigate the development of proposals for integrated marine ecosystem management for all activities. This will include commercial fishing, within a kaitiakitanga framework, …
…that ensures ngā taonga ō te moana are managed responsibly for current and future generations with te Tiriti o Waitangi honoured.
The @NZGreens will:Facilitate discussions to progress and create the Kermadec Rangitahua Ocean Sanctuary.
Reducing waste.There is no waste in nature; only cycles of resource use. The Green Party wants our communities and economy to run on the same no-waste principle.
The @NZGreens will:Fix kerbside plastic recycling to be more consistent throughout Aotearoa, and develop local recycling capability to process more recyclable materials on-shore.
The @NZGreens will:Phase out low-grade plastic products that can be easily replaced with reusable alternatives, especially plastic water bottles, cotton buds, and fruit stickers.
The @NZGreens will:Commit to zero food waste and zero e-waste in our landfills, and pass legislation creating clear waste management obligations for businesses and local authorities.
The @NZGreens will:Develop a new Waste Strategy and review the Waste Minimisation Act and Litter Act to ensure we have the tools needed to put Aotearoa on a zero waste pathway.
The @NZGreens will:Amend the Consumer Guarantees Act to introduce a Right to Repair, requiring manufacturers to design products that can be fixed, not thrown away.
The @NZGreens will:Improve clear labelling with common standards to ensure people can have confidence in products marked “compostable” and “recyclable”.
The @NZGreens will:Continue to create more sector-wide product stewardship schemes for problem products like electronics, and implement a container return scheme for beverage containers.
The @NZGreens will:Reward innovation by increasing funding available through the Waste Minimisation Fund, creating a materials recovery, re-use, and repurposing sector that supports good jobs in Aotearoa.
Tourism.Tourism is important to Aotearoa, but it’s been hit hard by COVID-19. Our clean, green image and spectacular nature is what draws people to visit. We need to live up to that image and protect those landscapes.
The @NZGreens will:Welcome back international tourists when appropriate, but with very strong health controls at the border.
The @NZGreens will:Encourage domestic tourism, to revitalise the sector and reduce the climate impact of international air travel.
The @NZGreens will:Create jobs upgrading walking tracks, huts, and other popular tourism infrastructure.
The @NZGreens will:Invest in regional rail and safe cycling so tourists can explore the country using low-carbon transport.
The @NZGreens will:Limit visitor numbers at popular sites to protect them and the visitor experience, and minimise the impacts of tourism on conservation land.
The @NZGreens will:Institute stronger controls on vehicle camping and encourage visitors to use local accommodation providers.
The @NZGreens will:Review the New Zealand-Aotearoa Tourism Strategy in light of COVID-19, and strengthen its commitment to sustainability and protecting areas for local communities to enjoy.
