Twelve thousand have gathered in Auckland’s Albert Park
this afternoon to march down Queen Street to protest the
Government’s controversial Conservation Amendment
Bill.
Speaking from the protest, Greenpeace Aotearoa
Executive Director Dr Russel Norman said, “We are part of
nature, not separate from it. An attack on nature is an
attack on all of us. It needs to stop.”
“If Luxon
wants a fight over conservation land, he has one. This huge
turnout today shows people are not prepared to stand by
while a government tries to rewrite conservation law to make
those places easier to exploit.”
“Today’s March for
Nature is an unmistakable warning to the Coalition
Government. Luxon should look at the thousands of people
filling Auckland’s streets today and read the room. Bin
the Bill, keep your hands off conservation land, and leave
it protected for generations to come.”
Forest &
Bird’s Richard Capie, also speaking from the protest, said
“Today’s march shows just how deeply people care about our
unique creatures and incredible wild places. Nature brings
New Zealanders together – there is no more powerful unifying
force in Aotearoa than te taiao.
“The message to every
political party from the people of New Zealand is clear: if
you stand up for nature, we will stand with you. But if you
sell off our conservation land, weaken environmental
protections, or put short-term profit ahead of our future,
we will not stand by and let it happen.”
Other
speakers included Augusta Macassey-Piccard of Coromandel
Watchdog of Hauraki, Gabrielle Brayne of Anti-War Aotearoa,
Aigagalefili Fepulea’i-Tapua’i (Fili) of Aotearoa
Climate Action Network, and Māori activist Mike
Smith.
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Norman says, “Conservation land is part of who
we are in Aotearoa. But the Conservation Amendment Bill
would open the door to more mining, more commercial
exploitation and degradation of the wildlife and places we
all love.
“Today, thousands of people from all walks
of life have come together to say that we will not stand for
this. Together, we will fight this rotten Bill every step of
the way until it is dead and buried.”
The protest,
organised by Greenpeace Aotearoa and Forest & Bird, is
backed by over 30 civil society groups, including unions,
environmental charities, scientific societies, ratepayer
associations and outdoor recreation groups. They include the
PSA, NZEI and Unite Union, the NZ Botanical Society,
Environmental Law Initiative, Mindful Money, and Athletes
for Nature.
Capie says, “Aotearoa New Zealand – our
mountains, oceans, rivers, forests, and landscapes – are
like nowhere else on earth. They are home to iconic native
species that exist only here. New Zealanders are rightly
incredibly proud of te taiao and we share a deep sense of
aroha for the environment. Conservation land, our wildlife
and wild places, are taonga, a treasure. They must be looked
after for future generations.
“So, when these places
are put at risk, New Zealanders stand up and say no. That is
the message I’ve heard over and over again today – protect
te taiao – hands off our conservation land.”
The march
will leave Albert Park at 1:30pm and travel down Queen
Street, before arriving in Te Komitititanga Square.
Greenpeace and Forest & Bird are urging participants to
enrol to vote, with the election in seven
weeks.
