Labour’s Failure to Fulfil Promise Prompts Call for Moratorium on New Mines on Conservation Land
New Zealand’s Labour Party has been facing criticism for failing to fulfil its promise of protecting conservation land from mining activities. The party had pledged to ban new mines on conservation land during the 2017 election campaign, but it has not yet delivered on this promise. This has prompted calls for a moratorium on new mines on conservation land until the government can come up with a plan to protect these areas.
Conservation land is a term used to describe areas that are protected for their natural, cultural, and recreational values. These areas include national parks, reserves, and other public lands that are managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Mining activities can have a significant impact on these areas, including damage to ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of cultural sites.
The Labour Party’s promise to ban new mines on conservation land was seen as a positive step towards protecting these areas. However, the party has been criticised for not following through on this promise. In 2018, the government announced that it would not be implementing a ban on new mines on conservation land, citing concerns about the impact on the economy.
This decision has been met with disappointment from environmental groups and conservationists who argue that protecting conservation land should be a priority. The Green Party has called for a moratorium on new mines on conservation land until the government can come up with a plan to protect these areas.
The call for a moratorium has been supported by a number of organisations, including Forest & Bird, WWF-New Zealand, and the Environmental Defence Society. These groups argue that mining activities can have a significant impact on conservation land and that the government needs to take action to protect these areas.
There are currently several mining projects proposed for conservation land, including the Te Kuha coal mine on the West Coast and the proposed expansion of the Waihi gold mine in the Coromandel. These projects have been met with opposition from local communities and environmental groups who are concerned about the impact on the environment and cultural sites.
The government has stated that it is committed to protecting conservation land and that it is working on a plan to do so. However, there is concern that without a ban on new mines, these areas will continue to be at risk from mining activities.
In conclusion, the failure of the Labour Party to fulfil its promise of banning new mines on conservation land has prompted calls for a moratorium on these activities. Environmental groups and conservationists argue that protecting these areas should be a priority and that the government needs to take action to ensure their preservation. With several mining projects proposed for conservation land, it is important that the government acts quickly to protect these areas before irreparable damage is done.
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