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Groundswell NZ environment spokesperson Jamie McFadden.
Rural lobby group Groundswell NZ says biodiversity will be the biggest loser if the Government's new biodiversity legislation is passed.
Last week, Associate Minister for the Environment James Shaw announced a new package of measures designed to protect native wildlife and at-risk habitats, including a National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity.
“The more landowners do to look after biodiversity, the more they are penalised with rules, bureaucratic interference, and costs,” says Groundswell NZ’s environmental spokesperson Jamie McFadden.
McFadden says the new legislation turns biodiversity into a liability and is “a smack in the face” for landowners who have been proactive in protecting and enhancing biodiversity on their land.
“It is a disincentive for anyone wanting to do the right thing for the environment,” he says.
“It is so disappointing to see a Labour/Greens Government fail to recognize that having motivated, empowered landowners is fundamental to protecting biodiversity on private land.”
McFadden claims the Government is hypocritical to demand landowners protect biodiversity when current climate change policies have caused the loss of thousands of hectares of native shrublands from conversion to pine forests.
“This Government doesn’t care for the environment,” he says. “They care more about control and looking good on the world stage by achieving performative targets.”
OPINION: Many sheep and beef farmers will be worse off under the new environment legislation than they were under the Resource Management Act (RMA), claims Beef+Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) in an email to levy payers.
A survey of 2000 farmers shows 94% of respondents believe that remaining in the Paris Agreement for climate change is not in the country's best interest.
OPINION: Defenders of New Zealand remaining bound to the Paris Agreement typically run the same argument. They do not explain the benefits of remaining bound to Paris, because there are none. At least none that are certain and enduring.
Groundswell is ramping up its 'Quit Paris' campaign with signs going up all over the country.
Groundswell NZ is ramping up its ‘Quit Paris’ campaign.
A partnership between Canterbury milk processor Synlait and the world's largest food producer, Nestlé, has been celebrated with a visit to a North Canterbury farm by a group including senior staff from Synlait, the Ravensdown subsidiary EcoPond, and Nestlé's Switzerland head office.
Canterbury milk processor Synlait is blaming what it calls "a perfect storm" of setbacks for a big loss in its half year result for the six months ended January 31, 2026.
More of the same please, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean when asked about who should succeed Miles Hurrell as Fonterra chief executive.
A Waikato farmer who set up a 'tinder' for cows - using artificial intelligence to find the perfect bull for each cow - days the first-year results are better than expected.
Fonterra says it's keeping an eye on the Middle East crisis and its implications for global supply chains.
The closure of the McCain processing plant and the recent announcement of 300 job losses at Wattie’s underscore the mounting pressure facing New Zealand’s manufacturing sector, Buy NZ Made says.
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