Minister spells out conservation aims

Rotorua residents were keen to raise concerns and ask questions at the public meeting last night. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua residents have attended a public meeting by Conservation Minister Nick Smith to hear the National Party's targeted areas of conservation.

Farmers, anglers and concerned members of the public went along to the meeting, held at the Distinction Hotel last night, to hear talks from Dr Smith and Rotorua MP Todd McClay.

Dr Smith spoke about the eight most important conservation topics National was working towards improving.

Freshwater issues were at the top of the list, closely followed by protecting native species.

"New Zealand has hundreds of species that are only here. They are incredibly special and we need to protect them," he said. Dr Smith said an independent study by Yale University on conservation around the world ranked New Zealand in the top 20 best countries in every topic, except protection of native species.

"One hundred years ago, our native birds were threatened by human hunting but now the biggest hunters are rats, stoats and possums. We will change that."

Other key topics included climate change, ocean management, clean air, outdoor recreation, energy efficiency and waste minimisation.

When the floor was opened to discussion, some farmers expressed concern about the limit on nitrate emissions.

One said the strict limits were pushing the farming industry in Rotorua to extinction and many farmers were struggling to maintain their livelihood as their stock was decreased and land deemed undesirable for buyers. Mr McClay said that was an example of the Government having to walk a fine line between economic and environment policies.

"This is why National is working towards creating the balance between maintaining and growing the New Zealand economy, while protecting the environment we have been blessed with.

"We recognise what farmers do is very important and many of them care about the environment and do their bit, but others do less for the environment.

"What we want to do is stop the public blame of farmers as this will not fix the problem, it's about collaboration and compromise."