Editorial: DOC fails to fulfil its obligations

Protesters against seabed mining at Patea Beach. Photo/File

The Conservation Department is just a shadow of its former self.

Nowhere was this more evident than in its failure to make a submission on Trans-Tasman Resources' application to mine the South Taranaki seabed. Instead the department (DOC) liaised with the company.

It made no submission, which meant it was completely left out of the process.

It also failed to let the Taranaki/Whanganui Conservation Board know what it was doing. Most of its members were shocked and angry at DOC's perceived failure to
protect the marine environment.

The board is now considering appealing against the marine consents granted - narrowly - by the Environmental Protection Authority. It even wants to hire lawyers not associated with DOC, in case they are tainted.

The department's role in the Ruataniwha Dam argument has been equally strange.

What has happened to this former last-ditch watchdog for the New Zealand environment? Has it been restructured one too many times? Lost too many staff?

Is it underfunded by a National-led government with scant interest in the environment? Or has it been told to keep its head down?

Hilariously, since tourism topped dairy as the country's biggest earner, Government's pro-development agenda appears to be in conflict with its indifference to conservation. The conservation estate is now worth protecting - to a degree - because it earns dollars.

So conservation got a budget increase in May. But, also predictably, the biggest dollop of that was for improving visitor facilities rather than protecting endangered species.

Will there be anything left for DOC to fulfil its advocacy role?

Taxpayers expect DOC to protect our environment. When it doesn't we have to make donations to groups like Forest and Bird, who will do the job.

DOC's default leaves an information and advocacy gap, now often filled by unpaid people.

During the seabed mining hearings groups like the South Taranaki Reef Life Project, fishing clubs and private individuals put in hundreds of unpaid hours to fill this gap.