Source: Greenpeace
Thousands are expected to take to the streets of Auckland tomorrow to march for nature, in protest of the Government’s controversial Conservation Amendment Bill. The march is jointly organised by Greenpeace Aotearoa and Forest & Bird and backed by more than 30 organisations across civil society.
Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop says, “Luxon has badly underestimated how much New Zealanders care about conservation land. Tomorrow, thousands of people from all walks of life will march in the streets of Auckland to send this Government a clear message: public conservation land is not theirs to exploit, and we will not stand by while they dismantle its protections.”
Forest & Bird spokesperson Richard Capie says, “This march shows how nature brings New Zealanders together. We’ve seen it in the response to threats to our conservation land – there is no more powerful unifying force in Aotearoa than te taiao. The message to politicians is clear: stand up for nature and New Zealanders will stand with you. But if you sell off conservation land, weaken environmental protections, or put short-term profit ahead of our future, New Zealanders will hold you to account.”
The march will begin at Albert Park at 1pm with a rally and speeches, before leaving the park at 1:30pm via Princes Street. It will travel down Wellesley Street and Queen Street, before finishing at Te Komititanga Square.
Speakers at Albert Park will include Dr Russel Norman of Greenpeace Aotearoa, Richard Capie of Forest & Bird, 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 climate activist and Māori leader Mike Smith.