Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa and Forest & Bird
Thirty Five thousand have gathered in Auckland’s Albert Park this afternoon to march down Queen Street to protest the Government’s controversial Conservation Amendment Bill.
Speaking from the protest, Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr Russel Norman said, “We are part of nature, not separate from it. An attack on nature is an attack on all of us. It needs to stop.”
“If Luxon wants a fight over conservation land, he has one. This huge turnout today shows people are not prepared to stand by while a government tries to rewrite conservation law to make those places easier to exploit.”
“Today’s March for Nature is an unmistakable warning to the Coalition Government. Luxon should look at the thousands of people filling Auckland’s streets today and read the room. Bin the Bill, keep your hands off conservation land, and leave it protected for generations to come.”
Forest & Bird’s Richard Capie, also speaking from the protest, said “Today’s march shows just how deeply people care about our unique creatures and incredible wild places. Nature brings New Zealanders together – there is no more powerful unifying force in Aotearoa than te taiao.
“The message to every political party from the people of New Zealand is clear: if you stand up for nature, we will stand with you. But if you sell off our conservation land, weaken environmental protections, or put short-term profit ahead of our future, we will not stand by and let it happen.”
Other speakers included 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 Māori activist Mike Smith.
Norman says, “Conservation land is part of who we are in Aotearoa. But the Conservation Amendment Bill would open the door to more mining, more commercial exploitation and degradation of the wildlife and places we all love.
“Today, thousands of people from all walks of life have come together to say that we will not stand for this. Together, we will fight this rotten Bill every step of the way until it is dead and buried.”
The protest, organised by Greenpeace Aotearoa and Forest & Bird, is backed by over 30 civil society groups, including unions, environmental charities, scientific societies, ratepayer associations and outdoor recreation groups. They include the PSA, NZEI and Unite Union, the NZ Botanical Society, Environmental Law Initiative, Mindful Money, and Athletes for Nature.
Capie says, “Aotearoa New Zealand – our mountains, oceans, rivers, forests, and landscapes – are like nowhere else on earth. They are home to iconic native species that exist only here. New Zealanders are rightly incredibly proud of te taiao and we share a deep sense of aroha for the environment. Conservation land, our wildlife and wild places, are taonga, a treasure. They must be looked after for future generations.
“So, when these places are put at risk, New Zealanders stand up and say no. That is the message I’ve heard over and over again today – protect te taiao – hands off our conservation land.”
The march will leave Albert Park at 1:30pm and travel down Queen Street, before arriving in Te Komitititanga Square. Greenpeace and Forest & Bird are urging participants to enrol to vote, with the election in seven weeks.
Greenpeace – Updated numbers: 35k marched for nature
Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa
More than 35 thousand people joined today’s march for nature, to demand that the Government scrap the Conservation Amendment Bill.
The march was organised by Greenpeace and Forest & Bird, who are particularly concerned that the Bill will allow commercial exploitation of conservation land.
Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Russel Norman says “If Luxon wants a fight over conservation land, he has one. This huge turnout today shows people are not prepared to stand by while a government tries to rewrite conservation law to make those places easier to exploit.”
Forest & Bird Group Manager Policy & Advocacy Richard Capie says “The message to every political party from the people of New Zealand is clear: if you stand up for nature, we will stand with you. But if you sell off our conservation land, weaken environmental protections, or put short-term profit ahead of our future, we will not stand by and let it happen.”