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ISSUE IN BRIEF:

As the just-released Environment New Zealand 2007 report observes: “New Zealanders’ relationship with the environment is a defining feature of our national identity.”

One would think that politicians (and marketers) who are so keen to capitalize upon the “clean green” image of the region and country would be fanatically obsessed with protecting the natural assets that underpin that image. After all, while it’s morally upright to provide a natural legacy for our children and grandchildren, it’s even possible to make money by being green as well!

The reality is that our region’s ecology and natural assets are fragile and under assault.

The most important question we can ask local officeholders is: “What have you done — and what will you do — to protect those assets?” Our elected officials, as well as the professionals in local government who serve them, need to be held to account for actions — or inactions — that are compromising the environmental integrity of Hawke’s Bay.

Issues that are dominant “at the moment” – like Ocean Beach and water quality & management – will get special BayBuzz attention in their own sections of this website. But there are plenty of other environmental issues that deserve attention …

• Promoting only sustainable growth
• Mitigating the regional impacts of climate change
• Protecting the fabulous land resource that is the Heretaunga Plains
• Improving coastal management
• Ensuring air quality
• Developing more sustainable transport alternatives
• Providing reserves and other protected areas
• Reducing our energy consumption

To name a few. And BayBuzz will be covering these issues as the need arises.

Resources:

1. Here is the 74-page Executive Summary of Environment New Zealand 2007. As one press headline puts it … NZ is more khaki than green!

2. You can find the HB Regional Council’s own State of the Environment Report here on the HBRC website. These annual reports are a tad on the fluffy side.

What You Can Do:

1. Right now … sign the Ocean Beach petition. Say NO! to 1000 houses on Ocean Beach.

2. Right now … send this message to HB Regional Council Chairman Rex McIntyre and demand more protection of the Bay’s water quality.

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