Greenpeace NZ Press Releases

Greenpeace exposes dairy incursion into Mackenzie country

nyoung — Tue, 08 May 2018 19:38:00 Z

Greenpeace has released drone video footage revealing a major dairy incursion into wilderness country in the Mackenzie.

The shots show the beginnings of a pipeline to take water out of the Waitaki catchment to irrigate a massive dairy operation for up to 15,000 cows.

"Corporate dairy is gearing up to destroy the Mackenzie country, a unique and precious wilderness, home to critically endangered native species," says Gen Toop, Greenpeace’s sustainable agriculture campaigner.

The irrigation pipeline is being built by Dunedin accountant and developer Murray Valentine and is set to run across Crown land currently owned by the public.

"The Mackenzie is not cow country. It’s dry, it’s soils are leaky- which means dairy pollution runs straight through the stones and into the waterways, and it’s incredibly ecologically sensitive" says Toop.

The proposed site for the corporate dairying operation just south of Lake Pūkaki is a unique desert-like dryland on glacial outwash plains.

Simons Pass is home to 18 threatened plants and four threatened bird species, including the critically endangered Black Stilt. There are 100 left in existence.

"To make enough grass grow for intensive dairy in this dry environment Mr Valentine will have to heavily irrigate with water from our lakes and rivers as well as apply tonnes of chemical fertilisers - much of which will end up in the waterways."

"New Zealand already has too many cows for our rivers, our land and our climate to cope with. We cannot allow the dairy industry to convert more land into dairy farms, especially not in the Mackenzie" says Toop.

"The Government must step in, stop all new dairy conversions and start reducing the herd."

Environment Minister David Parker announced this week that incoming tougher nutrient pollution regulations may mean fewer cows on some farms in the future.

But Greenpeace says this will not be enough and is calling on the Government to stop all new dairy conversions and intensification of existing livestock farming.

The environmental organisation launched a ‘Save the Mackenzie’ petition on Friday calling on the Government to make new dairy conversions and intensification of existing livestock farms prohibited activities.

It has gained more than 10,000 signatures in 48 hours, one of Greenpeace’s fastest growing petitions in recent years.

"The momentum of this petition should embolden the government to stand up to corporate dairying and stop it from destroying more of New Zealand," adds Toop. "It’s time to diversify away from intensive dairying and support farmers to switch to more regenerative ways of farming."

Drone footage can be downloaded here
https://greenpeace.box.com/s/u2u3dvn6wjt8cqmx5ro3k8maw49203hi

NOTES

It’s estimated 23,000 olympic swimming pools worth of water will be drawn out of the catchment each year.

The plans are to install 26 pivot irrigators, some more than a kilometre long turning the golden tussocks into green artificial circles of ryegrass.

The same pattern that can be seen from the air in the south of Mackenzie country. (see UAV shots)

Conservative estimates are that the development will leach 76,615 kg/Nitrogen/year and 1,938 kg/Phosphorus/year into the Waitaki catchment.

The soils on which this conversion is planned are characterised as well drained or excessively well drained (CRC062387)

More than half of NZers say too many cows - Greenpeace poll

nyoung — Mon, 07 May 2018 06:04:00 Z

A Horizon opinion poll commissioned by Greenpeace reveals that 52 percent of Kiwis think are too many cows for our waterways to cope with.

David Parker has gone on record saying New Zealand had "too many cows" and that farmers may have to reduce herd numbers under proposed new waterway pollution rules.

"It’s great to hear the Government reflecting the concerns of so many New Zealanders that there are too many cows for our waterways to cope with." says Greenpeace sustainable agriculture campaigner Gen Toop.

The Horizon Research report also showed that only 16% of people asked felt that cow numbers could continue to grow.

In a breakdown of political parties 66 percent of New Zealand First voters, 56 percent of Labour voters and 90 percent of Green party supporters felt there were too many cows.

"National leader Simons Bridges was on the radio this morning trying to kick up a fuss about the Minister’s comments. He’s clearly out of touch with his base," says Toop.

Among National voters polled 40 percent thought there were too many cows. Only 20 percent of National voters thought the herd should continue to expand. 29 percent of National voters think that there are about the right number of cows, and 11% were unsure.

"Our polling found that twice as many National voters think there are too many cows than those who feel numbers can continue to grow."

Greenpeace though believes the Government needs to go further.

"On its own, regulatory action against nutrient pollution doesn’t go far enough," says Toop.

"We urgently need fewer cows but the industry is still converting more land into dairy farms. The Government needs to directly stop new conversions and halt intensification of existing dairy."

The survey also found support for a moratorium on new dairy conversions. Overall, 44% agreed that the Government should put in place a moratorium on dairy conversion, while only 15% disagreed.

A majority of voters for Labour, New Zealand First and the Greens supported the moratorium. Meanwhile, more National voters supported the moratorium than disagreed with it.

Over the next few months the Government will review the National Policy Statement for Freshwater.

"Greenpeace is calling on the Government to turn new dairy conversions and intensification of existing livestock farming into prohibited activities under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater"

That would mean land not currently in dairy would no longer be able to made into new dairy farms and that farmers wanting to add cows to their herds would no longer be able to do so.

"It’s time to reduce the herd, diversify away from intensive dairying and switch to more regenerative ways of farming."

Ends

Govt drops charges against Greenpeace following Amazon Warrior action

nyoung — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 01:16:00 Z

Today Greenpeace has been advised that the charges laid against the organisation for action last April to stop the Amazon Warrior seismic blasting for oil at sea are to be dropped.

The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will not pursue the hefty charges laid against Greenpeace under the controversial Anadarko Amendment, which means the organisation now avoids up to $200,000 in fines.

Greenpeace Executive Director, Russel Norman, and climate activist, Sara Howell, will still face charges for their part in the action. They have always admitted their conduct but say they should not face conviction.

They will plead guilty and seek a discharge without conviction on the basis that their conduct was justified and necessary to bring about required change to government policy. If the Court agrees, the outcome would be the same as an acquittal.

The news follows the Government’s historic announcement earlier this month of an end to all new offshore oil and gas exploration.

Last April, Norman and Howell swam in front of the Amazon Warrior - the largest oil exploration ship in the world - forcing it to stop its search for oil for the day.

The pair and Greenpeace were subsequently charged for the first time in New Zealand history under a controversial amendment to the Crown Minerals Act made by Simon Bridges in 2013 when he was Minister of Energy, known as the Anadarko Amendment, which outlaws peaceful protest against oil ships at sea.

"We have never denied the facts, that we defied the ban on protest at sea. We see the best course of action now is to plead guilty while making a plea in mitigation in Court on the grounds that our actions were reasonable and honourable given the threat of climate change. We remain hopeful that the Court will agree, given the importance of this issue," says Norman.

"Taking this route will also save supporter money and court time, and allow us to continue tackling climate change."

High profile witnesses including the former President of Kiribati, Anote Tong; the world’s leading climate scientist, James Hansen; and UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change lead author, James Renwick of Victoria University; will be providing supporting statements in the case.

Norman says the fact that charges against Greenpeace have been dropped is a "breakthrough" that comes after a year-long legal process, and follows a seven-year campaign to end oil and gas exploration in New Zealand.

"The Amazon Warrior protest was part of an almost decade-long campaign to bring an end to fossil fuel exploration in our seas given the very urgent and real threat of climate change - and we’ve just had a significant victory with that campaign," Norman says.

"Over seven years, tens of thousands of people have marched, protested and lobbied their local leaders against oil exploration. This culminated in Jacinda Ardern’s announcement to end new offshore oil and gas permits, which puts four million square kilometres of the Earth’s surface out of bounds for new oil and gas exploration.

"Although the tide has turned irreversibly against big oil in New Zealand waters, the fight is not yet over. We still want to see an end to onshore extraction and the revoking of existing permits."

Fellow activist, Howell, says it’s been encouraging to see how effective peaceful protest can be.

"I’m proud and humbled that I had the opportunity to contribute to an incredible, people-powered movement that’s resulted in an end to new offshore oil and gas exploration permits.

"While I will take responsibility for what I did in the Court, I believe it was necessary because all of the life on this planet - in its oceans, mountains, rivers, forests, and cities - is marvelous and brilliant. It is delicately balanced and too special to destroy."

Greenpeace, Norman, and Howell were due to begin trial in the Napier District Court on Monday. They will now appear by video link from Auckland District Court to lodge their pleas, and the case will be adjourned for sentencing on a date yet to be fixed.

Greenpeace is calling on New Zealanders to start turning up the heat on big business to help solve the plastics crisis.

atobert — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 03:00:00 Z

"Up til now there’s been a lot of emphasis on encouraging people to change their habits around single use plastics, says Greenpeace New Zealand plastics campaigner, Elena Di Palma. "Sadly these actions alone aren’t going to be enough to save our oceans."

"Swapping plastic bags for reusable cloth bags and giving up plastic straws and bottles are all great things to be doing," she says. "But if we really want to halt the scourge of single use plastic in our oceans - we need to work together to stop the plastic at source."

Ahead of Earth Day (April 22) more than a million people are demanding that the world’s largest corporations reduce their production of single-use plastic.

Earth Day has become an opportunity for many corporations to greenwash around recycling efforts and continue churning out throwaway plastic.

"We are reaching a tipping point on single-use plastics, and it is time for any corporation that cares about a healthy planet to go beyond recycling alone. Throwaway plastics continue to pour into our oceans, our waterways, and our communities at an alarming rate," says Di Palma.

Greenpeace, as part of the #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement, is urging individuals worldwide to contribute to a "Million Acts of Blue": escalating actions that push local businesses and corporations to reduce the reliance on single-use plastics.

In New Zealand, the movement to curb plastic pollution is snowballing. 70,000 people signed the Greenpeace petition calling on the Government to ban single use plastic bags.

Last week Greenpeace gave evidence alongside retailers to the Environment Select Committee supporting the idea of a nationwide regulatory ban on single use plastic bags.
New Zealanders are being urged to take the next step by lobbying our MPs to commit to a plastic bag ban, writing to editors about the issue and campaigning for local businesses to ditch other single use plastics as part of the Million Acts of Blue.

"We must address the corporate addiction to single-use plastics and demand that our government begin regulating this out-of-control industry," says di Palma."This Earth Day, it is time to confront the reality that we cannot simply recycle our way out of this mess."

Notes:

A study revealed that 91 percent of the world’s plastics have not been recycled.
The equivalent of one truckload of plastic enters our oceans every minute.
Plastic pollution can choke or entangle marine life, including seabirds, turtles, and whales.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that ocean plastics are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of sea creatures each year.

The international #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement is comprised of more than 1,100 groups, including Greenpeace, pushing for corporations to reduce and eventually phase out single-use plastic production.

Wake up call on NZ land use

nyoung — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 06:44:00 Z

Today sees another damning report on the deteriorating health of NZ’s environment.

The Ministry for the Environment has released Our Land 2018 which reveals that the large scale conversion and intensification of dairying is a key driver of environmental degradation.

"This report should be a serious wake-up call," says Greenpeace sustainable agriculture campaigner, Gen Toop.

"There are too many cows. We urgently need to diversify and transition away from intensive dairying."The report found that the "intensification of farming is increasing pressure on the environment".

It states: "Farming is considered to be intensifying when the amount of agricultural inputs going into the farm are increasing per hectare of land. Inputs include water, feed, agri-chemicals, and livestock numbers."

The report also found that NZ is losing 192 million tonnes of soil a year into our waterways and into the ocean. 44% of this, 84 million tonnes, is coming from pastoral farming.

"Healthy soil is the key to healthy rivers, healthy people and a healthy planet" says Toop."The industrial way are farming is literally squandering soil, which we ultimately depend on to grow food and sustain life"

Other key finding include: 83% of our indigenous land vertebrates are threatened with extinction and rare wetlands and other rare indigenous ecosystems continue to be destroyed.
"NZ is in a worsening freshwater crisis, our soils are degrading, our emissions increasing and we are continuing to lose our precious wetlands, native forests and tussock lands. 8 out of ten of our indigenous land vertebrates are now threatened with extinction."

"This Government must take urgent action to curb cow numbers and shift New Zealand agriculture away from destructive industrial practices and towards regenerative farming."

"Regenerative farming is the future for farming in NZ and it is already being practiced by innovative farmers around the country."

Just recently Patagonia released an international regenerative organic certification, although this has yet to be adopted in New Zealand.

"Regenerative farming is a way of farming that treats a farm like a healthy ecosystem rather than a factory. It does away with environmentally damaging inputs and has been shown to be able to rebuild healthy soil, reduce pollution, sequester the carbon that causes climate change and protect biodiversity."

ENDS

Former President and NASA scientist confirmed as witnesses in Greenpeace trial

nyoung — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 18:58:00 Z

A world authority on climate science has told the New Zealand Government they’re “planning to put the wrong people on trial” for an offshore oil exploration protest.

Former NASA scientist, Dr James Hansen, has been confirmed as a key witness in a landmark trial following Greenpeace action against the world’s biggest oil exploration ship. The trial comes hot on the heels of New Zealand making international headlines on Thursday for leadership on climate change by banning all new offshore oil exploratio.

The case was launched by the previous National Government in April last year after Greenpeace New Zealand Executive Director Dr Russel Norman, and volunteer Sara Howell, swam in front of the Amazon Warrior 60 nautical miles at sea, forcing it to stop seismic blasting for the day.

They took action to stop the ship from searching for oil and gas on behalf of Statoil, Chevron, and OMV.

Hansen says burning fossil fuels has driven the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere “well into the danger zone”.

“I understand that Russel Norman and Sara Howell were trying to draw attention to the increasingly dire consequences that business as usual imposes on their nation. Generally speaking, people should not need to swim in front of massive oil exploration [vessels]. But, with all due respect to the relevant authorities, I think they are planning to put the wrong people on trial," he says.

The President of Kiribati from 2003 to 2016, Anote Tong, has also been confirmed as a key witness for Greenpeace in the trial. Professor James Renwick, of Victoria University, is another witness.

Greenpeace, Norman, and Howell, have been charged by the oil division of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE), under the 2013 Amendment to the Crown Minerals Act known as the 'Anadarko Amendment'. It’s the first time anyone in New Zealand has been charged under the controversial legislation introduced by the now National Party leader, Simon Bridges. The trial is set down for two weeks from April 30.

Hansen says it’s never been more urgent to tackle climate change.

“The special tragedy in this is that it is our children and their children who will suffer most,” he says.

“Concerted action, if begun without further delay, still could mitigate the damage and arrest the rising seas. These facts, I believe, were long known to Statoil and Chevron, yet they persist in their truly criminal enterprise - seeking to tap every last reserve.

“The deep waters off the Wairarapa Coast, as elsewhere, should be placed off limits as society weans itself nearly entirely off fossil fuels.”

The Crown will be relying on evidence from private investigators, Thompson and Clark, during the trial. The spy agency has recently been at the centre of controversy after news broke that state insurer, Southern Response, had hired Thompson and Clark to spy on Christchurch residents over earthquake claims. Further Official Information Act requests revealed that government department, MBIE, also had a close relationship with the agency and received information from it while it was undertaking a significant surveillance operation on Greenpeace, paid for by oil companies including Statoil. The State Services Commission is now investigating.

ENDS

Seabed mining Court case a fight for the future of our precious oceans

nyoung — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 20:29:00 Z

JOINT PRESS RELEASE: The future of the South Taranaki Bight lies in the hands of the High Court next week, which will hear appeals against the Envionmental Protection Authority’s decision to grant a marine consent to Trans-Tasman Resources’ bid to dig up the seabed for its iron ore.

Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM), with Greenpeace, is appealing the decision, alongside six other appellants (see notes below for full list).

The EPA decision was released in August 2017, a year after Trans-Tasman Resources submitted its application to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed a year in a 66 square kilometre section of the South Taranaki Bight - for 35 years. A total of 95% will be discharged, resulting in a large sediment plume, to get five million tonnes a year of iron ore. Of the 13,733 submissions (a record) received by the EPA, all but 147 - one percent - were either opposed to the consent or neutral.

"This is a fight for the future of our precious oceans," said KASM chair Cindy Baxter. "The outcome of this case will set a precedent for a number of other companies waiting in the wings to mine our seabed, in the South Taranaki Bight and beyond. Trans-Tasman has prospecting permits for at least two more in the Bight, and two others around the country."

"Our Oceans are in distress, and are facing a crisis of marine biodiversity loss. Our oceans provide us vital services, food and livelihoods, as well as oxygen and carbon sequestration when we have healthy ecosystems," said Michael Smith, a campaigner with Greenpeace New Zealand.

"The South Taranaki Bight is one such vital ecosystem, home to a population of endangered blue whales and Maui dolphins. Protecting its biodiversity is why this case is so important.."

KASM and Greenpeace are appealing on 12 points of law. Among these is the issue of what is called "adaptive management" whereby an activity like seabed mining is allowed to go ahead, adapting the conditions on which it occurs along the way.

"The EPA has set down 109 conditions, but many are still to be developed, such as the effect of seabed mining on marine mammals and seabirds," said Cindy Baxter. "We are also raising other issues, such as natural justice, the way economic benefits have been calculated, and the role of the precautionary approach."

The hearing begins at the High Court in Wellington, 10 am, Monday 16 April 2018 and will last for four days.

Full list of appellants:

KASM & Greenpeace,

Te Runagnga o Ngati Ruanui

Te Kaahui o Rauru;

Forest and Bird;

the Taranaki Whanganui Conservation Board;

Fisheries Inshore New Zealand Limited, New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fisherman Inc, Talleys Group Ltd, Southern Inshore Fisheries Management Company Ltd and Cloudy Bay Clams Ltd;

Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited.

More information:
http://kasm.org.nz/latest/

Seabed mining Infographic:

Ardern makes oil history: "Huge win for climate and people power" - Greenpeace

nyoung — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 18:13:00 Z

Greenpeace says the Coalition Government’s announcement that it has ended new offshore oil and gas exploration is an "historic moment, and a huge win for our climate and people power".

Greenpeace Executive Director, Russel Norman, says the Government has listened to people throughout the country who have campaigned for seven years to bring an end to offshore oil and gas exploration.

Last month, an open letter signed by dozens of respected New Zealanders, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s personal acceptance of a 50,000 strong Greenpeace petition, telegraphed an announcement.

Today, the Coalition Government announced an end to the annual offshore ‘Block Offer’ process, which sees hundreds of thousands of square kilometres of New Zealand land and sea being offered to companies to explore for oil and gas. The Government will continue offering onshore Taranaki for exploration, and will not revoke existing exploration contracts.

Norman says today’s announcement means, "the tide has turned irreversibly against Big Oil in New Zealand".

"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Coalition Government have taken an historic step and delivered a huge win for the climate, spurred on by the tens of thousands of people and environmental NGOs like Greenpeace who have fought for years to end new oil and gas exploration," he says.

"Today’s announcement is significant internationally too. By ending new oil and gas exploration in our waters, the fourth largest Exclusive Economic Zone on the planet is out of bounds for new fossil fuel exploitation. New Zealand has stood up to one of the most powerful industries in the world.

"There is still some work to do, however. We are disappointed that onshore Taranaki, where communities have to deal with ongoing fracking and exploration, is exempt from the ban, and that existing offshore exploration contracts will remain.

"While we will continue to demand a complete end to fossil fuel exploration on land and sea as well as the revoking of existing permits.

"This has been one of Greenpeace New Zealand’s longest running campaigns and today marks a great success for so many people.

"Bold global leadership on the greatest challenge of our time has never been more urgent, and Ardern has stepped up to that climate challenge. We’d like to congratulate the Prime Minister and her Coalition Government for acting decisively for our future and our children’s future.

"Greenpeace also supports the Prime Minister’s commitment to a just transition to a clean energy future, which can provide jobs and a big boost to our economy."

Tens of thousands of people, alongside iwi, have marched, protested, petitioned and successfully lobbied their local representatives to oppose oil exploration over the last seven years. This has led to the biggest councils in New Zealand formally opposing the Block Offers.

Greenpeace New Zealand was on the vanguard of highlighting the risks of offshore oil exploration and drilling when in 2011 it formed an alliance with East Cape iwi, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, and mobilised a flotilla to protest seismic blasting for deep sea oil by Brazilian oil company, Petrobras, who subsequently abandoned the initial survey and then surrendered their permit altogether.

A key aspect to the success of the seven-year oil campaign has been the alliance between Greenpeace, Māori, and the wider community.

Most recently, East Coast iwi Ngāti Kahungunu mobilised its traditional bluewater Waka Hourua, Te Matau a Māui, to challenge the Amazon Warrior as it searched for oil on behalf of Statoil, Chevron and OMV off the Wairarapa Coast. Greenpeace also travelled the 60 nautical miles out to sea out to meet the seismic blasting ship in crowd-funded boat, Taitu.

Following the Amazon Warrior’s arrival, over 80 coastal hapū declared their unanimous rejection of oil exploration, culminating in a historic agreement by the National Iwi Chairpersons Forum last December to oppose all seismic testing and oil exploration in the waters of New Zealand.

ENDS

End of Govt-funded irrigation a huge win for rivers and for people power

nyoung — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 06:28:00 Z

The Government has today announced that it has cut public funding for large-scale irrigation through Crown Irrigation Investments Limited (CIIL).

Greenpeace is celebrating it as a win for the rivers, and for people power saying that this will mean less intensive dairy expansion, less pollution in our rivers and less agricultural emissions.

Sustainable agriculture campaigner Gen Toop says “this is a huge win for our rivers and all the New Zealanders who’ve worked long and hard to protect them.”

The former National Government had earmarked nearly half a billion dollars of public money for big irrigation projects which would have plagued the countryside with more intensive dairy farms and more cows.

Following huge public pressure and years of campaigning the new Coalition Government is honouring its pre-election promise to wind down public funding for big irrigation schemes.

“These big irrigation schemes, that the National government was funding, would have meant more intensive dairy farms, more polluted rivers and more climate emissions.’

“It was basically National’s slush fund for big dairy” says Toop.

As of this afternoon that funding has been withdrawn, which brings a huge sense of relief and achievement to all those who’ve been standing up for clean rivers.

“Countless rivers have been saved from further destruction today, the Ruamāhanga, the Waitaki, the Hurunui to name just a few.”

Public funding for large scale irrigation has been opposed by a huge cross section of civil society from public health officials, scientists, environmentalists, the tourism industry.

Ordinary New Zealanders from around the country have sent thousands of emails and letters, staged protests, signed petitions and locked themselves to irrigation pipes to stop the schemes from going ahead.

“New Zealand is in the middle of a national freshwater crisis. There are already too many cows for our rivers to cope with.”

“The new Government has listened to the people and made the right decision to cut public funding to destructive big irrigation ” says Toop

“The National Party sadly remains under the anti-scientific delusion that big irrigation is good for the environment, with the supposedly green wing of the party, the Bluegreens promoting a tour of Canterbury irrigation schemes as part of their upcoming annual gathering” says Toop.

“What the world needs more than ever is a shift to regenerative farming to provide food and nutrition into the future without destroying our rivers and our climate. We hope to see the new Government invest in this shift.”

Ends

Timeline of Greenpeace’s campaign to stop big irrigation and promote regenerative farming:
http://greenpeace.org.nz/agriculture-campaign-timeline/

Even the banks are saying we need climate action

sschroder — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 23:18:00 Z

The final myth standing in the way of climate action has been busted thanks to research released this morning by one of New Zealand’s largest banks showing inaction on climate change will cost the country billions.

This morning, Westpac released new research showing that taking faster action on climate change could save New Zealand $30 billion by 2050.

Greenpeace Executive Director, Dr Russel Norman, says the research finally puts the argument that taking climate action could hurt the economy to bed.

"This research by Westpac clearly shows that taking fast action on climate change will save us tens of billions of dollars," he says.

"Anyone in a leadership position perpetuating the myth that we can’t both deal with the urgent issue of climate change and have a healthy economy doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

"Right now we need to be backing the clean energy industries that are growing at an exponential rate, and welcoming the transformational economic opportunities that shifting to a low-carbon society can bring.

"Of course, we must make this transition in a way that fairly distributes the costs and benefits across the economy, and the communities and families that will be most affected by the changes.

"Jacinda Ardern has called climate change her generation’s nuclear free moment. Westpac’s latest research shows that taking climate action is also a huge moment of opportunity for the New Zealand economy. We hope to see the Prime Minister back up her bold words with swift action to end further investment in fossil fuels like oil and gas, and instead invest in a clean energy economy."

Janet the 17m blue whale makes oil conference debut

nyoung — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 00:41:00 Z

Wednesday, March 28: After a whirlwind trip around the country to raise awareness about the dangers of oil and gas exploration, a 17 metre blue whale called Janet has made a special appearance at the annual oil industry conference in Wellington.

This morning, Janet and a group of marine animal friends including sharks, polar bears, and fish, paraded around the conference at Wellington’s TSB Arena to the sound of Richard Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, before attempting to get into the arena’s main entrance.

The past three days have seen various protest tactics used at the conference by groups concerned about the impacts oil and gas exploration and extraction have on the climate, environment, and marine life.

On Monday, a 350 Aotearoa organised climate rally brought together a diverse range of voices, from faith leaders and health professionals, to scientists and grandparents. On Tuesday local group Oil Free Wellington organised a blockade of the arena doors, preventing many delegates from getting in.

Today's activities by Greenpeace provide a theatrical reminder of the impacts oil and gas exploration have on the environment. Over the past few months, Greenpeace has been travelling with Janet the Whale to meet with New Zealand communities affected by oil and gas exploration.

Greenpeace campaigner, Kate Simcock, says today Janet was at the oil conference to directly and peacefully confront the oil and gas industry about their activities.

"Most recently, the world’s largest oil exploration ship, the Amazon Warrior, has been blasting for oil off the Taranaki coast, right in the middle of a blue whale habitat and the whale’s only known feeding ground in New Zealand," she says.

"Not only are these seismic blasts highly distressing for marine life in the area, but the purpose of them is to search for the oil and gas we can’t afford to burn if we want to avoid catastrophic climate change. Science tells us we can’t burn most of the fossil fuel reserves we know about, let alone search for more."

In the last fortnight, an open letter signed by dozens of respected New Zealanders, and the personal acceptance by Prime Minister Ardern of a 45,000 strong Greenpeace petition, has signalled that the Government is seriously considering the future of oil and gas.

At day two of the conference yesterday, Minister of Energy and Resources, Megan Woods, spoke about the need to make a just transition to a renewable economy.

The people-powered movement against oil and gas exploration has been growing steadily over the past seven years.

Hundreds of thousands of people have marched, protested, petitioned and successfully lobbied their local representatives to oppose oil exploration. This has led to the biggest councils in New Zealand formally opposing the annual oil and gas exploration permit process, called the Block Offer.

And last December, a national gathering of Māori leaders came to an historic agreement to oppose all seismic testing and oil exploration in the waters of New Zealand.

Simcock says New Zealand could be a world leader on climate action and transitioning to 100% clean energy.

"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says climate change is her generation’s nuclear free moment. In 1985, going nuclear free meant stopping the nuclear ships and standing up to the powerful US military. This year, taking action on climate change means standing up to the oil and gas industry by stopping the exploration ships," she says.

ENDS

Photos and video are available for download here:

https://greenpeace.box.com/v/wellington28march

Link to the open letter here:

https://act.greenpeace.org/page/21078/1/1

Greenpeace isn't a charity, it's a necessity

nyoung — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 06:10:00 Z

Greenpeace Executive Director, Dr Russel Norman, says the Charities Board decision not to grant the environmental organisation charity status is unsurprising given that the Board has resolutely opposed Greenpeace’s application all along, in spite of previously losing the battle in the Supreme Court.

"In a world facing catastrophic climate change and out of control water pollution, Greenpeace is a necessity, regardless of whether or not these three people on the Charities Board, appointed by the previous Government, agree with our advocacy," he says.

"We are a proud independent environmental campaigning organisation that doesn’t take money from corporations or governments.

"We’re an organisation with the sole purpose of serving public interest by advocating for the environment that we’re all part of and depend upon. It speaks volumes about the values of the Charities Board that it believes that advocacy to save the planet from climate destruction doesn’t serve a charitable purpose.

"The Charities Board case has been a seven-year saga, which has bounced from the High Court, to the Court of Appeal, to the Supreme Court, and then back to the Charities Board.

"The Supreme Court found that the Charities Board had got it wrong by declining Greenpeace’s application, and it directed the Board to reconsider Greenpeace’s application. But then the Charities Board just came up with a new shopping list of reasons for declining the application.

"The Supreme Court held that advocacy could be charitable. This decision today has essentially found that advocating for climate change action and clean rivers is not charitable, so it is hard to see what is acceptable advocacy. This will have a chilling effect right across the charitable sector and a negative impact on the quality of our democracy. Advocacy promoting different points of view is an essential part of of a healthy democracy.

"The new Government will need to look at this decision and this law, and decide whether they need to reform it to encourage democracy and advocacy, rather than discourage it.

"Like any NGO, we have to make the most of our limited resources and pick our battles. We are reviewing the decision and will decide the next steps in due course.

"It’s also important to remember that this decision has no impact on our donee status, so any donations will continue to be tax deductible for our supporters.

"Greenpeace may not be viewed a charity, but it is a necessity. In practice, the Board’s decision doesn’t change anything. We’re going to get on with doing the work that is a vital part of any democratic society: Advocating for our environment, and all of the people and creatures that call this planet home."

Ardern Government to accept end oil petition outside Parliament today

nyoung — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 18:35:00 Z

The Minister of Energy and Resources, Megan Woods, will accept a Greenpeace petition at midday today signed by more than 45,000 people calling for an end to oil exploration.

The event on Parliament Lawn will include representatives from Forest and Bird, WWF, Oil Free Wellington, OraTaiao (New Zealand Climate & Health Council), as well as Greenpeace Executive Director Russel Norman, and actor Lucy Lawless.

It will feature four large signs that depict historic stances taken by previous Labour leaders and call on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to make history by ending oil and gas exploration.

It is the latest in a series of recent activities throughout the country urging the new Government to take action on climate change.

In the lead-up to the election, Ardern was widely praised for stating that climate change is the nuclear free moment of her generation.

Greenpeace New Zealand climate campaigner, Kate Simcock, says the Prime Minister must now turn those words into tangible action.

“The world can’t afford to burn even existing fossil fuel reserves let alone seek out new oil and gas if we want to avoid catastrophic warming,” she says.

“Searching for new oil or gas is senseless, and we’re asking the Jacinda Ardern Government to put an end to it.”

Last week, an open letter signed by more than 60 notable individuals and associations including scientists, health professionals, iwi leaders, unions, businesspeople, journalists, poets, actors and musicians, was launched to encourage Ardern and her Government to turn “passion into action” on climate change.

Dame Jane Campion, New Zealander of the Year Taika Waititi, climate change Professor James Renwick, Victoria University’s Vice Chancellor Grant Guilford, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh and actor Lucy Lawless are among the signatories.

Campion, a world-leading screenwriter, producer, and director, says tackling climate change is a necessity.

“For me, supporting my Prime Minister’s aim to move strongly and decisively to address climate change is a clear necessity; I want my daughter and all others to inherit a viable planet. Nothing on this earth is more important,” she says.

Iwi and hapū up and down the country have expressed a longstanding opposition to oil exploration.

Most recently, a national gathering of Māori leaders came to an historic agreement to oppose all seismic testing and oil exploration in the waters of New Zealand. The Iwi Chairs Forum passed the resolution to seek amendments to the EEZ Act to give effect to this opposition.

The biggest councils in New Zealand have also opposed oil exploration.

Auckland City Council, Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, Dunedin City Council, Kaikoura District Council, and Gisborne District Council are among those that have formally opposed the annual Block Offer process implemented by the previous National Government, which sees vast tracts of New Zealand’s land and sea offered to oil and gas companies for exploration.

The new Jacinda Ardern Government has not yet announced whether or not it will continue with this annual process.

The Greenpeace event comes a day before another petition hand in by Coal Action Network Aotearoa, calling on the Government to rule out the expansion of fossil fuels in New Zealand by not allowing the Te Kuha coal mine on the West Coast.

ENDS

Greenpeace calls for Govt inquiry into spy agency to include MBIE

nyoung — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:16:00 Z

Greenpeace has asked the State Services Commission to expand its investigation into the use of Thompson and Clark by a government agency to include Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment, after OIA requests revealed the Ministry has also worked with the controversial private investigations firm.

This follows last week’s announcement by the State Services Commission (SSC) that it will be launching an inquiry into crown insurer,

Southern Response, for using Thompson and Clark (TCIL) to spy on Christchurch earthquake complainants. Greenpeace New Zealand’s executive director, Russel Norman, says the investigations methods used by TCIL are a “cancer to democracy”.

“Thompson and Clark are known for their Orwellian and oppressive spying on the advocacy groups who are a fundamental part of civil society. Previous governments have warned against using this company for very good reason, and it’s completely inappropriate for tax-payer funded agencies to still be working with them,” he says.

Multitudes of documents received under the Official Information Act (OIA) reveal that the Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) has had a close relationship with TCIL for more than four years, and has worked with them to protect the oil industry and counteract the advocacy work of environmental groups like Greenpeace.

The documents and emails that have been released are a fraction of the full picture - MBIE declined a number of requests for certain correspondence with TCIL on the grounds that over 2,000 documents exist.

Norman says there is a clear trail of “teamwork” between TCIL, MBIE, and oil and mining companies.

“The documents we’ve seen show a highly collegial relationship between MBIE and TCIL that includes references to their drinking sessions and other social personal activities. At times it’s difficult to tell where MBIE ends and TCIL begins in these exchanges,” he says.

“It is clear that MBIE has also been assisting the spy agency to obtain commercial contracts by passing on contact details for mining companies that will be arriving in New Zealand in order for TCIL to pitch their services to them.

“This is a taxpayer funded Government regulator that we expect to do its job professionally and impartially. Instead, what we’ve seen feels like MBIE has been acting as little more than an agent for oil companies and their contractors.”

Last August, a reverse sting operation by Greenpeace revealed that TCIL had been spying on staff and volunteers, at times on a daily basis, for years. Staff had been watched, followed to their homes, photographed, and monitored.

The environmental organisation sued TCIL for invasion of privacy, and the case is ongoing.

Norman says the release of these latest OIA documents show there are even more layers to the story.

“We now know that TCIL has been passing information about peaceful climate activists to MBIE during this time. The exact detail is difficult to ascertain from the heavily redacted OIAs, but it’s plainly more than information obtained from public sources,” he says.

“The methods used by TCIL are a cancer to in our democracy as they primarily target citizens that engage in peaceful advocacy. The chilling effect of being under constant and intrusive surveillance for simply campaigning on important issues such as climate change, fundamentally corrodes what it means to live in a free and democratic society.

“We look forward to an SSC inquiry into just how deeply this unacceptable behaviour seeps into our public services sector, and we hope that the new Government will act quickly to restore the public’s trust.”

The letter from Russel Norman to the SSC

A seelction of the OIA documents detailing a relationship between MBIE and Thompson and Clark

ENDS

Jane Campion and Taika Waititi sign letter urging PM to end oil exploration

nyoung — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 20:39:00 Z

Dame Jane Campion and the 2017 New Zealander of the Year, Taika Waititi, are the latest in a long line of leading New Zealanders to sign an open letter urging Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern end oil and gas exploration.

More than 60 notable individuals and associations, including scientists, health professionals, iwi leaders, businesspeople, politicians, unions, journalists, poets, actors and musicians, have so far put their name to the powerful letter, which encourages Ardern and her Government to turn her "passion into action" on climate change.

Ardern made history in the lead-up to the election when she stated that climate change is the nuclear free moment of her generation.
World-leading screenwriter, producer, and director, Dame Jane Campion, says tackling climate change is a necessity.

"For me, supporting my Prime Minister’s aim to move strongly and decisively to address climate change is a clear necessity; I want my daughter and all others to inherit a viable planet. Nothing on this earth is more important," she says.

Groups including the PSA, the New Zealand Medical Association, Unite Union and the Public Health Association, Greenpeace and Forest and Bird; scientists including Professor James Renwick and Dr Jim Salinger; Prof Margaret Mutu FRSNZ, Chairperson of Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington, Rt Rev Justin Duckworth; New Zealand Poet Laureate, Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh; and businesspeople including Phillip Mills, are among those who are supporting the call.

One of New Zealand’s leading climate change scientists, Professor James Renwick, says New Zealand needs to take urgent action on the climate by ending oil and gas exploration.

"All nations need to reduce carbon emissions as soon as possible and New Zealand can show the world how it’s done", he says.

Dr Alex Macmillan, Public Health Physician and Co-Convener of Ora Taiao (The New Zealand Climate and Health Council), says climate change is one of the most pressing medical issues facing the world today.

"We know that to protect health from dangerous climate change the world needs to leave known and new coal, oil and gas in the ground, and create a fair and healthy shift to renewable energy. New Zealand is not immune from the health impacts of climate change. New Zealand is not exempt from obligations to end fossil fuel exploration and extraction," she says.

Greenpeace Executive Director, Russel Norman, says science clearly shows that the world can’t afford to burn most of the existing reserves of fossil fuels, let alone seek out and burn new reserves if we are to avoid extremely dangerous climate change.

"The Pacific is on the frontlines of climate change and we must act swiftly to do our part in the global fight to slow down and mitigate the effects we’re already experiencing," he says.

"Over the past year in New Zealand, we’ve experienced large-scale flooding, fires, long periods of drought, and cyclones - events that are made more likely because of climate change."

Other well-known New Zealanders including musician Tiki Taane and actors Lucy Lawless and Robyn Malcolm have also signed the letter. It will remain open for signatures, before formally being handed in to the Prime Minister.

ENDS

Licensed to krill: Greenpeace report exposes Antarctic fishing industry

nyoung — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 18:38:00 Z

A new Greenpeace investigation has exposed the environmental risks of the fast-growing krill industry in one of the most pristine parts of the Antarctic Ocean.

The krill fishing industry removes a vital species from the Antarctic food web - tiny shrimp-like krill - eaten by blue whales, penguins, seals and other wildlife.

Industrial trawling for krill is being driven by demand for products such as Omega-3 tablets, fishmeal for farmed fish and pet food.

In New Zealand, there is a growing market of nutritional health supplements estimated to be worth $255 million. Krill oil has been identified as a "growth star" by the NZ seafood industry.

"Krill health supplements are being marketed to Kiwis when we have alternatives which don’t involve taking away the food sources of whales, penguins and other animals," says Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner Emily Hunter.

"Retailers shouldn’t be buying Antarctic krill from pristine ecosystems. The story of the krill industry is a murky one of vessels fishing from the bottom of the food chain near the feeding grounds of whales, penguins and other animals. They’re waging a tug-of-war for food."

For five years Greenpeace has been tracking the movements of krill trawlers. Despite the industry presenting itself as one of the best managed fisheries in the world, Greenpeace’s new report, Licence to Krill: the little-known world of Antarctic fishing, paints a different picture.

The report reveals:

Intensive fishing taking place in the immediate vicinity of feeding grounds of Antarctic wildlife such as whales and penguins.

Tracking data suggests vessels have anchored close to specially protected areas, despite the potential impact on wildlife and the seafloor.

Activities suggesting risky fishing practices such as transhipment (transfer of catch) to huge reefers with long lists of previous infringements, such as poor safety records and low standards in pollution prevention from both sewage and oil.

Transhipment globally has often been linked to environmental and labour rights abuses due to the lack of transparency it affords.

Much of the krill fishing industry is centred on the Weddell Sea, an area being considered for the world’s biggest ocean sanctuary.

New Zealand is one of 24 countries in the Antarctic Ocean Commission (CCAMLR) deciding on the proposal in October.

Meanwhile Greenpeace is calling on the krill fishing industry to immediately cease all fishing activities in these waters and for all businesses buying krill-derived products to stop sourcing from vessels that continue to fish in these same areas.

The report comes during a three-month Greenpeace expedition to the Antarctic. The expedition has undertaken landmark scientific research as part of a campaign to create a network of ocean sanctuaries covering at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

The report can be downloaded here.

Leading NZers urge Ardern to end oil exploration

nyoung — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:52:00 Z

A group of leading New Zealanders, including scientists, health professionals, unions, and the current New Zealand Poet Laureate, have launched an open letter urging Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to end oil and gas exploration.

More than three dozen notable individuals and associations have so far put their name to the letter, which encourages Ardern and her Government to turn her "passion into action" on climate change.

Ardern made history in the lead-up to the election when she stated that climate change is the nuclear free moment of her generation.

Pacific poet-scholar and current New Zealand Poet Laureate, Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh, has signed the letter out of concern for climate change. In her 2013 poem, ‘NZ, the Lucky Country’, she writes:

"... We need inter-generationality / eco-sustainability / for our fossil fuels and energy / in this land of space, water and sea / We need a bit of Hillary / who had the same fear of heights as you and me / but knocked the bastard off anyway…"

Groups including the PSA, the New Zealand Medical Association, Unite Union and the Public Health Association, Greenpeace and Forest and Bird; scientists including Professor James Renwick and Dr Jim Salinger; Prof Margaret Mutu FRSNZ, Chairperson of Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington, Rt Rev Justin Duckworth; and businesspeople including Phillip Mills, are among those who are supporting the call.

One of New Zealand’s leading climate change scientists, Professor James Renwick, says New Zealand needs to take urgent action on the climate by ending oil and gas exploration.

"All nations need to reduce carbon emissions as soon as possible and New Zealand can show the world how its done", he says.

Dr Alex Macmillan, Public Health Physician and Co-Convener of Ora Taiao (The New Zealand Climate and Health Council) says climate change is one of the most pressing medical issues facing the world today.

"We know that to protect health from dangerous climate change the world needs to leave known and new coal, oil and gas in the ground, and create a fair and healthy shift to renewable energy. New Zealand is not immune from the health impacts of climate change. New Zealand is not exempt from obligations to end fossil fuel exploration and extraction," she says.

Greenpeace Executive Director, Russel Norman, says the world can’t afford to burn even half of existing reserves of fossil fuels, let alone seek out and burn new reserves if we are to avoid extremely dangerous climate change.

"The Pacific is on the frontlines of climate change and we must act swiftly to do our part in the global fight to slow down and mitigate the effects we’re already experiencing," he says.

"Right now we have yet another cyclone forming that could hit our Pacific Island neighbours, before heading our way. Over the past year in New Zealand, we’ve experienced large-scale flooding, fires, long periods of drought, and cyclones - events that are made more likely because of climate change."

Other well-known New Zealanders including musician Tiki Taane and actors Lucy Lawless and Robyn Malcolm have also signed the letter. It will remain open for signatures for a few more weeks, before formally being handed in to the Prime Minister.

A PDF of the letter is available here

Russel Norman: Climate Commission needs teeth like Reserve Bank

nyoung — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:29:00 Z

Greenpeace New Zealand Executive Director, Russel Norman, says the new Government’s Climate Commission needs to be given teeth if it’s to have any significant impact on reducing emissions.

He says the Commission should be able to influence the price on carbon in the same way the Reserve Bank can influence the price of money.

Norman’s comments follow the release of the first report by new Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton.

In the report, A Zero Carbon Act for New Zealand, Upton adds his support for a UK-style independent Climate Commission and a Zero Carbon Act.

The new Labour-led Government has committed to net zero emissions in New Zealand by 2050, and is in the process of setting up an independent Climate Commission to oversee that.

Upton has given nine recommendations on the formation of the legislation, including setting effective carbon budgets, establishing a credible Commission, and ensuring that words are turned into action. He also emphasises the importance of addressing climate adaptation.

Greenpeace’s Norman says that while these are all worthy things, for the Commission to be truly effective it must also have the power to influence the price of carbon by changing the settings of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

"Currently the suggestion is that the Commission will advise the Government if it is not meeting the milestones needed to reach net zero carbon by 2050, and the Government will then have a window of opportunity to provide a response," he says.

"But for this Commission to actually reduce New Zealand’s emissions, we need it to be more than just talk and have some teeth. The time for a new climate talk shop has passed - the Commission needs the power to act.

"The Reserve Bank has the power to alter the official cash rate and require minimum deposits on housing loans to counter inflation and threats to fiscal stability. The Climate Commission should be able to act on the greatest threat to humanity - climate change - by adjusting the price of carbon.

"In practice what this could look like is if we’re not meeting certain milestones then the Commission could adjust the ETS’ settings, for example to accelerate the entry of agriculture, change the ratio of ETS credits needed per tonne of emissions, or change the exposure to the international carbon market. "

Norman says as a Pacific Island country on the frontlines of climate change, New Zealand needs to be acting faster.

"Just today we’ve seen there is yet another cyclone forming that could hit our Pacific Island neighbours, before heading our way. The Pacific community has only just recovered from Cyclone Gita, and before that, Cyclone Fehi."

As well as giving the new Climate Commission teeth, Norman says a serious response to climate change would require the Government to shut down any new oil, gas, and coal exploration or extraction.

"The world can’t afford to burn the majority of the fossil fuel reserves already discovered if we want to avoid extremely dangerous climate change - searching for more makes no sense," he says.

"Likewise we need to bring agriculture into the ETS urgently. We need to deal with our biggest emitters and start developing a just transition for those communities and workers affected.

"We have the ability and the resources to create a world-leading clean energy economy in New Zealand. Now we just need to get on with it and do it."

ENDS

Oil search undermines Ardern’s Pacific climate pledge

nyoung — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 01:32:00 Z

Greenpeace commends Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for pledging to increase climate assistance to Pacific nations, but says if Ardern is serious about tackling the issue, she must also put an end oil and gas exploration immediately.

Prime Minister Ardern, Climate Minister James Shaw, and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, are currently on a tour of the Pacific to meet the leaders of island communities on the frontline of climate change impacts.

Ardern has pledged millions of dollars in new aid funding to help Pacific communities recover from cyclone damage and prepare for the next storms.

Greenpeace climate campaigner, Amanda Larsson, says:

"New Zealand has a moral responsibility to provide climate assistance in the Pacific but we also have a responsibility to address the root cause of this crisis. Allowing oil and gas exploration to continue in New Zealand undermines the Prime Minister’s commitment."

"Climate change is an injustice that disproportionately affects our neighbours and kin in the Pacific, who are among the least culpable for causing this crisis," she says.

Cyclone Gita, which devastated Tonga and parts of Fiji before hitting New Zealand, was the most recent in a string of extreme weather to impact the Pacific.

Larsson says weather events like this will become more frequent and more extreme as climate change worsens.

"Climate science clearly shows that with increasing emissions, especially from from oil, gas, coal and agriculture, these storms will get more intense, more frequent and more damaging," she says.

Last week was the anniversary of the Oxford Union debate, in which David Lange famously argued that nuclear weapons are morally indefensible.

"Jacinda Ardern rightly says that climate change is her nuclear free moment. Knowing all that we do about the key drivers of climate change, it is morally indefensible to continue searching for new fossil fuels in 2018," Larsson says.

"We have the opportunity and moral responsibility to act on climate change, just as we did in 1985 when we stood up to the powerful US military on nuclear."

A global report out today could present a major opportunity for New Zealand agriculture.

atobert — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:01:00 Z

The Greenpeace International document released this evening exposes the catastrophic environmental impacts of industrial meat and dairy farming.

"The evidence is in. The world is waking up to the fact that industrial livestock farming is warming the planet, contaminating our rivers, tearing down our forests, and putting our health at risk." says Gen Toop, Greenpeace’s sustainable agriculture campaigner.

"Polluting industrial farming practices are coming under increasing scrutiny by our international customers. If this is ignored, warns Greenpeace, the imminent consumer shift away from industrial meat and dairy products could present a major threat to our economy.

Left unchecked, the report says agriculture is projected to produce more than half of all global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, 70% of which will come from industrial livestock.

As it stands the livestock farming is responsible for 14 percent of global climate change emissions. As much as all trains, ships, planes and cars put together.

Industrial livestock farming is also a leading cause of deforestation and water contamination worldwide.

"Greenpeace in New Zealand has been campaigning against the industrial farming practices that have taken hold here. These include intensive stocking, the heavy use of big irrigation, synthetic fertilisers, toxic agri-chemicals and imported animal feed. " says Toop.

"Fortunately, we also have a growing number of meat and dairy farmers in New Zealand that have reduced their herds and turned their backs on industrial practices - using regenerative farming to work with the environment rather than to its detriment."

"This report puts those progressive, regenerative farmers in a prime position to take advantage of this new global playing field."

The bottom line of Greenpeace’s ambitious international campaign aims to halve the world production of meat and dairy by 2050 and put an end to polluting industrial farming practices.

This comes off the back off a growing global chorus calling for a cut in the production and consumption of meat and dairy. The UN Environmental Group, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Wildlife Fund have already made this call.

"The inevitable consumer shift towards less and better meat and dairy is a chance for our Government to unshackle NZ’s economy from its unhealthy dependence on dirty intensive dairy farming and bulk low-value milk powder."

Greenpeace is urging New Zealand politicians and farming leaders to seize the opportunity.

"In fact, if we don’t diversify NZ agriculture into more plant-based food production and higher-value meat and dairy grown using truly environmentally sound, regenerative farming methods, we’re going to be left behind."

"The contamination of New Zealand’s rivers from industrial dairying has already attracted international media attention from outlets like The Guardian and Al Jazeera.

"Landcorp the country’s biggest farmer, is one of those seizing the opportunity recently saying "our reality is that we will need fewer animals on our land in the future and more plants," Toop says

"This transformation in what we grow and how we grow it won’t happen overnight and farmers will need help from the Government, banks and their leadership to change."

"We can save our rivers, our climate and our forests from destructive industrial livestock farming. The alternative farming methods are there, the markets are there, and the urgency is there. All we need now is the political will to make it happen."

NOTES:

Link to the Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13mGYj_oKpOiq6ExzBYufJpa_tF5-0oZr/view

-The main findings direct GHG emissions from the agriculture sector account for 24% of all global emissions, and livestock emissions (including land-use change) account for 14%, which is comparable to the emissions from the whole transport sector

-If left unchecked, agriculture is projected to produce 52% of global greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades, 70% of which will come from meat and dairy.

-The food system is also responsible for 80% of the deforestation currently taking place in some of the most biodiverse forests remaining on Earth, with livestock and animal feed expansion being the most prominent single driver of this destruction.

-Since 1970, the Earth has lost half of its wildlife but tripled its livestock population. Livestock production now occupies 26% of land on Earth.

-This year it is expected that 76 billion animals will be slaughtered to satisfy meat and dairy consumption.Changes in human diets towards more plant based foods could reduce around 20-40% of the projected increase in extinction risk by 2060 for medium- and large-bodied species of birds and mammals.

Richie McCaw fails to convert - Fonterra’s PR falling flat?

nyoung — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 07:52:00 Z

A Government report just out, seems to suggest that Fonterra’s flashy PR campaign to promote intensive dairy might be failing.

The survey by the Ministry for Primary Industries shows that only half of Kiwis view NZ’s dairy industry in a positive light - due in large part to its bad environmental record and role in freshwater pollution. (1)

Greenpeace says this research should serve as a major wake-up call for Fonterra.

The country’s largest corporate has spent huge amounts on its public image in recent times, including expensive advertisements with ex All Black, Richie McCaw.

"Despite Fonterra’s countless TV ads and PR efforts, New Zealanders patience with intensive dairying is wearing thin," says Sustainable Agriculture campaigner Gen Toop.

"The only way for Fonterra to restore its tarnished image is to stop spinning and actually clean up their act. They have to deal to the tide of pollution getting into NZ’s rivers and lakes from too many cows."

The report shows that in 2017, only 50% of rural respondents and 47% of urban respondents held positive views towards dairy farming.

In 2009, in the same survey, 83% of rural NZ’ers and 78% of urban NZ’ers held a positive view of farming as a whole.

-Horticulture and sheep and beef farming were viewed the most positively out of the primary sector industries. New Zealanders positive views towards horticulture had increased 6% in rural NZ and 11% in urban NZ.

The main reasons cited for negative views of the dairy industry are it’s bad environmental record and freshwater pollution.

One of the quotes from respondents read; "We should be competing on our clean, green image and producing products that have higher value than just milk powder. - Rural Whangarei male.

"Alongside it’s flashy TV ads, Fonterra points proudly to its fencing efforts. But fences don’t stop nitrogen rich cow urine leaching into our waterways." says Toop."It’s like trying to keep the rain out of your house by roofing with chicken wire.""

Also, Fonterra’s fencing efforts only apply to rivers and streams wider than one metre despite research proving that small streams need attention too.

"A recent scientific report, led by the principal scientist for AgResearch-Invermay's Environment Group, found that more than three quarters of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution flowing into our freshwater catchments comes through small streams that currently aren't required to be fenced off. (2)

"If Fonterra wants to retain any shred of public confidence in New Zealand then it needs to stop bleating about fences and commit to fewer cows. That’s the only thing that will save our rivers."

-Note: In 2008 the question was asked about ‘farming’ in general - this was split into two specific questions in 2017 that asked directly about ‘sheep and beef’ and ‘dairy’ farming.

References:
1. https://mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/27582-new-zealanders-views-of-the-primary-sector
2. https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/jeq/pdfs/46/5/1038

Get off the gas - Greenpeace to new Government

nyoung — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 07:42:00 Z

Greenpeace is calling on the new Government to discount gas expansion in the future of New Zealand’s energy make up following statements by Regional Development Minister, Shane Jones.

Yesterday Jones announced the appointment of former head of NZ Oil & Gas, Rodger Findlay, as chairman of an advisory panel to the Government’s $1 billion a year Regional Development Fund.

Jones met the ire of Green Ministers over selecting someone with such a long history in fossil fuels. When defending the decision, Jones stated he believes gas will be an important part of New Zealand’s journey to meet climate change obligations.

Greenpeace climate campaigner, Amanda Larsson, says it’s a concern that Government Ministers appear to be adopting the oil industry’s "flawed" position that gas is a way to transition to clean energy.

"We can replace all fossil fuels with renewable energy and we have a responsibility to do so urgently if we want to avoid extremely dangerous climate change," she says.

"The idea that we should replace coal with gas is a convenient narrative for the oil and gas industry, which is struggling to justify its existence in the face of booming support for clean energy and growing public opposition to fossil fuels.

"In the real world, renewable energy like solar, wind, and storage are the smartest options. We have the technology, and it will save us money and create thousands of jobs. We don’t need to rely on dirty energy like gas or coal."

Greenpeace has called on the Government to use the Regional Development Fund to back up its promises of a just transition to clean energy.

Larsson says the fund provides a prime opportunity for the Government to "walk the talk" on New Zealand’s transition to 100% renewable energy.

"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has consistently said that it is a Government priority to ensure a just transition for those communities and workers currently reliant on the fossil fuel industry," she says.

"If the Government really is committed to creating a clean energy economy, then its top priority should be planning and funding a transition away from dependence on oil, gas, and coal.

"With $1 billion a year set aside for regional development, now is exactly the moment to start investing in good jobs and sustainable economic development opportunities for the regions that are most dependent on fossil fuels."

Larsson says this means focusing on fossil-fuel dependent areas such as Taranaki, the West Coast, and Huntly, to ensure those communities are fully supported with finding alternative opportunities in sustainable industries.

A clean energy economy would create new jobs in the installation and maintenance of solar panels, the construction of geothermal and wind power plants, energy efficiency retrofits for homes and business, as well as the construction of a better rail network.

Research and modelling commissioned by Greenpeace found that the clean energy industry could create 25,000 new jobs in New Zealand.

"There are enormous opportunities for New Zealanders in the booming clean energy industry. But it will take Government leadership to make them a reality," Larsson says.

She emphasised that the transition of our society away from fossil fuels towards greater clean energy use must mean winding down existing fossil fuel industries, including the gas industry.

Helen Clark Joins Tidal Wave Of Support To Ban The Bag

ehooper — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 00:08:00 Z

Helen Clark, Dr Jane Goodall and actor Sam Neill are among the growing list asking the New Zealand Government for a total ban on single-use plastic bags.

This Tuesday 27th Feb at midday, the Jane Goodall Institute New Zealand and Greenpeace will be presenting a letter to the Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage, in front of the Parliament buildings, asking the New Zealand government for a regulatory ban on single-use plastic bags.

The letter is signed by former Prime Minister, Right Honourable Helen Clark, in her new position as Patron of JGINZ, and supported by companies, councils, non-governmental and community organisations, including Countdown, Bunnings, the Mayor of Wellington, SPCA, Forest and Bird, World Wildlife Fund, all supporting the government to Ban The Bag.

Helen Clark says, “the banning of single-use plastic bags from stores, communities, and the environment would be a big step in the right direction towards achieving the targets of sustainable development goals, a step where we are well behind many other countries which are enacting legislation”.

“I hope that the New Zealand Government, supported by corporations, community-based organisations and many New Zealanders, will ban the bag.”

Also signed up are: PURE tour 2018 - Plastics Use Resistance Education, the 5 Gyres Institute, Algalita Marine Research & Education, South Pacific and the Te Karu o Te Ika Voyaging Trust

Accompanying the letter is a petition signed by 65,000 New Zealanders calling on the Government to ban single-use plastic bags, showing the increasing concern about the plague of plastic in our oceans and environments, and the impact it is having.

Sam Neill, star of Jurassic Park and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, has got together with Greenpeace and made a tongue in cheek film in praise of “the humble plastic bag”. The video has been viewed more than 700,000 times in the four days since launch.

New Zealand currently ranks among the worst in the world for creating urban waste and has fallen behind many countries in instituting a ban on single-use plastic bags.

Greenpeace Campaigner, Elena Di Palma, says New Zealand’s plastic waste problem is quickly spiralling out of control.

Kiwis use around 1.6 billion bags per year which are used for an average of only 12 minutes, yet each one can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. They are choking our oceans and marine life.

“The aim is to ban all single-use plastic bags - we really need to get single use plastic out of our lives," Di Palma says.

"Plastic bottles, straws, plastic cutlery, all have a terrible impact on our environment and are deadly to the creatures we share the seas with.”

Jane Goodall Institute New Zealand CEO & Co-Founder Dr Melanie Vivian says “There is an urgent need for all to take responsibility for the impacts we are having on our planet and its inhabitants. The consequences of our conveniences are now starkly obvious. To turn the impacts around behaviour change will need to come from us all, governments, businesses, communities and individuals. What we are seeing on the issue of single-use plastic bags that is so heartening is that so many are saying they are committed to making that change. As such we are ready to support the government to make legislative change to ban the bag. Hopefully the first step in many that we can take together to make positive differences for all”.

The Jane Goodall Institute New Zealand, Greenpeace and other organisations are asking, and supporting, the Government to take decisive action.

Petition Delivery starts at 12pm at Parliament Steps on Tuesday the 27th of February.

Facts about single use plastic in New Zealand

87% of New Zealanders agree that we have too much plastics in our lives. Our petition has now gathered over 65,000 signatures calling for a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags, showing widespread support from the public for legislation on this issue.

Scientists estimate that around 8 million tonnes of plastic waste is ending up in the oceans each year.

New Zealanders use 1.6 billion plastic bags per year, yet on average each bag is only used for just 12 minutes before it is thrown out.

New Zealand’s turtles are mistaking plastic bags floating in our oceans for jellyfish. A staggering 1 in 3 turtles found dead on New Zealand’s beaches have swallowed plastic.

Contacts:

Greenpeace: Elena di Palma +64 21 316 259

Jane Goodall Institute: Dr Melanie Vivian +64 21 185 4319

Links:

Open Letter.

Ban the Bag Petition.

JGINZ statements - Rt. Hon. Helen Clark and Dr. Jane Goodall.

Greenpeace videos for download.

Govt urged to use regional development fund for just transitions

nyoung — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:20:00 Z

Greenpeace is calling on the Government to use the Regional Development Fund to back up its promises of a just transition to clean energy.

Greenpeace campaigner, Amanda Larsson, says the fund provides a prime opportunity for the Government to "walk the talk" on New Zealand’s transition to 100% renewable energy.

The details of the regional development fund are due to be announced today.

"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has consistently said that it is a Government priority to ensure a just transition for those communities and workers currently reliant on the fossil fuel industry," Larsson says.

"If the Government really is committed to creating a clean energy economy, then its top priority should be planning and funding a transition away from dependence on oil, gas, and coal.

"With $1 billion a year set aside for regional development, now is exactly the moment to start investing in good jobs and sustainable economic development opportunities for the regions that are most dependent on fossil fuels."

Larsson says this means focusing on fossil-fuel dependant areas such as Taranaki, the West Coast, and Huntly, to ensure those communities are fully supported with finding alternative opportunities in sustainable industries.

"In countries like the US, every dollar invested in clean energy industries now creates more jobs than fossil fuels - it’s a better investment for both workers and the climate," she says.

A clean energy economy would create new jobs in the installation and maintenance of solar panels, the construction of geothermal and wind power plants, energy efficiency retrofits for homes and business, as well as the construction of a better rail network.

Research and modelling commissioned by Greenpeace found that the clean energy industry could create 25,000 new jobs in New Zealand.

"There are enormous opportunities for New Zealanders in the booming clean energy industry. But it will take Government leadership to make them a reality."

Larsson emphasised that the transition of our society away from fossil fuels towards greater clean energy use must mean winding down existing fossil fuel industries.

"Issuing new exploration permits, extending or opening new mines, or building new oil, gas and coal infrastructure equates to expansion of fossil fuel industries and is contrary to the aim of creating a just transition."

What the heck is Sam Neill doing?

ehooper — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 02:44:00 Z

Images of Sam Neill chowing down on a plastic bag are doing the rounds on social media.

They’re from a new Greenpeace film made with Neill, the Jurassic Park and Hunt for the Wilderpeople star.

View the full two minute video here.

The New Zealand actor who’s about to appear in a new film Peter Rabbit, made the video to highlight the crisis we have with single-use plastic bags getting into the Pacific Ocean.

Kiwis go through 1.6 billion plastic bags per year, on average each bag gets used for 12 minutes before it is thrown out.

In this tongue-in-cheek Greenpeace video Neill praises the "humble plastic bag" for its ability to last at sea, "making an active contribution to marine life."

"The plastic bag is a master of disguise," he says in the clip, "turtles mistake them for jellyfish and eat them. How good is that?"

Co-starring in the satirical Greenpeace film with Sam Neill is Auckland marine biologist Dan Godoy.

His research revealed that one in three dead turtles that wash up on New Zealand shores have eaten plastic.

Godoy describes plastic bags mockingly as "the peak of human innovation".

"They catch on the wind and pass easily through stormwater drains and into the sea."

Godoy and Neill are lending their support to a Greenpeace petition which is aiming to "ban the bag".

Sam Neill is urging all Kiwis to get on board with the Greenpeace campaign. "As a New Zealander I’m acutely aware that our beautiful Pacific Ocean is under threat from many sides. Plastics is something we can do something about immediately. "

After the campaign started in the middle of last year two supermarket chains, Countdown and New World agreed to voluntarily withdraw single use shopping bags.

"That takes about 700 million plastic bags a year out of the equation," says Greenpeace campaigner Elena Di Palma.

The Greenpeace petition has more than 61,000 signatures and is still growing.

It’s due to be presented to Eugenie Sage, Minister of Conservation and Associate Minister for the Environment outside Parliament at 12.30pm on Tuesday February 27th - an event organised by Greenpeace and the Jane Goodall Institute New Zealand.

The petition will be accompanied by an open letter signed by key organisations which outlines the case for a regulatory ban on single-use plastic bags.

The aim is to ban single-use plastic bags which Di Palma says "will protect marine life and create a level playing field for all retailers"

"We can’t stop there," she says. "We really need to get single use plastic out of our lives. Plastic bottles, straws, plastic cutlery, all have a terrible impact on our environment and are deadly to the creatures we share the seas with."

To make the point, at the end of the film Neill stuffs an entire plastic bag into his mouth, almost gagging in the process. Please do not try this at home.

FACTSHEET

-Scientists estimate that around 8 million tonnes of plastic waste is ending up in the oceans each year.New Zealanders use 1.6 billion plastic bags per year, yet on average each bag is only used for just 12 minutes before it is thrown out and ends up as waste.

-Successful public pressure has led to Countdown and New World committing to stop using single-use plastic bags, reducing the number of bags used in New Zealand by approximately 700 million.

-New Zealand’s turtles are mistaking plastic bags floating in our oceans for jellyfish. A staggering 1 in 3 turtles found dead on New Zealand’s beaches have swallowed plastic.

-A whopping 87% of New Zealanders agree that we have too much plastics in our lives. Our petition has now gathered over 61,000 signatures calling for a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags, showing widespread support from the public for legislation on this issue.

Contacts: Elena di Palma +64 21 316 259 Phil Vine +64 21 809 422 ENDS

For more information contact: Phil Vine | Communications and Media, Greenpeace Email: phil.vine@greenpeace.org, Mobile: +64 (0)21 809 422