TOGETHER FOR THE EARTH, FOR PAPATŪĀNUKU

In the latest salvo of Luxon’s War On Nature, commercial fishing will be allowed in new ‘highly protected’ areas in the Hauraki Gulf marine park after a last-minute U-turn by ministers. This is a huge broken promise to Aucklanders and a damaging blow to the Tīkapa Moana Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, which is on the brink of ecological collapse.  Overfishing, habitat loss and pollution have already led to a 57% decline in key fish populations, a 67% decline in seabirds, and a 97% decline in whales and dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf. Scallop and crayfish populations are functionally extinct in some areas. The creation of new marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Hauraki Gulf is critical to protecting and restoring the ecological health of this precious area while also ensuring that a family can go out and catch a feed. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill was going to do that but the future of Hauraki Gulf is now even more at risk because the government has bowed to the fishing industry and decided to ammend the bill to allow commercial fishing in areas that are designed to provide a critical safe haven for marine life to recover.  Sign this petition now to call on the Luxon Government to reverse the last-minute decision to amend the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill Read more  • Campaigners slam ‘unconscionable’ last-minute permit for commercial fishing in Hauraki Gulf sanctuary • Govt wants new protection areas in Hauraki Gulf while allowing some fishing • Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana bill amendments a slap in the face for mana whenua and advocate groups • Iwi leaders slam Potaka‘s ’weak’ justification for continued commercial fishing of Hauraki protected areas

No dolphin should be drowned in a net. Yet since Christopher Luxon has been Prime Minister, at least 15 Hector's dolphins have been killed by the fishing industry. They include a mother and calf pair, juvenile dolphins and adults, with almost all of them around Canterbury. Māui and Hector's used to be the most abundant dolphins around NZ's coastal waters. Now they are among the world's rarest.  PM Luxon must protect Hector's from the fishing industry. Be a Dolphin Defender and help stop extinction. Links Stuff Luxon office protestors say at least 15 Hector’s dolphins killed since he was PM The Press, Andrea Vance Dolphin protest targets PM Luxon’s office Stuff Fisheries Minister rejects dolphin protestors claims  TV3 The Grim Reaper visits Botany from 4.34 Stuff poll  Our wrap video  Our Givealittle page  

'Project Kea' is a Waste-to-Energy project that would incinerate large volumes of waste. If constructed the plant would truck in 365,000 tonnes of waste annually to burn and generate modest amounts of electricity. Waste-to-Energy plants release dangerous chemicals and emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 'Project Kea' would produce the equivalent CO2 emissions to an extra 100,000 cars on the road each year. Toxins that come out the incinerator include dioxins, heavy metals and particulates which all pose a serious risk to human health. 🔥 Waste-to-Energy plants use vast amounts of resources to operate. 'Project Kea' would use 2.5 million litres of fresh water each day, 365 days a year, and burn in excess of 100,000 litres of diesel each year. Waste-to-Energy also still needs landfill space, as it requires the landfilling of large amounts of toxic ash. Beyond that, the plant will build in the need to find and supply more waste to feed the beast. Constant demand incentivises the creation of more waste and discourages zero-waste efforts. This moves us away from a more circular economy, acting within the limits of the natural environment. Waste-to-Energy is an outdated waste disposal method that countries in Europe are moving away from. The Waimate plant would be the first ever built in Aotearoa, but could pave the way for more. South Island Resource Recovery Limited's (SIRRL) proposal to build 'Project Kea' will be decided in the Environment Court. 💚 This petition is a demonstration of our local support for our elected representatives to oppose 'Project Kea. If you also oppose false solutions such as Waste-to-Energy, and want a more circular economy, please sign! Find out more about the problems with waste-to-energy: https://zerowaste.co.nz/waste-to-energy-incineration/