Dear Lou, Martin and DoC team
I salute your beautiful video introducing the new biodiversity strategy.We all love NZs native species and also many of the other species that provide food, recreation and diversity. I support DoCs old approach of “outcomes for places” which provides for a diverse array of outcomes to suit local values and environments.We need healthy resilient ecosystems.We MUST stop poisoning our wildlife, insects, microbes and foodchain.Let’s find more sustainable ways of enhancing ecosystems so our native species are protected, our water is clean and safe to drink, our food is safe to eat, our air is clean to breathe and we value and respect the kiwi outdoors lifestyle.
Conservation should be the most loved government department. It’s current extremist pro-poison approach, Nick Smith’s nationalisation of decision making and the loss of transparency and community engagement over the last few years has created division, fear, anger and loss of social licence for DoC.
The predator free 2050 strategy has created an unwinnable war against nature. It is based on spin that is unsupported by science and has no community mandate.If you change an ecosystem ( with poison or anything else) you select for the fastest adapter, which tends to be rats and cockroaches.
Let’s create a more holistic vision, ask better questions and find better ways to measure “success”. Let’s find solutions that are ethical, lawful and promote a kind compassionate New Zealand that respects different views. The current dependence on poison ignores the mandatory warnings on the labels and undermines the rule of law. Public confidence in the administration of justice is lost when mandatory legal and regulatory requirement are overlooked by our representatives in pursuit of dogma.Please re-engage and listen to our rural people, our tangata whenua, those whose communities depend on access to wild food and using public resources, those whose mental health is dependent on simplicity, nature and time in the bush away from technology and poison. Please respect and listen to those who have spent their life in the outdoors ( whether or not they have academic qualifications) to find win win solutions which respect nature, minimise cruelty, and are supported by the public that DoC represents.Please confirm receipt of my submission.I’m very happy to assist further.
Sue Grey LLB (Hons), BSc, RSHDipPHI
PO Box 1653 Nelson, NZ
pH +64 22 6910586 suegreylawyer@gmail.com
www.suegrey.co.nz