Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

ENVIRONMENT
Our vision
New Zealand‟s prosperity depends on long-term sustainability. This is not just for the benefit
of the environment. Sustainability is integral to our economy, society, culture and way of life.
Kiwis value clean air, clean water, open spaces and our remarkable natural landscapes.
High environmental standards are central to our identity, social development and
international competitiveness, and a vibrant and healthy future for all New Zealanders.
Labour is committed to achieving these high standards.
The economy and the environment are indivisible – they are the same thing, not separate
questions. The health of New Zealand‟s economy depends on preserving and enhancing our
environmental assets. This will enable us to trade efficiently with overseas markets that are
becoming increasingly concerned about environmental integrity.
Major export earners (tourism, dairy, horticulture, forestry, meat, wool, fisheries, and film)
now leverage an internationally competitive premium from the country‟s „clean green/100%
pure‟ sustainable branding. To that we need to add „clever‟ in how we simultaneously
achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability.
This requires well-considered and robust initiatives developed in consultation and
partnership with all those who have a stake in our sustainable branding being credible. We
must work to find bold and innovative solutions to the challenges we face in enhancing our
environment, our economy and our society. If we make New Zealand a great place to live,
we can keep and attract the talent that we need to prosper.
Labour‟s approach to the environment is therefore all-embracing. It includes our policies in
such key areas as Agriculture, Biosecurity, Climate Change, Conservation, Economic
Development and Innovation, Energy, Fisheries, Forestry, and Water. This Environment
policy covers subjects not dealt with in those separate policies.
Sustainability
Labour recognises that all things are interconnected, and that we are kaitiaki, or stewards, of
the land, sea and air for future generations. Labour's policies are aimed at guarding,
protecting and restoring the resilience of the Earth's natural systems through community
action, public ownership, appropriate regulation and pricing.
Labour rejects National's approach of 'balancing‟ environmental and economic
considerations. We recognise that the two are simply different sides of the same coin – of
securing New Zealand's long-term sustainable prosperity.
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