Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Trees are a vital part of our urban environment. They provide beauty, character and shelter.
But National has amended the RMA to prohibit local councils from providing general
protection for trees (e.g. by requiring a consent for cutting down any tree over a certain size).
Trees can be now be protected only if they are individually identified in the district plan or
located within a reserve. Labour believes that councils, on behalf of their communities,
should be able to choose how they protect their local trees, especially against development
pressures.
Labour will review section 76 of the RMA to ensure that urban trees have a proper
level of protection.
Institutional changes
It is critical that the various elements of New Zealand‟s institutional arrangements for
managing and protecting the environment work well. We should improve their effectiveness
where we can. Two such elements are the recently established Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE).
Labour will strengthen the EPA so that it is a comprehensive, transparent and strong
environmental regulator with clear powers and purposes, including above all to
protect the environment (a function that it currently lacks).
Labour will support comprehensive, independent authoritative environmental
reporting by the PCE, and will ensure that her office has the powers and resources
required to carry this function out without compromising her other duties.
Fracking
Hydraulic fracturing, or „fracking‟ in the petroleum industry has been carried out in different
ways for several decades, and occurs in New Zealand. It is, however, a controversial
practice, especially in combination with the use of chemicals.
Fracking has been banned or suspended in some places elsewhere in the world. We need to
know about the implications of fracking for New Zealand. Either a strengthened EPA or the
PCE would be well placed to inquire into it.
Labour will initiate an inquiry into fracking as a matter of priority.
Oceans
Labour recognises the important physical relationship New Zealanders have with the marine
environment. Internationally oceans are under threat including from acidification, which is
pushing them close to their ecological limits.
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