Too little spent on pest control: Peters

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry discussing funding for pest control in Russell Forest with Ian Wilson, from the Puketi Forest Trust, earlier this year. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Northland MP Winston Peters believes New Zealanders would be stunned to learn how little the Minister of Conservation and National were putting into pest and weed control on the Conservation Estate.

"Minister Maggie Barry on Conservation is just like how Maori viewed James Busby in the 19th Century - a 'man-o-war without guns'," Mr Peters said.

"To protect more than 8.6 million hectares of the Conservation Estate from animal pests, this government is spending a pitiful $5.31 per hectare and just $1.64 a hectare to fight weeds. Even these sums are a recent improvement on what National has previously spent.
"In January 2014, another man-o-war without guns, Dr Nick Smith, beat his chest over the so-called Battle for our Birds. To save each of the 25 million birds he claimed were being killed each year by pests, his government increased spending by just 28 cents a bird.

"But what did Maggie Barry do after succeeding Dr Smith in her first Budget? She cut DOC's animal pest budget by $6.7 million and weed and wilding conifer control by $901,000. She has made up for these short-sighted cuts in the current Budget, but that includes multi-year spending that demands multiplication to make it look reasonable.

Minister Barry cannot hide under-investment in seven of the previous eight Conservation budgets."

Minister Barry cannot hide under-investment in seven of the previous eight Conservation budgets.

Winston Peters

Mr Peters doubted that the minister seriously believed that a $19.7 million nett increase in pest control and $729,000 nett for weeds and wilding conifers since 2009 went anywhere near to "cutting the mustard".

"Then again, Minister Barry ONZM is an expert in OBE - 'Other Blighters' Efforts'," he said. "She is such an unimaginative advocate for what's needed, she tries to take credit for other budgets and industry spending, not to mention pushing the goodwill of volunteers to breaking point.

"Now she has a War on Weeds, a Dirty Dozen, and an aim to make New Zealand predator-free by 2050.

"Not on these levels of funding she won't. Her policies by press release are so far out into the future that no one will remember either her or what she promised."