$200m for endangered species

By ANNE BESTON environment reporter

Next week's Budget will include millions of dollars to wipe out pests and save the kiwi and other endangered species.

The measures will come in a $200 million package due to be announced today in Wellington.

Conservation, environment and fisheries will be major winners in the Government's first Budget, with the $200 million to be spent over the next five years to protect New Zealand's natural environment.

Conservation Minister Sandra Lee is expected to announce $10 million to be spent over the next five years on the creation of special "kiwi zones." The sanctuaries, thousands of hectares where intensive predator control programmes will be put in place, are seen as crucial to saving kiwi and other endangered species from extinction on the mainland.

The Herald understands next week's Budget will also include a Department of Conservation funding boost of $18 million in 2000-2001, rising to $50 million by 2005-2006. The department's 1999 budget was $157 million.

The $50 million planned for year five is close to what conservationists say is needed to implement the Government's biodiversity strategy, Our Chance to Turn the Tide.

Released with a degree of fanfare earlier this year, the strategy attracted criticism from some groups because it contained no costings. But many of its recommendations are expected to be put in place after today's announcement.

More than a quarter of the $200 million will target animal and weed pest control.

The creation of a new marine reserve is also expected to be announced. The Budget contains $10 million for new marine reserves.

The goal contained in the biodiversity strategy is for 10 per cent of the marine area to be set aside as reserve by 2010. Waiheke Island, Stewart Island and White Island are all possible locations.

Other areas expected to receive a funding boost include fisheries research, particularly in the areas of threats to New Zealand's marine environment. Recent invasive species discovered here are the Asian date mussel and Undaria seaweed.

Research on New Zealand's marine ecosystems is also expected to get more money.

The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society's director, Kevin Smith, said he had yet to see the breakdown of how the $200 million would be spent but said conservationists would approve today's announcement.

The full Budget will be delivered next Thursday.