National 'blue-green' plan for $1b sustainability fund

National wants transferable water permits and new national parks created in Waipoua and the Waitakere Ranges under its most far-reaching environment policy proposals.

A contestable sustainability investment fund offering $1 billion over 10 years is also included in the party's "blue-green" environment discussion document, in which a new position on climate change is the centrepiece.

A host of other proposals were, however, included focusing on air and water quality, conservation, outdoor recreation and biosecurity.

The 30-page document, written by National environment spokesman Nick Smith, called for the two new national parks and proposed that the Conservation Department should allow more private development on the conservation estate and the foreshore and seabed in order to fund more conservation projects.

DoC already collects $13 million a year from rents and concessions - including private jetties and tourism concessions - on its landholdings.

"There is an opportunity for creating an incentive framework that enhances this flow of revenue and focuses it on major eco-restoration projects, both on conservation land and private land," said Dr Smith.

The party wants the Resource Management Act changed to provide for a transferable water rights system, to promote more efficient use of water.

It is also calling for the agricultural sector to make a commitment to work together to restore water quality to lakes, rivers and streams.

Improving the quality of that water would be the highest priority for the $1 billion sustainability fund.

Dr Smith wants a tough stance on visitors who breach biosecurity laws, saying they should face immediate deportation.

Green Party environment spokesman Nandor Tanczos welcomed National's shift from "denial to discussion" but said it had largely sidestepped the hard issues.

"The Nats clearly find it easier to focus on lesser targets that present no risk for votes."

Environment Minister David Benson-Pope said much of the policy appeared to be borrowed from Labour's but "I welcome the fact that National now seems to have entered the 21st century and appear to have accepted that we have some very real environmental issues to deal with."

Forest and Bird advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell said the plans were a step forward in terms of recognising the importance of environmental protection, but the "party still has a long way to go".