Green is colour of the day

Each representative had the chance to share their party's view on a number of conservation issues. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Local and list candidates from six parties fronted up to Rotorua residents about their environment and conservation policies at the Green Drinks event.

Every seat was filled at the Blue Baths last night as locals gathered to hear views from Todd McClay for National, Tamati Coffey for the Labour Party, Catherine Delahunty for the Green Party, Alan Simmons for United Future, Ron Smith for Act, and Fletcher Tabuteau for New Zealand First.

Each representative had four uninterrupted minutes at the beginning of the discussion to outline where their party stood on conservation issues.

Water protection was a common theme in most of the speeches with the Green Party representative Catherine Delahunty saying "every lake and river in New Zealand should be swimmable".

"We want to give you something to pass on to your children and grandchildren. Without the environment, there is no economy."

United Future representative Alan Simmons said "outdoor people cared about water quality and were conservationists, too".

"People say hunters and fishers are not conservationists but that's not true and I've always said, by conserving today, we can hunt tomorrow."

But not all representatives toed the same line with Act's Ron Smith saying: "People should avoid demonising so many things in New Zealand based on bad information".

The audience was able to raise issues including genetically modified produce; conservation in education; gold mining and fracking; and waste prevention.

Each representative spoke on these issues and showed their party's commitment to conserving New Zealand's environment.