NZ politics

Government muzzles Dept of Conservation

Minister lies to Parliament

I have been sitting on this story wondering if it was going to go any further. Now it has developed into a political scandal involving Minister of Conservation, Nick Smith and which further shines light on the methods of the government in subverting democratic process in its own ends to push an agenda of pushing dairy farming at any cost.

Previously the Department of Conservation had prepared a detailed submission expressing its concerns about the proposed Ruataniwha Dam irrigation project in Hawke's Bay.

It turns out that this report was suppressed and replaced by a two- paragraph statement by the department that did not express in any way the earlier-expressed concerns.

The dam, if it went ahead would destroy the habitat of several very rare species of fish.

Not only this, but locals have expressed concerns about the danger to the township of Waipawa in the event of an earthquake

The Department has a statutory obligation to advocate for water conservation under the Conservation Act. Muzzling by the minister prevented DoC from fulfilling its mandate under the act.

This was made clear in this interview from 2 days ago

The minister's response was to deny all knowledge of the report and to deflect responsibility back onto the Department, despite the fact that it is as clear as day to anyone with half a brain that this was a clear case of political interference.

Now a further leak has occurred which contradicts the minister's protestations and clearly states that he wanted to see the submission before it was lodged.

It seems now we no longer simply have a prime minister suffering from amnesia (over the Kim Dotcom and GCSB affair), but we have a minister of the crown suffering from cognitive dissonance.

Minister voiced dam submission concerns

Minister Nick Smith already has form when it comes to political scandal and being economic with the truth

Radio New Zealand,

18 September, 2013

Radio New Zealand has been leaked an email showing Conservation Minister Nick Smith was concerned about the submission DoC was proposing to lodge on Hawkes Bay's controversial Ruataniwha Dam.

The email was circulated to senior Department of Conservation staff, including the director general, and says Dr Smith wanted to see DoC's submission before it was lodged with the Board of Inquiry.

The board is considering the resource consents for the Hawke's Bay Regional Council's proposed Ruataniwha water scheme and its associated "Plan Change 6".

Dr Smith said in Parliament on Tuesday he did not have access to the draft submission until he heard it on Radio New Zealand National on Tuesday morning.

He told Morning Report on Thursday he did not mislead Parliament.

The leaked email is dated 29 July at 6pm and is from Doris Johnson, the Department of Conservation's deputy director-general, policy and regulatory services.

There are four recipients. One is the-then DoC director general Al Morrison and the three others are senior DoC planning managers.

The email said:

Hello,

The minister wants to see the submission we are proposing to make on the Ruataniwha before it is lodged.

I suggest you send it over tomorrow for him to consider the draft and also attach the briefing note you provided me.

I am in Hamilton tomorrow but back on Wednesday. He is concerned and is likely to query whether we leave it all to the EPA to consider.

Minister's comments in Parliament

Dr Smith told Parliament during question time on Tuesday he had not had access to the draft submission.

"I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The member has claimed in the question that I had access to a report that I did not do so, until I heard it on Radio New Zealand National this morning."

Once he emerged from the House he told reporters, "I did not know that this draft document even existed until this morning. And to have accusations that somehow I have covered up its existence - it is somewhat difficult to cover something up when you didn't even know it existed."

Dr Smith told Morning Report on Thursday an initial 50 page report was written by junior staff, and senior DoC staff voiced concerns in late July that it went beyond the department's brief.

He says it is entirely reasonable for him to ask the department for more information after conflict within DoC over the submission.

Radio New Zealand understands DoC prepared only one draft submission.

Radio New Zealand sources said it was common knowledge inside and outside of DoC that on Monday 29 July Doris Johnson met with the minister.

It was following that meeting, and later that day, that Ms Johnson sent the email. Sources say the decision not to submit the draft submission was conveyed to staff on the morning of Wednesday 31 July.

The sources said DoC staff and external advisors were devastated that the draft would be not submitted and that the final submission was just two paragraphs and "neutral".

Submission details

The draft submission on the Ruataniwha Dam project said the Hawke's Bay Regional Council proposal was an "untested" and "risky" approach to water management which could kill the rivers involved.

The submission leaked to Radio New Zealand said the council's approach to managing toxins from intensive agriculture associated with the dam might not be sufficient to support life in rivers.

It also said the ability to reverse the toxicity would be limited.

The submission said the risks of the dam project had not been fully assessed, with an inadequate management plan for potentially high impact effects on rivers.

Here is Russell Norman's response to the Minister's statement

This is a report from two days ago

DoC report raises concerns about dam

NZ Herald,

17 September, 2013

A Department of Conservation report raising concerns about the proposed Ruataniwha Dam irrigation project in Hawke's Bay has been gutted by senior department managers.

The 32-page draft report set out the department's concerns about the way the Hawke's Bay Regional Council planned to manage water quality issues arising from the dam.

However, senior managers instead submitted to the board of inquiry considering the project a much shorter document - just two paragraphs - which do not deal with those concerns.

Conservation Minister Nick Smith said he wasn't aware of the report until this morning.

"But that's not at all surprising. This is a draft internal report of the department of which ultimately senior managers did not agree with.''

Dr Smith said the department ``took the view that they wanted to really focus in on the issues of about 22 hectares of DOC land that would be inundated by the dam rather than the fresh water quality issues''.

Dr Smith said water quality issues were the primary responsibility of the regional council.

"They believe that this dam will enable water quality to be improved and minimum flows to be increased. That is an issue to be tested before the board of inquiry.''

But Green Party conservation spokeswoman Eugenie Sage said the department's advice on the project "has clearly been suppressed''.

"The massive expansion of irrigation is one of this National Government's top priorities, so there are major questions to be answered as to why the department did not lodge its original submission.''

Ms Sage said the only other agency tasked with protecting the environment in the Hawkes Bay was the regional council, "but in this case, the council is the developer''.

"DOC's role to advocate for nature is even more vital.''

She said the Ruataniwha project could be used a model for future developments and the regional council's planning regime for water quality could be copied elsewhere.

The $256 million scheme involves the construction of an 83m dam on the Makaroro River in Central Hawke's Bay, creating a reservoir capable of storing 91 million cubic metres of water which could potentially irrigate 20,000-30,000ha, depending on land use.

The board of inquiry considering the project begins hearings next month and is expected to issue its decision next April.