Sierra Club questions New Zealand plan to mine national parks

North America's largest environmental group, the 1.3 million strong Sierra Club has told the Sunday Star Times that proposals from the New Zealand government to open up national parks for mining is shocking and insulting. "You have the responsibility to protect New Zealand's wild heritage not only for the enjoyment of future generations but also for the protection and conservation of the Earth's ever shrinking biodiversity," wrote Richard Cellarius, the club's international vice-president, in a letter sent to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Energy and Trade. "Long-term protection should not be sacrificed for immediate commercial gain."

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The letter also noted the impact this new policy could have on New Zealand's eco-tourism industry and its international “clean and green” image. a viewpoint echoed by Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei; "Our country is dependent on that brand, hundreds of companies trade on it, and international condemnation of the mining of conservation land will severely impact on that brand."

New Zealand's environmental reputation has already taken a hit, last year the London based Guardian said that New Zealand was “no friend of the earth” citing the 22% increase in carbon emissions since the country signed the Kyoto protocol.

Other international conservation organisations have also criticised the mining plan, at the World Wilderness Conference held in Mexico last November, 1500 delegates from 52 countries passed a resolution requesting the continuation of the no-mining status quo in relation to public conservation land within protected areas, and a letter from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, following a meeting of 200 delegates in Korea, stated: "The news that a modern, comparatively wealthy nation such as New Zealand is prepared to exploit its resources in lands set aside for biodiversity sends a disturbing message to more populous countries."