National News> Media Releases

11 October 2007 

WHERE TO AFTER THE LAST RIVER?

Fish & Game New Zealand is encouraged by statements made today by the Minister of Energy, David Parker, during the launch of the New Zealand Energy Strategy. 

 “The Strategy seems a pragmatic approach that recognises what is special about New Zealand, our spectacular environment,” said Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive Fish & Game New Zealand.  “Government’s recognition that ‘we don’t need to dam lots more rivers’ recognises that hydro is a not ‘renewable’ generation option.  Sure, the water itself is renewable, but the rivers themselves are not.  David Parker’s comment that, ‘…our unmodified rivers are a finite resource’ recognises the immense value to New Zealanders of our natural free flowing rivers.”

 “In damming a river, we lose the natural free flowing nature of that river forever.  A river is more than a drainage canal.  A river is a living thing.  It has its own ecology and complex and wide ranging interrelationships with the wider environment.  Further, a natural free flowing river has immense value beyond pure ecological values, including cultural, spiritual, recreational and community values.” 

 “As Jim Anderton said himself last year, ‘Our rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands are precious to our way of life.  Look at our cultural expression - our paintings and poems - and our natural environment is a theme running through the soul of our national identity’.  Each time we dam one of our rivers, we lose these values.”

 “As local government assumes their part in delivering on these strategies, they too must recognise that rivers are finite and of great importance to communities in their natural state.  An aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency and conservation, and a close linkage between economic growth and energy demand are essential.”

 “To those who say, ‘we need the clean energy that hydro provides!’ the obvious question is, ‘What will we do after the last river is used up?’  Many respond with, ‘We’ll think of something else when we get there’.  I suggest that we think of something else now, and retain the ‘soul of our national identity’ for our children and grand children.”

 For more information:

Bryce Johnson
Chief Executive Fish & Game New Zealand
021 397 897