Hands off Conservation Land Toolkit

Want to take action against the Conservation Amendment Bill? Use our Hands off Conservation Land Toolkit to help bin the Bill!

Check out the toolkit!

What is the Conservation Amendment Bill?

The Government’s proposed Conservation Amendment Bill is the biggest attack on conservation land in New Zealand’s history. The Bill would make it easier for mines, hotels, private resorts, monorails, shops and other commercial exploitation to be approved on public conservation land.

We’ve protected conservation land before. We can do it again. The Luxon Government thinks they can slip the Bill through with minimal fuss. With your help, we’re going to bin the bill!

How to use this toolkit

You can download the toolkit as a PDF, or read it here on this page. Print out and share with friends!

The tactics outlined are ways you can help keep drawing the conservation issue into the public eye, while keeping the pressure on the politicians to bin this bill. Start with a tactic that you are comfortable with and just go for it! Then you can choose to move onto the next one.

Of course, please let us know how you go with them. And thank you for taking action. Together, we can win!

Write a letter to Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ministers

Writing or emailing your local MP and relevant Ministers is one of the ways we can make our opposition visible. You can also make an appointment to visit your MP at their local offices to discuss this issue.

WHAT: A briefly written (300 word max) letter to MPs or Ministers
WHERE: Emails or handwritten posted letters
WHEN: From now until the election
WHO: Anyone with an opinion about protecting conservation land

Tips

• The letter/email should be no more than one page, or less than 300 words.
• A heading is vital to make the purpose of your letter clear.
• Make your most important point in the very first sentence.
• Then use the next two or three paragraphs to say why you want to stop the Conservation Amendment Bill.
• Including a relevant fact or two is great.
• Also include why this issue is important to you (in a personal way).
• Ask them to respond to you.
• If you are writing a letter to your MP, remember you don’t need a stamp to post it to: [MP name], Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160
• MP email addresses all use the same formula: [email protected]

Find the contact details for current local MP here.

Find out how to address people in Parliament when you correspond with them.

Write a letter to the editor

Letters to the editor are among the most read sections in a newspaper. This is an effective way to get a message across to a broad audience.

WHAT: A briefly written (250 word max) letter to the editor
WHERE: In the newspaper
WHEN: From now until the election
WHO: Anyone with an opinion about protecting conservation land

Tips before you start writing: 

• Look into submission requirements (word length, how to submit)
• Read other letters in that newspaper to get a sense of the criteria they use
• Reference other writings on the subject, for example sources such as Greenpeace.

When you begin writing 

• Make sure you know the message and what you want to say about the issue.
• Use clear and simple language that others will understand.
• Keep the most important point(s) at the top.
• If you have a strong personal story, include it (a compelling human story goes a long way to hook readers in).
• Proofread your letter or have someone else edit it before you submit it.

Some examples of letters to the editor are linked here.

Call talkback radio

Radio talk shows broadcast live on local stations or online streams to discuss news, politics, and lifestyle topics. As a listener you can call in to share your thoughts or personal story.

WHAT: making a phone call to a live radio talk show
WHERE: on the phone
WHEN: from now until the election
WHO: anyone with an opinion about protecting conservation land

Tips for getting on the air: 

• Call the studio phone number for your specific station while the show is airing.
• Have your point ready and stay on the line to be screened by a producer.
• Turn down your radio’s volume while on the phone. This prevents a bad echo.
• Be brief. Producers screen callers so get straight to your main point.
• Be polite but passionate. A strong opinion gets you on air faster!

Before calling in: 

• Make sure you know what you want to say, about the issue.
• Use clear and simple language.
• If you have a strong personal story, say that. Your story will be remembered more than your opinion. And people typically can’t argue with your story where they could with your opinion.

Here are the contact numbers for popular talk radio stations in New Zealand:

• The Hits: Download the iHeartRadio App to use the in-app “talkback” record feature
• Newstalk ZB: Call 0800 80 10 80 or text the keyword and your message to 9292
• RNZ National: Call 0508 826 436 or text 2101
• ZM: Call 0800 342 596 or text your message to 9696