Press release - May 20, 2010
According to the most substantive poll on the mining issue to date, the Key Government’s mining plans are opposed by 30% of those who voted National in at the last election (1).
"This is sobering news for National; that one in every three
people who supported the election of John Key did not do so in the
expectation that our most protected conservation land would be
opened up for mining," said Greenpeace Executive Director Bunny
McDiarmid.
"This survey result is further clarification that the only
sensible thing is for the Government's mining plans to be
scrapped."
Greenpeace believes the mining plans are a breach of core Kiwi
values. The poll confirms that these values largely transcend
political affiliations.
"They are a classic example of this Government's brand of 19th
century thinking," said McDiarmid. "They're happy to put
short-term profit ahead of the long-term wellbeing of the economy
and the environment. This is a real risk for New Zealand's image
and bottom line."
Over 40,000 people marched against the mining of schedule four
land on May 1st in Auckland.
Notes: (1) According to the ShapeNZ nationwide survey of 2,215 New Zealanders, May 13-18, 2010 – “Among those who voted National [by party vote] in the 2008 general election 53% support removing [Schedule 4] protection, 30% oppose while 14% are neutral and 2% don’t know.”