The new $30-million biodiversity and tourism fund is criticized as inadequate.
New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) will receive a fraction of what it needs to maintain its assets, according to officials. The government has cut $31 million annually from the DOC's budget over the past year, citing reduced public spending. This decision has been met with criticism by Marama Davidson, Green Party spokesperson for Conservation, who claims that the new funding is a "mere drop in the bucket" compared to what is required.
The $30-million allocation is a small fraction of the estimated $25 million annually needed to maintain DOC's assets. Davidson argues that this decision undermines Aotearoa New Zealand's conservation priorities and erodes science capability across the public service. The Green Party has previously invested in conservation, overseeing the largest funding injection in over a decade while in government.
The criticism comes as the government's approach to conservation is seen as favoring commercial interests over environmental protection. Davidson emphasizes the need for adequate funding of conservation programs through comprehensive, government-backed stewardship to protect New Zealand's biodiversity for future generations.