Posts Tagged ‘NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development’

Common sense more common than first thought. Survey shows most NZers open to environment /economic growth trade off

It seems the vast majority of Kiwis are at least sympathetic with where the Government is heading with its plans for more mining in national parks.

Only 8% of respondents to an online survey say the environment should be given top priority, even if it causes slower economic growth and some job losses.

Over in the sensible corner, 78% of respondents wanted a balanced approach to economic growth and protecting the environment, according to the survey, conducted in February and early March, by ShapeNZ for the NZ Council for Sustainable Development.

“Balanced” is a bit of a weasel word, but it does mean that the majority of Kiwis are at least willing to consider trading off some environmental values for more growth.

So most New Zealanders look to be with BigCake in thinking that mining opponents need to take a deep breath, wait and see what mining will actually be proposed, and then weigh up the pros and cons.

The survey was held before the Government’s discussion paper on mining was released, and before Forest and Bird leaked the Government plans.

But the plans were announced in the PM’s Statement to Parliament just days after the survey started so most respondents would have been answering the survey questions with the debate already noisily underway.

They’d only have missed it if they lived under a rock.