For whom the axe falls

Forest and Bird, Volume 16, Issue 1, 1 February 1985, Page 28

For whom the axe falls

For students of environmental history, some priceless gems emerged during the course of the Parliamentary snap debate on Tongariro State Forest (see article page 11). Conservation strategists, in particular, will find the pages of Hansard well worth a read. We present below a sample of the livelier bons mots. Winston Peters (National- Tauranga): ‘‘Dr McSweeney, who is not any old human being, but is the conservation officer for the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, said the decision violates the 1977 Government Indigenous Forest Policy. Are members to believe Dr McSweeney or the Government, terribly embarrassed as it is in this matter?"’ Rob Storey (National- Waikato): ‘All I can say is that it is not ‘virgin indigenous; ’ it is verging on the ridiculous.’ Dr Michael Cullen (Government Chief Whip): ‘‘Some important lessons emerge from the debate. The first...is that there is a need for the Forest Service to be clearer about its lines of consultation and communication before decisions are finalised or announced."’ Derek Angus (National-Wallace): ‘"The Government stands condemned, and future generations of New Zealanders will remember. Where will the axe fall next? It is a bad day for New Zealand.’’