I could not agree more. As a volunteer for a not for profit environmental group for 10 years I have witnessed first hand the degradation of DOC under this government, or is it a metamorphisis – from an agency charged with protecting our precious environment, to a business model charged with making money from tourism. A summary of recent changes has been recorded by someone who worked for DOC for 15 years (http://www.docwatchnz.com/). It is a troubling report, worthwhile reading for anyone who has a stake in our public estate, and that surely is all kiwis? What doesn’t seem to be understood by many now pulling the DOC strings is that environmental damage (or lack of care) is not something which can be remediated in years, or even centuries. We know that New Zealand’s natural environment is unique and much envied by many. As environmental degradation around the globe worsens (as it surely will) our natural landscape and all she contains will become ever more desirable. Get serious about investing in its wellbeing, and protecting the one element which will set our country apart from all others in the future. It’s the jewel in the crown but oh, so easily destroyed.

So I declare my COI, I’m a DOC scientist, so my tagging this as essential could be viewed as nest feathering but I would ask that it be seen as an informed opinion on the costs to the persistence of our biodiversity and ecosystem function and the back-sliding due to what is extremely minimal funding compared to other sectors and the cost of the work.

As long as there is strong policy around how this funding is used. I would hate to see it go to 1080 or the likes.