It concerns us greatly that the Department of Conservation is about to axe many important established science positions (both scientists and science support staff) in its Auckland, Nelson and Dunedin offices, in a move to help “better direct resources to its conservation work in the field”, as such changes were earlier justified.
- David Galloway and Sir Alan Mark
The staffing cuts at the Department of Conservation announced in June have generated a great deal of criticism from the conservation community. Scientists involved in biodiversity research are equally appalled at the cost-cutting in an area where under-funding has been systemic for years. Native ecosystems are going down the toilet while we trumpet New Zealand's clean green image, and pour public money into the Rugby World Cup and other components of the "bread and circuses" approach to political life.
Recently, David Galloway and Sir Alan Mark wrote open letters to the Minister of Conservation and to the Director-General of Conservation expressing their concerns. As Galloway and Mark argue passionately, New Zealand's biota are a treasure-house for the whole planet, and the latest round of cuts at DoC merely helps to swell the ranks of those species in line for extinction during the 21st century. The official response from the Director General of Conservation Alastair Morrison, is little more than a long-winded way of saying "too bad".
One day, our political class will come to understand that the economy is part of the enviroment, and not the other way around.
