Davidson wrong on Sage decision

The Herald reports:

Co-leader Marama Davidson said Sage had been constrained by the Overseas Investment Act in making the decision.

“The minister was constrained by a flawed Act which says we are unable to take environmental and Treaty decisions into account. This decision does not sit with Green kaupapa and longstanding Green Party position,” Davidson said.

Davidson is quite wrong in blaming the decision on the Act, saying you are unable to take environmental decisions into account.

S17(2) of the Act details factors for assessing any application. They include:

• whether there are or will be adequate mechanisms in place for protecting or enhancing existing areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna
• conditions as to pest control, fencing, fire control, erosion control, or riparian planting
• covenants over the land
• protecting or enhancing existing areas of significant habitats of trout, salmon, wildlife protected under section 3 of the Wildlife Act 1953, and game as defined in sections 2(1) of that Act
• providing, protecting, or improving walking access to those habitats by the public or any section of the public
• conditions for conservation
• agreement to support the entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero of any historic place, historic area, wahi tapu, or wahi tapu area under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014

So blaming the decision by Sage on the Act is a cop out.