It seems in the National Party there is still a mindset of the economy vs the environment. Bill English might have put it more bluntly, but John Key is guilty of saying that National’s policy is about ” maximising environmental opportunities while protecting the environment.” Notwithstanding the obvious contradiction in terms of National’s actions, it is not just about protection it should be about integration.

For our country the two have to be seen together as part of a sustainable future. The good news is that many key economic players are getting it. Rod Oram’s column in the SST today highlights how Marlborough business leaders are incorporating initiatives that are good for the environment and are improving efficiency. Just two examples

Yealands, a 1000ha vineyard outside Seddon, plans to use vine prunings to fuel its winery boiler and it is breeding miniature sheep to graze between the vines to save $1.5 million a year of diesel for mower-pulling tractors. And, of course, the sheep will be a valuable crop in themselves.

and

Nelson Forests has calculated the carbon footprint of its entire operations and product range. This has helped drive operational efficiencies such as using waste wood in the boiler at its Kaituna sawmill outside Blenheim.And thanks to the analysis, it can prove that the timber it sells into Spain is carbon negative (storing more carbon than was expended in harvesting, processing and shipping it). Thus the company can compete in the fast-growing European market for sustainable building materials.

Oram notes with sadness that Federated Farmers are trying to talk down the ETS (despite agriculture’s entry to the scheme being pushed out well into the future). Between them and the Nats there is still a long way to go for some folk to get over their prejudice and see that it is not a competition between economy and environment, but a necessary and vital collaboration.