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Eugenie Sage
Green Party list MP Eugenie Sage was met with a barrage of criticism when she turned up on Fight the Tip’s Facebook page last week and tried to defend her approval of the Government land sale to Waste Management in 2018.
The former Conservation and Land Information Minister said she and former Associate Finance Minister David Clark were legally restricted in what they could consider under the Overseas Investment Act. She said there was no public submission process or requirement for them to take issues such as community concerns and mana whenua into account.
“The Green Party hears the concerns of mana whenua and other local residents and communities. No one wants a big new landfill close by, no matter how modern and well designed,” Ms Sage wrote
However, she was given short shrift by many posters, who insisted there must have been more she could have done, especially given her environmental responsibilities.
“What a load of crap,” wrote one woman. “Get behind this and save our rivers, nature, Kaipara Harbour. Mana whenua deserve better, so does this beautiful land.”
Fight the Tip executive Michelle Carmichael said it seemed incredible Ms Sage would have felt comfortable granting approval for the sale of land that had been identified by DOC as having high ecological values. She also asked Ms Sage six questions, but no replies had been posted as Mahurangi Matters went to press.
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