Explaining is losing, luv…Coalition’s billion tree promise looks rather hollow now

by Cameron Slater on November 23, 2017 at 8:30am

The Coalition promised to plant an extra billion trees over ten years, or 100 million trees every year for ten years.

It turns out that they are now claiming half of those will be planted by the private sector…not the government at all.

NBR reports:

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern rejects criticism that the government splitting the load of planting its goal of one billion trees a year with the private sector is a backdown.

Forestry Minister Shane Jones says the goal of planting 100 million trees a year for 10 years will be shared between the private sector and the government, with both planting 50 million trees each a year.

Mr Jones and the Coalition government have been slammed by National economic and regional development spokesman Simon Bridges, who says the government is backpedalling.

“[Mr Jones’] problem is that the target is recorded unambiguously in both the Labour-New Zealand First coalition agreement and the Speech from the Throne on the new government’s programme.”

That speech said: “This government is committed to a new planting programme, planting 100 million trees a year to reach a billion more trees in ten years.”

The prime minister denies Mr Jones’ comments represented a backtrack.

“We have always been really clear we see a role for the forestry service to work alongside those in the private sector to ensure we’re supporting the planting of those trees.”

She says the goal of planting one billion trees – which she admits is ambitious – was always meant to be a collaborative effort between the government and the private sector.

She says it would be “splitting hairs” to try to decipher what the mix of private and public sector planting would be.

 

Sorry luv, you can’t claim private sector plantings as your own. It is isn’t splitting hairs. It is calling bullshit on your claims.

Shane Jones’ antics in the house over this now make a mockery of the promises.

I’ve never seen a givernment go backwards so fast nor make so many utter stupid mistakes like this one.

I said this three years was going to be fun and so far it is at least a laugh a day.

I think we are going to see a lot of Jacinda’s angry, scowly face in coming months.