National’s QEII policy is a fitting tribute to Mark Cameron

ACT Leader David Seymour is welcoming National's commitment to increase funding for the QEII National Trust, saying it reflects an idea championed by ACT.

"Thank you, National, for the tribute to Mark Cameron. It's fitting that this announcement comes on the same day Mark announced he will retire from Parliament at the next election," says Mr Seymour. 

"National have effectively adopted an idea Mark promoted and ACT took to voters in 2023. We campaigned on a $10 million Biodiversity Fund available to local government and trusts such as QEII, precisely so that covenants could be struck with willing landowners to protect critical wetlands and areas of indigenous bush. It's good to see that thinking now shaping other parties’ policy.

"Around 70% of New Zealand is privately owned and some of our rarest ecosystems survive only because farmers and landowners have chosen to protect them. The QEII model is voluntary and respects property rights. It is the exact type of conservation that ACT believes in and wants to see more of.

"ACT is proud to be rural New Zealand's authentic voice in Parliament. When every other party sold rural New Zealand out with the Zero Carbon Act, ACT stood alone against it and kept agriculture out of the ETS. We're making property rights the focus of the RMA, we've scrapped Labour's anti-farming policies like the ute tax, winter grazing rules and overzealous freshwater farm plans.

"National’s policy also aligns well with Andrew Hoggard’s work in Government introducing a biodiversity credits framework. We’re allowing farmers and other landowners to earn a return for environmental improvements they make on their land.

"Mark Cameron and Andrew Hoggard have been relentless advocates for rural New Zealand and for the idea that farmers are environmental stewards, not environmental villains. Today's announcement shows other parties are increasingly moving in that direction.”