Public submissions on the Government’s next implementation plan for Te Mana o te Taiao - Aotearoa New Zealand’s Biodiversity Strategy closed yesterday.

In its submission, WWF-New Zealand says it supports the plan’s themes and actions - but warns these are not detailed or ambitious enough to address New Zealand's mounting biodiversity crisis.

“Our economy, wellbeing, and resilience to climate change all rely on a thriving natural environment - but we now have the highest

species extinction rate in the world. This is not the time for business-as-usual or vague, waffly goals,” said WWF-New Zealand’s CEO, Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb.

“We need clear, measurable, timebound actions aligned to our global targets to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. Unfortunately what the Government has offered is no better than ‘a plan for a plan’: a document light on detail, devoid of new investment, and heavy on vague intentions.

“The irony is not lost on us that the coalition Government is advancing a biodiversity implementation plan while simultaneously doing more damage to our environment than any previous government I can remember. We need more than hollow words.”

Kingdon-Bebb says the plan also fails to address the urgent need for stronger protections in Aotearoa’s vast ocean territory - which is home to up to 80% of the country’s indigenous biodiversity.

“Less than one percent of our ocean is highly protected, and a worrying number of marine species are at a crisis point - yet it feels like we’ve missed the memo with this plan. New Zealand is failing to protect our ocean and in doing so failing future generations.”

Kingdon-Bebb says the Government’s proposed plan also fails to reflect the value of Aotearoa’s natural environment or address the scale of investment needed.

Recent economic analysis undertaken by WWF-New Zealand and EY revealed that protecting nature could save Aotearoa New Zealand more than $270 billion over the next 50 years.

“Safeguarding our threatened species and habitats can create competitive advantage for our key industries and grow our economy. But we urgently need to scale up investment, including properly funding the Department of Conservation to do its job,” says Kingdon-Bebb.

“The vision of Te Mana o te Taiao - to reverse decades of biodiversity decline and place nature at the heart of decision-making - remains the right one. But achieving that vision requires a truly transformational plan. Sadly, this sense of urgency and ambition is sorely lacking.”

“We still have a chance to turn things around. But this depends on political courage, transparency, and the willingness to put nature at the heart of our national priorities.”