This is because the overuse of palm oil is destructive to the environment because it is destroying green house gas. It is also causing a problem to a rainforest which will affect the environment around us.

We are responsible for the care and protection of our environment, we are responsible for the 'flowing of the waters that sustain the land, as vitality for mankind, as a food basket for the people, as life itself is associated with all freshwater bodies and the food sources that are sustained by those waters'. Sign here now to protect our environment by saying 'NO' to gold mining by Elect mining at Canvastown Marlborough. Say 'No' to gold mining - our environment is worth more than revenue to be gathered, Say 'No' to gold mining - our environment is worth more than a 5 year term contract, Say 'No' to gold mining - our environment will be here for generations to come It is our duty to protect this environment for tomorrow's children. Say 'No' and protect your TURANGAWAEWAE - domicile, standing, place where one has the right to stand - place where one has rights of residence and belonging through kinship and whakapapa. THIS IS ELECT MINING'S PROPOSAL: Its original application, filed last year, proposed mining over a significantly larger area, up to 120 hectares straddling both sides of the highway, northwest of Blenheim. The revised application said the mining would progress in phases. A pit up to 16 metres deep would be dug, filling with water to allow a floating gold screen to be used. The pit would be back-filled as work progressed, allowing for the remediation of the land, which the application said would be returned to its pre-mining state. The application noted a number of remedial measures, including creating drainage channels to direct stormwater into holding ponds, to prevent sediment run-off into the rivers. March 30 2017: Stuff News: THERE IS NO REMEDIATION ONCE THIS IS DONE. - WE MUST SAY 'NO'

This letter has been endorsed by Iwi and hapu of the eastern seaboard of Aotearoa. It is our ancestral waters that are under threat... We invite all New Zealanders, and indeed everyone anywhere who cares about the future of the planet, to sign on with us. Nā mātou, Ngā Hapū o Te Tairāwhiti tae atu ki Te Tauihu o te Waka Te Whanau a Tapuaeururangi Te Whanau a Kahu Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou Te Whanau a Te Aotaki Te Whanau a Te Aopare Te Whanau a Hunaara Te Whanau a Te Aotaihi Te Whanau a Hinerupe Te Whanau a Hinerupe ki Waiapu Te Whanau a Rakaimataura Ngati Putaanga Te Whanau a Tapuhi Te Whanau a Karuwai Ngai Tane Te Whanau a Takimoana Te Whanau a Hunaara ki te tonga Te Whanau a Rerewa Ngati Hokopu Ngati Horowai Te Whanau a Uruhonea Rakaimataura Te Whanau a Pokai Te Whanau a Hineauta Ngati Rangi Te Whanau a Umuariki Ruataupare Ki Tuparoa Ngai Tangihaere Te Whanau a Hinetapora Ngati Hinekehu Ngai Rauru Ngati Uepohatu Te Aitanga a Mate Te Aowera Te Whanau a Hinekehu Takutai Kaitiaki Trust Te Whanau a Iritekura Ngai Taharora Te Whanau a Ruataupare ki Tokomaru Ngati Hau ki Anaura Nga Ariki Kaiputahi Ngati Oneone Wainui Marae Tarere Marae Te Aitanga a Mahaki Ngai Tamanuhiri Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust Ngati Rangiwaho, Rangiwaho Marae - Te Kopua mai Paritu Ngai Te Ipu ki Whakaki Ngai Tu ki Rakato/Mahia Hikairo ki Whareongaonga Ngati Te Korou Pahauwera Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc. Ngati Hinepare (ki Kahungunu) Te Runanganui o Heretaunga Ngati Mahu Ngai Tawhao Ngati Kahungunu ki Poneke Rangitane Rangitane o Kaituna Motu Wairaka Marae Ngāi Tūmapūhia-a-Rangi ki Te Wairarapa Ngati Hinewaka Ngati Hine Ngati Hinepua Ngai Tarita Ngati Rakaiwhakairi Ngati Hinewaka Ngai Tukoko Ngati Ngapuoterangi Ngati Rakairangi Ngati Hinetauira Ngati Kahukuranui Ngati Rua Ngati Rongomaiaia Ngati Rangaranga Ngati Kahukuraawhitia Ngati Mamoe (Ki Wairarapa) Ngati Parakiore, Nga Ruahuihui o Tamaki Nui A Rua Te Iwi o Tamaki Nui A Rua Ngai Te Ao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjX954J1zjI Watercare is proposing to build a new massive water treatment plant in Manuka Road and Woodlands Park Road, Titirangi, next to the existing plant. The construction of this plant will destroy more than 1000 trees over four hectares of significant native mature bush – including a large part of the very popular Clark Bush Track, bring an industrial sized plant to within four metres of local residents and put untold strain on roading and other infrastructure in surrounding communities including Titirangi, Woodlands Park, Waima, Laingholm, Glen Eden and beyond. The ecological assessment of the proposed site has been limited to minimal vegetation and bird count surveys, with no assessment of the other flora and fauna that might be present, including bats, lizards or insects, and no considerations of impacts on fresh water ecology. If this project goes ahead in Titirangi, it would be an ecological and social disaster, an insult to the environmental pioneers that helped create the essential character of Titirangi and an absolute disgrace for the green image of New Zealand. Phil Goff promised Aucklanders to protect our native heritage trees. Now he has the chance to stand by his word when both our native bush and community are under threat. We call on him and Auckland Council to reject the environmental consent to clear the bush for a Water Treatment Plant in Titirangi and send Watercare back to the drawing board. Help us stop Watercare now. For additional information, please check our Facebook page and website below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TitirangiPG/ https://protecttitirangi.org/

Freedom camping at Rotary Park would directly interfere with other many uses of the Park enjoyed by locals. It would be open to vandalism of sensitive infrastructure and park resources. It would also be a cost to rate-payers with cleaning and security needed constantly. It would mean an increase in traffic and noise and should not be allowed in a residential area where it is surrounded by properties.

New Zealand could become the world-leaders for this treatment but it requires more government funding for this to go ahead. An investment in this treatment will not only benefit thousands of people worldwide and have potential long term savings, but it will also offer thousands of high-skilled jobs for university graduates, and other New Zealanders who are keen to be part of the technology of the future. Tourists would be able to travel to New Zealand for this treatment, which would help our economy and increase profits for business owners. We ask David Cunliffe, Minister of Health to further the conversation with Parliament that would allow funding into Xenotransplantation to occur. If this were to happen, thousands of type 1 diabetics would live a safer life with more normal blood glucose levels, and not have to be worried about dying in their sleep due to hypoglycemia (lack of sugar). New Zealand's employment and economy would improve, and we would earn the reputation for being the world's leading country in transplantation. Help support the future of science and sign the petition today

Currently, over 300,000 kiwi kids are living in poverty. These children live without basic necessities that most of us take for granted, such as food, warm clothes, or even a bed. This will impact the children's wellbeing and will cause illnesses which, in some cases, can lead to death. This can severely damage their vital development which takes place from infancy to adolescence, and will most likely cause long-lasting issues that the child will have to suffer with for the rest of their lives. If we do nothing to stop this issue, it will continue to grow and affect more and more innocent children in New Zealand.

“他肥胖的身子向左微倾，显出努力的样子。这时我看见他的背影，我的泪很快地流下来了。我赶紧拭干了泪，怕他看见，也怕别人看见。” 朱自清的《背影》，海外的游子们都深有感触。自从父母团聚移民被暂停关闭之后，一些年轻的移民家庭，就面临着与至亲分隔两地的困境。 不知道是哪里来的数据表明，亚裔移民的父母，占用了新西兰大量的社会资源和公共福利。所以，他们说父母团聚移民只给新西兰社会带来负担，没有贡献，所以应该被暂停。 家庭，是华人生活的核心。四世同堂的天伦之乐，是中国人津津乐道的一种幸福。父母是我们的核心家庭成员，不是可有可无的一部分。我们只是想让父母在我们身边呆得久一点，多陪陪他们说说话，带他们到处去走走看看。我们有能力也愿意负担父母的生活和养老开支。 家庭，是华人社会的根基。华人移民们辛勤工作，任劳任怨，承担起了新西兰社会中大量基础而重要的工作。然而，移民对新西兰社会做出的贡献，不仅仅是经济上的。华人移民也是新西兰多元文化社会的重要支柱。试想如果没有华人移民，新西兰人如何能享受到蓬勃发展的对华关系，各种中餐美食，春节和元宵灯会的欢声笑语，还有各地中国花园的美景。 当前的游客签证，一次最多只能让父母呆六个月的时间。这让很多华人家庭，无法在心理上满足家庭团聚的向往。如果能够让华人移民的父母在这里长期居住，又不给新西兰的福利体系带来额外的负担，不仅可以让华人家庭充满欢声笑语，让新西兰的多元文化有更为稳定的社会基础，还能给新西兰经济带来很大的消费力。何乐而不为呢？ 更何况，加拿大、澳大利亚和美国，都有专门面向移民父母的长期探亲签证。新西兰不妨参考一下其他国家的操作，开放父母访问的长期签证。天维菌通过独家民意调查发现绝大多数华人都支持一下两种父母团聚方式。天维菌发起这个网上请愿，让更多人听到华人移民的心声。 一、重启父母团聚移民。重启父母团聚移民普通类签证，让父母获得新西兰的永久居民权，但在申请时需要提供已经购买的医疗保险和养老保险证明。居民权需要在购买保险的前提下生效，不享受退休金福利。 二、开放父母长期访问签证。有效期5-10年，多次往返，单次最长停留时间为1-2年。由其自己或子女负担父母在新西兰期间的生活和医疗等支出。 新西兰社会应该欢迎我们的父母，而不是他们视为负担和麻烦。让我们共同努力，为华人父母争取他们应有的权利。 It is undoubted that migrants made huge contribution to New Zealand society. They formed the root of our multiculturalism and diversity. Also, they have always played an essential part of business, cultural and political success in New Zealand. Thus, parents should be highly recognized for their contribution to the family and support to our endeavors. However, the Immigration Minister has announced a two-year halt of the Parent Resident Visa category, which has put many new migrants’ families into a difficult situation. Staying with family members, spending time with children and grandchildren is not only a dream of many Chinese parents, but a long last tradition shared by most Chinese families. But the current visitor visa only allows the parents to stay up to 9 months, which cannot meet the wish of parents to stay longer with their children. If the parents of Chinese migrants can stay in NZ for a longer period of time than the current visitor visa allows, it would bring more happiness to the Chinese families. This movement will not only form a more stable social foundation of our multicultural society, but also contribute to the NZ economy. It would be a win-win solution.

ECO AG IS A PROBLEM BLAH BLAH BLAH

Plastic bags do not break down, they fill up our landfill and end up in our water ways contributing to a global issue of pollution that is killing our marine life. Up until late last year we had plastic bag recycling in the Rotorua district and the removal of this service is a huge step backwards for our community and the clean green image that New Zealand presents to the world. Other district councils support the recycling of plastic bags and our council needs to resolve this serious problem.

Our tamariki deserve to be safe. The Kaiti Mall is almost directly across the road from Kaiti School, and children are often at the mall. By reducing the opportunities for people to consume alcohol we reduce the risk of exposing our most precious and vulnerable asset to alcohol harm.

How this issue affects you, your children, our country, and our oceans world-wide: Plastic bags impact our irreplaceable environment here in New Zealand when they are produced, when they are disposed to landfill, and especially when they are littered. Once littered, plastic bags can find their way onto our streets and parks and into our waterways. They are a large portion of the litter in our streams and can take a lifetime to fully break down. Once in the environment, plastic bags are often ingested by animals, clogging their insides which results in sickness or death, a horrible truth that is easily preventable. Other animals or birds become entangled in plastic bags and drown or can’t fly as a result. Our Ministry for the Environment also say that plastic bags exacerbate flood events when they clog pipes and block drains (1). ] Not only does unregulated and uncurbed plastic bag use harm our environment it also harms our Clean Green NZ brand which is estimated to earn us around $20 billion a year (2). New Zealand is already lagging behind many countries/places who have already Banned Plastic bags: California, Portland, Mexico City, Dehli, Mumbai, Bangladesh, Rwanda, Sydneys Oyster Bay for example (3). Plastic bags also contain many toxins and chemicals including BPA which has direct links to cancer. They are made from oil – each bag uses about the same amount that would drive a car 115 metres (4). Now, I know that by now you are probably horrified by the impact that these unrecyclable, toxic, animal­-trapping objects are having, but, here is a fun­-fact to tip you over the edge and get you signing and sharing this people powered petition! “The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that there are 46,000 pieces of plastic litter floating in every square mile of ocean.” (5) That is a lot of unneeded waste isn’t it? So all of you tidy Kiwis and eco friendly people lets put New Zealand on the map as a leader in this worldwide movement! BAN THE BAG! 1) http://www.mfe.govt.nz/waste/types­waste/plasticbags 2) http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/8023412/100­Pure­Fantasy­Living­up­to­our­brand 3) http://people.howstuffworks.com/how­many­cities­have­a­ban­on­plastic­bags.htm 4) http://plasticshoppingbagfree.org.nz/facts­and­figures). 5) http://www.mfe.govt.nz/waste/types­waste/plastic­bags