Kia ora e hoa mā,

Ngā mihi ki te tau hou pākehā.

Hope this finds you in a good start to 2025. Here at Climate Justice Taranaki, we had a nearly four-hour hui last week, catching up with one another, sharing our visions for CJT, setting goals and strategizing. Here is a refined vision and purpose we have come up with for now: Let us know what you think about it, and if you would like to join or collaborate with us. Hopefully we’ll be able to share with you more of our strategies and plans in the next newsletter, following part two of our hui later this month.

Vision and Purpose

Founded in 2010 and incorporated in 2015, Climate Justice Taranaki (CJT) is dedicated to environmental sustainability, social justice and inter-generational equity – our collective ethical responsibility to current and future generations, human and non-human. Our vision is founded on, and underpinned by, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Aotearoa New Zealand’s constitutional document.

CJT’s overarching purpose is to foster equitable solutions to the interlinked poly-crisis – of pollution, loss of biodiversity, disruption to climate and oceans, and societal disharmony. The key drivers include unprecedented emissions of green-house gases from combustion of fossil fuels for energy and transport, pollution of the biosphere by petrochemical-derived ‘novel entities’ (eg. pesticides and plastics), and habitat loss and degradation from industrialized agriculture, deforestation and urbanization.

These all derive from, and contribute to, an unsustainable ‘extractivist’ economic system founded in the false premise of endless economic growth. This fundamentally flawed system benefits few at cost to most, ‘privatizing profits and socializing losses’. It is aided by systemic failures in governance, and abetted by vested interests and the increasingly rapid spread of polarizing dis-information. We do not underestimate the challenges ahead but work effectively to build community resilience and self-reliance.

Composed of a broad range of people with different expertise and life experiences, CJT works to educate and upskill communities and build solidarity and support with other Kaupapa and groups across Aotearoa. Together, we create a more ecologically, socially and economically sustainable future for all. To this purpose, CJT leads and supports civil action, and provides well-informed critiques of policy and legislation, engaging regularly with the public, media and the tiers of government.

Proposed Regulatory Standards Bill, open till 13 Jan

Thanks to the articles by Melanie Nelson and submissions by Emeritus Professors Jane Kelsey and Jonathan Boston, we understand the scope and implications of the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB) much better now. Our press release ‘The Bill for individualism, corporations and neoliberalism’ highlights our biggest concerns.

Driven by a minor party’s libertarian ideology, the RSB along with the Treaty Principles Bill, would have sweeping constitutional implications, if enacted. By putting liberties, rights and private properties as principles over and above obligations and the protection of the commons, the RSB could force the rewrite or change the meanings of many existing laws and regulations, and threaten any safeguard for the environment and communities. By omitting any principles that relate to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the RSB has the potential to sideline Tiriti-based protections from existing and future laws and policies.

The proposed Regulatory Standards Board, charged with overseeing compliance with the RSB principles, would have enormous power. Under the influence by vested interests like the mining and industrial agriculture and fishing industries, ordinary citizens, Māori, migrant workers and other marginalized groups, as well as activists working for social and environmental justice, would likely suffer.

The parliamentary debates over the Fast Track Approvals Bill offered a glimpse to how public law is being used to benefit private interests. The Fast Track Bill was passed into law under urgency on the 17 Dec 2024.

Facing imminent ecological and social crises, we need to work cautiously and collaboratively with common good, social equity and ecological health and resilience at the heart. The proposed RSB goes diametrically against these.

We urge everybody to submit against this dangerous Bill proposal before the deadline of Monday 13 January. Email RSBconsultation@regulation.govt.nz  More details are on the Ministry for Regulation website.”

CJT’s submission is here.

Treaty Principles Bill, reopened till 14 Jan

Following serious technical problems which prevented numerous submissions getting through on the initial deadline of Tuesday 7 Jan, the Parliamentary Justice Committee has reopened submissions till the 14 Jan. We strongly encouraged those who are yet to submit against the Bill to do so promptly ahead of the new deadline.

It is a real disappointment that Deputy chair of Taranaki Regional Council quashed debate on the Bill, resulting in the council submission being dismissed and iwi reps losing confidence in the council. We are however, heartened by descendants of the early translators of te Tiriti o Waitangi, Henry and William Williams, who have collectively submitted against the Bill. William William’s great-great-great grandson, Martin Williams, told Radio NZ:

“Fundamentally, it’s time that we as Pākeha stood up and be counted…. we prefer a future for our nation that isn’t premised on the idea that Māori were told a big lie in 1840.”

“It’s very concerning that the Waitangi Tribunal has described this bill as the worst, most comprehensive breach in modern times so it’s time for us to stand up and be counted and stand alongside tangata whenua.”

“We need to honour Te Tiriti not tear it up and scatter it to the wind.”

Waitangi Day Event, 5-6 Feb

In collaboration with tangata whenua, we are planning a Waitangi wānanga in Waitara, with a speakers’ forum in the evening of the 5 Feb and potentially an action on 6 Feb. Stay tuned or contact us for more details

Community Energy Taranaki hui, monthly

The group has now selected two projects to work on and will resume monthly meetings in February. Get in touch if you’d like to attend and be part of this exciting initiative.

Palestine Solidarity Taranaki

The group continues to rally and hīkoi every Sat from 1pm at Puke Ariki Landing, as well as sustain pressure on the New Plymouth District Council to divest from companies involved in the illegal Israeli settlements. “The path to climate justice travels through a free Palestine”; the organisers encourage all to join the BDS movement.  More details are on Palestinian Solidarity Taranaki page.  

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Mahia i runga i te rangimārie me te ngākau māhaki.

With a peaceful mind and respectful heart,

the Team at Climate Justice Taranaki