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The Greens have reacted to plans to bring the South Island giant moa back from the dead, saying that the money would be better spent trying to save endangered species.
It was revealed today that United States-based Colossal Biosciences, which is also behind de-extinction projects for the woolly mammoth and dodo, is already working on the return of the moa, which died out six centuries ago.
Kiwi film director Sir Peter Jackson is backing the move, along with the principal southern iwi, Ngāi Tahu.
However, the Green Party believes that funding would be better off going towards “ensuring the survival of our present-day taonga species”.
Green Party co-leader and conservation spokesperson, Marama Davidson said there are currently more than 4000 native species at risk of extinction.
“This Government is pushing our taonga species over the edge with legislation that enables killing of native animals, more mining, thoughtless fast-track projects, and significant underfunding of the Department of Conservation.
“New Zealand sea lions were officially declared endangered just a few months ago,” she said.
“There is huge value in innovative, blue-skies research happening in Aotearoa.
“Our science system should be led for the public good, not left to be decided by the interests of those with money.
“Bringing moa back would be nice, but at a time when we are battling to keep thousands of other taonga species alive, it hardly seems a priority.”
NZ Herald
