Kia ora everyone. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the Natural Environment Act that just passed last night. As a ranger, I’ve spent my career working under the RMA framework, and while it wasn't perfect, the 'polluter pays' principle was a baseline we could rely on.

I’m reading reports today about this new compensation scheme where councils—and essentially us as ratepayers—might have to pay companies if we want to enforce stricter environmental protections. Greenpeace is saying it could cost billions. I honestly don't understand the logic. If I’m out in the field and see a breach of ecological limits, how are we supposed to manage restoration if the financial burden has shifted from the industry to the public?

Does anyone with a legal or policy background understand how this 'reverse polluter pays' thing is supposed to work in practice? I’m feeling pretty gutted about the implications for our waterways and native species here in Tairāwhiti if we literally can't afford to say no to degradation anymore.