The little gollum galaxias that swims in the chill waters of the Nevis River in Otago, is no friend of the Department of Conservation, it transpires.
DoC, whom you'd expect would be more than willing to go into bat for a native fish as rare and special as the gollum, is instead spurning the 'outstanding characteristic', as the fish is described.
Why?
They've made a deal with a power company.
They've traded-off the river in which the galaxid swims.
And they won't challenge the renewed attempts by the company to gain the rights to dam the river.
This, in my opinion, is low and illustrates the danger of running conservation on a tradeable basis, a system that the Government favours and seeks to implement across the 'conservation board'.
Where does that leave the little fish?
Without the protection of the very department that should fight tooth and nail for creatures like gollum galaxis.
A Special Tribunal hearing determined that the Nevis River should not be dammed because it was a unique habitat to the gollum. Pioneer Energy hasn't accepted that finding and is pressing to overturn the ruling.
The Department of Conservation are looking the other way, maintaining a 'neutral stance'.
That's not what you are there for DoC.
Shame.
