Post Two: Treaty of Waitangi

Treaty Of Waitangi

1. What part of the Treaty relates to pollution and sustainability? Write the phrase that relates.
The quote is "Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand and to the respective families and individuals thereof the full exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates Forests Fisheries and other properties". This quote clearly states that the queen will not disturb the natural state of the land. 


2. What are ways that modern civilization could pollute the land, the sea, or the air?
There are many ways in which the modern civilization can cause pollution. Say you want to build a nuclear plant. To build this nuclear plant you will have to first fine a good space that is away from any city life. This means that you build your nuclear plant near the rain forest. To make way for your nuclear plant you have to cut down the trees and level the land in near the forest. This would be called disturbing the land. By cutting down the trees and leveling the ground you are disturbing the natural state of the land. Now you will have machines working in that space trying to build your nuclear plant. The machines might then leave small oil spills on the site, The workers may leave their rubbish on the site. This indeed is called polluting the land. After the plant is build you will giant chimneys blowing out hot gases into the atmosphere. This is called polluting the air. You are dumping harmful gases into the air via hot steam from your plant's chimneys. Now it being a nuclear plant nuclear waste will be created. This waste then might be dumped into the sea, polluting the sea and killing sea life. This was a small example of how modern civilization could pollute the land, the air, and the sea. There are many other ways to pollute the air, the land and the sea as well. Harmful gasses coming out of our car's exhaust pipe is polluting the air. Giant rubbish waste lands are another example of polluting the land. Sewage being dumped into teh ocean is a way of polluting the sea.

3. What New Zealand legislation directs what should happen about pollution?
The New Zealand legislation states that individual companies and individuals are responsible for their own actions when it comes to polluting the environment. The legislation wants people to use cleaner materials so that the output is less harmful to the environment. "focus on managing risks ‘at source' rather than relying on cleaning up after contamination has occurred." It also states that the company is held responsible for any environmental damage caused by the employees or contractors of that company. It also restricts companies on dumping their discharge on the land or the water water. "Any unauthorized discharge to land from industrial or trade premises is prohibited whether or not it may end up in water." The legislation is also trying to phase out ozone depleting substances from use. These substances should only be used when necessary. The legislation also stops ships and boats from dumping their discharge into the water. They must dispose it off in a proper manner. From the information I have read the New Zealand Legislation is trying to control the discharge onto land and water from industrial and commercial activities. But is is still not strict on the discharge we get from out cars. The only rule we have around this that I have read is that you need a CAT converter on your car. With out this you don't pass the WOF and can't drive your vehicle on the road.