‘They need to change course’: Leading environment groups boycott National’s green forum
Thursday, 19 February 2026
Four major environmental organisations have confirmed they will boycott this year’s National Party Bluegreens conference, citing concern over the Government’s handling of climate and conservation issues.
This year marks 28 years since the party founded the special interest group, established to combine market-oriented thinking with environmental stewardship. Their annual forum will be held in Wellington this weekend.
But Forest & Bird, the Environmental Defence Society, Greenpeace and WWF-NZ - who regularly attend and present to MPs - said fast-tracked mining, weakened safeguards for rivers, forests, and conservation land, and a lack of meaningful climate action represent a sharp departure from the Bluegreens’ founding principles of sustainability and science-based policy.
Nicola Toki, chief executive of Forest & Bird, said the decision to stay away was “the right call”.
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She said the Bluegreens had a proud environmental history, including creating New Zealand’s first marine reserve and recognising the legal personhood of Te Urewera, the Whanganui River, and Mt Taranaki.
But she said “we shouldn’t and can’t ignore what is happening to the environment under this current Government”, pointing to threats from fast-tracked coal mines, proposed conservation land sales, and weakening environmental safeguards.
Toki was a guest speaker at last year’s forum in Methven.
“The Bluegreens principles still hold: sustainability, science, incentives, and a shared birthright to enjoy our natural places. But these principles mean nothing if they are cast aside when decisions get hard,” Toki said.
WWF-New Zealand chief executive Kayla Kingdon-Bebb said her organisation “cannot in good faith attend this year’s Bluegreens conference while environmental protections and climate ambition are being rolled back in such an egregious way”.
She added: “Our presence could be seen as endorsing a policy direction we fundamentally disagree with. We remain ready to engage where there is a genuine commitment to protecting nature and addressing climate change.”
Russel Norman, Greenpeace Aotearoa’s executive director, said: “I last addressed the Bluegreens just before the 2023 election and I asked them to be conservative on climate change and nature – to protect what we have.
“Instead, they have pursued a radical, far-right, war on nature and a war on climate policy. I continue to engage with politicians from across the spectrum, but I don't want my presence at the National Party's Bluegreens conference this year to give any succour to their war on nature. They need to change course.”
Gary Taylor of the EDS also confirmed the group would not attend. At the 2024 forum, he called the coalition the most radical “anti-environment” Government since the early 1980s.
Former MPs Nick Smith, now Nelson’s mayor, Simon Upton, who is the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and the late Sir Rob Fenwick founded the group in 1998.
Northland MP Grant McCallum chairs the Parliamentary wing of the Bluegreens. He said it was disappointing the NGOs had chosen not to attend.
“The Bluegreens proudly facilitates respectful and robust dialogue and values the contribution that these groups have made to our conferences in the past.
“We welcome discussion and the door will remain open for their return.”
Other Bluegreens MPs include Commerce Minister Scott Simpson, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka and Ilam MP Hamish Campbell.