These strategies will be based on the concept of sustainable development. Economic Development Ministers Jim Anderton and Phillida Bunkle today released a cabinet paper on sustainable development. This means that development which ignores the essential needs of the poorest people or erodes the quality of our environment is not sustainable development. Sustainable development is about increasing New Zealand's wealth in ways that do not harm the environment. Considering long term effects as well as short term ones Assessing indirect as well as direct effects Taking extra care when developments might be irreversible.
Sustainable development means a major shift in government policy.
Previous governments have only worried about short term economic gain which has often been at the expense of the environment or jobs.