The various policies floated by the four main political parties last week:

National has a wishy-washy environmental policy, recently amending the RMA with the aid of Maori Party minnows entrenching race-based iwi provisions. Vacillates on scrapping Emissions Trading Scheme. Shelved Kermedec Ocean Sanctuary (1000km away) when pressured by Maori interests whose only contribution to Kermedecs' conservation was that they never visited the place. FAIL.

Next up Labour's main thrust. It supports ETS, proposes a water tax on all commercial users (without any legal right) lacking specifics other than policy is race-based, handing 50 per cent of revenue to Maori interests. FAIL.

Greens want to revamp the RMA, charge for commercial use of water, change the ETS to Carbon Tax plus other inane environmental initiatives. FAIL.

NZ First wants to repeal existing RMA provisions relating to iwi consents and associated race-based policies, ensure a sustainable water supply, charge for exported bottled water, and scrap ETS/carbon tax nonsense – laudable. PASS.

The Supreme Court decision seizing on letter of the law concerning the Ruataniwha Dam project when rejecting a swap of 22 hectares of DOC land for 170 hectares of other suitable land is farcical. Provided dams are for the common good and meet strict guidelines, surely that is okay. Seriously, how can anyone now expect the Supreme Court to ever do the right thing in the future?

R Paterson, Matapihi.