Couple vow to continue green fight

A Foxton couple whose picture was set on fire at the opening of a seawall they had opposed say it won't stop them from fighting to protect the environment.

It took two years of mediation for resource consent to be granted to build the wall at Foxton Beach after Christina and George Paton appealed against the project.

Foxton community board chairman Basil Vertongen was so frustrated by the delays that when it was finally opened this month, he burned a photo of the pair, mixed the ashes with water and threw it on the new wall at its public opening.

Mrs Paton said the gesture won't deter her and her husband from objecting in the future if they feel the environment is at stake.

"We have only got this planet to live on. If we do not look after it what do we leave behind? At least we can have a clear conscience."

But Mr Vertongen said the pair have cost the community's rate payers thousands of dollars over the years by appealing numerous consents for various works around the region.

"They keep on objecting to every little thing. It doesn't matter what we do, they object."

He doesn't believe he went too far in burning their image.

"I'm not apologising. I don't see it as intimidating."

Mr and Mrs Paton disagree and are considering legal action.

Mrs Paton said they were tired of being passed off as trouble-making greenies.

"What he did was very intimidating and demeaning.

"We don't want an apology as we doubt it would be sincere but we think there should be some kind of penalty."

- © Fairfax NZ News