Derek Stubbs: The co-governance agenda visits the Hauraki Gulf

With the Government pushing ahead with its plan to introduce greater co-governance, the Hauraki Gulf Forum is jumping on the bandwagon.

For the fourth time in seven years, the Forum is considering a recommendation to seek legislative changes to the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act as outlined in the report ‘Updating and strengthening the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act’.

This report recommends several significant changes.

These include:

• Changing from a Forum into an Authority with statutory powers and functions. 
• Changing the composition of the Forum to a full co governance framework. Co-governance leadership is envisioned, with equal membership between mana whenua and what are called ‘others’. A degree of flexibility on appointments is suggested in the proposal document.
• Introducing a Statutory Vision for the Gulf which prevails over regional, and district plans and relevant central government decision making.
• Exchanging the term ‘tangata whenua’ (people of the land) for ‘mana whenua’ (customary authority exercised by an iwi or hapu) throughout the Act.

The Waikato River co-governance arrangement is referenced in the report as a suggested model, the membership of which is made up of Crown and Iwi appointees. 

While there is a strong argument for the Forum to have increased functions and powers in order to strengthen their ability to restore and protect the Hauraki Gulf, this can be achieved under a democratically elected body, accountable to the people of the region.

Currently elected local body representatives have the lion’s share of the seats at the Forum table. The fact that Auckland Council, with its representation of seven members, is listed as a problem is revealing as to the proposal’s intention. This is despite these seven members representing by far the largest group of citizens - over 1.6 million. 

This push for co-governance coincides with a proposal in the draft Auckland Council Draft Regional Parks Management Plan to investigate including 21 of Auckland’s 28 regional parks in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

If both proposals go ahead, it is logical to conclude that this new authority would likely co-govern 21 of Auckland’s regional parks. This would reflect the Regional Parks Management Plan’s proposed framework for partnerships with mana whenua.

Established 22 years ago, the Hauraki Gulf Forum is a consultative and advocacy body established under the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act to advocate for the protection of the Gulf. The 21-member Forum includes three ministerial representatives, six tangata whenua members, and 12 councillors from the five councils that border the Gulf. 

Generations of Kiwis have grown up on the shores and waters of the Auckland’s ‘jewel in the crown. But only a handful of the 2.2 million people who live in and around the Hauraki Gulf know of these proposals. The citizens are not being asked if they agree to these changes - no public input has been sought prior to the introduction of this proposal for what is a radical constitutional change over the governance of the Gulf.

The Gulf Users Group has been established by a group of concerned citizens to alert the public to this plan, and to give a voice to those who work and play in the Gulf. This Group is asking anyone who believes that decisions with respect to the Gulf should be fair, transparent, and democratic to contact the members of the Forum to vote NO to these proposals at their upcoming meeting on 28 February.

The Gulf Users Group has a letter writing function on their website gulfusers.org.nz that allows anyone to create and send a message direct to Councillors. There is also an option to sign a petition demanding the Hauraki Gulf Forum members vote down proposals to remove the elected member majority and introduce co-governance.

Derek Stubbs is a keen boatie who has been sailing the Hauraki Gulf for over 50 years. He is also the Chair of the Gulf Users Group.