Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 5/10/23

Six new marine reserves to be established (all going well on October 14) and local iwi will become management partners

Willow-Jean Prime and Rachel Brooking have struck another blow for conservation, in the last-gasp days of the 2020-23 Labour Government. Whether they have successfully struck a blow for their job conservation will become plain on October 14.

They have announced plans for six new marine reserves between Timaru and the Catlins – and for the establishment of another Crown-iwi partnership. The new marine reserves will be managed by Kāi Tahu in partnership with the Department of Conservation.

But their press statement does not mention something that was reported by RNZ: the new reserves

… would be set up through an Order in Council and gazetting process, which was likely to not be complete until mid-2024. An incoming government could potentially decide to scrap them after this month’s election.

Prime (Minister of Conservation) and Brooking (Minister of Oceans and Fisheries) have posted the only fresh press statements on the government’s official website since Point of Order checked yesterday on what our ministers are doing, when they are not feverishly campaigning or shaking off Covid.

The website also contains a speech delivered by Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds.

She stood in for the PM at the Energise Ōtaki Business Energy Service Launch today and treated her audience to an update on his wellbeing:

“I’ve heard that he’s well and truly on the mend and looking forward to getting back out tomorrow.”

Latest from the Beehive

5 OCTOBER 2023

Govt announces big boost to marine protection

The Labour Government is continuing to deliver on its promise to protect New Zealand’s oceans, with the announcement today of six new marine reserves between Oamaru and The Catlins.

Speech

Energise Ōtaki “Business Energy Service” Launch

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā raurangtira mā.

4 OCTOBER 2023

Conservation award recognises decades of work protecting South Island plants

Environmental consultant Mike Harding was awarded the prestigious conservation award, the Loder Cup, by Conservation Minister Willow-Jean Prime at a ceremony in Christchurch.

Prime and Rachel Brooking joined Kāi Tahu representatives in Dunedin today to mark the creation of the first marine reserves in the south-east South Island.

Kāi Tahu? Isn’t this Ngai Tahu country?

Point of Order ascertained from the Otago Regional Council website that:

The term “Kai Tahu”, as used in this [planning] document refers to the kupenga (net) of whakapapa that embraces the three constituent indigenous iwi of Otago, being Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe and Waitaha. The use of the term Kai Tahu hereafter in the Plan is inclusive of those three iwi.

Prime said the creation of the new reserves increases the area in marine reserves around mainland New Zealand by more than two thirds.

Close engagement with mana whenua had been important, she said.

“I acknowledge Kāi Tahu – as kaitiaki for this spectacular coast – for their engagement in the shaping of the new marine reserves.

“Provisions have been made for Kāi Tahu to continue to access the marine reserve areas for practices that enhance their mātauraka Māori (traditional knowledge) and retrieve koiwi tākata (ancestral remains), artefacts and marine mammal remains.

“Kāi Tahu will work in partnership with the Department of Conservation to manage the marine reserves once they are in place.”

Rachel Brooking said the six marine reserves were the first step in creating a network of marine protection in the area,

“… and build on the Government’s track record of protecting the oceans.

“From tightening the rules to around fish being discarded at sea and putting cameras on commercial fishing vessels, to stopping bottom trawling the vast bulk of the Hauraki Gulf, this is a Government that understands you can’t have a successful commercial fishing industry in an unhealthy ocean,” Rachel Brooking said.

As well as the six marine reserves announced today, the Government is looking at using fisheries management regulations to protect a further five areas, along with a proposed kelp protection area.

Rachel Brooking said 90 per cent of more than 4,000 submissions had shown there is broad backing for the proposed network.

The Government has also created nine new mātaitai reserves this year, bringing the total number to 66.

Willow-Jean Prime’s other statement relates to the presentation of the Loder Cup to environmental consultant Mike. The award recognises his contributions to native plant conservation from his decades of work protecting the South Island’s native flora.

His career in plant conservation spans more than 30 years and has been highly successful across a range of sectors both on the ground and at the policy level.

Following stints at the Department of Conservation and Forest and Bird in the late 80s and early 90s, Mike set up as an independent environmental consultant in 1993.

Going out to bat for the government in the North Island, Barbara Edmonds was joined by local MP Terisa Ngobi.

She described Energise Ōtaki as a prime example of what can be achieved when a community comes together.

Generating community owned renewable energy and then selling the excess power back into the grid is an impressive achievement.

She reiterated that the Government’s vision is “for a thriving low-emissions economy” and has two goals:

1. Net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; and
2. For 50 per cent of all energy consumed to be produced from renewables by 2035.

To achieve these goals, New Zealand must transition its economy away from fossil fuels, and communities and small business have a key role to play in this transition, she said

UPDATE: Two more posts were added while this article was being prepared. Point of Order will examine them tomorrow.

Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton