Pages

Monday, April 22, 2024

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 22/4/24



The media were given a little list and hastened to pick out Fast Track prospects – but the Treaty aspect is fascinating, too

The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts.

News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop released the list of the organisations which had been advised on how to apply for consideration under the Fast-Track Approvals Bill.

The Bill will allow projects to bypass the standard resource consent process, effectively giving three ministers the final say on approving infrastructure projects, based on recommendations by an advisory group.

The list was released just hours before submissions on the Bill were set to close on Friday.

The Post reported it included companies involved in mining, property development, irrigation, solar, and aquaculture.

Among them was Stevenson Mining, which had its plans for a mine at Mt Te Kuha near Westport scuttled by the Environment Court last year. The company recently withdrew its appeal of that decision, seemingly in the hopes of submitting for fast-track approval.

Another was Chatham Rock Phosphate, which has long sought to mine rock phosphate from the seabed on the Chatham Rise, east of the South Island. The EPA rejected a previous consent application to do so. Other recipients included King Salmon, which had a proposal to farm fish in parts of the Marlborough Sounds thwarted by the Supreme Court in 2014, and National Steel, which has faced controversy for its Christchurch scrapyard near the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River.

Letters also went to companies with significant projects on the books in the South Island.

They included Amuri Irrigation Company, which has sought to expand irrigation in the Hurunui District; Far North Solar Farm, which has proposed the country’s largest solar farm in the Mackenzie Basin; Southern Parallel Campus Limited, which has proposed an equestrian centre at Lake Hood near Ashburton; and Santana, which wants to mine for gold in Central Otago.


But Point of Order noticed something else:.

Here’s the list and our highlighting of more than half of the groups because they seem to have ethnicity in common and/or they might be apt to race off to the Waitangi Tribunal if they suspect they have been short-changed.

We might have missed some that should be included. We might have included some that don’t belong on a list of iwi-led organisations with an inclination to demand Treaty rights.

But here’s our categorising:

215 Riverbend Ltd

Ahuriri Hapū (Mana Ahuriri Trust)

Airedale Property

Amuri Irrigation Company

Apanui

Ᾱtiawa ki Whakarongotai

Aquaculture Direct

B&A Urban & Environmental

Baldwin

Bathurst Resources

Buller District Council

Carter Group

Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd

Citadel

Clearwater Mussels

CNI Iwi Holdings Limited (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Manawa, Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty), Ngāti Whakaue, Raukawa, Ngāti Whare, Te Arawa)

Colliers Project Leaders

Cook | Costello

Electronet Group

Energy Resources

FNSF

Fonterra

Foresta NZ

Harmony Energy

Hei o Wharekaho Settlement Trust (Ngāti Hei)

Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust (Tamatea Pōkai Whenua)

Hineuru Iwi Trust (Ngāti Hineuru)

HRM Associates

Impact Marine

Irrigation NZ

Kahukuraariki Trust (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa)

Kelp Blue

King Salmon

Kings Quarry

MacLab NZ LTD

Maraeroa A and B Trust, Maraeroa A and B Blocks Incorporation

Marlborough District Council

Marutūāhu Collective (Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngaati Whanaunga, Te Patukirikiri)

Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust

Meridian

Moriori Imi Settlement Trust

National Steel Ltd

Nelson City Council

Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou (inc 6 trusts)

Ngā Hapū ō Otaki (Raukawa and Muaūpoko)

Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Development Trust, Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Tari Pupuritaonga Trust

Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore Trust (Ngā Pōtiki)

Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui

Ngā Uri o Tamanui Trust (group 1)

Ngā Uri o Tamanui Trust (group 2)

Ngaati Whanaunga

Ngai Tahu Seafood

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Trust

Ngāi Te Rangi Settlement Trust

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Post-Settlement Trust (Ngāti Apa)

Ngāti Hako

Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust

Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa – Tāmaki Nui ā Rua Settlement Trust

Ngāti Mākino Iwi Authority

Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust

Ngāti Maru (Hauraki)

Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri

Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust, Ngāti Pāhauwera Tiaki Trust

Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust

Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki

Ngāti Ranginui Settlement Trust (Ngā Hapu o Ngāti Ranginui)

Ngāti Rangiteaorere Koromatua Council Trust

Ngāti Rārua Settlement Trust

Ngāti Rehua – Ngāti Wai ki Aotea Trust

Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana Negotiation Group

Ngāti Tama ki te Waipounamu Trust (Ngāti Tama)

Ngāti Tamaoho Settlement Trust

Ngāti Tamaterā

Ngāti Tara Tokanui Trust

Ngāti Tumutumu Trust (Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu)

Ngāti Tūrangitukua Charitable Trust

Ngāti Tūwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Settlement Trust

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust

Northport Port

Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Ltd

Omega Seafood

Opotiki Marina and Industrial Park Ltd

Pare Hauraki Collective (Ngāti Hako, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Hei, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki, Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti tara Tokanui, Ngaati Whanaunga, Te Patukirikiri)

Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board

Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust

Port of Tauranga Limited

Pouakani Trust

Pragma

Rangatira Developments Limited /Stevenson Mining

Rangitāne o Manawatū Settlement Trust

Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust

Raukawa Settlement Trust

RCL Group

Rongowhakaata Settlement Trust

Sam’s Creek Gold/Siren

Sanford NZ

Santana

Scope Projects

Southern Parallel Campus Limited

Stantec

Stevenson Aggregates Ltd

Summerset Group

Taimoana Consulting

Talleys

Tāmanuhiri Tūtū Poroporo Trust (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri)

Tapuika Iwi Authority Trust

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust

Taumatawiwi Trust

Tavendale and Partners

Te Aitanga a Māhaki

Te Ākitai Waiohua Iwi Authority

Te Arawa Lakes Trust

Te Arawa River Iwi Trust

Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui Trust

Te Kaahui o Rauru (Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi)

Te Kāhui Maru Trust (Te Iwi o Maruwharanui) (Ngāti Maru – Taranaki)

Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust

Te Kapu o Waitaha

Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust

Te Komiti nui o Ngāti Whakaue

Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust

Te Korowai o Waniuārua (represented by Uenuku Charitable Trust)

Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust (Taranaki)

Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust

Te Manawa o Ngāti Kuri Trust

Te Nehenehenui (prev MMTB)

Te Ohu Kaimoana

Te Pātaka a Ngāti Kōata

Te Patukirikiri

Te Puāwaitanga Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi Trust

Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Trust

Te Rāhui – Herenga Waka Whakatāne

Te Roroa Whatu Ora Trust, Te Roroa Manawhenua Trust

Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau Trust (Rangitāne o Wairau Claims Settlement)

Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupouri Trust

Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa Trust

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Te Rūnanga O Ngāi Takoto

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa

Te Rūnanga o Ngā   ti Kuia

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Makaawhio

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Pikiao Trust

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Tama Trust (Ngāti Tama ki Taranaki)

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whare

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua

Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa

Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou

Te Tāhuhu o Tawakeheimoa Trust

Te Tāwharau o Ngāti Pūkenga Trust

Te Tawharau o Te Whakatohea

Te Tawharau o Te Whakatōhea (Whakatōhea Pre-Settlement Claims Trust)

Te Tōtarahoe o Paerangi (Ngāti Rangi)

Te Tumu

Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust

Te Whakakitenga o Waikato (Waikato-Tainui)

Te Whānau a Apanui

Te Whānau a Kai

Terra Firma Mining Ltd

TGH

The Eden Park Trust

The Nakhle Group

The Wellington Company

TIGA Minerals and Metals Ltd

Toa Rangatira Trust , Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangātira Inc (Ngāti Toa)

Transpower

Trans-Tasman Resources

Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua (Ngāi Tūhoe)

Tūpuna Taonga o Tāmaki Makaurau Trust (Tāmaki Maunga)

Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board

Wakefield Village Developments

Westland District Council

Whakatāne District Council

Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiation Trust

Windermere Holdings Limited

Winton

WMS Group

In an article republished on Point of Order earlier today, Bryce Edwards observes:

Interestingly, some iwi have expressed positivity about the fast track. Newsroom’s Jonathan Milne reports today that Ngāi Tahu hopes that its proposed massive Hananui salmon farm, to be positioned just off Rakiura/Stewart Island might now get the green light, after failing on environmental grounds previously – see: New fast-tracking regime is both conflicting and conflicted (paywalled)

The Otago Daily Times says Bishop has been consistently quick to point out that being a recipient of the letter did not necessarily mean an organisation would be putting forward a project.

He said it was a catch-all list, and included everyone he had corresponded with.

The ODT report then draws attention to the large numbers of Maori organisations on the list and ventures an explanation:

RNZ understands a number of iwi groups were included on the list because they were consulted on whether the bill threatened treaty rights, rather than because they had a project which might make the list.

Bishop has defended his inclusion of those groups on the list.

“If I hadn’t included them, I would probably be being accused of leaving people out,” he said. “There will be people on that list who oppose the fast-track process, there will be people or companies on the list who strongly support it, there will be people who don’t care either way, I suspect.”


Besides the substantial number of iwi groups, there are other curiosities.

The list includes “Winton”.

Is this the Southland town, and if so – why?

It includes “Baldwin”.

Not the actor, we imagine.

The Westland District Council is among local authorities on the list. Most authorities are excluded.

How come?

Oh – and the media talk of a list of 200.

What’s your count?

The ministerial press statement which fired up the media can be found here among other recent government statements:

Latest from the Beehive

22 APRIL 2024


Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project.

Speech

22 APRIL 2024


Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing


The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today.


Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.


New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia.

21 APRIL 2024


Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale.


The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections.


“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.

20 APRIL 2024


Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities.

19 APRIL 2024


New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM).


The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop.

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

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for engaging in the debate!

Because this is a public forum, we will only publish comments that are respectful and do NOT contain links to other sites. We appreciate your cooperation.