A MARINE RESERVE FOR GREAT BARRIER ISLAND?
An Analysis of Public Submissions 1991

1. Introduction

Following interest in the idea of a marine reserve for the north-eastern coast of Great Barrier Island, a public discussion paper was released in February 1991.

Nearly 5,000 public discussion papers and questionnaires were distributed to every household on Great Barrier, as well as visitors to the island and other interested groups.

People were given three months to respond to the discussion paper. A total of 256 submissions were received, 244 as completed questionnaires and 12 were written submissions.

The majority of the returned questionnaires came from the greater Auckland region with 139 responses, 48 were received from residents of Great Barrier Island, 32 from North Auckland, Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf, and 25 from the rest of New Zealand and overseas.

2. Organisations that Responded

Sixty respondents identified themselves as representing a group or organisation. A breakdown of these groups is presented in the graph below.

No iwi or Maori organisations were represented in the returned questionnaires. However, members of tangata whenua of the island were consulted. They raised some concerns, but indicated a general acceptance of the principle of marine reserves.

3. Involvement of Respondents with Great Barrier Island
Respondents were asked to state their involvement with Great Barrier Island. A total of 249 respondents answered this question. The numbers below show a breakdown of their respondents.

4. Frequency of Visits to the North East Coast of Great Barrier Island.

When questioned on the frequency of their visits to the north east coast of Great Barrier Island, 26 responded that they never visited the coast, 165 said they visited frequently, and 52 claimed they visited often. One person did not answer this question. The figures below show their responses.