| Great
Barrier Island Marine Reserve Application
Department
of Conservation
2004 - 2008
May
2008
After
several years of deliberations the Minister of Fisheries, Jim Anderton,
has rejected the Department of Conservation's application for a
marine reserve off the northeast coast of Great Barrier Island (Aotea).
May
2006
The Minister
of Conservation has agreed with his department and approved the
marine reserve for the north east coast of Aotea (Great Barrier
Island). The Minister of Fisheries has been asked for his concurrence
(agreement). The Minister of Transport has already given his approval.
In an
effort to appease concerns about the process undertaken by the Department
of Conservation the Ministry of Fisheries agreed to visit the island
to talk to tangata whenua about the impact of the marine reserve
on them. This commitment was made at a Hokianga
Accord hui in July 2005.
Kaitiakitanga
- a chance to prove that kaitiakitanga (guardianship) is an alternative
to marine reserves. An article written by Rendt Gorter is available
online - have a read, it is well worthwhile. The Ministry have been
left in no doubt how the islanders feel about DoC's plans and Ministry's
role in the debacle.
June
2005
option4
are appalled that the Minister of Conservation, Chris Carter, and
his Department are continuing to implement its marine reserve strategy
while ignoring the concerns of tangata whenua and the public. The
imposition of a marine reserve off the north east coast of Great
Barrier Island is contrary to the public interest, despite what
Carter has said. There is no justification for this marine reserve.
It does
not achieve what the public have clearly asked for, and that is
an integrated approach to marine protection. The goal of more fish
in the water for us and our future generations is more desirable
than another community having their wishes overridden.
option4
believe meaningful marine protection will only be achieved by coordination,
cooperation and a process that includes tangata whenua and the public.
2004
The all
too short 60-day objection period for the Department of Conservation's
application for a marine reserve at Great Barrier Island has passed.
option4 regret not being available to get an Alert out to help people
get the whole story and submit accordingly.
However,
we have compiled a catalogue of information so you can follow the
process and make your own judgement on what has been an ongoing
debate about the failure of the Department of Conservation to adequately
consult with the public in their drive to implement marine reserves.
Without
a coordinated, integrated approach to marine protection the depth
of feeling expressed during this process is likely to be reflected
in reaction to other worthwhile proposals - not an ideal situation
for those of us who want effective marine protection for this country
we love so much.
There were a number of
initiatives to alert people to the DoC driven process that we are
aware of:
- Barry Luckman managed a campaign that produced over 800 objections
to the application. These objections have been sent to the Department.
- The Outdoor Recreation NZ Marine Committee produced a form that
enabled people to object to the process.
- Kevin Burke worked hard to distribute a survey
form to measure the economic impact on the Island if the application
proceeded. The results have been compiled and are included in
Kevin's objection below.
Contacts
If you would like to make
a comment to option4 you can email us at contact@option4.co.nz
If you have a comment to make to the Department of Conservation
you can email them directly.
Email -
greatbarrierisland@doc.govt.nz
Postal -
Director-General of Conservation, Department of Conservation, Auckland
Conservancy, Private Bag 68-908, Newton, Auckland
| GREAT BARRIER
ISLAND |
| Latest
News - 2008 |
Congratulations from the Kiwi Party to
the Minister of Fisheries for declining DoC's application
for a marine reserve at Aotea (Great Barrier Island). |
16 May
08
(30 Kb)
|
The Minister of Conservation, Steve Chadwick,
promotes the Marine Protected
Areas Policy as an alternative to DoC's Barrier marine
reserve application. |
16 May
08
(20 Kb)
|
Jim
Anderton's decision
The Fisheries
Minister's welcome and just decision to decline DoC's application
for a marine reserve at Great Barrier Island (Aotea).
|
15 May
08
(50 Kb)
|
| News
- 2006 |
The Minister of Fisheries responds to
the letter from the North Island East Coast Recreational Forum
concerning the Aotea (Barrier) marine reserve. |
25 Jul
06
(295 Kb)
|
Letter to Jim Anderton regarding his
concurrence decision for the marine reserve at Aotea (Great
Barrier Island). Sent with advice paper. |
21 Jul
06
|
Advice paper sent to the Minister to
advise of the NI East Coast Forum's objection to the Aotea
reserve and why they don't support DoC's approval. |
19 Jul
06
|
| Costs
of Barrier Reserve
While
DoC has no intention of providing money to balance the argument
concerning marine reserves they are quite happy to spend over
$270,000 of your money on the Barrier proposal. |
26
Jun 06
|
Kaitiakitanga
(Guardianship)
MFish
concurrence process - hui with Ngati Rehua at Motairehe marae.
Unanimous rejection of the reserve as proposed and the DoC
process and attitude. |
5
Apr 06
|
| News
- 2005 |
| Report on hikoi protesting against the DoC attitude
and process for imposing no take forever marine reserve on the
tangata whenua of Aotea. |
18 Jul
05
|
| Larry Baldock slams into DoC and calls them the
Department of Confiscation. "It's confiscation, pure and
simple," he said. More here... |
23 Jun
05
|
| Warwick Murray, acting Auckland DoC conservator,
doubts there will be a judicial review of the approval for the
Aotea marine reserve. |
18 Jun
05
|
| "Confiscation in the name of conservation" says
Larry Baldock of United Future in response to Carter's announcement.
|
16 Jun
05
|
| Forest and Bird welcomed the Minister's decision on the Aotea
(Great Barrier) marine reserve. |
16 Jun
05
|
| Carter's announcement of his approval for the marine reserve
off the north east coast of Great Barrier Island. |
16 Jun
05
|
Letter sent to
those who submitted to DoC on the proposed reserve.
Full
text available in a PDF 50Kb » » |
16 Jun
05
|
| Map of the Aotea (Great Barrier) Marine Reserve, all 49,500
ha of it. |
16 Jun
05
|
| 2004 |
| Update available on the DoC website |
5 Oct 04
|
| Objections
to the Application |
| Kevin Burke of the Barrier Bulletin writes in
his objection " a marine reserve would be otherwise contrary
to the public interest." (408Kb pdf) |
Oct 2004
|
| The NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council objects to
the application and the Dept's failure to justify the need for
a reserve on the north east coast. |
Oct 2004
|
| In a major shift Auckland City Council objects
to DoC's plan as it has "significant reservations and concerns
that do need to be addressed" |
Oct 2004
|
| The Dept should develop "a more rational,
acceptable, mutually beneficial protection strategy" says
John Mellars of Okupu, GBI. |
Oct 2004
|
| The "submission process is fundamentally
anti democratic" writes Stef Railey. |
Oct 2004
|
| The NZ Big Game Fishing Council submits the "science"
is purely speculative, and the proposal document is misleading
and contradictory.." |
Oct 2004
|
| A brief objection to DoC's application from a
long time charter skipper and Barrier fan, Brett Rathe - Assassin
Charters. |
Oct 2004
|
| A Young Conservator Award winner, Hadyn Luckman,
objects to DoC's plans for the north east coast of Great Barrier
Island. |
Sep 2004
|
| "The Department has divorced itself from
the community that it is supposed to be serving.." submits
Barry Luckman. |
Sep 2004
|
| "..we are left with nothing but to object
to the proposal for three reasons....." says Helmut Bender
and Meryle Thomson of Great Barrier. |
Sep 2004
|
| Recreational Fishing NZ asks the Department for
answers to questions relating to the biodiversity of the area
around Great Barrier Island. |
Sep 2004
|
| "We have no option but to oppose the proposal
in its entirety. We do not feel DOC has presented appropriate
evidence..." says the MTA |
Sep 2004
|
| Submission
in Support |
| Whangateau Harbour Care Group submit in support of the application
on the grounds it will "provide an important level of insurance...." |
Oct 2004
|
| Marine
Reserve Effects Survey |
| An innovative step to measure the effects the proposed Aotea
Reserve would have on the Northern Barrier business community
and population. |
Aug 2004
|
| From only 57 responses the estimated annual loss to GBI if
the marine reserve proceeds is almost $150,000. Just imagine
the real impact. |
Oct 2004
|
| August 2004 |
Petition
- Objection Form
The format used
to gather objections to the marine reserve application. Over
800 people took advantage of this opportunity during the time
available. |
Aug 2004
|
The
myth continues
Forest and Bird
Conservation News No. 135 August 2004
...one of the great
side effects of marine reserves is not only increased fish
numbers inside them but also in the adjoining areas where
they are also available to fishers.... |
Aug
2004
|
Doc
announcement in 'Auckland Naturally'
An insight into
how DoC do their job on our behalf - the marine reserve announcement
is published in a Forest and Bird publication before those
who have submitted to the process even know about the application.
|
Aug
2004
|
| Background Information |
option4's
comprehensive record of the 2003 proposal process |
2003
|
TOP |
