Friday, 13 October 2000 Media Statement

Climate change hui begin

Consultation with Maori on climate change issues is beginning with a series of information hui over the next 3 weeks.

The hui round - arranged by the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Te Puni Kokiri - begins in Hastings on 16 October, takes in 10 locations nationwide and finishes in Rotorua on 3 November.

The objective of these hui is to provide Maori with information on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol, which New Zealand signed in 1998 and the Government intends to ratify by mid-2002. The Protocol expands on and is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Maori have been involved in the developing New Zealand climate change programme since 1990, when a Maori Working Group was established to assess climate change impacts on Maori.

This year the Government has committed an extra $2.3 million a year for the development of climate change policy, which includes funding for consultation with the Treaty Partner and all other interested parties.

Dialogue meetings will continue until March 2001, after which the Government will outline a proposed package of measures. Feedback from this series of hui will be integrated into a discussion paper, which will then become the working document for formal consultation with all parties, around mid-2001.

Once ratified, the Kyoto Protocol will create binding obligations on New Zealand over the period 2008-2012 to take responsibility for emissions of greenhouse gases above 1990 levels. These obligations will have short and long-term implications for all sectors of the economy and society.

Dialogue with parties besides Maori is also under way. Major emitters of greenhouse gases, major environmental NGOs and businesses that can provide solutions to greenhouse gas problems are engaged in the policy process. Other audiences for consultation include the scientific community, local government and the general public.

Media are welcome to attend these hui on the following dates:

Date Place Venue
Mon 16 Oct Hastings Maori Land Court Office
Tues 17 Oct Taranaki Plymouth International
Tues 24 Oct Whangarei Te Puni Kokiri Office

Wed 25 Oct Counties-Manukau TPK Office
Fri 27 Oct Gisborne TPK Office
Mon 30 Oct Wellington Te Tatau o Te Po Marae
Tues 31 Oct Nelson Leisure Lodge
Wed 1 Nov Christchurch Maori Land Court Office
Thur 2 Nov Invercargill TPK
Fri 3 Nov Rotorua Te Aomarama Hall
A background information paper is available. For a copy, or further information:

ENDS