30 November 2001 PR 178/01

FFNZ: Moratorium on Aquaculture Developments Disappoints

Federated Farmer's National Board member and Auckland Provincial President Colin Bull is disappointed by the Government's decision to impose a two-year moratorium on the granting of resource consents for new aquaculture developments.

Mr Bull is particularly concerned that the moratorium will not only cover new applications, but also includes applications for extensions of an area already occupied and consideration of existing applications for new coastal permits and extensions.

"Many applicants for marine farm licenses have already lodged their applications, and they are entitled to have them processed, said Mr Bull. "These applicants will have invested many hours of time and large sums of money in preparation and research to back their applications."

"This Government which claims to be business friendly must allow these applications to be processed or they will lose even further their credibility with the business community. Marine farming has the potential to earn more for New Zealand than the wine industry. Government needs to support this industry to grow, not halt it.

"In the Auckland region there has already been a moratorium since 1984 on the whole of the old Auckland Regional Authority area. Great Barrier was not included in that moratorium and three applications have been made there since 1992, two of which were granted and one declined. The Auckland Region was expecting the moratorium to be lifted when the Auckland Regional Council’s Coastal Plan became operative early next year. This moratorium has come completely out of left field.

"Business is entitled to expect better from government. Why does the government not come out and clearly state that they are adamantly opposed to progress and development in the marine farming industry?"

ENDS

For more information: Colin Bull, PH 09 292 8758 or 025 826 936 Richard Gardner, PH 09 379 0057

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

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