Hon Nick Smith

24 February 2000

Nats Welcome Hauraki Gulf Marine Park

Former Conservation Minister Nick Smith said today he was elated that the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park received its final stamp of approval from Parliament last night.

"National put a huge amount of work into developing the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Bill, and getting it through its first and second readings. I commend the new Minister, Sandra Lee, on getting the numbers to have the Bill finally passed. I remain disappointed that Labour choose to withdraw its support at the last moment last year, for what turned out to be spurious reasons. This criticism does not apply to the Alliance nor the Greens who have consistently supported the Marine Park from its inception."

"The challenge now is to make the legislation work. I will be closely monitoring the level of resources committed by the new Government and the activities of the Hauraki Gulf Forum to ensure they use this new Act to improve the management of the Gulf. An immediate goal should be to set a timetable for removing all untreated sewerage outfalls and to get a consistent approach across the Gulf on marine pollution."

"The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park will be a lived-in, worked-in playground for Aucklanders and it is significant that it will be open before the conclusion of the America's Cup. I can think of no better way to christen the park than to have Team New Zealand sail through it on its way to defending the America's Cup."

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