Te Ururoa Flavell
MP for Waiariki

12 June 2012

Iwi Expertise Will Strengthen the EEZ Bill

The Māori Party has welcomed the robust analysis provided by iwi and marae groups on the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental effects) Bill, due to come back to the House tonight.

“It is really helpful to see the strength of expertise and experience that iwi bring to this issue being considered by the Parliament” said Mr Flavell.

“Many agreed that a legislative regime for the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf would be beneficial. But the majority of these submissions also emphasised that environmental, not economic interests took priority”.

Mr Flavell dismissed recent statements of the Mana Party as ‘the usual bluster with little relation to the actual substance of the bill.

“Mr Harawira obviously hasn’t bothered to read the bill or the submissions as is evident in his failure to recognise the Treaty clause; his repeated lines about the Marine and Coastal Areas Bill; and his decision to ignore the background statements presented by iwi and Māori”.

Strengthened Treaty Clause a ‘significant advance’
“We are really proud that through our efforts, the Treaty clause in this legislation was strengthened to provide for the Crown’s responsibility to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (rather than the previous draft which was to ‘take account of’). This is a significant advance, and we recognise the advice of iwi as the Treaty partner, in helping to inform the Crown appropriately”.

“The Māori Party is impressed by the wisdom that iwi and Māori have brought to this issue, to ensure that environmental protection is preserved alongside the cultural connection and traditions of iwi to the moana, including taonga moana”.

“We have taken up these proposals with Minister Adams and look forward to her careful response as the bill comes back to the House for debate”.

“Most of the submissions outlined the importance of a cultural impact statement to be part of the consent process (which includes consultation with affected iwi) as well as automatically notifying iwi authorities within the vicinity of any area subject to a marine consent”.

“The impact assessment should specify whether the activity is consistent with any relevant iwi management plan. There should also be facility for point decision making provisions for iwi within the EPA decision-making framework”.

“The Māori Party upholds the significant relationship of iwi and their culture and traditions with the marine environment, including taonga species. Upholding this position is even more important given the size of the area we are talking about – around twenty times the size of our land mass.”

“Our position is very clear – we want to see the issue of specific iwi representation given effect in this bill; and we are working hard to ensure that the voice of Māori and iwi as reported in their submissions to this bill, will be given effect in the revised legislation. Our subsequent votes on this legislation will be in direct line with the way in which the legislation reflects these views”.

Background statements presented to Local Government and Environment Committee

Federation of Māori Authorities
“The Federation submits that, in our view, there is a void in relation to the regulatory regime pertaining to New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and therefore supports the introduction of a legislative framework”.

Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu
“Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (Te Rūnanga) supports the overall purpose of the proposed legislation to improve management of the environmental effects of activities anticipated, and currently occurring, within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf. The Bill is a welcome addition to the legislative framework covering the marine environment.”

Ngāti Kahungunu Incorporated
“The EEZ Bill is therefore being introduced to ‘fill the gap’ by providing legislation and regulatory regimes for certain activities occurring in the EEZ and ECS. To this end, introduction of legislation is long overdue”

Ngai Te Rangi Fisheries
“We support the improved regulation of non-regulated activities in the EEZ and CS but we do not support further regulation that either overrides or replaces regulation under the Fisheries Act”

Ngāti Kuri Trust Board
“We support the intent of this bill insofar as it fully meaningfully protects Ngāti Kuri kaitiakitanga (guardianship) rights and responsibilities which originate from our manawhenua/ manamoana”

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust
“Ngaati Ruanui supports the need for environmental management of the EEZ and ECS marine areas”

Te Rūnanga a Iwi o Ngāpuhi
“We recognise the need for environmental regulation in the EEZ and support the overall intent of the Bill.”

Te Ohu Kaimoana Māori Fisheries Trust
“We agree with the intention of the Bill which is to fill the gap in the environmental management regime in the EE.”

ENDS

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