MEDIA RELEASE Outdoor Recreation NZ
30 March 2006

ORNZ gives support to Taranaki Hapu' and recreational fishers

"Ngati te Whiti Hapu’s spokesman Mr Jack Knuckey is absolutely right, there has been bugger all concern for traditional sea food gathering in the Kaimoana areas", said ORNZ Marine Committee Coordinator.

This follows the 17th March statement by Mr. Knuckey that traditional Kaimoana gathering areas have been seriously depleted by industrial development, leaving New Plymouths Sugar Loaf Islands area as the only traditional sea food gathering area left available to the Hapu.

"The Marine Reserve application must be put on hold until such time as a properly organised and transparent public consultation process is put in place - one that requires public debate at length by all concerned groups not only including local Iwi but also recreational fishers" says John.

"The Minister of Conservation, Chris Carter, has again demonstrated his trademark arrogance towards public opinion and proper consultation. His latest statements regarding the consultation period is ridiculous and outrageous".

"The Minister now says that the reserve application has taken eight years and so should not be delayed. Then in the same breath says he will rule on the application within two months. Why bother? Why wait two months when it's plainly obvious that the Minister intends to push this application through regardless?"

"The whole point of consultation is to avoid railroading those that have the most to lose and not to run roughshod over them as if they didn't matter ", said John.

ENDS

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