Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

The Waiheke Marine Project Welcomes Government Announcement On Sea Change – Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan

Fresh from hosting a Marine Action Showcase webinar in the weekend, the Waiheke Marine Project is happy to see the Government launch its eagerly awaited strategy for implementing the Sea Change plan. At the webinar, 18 speakers showed the depth and breadth of local work that is happening for the marine environment. This action is heartwarming yet it is just the tip of the iceberg of action that is desperately needed to regenerate the mauri of the Hauraki Gulf.

The Waiheke Marine Project is well aware of the nested place that Waiheke Island holds in Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi, with activity in the Gulf directly impacting Waiheke and vice versa. The significance of the Waiheke Marine Project was recently acknowledged at the 24th May meeting of the Hauraki Gulf Forum. Here the HGF unanimously endorsed the work of the project and the 9 commitments to protect and regenerate Waiheke’s marine environment.

These 9 commitments that were agreed to by 76 diverse voices at the Waiheke Marine Project’s Future Search hui late last year are fully complementary to the original Sea Change plan that was delivered in 2016. Like Sea Change; the Waiheke Marine Project is focused on issues of fisheries management, habitat restoration, aquaculture, marine biosecurity, marine protection, protected species and Ahu Moana (mana whenua and local community management of local areas).

While the Government has been fine tuning its strategy to implement Sea Change; those dealing with the marine crisis on their doorsteps are doing what they can to practically respond. As noted by World Wildlife Fund in their press release on the 21st June, “ iwi and community groups such as Ngāti Paoa and the Waiheke Marine Project, The Noises Marine Restoration Project, Ngāti Hei and Revive our Gulf, have valiantly stepped into the gap left by Government inaction.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The Waiheke Marine Project now requests the Government to wrap around the ‘valiant efforts’ of the project and our neighbours in Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi. With Government resources and commitment to ease the dysfunctional legislation governing our oceans, ground-up action can indeed turn the tide towards thriving oceans.

Although the Government Response strategy currently does not identify Waiheke Island as one of its sites for Marine Protected Areas, we are hopeful that this will be quickly remedied in the collaborative implementation of Sea Change. The Waiheke Marine Project is already collaborating in implementing its 9 commitments and welcomes the super charge that Government support will bring to its efforts.

For more information on the Waiheke Marine Project, see www.waihekemarineproject.org

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.