Pillay Lynne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Pillay Lynne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:4331] 
7.  
LYNNE PILLAY (NZ Labour—Waitakere) 
 to the  
Minister of Conservation 
: What recent initiatives has the Government taken in marine protection? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Conservation) 
: 
 On Sunday I announced the creation of a second marine reserve this year. It covers 700 hectares at Te Matuku Bay on Waiheke Island and contains an estuary and marine habitats of national significance. It follows the creation of a large Auckland Islands marine reserve. I look forward to further additions to our marine reserve system. 
Lynne Pillay 
: What is the Government doing to deliver on the biodiversity strategy goals for marine conservation? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Improving the health of the oceans is a priority of this Government. I am working closely with the Minister of Fisheries on a number of marine initiatives including a plan to reduce seabird deaths in New Zealand fisheries which will shortly go to stakeholders for their comment. I also note that the Marine Reserves Bill is currently before the Local Government and Environment Committee. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Given that when National created 13 new marine reserves in the previous 9 years it was slated by Labour as “pathetic” and that in the first 3 years of this Labour Government not one new marine reserve was created how many new marine reserves will Labour need to create to avoid its own petard of “pathetic”? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: In the 8-month period that I have been Minister of Conservation two marine reserves have been created. In the period during which that member was Minister of Conservation I think a total of three marine reserves were created. I am hoping my next 8 months will see an even better record set than that which has already been established. 
Gerrard Eckhoff 
: Can the Minister explain why Chen Palmer and Partners’ legal opinion on this issue is ignored which states that New Zealand’s marine protection initiatives clearly breach the international law of the sea and why is this Government prepared to openly flout that international law but on matters of international security is very critical of the United States for acting “unilaterally”—in the Government’s words—which is exactly what the Government is doing right now on this issue? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister may answer the part of the question that affects his portfolio. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: The member’s question contained quite a few questions but I would like to say that I am not responsible for the opinions of Chen Palmer and Partners. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister was not asked a number of questions or whether he was responsible for the views of Chen Palmer and Partners; he was asked a simple question: why is New Zealand not prepared to follow international law when it comes to marine matters but has a completely different view when it comes to Iraq? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. The Minister was asked a question and a question about a comment made by Chen Palmer and Partners and he gave a perfectly acceptable answer. He addressed the question. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Can the Minister confirm in relation to the previous question that the Chen Palmer and Partners view was expressed about the exclusive economic zone outside the 12-mile limit and that Waiheke Island is not in the exclusive economic zone? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister cannot talk about the Chen Palmer and Partners comment but the last part of the question is in order. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I can confirm that Te Matuku Bay on Waiheke Island is within the 12-mile limit. 
Larry Baldock 
: Given the amazing speed with which the Minister is now signing off on new marine reserves does he still think there is a need for the Marine Reserves Bill; if so why? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: It would not be appropriate for me to discuss a bill that is currently before a select committee but of course there are always opportunities to improve marine protection.