Chadwick Steve: Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill — First Reading 
Chadwick Steve: Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill — First Reading 
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Hon STEVE CHADWICK (Labour) 
: 
 As the previous Minister of Conservation I am very pleased to take a call on the Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill. It was interesting to hear the speaker just before dinner Colin King talking about the Bluegreens and their lauding of principles of sustainability and species protection yet saying that National will not vote for the bill. This bill is one of the most robust pieces of legislation on marine protection to come before the House. 
I will mention some of the achievements of the Labour Government. Species protection which this bill is all about is one plank of sustainability but the other was how we looked after the marine environment and created four new marine mammal sanctuaries for the protection of Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins. The National Opposition at the time we brought in that legislation told us that it was pathetic that it was not good enough and that we needed to do more. Yet here they are in the House tonight voting against very good legislation put forward by Metiria Turei.  
We also looked at marine protected areas and announced in 2008 a whole network around New Zealand of 14 coastal regions which created a whole network of marine protected areas. We started working on areas like the West Coast which is going really well. Then we went down to the bottom of the South Island which the member Eric Roy knows well about. There were great meetings talking about how we could get more protection for marine areas. Those forums have proven to be a new model of negotiating with communities and iwi to look at marine protection. We also doubled the number of marine reserves from 17 to 33. We certainly did not do nothing while we were in Government as has come across tonight from members on the other side of the House.  
The bill is also about looking after threatened species: not only Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins but also sea lions. Parties went out on to the forecourt of Parliament as we do when we are lobbied by pressure groups and advocacy groups. I received a petition from little children dressed as sea lions asking us for more protection for sea lions. The children were very worried about marine animal species. National members were out there saying they would do something when they were in Government. But the first decent legislation that really builds some robustness around marine animal protection comes along and National is voting it down from a purely blind ideological position. I heard Colin King say that National would rather consult the industry and let it bring about voluntary change. Well that does not work. That is exactly why the non-governmental organisations have said to us that these species are deteriorating now beyond sustainable replacement levels and that we have to do more. Talking to the fishing industry will never cut the mustard.  
When I was Minister of Conservation one of the greatest challenges was having to look at marine protection because I had to work with the Ministry of Fisheries. It was a difficult position. We were like the yin and yang of protection and pro-industry and it never worked. It never worked and it never will work. I think the Bluegreens in National should hang their heads in shame about voting against the bill tonight. It is a genuine attempt. Industry will not come to the party on the issue. As Colin King said the Government needs to lift its game. The member admitted that. How will voting down this marvellous legislation help the Government lift its game? We were worried about aspects of the bill but we were very happy that some of the thresholds for sustainable levels could be sorted out with a good robust process in the select committee.  
One of the issues was a new definition in the bill which is that of “best available information”. That definition is always contestable. Who puts forward the information: the fishing industry the scientific industry or the conservationists?