Kaye Nikki: Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Kaye Nikki: Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 16 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4508. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) 
: 
 I am pleased to take a call in the Committee stage of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill. I want to start off by acknowledging the purpose of this bill and the amendments that the Minister for the Environment has brought to the Committee on Supplementary Order Paper 100. I want to acknowledge all members of the Local Government and Environment Committee—in particular our chair Nicky Wagner. 
I think there are some very clear differences between some parties around this bill. I think what we on this side of the Chamber have been very clear about when it comes to our environmental policy is that we are interested in a very good risk management framework. That is what this bill is about: reasoned sensible environmental policy based on good evidence and science. I think that part of my concern is that sometimes in this Parliament we do see emotion taking over. If we are serious about having some economic development in this country then I think we have got to be very clear about where the risks are. I think what we have managed to do with this bill—and I do again congratulate the Minister on her amendments—is really ensure that we do have that balance so that we have clear penalties and we see that change in penalties from $600000 to $10 million in the Minister’s Supplementary Order Paper. Also we need to ensure that we have a very good focus on sustainable management and now that is reflected in the purpose statement. 
 I also think it is really important to remember that one of the reasons why we are here is that there is a regulatory gap. I was very pleased to see the statement from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment saying she congratulates this bill coming to the House and she congratulates the fact that there has been a wider conversation about it. We know there is a regulatory gap and we know that Parliament needs to do something and that is why we are here. I think we have actually managed to end up with a pretty reasonable compromise that puts a very important risk management framework in place which enables us to look at some of those economic development opportunities but also enables us to protect our environment. I think the changes that have been made in Supplementary Order Paper 100 are very important. 
I also want to address just one particular aspect of Part 1—there will be an opportunity in other parts of the debate to deal with other aspects of the bill—and it is around the role of the Environmental Protection Authority. In this Parliament we pass legislation and we give confidence to certain institutions. I think that is where I would challenge the Green Party because I think there have been a few statements that have been made around the role of the Environmental Protection Authority. We just want to be very clear that we have confidence in the Environmental Protection Authority and we do have faith in its ability and in its decision makers to make broad judgment on the matters that are reflected within clause 59 of the bill. I think we just need to be clear that we do have that faith and we do not see it as appropriate that as parliamentarians we fetter the discretion that we have given the authority under an Act of Parliament. I think a really important point is that there is a role for parliamentarians in setting out that overall framework from an environmental management perspective but actually as to the detail of particular decisions we need to ensure that we give that confidence to those institutions that we put in place. We have confidence in the Environmental Protection Authority and we have faith in its overall broad judgment and that is why we set up the Environmental Protection Authority under this Government. 
We have got a pretty good record when it comes to environmental management. We have done massive reform in terms of the Resource Management Act. We have put in things like the Environmental Protection Authority. We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on cleaning up our rivers. This is just another piece of reform that this Government has undertaken. I think it is really important as well that it is actually reform around our oceans because we know there has been a gap. 
I congratulate this bill and I congratulate all the people who have worked on it. I think we have come to a really sensible balance that is going to not only protect our oceans but also ensure that we can potentially have a higher standard of living in this country. Thank you.