10. Question No. 10—ConservationANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister of ConservationQuestion No. 10—Conservation10. ANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister of Conservation: What recent announcements has she made regarding taking action to protect the Hauraki Gulf?Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Minister of Conservation): Last week the Prime Minister announced that we are taking a major step towards protecting the Hauraki Gulf for future generations through the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill. This beautiful blue backyard is where Kiwis in the region have some of their best experiences. It's also essential and a traditional source of food and a vital part of our economy for the tourism transport and seafood sectors with a recent assessment putting the economic value of the gulf at $100 billion. However we know that the gulf is under stress and action is needed now. The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill will see the implementation of 19 new protection areas that have been designed to represent and protect a range of crucial ecosystems in the region. They will be located across the inner and outer gulf protecting a range of rare ecologically important and representative habitats and species. Through this action we will nearly triple the area of Auckland's maritime area that is under the protection from just over 6 percent to about 18 percent. Angie Warren-Clark: How will these new marine protection areas work?Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME: As I have noted the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana must be protected for the enjoyment of future generations. The way we will do this is threefold. Firstly we are extending the country's first marine reserve Cape Rodney-Ōkākari Point Marine Reserve—or Goat Island—and Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve on the Coromandel Peninsula. Secondly we will create 12 new high-protection areas to protect and restore marine ecosystems while allowing for customary practices of tangata whenua. And thirdly the bill will allow for five new sea-floor protection areas to preserve sensitive sea-floor habitats by prohibiting bottom-contact fishing methods and other activities which harm the sea-floor.Angie Warren-Clark: How are these marine protection areas developed?Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME: The best way to protect the special marine ecosystem is to find conservation solutions which work for different people and that's exactly what this action to revitalise the gulf does. The bill announced this week follows years of careful work and extensive consultation to strike a good balance. An important catalyst for change was the innovative endeavour the Sea Change - Tai Timu Tai Pari marine spatial plan. It was developed by a group that comprised tangata whenua fishers farmers and environmental groups. Since then the Department of Conservation and Fisheries New Zealand led several rounds of consultation with tangata whenua and key groups. During our final public consultation around the end of 2022 we had significant contributions from the community with more than 7500 submissions on the marine protection proposals.Angie Warren-Clark: What impact are the new marine protection areas anticipated to have?Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME: These new marine protection areas will protect at-risk ecologically valuable and representative habitats and ecosystems in the gulf to support their recovery. They will also increase our understanding of marine ecosystems within the gulf and the pressures on them and support holistic management. Just two examples of protection that these areas will provide include one of the last and possibly best remnant seagrass meadows found in the Hauraki Gulf as well as a more comprehensive protection for rock lobster which are considered functionally extinct in the gulf through the marine reserve extensions. This week is Conservation Week and the theme is relevant to this kaupapa: take action for nature. So as the Government moves to do just that in the Hauraki Gulf I also take this opportunity to encourage everyone to get involved: Conservation Week is to improve the environment and their own wellbeing.