Carter Chris: Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Carter Chris: Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:657;Page:6203] 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Labour—Te Atatu) 
: 
 I am not going to talk about trees although as members of this Committee know I am a passionate believer in trees—particularly endemic species of trees—being saved. 
I want to talk about the very serious matter of the removal of the Minister of Conservation’s decision-making powers in respect of coastal consents for restricted coastal activities. I stand in support of the two Supplementary Order Papers that have been put up by my colleague David Parker and Rahui Katene from the Maori Party. They have both said and rightly so that it is very important that the Minister of Conservation in representing the public interest—the Crown ownership of our coastal space—has the ability to exercise that judgment on behalf of the people of New Zealand. 
I feel well qualified to speak on this matter. For 3 years from 2002 to 2005 I was privileged to be Minister of Local Government. Indeed the current Local Government Act stands in my name. I was also Minister of Conservation between 2002 and 2007. During that time as Minister of Conservation I signed off 
many significant coastal activities. Some of them I declined—for example at Whangamata. It is very important. I know that the Minister in the chair the Hon Nick Smith who is responsible for this legislation has also served as Minister of Conservation and will have exercised the responsibility of judging what impact a significant coastal development would have on the unique landscapes the biodiversity and the coastline itself. 
One of the things that defines us as New Zealanders is the coast. Ask any Kiwis what they love about our country and they will inevitably mention the landscape and almost always the seascapes. No part of our country is more than 90 kilometres from the ocean so the beach and the coastline are very important to New Zealanders. The coastline as many members know is under increasing developmental pressures. It is under pressure from residential and commercial development aquaculture and intensification of population. All of those are impacting on the decision making of local government. I think that retaining the ability of the Minister of Conservation to give guidance to local government in the consent process is absolutely critical. 
The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement is the only planning document local government has to guide it in its decision-making process. When I became Minister I asked for that policy to be updated. We have gone through a long process. Dr Jo Rosier a planning lecturer at Massey University updated the Coastal Policy Statement. We then set up a team of four experts to look at her recommendations. Interestingly enough the current Minister of Conservation has postponed the report of that committee. The report of that group of experts guides the Minister of Conservation in giving guidance to local government. It is about protecting our unique coastline. It is about giving guidance to local authorities. That has all gone in this change in the legislation before us. 
I think it is amazing that Nick Smith is the Minister responsible for this legislation. He has spoken to me personally about his pride during the time he was Minister of Conservation and his love of the environment. He is weakening the protection of our coastal areas. For the New Zealanders of the future that could be an enormous liability. One of the things I regarded with great pride about being Minister of Conservation was the legacy that we leave for future generations whether it is in biodiversity protection; whether in my case it is the 360000 hectares we added to the conservation estate; or whether it is the 17 marine reserves I created as Minister with the support of my colleagues. That sort of stuff lives on for future generations. Protecting our seascapes from inappropriate development is an absolutely critical thing to do in Government. It is a responsibility for future generations. Nick Smith is weakening that ability by removing from the legislation— 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Mining! Don’t forget the mining. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: The Green Party co-leader brings up mining.