Jones Shane; O'Connor GregRESOURCE MANAGEMENT (EXTENDED DURATION OF COASTAL PERMITS FOR MARINE FARMS) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingHon SHANE JONES (Minister for Oceans and Fisheries): Tēnā tātou katoa. I present a legislative statement on the Resource Management (Extended Duration of Coastal Permits for Marine Farms) Amendment Bill.SPEAKER: That is published by the authority of the House and can be found on the parliamentary website.Hon SHANE JONES: I move That the Resource Management (Extended Duration of Coastal Permits for Marine Farms) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Primary Production Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 18 July 2024 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions) during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House and outside the Wellington area despite Standing Orders 193 195 and 196.It's my privilege to bring this bill to the House as a template for economic growth. The Government has identified aquaculture growth as a priority. The sector has enormous potential to contribute in the rebuilding of our economy but current regulatory and policy settings are inversely related to the growth ambitions for the sector and the clear vision of economic rehabilitation shared on this side of the House. By extending consents by 20 years this bill will enable the sector to realise uninterrupted untapped growth contributing to the export-led recovery and supporting the regions that rely on aquaculture for jobs and wellbeing freeing them from eco-babble green tape and those blowfish aspirations which are hobbling industry in New Zealand.This bill delivers on the—wait for it—New Zealand First - National Party coalition agreement a document that is embedded in the political heritage of New Zealand already. Essentially it will deliver longer durations for marine farming permits. It will also give an enormous amount of certainty to current enterprise owners. Without certainty there is no confidence. Without confidence there is no investment. In the absence of investment we will not meet our A-game in terms of turning around the mess that we've inherited in terms of our obligations to uphold and meet the aspirations of garden-variety Kiwis—who want to use the resources of our country not be guilt-tripped into believing that such utilisation is going to worsen the planet or indeed drive their children to Australia. Investors need confidence. Investors know the importance of sustainability and there's no greater sustainability apostle than my good self on matters of marine affairs. Because we have a balance. We do not serve up eco-bile.Of course there are some important matters to be attended to as this discussion rolls on. Not only is aquaculture a win for all Kiwis it has been blighted because of weird strange and unsustainable interpretations of the law. So we're going to free every single Kiwi who currently holds a coastal permit for marine farming purposes. Their permits as a consequence of this bill will be rolled out to 2050. That's the quality of commitment that this side of the House has through this bill. We create some of the world's leading seafood exports to over 60 countries indeed 80 countries—they cannot get enough of it. Sadly we've inherited a complexity like beeswax. We today are cutting through that wax with this bill.The $700 million we have visions to expand to $2 billion. That will not happen in the absence of certainty and engendering greater confidence so Kiwis and appropriate stakeholders from overseas can put their hard-earned cash into expanding this industry. Of course the Government understands the importance of balance. There has to be due consideration for whether or not the farms that currently exist are located in the proper and correct location. Can they cope with the vagaries of weather? Can they cope with the changing circumstances both of weather of communities?For those reasons regional councils will be able to address whether farms have egregious historical conditions but they must do it at their own cost. No more sneaking around of regional council bureaucrats by circuitously imposing suffocating costs on God-fearing Kiwis trying to make a living in this important sector. They can only make that decision with the concurrence the acquiescence of the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries. That's to ensure that regional councils are not captured as is the case in Otago by a small group who continue to frustrate the ambitions democratically mandated of our Government. We're not having that for marine farming. We are building in through this bill a safety valve.Now innovation. Innovation has been stifled. There has been an enormous amount of sloganeering false promises—Scott Willis: You want to kill local democracy. So much about localism.Hon SHANE JONES: —and more exaggeration from the unemployable corner over there. Pay more attention to the rare birds that fly from Rongotai to the Chathams than to my speech.One particular point I want to make as I draw this speech to an end: what is the point of not using our resources and hoping that only rhetoric tinged with climate alarmism is going to turn economic fortunes in our country around? There is no more appetite in regional New Zealand for alarmism exaggeration. People know unless aquaculture and related industries generate an economic dividend solvency will be threatened. For those reasons I say even to my own people on the Māori side stop being cultural busybodies and interfering with genuine enterprises in the coastal environment. In the event a regional council feels that a marine farming enterprise needs its conditions looked at there will be the opportunity for them to consult the affected iwi. I expect the iwi to be in the industry not hobbling not impeding and actually move from co-governance—a discredited concept—to co-investment. And this bill will actually create that opportunity.Of course the iwi must not look to Parliament for high-quality examples in terms of aquaculture and economic development if they stare at the empty seats. Look at yourselves. Use laws such as this which is going to do an extraordinary thing. This is going to save millions of dollars. No more regional council overreach no more Department of Conservation meddling. This bill rolls over all existing resource consents held by the aquaculture sector till 2050. It frees them up to use what cash what resources they have within their businesses to deepen their capacity to further invest and create innovation and productivity. That is real reform.This is one of the most dramatic levels of improvement that this sector has seen for many a long time. It is my pleasure on behalf of the Government—with appropriate modesty—to aid the sector and on that note commend the bill to the House. I look forward to seeing the recommendations of the Primary Production Committee—and hopefully escape unnecessary debate when I do move the referral motion. Thank you very much.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O'Connor): The question is that the motion be agreed to.