Hughes Gareth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hughes Gareth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 09 February 2012. Volume:677;Page:255. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
GARETH HUGHES (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Primary Industries 
: Will he extend the Taranaki set net ban after the recent death of a Maui’s dolphin in a fishing net? 
Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister for Primary Industries) 
: 
 The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Department of Conservation are currently working on a Maui’s dolphin recovery plan. I will wait until that plan has been presented before making any decisions on set-net bans in Taranaki. I have certainly asked for that work to be done as quickly as possible. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Can the Minister guarantee that no Maui’s dolphins will die while that recovery plan is being carried out? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: No. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Will the Minister take responsibility for the recent Maui’s dolphin death given that research published by the Ministry of Fisheries in 2005 established that Maui’s dolphins swim in the area where the dolphin died? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: No I will not take responsibility for this death. It is my understanding that when the current set-net ban was established it was covering the area where Maui’s dolphins were thought to swim. My information is that this is an area where they previously had not found Maui’s dolphins and that is why we will await the recovery plan before we make further decisions on that ban. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Will the Minister take responsibility for the recent Maui’s dolphin death given his Government’s inaction following a submission in 2009 including video footage of a Maui’s dolphin swimming in the vicinity in unprotected Taranaki waters? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: This Government and the former Government have taken action. The set-net ban was put in place in 2008 by the Hon Jim Anderton. It was subsequently challenged in court requiring the then Minister the Hon Phil Heatley to further review the information and to stick with the extended set-net ban. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Given a Ministry of Fisheries report video footage submitted to the Government and now a dead dolphin what more evidence does the Government need that dolphins swim in these unprotected Taranaki waters for him to act with an extension of the set-net ban? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: I have given the member the answer to that question. The information I now want is the completion of the Maui’s dolphin recovery plan. When I get that information I will further consider that report. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Given that Maui’s dolphins will become extinct if mortality exceeds just one individual over 5 to 7 years and that we have had two Maui’s dolphin deaths in the last 5 months why will the Minister not use his powers under the Fisheries Act and put a moratorium on set-net fishing while more research is being carried out? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: I certainly accept that this is a species under extreme threat of extinction. Set-net banning—and the influence of human interaction—is but one factor in the death of these dolphins. I will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry I will work with the Department of Conservation and I will await the report of the recovery plan before making further decisions. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Given the Minister’s inability to guarantee that more Maui’s dolphins will not die on his watch and his refusal to implement greater protection measures now is he prepared to be an accessory to extinction? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: This is a relatively small population. It is an endangered species but there are a number of reasons why this extinction could be caused of which human interaction is but one. 
Gareth Hughes 
: I seek leave to table this DVD containing a 31-second video shot by Taranaki fisherman Ray O’Donnell of a Maui’s dolphin in the area where the Government alleges Maui’s dolphins do not travel in Taranaki. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. I remind members that points of order should be heard in silence. 
DVD by leave laid on the Table of the House.