Baldock Larry: Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine  Management Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Baldock Larry: Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine  Management Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:625;Page:19866] 
LARRY BALDOCK (United Future) 
: 
 I take a call on Part 2 to discuss the issue surrounding marine management measures and the establishment of the eight marine reserves set up under this bill. As the Fisheries and other Sea-related Legislation Committee went through its process people from various sectors of the community came before it often with a different slant on what was being done. The environmental groups said that the bill was terrible and that eight marine reserves were not enough because the reserves represented the protection of only 1 percent of Fiordland’s marine area. We heard on several occasions from Metiria Turei this morning that they represent only 1 percent of the marine area. In actual fact those reserves represent 13 percent of the area contained within the fiords and therefore a significant chunk of the fiords area is going under protection. But of course the environmentalists do not tell us that—they always want to put a different spin on it. 
In respect of the 1 percent of the external area as I said earlier much of that coastline down there will protect itself. I think too that the Fiordland Marine Guardians and the people of Fiordland have made a huge contribution by giving up 13 percent of the inner fiord area to those marine reserves. 
The thing that came under quite a bit of challenge at the select committee was the agreement for a moratorium so that no further marine reserves would be established for a period of at least 5 or 6 years until the first review of the Act has taken place. Many submitters said that that was terrible and that they should have been able to start applications for more marine reserves the next day. Those submitters just never stop. They seem to think that the only way forward is to have the whole country locked up with marine reserves. The committee had to resist that pressure very strongly because there is a gifts and gains process. 
Yesterday we had some discussion in the House about marine reserves and today I see that theRoyal Forest and Bird Protection Society has put out a press release overnight stating that United Future is anti-conservation because we are trying to stop the Marine Reserves Bill from going through the House. We are pleased to be able to stop that legislation this term because it is an ill-conceived bill and still allows for the Department of Conservation to take too many heavy-handed measures in providing marine reserves all over the country. 
The press release also said that Australia is a great country because 6 percent of its marine area is in protection as marine reserves but that ignores the fact that the major part of Australia’s protection relates to the Great Barrier Reef which is an enormous reserve. If we took that out of the equation Australia would not be much further ahead than we are in New Zealand. Australia has only a few other little spots on its map under marine protection. 
That is what concerns United Future. Unless we allow locals to be in charge of the process as this bill sets up we will constantly have the Department of Conservation pressured by lobby groups such as the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and other environmental groups pushing for more and more marine reserves. Ultimately they seem to win the battle and get those things established without the real consent and consultation processes that are necessary at a local level. 
I had a long discussion with people from Environment Southland and they said that they could have established protection even without marine reserves. There are sufficient avenues under the Resource Management Act process to give some protection and that may have been a better way to have approached it. But in the end marine reserve lobby groups seem to have won out so eight new marine reserves are being established under this bill. 
United Future will support this bill. We are pleased that only eight marine reserves are being established and that the moratorium is in place. That gives people a chance to take a deep breath now that the major consultation process is over and not to have to face more and more applications coming in each year. Every application just opens up a whole can of worms again in a community. 
It is nice to see peace descend in Fiordland. With the passage of this bill this week I believe there will be a great deal of rejoicing—probably some cod will be eaten some rock lobster will be cooked on a few barbeques and even a few bottles of local wine will be opened to celebrate.