Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:621;Page:16313] 
9.  
JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: Is she satisfied that in appointing the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board she has achieved a balance of knowledge skills and experience across all matters required in section 8(2) of the Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Act 2004? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 Yes. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Why do none of the five board members claim in their CVs any specialist knowledge skills or experience in the ecology of braided rivers as required in section 8(2)(b) yet they do have backgrounds in hydo generation and irrigation; and how does this lack of balance conform with the Act? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: I am satisfied that each of the members has the relevant knowledge skills and experience that make the board as a whole well-equipped to undertake the tasks it has been appointed to do. The board has on it members who have helped develop guidelines for assessing what river flows are required to sustain ecological values and how to monitor rivers for effects of ecological values. 
Larry Baldock 
: Has the Minister seen any reports on how the Waitaki community and interest groups have received the announcement of the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board; if so what did they have to say? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: Yes I have seen reports in the newspapers from Fish and Game which was generally respectful of the balance on the board in the North Otago community; also I think from the chair or a senior person in the Aoraki Water Trust who also thought that it was a good balanced board. 
David Parker 
: If the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board requires more information about river ecology is there provision for it to seek that information? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: Yes there is. The board can ask for specialist information and advice regarding any other matter that comes before it. I also have the ability to supply information to the board that might assist it. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Why do none of the members claim in their CVs any local knowledge of the Waitaki catchment as required in section 8(2)(c) and how under the Resource Management Act can she replace local councils with a Government-appointed board without the local knowledge that her Act requires? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: I have just had an email from a project manager of the Ministry for the Environment that talks about the board’s initial meeting on 30 September and board members had a familiarisation tour this week on 18 and 19 October. I can report that the board has demonstrated that it has a good understanding among its members of the matters that will come before it and a capability and appetite to deal with them. That includes a sound understanding of the catchment and its issues. It names three people: Nick Brown Claire Mulcock and Edward Ellison in particular who demonstrated their knowledge of the area. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: In replying to my written question on the matter why was the Minister unable to give me any specific knowledge or expertise or skills relating to the Waitaki catchment or river ecology other than the generalist knowledge one has from sitting on decision-making boards? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: I gave the straight biographical information that had been handed to me. If the member likes I have some further information. Sheila Watson developed the methodology for the Ministry for the Environment’s flow guidelines for in-stream values which provide a way of establishing objectively the flows needed to sustain ecological and recreational values. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister may give only one more example. 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: Claire Mulcock who was a member of the Rangitata Water Conservation Order tribunal was a team member developing an ecology-based tool a stream-health monitoring kit for rural communities. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Is the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board a precedent for the non-local decision-making processes proposed in the next Resource Management Act amendment bill; if so how is that override of both the environment and the local community consistent with the purpose of the Resource Management Act? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: No it is not a precedent.