Hague Kevin: Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHague Kevin: Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 15 March 2016. Volume:712;Page:9676. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]KEVIN HAGUE (Green): I want to begin this 5-minute call with a reference to my colleague Gareth Hughes. Gareth is unfortunately away from Parliament today otherwise I am sure he would have been making this contribution. Gareth has had a member’s bill in the ballot for the last 4 years on providing for Kermadec protection and I know that he would have wanted to stand here today to praise the Government for taking the step of establishing the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary.The thing about conservation in New Zealand is that so often the species that we need to protect exist only here. If we are not successful in protecting those species conserving them and preserving the ecosystems upon which they rely then they will vanish from the earth for ever. That is why despite being a small country with a small population we have a particular responsibility not only to the natural world but to the world—to the global population—for conservation of those unique species and ecosystems.Despite being a small country we have a very very large exclusive economic zone—the fifth-largest I believe in the world. The creation of this Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary is an appropriate recognition of New Zealanders’ desire to protect those species and those ecosystems and to live up to that global responsibility. I want to express not only praise for the Government’s initiative in taking this step but also the hope that it will consider extending this into further marine protected areas within the exclusive economic zone.Having praised the bill there is one area that I want to express some concern about and that was the decision to not consult with Ngāti Kurī and Te Aupōuri prior to the bill’s creation because consultation prior to the bill would have been most appropriate. I understand that that was not possible because of the secrecy of the project but I believe that the Treaty in fact demanded no less than proper consultation at an earlier stage. I note that both iwi are now fully supportive of the bill and of the sanctuary and I am pleased to see that they will be appropriately represented on the board.Finally I want to draw attention to one of the activities that will be prohibited within the sanctuary and that is seismic surveying for non-scientific purposes. I fully support the prohibition of seismic surveying in this ocean sanctuary. It will add to our ability to love and protect those unique species including whales and dolphins that inhabit the sanctuary or pass through it.One cannot help but think of the Government’s refusal to protect the Māui’s dolphin in its sanctuary from seismic surveying and to wonder whether it is not perhaps that the economic value of fishing that will be forgone in the Kermadec sanctuary is less than the economic value that the Government hopes to glean from oil and gas prospecting in the Māui’s dolphin sanctuary. I wonder whether that is an appropriate basis for making such a decision. Thank you.