Upston Louise: Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Upston Louise: Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 13 September 2011. Volume:675;Page:21227. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupo) 
: 
 I am pleased to speak in the first reading of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill. But I must say I am rather staggered to be in a situation where the Greens have very clearly supported this bill going to the important select committee stage where the public can have their say and submissions can be heard while the Labour Party has just flatly refused—it is just flatly opposing this legislation. I find that staggering. The fact is that our oceans are a major engine driving our climate system. Also our oceans have been in existence for 3 billion years longer than our land. Yet here we have the Labour Opposition with no interest in regulating and protecting this vast resource. 
Hon Maryan Street 
: Yes we do; we just don’t want Nick Smith to do it. 
LOUISE UPSTON 
: I find it to be somewhat staggering that we are in this position. 
The oceans of course provide vast opportunities whether it is in mining electricity generation carbon storage or aquaculture development—marine farming. These are just the opportunities that we know of. I am sure we will come across many opportunities in the years and decades ahead. But the interjection from the Labour speaker says it all: it is about one individual—one person. Labour members are so into personalities and not the issues of the day. They are not interested in actually debating economic opportunities to grow our economy as well as protect such a precious resource. 
This bill has got it right. We clearly need to have protection in place. At the moment unfortunately the resource management extends only to the 12-mile limit. This legislation looks at putting a regulatory and protection framework in place for an area that is 20 times the size of our land mass. If we look at that opportunity we see that it is enormous. Clearly risks are also involved and that is why it is really important that we have that balance in place and that we have legislation that protects this amazing resource—this amazing asset—on our doorstep. I will not go through all the provisions of the bill other than to say this is clearly part of a wider plan in terms of getting the balance right between economic growth and growing our exports and protecting our environment. This bill relies on the creation of the Environmental Protection Authority which is already in place. It clearly recognises that our environment is our greatest asset. We cannot do anything with that asset we cannot look at the opportunities that are available if we are not willing to protect it in the same breath. That is why I am proud that we have a Minister who is willing to take such bold steps. 
Quite frankly I am disappointed that we have an Opposition that does not even want to debate the issues. Good on the Green Party for allowing us to send the bill to the select committee. This is an important step not just for now but for many decades ahead. Thank you.