6. Question No. 6—ConservationCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central) to the Minister of ConservationQuestion No. 6—Conservation6. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central) to the Minister of Conservation: Does she stand by her statement yesterday that The Department of Conservation has advised me that there are currently no burrows with any sign of kororā in the rock wall at Pūtiki Bay"; if so what does she say to the Protect Pūtiki group who documented footage of kororā at Pūtiki Bay last night?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Conservation): I thank the member for her question and ongoing advocacy for the community at te ākau o Pūtiki. As the member will be aware I take responsibilities as the conservation Minister including the protection of our taonga species incredibly seriously which has led to the work we're doing to review the Wildlife Act the partial review of the conservation law and centring the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy at the heart of conservation here in Aotearoa. With respect to the footage referenced: yes I can confirm that I have seen that footage and consequently made further inquiries today to my officials expressing my dissatisfaction that the context of the information in which it sits was not provided to me in a way that I considered was fulsome or adequate. While I stand by the statement I made yesterday in the context of which it was made it's become clear to me that the information was inaccurate including that kororā have sometimes been returning to those burrows in the evening. Further I can confirm to the member that in subsequent inquiries made today I have been advised that since the authority was granted under the Wildlife Act no kororā have to date been identified at the site during the period of works but in the event that they are can be relocated in alignment with the authority granted under the Wildlife Act.Chlöe Swarbrick: When granting a permit to move kororā what assessment if any did the Department of Conservation make of the advice of Professor John Cockrem that his conservative estimate is at least 60 kororā live in the full rock wall?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: I'm advised that the Department of Conservation and primarily their ecologists work closely with Dr Cockrem and leaned into the advice of many of the community groups there on Waiheke Island including Protect Pūtiki various bird rescue groups and the like. My understanding from the information that the department has provided to me is first that many of the references to the information provided were with respect to the broader consents that have been granted by the Auckland Council with respect to the broader marina development. With the specific reference to just the application under the Wildlife Act I have been advised that on balance whilst the bird the kororā live in that rock wall and do return to that area sometimes in the evening that during the daytimes and during the period which the works will be undertaken there is a very low chance as I best understand that those kororā will be on site. However when granting the permit those are at the forefront of the Department of Conservation's considerations. They're left with two options: (1) relocate those kororā in the event that they're found; or (2) leave them there and let the works occur around them. On balance the Department of Conservation made the determination that to grant the authority under the Wildlife Act was the best in the circumstances for the preservation of the kororā.Chlöe Swarbrick: Has the Department of Conservation conducted any on-site monitoring for the removal of the rock wall while it has gone ahead this week; if not why not?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: I understand from my inquiries made this morning that they have made observations with respect to the monitoring in building up to the granting of the permit. However I have expressed very clearly my expectation as the Minister of Conservation that the department take an active role and be physically present to monitor the works whilst they're being undertaken when that work is ongoing through the period of the permit that's left to run.Chlöe Swarbrick: What can members of the public do if they find evidence of kororā in distress at Pūtiki Bay at the site of construction?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: That's a great question from the member. There's a couple of things that can be done. Of course when any member of the public does see any taonga species in any form of distress they can ring the Department of Conservation—0800 DOC HOT—and they will be put through to people that will advise them on the best next steps. I can also assure the member that a number of inquiries have been put through to the Department of Conservation over the past year with respect to the Pūtiki area and the department have advised me that they've acted swiftly to respond to those inquiries.Chlöe Swarbrick: Does the Minister agree that the law as it stands is failing to protect these kororā and if so what advocacy has she undertaken for improving protection of native species such as kororā in consultation with the Minister for the Environment in the proposed new Natural and Built Environments Bill?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: I agree with the member that the conservation law that governs some of our taonga species across the board I consider is inadequate it's outdated and it needs some fundamental reform. That of course needs to be done in partnership with communities at place and it will take some time. We have undertaken work since I have taken office working in collaboration with a number of environmental non-governmental organisations to do the fundamental first review work that needs to be done of the conservation law environment. With respect to the natural and built environments and the resource management reforms more generally my colleague the Minister Parker and myself are ardent advocates for biodiversity and will ensure that that's a key linchpin in the reforms ahead.Chlöe Swarbrick: Point of order. I seek leave to table these images of kororā from Phil Stebbing taken in August 2021 at Pūtiki Bay. They're of course of kororā at Pūtiki Bay.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that image being tabled? There appears to be none.Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House."