Hughes Gareth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hughes Gareth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 02 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:1860. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9. 
GARETH HUGHES (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Conservation 
: Does her proposed extension of the Marine Mammal Sanctuary for Maui’s dolphins allow the use of set nets drift nets and trawl nets within the sanctuary? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON (Minister of Conservation) 
: 
 The Government is taking a joint approach to proposed protection for Maui’s dolphins off the Taranaki coast using both the Marine Mammals Protection Act and the Fisheries Act. We propose dealing with fishing restrictions under the Fisheries Act which allows for greater penalties powers for seizure and greater enforcement capability through fisheries officers. This is an accepted approach as recommended in the 2007 threat management plan. As the member is aware we have brought forward a review of this plan. 
Gareth Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a clear concise question put down on notice: “Does her”— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Maybe I can save the time of the House because I accept the member’s point that the question is very clear and is capable of being answered I would have thought. I did not hear an answer to that primary question. 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: The answer I gave was that fishing restrictions of which set nets drift nets and trawl nets form a part are actually dealt with under the fisheries legislation. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: It appears the Minister is claiming no responsibility for those issues. If that is the case I must accept the Minister’s response. 
Metiria Turei 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is not clear that that is her reason for not answering the question. But in so far as the question refers directly to her area of responsibility which is the proposed marine mammal sanctuary and whether or not from her point of view as Minister of Conservation fishing or these techniques for fishing is allowed there still is no direct answer to that question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think in fairness at question time here Ministers should be entitled to answer in a way that is consistent with their responsibilities. It is up to members then to use their intellect to chase the answer that is given because clearly I can think of plenty of supplementary questions to follow the answer given. I did not hear an answer to the question. The Minister explained why when I asked her to answer the question those matters that form part of the question are not her responsibility. But I am sure there are further supplementary questions that can dig into that without my interfering further in the Minister’s answer.  
Gareth Hughes 
: How can it be described as a sanctuary at all given that the Minister for Primary Industries has proposed to allow the use of set nets in 42 to 83 percent of her sanctuary and trawl nets in 100 percent?  
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: We are going through a process and it is a joint consultation process with the Minister for Primary Industries and me. That will take into account the adequacy of protections both under conservation legislation and under fisheries legislation. There has been ample opportunity for that process to be consulted on for submissions to be made and to avoid any judicial review by overenthusiastic political persuasion. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Is it not true that all that her proposed sanctuary will do is place limited restrictions on seismic surveys? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: As I have explained this is a joint consultation as is recommended and as is the accepted approach under the threat management plan. That threat management plan is also under review and we have brought that forward. If it is not an accepted approach then I am sure the member will be making submissions accordingly. 
Gareth Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Again the question is simple it is clear and it is to the Minister about her portfolio area. If I had wanted to ask the question of the Minister for Primary Industries I would have. The Minister has put a document out for consultation— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! But the Minister in her answer has pointed that out exactly—that this is a process of consultation. It would appear no final decisions have been made. I cannot expect the Minister to tell the House of any final decisions if the process of consultation is still under way. 
Gareth Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker if I may. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will hear the member briefly. 
Gareth Hughes 
: It is a fair point but my question was specifically on her proposal not on any decisions that she has made. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think in fairness she has pointed out that the document is out for consultation and members are at liberty to make submissions on that consultation process. To expect the Minister to give a finite answer now I think is unrealistic. The member still has a further supplementary question. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Is the Minister’s proposal not a sham sanctuary and an insult to the 67000 people who signed the petition tabled in this Parliament today calling for effective Maui’s dolphin protection measures? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: No.