3. Question No. 3—Foreign AffairsHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister of Foreign AffairsQuestion No. 3—Foreign Affairs3. Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Is she satisfied with advice received in 2021 from ministry officials which recommended against supporting a global moratorium on all deep sea mining; if so why?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Yes I am satisfied with that advice. Our focus is on engaging with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) process as the best means to achieve an outcome that deep-sea mining does not take place unless we can ensure the protection of our ocean through setting high environmental standards. At the most recent ISA negotiations in March this year New Zealand worked with Chile and Costa Rica to advance a significant proposal to improve environmental decision-making and environmental standards in the ISA regulations. This is a proposal that has since been co-sponsored by the Federated States of Micronesia the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Hon Eugenie Sage: Is New Zealand sending a delegation to the next meeting of the International Seabed Authority Council in mid-July and if so will Cabinet decide and update Aotearoa New Zealand's negotiating mandate before that?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I intend to review the negotiating mandate in July—it seems a good juncture before the end of the moratorium period—but can I say that when I adjusted the negotiating parameters to participate in the ISA part of that was to ensure that an inclusive forum for participation in meetings was able to occur so that enables in-person and virtual participation. Hon Eugenie Sage: Does the Minister agree with officials' advice that While seabed mining offers potential economic benefits precaution is warranted in the face of uncertain and inadequate information about the marine environment and the effects of such activities." and if so isn't a more precautionary approach for Aotearoa New Zealand to support a moratorium on seabed mining under the high seas? Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: There's a number of legs in that question but if I could plead with the House for perhaps a little longer answer yes we do agree with the precautionary approach and it was a part of our revised mandate. Secondly the reason why we're participating in the ISA is to ensure that we're taking a position that is consistent with New Zealand's own approach to deep-sea mining. Thirdly the way in which we're advocating for a high standards environmental protection framework will set a threshold that in effect must be adhered to in order for any seabed mining to take place. Hon Eugenie Sage: Point of order. I seek leave to table a briefing from New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade of 24 November 2021 entitled Mandate for the Upcoming Meetings of the International Seabed Authority.SPEAKER: The source of the document and whether it's publicly available in any other way?Hon Eugenie Sage: It was an Official Information Act request.SPEAKER: OK. Is there leave for it to be tabled? Is there any objection? There appears to be none. Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Teanau Tuiono (remote): How is New Zealand supporting the call of Pelenatita Kara manager of Tonga's national campaign against seabed mining that the New Zealand Government needs to show regional leadership and help to protect Pacific Island nations from extractive activities that will harm the moana and their coastal resources quoted in RNZ yesterday?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Firstly can I acknowledge the widespread views across the Pacific in relation to deep-sea mining. It has caused some division between member States of Pacific nation Governments and NGO organisations within their own countries. New Zealand will consider any request for assistance from a Pacific partner where the request relates to developing robust legal frameworks governance structures and environmental protections. In line with the sovereign rights of Pacific Island Governments and respect for their mana to assert their own kaitiakitanga responsibilities Aotearoa New Zealand does not take a position for or against mining on the seabed within the jurisdiction of other Pacific Island countries' international waters. Teanau Tuiono: Is the Minister satisfied with the accuracy of the statement in her ministry's advice that supporting a global moratorium is "inconsistent with Pacific Island States' sovereign right to chart their own development course and their mana to determine their kaitiakitanga" when many Pacific leaders are calling for a moratorium to apply countries' exclusive zones?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I thank the member for the question. I acknowledge just how the differing views within Pacific nations are in relation to seabed mining. There is not a uniform view but New Zealand will consistently act to ensure that by participating in the ISA we are advocating for high standards of environmental protection to ensure that a mining code can be set and that those standards must be met in order to mine in any case. What I can say is that jumping straight to a moratorium provides a very difficult point at which countries like New Zealand could be seen to act consistently with our own domestic approach. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Is she prepared for Aotearoa to be complicit in giving the green light for deep-sea mining in Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa when scientists warn of the likelihood of an unprecedented environmental destruction?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I can say that New Zealand has acted consistently and in line with our own domestic approach for high environmental standards to ensure that there is an international standard that could be applied certainly to the Pacific and there would be good merit in doing that. Can I also say that in terms of the revised mandate we want to ensure that we continue to advocate for a robust mining code that provides for high environmental standards as I've said; that we signal that New Zealand will vote against a mining code that does not provide for the effective protection of the marine environment as required under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); that we will advocate for additional environmental scientific expertise in the ISA to build that body of knowledge; and that we'll continue to develop coalitions with States which we already have who are on the ISA council and who share our concerns regarding environmental protection. Furthermore we'll make sure and have advocated for inclusive meeting modalities so that those States who cannot participate in person have other means of participating so that they can contribute to this very important debate.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What is her response to indigenous leaders who have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in the Pacific including hapū and iwi in Taranaki Pacific Elders' Voice which includes former presidents Hilda Heine of Marshall Islands Anote Tong of Kiribati and Tuvalu's former Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: What I will say is that by advocating for higher environmental standards through the ISA is a legitimate pathway to ensure that there is a framework to protect the marine environment and establishing a mining code will give effect to that high environmental standard.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: How does she justify the Government's position to mana whenua indigenous groups and local communities in Aotearoa and across the Pacific who will continue to face decades of expensive and time-consuming litigation to try and protect their moana as a result of Aotearoa supporting deep-sea mining in the Pacific?SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to—Hon Nanaia Mahuta: I reject the second part—SPEAKER: Oh well no—I'll let the Minister answer it but it was strictly an out of order supplementary.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I reject the second part of that question; it is simply not true. And in fact by participating in the ISA to ensure that there is advocacy for environmental protections and high standards in the marine environment and in the setting of a mining code that will set a threshold that is not currently there that is consistent with UNCLOS and that will give greater protections than are already being experienced across the Pacific.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Point of order. I'm not sure which part was incorrect Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: Well if the member had listened to the answer she would have known.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Will she advocate for a moratorium or ban on seabed mining domestically and internationally to prevent such litigation meet our international climate commitments and protect local fisheries and ecosystems; if not why not?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: The position that New Zealand is taking in relation to our participation in the ISA is absolutely consistent with our domestic position."