Health Of The Hauraki Gulf Declines As Delay To Marine Protection Approaches One-year Mark
If the Bill is not passed next week, it will have been over a year since the Environment Select Committee unanimously recommended that the Bill be passed by the time Parliament reconvenes at the end of June.
The Hauraki Gulf Forum is calling on the Government to progress the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill without further delay.
'It has been more than six months since the second reading of the Bill was interrupted, with no indication that it will be progressed any time soon.' says Nicola Rata-MacDonald, Co-Chair of the Forum.
'If the Bill is not passed next week, it will have been over a year since the Environment Select Committee unanimously recommended that the Bill be passed by the time Parliament reconvenes at the end of June.'
'Once passed, the new marine protections will enable us to make the most significant progress towards restoring the Gulf since the marine park was established over 25 years ago.'
Cr Warren Maher, Co-Chair of the Forum, says the constant stalling and postponement of legislative progress is impacting years of restoration efforts by communities across the Gulf.
'Constantly kicking the can down the road when we are so close to making real progress is a kick in the guts for everyone who has worked to ensure the Gulf is protected and restored.' Warren says.
'Our message to the Government is simple: pass the Bill, and let us get on with restoring the Gulf to ensure it thrives for generations to come.'
Notes:
More information on the Forum and the Marine Park is available at www.gulfjournal.org.nz
Timeline: Progress of the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill
22 August 2023: Bill introduced to Parliament.
29 August 2023: First reading and referral to the Environment Select Committee.
1 November 2023: Submissions closed.
6 December 2023: Bill reinstated with the Environment Select Committee following the 2023 General Election, and the Business Committee agrees that all bills before select committees shall be reported to the House by 29 March 2024.
31 January 2024: the date by which the Environment Committee must report the Bill back to the House is extended from 29 March 2024 to 29 May 2024.
March 2024: Environment Select Committee completes hearing of oral submissions on the Bill.
10 April 2024: the date by which the Environment Committee must report the Bill back to the House is extended from 29 May 2024 to 20 June 2024.
20 June 2024: Environment Committee reports the Bill to the House, with unanimous support for the Bill to be passed as reported.
13 October 2024: Minister of Conservation announces changes will be made to the Bill to allow commercial ring-net fishing within protected areas.
14 November 2024: Second reading (interrupted).
30 May 2025 (today): The Bill remains at its interrupted second reading stage, and the Government's intended changes are still to be published despite being announced 230 days ago.
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