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Protesters confront Resources Minister Shane Jones in Whangārei over fast-track projects

The protesters confront Resources Minister Shane Jones. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Up to 100 protesters have confronted Resources Minister Shane Jones in Whangārei in a show of opposition to two fast-track projects they say will cause long-term harm to the environment. The at times raucous protest took place in driving rain on Saturday afternoon, as party faithful were arriving for a New Zealand First meeting at McKay Stadium. Some protesters had travelled from the Bay of Islands to oppose a planned 250-berth marina at isolated Waipiro Bay, near Russell; while others came from Bream Bay to highlight their concerns about a large-scale, offshore sand-mining proposal. Both projects are currently making their way through the government's fast-tracked consenting process. Four-year-old Tahuhu-nui-o-rangi Wakefield-Bigelow at the protest. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf The Waipiro Bay Marina, if it goes ahead, will involve significant dredging and reclamation, loss of public access, and the construction of up to 250 berths - including 14 for 50-metre superyachts - as well as shops, parking and a boat ramp. Kohu Hakaraia, of Te Rāwhiti hapū Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha, said the fast-track process silenced community voices. "We're deeply concerned that nine hectares or more will be gifted to a private developer for their own profit," she said. "This has been a kai gathering spot for our whānau for generations. Our rangatira Te Wharerahi lived on the pā there. It's got a lot of cultural and environmental significance for our whole community, Māori and Pākehā." Protesters voice their feelings over two controversial fast-track projects. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Hakaraia said the fast-track system was unfair because developers had money to commission reports and hire any number of experts. All the hapū could do, with limited funds, was try to rebut their claims. "We're really marginalised and disadvantaged because we don't have the same resources as they do. It's David and Goliath," she said. Jones was unapologetic when he came out to address the protesters. He told the crowd his bottom line was that he was pro industry, and pro economic growth. Resources Minister Shane Jones addresses the protesters. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf "Politics is a contest of ideas and I accept the ideas you represent are not consistent with what I stand for, but that's what democracy is about. You have the right to protest, and I have the right to run my narrative on behalf of my leader and the party we belong we to," he said, his voice drowned out at times by chants of "Shame on Shane". If a project was rejected under the fast-track process, it should be for reasons of science, Jones said. "Let it not be on hyperbole or hysteria. Let it be on studies to do with the ocean, while also taking account of economic development. Trust in the process that's been set up. That's not unreasonable to ask," he said. Meanwhile, Bream Bay Guardians spokesman Malcolm Morrison said his community was deeply concerned by McCallum Brothers' proposal to mine roughly 9 million cubic metres of sand over 35 years. "The problems with sand mining in Bream Bay is that it's a closed sand system. Once you've taken sand out, it's not replaced by sand from the ocean, its just gone. And once that happens the beaches will start degrading." Morrison said the process of "sucking up sand with a giant vacuum cleaner" would kill or maim vast numbers of scallops. Bream Bay Guardians spokesman Malcolm Morrison of Langs Beach. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf He was hoping Jones would cancel the project's fast-track process before it even reached the expert panel stage. If that didn't happen, the group had a fighting fund ready, he said. "We will be fighting tooth and nail with our experts against anything that anyone else puts up ... and it that fails we'll be monitoring them until they want to go home." Jay Howell, who lived near the proposed Waipiro Bay development, said both Russell Boating Club and Opua Cruising Club were strongly opposed. While jobs were badly needed in Northland, the marina would not provide substantial numbers of jobs as claimed by the developers, Azuma Property and Hopper Developments, or by Minister Chris Bishop, he said. Protesters against the Waipiro Bay Marina proposal march on Western Hills Drive in Whangārei. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf "The fast-track process takes away Northland's voice to determine how Northland should be developed, and we do need development. We just need sensible development that the community is involved in. This is being imposed on us and it's being developed for the wealthy." The number of jobs cited in the marina's fast-track application had been "grossly over-exaggerated" by adding long-term jobs and short-term construction roles together, and claiming the total was valid for a 30-year period, Howell said. Kororāreka Marae chairwoman Deb Rewiri. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Kororāreka Marae chairwoman Deb Rewiri, of Russell, said her concern was with the process. "It doesn't actually give an opportunity for whānau, hapū and iwi in that whole consultation process. It's not okay, not in a democracy," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.