Sea-change? Yeah right.
Wed, 25 Aug 2010 9:56 am – Posted by Mandy | 10 Comments
Blogger: North Canterbury Branch Member, Eugenie Sage
Conservation Minister, Kate Wilkinson’s dismal decision to reject the application for a 530 ha. marine reserve inside Akaroa Harbour highlights once again the current Government’s callous attitude to nature conservation.
The reserve application was lodged by the Akaroa Harbour Marine Protection Society (AHMPS) in 1996. It survived for 14 years through government processes, at least six Ministers of Conservation and consideration by the Maori Land Court only to be rejected by the Minister because of her perception of undue adverse effects on recreational fishers.
This is ignoring public opinion given that 2334 (73%) of the 3043 submissions which DoC received supported the marine reserve.