The Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill is STILL being debated in Parliament. Last week the Select Committee debated the contents of the Bill and it will now go through its third reading before becoming legislation.
While everyone agrees that the Hauraki Gulf needs to be restored, last-minute amendments tabled by the Minister for Conservation will exclude public access to prioritise commercial interests. The so-called High Protection Areas (HPAs) now offer hardly any protection.
Banning local families from gathering kai moana in these sheltered areas but permitting a handful of commercial fishers to run their gill nets is totally unacceptable. But as Minister Potaka said last week, the Bill is about a "compromise".
You can't make this up.
During Committee debates in Parliament last week, some MPs weren't shy expressing their disgust with Minister Tama Potaka's amendment paper to permit commercial gill netting in protected areas at Kawau Bay, Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands.
Some MPs have even suggested renaming the Bill to suit the amendment. Suggestions include;
"Hauraki Gulf saying one thing and doing the other Bill" - Arena Williams, Labour MP
"Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana flawed justification of plunder for profit Marine Protection Bill" - Lan Pham, Green MP
"Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana put fishing lobby interests before Marine Protection Bill" - Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Labour MP
We thought we'd put the question out to you. Let us know what you think the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill should be renamed and the best suggestions will score some LegaSea merch.
To read more about the Bill you can view our articles below: