10. TE URUROA FLAVELL (Māori Party—Waiariki) Link to this
to the Minister for Biosecurity
What actions has he directed Biosecurity New Zealand officials to take to respond to the incursion of a potentially invasive South African brown mussel, which was discovered following the de-fouling of the oil rig in Tasman Bay last December?
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister for Biosecurity) Link to this
I understand that Biosecurity New Zealand has organised for the following actions to be taken: dredging the seabed where the oil rig was de-fouled, and disposing of the material in a landfill; and identifying the species in the dredged material to determine whether brown mussels are present and in what density. Biosecurity New Zealand met with the industry, Māori, and local authorities on 27 February and will be meeting with them again in the week beginning 17 March. Biosecurity New Zealand has issued a number of information advisories to affected stakeholders, including industry, local iwi, and regional authorities.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Is the Minister aware that the iwi of Tasman Bay, namely Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Tama, the Ngāti Rārua-Ātiawa Iwi Trust, and Wakatu Incorporation, are extremely angry that this attack on the environment took place in their rohe; if so, what steps has he taken to restore the relationship between Biosecurity New Zealand and the iwi of this area, other than the meeting that took place in Nelson on 27 February 2008?
As I indicated to the House, the local iwi have been involved in discussions with Biosecurity New Zealand, in terms of immediately following advice that Biosecurity New Zealand received that there may be brown mussels in this de-fouled material. Subsequently, further meetings are scheduled. As I understand it, Biosecurity New Zealand has a good relationship with local iwi.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
In light of the major risks to the local and national $200 million mussel industry, what reason did Biosecurity New Zealand have for allowing the rig to be cleaned in New Zealand waters, and will the Minister be addressing the obvious flaws in the low level of biosecurity standards required for the aquaculture industry?
Biosecurity New Zealand agreed to the cleaning location because it believed that the rig was outside our territorial waters. At the time, the seas were rough and there were safety issues for divers. Preliminary analysis of samples from the rig that had been taken previously did not reveal any potential high-risk species, although, subsequently, lab analysis revealed a small quantity of brown mussels. In effect, Biosecurity New Zealand modelling has shown that the biosecurity risks of de-fouling the oil rig just inside or just outside New Zealand’s territorial limit were the same—that is, the brown mussels would have posed a biosecurity risk even if they had been dislodged from the oil rig just outside our territorial limit. No legal authority vests in Biosecurity New Zealand to do anything about it.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Is the Minister aware of the recent statement made by the Ngati Koata Trust that the Crown has let down Māori and New Zealanders with its vaunted but inadequate biosecurity, and what action will he be taking to ensure that the livelihood of many of the iwi of Tasman Bay is protected through a comprehensive clean-up of the affected area?
As I indicated to the House, Biosecurity New Zealand is taking every step it can to make sure the area is cleaned. The company involved is paying for the defouling of the surface of the ocean floor. I accede to the fact that there is a need for a more precautionary principle involved in all of this—I accept that. I recommend to the member that he and other Māori organisations in the fishing area take the same view as far as fishing is concerned.