5. LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) Link to this
to the Minister of Conservation
Has he been advised of any proposals for a new national park?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Conservation) Link to this
Yes. I am advised that the New Zealand Conservation Authority is not considering any proposals for new national parks. However, I understand that Paula Bennett MP proposed in the House last night that the Waitakere Ranges should be designated as a national park. Curiously, this is in contrast to suggestions that the Department of Conservation continues to grab more and more land and that it needs to keep its hands off additional land—the first from David Carter and the second from Don Brash.
What additional conservation gains would a national park in the Waitakeres achieve over those conferred by the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill?
None. A national park proposal covering existing conservation land would not address any of the development issues eroding the margins of this iconic west Auckland landscape. The excellent bill, introduced by the member Lynne Pillay, will address those issues, requiring councils to consider the long-term and cumulative effects of proposals they consider under the Resource Management Act.
Paula BennettDoes the Minister know of any other mechanism that offers greater protection than a national park; if not, why is he not offering this level of protection to the 17,000-hectare regional park in the Waitakere Ranges?
The member was clearly not listening to my previous answer. Although the conservation land that would be in a national park would have the highest protection, it would do nothing for the 10,000 hectares of the Waitakere Ranges that are held in private hands.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Has the Minister received any reports to the effect that Paula Bennett cleared that with her leader, deputy leader, or spokesperson before she made that statement, or is it the continuation of a party making policy on the hoof because they are a leaderless rabble?
Madam SPEAKERThe first part of the question—asking for reports, if any have been seen—is fine; the second part is not.