9. LESLEY SOPER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Conservation
What reports, if any, has she received about the Government’s work to protect New Zealand’s wildlife?
Hon STEVE CHADWICK (Minister of Conservation) Link to this
In the past week I officially opened the new yellow-eyed penguin reserve on the Catlins coast in Otago on land bought jointly by the Department of Conservation and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust. Securing this habitat is a major victory for conservation. It highlights this Labour-led Government’s commitment to protecting New Zealand’s unique species.
Hon STEVE CHADWICK Link to this
The Department of Conservation is actively working to protect 239 endangered species at the moment, with projects including an intensive recovery programme for kākāpō, increased kiwi populations in the wild and in sanctuaries, boosting the survival of the whio, or blue duck, and captive breeding and supporting of wild takahē. So far this season, eight chicks have been incubated and two have already hatched.
Metiria TureiDo any of the reports on the Government’s work to protect New Zealand’s unique species estimate how many fatalities of the Māui’s dolphin we might expect over this coming summer with increased risk from fishing, from set-netting, from pollution in the waterways, and from boat strike, given the Government’s procrastination about doing anything to protect this uniquely endangered New Zealand wild species?
Hon STEVE CHADWICK Link to this
The member is absolutely correct about this beautiful species of about 111 Māui’s dolphins, the rarest in the world. Yes, we have had an overwhelming response of nearly 2,500 submissions on the discussion document. Because they are so complex we do need to give them due time and due consideration, and we will be reporting on this around March next year.