9. Hon TAU HENARE (National) Link to this
to the Minister for the Environment
Is he satisfied with the way aquaculture is managed under the Resource Management Act; if not, what changes is the Government proposing?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment) Link to this
No; this has been an area of huge lost opportunities since the ill-conceived moratorium in 2000 and the subsequent botched legislation that has frozen the growth of the aquaculture industry. The Government is proposing significant changes to the Resource Management Act so we can put this industry back on a growth path.
Is the Minister aware of the opportunities in Northland for finfish and oyster farming; if so, what is the Government doing to assist?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
Yes; I believe there are real opportunities in Northland, and these have been strongly advocated by Māori, Aquaculture New Zealand, and the Minister of Fisheries, Phil Heatley. Today I jointly announced with the Minister of Fisheries a Government-funded programme to explore the feasibility of 19 possible aquaculture management areas in Northland.
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
The Government has commissioned a major piece of work with Aquaculture New Zealand on further Resource Management Act reforms. These will be included as one of the important and first work streams as part of phase two of the Government’s Resource Management Act reform programme.