12. SANDRA GOUDIE (National—Coromandel) Link to this
to the Minister of Fisheries
What recent decisions has the Ministry of Fisheries made in regard to marine farming applications?
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Fisheries) Link to this
I am pleased to announce the news that the aquaculture management area in Wilsons Bay in the Coromandel has been given the green light. An area of 1,783 hectares has been approved. Of this, 520 hectares will be shellfish farming, and the rest will be used for access. As per our settlement commitments, 20 percent of this area will be allocated to Māori.
Hon Shane Jones
Mr SPEAKERI am pleased to talk about Shane Jones’ Labour policies. The application had been in the works for 9 long years, which highlights the barriers in Labour’s legislation. That is why I am delighted to announce that the Government’s Aquaculture Technical Advisory Group has reported back. We will publicly announce the group’s work in early November, and the legislation that Shane Jones put through that meant that this consent took 9 long years will be fixed.