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Call for Ministers to Declare their Position

30 Hauraki Maori and community members continue to remain in occupation of the foreshore of the proposed marina site at Whangamata. This occupation is part of raising government and public awareness about the inadequacies of the marina proposal.

The group called for the Ministry of Conservation to declare its position on an application to lease the foreshore and seabed land. If approved, this would then facilitate the destruction of a significant salt marsh and would pass the foreshore and seabed into the exclusive use of a small private society, the Whangamata Marina Society.

Spokesperson Nathan Kennedy [Ngati Whanaunga] asked,
“ What happened to access for all under the Foreshore and Seabed legislation?”

Hauraki Maori felt it important to raise awareness about the changes to the marina development over recent months that the community had not been privy to because they were all processed on a non-notified basis. Ms Clarkin [Ngati Hako] said:

“In the last 5 months there have been several changes to the marina proposal. There has been a significant reduction of the rock lining of the marina channel; the removal of a 40metre breakwater from the marina design and consent to remove indigenous vegetation from the coastal marine area something that was never sought or consented to in the original decision.”

The group also called for the Minister for the Environment to investigate the actions of local consenting authorities under his ministerial powers.

Ms Clarkin said:
“We encourage the Minister to have dialogue with Hauraki people.”

ENDS

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