A widely experienced group of eight New Zealanders, led by Dame Catherine Tizard, has been chosen by the Government to
lead a six-month public consultation process on the development of a national Oceans Policy.
Pete Hodgson, who is leading a committee of ministers responsible for the policy, said he was very pleased with the
depth and expertise of the group.
"Leading this process is going to be a very challenging task," Mr Hodgson said. "There is a very wide range of
conflicting interests in our oceans. We have looked for people able to lead a consultation process that will increase
understanding and begin to find a basis in shared values for resolving those conflicts.
"The development of an Oceans Policy is going to be as significant for New Zealand as the resource management law reform
process begun under the last Labour government. There are at least 18 pieces of domestic legislation and fourteen
departments of state involved in managing the marine environment. But there is no overall policy framework to ensure
they work together consistently, towards agreed goals. That is the gap an Oceans Policy will fill."
The ministerial advisory committee will be responsible for managing and leading a nationwide consultation process to
identify New Zealanders' goals for managing our oceans. It is due to report to ministers by 30 September 2001.
Mr Hodgson said the Government was entering the consultation process with an open mind. Developing an Oceans Policy
would not necessarily involve progress towards a single piece of legislation, as with the resource management law reform
process, or a restructuring of government agencies. The final result could be a combination of policy and legislative
initiatives.
"Dame Cath's group will be challenging all users of our oceans to make some hard choices about what's really important
to them and what responsibility they are prepared to accept for the greater good. This will be hard work, but I'm
confident the advisory committee is up to the task."
The ministerial group on Oceans Policy comprises Mr Hodgson, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff, Conservation Minister
Sandra Lee, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and Commerce Minister Paul Swain.
Attached: Ministerial Advisory Committee member biographies, terms of reference, Minister's briefing to the group.
Oceans Policy Ministerial Advisory Committee - Members
Chair
Dame Catherine Tizard
Dame Cath Tizard was Governor-General of New Zealand from 1990-96. She is a former Mayor of Auckland and former city and
regional councillor. Before entering local politics she was a senior tutor in zoology at the University of Auckland for
20 years. Dame Cath has had extensive involvement with community, charity, sporting and educational organisations. She
is currently chairperson of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the Sky City Charitable Trust, a director of the
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Trust Board and America's Cup Village, and trustee of the Enterprise New Zealand Trust.
Members
David Anderson
David Anderson is an accountant and company director, currently involved in tourism in the South Pacific and in venture
capital for small and emerging companies. He has an extensive background in the fishing industry, having been Chief
Executive of Sanford Ltd, Deputy Chair of the Fishing Industry Board and President of the New Zealand Fishing Industry
Association.
Dr John ( Mac ) Beggs
Mac Beggs, a geologist, is a partner and co-managing director in GeoSphere Explorations, a New Zealand oil and gas
exploration consultancy. He has previously worked as a petroleum geologist at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear
Sciences and the former Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He has experience of government policy working
groups in relation to Crown minerals and the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea.
Mark Bellingham
Mark Bellingham is a lecturer in planning at Massey University. He has experience with local government both as an
Auckland Regional Councillor and as a planning consultant involved in statutory processes. He has a background with
environmental NGOs, having been employed by both Forest and Bird and the Maruia Society. He is a Board member of the
Environmental Defence Society.
Te Kou Rikirangi (Riki) Gage
Riki Gage is the Executive Director of Te Runanga o te Whanau Tribal Authority, based in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. His
tribal affiliations are Te Whanau a Apanui, Te Whakatohea, Ngati Porou and Ngati Maniapoto. He is a director of TWA
Holdings and TWA Fishing, both tribal fishing companies. He has worked in the public service as a Treaty Issues adviser
and Iwi Development Officer, represented the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission at an international convention on
biodiversity, and acted as a negotiator for Mataatua tribes on fisheries claims.
David McDowell
David McDowell is a former Chief Executive of both the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of
Conservation. He also served as New Zealand Ambassador to Japan and the United Nations. He is currently working as an
independent advisor to the World Bank, having recently completed a term as Director-General of the World Conservation
Union.
Dr Abigail Smith
Abigail Smith is a senior lecturer in marine science at the University of Otago, a lecturer in science and mathematics
at Dunedin College of Education and a director of AMS Research. She has been a consultant in mathematics and science
education. Dr Smith has published extensively on pure and applied marine science, including issues of water quality and
coastal erosion.
Wally Stone
Wally Stone has been the Chief Executive of Whale Watch Kaikoura since 1993. He is a director of the Canterbury Tourism
Council, Naturally Kaikoura (a regional marketing company) and Coffee Culture (owner of two coffee outlets). He is
actively involved in the tourism industry at both a national and regional level through the New Zealand Tourism Industry
Association and other industry organisations.
Ministerial Advisory Committee
on the Oceans Policy
Terms of Reference
Introduction
Government has decided to develop an Oceans Policy to identify the goals and principles for managing the marine
environment and the best way to achieve those goals. Cabinet has established a group of Ministers to oversee the
development of an Oceans Policy and agreed that the policy be developed in three stages.
„h The first stage will be Defining the Vision and will identify the goals and principles important to managing the
marine environment.
„h The second stage will be Designing the Vision and will require analysing the status quo and identifying the necessary
tools and policies to achieve the desired vision.
„h The third stage will be Delivering the Vision and will involve creating the tools and legal and institutional
frameworks identified in stage two as necessary to achieve the vision.
Ministers wish to establish a Ministerial Advisory Committee on Oceans Policy (¡§the Committee¡¨) to assist them, for
stage one of the process, in their role of overseeing the development of the Oceans Policy. The Committee is to assist
with defining the vision, in particular undertaking the public consultation process.
The role of the Committee is to assist Ministers to Define the Vision by managing and leading the process of identifying
the shared vision, goals and objectives of New Zealanders for managing New Zealand¡¦s oceans. The Committee¡¦s role will
conclude when it has reported to Ministers on the outcomes of the consultation process, which it is expected to do by 30
September 2001.
1. Membership of the Committee. The Committee will consist of eight members, appointed by Cabinet upon the
recommendation of the ad hoc Ministerial Group on the Oceans Policy.
2. Chairperson and deputy chairperson. Cabinet will appoint one of the members of the Committee as the chairperson
and the Committee may appoint one its members as the deputy chairperson if it wishes.
3. Responsibilities. The members of the Committee are responsible to Ministers for completing the following key
tasks:
a) Developing and recommending advice on a process by which to consult with New Zealanders to identify a shared vision
for managing New Zealand¡¦s oceans; and the goals, principles and objectives to achieve such a vision. This process is
to be undertaken in two stages. The first stage will be preliminary consultation with targeted groups to assist in
identifying relevant issues and developing consultation material. The second stage is to consult more widely on options
for the shared vision, goals, objectives and principles relevant to managing the marine environment.
b) Leading and managing the consultation process approved by Ministers and ensuring the process is undertaken in a
manner that provides independence and integrity to the process and is able to provide credible advice to Ministers
c) Reporting to Ministers on the range of views, values, principles and any shared vision identified in the course of
the consultation process; the issues that need to be addressed; and recommendations on goals, objectives and principles
to support enduring long-term solutions for the management of New Zealand¡¦s marine environment.
4. Documentation. The Committee is responsible to Ministers for preparing the following documents:
a) A report outlining the proposed process for consultation with all interested parties, to be completed by 31 March
2001
b) Any documents identified as necessary to the approved consultation process
c) Any interim reports requested by Ministers
d) A final report outlining the views, values and principles and any shared vision raised in the consultation process,
issues that need to be addressed and associated key risks, and recommended goals, objectives and principles for the
management of New Zealand¡¦s oceans, by 30 September 2001.
5. The Oceans Policy consultation process. The function of the Committee is to develop and lead a consultation
process that:
a) identifies all values held by New Zealanders in relation to the marine environment, the relative significance of
those values and any conflict between such values
b) provides for the input and participation of Maori in the consultation process
c) identifies and defines the nature of the rights and interests that exist in relation to the marine environment
d) considers the nature and extent of rights and interests in relation to the marine environment
e) creates an environment in which it is safe for participants to freely express their opinions and in which all views
are accorded respect
„h fosters relationships between groups and sectors, which contribute to a greater understanding and acceptance of the
different values and interests
f) identifies and challenges assumptions relating to managing the marine environment
g) identifies and acknowledges possible constraints on outcomes
h) promotes amongst participants a sense of responsibility for the solution
i) provides participants with a sense that they can influence possible outcomes
j) identifies principles that could support enduring long-term solutions.
6. Compliance with Government policies. In performing its functions and exercising its duties and powers the
Committee must:
a) act in accordance with the policy of the Government as it affects the responsibilities of the Committee; and
b) comply with any directions that are given by the Ministerial Group to the Committee in writing.
Duty to act in good faith. Members of the Committee have a duty to act bona fide in what they consider as the best
interests of both the Committee and the Government to fulfil these Terms of Reference.
Disclosure of interest. Members of the Committee will disclose direct or indirect interests that may affect their
judgement, or be perceived to affect their judgement, in the exercising of their duties and will not take part in any
deliberation or decision of the Committee relating to the matter in which the member has the interest.
Remuneration of Committee members. Fees and allowances will be paid to the chair and to members of the Committee in
accordance with the established guidelines for classification and remuneration of statutory and other bodies appointed
by the Crown.
Term of appointment. The members of the Committee hold office during the pleasure of the Ministerial Group and the
Committee shall conclude its function following submission of its final report to Ministers but no later than 30
September 2001.
Briefing note for Ministerial Advisory Committee members
Welcome to a very exciting project that will impact on all New Zealanders: the development of a New Zealand Oceans
Policy.
The aim is to create an integrated and comprehensive framework to manage the ways in which we engage with the marine
environment.
Your role is central to the success of developing an Oceans Policy that will uniquely reflect New Zealand and the
relationship New Zealanders have with the marine environment.
The development of an Oceans Policy is a priority issue for this Government. Current management frameworks fail to meet
all existing operational issues associated with the marine environment. Nor are they adequately managing the
opportunities and challenges of the future.
Developing an Oceans Policy will help us to fix both these problems.
You are now a key part of that process. I am very grateful for the commitment you have made and the time and energy you
have agreed to contribute.
I launched this project on 12 October 2000 and I spoke then about the relationship we all, as New Zealanders, have with
the ocean. .
It is central to our economy. It is central to our sense of who we are. It defined how we got to be here and is still
the principal feature to be navigated when we leave New Zealand.
The decisions we make about how we manage our interaction with the marine environment must reflect this relationship and
the values we hold in relation to it. For that reason, the first stage of the process to develop our Oceans Policy will
be to define a vision for managing how we interact with our oceans. You have an integral role in this process.
As a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee, I am asking you to lead and facilitate meetings, hui, and whatever
other communication methods you think best to engage the public generally in thinking about our oceans, what they mean
to us and what we want from them.
You are not responsible for resolving policy issues. You are not advocates for particular perspectives or views. You
were not appointed as representatives of sector interests or specific value systems. You have been appointed because,
you have the skills and experience necessary to engage in constructive conversations with New Zealanders about what they
want to happen with the marine environment.
Your role is to invite New Zealanders to be involved in determining a shared vision. You will need to encourage people
to identify the assumptions they make when describing what they want. You will need to challenge and test those
assumptions and put them in the context of the views of others.
You will need to discuss with people what they would be prepared to do, or give up doing, to ensure the outcomes they
want. You will need to move them beyond the grievances they have with the status quo to how they can be a part of
something different.
We need you to provide us with an insight into New Zealanders values in relation to the marine environment and with
guidance on how to set priorities and reconcile competing interests.
This is a unique process. Through you the Government is going out to communities, with an open mind, to find out what
New Zealanders want for their oceans. There are no predetermined goals. But this does not mean you are not going out to
communities with a ¡¥blank piece of paper¡¦. People need to be able to get an understanding of the context in which the
Oceans Policy is being developed. They need to know why it is being developed and what will happen if we don't succeed.
Initially this will mean talking to people about what our oceans encompass, and explaining the many and varied interests
that exist in relation to our marine environment.
To do this, you will meet Maori, local government, stakeholders and the public. You will discuss with them what they
want from our marine environment, why they want it, how they think it should be achieved and what the benefits are in
achieving it.
You are then to report to the Ministerial Group on Oceans Policy on what you have learned and the issues raised.
Your report will help shape the vision for how we manage the way we interact with and use the marine environment in the
future. This work will then form the basis for the second stage of the Oceans Policy Project, which is to define the
necessary mechanisms to achieve the vision.
The first task for the Committee is to determine a strategy for engaging with the public generally on the Oceans Policy
Project. This will not be easy.
The strategy and process for engaging with communities is vitally important. The success of your work depends on
ensuring we consult in a way that is fair and open to all members of the community. You must seek to build and maintain
trust, provide independence and integrity to the process and supply credible advice to the Government.
The terms of reference for the Committee specifically ask you to develop and lead a consultation process that:
„h identifies all values held by New Zealanders in relation to the marine environment, the relative significance of
those values and any conflict between such values;
„h provides for the input and participation of Maori in the consultation process;
„h identifies and defines the nature of the rights and interests that exist in relation to the marine environment;
„h considers the nature and extent of rights and interests in relation to the marine environment;
„h creates an environment in which it is safe for participants to freely express their opinions and in which all views
are accorded respect;
„h fosters relationships between groups and sectors, which contribute to a greater understanding and acceptance of the
difference values and interests;
„h identifies and challenges assumptions relating to managing the marine environment;
„h identifies and acknowledges possible constraints on outcomes;
„h promotes amongst participants a sense of responsibility for the solution;
„h provides participants with a sense that they can influence possible outcomes; and
„h identifies principles that could support enduring long term solutions.
There are inherent risks in the approach being taken to developing the Oceans Policy and you need to be aware of these.
The process will not succeed if:
„h the process is not seen as credible and does not obtain the buy in of stakeholders;
„h the process becomes focussed on operational problems with the status quo and a forum for further exchanges of
entrenched views;
„h there is no common understanding of what the process is intended to achieve and the means by which that can be
achieved;
„h there is no willingness to accept any responsibility for ensuring solutions to identified problems; and
„h agreement is reached only at such a high level that tensions and conflicts cannot be successfully resolved and hence
no meaningful improvements occur.
The process must be seen as capable of delivering meaningful results, which means the approach you choose is crucial. If
we are serious about reflecting the values of New Zealanders, then all groups, sectors and individuals who wish to
participate must have the opportunity to do so and must be encouraged with open minds.
You will probably be asking yourself: ¡§when we get to the end of this, how will we know that we have succeeded?¡¨
You will have succeeded if we gain a clear understanding of:
„h the aspirations New Zealanders have for the marine environment;
„h the values they wish to see guiding management decisions;
„h the basis of competing values and interests in the marine environment;
„h the priorities attached to differing and competing values;
„h the ways by which competing values and priorities can be reconciled;
„h the assumptions people make when identifying what they want to happen with the marine environment, and
„h the behaviours they see as relevant to managing the marine environment
It will be important to ensure there is a community of interest in developing an Oceans Policy and a wide range of
interests prepared to continue to be involved in the process.
To assist you in your role you have a group of officials drawn from the relevant government departments and agencies.
Through them you have access to a considerable wealth of information. I invite you to use it.
This is now our joint project for the next six months. The Ministerial Group is extremely pleased to be working with all
of you on it and we look forward to it being advanced and to working closely with you on it.
Ministers are confident in the ability of this Committee to develop a strategy to respond to this challenge and I look
forward to working with you on this issue.
Hon Pete Hodgson