Hon Nick Smith
National Party Environment Spokesman
19 September 2006
Whangamata: Minister’s excuses don’t wash
Conservation Minister Chris Carter’s excuses for breaking the law in the Whangamata Marina case do not wash and are not
grounds for appeal, says National’s Environment spokesman, Nick Smith.
“Mr Carter’s excuses smack of desperation.
“This was not a particularly controversial or difficult consent. Over the past 15 years, previous ministers have
considered more than 200 consents of this type covering huge port developments, sewage outfalls and large marinas, all
without breaking the law.
“The Whangamata Marina Society has already waited 13 years and spent $1.5 million trying to get this consent. For the
Minister to now appeal the High Court decision would just add insult to injury.
“Mr Carter cannot now untaint his tainted process.
“He should drop any notion of an appeal, apologise to the Whangamata Marina Society for breaking the law and costing
them so much time and money, and pass the decision on the marina onto his associate or another minister,” says Dr Smith.
ENDS