Māori Party urges a greater national response to rising sea levels

19 November 2015

The Māori Party welcomes the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report released today – Preparing New Zealand for rising seas: Certainty and Uncertainty.

“This report provides a wealth of information about the impact rising sea levels will have on our Pacific Island nation,” says Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox.

“Undoubtedly rising sea levels will encroach on our coastal communities including many marae and Māori communities.”

The Commissioner has noted in the report that as well as flooding and erosion which will become more frequent, severe and widespread, water contamination is another real threat, especially where the ground water linked to the sea will rise and possibly become brackish.

Māori Party Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says, “The Māori Party has already advocated for a range of changes to reduce the impact of climate change but has seen little response from the Government to date.”

These proposals include planting 100,000 hectares of new forests over the next ten years, promoting the use of solar panels for public service agencies, schools and hospitals and specific and targets to reduce emissions.

Mr Flavell says Government, local councils and communities will all have a role in planning for rising sea levels.

“I urge all whānau, hapū and iwi to carefully consider the issues raised in this report,” says Mr Flavell.

The report contains eight recommendations from the Commissioner to the Government with the first seven aimed at improving the direction and guidance provided by central government to councils. The last recommendation focuses on the fiscal implications of sea level rise.

“Changes in sea level rise will affect Aotearoa as well as many islands in the Pacific which we already see in countries such as Tuvalu and Kiribati. As land recedes under advancing waters, as a country we need to front foot policy on how to implement a managed retreat strategy as vulnerable populations and communities bear the brunt of rising sea levels,” says Mrs Fox.

You can view the report online at http://www.pce.parliament.nz/publications/

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