11 AUGUST 2017
One casting vote determines the future for New Zealand’s oceans
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is concerned about the decision by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to grant a
marine consent to Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (TTR) to vacuum up the sea bed off the South Taranaki Bight in order to
extract iron ore sands. The decision hinged on one deciding vote.
In its October 2016 submission to EPA, Caritas promoted Pope Francis’ message, “intervention in nature can have
consequences which are not immediately evident”. Vacuuming up 50 million tonnes of seabed material per annum may have
short term gains but it could also lead to long term ruin. TTR’s own technical reports acknowledge that some sediment
will drift into other areas, including landward into the coastal marine area.
Over the last three years, Caritas’ reports on the Oceania environment have highlighted the impacts of offshore seabed
mining as a significant concern to coastal communities, indigenous communities and the Catholic Church across the
Pacific.
Caritas believes that the EPA’s consent to extract iron ore sands did not give appropriate and reasonable consideration
of the impact on people, communities, amenity values, social, economic, aesthetic and cultural conditions essential to
an integral ecology. In other words, the EPA’s Decision-making Committee’s approach failed to consider that when it
comes to care for our common home, everything is interconnected.
In our view, the process undertaken by the EPA in relation to notification of iwi does not constitute what Pope Francis
calls an “authentic encounter”. Face to face dialogue based on mutual respect and tikanga to an acceptable standard is
yet to take place.
“Consultation with local iwi and communities is essential and should be done before any consent is granted. Doing
consultation after the decision is made smacks of tokenism and is unacceptable in the 21st century,” said Caritas
Director, Julianne Hickey.
In July, Mrs. Hickey talked about protecting and sustaining the oceans at the UN. Going ahead could undermine the
world’s goals for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda that New Zealand has signed up to. There has been little to no
assessment of climate change impacts (the oceans absorb one third of the carbon dioxide emitted by humans).
As conveyed to the EPA in our October submission, The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
which New Zealand supports, provides for “free, prior and informed consent”. It is difficult to see where this decision
gives effect to the values and interests of South Taranaki iwi.
“This was a decision centred on uncertainty and hinging on a single casting vote due to interpretative disputes and
conflicting arguments. As the Decision-making Committee said, there are long established interests within the coastal
marine area and current claims by iwi under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act. New Zealand’s international
commitments are yet to be taken into account,” said Mrs Hickey.
As parties look to appeal this decision, we hope that the well-being of our environment now, and for future generations
is fully considered.
ENDS