Oceans Consultation Coming to Capital City

16 July 2001

Wellington: Level 5 Committee Room,
Wellington Regional Council,
142-146 Wakefield Street,
Wednesday 18 July, 5.30pm

Customary fishing rights, coastal erosion, and farming run off are some of the issues discussed at public meetings over the past month - all of which impact on our oceans.

It is now the turn of capital city citizens to attend the Wellington City public meeting for Oceans Policy to be held in the Level 5 Committee Room, Wellington Regional Council, 142-146 Wakefield Street on Wednesday 18 July, 5.30pm.

Mr David McDowell, Deputy Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee responsible for conducting public consultations on the formulation of an Oceans Policy, will chair the meeting.

It is the first time New Zealanders have been formally asked to not only think about, but also to submit views on their values and vision for an Oceans Policy. It is an opportunity for every New Zealander to contribute at the very start of a process, and this fact makes the committee's consultation process different.

"New Zealand needs an Oceans Policy to help resolve conflict between different human uses of the oceans. The laws that currently relate to the use of the oceans are complicated, piecemeal and contradictory," Mr McDowell said.

The committee is halfway through the consultations. Some of the issues that have come up so far include the polluting effect of run-off from farms and storm water systems, coastal erosion, conflicts between commercial fishers, recreational fishers and Maori customary gatherers of seafood over the use of coastline resources and the sea, and standards for any mining activity on the seabed.

"To stimulate new thinking we have developed a booklet with a seven question guide to making submissions. New Zealanders are invited to attend the public meetings so they can get a feel for how the process works and then the next step is for them to submit a submission," Mr McDowell said.

Other elements of the consultation campaign are: a schools' campaign, a website and a 0800 number so people can request a copy of the booklet or details on public meetings.

The deadline for submissions for stage one is August 17, 2001.

For further information on the Oceans Policy and the public meetings in your area call 0800 001461 or check www.oceans.govt.nz