Crown Minerals (Protection of World Heritage Sites) Amendment Bill

on behalf of the Hon Ruth Dyson (Labour—Port Hills): I move, That the Crown Minerals (Protection of World Heritage Sites) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Local Government and Environment Committee to consider the bill. It is an opportunity that I have on behalf of the Hon Ruth Dyson to make some opening comments on this particular bill. The thing about it is that the mood on mining in New Zealand has changed. In fact, it is a generational shift, and a generational shift such that people really want to see New Zealand, and the pristine places that we cherish and love so dearly, protected. So this bill is designed to ensure that the world heritage sites that are currently listed, being Te Wāhipounamu - South West New Zealand World Heritage Area in the South Island, the Tongariro National Park, and the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand, are added to schedule 4 of the Conservation Act so that mining cannot occur. But more than that, there are a number of sites that are going through the process to be identified as world heritage sites, and the prospect of adding them to schedule 4, also, under this type of mechanism gives greater assurance to communities that have fought long and hard not only so that there is an opportunity to protect their sites so that we can all cherish them but so that the prospect of mining will not be entertained, because they are included within the schedule 4 definition.

If we look at the bill, it is a very simple bill in nature, yet it achieves so much. If we consider the sites that are referred to and some of the things that have happened, we probably would not even think twice about the common-sense approach to ensuring that in the first instance this type of bill will go to the select committee so that communities can make submissions on things that they hold dearly in their hearts about these particular areas. Take the Waikoropupū Springs, for example. Earlier this year the community rallied together. There you have a very pristine environment. I visited there. The footprint for tourism is quite minimalistic, but when you go there you know there is something special about that place. When that community got together, because of the potential of the way in which water might be affected—here is the thing: I think even though this bill will ensure that mining will not occur, it takes another step forward to support the aspirations of communities to protect places like the Waikoropupū Springs, Farewell Spit, and the Kahurangi National Park. I think that is a good thing. It is a good thing because, again, when we consider some of these other areas in Fiordland, and the waters and seabed of Fiordland, it is such a beautiful place. In fact, you have to go in by boat, and when you get there the ecosystem is such that you have freshwater species and saltwater species, and it is just amazing to see if you have never been there before. The blue cod is fantastic, and the kina are so huge that we could only look at them. Again, if this is the type of opportunity that we have to ensure that places like this can be included in schedule 4, then we can assure ourselves that we can protect, again, against the prospect of mining.

Along the West Coast, and I note that the member Maureen Pugh is here in the House, there was a lot of concern around the aeromagnetic surveys of land in about 2012 from Haast to Karamea. In fact, the local mayor just recently expressed concern about this particular member’s bill and what it would do to mining along the West Coast. What it would do is actually send a signal that we are serious about ensuring that the identity of our natural landscapes can be protected to the highest degree possible. What it would do is send a signal that we need to think about other types of ways of using other types of resources to build walls, and things like that. I read, in fact, just the other week how plastics were being used—repurposed from the sea—to be able to take the place of tarseal, and that is innovation. So we can use alternative ways, instead of stone and rock, to do certain things, and there is an opportunity there. I do not know why there has been such a strong impression against the potential of this bill, but I do know that if we at least get this bill to the select committee, so people can have a say—their concerns about it, their support for it—then we have a better opportunity to ensure that we are not only being realistic in what we want to try to achieve with this bill but actually touching the sentiments and the hearts and the whakaaro amongst many people in their communities who want to see greater and stronger protection mechanisms for their natural environment.

Of interest to me, in particular, in terms of the tentative new world heritage sites, was actually a place close to my heart; it is the origins of where my mother comes from, up in Northland, and in particular where her tupuna yields from, which is around the Kerikeri Basin area. What you have there is, I guess, a coming together of two cultures. You have got the oldest building. That is situated in the Kerikeri Basin next to the Stone Store. You have got a pā site. You have got both cultures colliding, if you like, and giving you a good sense of how the early history of New Zealand was formed. Again, I do not think people really want to see mining happening in that area. I actually think that what they would like to see is less degradation of the area and to look at how to reduce the impacts of the pressure of tourism in the area so that it can be maintained to a quality that we can ensure will be there for another 100, 200 years. I certainly support that.

I support the intent of the bill. I am pleased that my colleague the Hon Ruth Dyson brought it to the House so that everybody can consider it with the degree of necessity that it needs to be given. The bill is consistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, and that has been affirmed by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. If there are any concerns against the intent of the bill, I think they will be to ramp up negative hype around the potential impact on mining interests. I represent the Hauraki-Waikato area. The Karangahake Gorge is one such area where there is a very strong sentiment of local people around the issues to do with mining, albeit goldmining has been happening in the area for some time. But can I say that in my opening comments when I said that the tide had turned—here we have people from all walks of life getting together. They want the Karangahake Gorge to be protected. They want to ensure that the natural features can be maintained and sustained. They want to ensure that young people get the full opportunity and benefits of going to places like the Karangahake Gorge. They are the same types of communities across a diverse representation of a New Zealand community who hold those special characters in the same way as people who treasure the Waikoropupū Springs, the Kerikeri Basin, the Waitangi Treaty grounds, the Kermadec Islands, and Whakarua Moutere, the North East Islands. There are communities and interest groups that would be absolutely overwhelmed if this just got to a select committee so it could get a fair hearing.

I hope that if members on that side of the House take a call, they take the call based on some real sentiment and relevance to where their communities are at in relation to some of these named areas that I have commented on tonight. I hope that when they get up to speak they give the House, and anyone listening to this debate, a really good reason why it should not go to a select committee so that everybody can have a say. I hope that when they get up and say what the sentiment is in their own community, they are prepared to front up to those other communities that would be overwhelmed to see it get over the first hurdle. I hope that when members on the other side of the House get up and speak to this bill they will see the sense in ensuring it gets to a select committee so that all communities can have a say, and they can tell Parliament what they hold dear to their hearts.

I know that the environment, and the ongoing protection of it for future generations, is absolutely important. This bill will go a little bit further to ensure that mining does not occur in schedule 4 lands, and that we have a mechanism to add lands into that particular schedule. Tēnā koutou.

Debate interrupted.