The Hauraki Gulf Forum welcomes the Ministers’ of Conservation and Fisheries intention to establish a Sea Change Ministerial Advisory Committee. The Committee will assist with evaluating the Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari marine spatial plan and assess how to progress its vision alongside all other parties with an interest in the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana.
The announcement made jointly by the Ministers is recognition of the importance of the marine spatial plan by the Department of Conservation and Fisheries New Zealand. Both agencies have major roles to play, in addition to the Ministry for the Environment.
Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari sets out many aspirations associated with the marine environment, but it also recognises the importance of land-based activities on the health of the Gulf.
The Hauraki Gulf Forum’s 2017 State of our Gulf report released earlier this year highlighted ongoing degradation in the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana and recognised that the most profound recent change to pressures facing the Hauraki Gulf is a surge in population.
Cumulative pressure on the marine environment is mounting as the population growth, development and commercial and recreational pressures continue to mount. Rapid population growth and land use activities continue to put pressure on land and coastal resources, and in turn, on the marine environment.
“We must recognise the connection between the land and the sea. We must focus on improving the health of our marine ecosystems and habitats holistically, and to do so, we must also pay attention to how our land-based activities impact the marine environment,” says Hauraki Gulf Forum Chairperson, John Meeuwsen.
The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 created the Hauraki Gulf Forum to support integrated management of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park – an area encompassing the Hauraki Gulf, Firth of Thames and eastern Coromandel.
“Integrated management of the entire marine park and its catchments is essential fix to ad hoc and ineffective decision-making and the Sea Change Tai Timu, Tai Pari is a major step towards demonstrating that an integrated and holistic planning is possible,” says Mr Meeuwsen.
The Auckland Council and Waikato Regional Council, both constituent parties of the Hauraki Gulf Forum have been actively considering how to include the aspirations of Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari when planning their activities.
This year the Auckland Council introduced a water quality targeted rate specifically to pay for projects across the region to ensure cleaner beaches, streams and harbours in Auckland. This will include projects that improve water quality in our harbours and beaches, and the Hauraki Gulf.
In 2017, the Waikato Regional Council prepared a Sea Change implementation plan and supported funding through its Long Term Plan 2018-2028 to progress a range implementation activities around science, catchment planning and sedimentation management.
Whilst these agencies are implementing elements of the Sea Change plan that fall within their respective areas of responsibilities, the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Group by central Government agencies will play a key role in leading a more coordinated evaluation of the Plan from a central government lens.
The Forum looks forward to working with the Ministerial Advisory Group and actively contribute its learnings for the betterment of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
What is the Hauraki Gulf Forum?
The Hauraki Gulf Forum is a statutory body charged with the promotion and facilitation of integrated management and the protection and enhancement of the Hauraki Gulf.
The Forum has representation on behalf of the Ministers for Conservation, Primary Industries and Māori Affairs, elected representatives from Auckland Council (including Great Barrier Island and Waiheke Island Local Boards), Waikato Regional Council, the Waikato, Hauraki Thames-Coromandel and Matamata-Piako District Councils, and representatives of the tangata whenua of the Hauraki Gulf and its islands.
The Forum is required to present triennial reports regarding the State of the Gulf. The fifth such report was released in March 2018 and is available here.
