Post by Kiwi Frontline on Mar 23, 2022 9:28:26 GMT 12
CAMPAIGN TO RETAIN DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF THE HAURAKI GULF CONTINUES
You may have seen our advertisement in the NZ Herald last week (March 16) where we named the five elected Councillors on the Hauraki Gulf Forum who voted to introduce a new 50:50 co-governance authority with mana whenua and ‘others’ to manage the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. These elected representatives – Councillors Pippa Coom, Anne Marie Spicer, Dennis Tegg and Local Board members Cath Handley and Valmaine Toki – failed to gain community support before voting for such a radical change to the way the Marine Park is governed.
They chose to ignore the concerns and voices of over 15,000 people who signed our petition opposing the proposal and/or sent emails directly to the councillors.
The proposal passed, but only with the support of six iwi representatives, who are unelected by and unaccountable to the wider community.
Despite this setback, we will continue action to oppose the co-governance model. This is too important. The Hauraki Gulf belongs to all of us and should not be handed over to a non-democratic elite. This means our councils will have very little influence, making them powerless to protect the interests of the 2.2 million people who live in the region.
Our campaign is now calling for a referendum at the local body elections later this year. We believe it is important that the Forum takes more time to consider the proposal and consult with the community.
We will also lobby central Government to drop the co-governance proposal, as the proposal requires Government support for legislative change.
We will also do all we can to raise awareness of what is at risk – the control of the Marine Park, and the rights of ordinary citizens. We remain most concerned that access to recreational fishing, boating and the ability for businesses to make a living on the Gulf is at risk under the proposal.
Our Group supports the intention to improve the health of the Hauraki Gulf and believes that can happen while decisions on the Gulf remain fair, transparent, and democratic.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge the seven elected members on the Forum who opposed the proposal. They are: Mayor Sandra Goudie and Councillors John Watson, Wayne Walker, Christine Fletcher, Donna Arnold, Rob McGuire and Orakei Local Board member Scott Milne.
Thank you for your ongoing support. Please share this email widely and suggest your friends sign up to receive further information.
Lee Short
Spokesperson
Gulf Users Group
www.gulfusers.org.nz/
You may have seen our advertisement in the NZ Herald last week (March 16) where we named the five elected Councillors on the Hauraki Gulf Forum who voted to introduce a new 50:50 co-governance authority with mana whenua and ‘others’ to manage the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. These elected representatives – Councillors Pippa Coom, Anne Marie Spicer, Dennis Tegg and Local Board members Cath Handley and Valmaine Toki – failed to gain community support before voting for such a radical change to the way the Marine Park is governed.
They chose to ignore the concerns and voices of over 15,000 people who signed our petition opposing the proposal and/or sent emails directly to the councillors.
The proposal passed, but only with the support of six iwi representatives, who are unelected by and unaccountable to the wider community.
Despite this setback, we will continue action to oppose the co-governance model. This is too important. The Hauraki Gulf belongs to all of us and should not be handed over to a non-democratic elite. This means our councils will have very little influence, making them powerless to protect the interests of the 2.2 million people who live in the region.
Our campaign is now calling for a referendum at the local body elections later this year. We believe it is important that the Forum takes more time to consider the proposal and consult with the community.
We will also lobby central Government to drop the co-governance proposal, as the proposal requires Government support for legislative change.
We will also do all we can to raise awareness of what is at risk – the control of the Marine Park, and the rights of ordinary citizens. We remain most concerned that access to recreational fishing, boating and the ability for businesses to make a living on the Gulf is at risk under the proposal.
Our Group supports the intention to improve the health of the Hauraki Gulf and believes that can happen while decisions on the Gulf remain fair, transparent, and democratic.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge the seven elected members on the Forum who opposed the proposal. They are: Mayor Sandra Goudie and Councillors John Watson, Wayne Walker, Christine Fletcher, Donna Arnold, Rob McGuire and Orakei Local Board member Scott Milne.
Thank you for your ongoing support. Please share this email widely and suggest your friends sign up to receive further information.
Lee Short
Spokesperson
Gulf Users Group
www.gulfusers.org.nz/
