Minister's Akaroa Marine Reserve decision quashed

The Minister of Conservation needs to do the right thing now and approve the Akaroa Marine Reserve proposal, the Green Party said today.

The High Court yesterday quashed the Minister of Conservation’s decision to decline a proposed Marine Reserve in Akaroa.

“The quashing, by the High Court, of the Minister’s decision to decline the marine reserve application shows that her decision was unsound,” said Green Party Oceans spokesperson Gareth Hughes.

The Akaroa Marine Reserve proposal will now go back to the Minister of Conservation. The Green Party is urging her to accept the proposal.

“The Government needs to get serious about protecting our marine environment and threatened species like Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins by increasing the miniscule amount of New Zealand waters that are protected.

“Currently only 0.3% of New Zealand waters are in marine reserves compared to land where the DoC estate covers around one third of New Zealand.”

“The Government has allowed The Marine Reserves Bill to languish in select committee for almost 10 years. This delay fails our environment and threatened species.

"I congratulate the Akaroa Marine Protection Society and local community who have been fighting for this reserve since 1995.

The High Court Judgement: http://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/court_decision_8_may_2012.pdf