Listen Now: 
A Bill to establish a giant marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands has been introduced to parliament, with the Government keen to get it passed so the sanctuary can come into effect on November 1.
Environment minister Nick Smith says all forms of fishing and mining will be prohibited in the 620,000 square kilometre area of New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone from Raoul Island in the north to L'Esperance Rock in the south.
Members of the northernmost tribes Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri were at parliament for an event to mark the bill, along with the Kermadec Initiative partners – the international Pew Charitable Trust, WWF-New Zealand, and Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
The two iwi will each be able to nominate a member of the new conservation board that will develop the management strategy for the sanctuary, existing marine reserve and on-land nature reserves.
But there's concern among other Maori as the sanctuary covers all of quota management area 10, in which all iwi have interests under the Maori fisheries settlement which are being taken away by the bill.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
