I was at a school recently and a student asked me what I was most proud about achieving as an MP.
I thought about this and decided that actions taken in my role as Conservation Minister between 2002 and 2007 were what I most wanted to be remembered for.
Just after the 2008 election, Michael Cullen sent me a note which commented on how much land I had been responsible for adding to the conservation estate in NZ. I was over the moon about his generous gesture and remembered acquisitions like Kaikoura Island in the Hauraki Gulf and Molesworth Station in the South Island. Altogether I added, with Cabinet’s support, 360,000 hectares of land to the conservation estate. This land will be owned by Kiwis long after I am gone and forgotten.
I also remembered those memorable battles around the creation of new marine reserves during those five years. Some of them really heated! I can proudly say that of New Zealand’s 33 marine reserves 17 were created, and more than half a million hectares of beach or ocean were protected, in the 5 years I was Conservation Minister.
Our natural environment is one of the most important things that define us as Kiwis. The DOC estate – some 30% of New Zealand’s land area – not only brings millions of tourists to this country, but also ensures that all Kiwis have access to quality outdoor pursuits, and that we are world leaders in protecting our unique biodiversity.
National’s contribution to future generations, and the preservation of our unique landscapes and biodiversity, marine and terrestrial, has in eight short months seen the end of marine reserve applications, the audit of the whole DOC estate for mining, and the repeal of Labour’s rules against subdividing our unique lake-frontages in the South Island high country.
So much for Mr Key and the National Party being ambitious for New Zealand! I guess they’re being ambitious for the fishing industry, the mining industry, and those 300 families that occupy vast areas of Crown lands in the South Island high country!
If you want to learn more the work I did as Conservation Minister, visit my newsletters archive.
Note from Michael Cullen
Chris, I was very impressed by the stand you took over the Whangamata Marina too. I know you got hammered for it, but you earned a lot of respect from me for what you did.
Thanks mate I really appreciate your kind words. Had I had the chance I would have said no to the marina proposal at Whangamata a second time. We are losing too much of our coastal areas to commercial and residential development, and that particular project could really impact on the surf bar and biodiversity values of Whangamata Harbour.
I am curious Chris, are you aware of how may fishermen lost their lively hoods each time you increased marine reserves? As some one who’s first job out of school was to toil away for 16-18 hours a day on a small comercial fisher it saddeed me every time I saw one of those hard workers put out of buisness by the limitation of the fisheries.
Also along those line were you proud of the Pike river mining project. A very similar proposition to what the current government are making?
While other ministers were quite happy to trade off our environment and endangered species for minor economic gains, as Minister of Conservation (with some exceptions like Happy Valley) you were pretty good.
There is a particular place which I won’t name here, which your office quietly protected, saving a critically endangered subspecies, despite the economic imperative to do otherwise. That is something I will remember.
Geek, all the international evidence shows that marine reserves increase the amount of fish available for fishermen.
Only 7 percent of New Zealand’s waters are in reserves, and the great majority (97%) is in the Kermadecs and Auckland Islands. Of the rest of our marine environment, only 0.21% is protected.
And one last piece of praise; the partial ban on bottom trawling, and New Zealand’s work to reach international agreement on that is to be praised.
I saw the Government come round to the position after opposing it. I don’t thank Labour enough, but they certainly deserve it here.
Thanks for your comment. I am sure I don’t need to remind you that marine reserves have no fences around them. The recovery of species within the protected area is well documented. For example at Goat Island , our oldest marine reserve, snapper size and density is 9 times that of the surrounding area. All documented by Auckland University studies based out of the Leigh science centre and online. In addition I was proscribed by law to have full consideration of the impact of the reserve on existing fishing practise. In fact I believe marine reserves are very much in the interest of recreational fishers because they are the only effective way of rebuilding fish stocks. As far as Pike River is concerned I was carefully to mitigate the environmental impact ie underground only, minimal land subsidence and close monitoring of the impact on transport of materials from the mine.
[...] today, we have Chris Carter blogging, and he says: The DOC estate – some 30% of New Zealand’s land area – not only brings millions of [...]
Increasing Marine reserves may increase fish stocks it does not however increase the ability for small scale fisherman to reach those stocks. It was the small scale guys who went out andd worked their guts out who could no longer reven reach the fishing grounds. One need only look at the reduction in small fishing boats based out of Auckland to see the effects these kinds of policies have.
It seems if you are the guy in the middle you are forgotten. When looking at it the Sanfords and Moana’s do great but Bob who has been running his long liner for 40 years will just have to find something else to do for a living.
As to your point about Pike river, surely this proves that mining on DOC land can be carried out in a way that has minimal impact. Doesn’t this show that your comments in the OP about the auditing of DOC lands to be particularly hypocritical. Can you not see that to say one day “we can do this on DOC land without damaging it” then to say the next that the current Governmentis is cashing in our green image by carrying out an audit is so blatantly two face it beggers belief.
“As far as Pike River is concerned I was carefully to mitigate the environmental impact ie underground only, minimal land subsidence and close monitoring of the impact on transport of materials from the mine.”
Thanks Chris, so does this mean you’re cool if National do same? Just keen to get the rules of engagement clear on this issue.
Why was my comment, which merely repeated a line from Chris’s post, and asked if that meant Labour were cool with National taking the same care to mitigate the environmental affects of mining National Park land, removed?
It was hardly personal abuse, or inflammatory.
Do you guys wish to conduct dialogue on this site or not?
Trevor??
And now I note it’s back, but apparently still awaiting moderation. Strange.
You added Molesworth Station to the conservation estate?
I thought we the taxpayer have owned that station since about the 1940s .
You did buy St James Station Chris.
Surely you havent forgotten that
Chris can I ask why you never purchased the Ngunguru Spit..?
[You had a final warning for trolling last week Cujo. Your latest abuse has you banned indefinitely - admin]
@Master Blaster Believe it or not both the admin person and I are not always on line and available to clear comments that are in the moderation file. I don’t know why yours were there – the practice is that all first comments go there as a spam/idiot guard and also that some people who have a history of offensive comments are checked before they published.
Some of it, maybe.
Whangamata says it all.
I really miss Michael Cullen being in government.
Thanks Trevor – it’s strange – when I checked around 9pm last night none of them were there, then today they’re back up.
Anyway, thanks for attending to it.
as you are talking about the heritage of/from nine years of a labour government..
would it be possible for you to do a post on the just released oecd figures on global child poverty..?
and to relate these statistics back to yr time in power..?
thank you..
(first-time poster..i am being overly polite ..’cos i’ve heard you have somewhat draconian censorship policies..
..i really could use much more robust language to describe my reaction to what can only be abysmal/shameful statistics on child poverty..
and i write this as a person who has raised my son..on a domestic purposes benefit..
..during your time in power..
..so am very aware of the realities for those of us in that position..
..under your ‘labour’ government..
thsnk you for your time/attention..
..and i look forward to your response..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
[To reiterate: moderation policy is that comments are on topic and free of personal attacks or abuse - admin]
is criticism/questions about ministers areas of responsibility/outcomes during labours’ term in power..
..deemed to be ‘personal attacks/abuse’..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)