Launch of the Kaikoura Marine Strategy

I have much pleasure in being here today and I would like to thank Ngati Kuri and Te Korowai for their warm welcome.

I remember with great fondness my last visit in August 2010 when I joined with you to celebrate the opening of the predator proof fence for the Hutton’s Shearwater on the Kaikoura Peninsula. It is great to hear that since the fence has been completed, many things have followed including a recent successful chick translocation to the site with another one planned for early next year.

Successive Ministers of Conservation have provided encouragement and support to Te Korowai over the years because it is a common sense way of dealing with some very complex issues.

It is truly amazing what can be achieved when a community works together and takes responsibility for local issues. The accomplishments can far outweigh what individual government departments can achieve. I would particularly like to acknowledge the leadership provided by Ngati Kuri in setting up and supporting Te Korowai.

While Te Korowai was initially set up based on the Guardians of Fiordland model it has evolved into an approach that ‘fits’ Kaikoura and the particular characteristics of this place.

From my point of view it has been particularly pleasing to see how the various agencies, both local and central government, have contributed to the process. I am pleased that my Department has been able to provide both financial support and advice to Te Korowai.

I am aware of how special this area of coast is for a myriad of reasons. Environmentally it is truly unique and I think it is appropriate for there to be the range of recommendations for marine protection that I have been told are in the strategy.

So, much depends on us managing our environment wisely. The connections that people have to that environment are very evident here in Kaikoura, especially the dependence of the tourism industry on healthy natural ecosystems. Kaikoura is world renowned as a place with stunning scenery and unique marine mammal experiences. That means that we have not just a local or national responsibility here to get it right but also a global responsibility. I don’t underestimate the challenge that is being handed to us today.

I am pleased to see that Te Korowai has considered options for marine reserve protection and for the establishment of a marine mammal sanctuary. Marine protected areas are an important tool in the kete of marine management options to help ensure that our wonderful marine environment is protected for generations to come.

As Minister of Conservation I will need to consider the actual proposals put forward by Te Korowai in due course.

I feel privileged to be involved in this important step and I congratulate the Kaikoura community, and in particular the members of Te Korowai, for their dedication and perseverance that has got them to this point.