22 November 2018

Auckland Council welcomes the government’s decision to implement Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari, a collaborative plan to improve and better protect the health of the Hauraki Gulf.

Today, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage and Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash announced the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Committee to play a key role in implementing Sea Change.

Councillor Penny Hulse, Chair of Auckland Council’s Environment and Community Committee, is pleased that the government has recognised the merits of Sea Change and the significant multi-agency effort made to develop it.

"Auckland Council has for many years been focused on addressing the pressures on the Hauraki Gulf, especially mitigation of sedimentation washed off the land, protecting our Gulf Islands, and more recently the introduction of a water-quality targeted rate that was strongly supported by Aucklanders.

“The council looks forward to working closely with the government on progressing recommendations in Sea Change and to continuing to play a key role in restoring the health and biodiversity of the Hauraki Gulf.”

Sea Change is a comprehensive marine spatial plan to address the increasing pressures placed on the Hauraki Gulf in recent years with a number of recommendations to improve its health and better protect the area.

Launched in December 2016, the plan is the result of a collaborative approach involving an independent multi-sector Stakeholder Working Group supported by Auckland Council, Waikato District Council, the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Mana whenua were also an integral part of the working group and worked with agencies in providing project oversight.

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