Sand mining decision good news for NZ Fairy Tern

[Michael Szabo]

Yesterday the Environment Court declined consents for offshore sand mining in the Mangawhai-Pakiri Embayment, Auckland. The case was taken by Forest & Bird to highlight the inadequacy of information supplied by the applicant concerning ecological effects on sensitive seabed ecology and the critically endangered New Zealand Fairy Tern Tara Iti.

Forest & Bird worked alongside the Department of Conservation, community groups and mana whenua including Friends of Pakiri Beach, Te Whānau o Pākiri, Ōmaha Marae, Ngāti Manuhiri, the Environmental Defence Society, and others in efforts to protect the area.

This is an example of how the Resource Management Act can work to protect one of our most threatened bird species. Under the government's proposed new Fast-Track Approvals Bill, a trio of ministers could ignore all the evidence and expert advice, and overturn this decision at the stroke of a pen.

You can make a submission on the Fast-Track Approvals Bill here until 19th April:
https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/petiti ... for-nature

or here:
https://petition.act.greenpeace.org.nz/ ... submission

[Jim_j]

Yes its a shame that this win and all the others that have gone before it are now essentially worthless.

Cheers
jim

[Michael Szabo]

Yes, especially now we know the relevant minister has actually invited some of the developers to apply again under the Fast-Track Approvals Bill:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/51 ... d-to-apply