march version 3 · * environmental management, geoff keey or cath wallace * fisheries and ocean,...

ECOlink June 2005 * PAGE 1ECOlink June 2005 * PAGE 1ECOlink June 2005 * PAGE 1ECOlink June 2005 * PAGE 1ECOlink June 2005 * PAGE 1

• NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS• JUNE 2005

ecolink

* IN THIS ISSUE

ECO Conference 2005 1DRAFT Conference Programme 2

Vote for the Environment 3

Carbon Charge 4

Save Happy Valley Dissatisfied by Environmental Court

Decision 5

Rainbow Warrior to Campaign on Deep Sea Life 7

OECD Environmental Performance Review of NZ:

Holding the Government to Account 8

Oceans Management and Control of Fishing Impacts in

International Spotlight 9 -11

ECO Conference Registration Form 11-12

ECO Conference 2005“MOUNTAINS TO THE DEEP SEA”

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENTPROFESSIONALS, ECO MEMBERS AND PUBLICOFFICIALS WILL GATHER IN WELLINGTON TO SET THEAGENDA FOR NEW ZEALAND’S ENVIRONMENT ANDCONSERVATION POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT NEEDS.

This year’s ECO Annual Conference will look at crucialenvironmental issues for the next 3 years. These includeenergy and climate change, the future of the ResourceManagement Act, oceans policy and fisheries management,and global environmental issues.

New Zealand is facing some huge environmentalchallenges and some new ways forward must be taken urgentlyto protect the country’s environmental quality.

For more information about the Conference call KateLower at (04) 385-7545 or at [email protected]

YOU CAN FIND A DRAFT OFYOU CAN FIND A DRAFT OFYOU CAN FIND A DRAFT OFYOU CAN FIND A DRAFT OFYOU CAN FIND A DRAFT OFPROGRAMME ANDPROGRAMME ANDPROGRAMME ANDPROGRAMME ANDPROGRAMME AND

REGISTRAREGISTRAREGISTRAREGISTRAREGISTRATION FORM INSIDE!TION FORM INSIDE!TION FORM INSIDE!TION FORM INSIDE!TION FORM INSIDE!

Why not to share the informationabout ECO Conference with someoneelse? You could give it to a friend orworkmate, put it on yourorganisation’s website, send to yourorganisation’s networks, etc.

pass it on!

HELP THE WORD GO AROUND!

PLEASE REGISTER!PLEASE REGISTER!PLEASE REGISTER!PLEASE REGISTER!PLEASE REGISTER!EARLEARLEARLEARLEARLY BIRD CONFERENCEY BIRD CONFERENCEY BIRD CONFERENCEY BIRD CONFERENCEY BIRD CONFERENCE

RARARARARATES TES TES TES TES APPLAPPLAPPLAPPLAPPLY BEFOREY BEFOREY BEFOREY BEFOREY BEFORE13 JUNE13 JUNE13 JUNE13 JUNE13 JUNE

24-25 JuneBaptist Church46 Boulcott St.

Wellington

26 JuneTapu Te Ranga Marae

44 Rhine StWellington

Photo: Kim Westerskov


FRIDAY 8:00 - 8:45 Registration

8:45 - 9:00 Powhiri/Welcome, Mark Te One

9:00 - 10:30 Priorities for Conservation: * South Pacific, Penelope Figgis AM, Vice-Chair for Australia and New Zealand of the World Commission on Protected Areas

* Antarctic and Southern Ocean, Debs Martin, F&B

* New Zealand, Kevin Hackwell, F&B

10:30 - 11:00 BREAK

11:00 - 11:40 Environment and Science: tbc11:40 - 12:30 Trade, Vangelis Vitalis, Senior Negotiator and Deputy

Director, Trade Negotiations Division, MFAT

12:30 - 1:15 LUNCH with RMAlink display

1:15 - 3:10 Policy and Practice priorities: 7 min presentation+ 15 min workshop on each key aspect:

* Environmental Management, Geoff Keey or Cath Wallace

* Fisheries and Ocean, Carmen Gravatt, GPNZ

* Antarctic, Debs Martin F&B

* Energy, Clive Monds or Nigel Isaacs - tbc

* Climate Change, Vanessa Atkinson, GPNZ

D r a f t C o n f e r e n c e P r o g r a m m e

Baptist Church: Tapu Te Ranga Marae:

DrDrDrDrDraft ofaft ofaft ofaft ofaft of Pr Pr Pr Pr Prooooogggggrrrrramme famme famme famme famme for ECO’or ECO’or ECO’or ECO’or ECO’s s s s s AnnAnnAnnAnnAnnual Confual Confual Confual Confual Conferererererence 2005ence 2005ence 2005ence 2005ence 200524-25 June, Baptist Church, 46 Boulcott St, Wellington26 June, Tapu Te Ranga Marae, 44 Rhine St., Wellington

3:10 - 3:35 BREAK

3:35 - 5:30 Policy and Practice priorities continuation: *DoC funding, Kevin Hackwell, F&B

* Biodiversity, Kevin Hackwell, F&B

* Biosecurity, Geoff Keey, F&B

* High Country, Kevin Hackwell, F&B

*Freshwater - Bryce Johnson, Fish and Game

5:30 - 7:00 DINNER

7:00 Vote for the Environment: Politicians on the Green Spot -Representatives of parties: National (Dr. Nick Smith),Labour (Marian Hobbs), NZ First (Jim Peters),Greens (Jeanette Fitzsimons), United (Larry Baldock),Maori, ACT (Ken Shirley)

SATURDAY 9:00 - 10:30 Think Better than Think Big:

* Introduction of Electricity Commission, Roy Hemmingway, Chairman *Energy alternatives, Molly Melhuish

* RMA, Cath Wallace, ECO

* Public participation, Geoff Keey, F&B

10:30 - 11:00 BREAK

11:00 - 12:30 Maori Environmental and Resource Management

perspective:

Jessica Hutchings, Massey Uni. and Victoria Uni.

Maiki Marks

Tbc

12:30 - 1:45 LUNCH

1:45 - 3:30 Oceans, Fisheries, Deep Sea Biodiversity - impacts

what could be done?John Glaister, CEO at MFish

Marine Biodiversity speaker - tbc

Steve O’Shea

Barry Weeber

3:30 - 4:00 BREAK

4:00 - 4:45 Alternative Energy - Michael Lawley, EcoInnovation

4:45 - 5:15 Save Happy Valley Campaign - Workshop

5:15 - 5:45 Clean up/ move to Tapu Te Ranga Marae

6:30 - 8:00 DINNER

8:00 ENTERTAINMENT: Emily Bailey’s presentation

about: raw footage of “Kotahi Te Ao” global

grassroots film project

SUNDAY 9:00 - 9:30 Keynote Speaker - Wendy Reid, SustainableAotearoa NZ

9:30 - 10:00 Supporting Capability Building in community andvoluntary organisations Stephen Blyth, MSD

10:00 - 11:00 AGM part I

11:00 - 11:10 BREAK

11:10 - 12:40 AGM part II

12:40 - 1:40 LUNCH

1:40 - 2:00 Clean up

2:00 Field Trips:

1. Karori Wildlife Sanctuary - Guided introductory tour

2. South Coast, Ray Mercer

3. Power Trip, Confirmed

KKKKKate Lower at 04 385-7545ate Lower at 04 385-7545ate Lower at 04 385-7545ate Lower at 04 385-7545ate Lower at 04 385-7545FFFFFax: 04ax: 04ax: 04ax: 04ax: 04 385385385385385 75457545754575457545e-mail: eco@redde-mail: eco@redde-mail: eco@redde-mail: eco@redde-mail: [email protected]

On and after 24 June you canOn and after 24 June you canOn and after 24 June you canOn and after 24 June you canOn and after 24 June you canreach Kate Lower at 021 137-5667reach Kate Lower at 021 137-5667reach Kate Lower at 021 137-5667reach Kate Lower at 021 137-5667reach Kate Lower at 021 137-5667

FOR MORE INFORMAFOR MORE INFORMAFOR MORE INFORMAFOR MORE INFORMAFOR MORE INFORMATIONTIONTIONTIONTIONCONTCONTCONTCONTCONTAAAAACTCTCTCTCT :::::

Programme uProgramme uProgramme uProgramme uProgramme updates onpdates onpdates onpdates onpdates onwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.eco.eco.eco.eco.eco.org.nz - subject to change.org.nz - subject to change.org.nz - subject to change.org.nz - subject to change.org.nz - subject to change

page


V o t e f o r t h e E n v i r o n m e n t

2005 is election year and ECO, along withGreenpeace, Forest and Bird and Federated MountainClubs, will be again promoting a suite of environmentalpolicies we will ask political parties to adopt and againstwhich to assess their positions.

This election is important for the environment.Political parties are taking different positions on theenvironment.

Key issues identified by the groups and policypositions being discussed include:

High Country: further progress on the pastoral leaseand the development of new high country conservationparks.

Marine: Passage of the Marine Reserves Bill,progress on more legislation, and more representativemarine reserves including those in the EEZ and supportfor Marine Reserves in the High Seas and in the RossSea. Rejection of the current version of the MarineProtected Areas Policy which is dreadfully weak andfails to achieve international obligations.

Fisheries management changes to reverse the onusof proof so that fishers may not fish unless theirmethods are environmentally sound; environmentalimpact assessment; statutorily defined rights for publicinput; publicly controlled research and fisheriesmanagement planning; rejection of fishing industrycontrol of fisheries plans and research or researchcommissioning for fisheries management purposes andmuch better protection of threatened species includingmarine mammals and seabirds

Support for an immediate moratorium on high seasbottom trawling and new governance for the protectionof biodiversity and the environment in the High Seas.

The development and implementation of aneffective, comprehensive and ecosystem based OceansPolicy. Little progress has occurred in the last 3 yearsand it is essential that the Oceans policy be finishedand implemented in the next three years.

Biodiversity: An integrated and publicly controlledDepartment of Conservation with policy, advocacy andintegrated conservation management responsibilitieswith additional funding. The Department does not nowhave the funds to achieve the goal of “restoring the dawnchorus” in the Biodiversity Strategy and its funding formarine conservation is so woefully inadequate that theDepartment does far less than is required for effectivemarine conservation – while a well funded Ministry ofFisheries controls the agenda.

Climate change and energy: Support for theintroduction of greenhouse gas emission charges (withpreferably no cap and any cap no less than $25/tonne)in or before 2007; commitment to the Kyoto Protocoland taking an active role in the start of negotiations forthe next 5 year commitment period 2013-2018.

RMA: The withdrawal of the Resource Management andElectricity Reform Bill, with instead the provision of much greatersupport for environmentally focused standards and National PolicyStatements. Amendment to the legislation to allow appeals onnon-notification.

RMA and Mining: To align New Zealand legislation with theWorld Conservation Union policy and recommendations on miningand conservation; removal of the privileged position ofapplications for conservation consents for mining which nowallows input by the applicant but not by the environmentalcommunity.

Freshwater: Freshwater is a key challenge for the future.Ecosystem management based effective targets and timetables toconserve New Zealand’s waterways and lakes.

Antarctica: New Zealand’s position should be that themanagement of Antarctica is conservation focused and in particularthat the management of the Ross Sea is conservation focused, withadoption of the World Conservation Union’s recommendation fora large Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea. That New Zealandshoul discontinue support for fishing in the Southern Ocean andthe Ross Sea while supporting the international moves to controlillegal, unauthorized and unreported fishing.

Hazardous substances and GE: Improved management ofHazardous Substances; controls on the release of GE.

Please contact Cath Wallace at [email protected] orClive Monds at [email protected].,nz with suggestions orcomments. For further information as this campaign unfolds, seewww.environmentvote.org.nz

Budget and the EnvironmentThere was not much in the budget for the environment or

conservation. A small increase in baseline funding for DOC hadalready been flagged.

The budget included the welcome introduction of the carboncharge but not until 2007. Changes to tax categories anddepreciation as an offset against that new charge are sensible, butare too focused on benefits to business rather than to those onlower incomes.

Vote for the Environment


C l i m a t e C h a n g e

ECO welcomed the Government’s announcement that itwill introduce a carbon charge as a step in the right directionto deal with climate change.

However it has been a long slow process from Rio toreach the Government’s announcement that it will introducea carbon charge in 2007.

Following on from the Earth Summit in 1992, theNational Government in 1994 set a target to introduce acarbon charge in 1997. By 1997, when NZ’s position on theKyoto Protocol was negotiated by then Environment MinisterSimon Upton, a decision on implementing had been deferred.By October 1999, immediately prior to the election, Nationalwas looking at at a process starting in 2008.

It then took three long years before Labour announcedits climate change policies in October 2002, including acarbon charge, prior to ratifying the Kyoto protocol inDecember that year.

The announcement is an important step but the charge isonly half the $30/tonne put forward by Environment Groupsin the Vote for the Environment Charter prior to the 2002election as a minimum goal for implementation by 2004.The charge will need to be increased to achieve moreeffective reductions in emissions. It also cannot stand alone.

More importantly, such a charge needs to nest in a suiteof sustainable energy policies that encourage efficient andwise use of energy. The Government has so far onlyannounced measures to drive energy efficiency in small andlarge businesses. Other measures are needed to promoteenergy efficiency in residential households.

While we await a sustainable energy policy thegovernment is driving in the opposite direction by pushingfor large scale infrastructure development andenvironmentally harmful coal mining which will do nothingto limit New Zealand’s impact on the climate.

ECO will continue to urge the Government to implementthe carbon charge much earlier and call on all political partiesto support this small measure as an important first step inaction to deal with climate change.

Carbon ChargeCarbon ChargeCarbon ChargeCarbon ChargeCarbon Charge

The New Zealand WasteMinimisation Resources Directorythat allows users to easily download adiverse range of tools and resources isnow online.

Managed by the RecyclingOperators of New Zealand (RONZ)with funding support from the Ministryfor the Environment’s SustainableManagement Fund, the WasteMinimisation Resources Directoryidentifies practical resources availableto councils, educators, commercial andcommunity recyclers and service

providers involved in wasteminimisation programmes andinitiatives.

Nationally we have published anextensive range of excellent tools andresources. The aim of this database isto compile these resources to enableeasy access to them. Easy to use, youcan search by category, resource typeand/or target market for examplecomposting, events, kerbside recycling,waste audits etc. Examples ofresources include brochures, factsheets, posters, education kits andreports.

Some resources are also availableonline as downloadable PDF files or

may be available through the RONZlending library.

To add existing or new tools orresources to the database or foradditional information please go towww.ronz.org.nz or contact RONZby email, [email protected] or tel 09488 9449.

Waste MinimisationWaste MinimisationWaste MinimisationWaste MinimisationWaste MinimisationRRRRResouresouresouresouresources Dirces Dirces Dirces Dirces Directorectorectorectorectoryyyyy

Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensurethe accuracy of information contained in thispublication, ECO, its Executive and Editorial Staffaccept no liability for any errors or omissions.Views and opinions expressed in this publicationdo not necessarily represent the policy opinionsof ECO or its member bodies.


M i n i n g

“With no more needed than the love of te whenua youhave acted in accordance with your conscience andhave highlighted the plight of our valued wild lands,threatened by the agents of the state and business asthey meet the needs of their warped paradigm that hasseen the earth buckle under the strain of the massiveexpansion in consumption over the last few decades”

Rick Barber of Te Runanga o Ngati Waewaetalking about the Save Happy Valley tree sit inagainst Solid Energy’s new proposed Cyrus Mine

Most people would be shocked to hear that their taxdollars are funding opencast mining of pristine kiwi habitatby a state-owned coal company. However, the EnvironmentCourt recently gave the go-ahead for Solid Energy to do justthat in the ecologically sensitive area of Happy Valley, northof Westport. Solid Energy admits it has an atrociousenvironmental record: it has polluted rivers, destroyedindigenous fauna and habitat, and shown scant regard for theconcerns of local communities.

The Save Happy Valley campaign is committed to stoppingthe destruction of this precious natural environment. Formedoriginally on student campuses around the country, thecampaign has been characterised by creative direct action,with occupations of the proposed mine site, tree sit-ins andpeople chaining themselves to Solid Energy’s headquarters.

Other environmental groups such as Te Runanga o NgatiWaewae, Forest and Bird, Buller Conservation Group andNgakawau River Watch pursued legal means to oppose themine, but Save Happy Valley had little faith in the courts.With the decision by the Environment Court in favour ofSolid Energy, it is clear that only public outcry and civildisobedience will succeed in halting this ecologicallydevastating opencast mine.

Why are we so committed to stopping this mine? HappyValley activist Jonathon Oosterman explains, ‘Open castmining is the most destructive form of mining. The top ofthe land is scraped off, horrific pollution and acid minedamage drainage is created, and local rivers are stripped offish and invertebrates. No amount of rehabilitation effort willrestore it within our, or our childrens’ lifetimes.’Furthermore, the site is home to nationally threatenedspecies such as the great spotted kiwi and Powelliphanta“patrickensis” snails. The mine will irrevocably scar theunique red tussock wetland landscape, beech forest andmanuka shrubland.

Save Happy Valley has no faith that Solid Energy willcomply with the conditions set by the Environment Court, asminimal as they are. Solid Energy has consistently shownblatant disregard for the environment in the interest of makinga quick buck: their Stockton Mine has polluted the NgakawauRiver to the extent that local white-baiters caught almostnothing last season. In the Upper Ngakawau River, mist fromthe waterfalls is so toxic it kills the surrounding foliage. InFebruary, Solid Energy CEO, Don Elder, promised BullerConservation Group and Ngakawau Riverwatch that SolidEnergy would not mine a prominent ridge above Granity. Lessthan one month later the promise was broken, when localsdiscovered fresh mining on the ridgeline, a prominent locallandscape feature, on 21st March. Solid Energy has alreadyknowingly killed scores of rare Powelliphenta giant snailsat their Stockton mine. Solid Energy’s record speaks for itselfand unless direct action is taken their callous disregard forthe environment will ruin Happy Valley.

Why is this happening? Isn’t the state supposed to protectour rare native habitat rather than ruthlessly exploit it? Thegovernment is hopelessly compromised and hypocritical inits stance towards coal mining in New Zealand - it consistently

puts profit before people and nature.Happy Valley has been betrayed by theDepartment of Conservation, whosupported the mine, and the localcouncils who will be unwilling or unableto enforce the minimal environmentalstandards set by the Environment Court.We have no faith in the machinery of thestate to protect the environment.

Furthermore, society ignores thelonger-term implications of this mineat our peril. We must make the directconnection between new coal mineshere in Aotearoa and the suffering anddestruction wrought by climate changeto communities and the environmentaround the world. This EnvironmentCourt ruling shows once again that theGovernment’s attempts to tackle

SaSaSaSaSavvvvve Happe Happe Happe Happe Happy Vy Vy Vy Vy Valley Campaign Dissatisfiedalley Campaign Dissatisfiedalley Campaign Dissatisfiedalley Campaign Dissatisfiedalley Campaign Dissatisfiedby Environmental Court Decisionby Environmental Court Decisionby Environmental Court Decisionby Environmental Court Decisionby Environmental Court Decision

Photo: Fiona Gibson and Rob Cadmus of “Save Happy Valley” Campaign driving their week longtree-seat and hunger strike on the road to Solid Energy’s current Stockton Mine


B o t t o m T r a w l i n g

climate change are empty greenwash.The Happy Valley mine is simply thefirst of a series of new mines plannedfor the area and each will destroyadditional kiwi and snail habitat, andaccelerate dangerous climate change byburning more coal. We will vigorouslyoppose any mining near Happy Valley,regardless of conditions.

Already, we have twice occupied theproposed mine site, held a series ofpublic meetings around the country,conducted a tree-sit-in and a fast on theWest Coast. Solid Energy’sheadquarters in Christchurch has alsobeen the focus for two protests: oneinvolving ‘kiwi’ digging up their frontlawn and the other people chaining

themselves to the entrance.

Now that Solid Energy has the greenlight to prepare the mine site, we - andother environmental groups - will bestepping-up our campaign. We willprevent this criminal destruction ofHappy Valley through civildisobedience focused on Solid Energy.This will only succeed with strongpublic support. For this to happen,everyone will need to play a part, inwhichever way they feelcomfortable: you could dothis by joining the SaveHappy Valley campaign,writing to your MP, writingletters to the editor, talkingto others, or taking direct

action yourself. The more people thatare involved, the more difficult itbecomes for Solid Energy and its statesponsors to continue on theirdestructive path.

If you want to get involved, we can becontacted at:[email protected]

For more information, visit:http://happyvalley.enzyme.org.nz

Bottom trawl nets are notoriousfor clearfelling deep sea coralssuch as this magnificent species(paragorgia sp.) during theinitial trawls across seamounts.Some paragorgia corals growtwo storeys high with trunks thesize of lamp posts and providethe habitat for a variety of deepsea creatures.

Scientists believe there are 4species of paragorgia coral innew zealand waters. Around themid-1980s they used to be foundon east cape seamounts. Nophotos have ever been taken ofthis species of paragorgia alivein it’s natural environment, innew zealand waters. Fromparagorgia corals ripped upduring bottom trawlingscientists estimate minimumages for these corals to be 350years.

THREAT

Photo courtesy of NIWA

visit: www.greenpages.org.nz


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In remembrance of the bombingthat happened 20 years ago,Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace’s

flagship vessel, soon will leave forinternational waters around NewZealand to campaign on the destructiveimpacts of bottom trawling. Around theworld, scientists and environmentalgroups are calling for United Nationsmoratorium on high seas bottomtrawling. By this trip Rainbow Warriorwill emphasise the lack of governmentalaction in the face of the urgent threatthat bottom trawling poses to deep-sealife.

Last year, Rainbow Warrior sailedto Tasman Sea and documented NewZealand’s and Brazilian’s bottomtrawlers hauling in huge amounts of by-catch, rocks from the sea floor andbottom dwelling marine life, includingendangered black coral.

A moratorium on bottom trawlingin international waters is urgentlyneeded to protect life in the deep seaand New Zealand and AustralianGovernments should join othercountries in global push for one at theUN. Some time last year New Zealand

and Australian Governments made astatement about their willingness toestablish a regional fishing agreement.But this sort of discussion about theways to manage Tasman Sea started 15years ago and so far failed to come upwith any biodiversity protection.

Rainbow Warrior, photo courtesy of Greenpeace


O E C D R e v i e w

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment, OECD, is the developed nations’ “club” andhas a significant bias towards market based instruments andmarket economies. This should not make the NZenvironmental community discount or ignore the opportunityfor input to the OECD team that is to conduct an audit ofNZ’s Environmental Performance in January 2006. Suchaudits have in the past been influential in drawing to thegovernment’s attention its strengths and weaknesses inenvironmental management: and most of us can think of afair few. At the time of Mr Muldoon’s government, the OECDteam’s report was pivotal to changing policy – but thisdepends a great deal on the composition and disposition ofthe Review Team.

The team’s 7-15 June 2005 visit to New Zealand followsextensive provision of information to it by the New Zealandgovernment from November 2004 to April 2005. It ispreparation for the January 2006 audit. Environmentalorganisations have not seen these reports but have beenbriefed on the mission and process by Matthew Everitt ofthe Ministry for the Environment who is coordinating thereview from NZ’s end, but not early enough to have provideda joint report to the OECD. This would still be a usefulresponse if we had the capacity to do it. The team hasscheduled a tiny window for input by NGOs on 9 June.

The OECD team’s main focus will be on follow up onthe 1995/6 Review and whether New Zealand is fulfillingour international commitments and commitments made inor since 1996.

The team will not be able to engage directly withcomplaints about either the Minister for the Environmentor the Minister in charge of the Resource Management Actbut it can deal with the substance of policy, itsimplementation and performance.

The team will not be restricted to those things labelledhere as “environmental” since it will also be looking atConservation policy, Sustainable Development, publicparticipation, sectoral policies such as fishing, energy,transport and farming policies, access to information andenvironmental justice, public awareness and education andthe cost-effectiveness and the use of economic instruments.

The information distributed to ECO about the ReviewTeam’s mission includes this:

“The focus on performance distinguishes betweenintentions, actions and results, with the emphasis on results.Evaluation of performance is based on the analysis of trendsin the state of the environment, of the extent to whichdomestic objectives and international commitments havebeen met, and of the cost-effectiveness of the measures used.Discussions will therefore focus first on the results of pastand present policies (1996-2005), before considering plansfor the future.

ECO has signified its interest in this and will be making

OECD Environmental Performance Reviewof NZ: Holding the Government to AccountBy Cath WallaceECO

representations on a range of the issues mentioned.Contributions are welcome.

For details and input see the Ministry for theEnvironment’s website www.mfe.govt.nz, or contact JamesCaldwell of the Ministry for the Environment at 04-9177553or [email protected]. Contact ECO [email protected] or Cath Wallace [email protected] regarding ECO input but be sure toput OECD Review as the first words of the subject line.

This document provides a guide for the discussions during thesessions of the OECD EPR mission (see Annex D). THEDISCUSSION WILL FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDSAND POLICY RESPONSES IN THE PERIOD 1996-2005.

The purpose of the mission is to prepare the examination ofenvironmental performance by the OECD Working Party onEnvironmental Performance (Paris, January 2006). Hence, themission is not the examination itself.

By the time of the review mission, team members will have readthe background documents provided by the national authorities.To make best use of the limited time available during the session,participants are asked to engage in a dialogue on environmentalperformance, focused on matters of interpretation and judgement.Any useful additional factual information is welcome in writtenform at the meeting.

The focus on performance distinguishes between intentions,actions and results, with the emphasis on results. Evaluation ofperformance is based on the analysis of trends in the state of theenvironment, of the extent to which domestic objectives andinternational commitments have been met, and of the cost-effectiveness of the measures used. Discussions will thereforefocus first on the results of past and present policies (1996-2005),before considering plans for the future.

IntrIntrIntrIntrIntroductoroductoroductoroductoroductory Notes:y Notes:y Notes:y Notes:y Notes: En En En En Envirvirvirvirvironmental NGO’onmental NGO’onmental NGO’onmental NGO’onmental NGO’sssss

1. Environmental Performance

NGO views and positions on New Zealand’s environmentalperformance: main achievements and areas for progress in air,water, waste and nature management.Performance in meeting international commitments.

2. Public Participation in Environmental Management

Access to environmental information, procedures for appeal (e.g.EIA).NGO consultation and participation in environmental policyformulation.Local Agenda 21 and other initiatives.

3. Sustainable Development

Cost-effectiveness and use of economic instruments(environmentally-related taxes, environmental charges, pricing ofenvironmental services).Sectoral policies and the environment (e.g. agriculture, forestry,energy, transport).Environment-social interface: progress towards integration,environmental justice, education and awareness.

Discussion with Environmental NGO’s -Discussion with Environmental NGO’s -Discussion with Environmental NGO’s -Discussion with Environmental NGO’s -Discussion with Environmental NGO’s -WellingtonWellingtonWellingtonWellingtonWellington


F i s h i n g

International attention to theproblem of how to manage humanactivities in and impacts on the HighSeas is intensifying.

The December 2004 the 3rd IUCNWorld Conservation Congress called onnations to develop new mechanisms andto strengthen existing measures toprotect oceans and their biodiversity(Recommendation 017). It called onRegional Fisheries ManagementOrganisations (RFMOs) and otherregional organisations (such as theConvention on the Conservation ofMarine Living Resources, CCAMLR)to make effective and urgent moves toprotect biodiversity from bottomtrawling and other destructive methods.The world community at the WorldConservation Congress urged that theUnited Nations should decide, at theGeneral Assembly 2005, to impose atemporary moratorium on bottomtrawling where there is no competentmanagement organisation. IUCN urgedcountries at the UN to review theeffectiveness of existing RFMOs andother competent organisations with aview to imposing a moratorium in 2006where the management is ineffective atprotecting biodiversity.

Since that meeting, world attentionto the impacts of fishing and the need

to protect the oceans and the High Seashas intensified. The Convention onBiodiversity has proposed further workand more marine protected areas. TheUK government has received a hugereport, “Turning the Tide”, on theimpacts of fishing by the standing RoyalCommission on EnvironmentalPollution.

The High Seas Task Force of theOECD has reported on measures toenhance and intensify monitoring andcompliance with existing internationalagreements such as the UN Fish StocksAgreement and the FAO Code ofConduct for Responsible Fishing.

Canadian interest in these mattersis intense: both at the governmental andthe community level.

The loss of cod and the incursionsof poaching fishing boats from theEuropean Union (including Spain) hasled to a growing despair in Canada atthe endless words and the lack of actionto protect the oceans, habitat and fishstocks.

Two meetings took place in lateApril and early May at St John’s, NewFoundland, Canada, the most north-easterly point of North America. Forcenturies cod has been the mainstay oflocal economies. Local communities

there have seen locally owned industrialtrawlers clean out local stocks and headoff to West Africa to clean up the stocksof some of the most impoverishedAfrican states, such as Angola. Theyhave watched too the poaching andmisbehaviour of European trawlers.

Gearshift: A Call fo!r HealthyFisheries at Home and on the HighSeas, St Johns, Canada, 29-30 th

April 2005

The imperative of moving fromdestructive to less destructive fishingmethods and of maintaining andrestoring damaged marine ecosystemsand overfished fish stocks took on anintensity not seen in New Zealand at theGearshift Conference, in St John’s,New Foundland, Canada. Someparticipants’ entire community’slivelihoods have been lost from the codstock crash.

The Petty Harbour fishermen’scooperative had agreed that they wouldonly use least damaging fishingtechnologies and refused to usetrawling, or “dragging” as it is knownthere. The activities of industrialfishers using trawlers in the samefishing grounds was such that the stocksand the host environment have crashed.In some of the communities in NewFoundland and Labrador, and in NovaScotia, as many as 50% of the workingpeople are on welfare after the stockcrash. The trawlers have gone off tofish for crabs or to other fishinggrounds, like those off West Africa.

This lesson is one that New Zealandneeds to learn and learn fast. It is notsimply the overfishing that matters, butthe failure of the fish stocks to recoverbecause of the damage to the physicalsubstrate and to the invertebratecommunities on the seafloor thatprovide the 3-dimensional habitat forthe fish. Most New Zealand orangeroughy stocks have declined fast in the20 years of trawling under the QuotaManagement system, some to as low as3% or 7% of the original biomass.

Oceans Management and Control of FishingImpacts in International SpotlightBy Cath WallaceECO

- Continued over page


F i s h i n g

NIWA has been studying the effects offishing on seamounts and on the softsandy seafloor affected by scampifishing (eg Cryer et al 2002 and Clarkand O’Driscoll 2003).

The Gearshift conference wasattended by fishers, fish cooperativeleaders, community developmentspecialists, Canadian officials,environmental specialists andadvocates, academics and scientists.

The strong collaboration betweenenvironmental and conservationorganisations, fishers and communityspecialists was striking: an allianceagainst the damaging industrial fishingtechniques, particularly bottom-trawling very strong.

Reflection on the job losses inNelson and Dunedin as the hoki stocksdecline under pressure from heavyfishing, the orange roughy stocks slidefurther, and the loss of habitats on bothhard and soft substrates suggests thatNew Zealand would do very well to takenote of the need to act before moredamage is done. It is quite clear fromthe Canadian experience that organisedlabour should be paying more attentionto the loss of fish stocks, invertebratesand jobs. The New Zealand FishingIndustry Guild has mostly sided with theindustrial fishing companies: it mightconsider re-thinking this strategy.

From Words to Action

Participants from 49 Governmentsand the EU, various experts, academics,representatives of internationalagencies and a handful of approvedinternational environmentalorganisations were convened from 1-5May 2005 by the Canadian PrimeMinister, Rt Hon Paul Martin.

The Prime Minister ’s call was“From Words to Action” – the title ofthe conference. With the adroitopposition of several fishing and othernations, the urgency and necessity ofaction to curb over fishing, overcapacity for fishing, destructive fishingmethods such as bottom trawling andillegal, unreported and unauthorisedfishing, was not reflected in the finaloutcome. The plea of the CanadianPrime Minister for urgent action wasstymied by those who ensured that theoutcome of the meeting was no more

than a “Chairmen’s report”, with noresolutions or agreed actions.

The outcome must surely frustratethe Canadians, but the meeting heardenough to make it clear that action isneeded and fast. The meeting heardhow this can be done: from a legal andpractical point of view. The essence ofecosystem based management and itsimplementation was outlined; thehistory and impetus for action covered,the elements of what is needed forbetter monitoring, compliance andenforcement laid out. The failings ofexisting RFMOs were summarised aslack of adherence to science, lack oftimeliness or avoidance of decisionsand lack of rigour. One might add lackof will and subservience to anddomination by fishing interests.

Overcapacity and the kinds ofsubsidies that increased these problemswere addressed – but those responsibleresisted this point being sheeted hometo those who provide such subsidies.Such subsidies range from the overt tothose disguised as “aid” which involvethe deployment of the aid-giving states’fishing fleets and or processers to thewaters and shores of the unluckyrecipient countries.

The need for Regional OceansEnvironmental ManagementOrganisations was canvassed, ratherthan fisheries organisations. This isparticularly favoured by those withenvironmental concerns. Anindependent review of existing RFMOswas also favoured by many at theconference – with the exception ofcertain fishing states.

The start of the Words to Actionmeeting was marked by a MinisterialDeclaration – awkward for thosecountries such as New Zealand whosefisheries ministers did not attend.

After expert reports and otherplenary events, a series of workshopsreported: only to have their reportsfilleted to suit certain fishing nations.Recommendations for MarineProtected Areas were largely erasedfrom the record too.

The meeting will undoubtedlyinform many delegations that go to the31 May -3 June - 4th Informal Meetingof the Parties to the UN Fish Stocks

Agreement in New York; the UNInformal Consultation on Oceans andthe Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS), alsoin New York, 6-10 June 2005, whereonce again, the need to take action onfishing, its impacts and on those whoprovide safe haven or flags forpoachers will be considered. So toowill the question of the call by the DeepSea Conservation Coalition for amoratorium on bottom trawlingpending an effective High Seasbiodiversity and environmentalprotection regime.

It is clear that leaving decisionmaking to forums dominated byMinistries of Fisheries will not producethe requisite action. The Words toAction conference suffered from this..True commitment to protection ofoceans, to integrated ecosystem basedmanagement of human activities andimpacts and to effective control offishing will not come fromgovernments as long as they arepredominantly represented by theirfisheries agencies.

A wider representation of thinking,more responsiveness to socialconcerns and a more diverseexperience of integrated managementis needed. So too is a greatercommitment to admit theunsustainability of bottom trawling andother destructive methods and awillingness to get serious aboutconfronting the industrial fishinginterests behind most of the damage onthe High Seas.

New Zealand’s bottom trawlers’actions on the High Seas will comeunder renewed scrutiny this year asGreenpeace once again marks theUNICPOLOS meeting withsurveillance of bottom trawlers.

The June UN meeting is informal:but is a prelude to the General Assemblydebate on fisheries later this year andwill also play its part to agenda settingfor the 2006 General Assembly. In2006 there will be a review of the UNFish Stocks Agreement and a furtherGeneral Assembly debate on Fisheries.Other relevant international meetingsinclude the biodiversity focussed 13-17 June – Convention on BiodiversityAd Hoc Open-ended Working Groupon Protected Areas, (Montevechio,

– Continued from previous page


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I t lay) and the 16-24 June – 15thMeeting States Parties UNConventionon Law of the Sea (New York).. TheDeep Sea Conservation Coalition, towhich ECO belongs, will be inattendance.

Those countries and interests whowant to resist action on fishing and itsimpacts, IUU fishing and on widerenvironmental management of theoceans of the High Seas can and will dotheir best to delay action, ultimately, theconcerns of wider society for effectivegovernance of the High Seas and humanactivities and fishing will be so insistentthat it is really just a question of howmuch damage will have been allowedbefore action is taken.

SW PACIFIC REGIONAL MANAGEMENT

ORGANISATION

Years of talk and no “do” by NewZealand and Australia about controllingfishing in the High Seas has finally beengalvanised into the start of a formal talkprocess by public opinion on thedevastation by New Zealand andAustralian trawlers on the High Seas.Thus NZ and Australia have announcedtheir intention to convene talks for aSouth West Pacific RegionalManagement Organisation. Chile hasjoined this project and other states, boththose in the region and fishing states,will be invited to join.

– Continued from previous page

PUBLISHED BY ENVIRONMENT &CONSERVATION

ORGANISATIONS OF NEW ZEALAND

Editor: Elizabeth Lee ; Layout: Kate LowerECO, PO Box 11 057, Wellington

Phone/fax 04-385 7545; e-mail: eco @reddfish.co.nz2nd floor, 126 Vivian Street Wellington

Website: www.eco.org.nzISSN 1174-0671

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march version 3 · * environmental management, geoff keey or cath wallace * fisheries and ocean,...

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