New Zealand Gives the Go Ahead to Destructive Marina for a Privileged Few
By Savethewaves at 9:35am on 19th Jan, 2007The surf spot known as the Whangamata Bar on the North Island of New Zealand is being threatened by a recently approved yacht harbor that will completely destroy the break. The approved Marina is set to be constructed over the Moanaanuanu Estuary, home to many species of fish, shellfish, seabirds, Mangroves, Eel grass, salt-marshes, and the natural sand bar.
Minister of Conservation Hon. Chris Carter rejected the Marina application, but the High Court of Appeal sent it back for re-review. In October 2006, Carter assigned the Marina application to Minister of Environment Hon. Benson Pope. After meeting with members of the New Zealand Parliament in November 2006, lead by Nick Smith of the National Party, Pope approved of the Marina last month in December.
The approved Marina is designed to hold a select 205 berths which will expand over 4 hectares of coastal marine zone, 300 meters of breakwater structures will be constructed, and 167,000 cubic meters of dredging will occur for both the marina basin and the channel. The dredged sand will be dumped atop a natural salt-marsh covering 1.4 hectares.
"It's a bad sign when an approval decision actually anticipates bulldozing archeological remains" says Carla Graziosi, Environmental Director at Save the Waves Coalition. "We need to remember that there are many Iwi tribal areas in the Waikato Region."
"The approval decision is a blatant display of high class favoritism over popular opinion and environmental and cultural preservation. The New Zealand Resource Management Act (RMA) requires consideration of the social, economic, aesthetic, and cultural conditions which affect the environment and people,” says William Henry Executive Director of Save the Waves Coalition. "All of which will be negatively impacted with this project. The fact that it was approved in the face of so much opposition to only benefit a select few flies in the face of true public interest."
Save the Waves Coalition is leading an international campaign to support the New Zealand Green Party, Maori Party, local iwi people and beachgoers in their opposition to this destructive project. Go to www.savethewaves.org to voice your opposition to this recipe for disaster.