It is being reported that the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, long championed by the Green Party and progressed by the National Government last term, has been put on the back burner in a deal between NZ First and Labour.
James Shaw will probably put on a brave face but this is a smack in Green faces.
Shaw had expressed confidence that Labour would represent Green interests in their negotiations with NZ First.
No party should underestimate Jacinda Ardern’s ability to be ruthless.
Stuff: Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary put on ice by NZ First, catching Greens unaware
The 620,000 sq km Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, announced by John Key at the United Nations in 2015, was hailed around the world and passed its first reading in Parliament unopposed.
But fishing companies and iwi bodies filed legal action opposing it, saying the sanctuary would deny them fishing rights agreed in Treaty settlements.
NZ First, whose senior MPs are close to the fishing industry and whose campaign was partly bankrolled by players in the fishing industry, demanded Labour stop the sanctuary.
And it is understood Jacinda Ardern agreed a Labour-NZ First government would not progress legislation to establish the sanctuary in this three-year Parliamentary term. That will disappoint some of her MPs and supporters, but will win favour among her Maori MPs who argued it undermined iwi commercial fishing rights.
The Kermadec sanctuary was one of the dealbreakers that swung negotiations in Labour’s favour.
Had Greens known about this would they have been so willing to rubber stamp the Labour-NZ First coalition deal without knowing what was traded?
UPDATE: James Shaw responds on Q+A:
JAMES Yes, well, it’s certainly still on the table. Obviously, there’s still a lot of issues to work through. It is a complicated issue, but we are still committed to doing our best effort to making sure that it happens.
GREG This has obviously come out – Winston Peters’ relationship with the fisheries industry – is it in jeopardy? Let’s put it another way.
JAMES Is the relationship with the-?
GREG No, is the sanctuary in jeopardy?
JAMES No, I don’t think so. It is a complicated issue. We absolutely need to work alongside Maori in order to make sure that it happens, but I think that we are all committed to making sure that it does.
That really doesn’t say much apart from expressing a determination to make it happen, eventually.
Your NZ 
PDB
/ 22nd October 2017Ardern probably just forgot to mention it to them.
Pete George
/ 22nd October 2017Under the negotiation rules demanded by Peters she may not have been allowed to.
PDB
/ 22nd October 2017If Ardern agreed to that condition then her ‘mates’ the Greens have been shafted by her either way.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017No party should underestimate Jacinda Ardern’s ability to be ruthless.
I certainly spotted it early. 👌🏽
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017And that goes for her own Party as well, btw. Imo.
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017Read the text these artists wrote on the impact of being in this pristine and worthy of protection environment http://www.studioj.co.nz/kermadec_exhibition/works/
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017I din’t have the time or the need to – I’m in favour of the sanctuary.
That’s not the point.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017* don’t not din’t.
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017‘back burner’…Rome wasn’t built in a day.Everyone so concerned about the Greens ‘feelings’ these …days.
Pete George
/ 22nd October 2017Green feelings will matter in the incoming Government.
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017well it looks like we will have alot of bleeding heart…Tories then.
unitedtribes2
/ 22nd October 2017It should do but they will need to find some balls first
PDB
/ 22nd October 2017The Green, the doormats that they are, will quickly move on. Purely a misunderstanding.
David
/ 22nd October 2017Imagine the feelings of a freshly elected Green MP all starry eyed and idealistic and with Jacinda in charge and the first thing that happens is a marine sanctuary is discarded for political donations and you have to sign up for it. Welcome.
David
/ 22nd October 2017National need to be quick out of the blocks on this one, there is a vaccum that needs filling and its about time the ex minister got out of bed.
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017the ex minister has to check for reds,muslims,and assorted spies under the bed…before getting on with the … house cleaning.
David
/ 22nd October 2017Curious, do you not feel just a tiny bit bad about this Blazer and feel a bit dirty having to defend this.
I would imagine if National had done this deal you may feel……..differently…
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017a question of priorities..this is not one.Nationals bill was just minor window dressing to appease environmentalists imo.They are expert at these strategies..raising the benefit,and paying lip service to child poverty,homelessness and so on,while pursuing their main agenda.
David
/ 22nd October 2017Fair enough position but I dont see the connection between the sanctuary and child poverty and why doing one good thing means you cant do another good thing at the same time.
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017I call BS on this. This has been a longstanding, long fought for sanctuary. Don’t even try to minimise it mate
Trevors_Elbow
/ 22nd October 2017Comrade. The means justify the ends. Blazer is nothing if not ideologically obedient……
Fight4NZ
/ 22nd October 2017Like dirty politics
alloytoo
/ 22nd October 2017Absolutely right, National needs to flood the ballet with private members bill around the ocean sanctury, eventually one will get pulled and the greens will be in a pickle……..
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017I think it is a misconception that Tories love classical music ,opera and ballet.I venture more on the left do,but any ticket sales for the arts are..welcome.
PDB
/ 22nd October 2017A rock star economy needs rock stars, not classical/Opera.
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017You’d allow them any concessions as long as the women’s mag cover girl with a Comms degree was in charge. This is a betrayal of all their principles.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017What’s wrong with a Comms degree? She seems to communicate very well.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Did you a good talking nicely to this lovely lady, for example
Zedd
/ 23rd October 2017theres a place in the world for an angry aussie; Julie !
traveller
/ 23rd October 2017It’s pretty well considered the degree that the most thick do.
Gezza
/ 23rd October 2017I thought that was an MBA?
Seemed to be, in my experience of senior managers in the Public Service.
She seems to have done rather well out of hers. Maybe it’s not JUST the next-to-most-thick who do it?
Fight4NZ
/ 22nd October 2017You do understand what a negotiation is? Give and take?
With that sort of nonsense single issue hysteria anyone would think you were in the media or something.
traveller
/ 23rd October 2017There is something very flawed when the leading party with the most votes is not offered a real chance the mandate. There is something very wrong with a system when concurrent negotiations, ie horse trading with losers is done and in secret.
This stands in steak contrast with the oft quoted Germany.
You’ll not hear our media acknowledge that, do no, I am not media
Loki
/ 22nd October 2017Winstons donors certainly got an early payday there.
Forestry next. They were not shy in paying AS WELL.
Greens have nobody but themselves to blame here. John Key took a Green MP’s private members Bill and championed it.
A worthwhile endeavour crushed by Winston at the behest of his long time sponsors.
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017He’s a ghastly self interested man, long in the pocket of fisheries. See Shane’s hand in here as well
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017The Greens will look like they’re turning tricks for free
David
/ 22nd October 2017Even free, they appear overpriced.
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017money for nothing..and your…ticks for..free.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017The Greens got themselves into the grotney pudding over the Kermadec sanctuary. Too busy showing off their ecological credentials to notice they shat on Maori when they were trying to show off their Maori credentials as well. National pulled a swifty on Maori. How do they know what would have been agreed. Everybody negotiates from their toughest deal to what’s reasonable & just honouring a deal to consult properly sometimes is considered reasonable.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017🦃
PDB
/ 22nd October 2017That’s nonsense – creating the sanctuary would have meant ALL NZLders giving up their fishing rights n that area for the greater good – Maori didn’t want to.
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017Totally agree. I’m hugely in favour of the Kermadec sanctuary
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Actually, they might’ve been too? We’ll never know. Nick Smith was too scared to ask them properly, & John was too busy wanting to Big Note at the UN.
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017This was a win for NZ and the environment. I’ve been on the edges of this vis a vis the Art World
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017If the government just gave away a big chunk of land & waterway you jointly owned with others as conservation estate for everybody everywhere to enjoy without talking to you properly about it – what would you do about it?
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017the Art world!!
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Fight4NZ
/ 22nd October 2017Hysteria and ego centric. Must be right wing media.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 20171. It’s not nonsense, it’s a different viewpoint to yours.
2. When were you appointed the universal arbiter of what is for the greater good?
3. Still luv ya like an Irish brother tho.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017And an Irish sister.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Not you, that last one, PDB. Trav.
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017If any Māori wants to paddle a canoe out there with a handline and a camera to record their catches. Go for it.
Wholesale Māori Fisheries and rights for Tangatawhenua would mean quadrupling MAF rangers and tonnes of confiscated paua and crayfish.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Your distraught. There’s not enough chocolate. In fact there’s none.
Only hangi chickens. And they’re horrible unless you brown the skins.
They should have talked to them properly.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Why should they paddle a canoe out there? This deal was made 170 years after they farted about it in wakas.
blairmulholland
/ 22nd October 2017Well there is a majority of parliament in favour of the sanctuary. It should be a matter of House procedure to reintroduce the legislation and pass it, since the Greens and National form a majority on this issue.
David
/ 22nd October 2017Fingers crossed Blair. Its amazing the change you can get in an ocean eco system and how quick it can happen.
While not ideal obviously but a few years after the BP oil spill in the gulf and the fishing ban the recovery in marine life was simply amazing. National have been working hard with partners to expand the Ross Sea sanctuary they got through so fingers crossed Labour will continue the good work on that one and not sell their soul again.
traveller
/ 22nd October 2017No wonder Ruth got shafted
Zedd
/ 22nd October 2017more breaking news; NZF have more seats than Greens & NZF are in coalition with Labour, Greens are a confidence & supply partner.. there is a difference. I think this is just the nature of politics. I figure the Greens see more gains than losses 🙂
I see the media attack dogs are hard out trying to find cracks before it has even begun.. mostly the ‘sore losers’; Hosking & co.
David
/ 22nd October 2017“I see the media attack dogs are hard out trying to find cracks before it has even begun”
Amazing, you could almost be mistaken for thinking it was politics or something….
phantom snowflake
/ 22nd October 2017Fake News above, perhaps??
But in a written statement, incoming Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said reports the sanctuary had been killed off were not true.
“Our intention is to work alongside Māori and use our best endeavours to achieve the Kermadec Sanctuary,” Ms Ardern said.
“We will be seeking consensus and agreement with our support parties to find a resolution.”
Green Party leader James Shaw told TVNZ’s Q +A this morning the scheme was still on the table.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/342119/kermadec-sanctuary-plans-still-afloat
Alan Wilkinson
/ 22nd October 2017Oh good. Completely opposite policy commitments from every direction in the new Government. Start as you intend to continue.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Keeps the Opposition & the whingers guessing though, Sir Alan?
Comms degree. Not to be sniffed at. Learn more than one thinks.
Sir Gerald.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017One thing the New Queen hasn’t had time to do yet, though, thinking about her two predecessors, is completely master the art of implausible deniability. Time will tell how things go there, Sir Alan
G (Sir)
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017watch Q&A to see a most impressive performance from our new P.M.You will all be proud of her…eventually.
Pete George
/ 22nd October 2017Sshe’s stepped up some more and is looking promising, but it’s tough job and challenging situation, so have to wait and see how she manages things,.
Corky
/ 22nd October 2017I have to admit she is a very confident speaker( Aunties mentoring?). However, she has one fatal flaw apart from being a socialist idealouge- her face shows when she is low on life force. Her face just drops and elongates. National need to exploit that to the max, especially in the house. At such times Jacinda will be apt to ‘lose it’ in some way.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Just because this is what happens to YOU does not mean it happens to others.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017The attack dog they need to put onto Jacinda, imo, is Nikki Kaye, because Nikki can remind her again that she’s a nobody, & see how that upsets her!
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017Nikki Kaye isn’t ..pregnant..is she?
Corky
/ 22nd October 2017”Just because this is what happens to YOU does not mean it happens to others.”
I guess flying high over everything means you can’t look at peoples faces..or be middle of the road.or comprehend.
http://watermelonmedia.co.nz/index.php/2017/09/30/what-happened-a-class-analysis-of-the-nz-election/
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017eh?
Blazer
/ 22nd October 2017how’s your ‘resting face’ these days..non voter with all the answers to none of the..questions?
Corky
/ 22nd October 2017Nothing like a double team effort. Save it, you are going to need it over the coming months.
Gezza
/ 22nd October 2017Sad. Just sad. Unbelieveably sad. So many books. So little comprehension.