Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou upoko Edward Ellison (left) and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka at the Ōtākou Marae for the launch of the new marine reserve network. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH The conservation minister says Otago’s marine reserves are in good hands, and has hailed a new approach to protect the region’s offshore environment. About 100 people gathered at Ōtākou Marae yesterday for the formal launch of five new marine reserves off Otago’s coast, a network known as Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said he was thrilled to know the marine reserves were in a ‘‘good space going forward with the government and Ngāi Tahu and the community working together’’. The marine reserves are fully protected, no-take areas intended to minimise human disturbance. Once in place, they will be co-managed by the Department of Conservation and Ngāi Tahu and, in a new approach, decision-making would be shared between the two parties. The reserves will come into effect next Wednesday, protecting 304sq km, or 4%, of the region’s coastal marine area. Mr Potaka, who is also Māori Development and Māori Crown Relations Minister, said Ngāi Tahu did an extraordinary amount of work in the environmental space — ‘‘an exemplar of boots on the ground, mahi on the ground’’. ‘‘Working together with Ngāi Tahu in the marine reserve space is going to be something that I think will improve marine life and ocean life,’’ he said. ‘‘[It will] enable a different type of wānangaor a different type of mātauranga, or knowledge and understanding, being brought to bear in the co-management of the marine space.’’ He acknowledged the leadership of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou upoko Edward Ellison and others on the project. Mr Ellison said developing the network had been an ‘‘incredible collaborative process’’ since work began in 2014. ‘‘A huge number of people working together from all sectors,’’ he said. ‘‘It was just a constant, steady application of effort — well organised, well supported by Doc and MPI [Ministry for Primary Industries].’’ Mr Ellison said a wide range of coast and communities had to be considered — the northernmost reserve sits northeast of Oamaru, while the southernmost is near Taieri Mouth. The boundaries of a sixth marine reserve southeast of Shag Point, Te Umukōau, are being reconsidered following consultation with the Otago Rock Lobster Industry Association and others involved in recent judicial review proceedings. The conservation minister is to decide on the new boundaries. Mr Potaka said he hoped it would be resolved in the next six to 12 months. ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz
