Gerry Brownlee, Nick
Smith
7 October, 2011
A report into approvals of subdivisions
in Christchurch and Kaiapoi badly affected
by Canterbury's earthquakes has resulted
in the Government proposing changes to the
Resource Management Act to better manage
the risk of natural hazards.
The fact finding report by consultants Hill
Young Cooper and Resource Management Group
Limited released today investigated the
planning and resource consenting history
in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs and Kaiapoi
from 1977. It found the majority of these
areas were zoned for residential development
in the 1960s and 1970s but that significant
areas were consented for subdivision after
1991 when the liquefaction risk in these
areas was clearly identified.
“The RMA didn’t work and needs fixing,”
Dr Smith said. “The concern is that reports
in 1991 identified these areas as highly
susceptible to liquefaction, yet consents
for subdivisions were granted without any
consideration of these risks. About a fifth
of the areas badly affected by liquefaction
in earthquakes over the last year were consented
after this time. The problem is the RMA
did not – and still does not – require these
sorts of risks to be assessed and managed.
“This reflects the priorities in the RMA
of preserving natural character, landscape,
flora and fauna, public access, cultural
values and heritage over managing natural
hazards. The Government intends to amend
the RMA to give greater weight to managing
the risks of natural hazards like earthquakes.”
“New Zealand is a geologically young country
with significant risks from earthquakes,
volcanoes and floods. We need to learn from
this report and ensure those hazards are
specifically taken into account in future
planning decisions. Keeping risks to a minimum
will also help keep insurance cover accessible
to New Zealanders,” Mr Brownlee said.
“These important changes will feed into
the Government's broader, second phase of
changes to the RMA planned for next year.
A Technical Advisory Group led by barrister
Alan Dormer will report back to Government
by March 2012 on detailed proposals,” Dr
Smith said.
+ More
Crown and iwi to advance
Whanganui River negotiations
Nick Smith, Christopher
Finlayson
13 October, 2011
The Crown and Whanganui iwi have signed
a Record of Understanding which will act
as the foundation for negotiating a settlement
of historical grievances associated with
the Whanganui River, Treaty of Waitangi
Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson
and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced
today.
“This is a commitment by both parties to
work together to settle grievances which
iwi have tried to have addressed by the
Crown and the Courts since 1873.
“The Government is committed to working
with iwi to ensure our longest navigable
waterway is in good health, and the mana
of Whanganui iwi in relation to the river
is recognised.
“The Record of Understanding (ROU) provides
all parties with direction about the matters
to be discussed in the negotiations. It
means that we will start formal negotiations
with a clear sense of the issues which need
to be resolved. Whanganui iwi have waited
too long to have their grievances addressed.
There is still a lot of work to do, but
agreement on the framework contained in
the ROU is a very positive step in the right
direction,” the Ministers said.
Key Points – Framework for Negotiations
The negotiations agenda will include:
• How the status and the mana of the river
as a whole will be recognized
• How the river will be managed as an integrated
whole, from the mountains to the sea.
• How the mana of Whanganui iwi in relation
to the river will be recognised in any agreement
• How Whanganui iwi will be involved in
the management of the river alongside the
Crown, local government and the wider catchment
community.
• How a river settlement will be integrated
into existing management structures for
the river
• Discussion about the appointment of River
Trustees to promote and protect the health
and well-being of the river, and
• Discussion about the possible development
of a set of river values to guide future
governance of the river and a whole river
strategy to promote integrated management
of the river.
The negotiation will provide for input from
local government, other stakeholders and
other iwi with interests in the river.
Any settlement will preserve public access
and have no adverse impact on existing private
property rights.
Negotiations are expected to begin in early
2012.
