WEBVTT - Tama Potaka: The Hauraki Gulf Protection Bill changes are needed

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<v Speaker 1>You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talk SEDB.

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<v Speaker 2>The government has announced changes to the Hoeki Golf Protection Act.

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<v Speaker 2>It sounds great the press release. I read it. I thought, well,

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<v Speaker 2>there's not much to see here. They're committing to restoring

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<v Speaker 2>the health and maori of the h Rechi golf. They're

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<v Speaker 2>passing the Hoeki Golf Marine Protection Bill and they're talking

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<v Speaker 2>about nineteen new marine protection areas, tripling the space protected

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<v Speaker 2>by the Gulf and sounds great. So what's the opposition

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<v Speaker 2>all about? And to discuss that? And the Minister of

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<v Speaker 2>Conservation joins me. Now Tama Portaka, good afternoon.

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<v Speaker 3>Shut out Tim and thanks for having me on your show.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, thanks for joining us. Look, I read your press

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<v Speaker 2>release and it all sounded like, oh, this is lovely

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<v Speaker 2>and wholesome, and then we have this chorus of opposition

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<v Speaker 2>starting with the World Wildlife Federal. I can't remember the

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<v Speaker 2>name ww your efort's just call it that. Dr Kayla

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<v Speaker 2>Kingden Bebb says, to have these last minute changes rammed

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<v Speaker 2>through is this result of sleazy backdoor lobbying, which are

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<v Speaker 2>Oceans and Fisheries ministers was willing to entertain as a

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<v Speaker 2>complete and utter disgrace. What's up?

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<v Speaker 3>I think it's important to reach back to first principles

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<v Speaker 3>to know the Hodaky gold will teach up of wine

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<v Speaker 3>as an iconic and a majestic place that many many

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<v Speaker 3>Aucklanders and many New Zealand as treasure. It's one of

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<v Speaker 3>the most magnificent places in Old or New Zealand. And

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<v Speaker 3>it's important that we safeguard and ensure that some of

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<v Speaker 3>the terrible environmental and other matters that are effecting the

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<v Speaker 3>health and well being of the Gulf right fast and

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<v Speaker 3>recalibrated and protected heads fire. We've got this proposed legislation

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<v Speaker 3>that's been going through Parliament for years and now we're

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<v Speaker 3>in a space where essentially we're going to pass ninety

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<v Speaker 3>six percent of what was introduced.

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<v Speaker 2>What are they upset about then? Is it because of

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<v Speaker 2>the ring net fishing and allowing certain fishers to do

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<v Speaker 2>that sort of activity.

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<v Speaker 3>Oh, I think that's probably a question that's best post

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<v Speaker 3>of the chorus of voices. But for the most part,

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<v Speaker 3>I think most people actually very enthusiastic and motivated to

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<v Speaker 3>look after the golf, and I will appreciate this government's

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<v Speaker 3>effort to curate a solution that strikes the right balance

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<v Speaker 3>between the environment, economy community and EWE and other groups.

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<v Speaker 2>You were there actually late changes because I gather that

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<v Speaker 2>you worked with a bunch of interest groups on this

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<v Speaker 2>had you made some late changes regarding commercial fisheries.

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<v Speaker 3>We have made a couple of changes from the bill

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<v Speaker 3>as introduced. That's after reflecting the direction of travel that

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<v Speaker 3>this government has and also the need to strike the

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<v Speaker 3>right balance. We've got white advice and wide range of

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<v Speaker 3>advice and opinion. But ultimately there is a few changes.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't think it does anything to the structure of

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<v Speaker 3>the body and the direction of travel, and that's what's important.

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<v Speaker 3>We've got nineteen new protection areas, a couple of additions

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<v Speaker 3>to the existing reserves y protect sea for areas, but

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<v Speaker 3>importantly taking action. There is a provision a very narrow

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<v Speaker 3>exemption for a small number of groups to do some

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<v Speaker 3>ring net fishing on specific species yet to be drafted,

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<v Speaker 3>but it will be a very narrow provision.

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<v Speaker 2>Who are those groups that get to do that ring

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<v Speaker 2>net fishing? How do we sort of.

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<v Speaker 3>Define There's five or six groups that have fished in

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<v Speaker 3>the last couple of years in these areas, mainly fishing

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<v Speaker 3>ace or catch around Ha Hawaii, Trivali puddle there and

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<v Speaker 3>mullet and there will be some drafting to be concluded

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<v Speaker 3>after final policy advice is given to my Minisserial Police

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<v Speaker 3>and myself and then that will essentially close out the

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<v Speaker 3>four or five amendments that we've made too or we

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<v Speaker 3>are going to propose so that always received back from

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<v Speaker 3>the Selik Committee and then we will present it to

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<v Speaker 3>Parliament and Parliament will decide progressive for it.

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<v Speaker 2>So are there likely to be are you anticipating that

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<v Speaker 2>there will be a few changes to it? Maybe to

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<v Speaker 2>allay the concerns of well, we've got the Greens, Labor,

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<v Speaker 2>the World Widelife Fund, the Tody Adams, Toby Adams talking

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<v Speaker 2>on behalf of another group O company, the hierarchy goal

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<v Speaker 2>for them, that's right, that's the one. So there are

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<v Speaker 2>a bunch of people unhappy. What do you think would

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<v Speaker 2>allay their concerns?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I think, to be fair to the groups that

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<v Speaker 3>you've mentioned have generally been unhappy with a lot of

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<v Speaker 3>things that this government has done and to keep the

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<v Speaker 3>economy moving again, whether it was the fast rank or

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<v Speaker 3>some pharmacy changes to the r m A or indeed

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<v Speaker 3>other matters who have had done to take across the economy,

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<v Speaker 3>law and order, health, education, housing and a few other matters.

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<v Speaker 3>And I don't think there's any surprise. What's important to

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<v Speaker 3>us those who ensure that there is progress that the

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<v Speaker 3>bulk of what was introduced will be carried through to legislation.

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<v Speaker 3>And we've still got to go through the second reading

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<v Speaker 3>in the Committee of the Whole House, where the chances

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<v Speaker 3>we're announced will be put to Parliament to put to

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<v Speaker 3>the test of the chamber.

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<v Speaker 2>Is part of it just simply that in government, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>you're trying to balance environmental considerations with being practical about

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<v Speaker 2>what commercial interests you can still allow to persist. Is

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<v Speaker 2>that the whole thing and really what we're dealing with

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<v Speaker 2>if I put aside the Greens and labor and obviously

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<v Speaker 2>there's politics at play all the time, but if you

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<v Speaker 2>look at the WWARE from the hierarchy golf forum, is

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<v Speaker 2>it simply that their stance is always pushing towards no

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<v Speaker 2>commercial activity, no ring fishing, and you're just trying to

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<v Speaker 2>find that balance.

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<v Speaker 3>Absolutely, you know, I think many people have set ideologies

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<v Speaker 3>and set positions, and in the political space in which

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<v Speaker 3>we operate, my Minister of Colleagues and Art, and we

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<v Speaker 3>take a wide range of advice and opinions and we

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<v Speaker 3>try and strike a balance. And it's hard to keep

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<v Speaker 3>everybody happier all of the time. Actually it's nearly impossible,

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<v Speaker 3>So we have to we do have to strike a balance.

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<v Speaker 3>And the groups that we're proposed that ringheaders a very

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<v Speaker 3>narrow small number of groups under specific conditions, and generally

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<v Speaker 3>often these ring neet fishing communities are supplying lower cost

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<v Speaker 3>fish to pretty challenged communities communities throughout Auckland and through

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<v Speaker 3>the supermarket value chain. Think it's important price to just

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<v Speaker 3>picture that in terms of three to four percent changes

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<v Speaker 3>to enact changes to a bill which is going in

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<v Speaker 3>the right direction.

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<v Speaker 2>Are those local communities? Are the organizations are going to

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<v Speaker 2>be able to do that sort of fishing. Are they

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<v Speaker 2>sort of EWI based or they simply just companies or

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<v Speaker 2>businesses that have been engaged in that activity already.

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<v Speaker 3>My understanding is that some of them are more Pacifica based,

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<v Speaker 3>or do serve the lower socioeconomic communities that often include

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<v Speaker 3>Pacifica and Malorti, particularly in places like Auckland.

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<v Speaker 2>Can you paint it just a quick picture, so you're

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<v Speaker 2>talking about nineteen new marine protection areas, which will nearly

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<v Speaker 2>triple the space protected in the Gulf. Can you put

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<v Speaker 2>that into context in terms of the size of the

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<v Speaker 2>Gulf and what is and will be protected.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, the size of the golf is massive, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>it's one point two million kickties or thereabouts. It's a spithomus.

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<v Speaker 3>It's a huge, huge space. And right through to the

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<v Speaker 3>other side around Ahuahu or Mercury Island and the Automan's

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<v Speaker 3>right up to a great barrier and across past what

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<v Speaker 3>we often call to Harwood, our Monkey or Goat Island

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<v Speaker 3>up in the main marine r two marine reserves will

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<v Speaker 3>be expanded, the one up there at Lee and the

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<v Speaker 3>finally our Hay or Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve will be expanded.

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<v Speaker 3>There will be ten, sorry twelve what we call high

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<v Speaker 3>protection areas. Was generally there will be no fishing in

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<v Speaker 3>except a couple where you have these ring exemptions and

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<v Speaker 3>that will be reviewed after three years. And then you

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<v Speaker 3>have what we call sea floor protection areas, and there

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<v Speaker 3>are big that we about five of those where there's

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<v Speaker 3>no commercial contact fishing, so no bottom trawling and person

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<v Speaker 3>saying fishing. What we've got what we've got is a

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<v Speaker 3>whole range of reserves dotted all over the gulf. Some

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<v Speaker 3>over the other side of the tunnel peck or on

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<v Speaker 3>the other side of Cromental, on the other side of

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<v Speaker 3>the peninsula, over by the automans, some around. Uh little

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<v Speaker 3>barrier or hope to do as we go if you're around,

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<v Speaker 3>why Hicky and and I need more to topic?

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, just one last question. So I presented there the

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<v Speaker 2>opposition voices who don't like the exemptions for a few

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<v Speaker 2>commercial organizations on the other side of the coin. Are

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<v Speaker 2>there any organizations or voices that are opposed to you

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<v Speaker 2>increasing the number of marine protection there.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I think that there's been a really gallant and

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<v Speaker 3>valiant effort across many EWE stakeholder groups and others to

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<v Speaker 3>ensure there's the right balance, and it's got to a

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<v Speaker 3>stage where most people were sort of comfortable with where

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<v Speaker 3>it landed. We've had a couple of minor changes, but

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<v Speaker 3>the structure and the skeleton of this legislation continues to

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<v Speaker 3>be in place. We're really motivated in enthusiasque about carrying

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<v Speaker 3>it forward, as I'm sure most Aucklanders will be excellent.

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<v Speaker 2>Tama Portaker I really appreciate your time this afternoon. Thanks

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<v Speaker 2>so much.

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<v Speaker 3>Thanks mate. Down a later, Jerry, Jerry.

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<v Speaker 2>Over bye excellent. So you can text your feedback on

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<v Speaker 2>nine two ninety two. By the way, nineteen nine two.

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<v Speaker 2>It is fascinating actually the politics of this because you

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<v Speaker 2>listen to TAMA and as they say they're trying to

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<v Speaker 2>balance various interests with us. It sounds entirely reasonable about it.

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<v Speaker 2>To tell you what you should read the press releases

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<v Speaker 2>for the Hodaki Gulf Forum. Labor and the Greens obviously

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<v Speaker 2>will have been opposing, but the World Widelife Fund as

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<v Speaker 2>well and talking about sleazy backround deals and stuff, and

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<v Speaker 2>so it's pretty hard hitting things.

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<v Speaker 1>For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News

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