Over the weekend, the government announced a number of amendments that would be made to the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill.
The amendments included the addition of 19 new marine protection areas, 12 of which are high protection areas, but would also allow the continuation of authorised customary fishing in High Protection areas by authorised fishers.
While Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, who introduced the amendments, has lauded the bill for protecting the biodiversity of the Hauraki gulf while allowing local fishers to provide for their communities, the Hauraki Gulf Forum and numerous conservation groups have said bill will do the exact opposite, by opening critical areas of the gulf up to commercial fishing and threatening the region’s already endangered marine life.
For their weekly catch up, I spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March to discuss the recent amendments to the Hauraki Gulf Marine protection bill and the party’s take on it.
They also discussed the recent 1news Verian poll showing that 40% of New Zealanders thought that Aotearoa was in a worse state today than it was last year, and the Samoan Citizenship Bill by Greens MP Teanau Tuiono getting passed in the select committee and moving on to it’s second reading.
The Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ just released Our Air 2024, a three yearly report featuring data on air pollution levels and its impacts.
The report found that, while concentrations of various particulates had reduced, and overall air quality in Aotearoa had improved, air pollution had a much greater contribution to diseases and birth defects across the country than previously expected.
Oto spoke to Dr Joel Rindelaub, a senior lecturer in Chemical sciences at the University of Auckland, to discuss the report and the impacts of air pollution on the human body.
Recently, the HMNZS Manawanui sank off the coast of Samoa, after hitting a reef and catching fire.
Following the sinking, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced a Court of Inquiry, after being called on by a Samoan International Relations expert based in New Zealand.
Usually, similar incidents regarding major maritime vessels would be investigated by Maritime New Zealand, and may also be referred to the Transport Accident Investigation Commission. However, as the Manawanui was a naval vessel engaged in governmental activity, the NZDF is holding the inquiry.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to a Professor in the Faculty of Law at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Paul Myburgh, about what this inquiry could mean.
As well as this, an estimate of up to 200,000 litres of diesel has leaked into the ocean from the wreckage.
New Zealand's Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Andrew Brown, says that there is currently no evidence that the spillage has come from the main fuel tanks onboard, which appear to be intact.
This comes as the Chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, told RNZ’s Morning Report that roughly 950 tonnes of diesel fuel was onboard when the HMNZS Manawanui sank.
They also spoke to a Lecturer in the Department of Marine Science at the University of Otago, Dr Bridie Allan, about how much of a concern the spillage is so far, and what the environmental implications of the spillage could look like.
Featuring Flicks 'n' That with Ste and Eve covering this year's Show Me Shorts festival, plus What's Cooking with Goodwill down in Ōtautahi. Thanks to The Beer Spot!
Playlist
JessB - Talk Of The Town
Eko - Ndolo Embe Mulema
Opolopo, Diane Charlemagne - Round And Round
Mokotron - ŌHĀKĪ
MĀ - Pūhā me te Porohewa
Big Sur - Sleeping Dogs
Body of Work - Maudlin To None
Juno Is - Another Deal
Goodwill - Plans
The Dynamics - Money(Samurai Disco Version)
Lack Of Afro - Browsing Youtube
Pining Radiata - Burning
Cass McCombs - Krakatau
Wiri Donna - Being Alone
Babehoven - Lightness is Loud
Goodwill - Kind Hands
Shooless - Ignorant Bliss
P.H.F. - Doe
Wendall Harrison - Take Time Out
Jujulipps - Good Guys
Lord Echo - The Book Keeper
Burning Babylon - Sproing A Dub
Ethanol Blend - Underwater
Soft Plastics - Day Job
Recitals - GRADIENT
Nathan Haines - Squire For Hire feat. Marlena Shaw
Taylor is joined by local legend Jim Nothing ahead of the release party for Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn this Saturday at Audio Foundation. Listen back to hear Taylor and Jim's selections, yarns and a couple of sneak peak previews of Jim's album. Jim's pick for Nature's Best is Skeptics - Mamouth
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