As you’ll be aware, the South-East Marine Protection Forum has been discussing various areas for possible inclusion in a network of marine protected areas along the South East Coast. On July 28, the Forum met again to consider further feedback from the various stakeholder groups about the biodiversity values and existing use of those areas. This was a pivotal meeting in terms of refining the proposals in respect of which the Forum wants more information from the public. The proposals will be presented in the public consultation document to be released in early October.
As a result of community feedback and advice, a number of areas under discussion have been withdrawn from consideration in the final network.
One of the guiding principles of the Forum is to work collaboratively to achieve consensus in decision-making. Though there were disagreements, the Forum was able to reach consensus on what would be presented in the public consultation document in order to get public feedback. In some parts of the proposed network, the Forum decided the best way to get helpful information from the public is to present options/alternatives.
The information received from the public submission process will be used by the Forum to amend and refine the proposed network, and where there are alternatives and options, make a choice.
Once the public consultation document is released in early October, there will be opportunities for the public to get more information on the proposals for a marine protected areas network, and help on how to make a submission and how the process works. The public will have 40 working days (2 months) to provide submissions.
The feedback from submissions will contribute to shaping the final recommendations that will be delivered to the Government in April 2017.

Have your say and encourage others to do the same.

Freephone: 0800 687 729
south-eastmarine.org.nz
facebook.com/southeastmarine
Email: sempf@doc.govt.nz

June was a busy month for the Forum which met for five full days, 9-10 June and 23-25 June. During these meetings deliberations continued about the various areas that are under discussion along the south-east coast resulting in further refinement of the sites that will eventually go out for consultation to get more information. This month individual Forum members are continuing to talk with their respective stakeholder groups to get further input into the sites for consultation.
The Forum will meet again in late July to report back on the further feedback they have gathered. August will see a refinement of the draft list of sites being considered that will then be released for public consultation in October.
Following the release of the public consultation document the Forum will hold publically advertised Listening Posts throughout the region where members of the public will be able to come and discuss the draft recommendations and find out more about how to make a submission. The public will then have two months to make a submission.
The feedback from submissions will be taken into account in reviewing, changing and finalising the final network of recommended areas for marine protection that will be delivered to the Government in April 2017.

Have your say and encourage others to do the same.

OUR SEA YOUR SAY
KEI A KOE TE TIKANGA
Freephone: 0800 687 729
south-eastmarine.org.nz
facebook.com/southeastmarine
Email: sempf@doc.govt.nz

SOUTH EAST MARINE PROTECTION FORUM – NEWSLETTER JUNE 2016

The South-East Marine Protection Forum (SEMPF) met for two days at the Royal Albatross Centre at Tairoa Head in June. Over the two days, SEMPF members were deliberating about the values of various areas that are under discussion along the South East Coast. For an update on progress and what’s been happening, you can read the newsletter here.

SEMPF Granted 10 Month Extension

The South-East Marine Protection Planning Forum/Roopu Manaaki ki te Toka has been granted a 10 month extension for their planning process so that members of the forum can continue engaging with their stakeholder groups.

Forum chair Maree Baker-Galloway says that from the outset the forum has been committed to involving as many people as possible in the planning process and that the forum still has some way to go to fully achieve that objective. She says a further 10 months will enable wider consultation and greater information gathering before proposed areas of protection are refined and then notified for the formal submission process.

New SEMPF Timeframe

October

The formal submission process will begin sometime around the start of October when the draft recommendations for public consultation will be published.  This will be followed by a series of public meetings throughout the region, over a fortnight, to promote understanding of the document.

November

Public submissions will close 40 working days (2 months) after the draft recommendations are notified.

28 April

Final recommendations are scheduled to be provided to government by 28 April 2017.

 Have your say and encourage others to do the same.

Freephone: 0800 687 729

www.south-eastmarine.org.nz

www.facebook.com/southeastmarine   

Email: sempf@doc.govt.nz