Ngāi Tahu concerned about ‘fast-track’ bill, seeks balance
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has voiced some concerns about the new Fast Track Approvals Bills and urges the Government to strike the right balance.
Announced on Thursday, the bill would empower three Government ministers to ‘fast track’ and approve new projects, in a bid to make it easier to get infrastructure built.
Environmentalists and opposition parties say the bill would have huge impacts on the environment and biodiversity and would give Ministers and lobbyists too much power.
The bill had its first reading on Thursday afternoon but no projects are listed yet because the Government says it will take advice from an expert panel about what projects should be included in the legislation.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa said he acknowledged the inclusion of an overarching clause in the Fast Track Approvals Bill to uphold Treaty settlements.
“This goes some way to maintain agreements made with Ngāi Tahu, but not far enough.
“Our concern is that the Bill gives ministers the ability to approve consents for a project which could be inconsistent with our settlements and Te Tiriti more generally,” he said.
A key failure of the Bill was that it did not include a reference to Te Tiriti o Waitangi or its principles, he said.
“Two-thirds of the conservation estate is situated within our Ngāi Tahu Takiwā, so we are particularly concerned that the new fast track consenting regime will lead to impacts on this whenua, including through the fast tracking of conservation concessions.”
Tipa said Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu would carefully review the bill and voice any concerns to the Government.
He hoped the final Bill would strike the right balance and respect settlement rights and te taiao/the environment. “We are supportive of enabling positive development within our takiwā where appropriate. However, our support will always be contingent on the Crown upholding our Ngāi Tahu Settlement, Fisheries Settlement and Aquaculture Settlement and ensuring the health of te taiao is prioritised.”