“The instrumental problem here is that DOC is trying to make political recommendations, which is your role, Minister, not theirs,” said Auckland Councillor Mike Lee to Minister of Conservation, Tana Potaka.

Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka was greeted by a packed Club Waiheke in Surfdale as residents were quick to draw the minister into a discussion on marine reserves with questions centred around why the report to include marine reserves on the Hauraki Gulf Protection Bill is taking so long.

Mike Lee, Councillor for Waitematā and Gulf Ward and also chairperson of Friends of the Hauraki Gulf, said the Waiheke community has done 10 years of arduous to work to get the Hākaimangō/Mātiatia Marine Reserve application to this point. • Silvia Massa

Full story in this week’s Gulf News… Out Now!!!

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