Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka’s refusal to decide on the pending Hākaimangō-Mātiatia Marine Reserve application could see legal proceedings started against him, says Friends of the Hauraki Gulf chair Mike Lee. A series of letters and official information act requests have bounced between the local conservation group and the Conservation Minister’s desk over recent months, leaving the group frustrated by missed deadlines and a lack of progress.
Friends of the Hauraki Gulf submitted the marine reserve application five years ago in 2021; the Department of Conservation (DOC) subsequently reviewed it and submitted its assessment to the Minister in November 2024, who said he would decide by May 2025.
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