Issue date
Yachting New Zealand have a role in advocacy, looking out for the interests of yacht clubs and their members as well as the wider sailing and boating community.
Often this involves protecting our marine environment and cruising grounds we enjoy so much. We continue to work across two major issues at the moment which affect two of our most pristine grounds.
Marlborough Environment Plan
This is an issue that has been going on for some time and continues to be something Yachting New Zealand have been working on tirelessly.
We made an initial submission on the plan in 2016 and last week our lawyer, Jeremy Brabant, appeared before the hearings panel to present our case on the issue.
The main issue for us is a proposal to extend the limits from shore you can pump your holding tanks from 500m to 1000m. This is unacceptable from both a practical and health and safety point of view because, in essence, the only place you could do this is in Cook Strait.
The hearings are now completed and we await the panel's decision. Any decision is subject to appeal at the environment court.
Northland Regional Plan
This looks at the entire Northland region across a raft of issues and many of these affects sailors and boaties, particularly around sewage disposal, anchoring, aquaculture and marine pests.
As many will know, Yachting New Zealand spent a great deal of time, effort and resources on achieving a positive outcome for Plan Change Four around aquaculture. We have supported carrying that outcome into the new plan, which is also supported by council, but, as expected aquaculture interests have disagreed with that approach.
Yachting New Zealand have made an initial submission on the plan and the hearing is scheduled for August when Brabant and expert witnesses from clubs will appear.
"This is important because Yachting New Zealand will be one of the few voices standing up against big commercial interests, ensuring the bays and areas we like to cruise in as yachties and boaties remain free of structures including aquaculture," Yachting New Zealand chief operating officer Andrew Clouston said. "If we don't stand up now, we could lose these areas forever.
"These cases have been bubbling away for over a year now and are an illustration of the work we do behind the scenes to help safeguard areas we all enjoy. We'll keep you updated with any progress or issues as they arise."
- Details of the submissions Yachting New Zealand have made since 2010, including the Marlborough Environment Plan and Northland Regional Plan, can be found here.
