NATIONAL PARTY

The Bream Bay project is currently under consideration by an expert panel as part of the Fast Track process. Expert panels assess projects, decide whether they receive consent, and then attach any necessary conditions for the relevant approvals. The expert panels will include members with technical expertise relevant to a project, expertise in environmental matters, conservation, and the Treaty of Waitangi. It is important to wait until this decision is made.

NZ FIRST PARTY

NZ First believes that as New Zealanders, we should be proud of our natural environment. It should be treated with the respect it deserves. We believe the government must strike a fair balance between environmental stewardship and utilising our natural resources. 

We support practical consenting processes based on sound scientific evidence, proper assessment of environmental impacts and meaningful consideration of community concerns. This approach applies to seabed mining and sand extraction generally, recognising the particular sensitivity of our coastal and marine environments.

Regarding Bream Bay, we recognise the concerns expressed by residents, mana whenua, recreational fishers and other coastal users. Bream Bay is an important environmental, recreational and economic asset for Northland. Any proposal must be carefully assessed for its potential impacts on the environment and wider community. This is the job of the independent expert panel.

GREEN PARTY

A Green Government will commit to revoking any consents or permits handed out under the fast-track process for coal, gold and seabed mines.

These projects, if approved, will have been through a process that categorically fails to meet our standards of transparency, accountability, and environmental responsibility. We don’t believe that’s acceptable.

More importantly, these types of mining are profoundly destructive. Each leaves behind polluted water, scarred landscapes, and divided communities. They extract resources from our land, ship them overseas, and leave our people to deal with the aftermath.

We believe our country, our whenua, is worth more. We believe in a country where the natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural heritage are not sacrificed for the short-term profits of the few. A future where economic development builds our country up, rather than tears it open.

We believe every community must have a stake in building a liveable, sustainable future.

LABOUR PARTY

Towards a More Open and Democratic Fast Track Process:

Labour supports a Fast Track process that is democratic and respects iwi partnership, scientific insights, and community voice. The current National-led Fast Track process fails to ensure these basic protections.

The last Labour government showed that it could advance many dozens of Fast Track projects without overriding these democratic fundamentals.

We will review and amend the Fast Track process so that is efficient and effective, while ensuring it doesn't override environmental protections and local iwi and community input.

Further detailed assurances will come when we are in government and can take a full and true accounting of the current government's data and assumptions.

TE PĀTI MĀORI

Te Pāti Māori supports a permanent ban on seabed mining in Aotearoa.

That means we oppose using the Fast Track process to enable seabed mining or marine sand extraction that threatens our moana, our environment, our communities and the rights of mana whenua.

Our moana is not an empty resource waiting to be extracted. It is taonga.
It is whakapapa.
It is kai.
It is habitat.
It is our climate protection.
It is the foundation of life for our coastal communities.

For Te Tai Tokerau, protecting our moana is also about tino rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga. Mana whenua must have a genuine say in decisions affecting their rohe and their taonga. Te Tiriti cannot simply be reduced to consultation after decisions have already been made. Te Tiriti, tino rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga must be at the heart of environmental decision-making.

The proposed Bream Bay extraction is significant, and the potential impacts extend beyond the immediate extraction area. Sand extraction can affect seabed habitats, sediment movement, coastal processes, fisheries and the wider health of the marine environment. Where there is uncertainty about significant environmental impacts, we should not gamble with the moana. We should protect it.

Te Pāti Māori has consistently opposed the Fast Track approach where it weakens environmental protections and undermines the ability of mana whenua and communities to protect their taonga.

So if the question is: “If Te Pāti Māori is part of the next Government, what position will you take on the Bream Bay application and similar applications?” The answer is very clear: We will oppose them.

We will oppose the use of Fast Track to enable destructive seabed mining and marine sand extraction. And we will work towards permanently banning seabed mining in Aotearoa.

This is not about being against development. It is about asking what kind of development we want.

We want development that creates opportunities for our people while protecting the whenua, the wai and the moana that sustain us.

We want kai sovereignty, environmental sovereignty and strong communities.

We do not believe private interests should be able to extract from our moana while our communities and our mokopuna are left carrying the environmental consequences.

So to Patuharakeke, to the whānau of Bream Bay, and to the wider communities of Te Tai Tokerau: You have a clear commitment from me. I stand with you. Te Pāti Māori stands with you.

Our moana is not a sacrifice zone. It is our responsibility to protect it, restore it and leave it healthy for those who come after us.

He taonga te moana.

He taonga te whenua.

He taonga ngā uri whakatupu.