What correspondence or meetings, if any, did the Minister have with Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, about the contents of his Amendment Paper 710 to the Natural Environment Bill, prior to its introduction?

Answer

In March 2025, Cabinet authorised the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries and I to make decisions relating to the work on the Coastal Marine Area (CMA), in consultation with relevant portfolio Ministers. As such, we jointly made decisions on some of the matters contained within Amendment Paper 710, as well as with Under-Secretary Court. The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries met with Under-Secretary Court and I on 16 April 2026 to discuss coastal marine area matters in the new planning system. The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries also sent a letter to the Under-Secretary Court and I seeking agreement on additional aquaculture and fisheries matters on 2 July 2026. The Under-secretary and I subsequently responded to that letter on 31 July 2026.