West Coast council leaders and conservationists are cautiously endorsing some of the new Cabinet appointments announced yesterday by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Conservation Minister Kiri Allan. Photo: Supplied / LDR
In roles that will be important for the region, East Coast Labour MP Kiri Allan takes up the reins as Conservation Minister; Stuart Nash takes on tourism and regional development, and David Parker keeps his job as Environment Minister.
Some council leaders were hoping last week for a "less green" and more industry-friendly MP in the conservation role than outgoing minister and Green MP Eugenie Sage.
West Coast Regional Council chair Allan Birchfield said he did not know Allan, but he wanted the job to go to an electorate MP rather than a list MP, which it has.
The East Coast lawyer and regional advocate won her electorate seat in a landslide last week, with a majority of close to 5000 votes. She entered Parliament in 2017 as a list MP after a career in commercial law and the primary sector, and has been involved in new kiwifruit enterprises and regional development on the East Coast.
Allan chaired Labour's rural caucus in the last term, was a member of the party's rainbow and women's caucuses and has a child with her wife, Natalie Coates.
The 36-year-old, of Ngāti Ranginui and Tūwharetoa descent, is the second Māori woman to become Conservation Minister; Alliance MP Sandra Lee held the post for three years after the 1999 election.
As incoming minister, Allan will have a couple of meaty West Coast issues to tackle this term: the promised review of Department of Conservation stewardship land and Ngāi Tahu's grievance with the make-up of the West Coast Conservation Board.
Board chair Keith Morfett said he did not know Allan and only time would tell how she would handle the task, but he wished her all the best.
The conservation board would go ahead with its scheduled meeting in Fox Glacier township this week, despite a Ngāi Tahu boycott, Morfett said.
"However, I have asked the government for some advice on the ongoing function of the board in the continued absence of our Ngāi Tahu members."
Birchfield said the reappointment of David Parker as Environment Minister was disappointing, given his rejection of the Waitaha River hydro power scheme.
"He should be in the Green Party - I'm not happy with him," Birchfield said.
South Westland tourism operator and Conservation Authority adviser to the board Gerry McSweeney, said Allan and her iwi had strongly supported pest control to restore the ravaged Raukumara forests and she was "acutely aware" of biodiversity challenges.
He was also pleased Stuart Nash had been named as Minister of Tourism and Economic Regional Development.
"He is an expert forester - very knowledgeable. Years ago as a student he worked down here at the (Moeraki) Lodge and he was always very capable."
Westland Mayor Bruce Smith agreed: "He was a good Minister of Police and I'm not unhappy with any of these appointments, even with David Parker back in the environment slot. I don't believe the Waitaha scheme is dead in the water yet - not by a long shot."
Smith was also pleased that Nanaia Mahuta had retained the local government portfolio.
"She's been great to work with, and the background of our new Conservation Minister sounds good - I'm looking forward to working with her," Smith said.