THIS AGREEMENT made the SIXTH day of November 1986 BETWEEN the WEST COAST UNITED COUNCIL; NATIVE FORESTS ACTION COUNCIL, a duly incorporated society having its registered office at Nelson; ROYAL FOREST AND BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND, a duly incorporated society having its registered office at Wellington; FEDERATED MOUNTAIN CLUBS OF NEW ZEALAND, a duly incorporated society having its registered office at Wellington; WEST COAST TIMBER ASSOCIATION, a duly incorporated society having its registered office at Greymouth; WESTLAND TIMBER WORKERS' UNION, a duly incorporated society having its registered office at Greymouth; AND HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF NEW ZEALAND ACTING BY AND THROUGH THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (hereinafter referred to as "the Crown").
AND WHEREAS the Government has consulted with the West Coast United Council, environmental and industry groups, conservation groups and community authorities to devise an overall strategy for West Coast forests.
AND WHEREAS the strategy provides for the gazetting of reserves and the Paparoa National park.
AND WHEREAS the strategy also provides for the allocation of sufficient indigenous production forest areas to make possible the maintenance, subject to competitive market forces, of the sawmilling industry on the West Coast at its current allowable level of cut until exotic species become available, in adequate quantity planned to be 2006 in Buller and between 1990 and 1995 in North Westland (except for Karamea for which adequate quantity is available at present level of allowable cut until at least 1994)
The parties hereby COVENANT AND AGREE as follows
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1.
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THAT additional national park and reserve proposals identified on maps held by the New Zealand Forest Service of total area of 136,776 ha or thereabouts of State forest land, to be gazetted immediately, and that additional
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| The West Coast Accord
Page 2 of 6
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park and reserve proposals identified of total area 44,545 ha or thereabouts of State forest land identified on maps held by the New Zealand Forest Service, be advertised for public comment by the Acting Director-General of Forests and will endeavour to determine its status by 31 March 1987.
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2.
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THAT the Pike River coal field development can proceed, on the basis that any surface developments or transport of coal in the proposed Paparoa National Park would be of low environmental impact and subject to normal environmental assessment procedures.
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3.
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THAT current mining operations can continue within new reserve areas outlined in 1 above.
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4. |
THAT all State forest production areas be offered for sale to the Forestry Corporation for management on a commercial basis subject to normal statutory requirements and the following additional constraints which would apply to any public or private sector manager of those forests:
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i
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that the indigenous forests be managed to allow a continuing supply of indigenous timber in perpetuity;
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ii
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that the indigenous forests be managed to allow their maintenance as indigenous forests without interplanting exotic timber unless by contract with the Government;
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iii
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that public entry and access be provided including use of roads, subject to reasonable charges for facilities and reasonable restrictions to safeguard against fire risk and to ensure public safety and the protection of assets;
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| The West Coast Accord
Page 3 of 6
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5. |
THAT additional constraints be imposed upon the management of Saltwater and North Okarito State Forests requiring that they continue to be managed as a single sustained yield working circle, with logging techniques that will have low environmental impact, particularly low ground impact, and constrain logging within the 1 kilometer buffer zone identified on maps held by the New Zealand Forest Service to use techniques which do not require off road use of tracked or wheeled vehicles.
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6.
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THAT all remaining State forest outside of reserves, protection zones, and production areas be classified as stewardship areas and allocated to the proposed Department of Conservation.
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7.
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THAT exotic forested areas within wildlife corridors be allocated for production and that the Crown apply management constraints on logging and subsequent replanting of such areas.
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8.
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THAT the Crown will immediately invite competitive tenders for a supply of 21,0003 in Karamea and 52,000m3 in Buller of podocarp timber.
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9.
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THAT a sustained yield beech scheme may proceed on the basis of the designated production areas identified on the appended maps from the Final Report of the Working Party and outlined in detail on maps held by the New Zealand Forest Service and that the Crown will invite tenders as soon as possible.
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10.
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THAT the West Coast United council as trustees be allocated the sum of $1 million for expenditure on South Westland for transitional assistance or for facilitating investment in South Westland on commercial activities on the understanding that any Crown commitment to the planting of special purpose timbers in South Westland is accordingly discharged.
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| The West Coast Accord Page 4 of 6
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11.
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THAT the Crown will consult with the West Coast United Council to
consider whether transitional assistance measures are required in the
Karamea district if gazetting of reserves leads to closure of sawmills.
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12.
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TO enter into an agreement confirming the above covenants and
stating in explicit detail the consequential legal technicalities and
describing more particularly the land affected by this agreement.
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13.
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THAT this agreement shall not be effective until all parties named in the agreement have signed it.
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In witness whereof these presents have been executed the day and year hereinbefore written:
SIGNED
by the Minister for the Environment (signed) Phil Goff
in the presence of:
WITNESS (signed) David Wood
OCCUPATION: (printed by hand) Private Secretary
PLACE: (printed by hand) Wellington
SIGNED for and on behalf of (signed) A G G McGeady O.B.E. CHAIRMAN
the West Coast United Council
in the presence of: (signed) J. R. O'Regan
(inserted typescript) subject to having or obtaining the necessary statutory authority, and obtaining a satisfactory agreement with her Majesty The Queen regarding Item 10 and Item 11.
WITNESS:
OCCUPATION: (printed by hand) FARMER
PLACE: GREYMOUTH
| The West Coast Accord Page 5 of 6
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SIGNED for and on behalf of ) (signed) L K Gillions
the West Coast Timber Association )
in the presence of:
WITNESS: (Signed) R W G Blakely
OCCUPATION: (Printed by hand) SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
PLACE: (Printed by hand) GREYMOUTH
SIGNED for and on behalf of ) (signed) R F Beadle.
Secretary Westland Timber Workers Union
the Westland Timber Workers' Union )
in the presence of: )
WITNESS: (Signed) R W G Blakely
OCCUPATION: (Printed by hand) SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
PLACE: (Printed by hand) GREYMOUTH
| The West Coast Accord Page 6 of 6
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SIGNED for and on behalf of ) (signed) Guy W Salmon
the Native Forests Action Council )
in the presence of: )
WITNESS: (Signed) D H Corlett
OCCUPATION: (Printed by hand) Regional & Resource Planner
PLACE: (Printed by hand) WELLINGTON
SIGNED for and on behalf of ) (signed) Alan F Mark
the Royal Forest And Bird Protection )
Society of New Zealand )
in the presence of: )
WITNESS: (Signed) D H Corlett
OCCUPATION: (Printed by hand) Regional & Resource Planner
PLACE: (Printed by hand) WELLINGTON
SIGNED for and on behalf of the ) (signed) A. J. Heine
Federated Mountain Clubs of )
New Zealand )
in the presence of: )
WITNESS: (Signed) D H Corlett
OCCUPATION: (Printed by hand) Regional & Resource Planner
PLACE: (Printed by hand) WELLINGTON
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