This is in response to today's announcement that the Government is going to have to amend its 2005 changes to the Resource Management Act following an adverse decision of the Environment Court.
"It is appalling mismanagement that the aquaculture laws have to again be rewritten before a single new marine farm has been approved.
"Aquaculture is an exciting export industry that grew from $20 million in 1990 to be worth over $300 million in 2000, but its growth has stalled under Labour's moratorium and botched law reforms.
"Industry, iwi, councils and National all told Labour that its 2005 reforms were unworkable. Labour arrogantly dismissed concerns then, and now the chickens are coming home to roost.
"These latest changes will be particularly contentious because the Government, as with the foreshore and seabed law, is seeking to overrule a court decision.
"The aquaculture industry deserves far better than these shenanigans. Yet again Labour has failed in its management of the Resource Management Act and New Zealanders are paying the price with confused law and lost opportunities."
Chickens come home to roost on botched aquaculture reforms
NEW ZEALAND - Labour need to come clean and admit they botched the 2005 aquaculture reforms, says National's Environment spokesman, Nick Smith.