Batting for a biosphere

WAIHEKE is shaping up to be a hot political potato once again with 17 candidates vying for just five seats on the new Waiheke Local Board, now that the Gulf Islands councillor role will be defunct under the supercity.

As candidates jostle for attention, one debate keeps rearing its head – whether Waiheke should become a Unesco Biosphere Reserve.

The idea was mooted over two years ago by island resident Colin Beardon who announced in July he would be standing for the board, with the Unesco proposal as his main policy. He says being under the Unesco umbrella would give the island status and respect.

If he is elected, he will talk to politicians in Auckland and Wellington to get the idea accepted and will set up a management group on the island to write the formal nomination working with "whoever wants to be involved".

Candidate Eme Kilkenny, a naturopath and environmentalist, supports it.

"It fits in with my beliefs in holistic practices. One example would be the concept of permaculture, which would fit in the Unesco template. Planning for the future in terms of climate change and potential environmental and economic impacts also falls under the Unesco umbrella."

The idea is also backed by candidates Graham Hooper, Paul Walden, Marijke Ransom, Denise Roche, Ewen Sutherland, Millie Watkins and Dorte Wray.

Don Mckenzie thinks it's a great long-term aspirational goal. "However the next three years is being real about what can be achieved for Waiheke as the supercity beds down."

Former park ranger Andy Spence supports the concept as an umbrella for how the island manages its resources.

"What I don't want to see is another set of legislation over the top of what we have making things more difficult."

Businesswoman Jo Holmes is also concerned about the financial implications for island ratepayers.

"It might be a nice idea in principle but it's clear there would have to be a high degree of regulation in order for it to work. In one paper I read 90 percent of the affected community felt there had been a negative impact on their local economy. That was at a reserve in the Himalayas.

"My other concern would be that if we had a biosphere here there would be a self-appointed board to oversee the island.

"Where's the democracy in that?"

Former Gulf Islands councillor Faye Storer remembers the cost to ratepayers of the Hauraki Gulf Islands District Plan, which will continue under the new Spatial Plan of the Auckland Council.

"The current district plan already has a lot of restrictions on ratepayers and development. It would be important to look at any additional layers of bureaucracy a Unesco Biosphere Reserve might impose.

"Extra bureaucracy always means additional costs and the public needs to consider whether or not they are prepared to support this. Looking at other areas that already have the Unesco status Waiheke has a very long way to go. At the end of the day central government has to decide."

Jim Hannan does not agree with the idea.

"We are already well and truly protected by the Resource Management Act and the Gulf Marine Park Act.

"I have absolutely no faith in the United Nations. Every one of us on this island already has great regard for this special island and its unique environment.

"What I do find difficult to understand is that a group of people who did not want to become part of Auckland City would align themselves with an organisation that is about one world government. I find that utterly bizarre."

Waiheke Community Board member Herb Romaniuk says there's too much mystery around the Unesco idea for it to be an election issue right now.

"The majority of us haven't got a clue about it.

"But over-regulation isn't for people who want to live an unfettered life so I'd also be looking at the amount of bureaucracy it would need," he says.

Mr Beardon says it would mean making a report to Unesco every 10 years.

"It's hardly bureaucratic. I think we could probably manage that."

Candidate Allen Davies says the proposal could be one way of retaining Waiheke's character, but Mr Beardon would be better to develop the idea away from the elections.

"I believe Colin Beardon is making a mistake standing for the local board on the Unesco issue.

"It's better that people like him leading the charge with one main issue should be outside the board and then lobby the board to get them on side. It's a conflict of interest."

Mr Beardon says he won't go ahead until the people of Waiheke say they want to.

"If the board didn't want to go ahead but the people seemed to want it there would have to be a referendum or something similar. I wouldn't go ahead without the backing of the people," he says.

- Waiheke Marketplace