Minister coy about contact with mayor before marina ruling

Conservation Minister Chris Carter yesterday batted off suggestions in Parliament that he had failed to follow due process leading up to his Whangamata marina decision.

But he declined to specifically answer several questions put to him by the Herald about a conversation that an email alleges he had with Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey before his decision was announced.

Mr Harvey also declined to answer questions about the conversation, although he confirmed that he had encouraged surfers to lobby.

National MP Nick Smith used Parliament to try to grill the Minister about a group email from Parnell businessman John Wilson on March 3, days before the decision was announced.

It said: "We have received confirmation from Bob Harvey ... to say the minister has got the balls to go ahead and stop the marina ... and has asked for support from those who will back him."

Another email written by Mr Wilson said Mr Carter was "going to pull the plug".

Dr Smith asked what communications Mr Carter had with Mr Harvey and was told: "Following the lead story in the New Zealand Herald on March 1 speculating about my decision on the Whangamata marina, my office and I were besieged by inquiries ... a conversation was had with Bob Harvey.

"At all times my office and I emphasised to anyone who contacted us that I had not made a decision on the marina."

Dr Smith asked: "Does he consider it due process to tell his mates in advance of the decision, get them to organise an email campaign supporting his decision, and then use those emails to justify his decision?"

Mr Carter responded: "At no point did I tell my mates, or people who were not my mates, what my final decision was going to be ... I welcome people lobbying me on issues. It is good for politicians to hear from the public."

Asked to reconcile the email with the fact he was ostensibly still making a decision at the time, Mr Carter said he was not responsible for the email.

His office was asked later by the Herald whether he had given Mr Harvey any indication of a likely decision and if he had asked for help with messages of support.

However, Mr Carter's spokesman would only repeat what was said in the House.

Mr Harvey declined to discuss the conversation, instead issuing a statement saying he stood by his rallying call to surfers.

Whangamata Marina Society spokesman Mick Kelly spent a day in Wellington yesterday lobbying politicians.

The group would decide on Sunday whether to seek a judicial review of Mr Carter's decision to overturn an Environment Court decision, he said.

Lawyer Mai Chen is acting for the group and said a number of matters were being considered, including whether Mr Carter included irrelevant considerations in the decision or acted from a position of bias.

The email was hearsay, but raised interesting questions of timing given Mr Carter was claiming to have an open mind at the time.

Bill of Rights considerations - including the right to compensation - were also being investigated.

United Future MP Gordon Copeland is pushing for compensation for the society and is supported by the Maori Party, but Mr Carter has ruled compensation out.

National leader Don Brash meanwhile was met by a large group at the Whangamata Sports Club yesterday.

He said afterwards he was not arguing for or against the proposal itself.

"The point is that bodies far more qualified than a politician sitting in Wellington have already done so."

Mr Wilson could not reached for comment yesterday.