Whereas, section 12(6) of the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1996 empowers the Minister of Transport to declare that an Order in Council made under that section does not apply in respect of a specified ship or class of ship.

And whereas, pursuant to section 441 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, the Minister of Transport, by an instrument of delegation dated 19 March 1997, did delegate those powers under section 12 of the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1996 to Maritime New Zealand.

And whereas, pursuant to section 442 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, Maritime New Zealand, by an instrument of delegation dated 8 April 2024 did delegate those powers under section 12(6) of the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1996 to the Director of Maritime New Zealand.

Therefore I, Kirstie Hewlett, Director of Maritime New Zealand, hereby declare that the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Order 2009 does not apply in relation to “Area 2 – Hauraki Gulf” in the schedule of protected areas to that Order and to the vessels, Ikatere and Te Kaihopara (set out in the table below) that will be involved in the survey operations in support of sampling activities of the seabed, during the period between 1 November 2024 and 16 December 2024 inclusive.

On the condition that the University of Exeter ensures full adherence to the agreement “Convex Seascape Survey Agreement Hauraki Gulf CPA 2024” dated 11 September 2024 between Spark New Zealand Trading Limited and the Convex Seascape Survey team (in partnership with the University of Exeter).

This notice comes into effect upon publication in the New Zealand Gazette.

Dated at Wellington on this 17th day of October 2024.

KIRSTIE HEWLETT, Director of Maritime New Zealand.