Environment Minister Faces Allegations of Improper Influence

The Minister for the Environment, Penny Simmonds, is under scrutiny for allegedly using her official position to influence legal processes at Horizons Regional Council in a manner that could benefit her colleague, Chris Bishop, of the National Party. This controversy arises from communications regarding delays in granting irrigation and groundwater extraction consents, which affect local farmers.

Simmonds has stated that her engagement with stakeholders is “wholly appropriate.” The Prime Minister’s Office has indicated that there is no reason to believe any breach of the Cabinet Manual has occurred. Official documents reveal that Simmonds wrote to Horizons Regional Council acknowledging that Bishop had received a letter from farmers in the Santoft area expressing their concerns about these delays.

In her correspondence, Simmonds requested information on the reasons behind the holdup in consent approvals, specifically mentioning a farm owned by Suze Redmayne, the MP for Rangitikei. In her letter dated early September 2023, she emphasized the importance of timely solutions for farmers, linking this to the government’s commitment to supporting the primary sector and bolstering New Zealand’s economy.

“I am now seeking to understand from Horizons Regional Council why there have been delays, and what needs to be done to achieve a timely solution for the affected farmers,” Simmonds wrote to the council’s chief executive. Additionally, she proposed a meeting with the council alongside fellow ministers Andrew Hoggard and Todd McClay to further discuss the matter.

Critics, including Lan Pham from the Green Party, have raised alarms over Simmonds’ actions. Pham accused the minister of misusing her power to sway a council’s legal process to assist “their mates.” She described the situation as a significant conflict of interest and criticized the government’s lack of transparency regarding such issues.

“It is extremely concerning to have a Minister for the Environment advocating for a consent for water extraction at all,” Pham stated. She called for accountability from the Prime Minister regarding Simmonds’ involvement in the matter.

In response to the allegations, Simmonds defended her actions, stating that meeting with various stakeholders, including farmers, is a regular part of her role. “Farmers’ livelihoods depend on getting consents,” she noted, adding, “as the Minister for the Environment, it’s wholly appropriate for me to engage with the primary sector to understand their concerns.”

The Prime Minister’s Office has expressed its expectation that all ministers adhere to the guidelines set out in the Cabinet Manual. A spokesperson confirmed that there is no evidence suggesting that these guidelines were violated in this instance.

Redmayne, for her part, clarified that she did not participate in any meetings with Simmonds or advocate for the farmers beyond suggesting that they reach out to the relevant ministers. She acknowledged her conflict of interest in this matter, stating, “Ordinarily, if a constituent approached me on an issue like this, I would advocate on their behalf, but in this case, I noted my conflict of interest and left them to approach ministers themselves.”

As the situation develops, the implications of these accusations could resonate throughout New Zealand’s political landscape, particularly regarding the integrity of ministerial conduct and the administration’s commitment to transparency.