The Minister for Conservation is calling for a culture of change over making use of New Zealand's natural resources.
Speaking at an Aquaculture NZ conference in Nelson on Thursday, Nick Smith referred to a pragmatic trade-off that may be required to help the economy.
He said he could not hide his disappointment that New Zealand King Salmon's application for a modest amount of additional space in the Marlborough Sounds was off to the Supreme Court.
He says the process compares unfavourably with Australia, and particularly Tasmania.
"I can only admire the perseverance of King Salmon with a debate that has spanned nearly as long a my own political career."
King Salmon originally wanted to put nine salmon farms in a protected part of the Marlborough Sounds but a board of Inquiry rejected five of the sites.
