11. JOHN BOSCAWEN (ACT) Link to this
to the Minister for Climate Change Issues
On what date will he be releasing the proposed deal from the Iwi Leadership Group and on what date does he expect to have concluded a deal?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Climate Change Issues) Link to this
I cannot give an exact date. Discussions are ongoing. I am hopeful that we will be in a position to announce an agreement with the Māori Party sometime in the next week.
Can he confirm that the paper put forward by the Iwi Leadership Group proposed an afforestation fund, a first right of refusal for afforestation on Crown land, and guaranteed joint-venture status for any State-owned enterprise afforestation?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
No, I cannot confirm that. But I would also say to the member that people ask for lots of things in negotiations; that does not necessarily mean that they are agreed.
Hon Mita RirinuiWhat does he say to OraTaiao, a group of more than 100 health professionals concerned about climate change, when they ask how honouring the Treaty of Waitangi in the emissions trading scheme Act will happen when many Māori families will be the hardest hit by the Government’s emissions trading scheme amendments; and how on earth did he get the Māori Party to sign up to that?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
The issue of the impact on low-income families has been one of the priority issues for the Māori Party. That is why our amendments to the emissions trading scheme will halve the cost increase on households—halve the increase.
Hon David ParkerHon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
Well, members opposite say that is untrue. Their scheme would have resulted in petrol prices going up by 8c; ours will have them go up by 3c. The existing scheme has a 10 percent increase in power prices. A further issue that the Māori Party has put on the agenda is enhancement of the home insulation scheme, which will also help low-income households.
Well, is not OraTaiao totally right when it says “… our tax contributions give powerful and vocal big emitters a licence to threaten the future for our tamariki, rangatahi, and future generations”, and when will he stop pretending that his emissions trading scheme amendments will do anything except benefit corporate interests?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
Yes, it was. One of the points they made was that they had believed Labour’s statements that the changes were a cost to the taxpayer, rather than actually a loss in income, because Labour’s scheme would cost farmers $30,000 a year, compared with our scheme, which will cost farmers $3,000 a year.
Hekia ParataHas the Minister received any information from Ngāi Tahu on why they believed that the previous Government had not treated them fairly in terms of their non-disclosure issue over the emissions trading scheme and their Treaty settlement?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
Yes. The report from Ngāi Tahu states that the former administration, despite undertakings to consult with Ngāi Tahu over the terms of reference and over who would do the review, did not do so, and, in Ngāi Tahu’s view, acted in bad faith. Ngāi Tahu also claimed that in terms of the joint valuation that was done with the previous Government—and this is important, Mr Speaker—the previous Government agreed to go into negotiations with them to resolve the issue.
What are the names of the foreign companies he says currently have planting rights on the Department of Conservation estate, and what rentals are they currently paying?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
The details of those companies are the responsibility of the Minister of Conservation. I would be happy to find out that information and to provide it to the member, subject to any confidentiality agreements that are associated with those agreements.
I seek leave of the House to table an article in the New Zealand Medical Journal dated 9 October 2009, by Professor Hugh Montgomery, entitled “Climate change: the health consequences of inactivity” .
Mr SPEAKERHon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
I seek leave of the House to table the report provided to me by Ngāi Tahu, dated 6 August 2009, in respect of their response to the Aikman report.