12. Hon DAVID CARTER (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Conservation
Is he satisfied with the Department of Conservation’s advocacy role in the land tenure review process; if so, why?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Conservation) Link to this
Broadly, yes. My department provides advice to Land Information New Zealand as part of the tenure review process, established by the Crown Pastoral Land Act of 1998.
Did the Department of Conservation sponsor the conference involving the New Zealand Ecological Society, held in Wellington between 28 August and 1 September; if so, why?
The Department of Conservation funds and supports a range of different environmental conferences. If the member wishes to find out exactly what the level of our support was, I suggest he put in a written or oral question to me on that, and I shall provide the correct information.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I have just asked the Minister whether the Department of Conservation sponsored it, and the Minister’s answer was that if I wanted to know I should put it down as a question.
Madam SPEAKER
Charles ChauvelThere are some iconic gains. The Labour-led Government has established six high-country parks by linking existing Department of Conservation land with land coming into protection. As a result of tenure review, the Birchwood Station purchase, and the Molesworth transfer, these parks are an enduring legacy for future generations of New Zealanders to enjoy. I am really proud I had a hand in making them.
R Doug WoolertonWhat percentage of the land that has had its tenure review completed has gone to the Department of Conservation, and what percentage to farmers as freehold title?
Since 1992, 58 percent of the land has gone into freehold to farmers—that is about 162,000 hectares—and 42 percent, some 117,500 hectares, has gone into Department of Conservation management, owned by all of us.
Is the Minister aware that the president, the vice-president, and two of the four councillors of the New Zealand Ecological Society are current Department of Conservation employees and that the conference was sponsored by the Department of Conservation, and does that demonstrate any conflict of interest?
As I replied to the member earlier, the Department of Conservation funds and supports a whole range of different environmental conferences, initiatives, and workshops right around the country, and Department of Conservation staff are involved in a whole range of extracurricular conservation activities, which I am very pleased about.
Is it appropriate for this ecological society to put out a press release dated 31 August, entitled “Land Tenure Review Failing the Public Interest”, when the Department of Conservation is the main antagonist in the land tenure review process?
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Is the member going to be asked to withdraw and apologise for his unfortunate remark? The Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues—the woman who does no work at all—is laughing through a point of order.
I am asking the Minister to withdraw and apologise. Would the Minister please stand, withdraw, and apologise.
I am only too happy to, and the Minister should listen carefully. Is it appropriate for this ecological society to put out a press release dated 31 August, entitled “Land Tenure Review Failing the Public Interest”, when the Department of Conservation is the main antagonist in the land tenure review process?
The Department of Conservation is not an antagonist in the process; it is an adviser on significant inherent values of land going through the land tenure process. I cannot be responsible for what Department of Conservation staff do outside of their employment. I note that the member has not said that the Department of Conservation made such a statement.
What recent studies have been done by the Department of Conservation or Landcare Research to ascertain whether biodiversity has been lost, maintained, or enhanced within the Department of Conservation estate?
A recent study put out by Dr Susan Walker of Landcare Research indicated that biodiversity values were not being met through the land tenure process. We are reviewing the process at all times and would like to see the best possible outcomes; the Minister for Land Information and I are both looking at the process at the moment.