12. Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Conservation
What input did he have to possible changes to the mining prohibition in national parks currently provided by schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act 1991, prior to the Minister for Energy and Resources’ announcement during his address to the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 2009 on 26 August 2009?
Is the Minister aware that virtually all Department of Conservation land outside of national parks is not subject to a mining prohibition; and why did he not advocate for the continued protection of national parks?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
The Minister is doing a great job in advocating for conservation, but advocating for conservation actually means taking account of the bigger picture, not merely opposing everything. We are looking at a balanced approach to balance our environmental responsibilities with economic opportunities.
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
There is a review at the moment. Until the outcome of that review is known we will not be making decisions. I note that even the Hon Chris Carter agrees with our position in that he had to consider the environmental and wildlife effects as well as “the economic benefits that flow from the efficient development and use of New Zealand’s coal resources.” We look forward to his supporting our review as well.
Given that the Minister has already adjusted the boundary of the Oteake Conservation Park to exclude the main stem of the river so as to facilitate the mining of lignite, why did he think it proper to label his critics as being hysterical?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
The Minister was making the very fair point that we all need to keep some perspective about the matter in hand.
I seek leave to table a Waikato Times article of 29 August in which the Minister of Conservation, the Hon Tim Groser, said his critics were emotional and accused them—
Mr SPEAKERLeave is sought to table a press clipping from 29 August. Is there any objection to it being tabled? Yes, there is.
Metiria TureiI seek leave to table a list of the 270 protected conservation places currently listed in schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act.
Leave is sought to table part of an Act. Is there any—[ Interruption] I have to seek leave. I would just ask members, though, to—
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My apologies; maybe I misdescribed it. It is not part of an Act; it is a list of the places that are protected under schedule 4, but those places are not listed in the Act.
Hon Gerry BrownleeMembers are asking me to find out where the document is from. If it is not part of the Act, where is it from?
The list is a generated list, I understand, from the Parliamentary Library, of all the places—of which there are 270—described in the categories in schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act. [ Interruption]