6. KEVIN HAGUE (Green) Link to this
to the Minister of Conservation
What criteria and processes will she use to evaluate any land exchange proposed by Meridian Energy for the area of public conservation land it wishes to flood for its proposed Mōkihinui hydro scheme?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP (Minister of Defence) Link to this
The processes and criteria are set out in section 16A of the Conservation Act 1987. They are also guided by Conservation General Policy 2005 and other relevant statutory documents, such as the West Coast Te Tai o Poutini Conservation Management Strategy. The key criteria set out in section 16A are that the exchange will enhance the conservation value of land managed by the department and also promote the purposes of the Act. Land exchange applications are processes that are operated consistent with departmental procedures and the legislation.
What land currently outside public conservation land could possibly offset the drowning of 300 hectares of irreplaceable river gorge habitat for kiwi, blue duck, kākā, falcons, giant land snails, native bats, and long-finned eels, all of which currently live along the Mōkihinui River?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
The member may be aware that an application was made then subsequently withdrawn by Meridian Energy. That particular application was released under the Official Information Act, and I am sure the member has a copy of it.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The supplementary question asked what land would fit that section 16A requirement, and the Minister has not addressed that question, at all.
Mr SPEAKERI confess I thought the Minister’s answer was a fair way away from the question asked. I invite the member to repeat his question exactly; let the Minister hear it and provide an answer to the House.
What land currently outside the public conservation estate could possibly offset the drowning of 300 hectares of irreplaceable river gorge habitat for the kiwi, blue duck, kākā, falcons, giant land snails, native bats, and long-finned eels that currently live along the Mōkihinui River?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
This application has not been considered by the Minister, and it would be inappropriate for the Minister to make a comment prior to the application. I mentioned the Official Information Act request because it dealt with land that Meridian Energy had offered. That application was withdrawn, as the questioner may well know.
Is she familiar with a Landcare Research report tabled in this House in 2008 that concluded that it is impossible to offset the biodiversity loss that this dam would cause; if so, does she accept that Landcare Research advice?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
I cannot say whether the Minister would be aware of that. But the Minister is well aware of the application. The Minister cannot make comment at this stage. That would prejudice her consideration of a future application. As she is the decision maker, public comment on the merits would be inappropriate.
Is it the case that Meridian Energy withdrew its first land exchange offer because that offer had been firmly rejected by the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board and the Department of Conservation; if so, why was it rejected by her department?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
As I indicated, the original application was made and released under the Official Information Act. It is correct that the department did not recommend that the application be accepted, because it did not meet the criteria of the Act. At this point in time there is no other application by Meridian Energy. It is also worth noting that this issue is yet to go through the Environment Court appeal processes, and, as the member will probably know, the department is not supporting that appeal.
Can she give a single example of land that would represent an acceptable exchange and is not already protected?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
It would be inappropriate to answer that question, because that in effect would be looking to prejudge the merits of the application.
Does she agree with her colleague Gerry Brownlee, who last year told a Nelson audience: “The Mokihinui will not go ahead. I don’t think you are going to see any large scale dams built in the foreseeable future.”?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
The member may be also aware that Minister Gerry Brownlee also indicated that such comments were being taken out of context. In any event, the Minister of Conservation has the statutory authority to deal with any applications. Indeed, she must act statutorily.
Does she accept that there is no land exchange that could meet the criteria she needs to apply; therefore, could she not save enormous expenditure of time, effort, and money from all parties, including Meridian Energy, by ruling out any possible land exchange right now?
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP Link to this
I have already answered that question: to give an answer would pre-empt her decision on any potential application. She must apply the criteria set out in the Act, and therefore she must act in a statutory manner.
I seek leave to table a document that provides a link to an audio recording of Minister Brownlee’s comments that I have cited in the House, from the Nelson Mail.