10. Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Conservation
Does she support the Department of Conservation’s first stated strategic approach “to promote the benefits and value of conservation in New Zealand”?
Did she recently tell the Christchurch Press that she was reviewing whether the Department of Conservation should even have an advocacy role, before resiling from that extraordinary position a week later; and does her first statement to the Christchurch Press not indicate her Government’s true intention?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
The member is making mischief about the advocacy role. There is no suggestion, at all, that the department’s advocacy role will be eliminated. I am simply looking at whether to improve it. Some out there will say there is not enough advocacy on the part of the department; some say there is too much. I am looking at it.
Does the Minister agree with the statements about the schedule 4 prohibition on mining that it “at long last puts some pegs in the sand in some very significant areas of New Zealand and says to the mining industries of New Zealand: ‘These are no-go areas.’ ” and that “national parks are not appropriate areas for mining”, as stated in a proclamation to this very House by her colleague, the current Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith.
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
I say to that member, again, that that is a mischievous attempt. I quote from our Prime Minister and say that we do need to balance economic benefits we stand to gain from some increased mining activity and the obvious environmental responsibilities that we have.
Chris AuchinvoleHon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
Just last week I accepted a gift, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, of 80 hectares of land on the West Coast from Rio Tinto. It has also entered into a partnership agreement with conservation volunteers, including a 5-year funding commitment to restore that land from the sea to the mountain to help protect the Westland petrel. As another example, Pike River Coal, which is mining in or under the Paparoa National Park, has sponsored a programme to support the recovery of the blue duck, in addition to paying for a full-time Department of Conservation liaison officer. It also pays a couple to map the kiwi population, and it has a comprehensive pest and predator programme.
Will the Minister release the changed terms of reference for possible mining in national parks and other conservation areas, which the Prime Minister said yesterday were widened 3 weeks ago; or are there no extended terms of reference, and was that just an excuse to save face?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
As the member is well aware, there is a discussion document pending. When that discussion document is finalised, it will be available for the member to read.