6. Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) Link to this
to the Minister of Forestry
What estimates has he received on the level of deforestation this year, noting that the National Exotic Forest Description records net reforestation for every year from 1951 until 2003, but net losses of forests of 5,000, 11,000 and 11,000 hectares in 2004, 2005, and 2006?
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister of Forestry) Link to this
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is currently surveying forestry owners regarding their harvesting, replanting, and new planting for the year ended March 2007. Those results are expected to be published in early 2008. The most recent estimate of deforestation based on survey results is 12,900 hectares in the year ended March 2006.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
Is the Minister aware that of New Zealand’s 40 million tonnes of projected Kyoto carbon liability, 34,000 tonnes—or 85 percent of that—is from deforestation; and does he agree with John Key that the No. 1 priority of any climate change policy should be reversing that deforestation?
I certainly recognise the issue of deforestation and the Kyoto regime, and its impact there. As to whether I agree with Mr Key, it depends which statement I am asked to agree with: the one where he said that climate change was a hoax, or the one where he said that climate change was the most important problem that faces mankind. If the member would like to tell me which one I am to believe, then I could answer him properly.
Hon Marian HobbsWhat is forestry’s contribution to New Zealand’s economy and environment; and does the Government make a positive contribution to the development of forestry?
Forestry is our third-largest export earner and directly employs more than 22,000 people, so it plays an important role in New Zealand’s economy. The forest industry has told me, as recently as this week, that the New Zealand Wood campaign to promote and support the use of wood has more support across the sector than any initiative in living memory. I noticed it does not have Mr Nick Smith’s support. The Government is proud to be a major partner in that campaign. New Zealand Wood heralds a new collaborative way of working for the sector, and the best is yet to come—that is the bad news for Mr Smith.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
How can the Minister tell the House that the best is yet to come when after 50 years of records, he has admitted in the House today that we are to lose 12,000 hectares of forest this year—a year in which the Prime Minister says the issue is all about carbon neutrality; how can the Government possibly talk about carbon neutrality when we are to lose more forest this year than in any other year in New Zealand’s recent history?
If the National Party has a new policy that will prohibit the agricultural sector from making the best economic use of land in New Zealand, would he please announce it and make our day?
Those figures make interesting reading, because of the total plantation forest estate, which is actually more relevant to this issue than any of the figures Mr Smith quotes. In 2001, 0.1 percent was deforested; in 2002, 0.06 percent was deforested; in 2003, 0.1 percent; in 2004, 0.1 percent; in 2005, 0.4 percent; and in this disastrous year that Mr Smith goes on about, 0.7 percent of the total forest estate in the country was deforested.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
You can tell they are desperate! [ Interruption] When those members settle down, I might give them my question. Does the Minister accept that the decision—
Hon Annette KingHon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I know those members over there have just lost another 12,000 hectares of forest, and they are a bit sensitive.
Madam SPEAKERPlease be seated. Now, when members start to chip across the Chamber, one to the other, disorder is created. Would the member please get on and ask his supplementary question in silence.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
Does the Minister of Forestry accept that the decision in 2002 by his Government to deny foresters carbon credits for their forests, after the billion-dollar bungle the Government made on New Zealand’s Kyoto carbon balance and despite assurances by both National and Labour previously that those foresters would get the credits, has adversely affected confidence in the forestry sector, contributing to the chainsaw massacre that we witness all over New Zealand? [ Interruption] The referred to it as a chainsaw massacre, and I think most New Zealanders would be appalled to know that under this Labour Government we have lost 22 million trees.
We will be having the rest of this in silence, because I cannot hear whether the asking of the question has finished and whether we want the Minister to address it.
The only information I have about promises made of the kind the member just suggested is about promises made by the National Party. This Government has never made any such promise—
We have to believe Mr Smith! The fact is that the chainsaw massacre is represented by these facts: the total forest area that has been deforested in the last 6 years was 26,000 hectares. The total forests replanted over the same period in this chainsaw massacre were 122,000 hectares. So we have planted 122,000 hectares, we have had 26,000 hectares deforested, and Mr Smith calls that a chainsaw massacre. Well, I would want to know what a real chainsaw massacre might look like, if that is one.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I seek leave to table the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry document signed by Pete Hodgson, telling foresters they would get the carbon credits—
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I seeks leave of the House to table the official Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry figures that show that for the first time in 50 years, tens of thousands—