2. METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does he stand by his statement: “if there is an increase in mining … New Zealand’s natural environment would also be improved”?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister for Economic Development) Link to this
The Prime Minister stands by the full statement, which is this: “the Government is also proposing to establish a new Conservation Fund, potentially drawing on royalty revenue from mining operations on Crown land. The Conservation Fund would resource special conservation projects around the country. That means that if there is an increase in mining activity, New Zealand’s natural environment would also be improved.”
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
I advise the member to wait until the discussion document is released very shortly, when public opinion will be sought and public opinion will be listened to.
Hon Shane JonesDoes he recall saying, as Minister of Tourism: “I’m not going to do anything silly.”; if so, why is he pushing ahead with significant changes to schedule 4, despite concerns from the tourism industry, which fears that such a move would put a $20 billion industry at risk?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
The discussion document will go out to the public for consultation. Although it might be convenient for Mr Jones to jump ahead of the pack on this particular issue, it is in his case just normal behaviour.
Jacinda ArdernWhen the Prime Minister said that notwithstanding public consultation, he expects there to be significant changes to schedule 4, had he predetermined that mining would take place on the Coromandel Peninsula, given that his Minister of Energy and Resources has already stated that there are interesting areas in the Coromandel where there could be further gold-mining activity; if so, what is the point of public consultation?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
It is evident that the Government does want more mining activity in New Zealand. The question is how extensive it should be in the conservation estate. A discussion document is being prepared jointly by the Minister of Energy and Resources and the Minister of Conservation, and it will go out for public consultation. It is inappropriate for me to make any further comment. That kind of comment is disingenuous and, frankly, scaremongering on behalf of the Opposition. I suggest that anyone in the Opposition who really does not like this stuff should take off watches, throw away cellphones, stop driving cars, and not to use computers anymore.
Does the Prime Minister stand by the statement of his Minister that the Government has no intention of mining high-value conservation land?
Which parts of the Coromandel Forest Park are of such low conservation value that they would be improved by mining?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
I again suggest that the member waits until the consultation document is released, when all will be revealed and she and other members of the public in New Zealand can have their say.
Perhaps the Prime Minister could tell the House and the public which parts of the Te Wai Pounamu world heritage area are of low conservation value and therefore would be improved by mining?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
I again say the same thing to the member, and I will continue to say it: no matter how many parts of New Zealand the member tries to scaremonger over, the reality is that a document is coming, there will be a public consultation process, and then there will be some decisions.
Does the Prime Minister agree with the Tourism Industry Association chief, Tim Cossar, that New Zealand is internationally recognised for the leadership it has shown in managing one-third of the country as conservation estate, and does he believe that his Government can improve that international reputation and New Zealand’s clean, green brand by mining that conservation estate?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
Again, the member tries to suggest there is activity coming of such enormous scale that it would see the destruction of the conservation estate. That is utter rubbish and it is scaremongering. It is irresponsible and adds nothing to the debate.
I seek leave to table a landscape assessment of the Coromandel Peninsula, which demonstrates that large parts of Coromandel in schedule 4 are considered outstanding, not low-value, as the Minister of Energy and Resources called it.
Mr SPEAKERIt was published by Stephen Brown Environments and was prepared for the Thames-Coromandel District Council.