Mining in Conservation Areas—Prime Minister’s Statements

Can the Prime Minister confirm that of the much-quoted 84 areas of mining in conservation areas, none of them are actually protected schedule 4 areas?

Yes, I can confirm that. Funnily enough, the other thing I can confirm is that back in 2005 a gold and gemstone operation was permitted in the Paparoa National Park by the then Labour Government, and the access agreement was granted by the then Minister of Conservation.

Are the 2,500 hectares of the most beautiful and most sensitive conservation land in the Coromandel area simply the first of the currently protected conservation land in that area that he intends to open up to mining, and will there be further areas; if so, how many?

It is impossible to answer that question at this time. One of the reasons why we are doing an aerial magnetic survey is to get a better understanding of—

I seek the leave of the House to table a document that was published yesterday by Gerry Brownlee that says the Government—

The honourable Leader of the Opposition should not interrupt a Minister answering a question to seek leave to table a document. I will consider his point of order shortly, but I think the Prime Minister is in the middle of answering a question. Has the honourable Prime Minister finished answering the question? He has.

I seek the leave of the House to table a document that was published yesterday by Gerry Brownlee that says that, contrary to what the Prime Minister said, further schedule 4 areas in the Coromandel will be opened up. So how could he say—

Tremain Chris Tremain Link to this

That last bit was totally out of order. However, on the indicator of fairness, I must also alert the Prime Minister that in his answer to the question before last he went on for far longer than the question did. So I will consider it 50:50, or one all. I will put leave. Leave is sought to table that document. There is objection.

Is the Prime Minister aware of any mines currently situated in environmentally sensitive areas?

Yes. I am aware that the previous Government approved an access agreement for the Pike River mine, which is adjacent to and under the Paparoa National Park. The mine was described by the then Government as being in an area of “high conservation values”.

Will mining on the Coromandel and on Great Barrier Island be the “surgical incision” that he earlier promised, or will it be more like the Martha Hill mine, a huge open pit with 40 million tonnes of tailings?

I can rule out any open-cast mining in those areas.

Will the Government override the protection that the Auckland City Council has given Great Barrier Island as an area where, under its district plan, mining is a prohibited activity?

No, but anyone can make an application to change the plan.

Why was the plan to open up formerly protected schedule 4 land to mining announced by Mr Brownlee only in August last year and not before the 2008 election, when discussions had taken place with mining lobby groups before the election?

Mallard Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this

Firstly, there are always ongoing discussions with all sorts of sectors and areas over a long period of time, but I would—

Brown envelopes.

I find that a bit offensive, actually, to be perfectly honest.

I call John Boscawen.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I do not believe that the Prime Minister had completed his answer.

John Boscawen Link to this

The Prime Minister had answered as far as he saw fit, given the question and given the interjections. John Boscawen, supplementary question.

Mr—[ Interruption]

John Boscawen Link to this

Senior members know that they cannot make that kind of allegation and they should cease.

Can the Prime Minister confirm that the proposals outlined in the document Maximising our Mineral Potential are primarily about finding out for New Zealanders what potential wealth exists; and does he agree that, aside from eco-fundamentalists and Phil Goff, no rational person should be opposed to the establishment of those simple matters of fact?

Yes. I can also confirm that the last Government aerial magnetic survey was undertaken in the 1980s, and I can also confirm that the reason for the delay in releasing the report for the last few months is that we have been trying to find quotes of Phil Goff standing up in Cabinet and rejecting the 74 applications for mines that his Labour Government approved. We could not find a single one.

Was the Prime Minister intending to further subsidise the exploration costs of overseas mining companies by $4 million, when they already have a special concessionary tax regime, which means that they pay practically no tax—if any tax at all—during their exploration and development phases, and when their royalties can be as little as 1 percent of the total value of their production?

No. The reason for doing that is to try to get a stocktake of New Zealand’s wealth—

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The answer cannot be “No.” when the question asked why he was spending that amount of subsidy.

Hon Gerry Brownlee Link to this

I invite the Prime Minister—

Poor old chap!

That is not particularly helpful, I must say to the honourable Leader of House, when a point of order is being considered. Given the question that the Leader of the Opposition asked, I ask the Prime Minister to start his answer again and to reflect on the question asked.