2. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology
What is the Government doing to ensure that science contributes to addressing New Zealand’s environmental challenges?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Research, Science and Technology) Link to this
I was pleased to announce today in conjunction with my colleague Mr Benson-Pope a package of $20.5 million over 4 years that aims to enhance New Zealand’s environment. This initiative provides an additional $16 million over the next 4 years for Vote Research, Science and Technology, and $4.5 million over the next 3 years for Vote Environment to clean up contaminated sites. The research through Research, Science and Technology will improve pest management of things like possums and rabbits, and improve the understanding of freshwater ecosystems and streams, rivers, and lakes, and help to combat such pests as didymo in South Island rivers. This, once again, recognises the Labour-led Government’s recognition of how important investment in the environment is.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The new funding will mean this Government will be spending a total of $90 million per annum from Vote Research, Science and Technology alone on environmental research in areas such as climate change, freshwater and marine environments, and land productivity. That money goes alongside $13 million on Enviroschools; the $33.2 million to safeguard biosecurity, announced by Jim Anderton; $16 million today on environmental research; and $4.5 million for contaminated sites. That is $66.7 million of new funding for this area.
Gordon CopelandHow much of the $20.5 million announced today will be directed towards the eradication of didymo, and what results does the Minister expect from this funding boost over the next 12 months?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The answer to that, of course, lies very much in the hands of the scientists who will do the work, but, as the member knows, since didymo was discovered in this country, New Zealand has become the leader in the understanding of how to deal with this pest. What we expect over the next year is that that leadership will be consolidated because about a quarter of this money will be going into that area.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I asked the Minister how much of the $20.5 million would be directed towards the eradication of didymo. He did not address that part of the question.
Madam SPEAKER
Peter BrownIs the Minister aware of the development in South Africa of solar panels, which will make it possible for houses to become totally self-sufficient for energy supplies; and does he believe that such an innovation would be good for our environment and a good way to address our power supply problems; and if he does share that view, will he be making contact with the South Africans to see whether such an innovation could come to New Zealand?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
It lies slightly outside my area but I am responsible for a research programme around energy efficiency—
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
—and for looking at new initiatives, like solar panels. The answer is no, I am not aware of what is going on in South Africa personally but I am sure the scientists are.
In the light of the Minister’s answer, I would like to table an extract from a scientific magazine that outlines the details of the—