McClay Todd: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
McClay Todd: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:663;Page:11378] 
5. 
TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: What practical environmental initiatives is the Government funding in Budget 2010 and how do they align with the principles outlined in the Bluegreen vision for New Zealand? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 The Government’s key environmental priorities are climate change water management and improving air quality and waste management. Practical activity in all those areas is on the rise. The major priority on climate change is implementing the emissions trading scheme but there are also good complementary programmes for home insulation clean heating and solar water heating. The big ticket items in Vote Environment are for water-quality initiatives that are being ramped up. Budget 2010 also provides increased funding for practical weight initiatives through the waste levy. 
Todd McClay 
: What specific funding commitments has the Government made for water-quality improvements in the central North Island? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: The Government is investing $92 million over the financial years 2009-14 in initiatives to clean up Lake Rotorua Lake Rotoiti Lake Taupo and the Waikato River in partnership with local councils and iwi. This is a five-fold increase over what was spent on water-quality initiatives over the 5 years prior to 2009. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Why did the Bluegreen vision not disclose the Government’s intention to destroy water conservation orders? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Because we are not; we are very committed to improving water management. I challenge members opposite in terms of what has occurred in Canterbury with water management over the last decade—it was a disaster. I look to the quotes from Trevor Mallard who acknowledged the huge problems we have in Canterbury with water management. 
Todd McClay 
: What specific funding is provided in the Budget for the Environmental Protection Authority? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: A total of $16.8 million is provided in Budget 2010 for the new national consenting function of the Environmental Protection Authority but the Government is yet to make a final decision on the four-man structure of that new authority. We will be making an announcement in the next month and legislation will be needed to introduce this new idea which was introduced with the Bluegreen vision document. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Why did the Bluegreen vision not disclose the Government’s intention to mine national parks? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I know of only one party that has mined national parks and that was a mine that was officially approved by a former Labour Minister of Conservation in the Paparoa National Park. The only area in a national park that my colleague Gerry Brownlee is exploring is an area that the Department of Conservation did not even support being added to schedule 4. 
Hon Member 
: Tell the truth. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I am. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Is there any dim prospect of him directing his attention to the question I actually asked? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: If the member wants the Speaker to take a point of order seriously he does not raise the point of order in that way. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I seek leave of the House to table the Department of Conservation approval signed by Chris Carter for the mine in Paparoa National Park. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document; is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: How is it consistent with the principles of the Bluegreen vision to bury the national Coastal Policy Statement and ignore the national policy statement on water management? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: The national Coastal Policy Statement review was started in 2002 some 7 years before National became the Government. I have been working very closely with Kate Wilkinson the Minister of Conservation to ensure that the new Coastal Policy Statement is a balanced document— 
Hon David Parker 
: It’s all waffle. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Well if David Parker wants to know what waffle is he should read about what Labour did for 9 years with the Coastal Policy Statement. I can assure the member that we will have an improved Coastal Policy Statement that is good for New Zealand.