Sage Eugenie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Sage Eugenie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:7931. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
EUGENIE SAGE (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: Does he have any concerns about the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s forecast of 530 percent increase in its debt by 2021/22? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 No I have received no complaints from ratepayers about the council’s long-term planning. As the member will be aware the debt level of any council needs to be assessed against the whole of the council’s balance sheet including the assets being funded from the debt and the impact the debt has on that council’s ratepayers. In the case of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council while projected debt increases by $80 million over the period to 2021 equity increases by $154 million—that is $154 million. That is good economics in my book. 
Eugenie Sage 
: How does the largest percentage change in a council’s forecast debt in New Zealand to help that council spend $107 million on new dam and irrigation projects fit with Government policy that councils should focus on core services and rein in their debt? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN 
: That fits very closely with the Government’s policy. Meeting the needs of the community through good quality infrastructure is a key part of the council’s role. In addition this initiative brings huge jobs growth for the province of Hawke’s Bay—26000 hectares of additional irrigable land and $250 million to $300 million in additional exports. At the time that the Greens are looking for increased wages they are against every initiative in this House that we bring to actually grow wages and job growth. 
Eugenie Sage 
: Is not the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s role as an independent environmental manager severely compromised by its spending so much on damming rivers and seconding its chief executive and seven key staff to work on dam and irrigation projects such as the Ruataniwha Water Storage scheme? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN 
: No. The Greens forget that this scheme actually is very good for the environment. The Tukituki River stands to gain significantly from increased water flow as a result of shifting the take from the aquifer to the dam. That is good for the environment. It also means that we have excellent export growth—another $250 million to $350 million. Once again the Greens are against any good idea that promotes job growth. 
Eugenie Sage 
: Is it a conflict of interest for a regional council to both develop the Resource Management Act policies and rules for land and water management such as the Tukituki plan change and to spend $107 million on proposed dam and irrigation schemes that are subject to those policies and rules? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN 
: The regional council has consulted widely with the community including with its long-term plan. At the same time it has taken account of the huge environmental gains from this project particularly the Tukituki River increased flow which the Greens have actually been against as well. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. 
Hon Annette King 
: Does the Minister support a proposal to amalgamate Napier and Hastings district councils with the regional council; if so why? 
Hon CHRIS TREMAIN 
: My colours as the local MP have been firmly stapled to the mast. I have been in favour of a reorganisation of that area. Now as the Minister of Local Government I will be taking a back seat from that campaign and making sure that the Local Government Commission plays an independent role in this process.