12. Question No. 12—Energy and ResourcesJONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesQuestion No. 12—Energy and Resources12. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Has she seen reports that the wholesale price of electricity reached a peak of $192/MWh on 6 October because of low hydro levels and the continued outage of the Pohokura gas field?Hon DAVID PARKER (Acting Minister of energy and Resources) on behalf of the Minister of Energy and Resources: Yes. But that peak of $192/MWh is considerably lower than the peak of $9145.57/MWh in 2014. I'm further advised that this much much lower figure of a peak of $192/MWh is mainly to do with constraints in the gas supply system and has nothing to do with gas reserves.Jonathan Young: How long will New Zealanders be faced with higher electricity prices because of the Pohokura field being offline and when the Kupe gas production plant goes into planned maintenance later this month?Hon DAVID PARKER: I'm advised by officials that the problems with the pipeline are expected to be remedied within about four weeks.Jonathan Young: So will burning coal rather than natural gas because of gas supply restrictions increase or decrease greenhouse gas emissions?Hon DAVID PARKER: I suspect I could say Rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb." today and it wouldn't be reported but I know that the Speaker wouldn't approve of that and I like to take questions seriously. I've already answered that question in an earlier answer to Mr Seymour. Perhaps the member could review that answer.Jonathan Young: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I couldn't have made the question more simpler for the member to answer and surely—SPEAKER: "More simpler"? Try again. It's either "simpler" or "more simple".Jonathan Young: Thank you. Will burning coal rather than natural gas caused by gas supply shortages increase or decrease greenhouse gas emissions?Hon DAVID PARKER: I'm very happy to repeat the answer that I gave to Mr Seymour: it's not yet clear whether Genesis will import any coal it's not yet clear whether it will burn any additional coal and it's not yet clear that the gas constraints will cause that; what is clear is that New Zealand has a secure electricity system. We have—I think it's the second-highest; no the third-highest rate of renewable electricity in the OECD. Notwithstanding that last week the World Energy Council ranked New Zealand eighth in the world—the only non-European country in the top 10—for energy security energy equity and environmental sustainability.Jonathan Young: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I cannot think of a more simpler question—a more simple question—for such a complex and long answer. David Seymour: Speaking to the point of order—SPEAKER: Well there isn't one. David Seymour: Well on reflection sir he didn't answer it when I asked it either. SPEAKER: Well the member is far too late again. Is there a further supplementary? Jonathan Young: Does she remain in disagreement with official advice that a restricted natural gas supply may result in increases in electricity prices and a greenhouse gas emission increase? Hon DAVID PARKER: I have—I'm not sure whether it's the advantage or disadvantage of having been Minister of Energy back in 2007-08 when the member's predecessor the Hon Gerry Brownlee also said that more renewables and—Jonathan Young: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. He's miles away from addressing the question. SPEAKER: Order! I live in hope that he might get there. Hon DAVID PARKER: —when his predecessor also alleged that you need more thermal for security of supply. Obviously if you burn more coal then you have higher emissions. We don't—Hon Members: Hooray! Hon DAVID PARKER: Ha ha! But unlike the other side we actually think the answer to that proposition is more renewables not more thermal. Jonathan Young: What is the Minister's plan to resolve the looming energy price increases in New Zealand now that she is about to ban new offshore exploration permits? Hon DAVID PARKER: Again the Opposition often cries that additional renewables would put up prices. That hasn't been the experience in New Zealand. Actually if energy companies thought it was cheaper to build more thermal generation they would do it. Instead they choose to build more renewables because it's cost-competitive."