Hague Kevin: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHague Kevin: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 10 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6538. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.KEVIN HAGUE (Green) to the Minister of Conservation: Does she stand by her statement “We are doing everything we can to protect the Māui’s dolphin”?Hon NICKY WAGNER (Associate Minister of Conservation) on behalf of theMinister of Conservation: Yes.Kevin Hague: How is the Government doing everything that it can to protect the Māui’s dolphin when the Minister of Energy and Resources has just proposed as part of Block Offer 2016 new oil and gas exploration in 22 percent of the Māui’s dolphin sanctuary where at least 14 reliable Māui’s dolphin sightings have been made?Hon NICKY WAGNER: We have layered and sophisticated Māui’s dolphin protection mechanisms in place. They range from the core of the marine mammal sanctuary and they have protections for trawling for set-netting and for seismic activity. Also we are very focused on protecting the Māui’s dolphin in terms of seismic activity and we have world’s best-practice protective regulations in seismic work within the marine mammal sanctuary and we require compulsory adherence to the seismic code of conduct within the exclusive economic zone legislation.Kevin Hague: Can the Minister explain how “doing everything it can” is consistent with the Government introducing additional risks to the Māui’s dolphin such as exploratory oil drilling as these permits will likely require given that there are fewer than 55 Māui’s dolphins left in the world?Hon NICKY WAGNER: As I have said we are very focused on protecting the Māui’s dolphin. We do not believe that we are increasing that risk because we have world’s best-practice protective regulations for the seismic work inside the marine mammal sanctuary and outside it we have compulsory adherence to the seismic code of conduct.Kevin Hague: Is there any way she can possibly guarantee that new drilling will not cause a spill and cause harm to the critically endangered Māui’s dolphin which it is her job to protect?Hon NICKY WAGNER: As I have said we have layered and sophisticated protections for the Māui’s dolphin. They cover the most important threats to dolphins which are trawling and set-netting and it is important to note that there have been no deaths from fishing since 2002. We also have ongoing research—the very best local and international research—and this year we are going to be introducing c-pods that actually listen to the dolphins and make sure that we can identify their exact range and their exact frequency. We believe that that will protect our dolphins.Kevin Hague: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question asked about the risk associated with oil drilling—a point that was not addressed even slightly by the Minister’s answer.Mr SPEAKER: The question asked whether there was any way that the Minister could guarantee a situation. Well clearly a Minister cannot guarantee a situation—[Interruption] Order! The member did ask that in his question. The question has without doubt been addressed.Kevin Hague: Thank you Mr Speaker. I agree with your analysis of the answer. If she has the opportunity as Minister of Conservation to prevent oil drilling and seismic surveys in the Māui’s dolphin sanctuary will she take it?Hon NICKY WAGNER: I am not convinced that there are risks to the Māui’s dolphin because we have the world’s best practice of regulations within the sanctuary and we also have compulsory adherence to the exclusive economic zone legislation.Kevin Hague: I seek leave to table a map prepared by the Green Party’s parliamentary office today which indicates the Māui’s dolphin sightings in the area of the proposed block offer.Mr SPEAKER: I suspect that that information is very readily available but I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular map. Is there any objection? There is objection.