Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNorman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 27 August 2013. Volume:693;Page:12940. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]6.Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) to thePrime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements relating to Government policy?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes.Dr Russel Norman: Does he stand by his statement from November 2011 that “Our environment is a valuable resource that we must preserve and protect. It’s a big part of our quality of life and it’s central to our international reputation our primary sector our growing tourism market and our economy.”; if so why?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes; because it was correct.Dr Russel Norman: How does he reconcile that statement—that we must protect our environment—with his decision yesterday to open up the ancienttōtara forest of Pureora for mineral exploitation?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: If the member is talking about the submission around epithermal gold that is because the belief is that there may be opportunities there. But obviously they have to be done in a way that is sympathetic to the environment.Dr Russel Norman: Why has his Government opened up Pureora Forest Park for mineral prospecting in an area containing the last gianttōtara trees left in New Zealand—trees that are so old that they were old before the firstMāori set foot in New Zealand and that is one of the last strongholds of thekōkako?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not think anyone is suggesting that if there was to be mining for epithermal gold it would take place in a way that would challenge or threaten those trees. That is not going to be something that would get the appropriate consent from the authorities and it will not occur.Dr Russel Norman: Can he explain exactly how it is compatible to mine for gold within Pureora Forest Park without disrupting the last remnant ancient 1000-year-oldtōtara left in New Zealand and one of the last strongholds ofkōkako?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: My understanding at this point is that there is no mining that is taking place. What is taking place is that there is an issue of looking at block offers looking at a potential issue. As I said earlier in the end that case can be made about anything that takes place in New Zealand. By definition there are wonderful and special things right across this country and in the seas that surround it. But we have in the past been able and we will continue in the future to balance those environmental protections that are absolutely necessary with the economic opportunities that present themselves with modern-day mining techniques.Dr Russel Norman: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was specifically “How is it possible to do such mining?” and I have heard no such answer to the question.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question was adequately addressed by the Prime Minister.Dr Russel Norman: Given that the national cycle trail is planned to pass through this ancient towering rainforest does he think that people will want to ride down the cycle trail through this fantastic piece of ancient rainforest while there is active goldmining under way?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes I do actually depending on of course how that takes place. People cycle round to Shantytown on the West Coast all the time to look at theold historical mining that has taken place there. I say to the member that he should not be too judgmental; from memory one of the “100% Pure New Zealand” ads that has been filmed recently or pictures that have been taken was actually in front of an old quarry mine that was filled in.Dr Russel Norman: Will he listen to the wise words of HoneTūwhare writing about Pureora in 1978 who said “Stop your raping of the land” and will he keep his drilling rigs out of Pureora?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No.