5. Question No. 5—ConservationNICOLE McKEE (ACT) to the Minister of ConservationQuestion No. 5—Conservation5. NICOLE McKEE (ACT) to the Minister of Conservation: Why has the Department of Conservation reportedly given full support to Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua's plan to remove 48 DOC huts from Te Urewera and what date if any has she been given for their replacement?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Conservation): Tēnā koe e te Māngai o Te Whare. Under the Te Urewera Act much of Te Urewera National Park ceased to be a national park and became a legal entity in its own right. The legislation outlines that huts owned by the Department of Conservation (DOC) may be removed or demolished by either Te Uru Taumatua or the department in a manner that is consistent with the management plan and the annual operation plan for Te Urewera. Under this framework the Department of Conservation is supporting Te Uru Taumatua to decommission 44 huts many of which required significant maintenance work and did not meet health and safety standards. In answer to the second part of the member's question I understand that Te Uru Taumatua is working towards a time frame of between two to three years to replace some of the huts with fit for purpose facilities.Nicole McKee: Can the Minister commit to ensuring the health and safety of Te Urewera hunters and trampers that replacement or temporary huts will be built before winter 2023 and if not is this what New Zealanders can expect from this Government's co-governance model?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Public access remains fully available across Te Urewera and visitors will continue to have access to Te Urewera whether they be there camping or in one of the Great Walks huts—or in future a fit for purpose facility.Nicole McKee: Does she think taxpayers who are contributing $2 million per year for the maintenance of huts and tracks in Te Urewera will see the burning of these huts as a successful outcome under the co-governance model?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: To be very clear the legislation put in place by the National-ACT Government of 2014 set up the legislation which allows Te Urewera to be managed in this particular way where Te Urewera Board has day-to-day control of Te Urewera. Let me also be very clear: there was no burning of huts. Under the Department of Conservation process huts were dismantled roofing iron taken off and timber salvaged for reuse. There are some rotten boards which have been burnt. However it is not correct to say the burning of huts". That is blatantly incorrect.Nicole McKee: Does DOC value the safe haven that backcountry huts give their users and if so why have they enabled the destruction of their huts without alternative temporary accommodation being constructed first?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: We value health and safety which is why we have supported Te Urewera Board in ensuring that those huts which were not fit for purpose are being replaced. In addition Te Urewera Board are making decisions about fit for purpose facilities which will provide a Te Urewera experience for visitors into the future. It is not fair to say that these huts are being destroyed. There are three heritage huts which are being relocated and many of these other facilities which will be built will be in a far better state to cope with and cater for visitors into the future.Hon Kelvin Davis: Does she think that this would be an issue if DOC had a programme of replacing these huts or is it just an issue because Te Uru Taumatua is replacing these huts?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I think that is probably a question for the ACT Party but it seems very clear to me—SPEAKER: No the question is to the Minister and the Minister should address it.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Thank you Mr Speaker. It is my view that the ACT Party should honour the commitment they made by supporting this particular legislation—SPEAKER: No I'm on my feet. You need to sit down. That does not address the question. The question is to the Minister. It's not about her opinions about the ACT Party or the former Government. It was a very clear question. I'm going to give Nicole McKee an extra question and she can examine it.Nicole McKee: Thank you Mr Speaker. If the chair of Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua Tāmati Kruger says "I don't see it as a final destination. I don't see co-governance as the answer." and continues the "scorched earth policy" that one protester has described is the Government confident with their co-governance model?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: There is no scorched earth policy."