10. Energy and Resources—Security of Electricity Supply and Renewable Energy InvestmentJONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesEnergy and Resources—Security of Electricity Supply and Renewable Energy Investment10. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Has she developed comprehensive and tested contingencies to replace gas's role in New Zealand's total energy demand with MBIE having recently downgraded the reserves of the country's largest gas field Pohokura by 27.2 percent?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister of Energy and Resources: The Government has set itself the goal—SPEAKER: On behalf of.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Oh sorry. On behalf of the Minister the Government has set itself a goal of having 100 percent renewable electricity in a normal hydrological year by 2035 and the Interim Climate Change Committee has been given the task of planning for that transition. Officials across a range of agencies are working at wider energy demand issues. The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment's latest gas reserve figures also noted that Mangahewa reserves have increased 44.5 percent. The important point to note here is that these figures do fluctuate year to year and we currently have 10.5 years of reserves remaining which is broadly in line with the figures published every year for the past decade. Finally it's important to point out that the Government has not ended exploration for gas—31 exploration permits covering 100000 square kilometres remain active—and we've also announced that a block offer for further onshore acreage in Taranaki is proceeding.Jonathan Young: Considering that those gas reserves are the lowest they have been in 15 years what is her plan for security of electricity supply for retail customers and commercial users as domestic gas supply does run out?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I've been very clear in my original answer—in my primary answer—that we still have 10.5 years of reserves remaining which is broadly in line with the figures published every year for the past decade. That situation was not changed from the day before the Government made the announcement to the day after.Jonathan Young: Considering the Minister has created a potential end date for exploration knowing that there's no new offshore permits and it's going to be reviewed for onshore in three years' time can she be more specific please about what her plan for security of electricity supply will be for those users of domestic gas when that supply does run out?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I reject the assertion in the first part of the member's question. The Government has a clear plan to ensure that we have a diversified electricity supply network. Just over 82 percent of our electricity currently comes from renewable sources and of course we want to do better than that.Jonathan Young: Will she guarantee that during her Government's transition to 100 percent renewable electricity New Zealand will at no time burn more coal than it presently does to ensure security of electricity supply?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No Government can give that guarantee because we can't control how much it rains.Jonathan Young: Will wind play a significant role in the transition to 100 percent renewable energy; and if so how much more investment will be required given that this past Sunday evening the country's 17 wind farms contributed only 1/100th of 1 percent of New Zealand's electricity?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes wind will continue to play an important role in the future security of New Zealand's electricity supply as will geothermal as will hydro as will a number of other potential sources—solar is another one. More distributed generation is another potential source to secure greater security of supply.Jonathan Young: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked the question how much more investment would be required and if the Minister could elaborate on that that would be appreciated.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The first part of the member's question asked whether or not wind would continue to be a part of the security of supply and I said yes.