10. Question No. 10—Energy and ResourcesJONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesQuestion No. 10—Energy and Resources10. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: What plans if any does she have to replace the $28 billion and thousands of jobs lost to the people of New Zealand according to the NZIER report because of her Government's decision to ban new exploration permits outside of onshore Taranaki?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Energy and Resources): Thank you Mr Speaker. Firstly I reject the premise of the member's questions. Problems with the source modelling that the report is based on have already been well canvassed. But in particular I'd like to draw the House's attention to the fact it ignores the fact that the Government is protecting 100000 square kilometres of existing exploration area—an area the size of the North Island—nor does the report consider new jobs that may be created via the transition. A report concluded that in New Zealand green energy could create more than 25000 jobs. Secondly this Government has a comprehensive plan for transitioning to renewable energy—the growth area for jobs. Amongst other things we're producing a renewables strategy that will remove roadblocks and accelerate them coming on stream and we've already got people on the ground in Taranaki to work alongside locals on the transition plan for the coming decades. Thirdly that member may wish to side with the industry and claim that the sky is falling in but we're actually seeing the medium term for gas is firming up. We've just seen the largest exploration firm in New Zealand invest a further $500 million in Taranaki we've seen Todd Energy investing $100 million in a new gas peaker in Taranaki and we've seen Methanex advertising for high-skill high-wage jobs in the last couple of weeks. It's also worth pointing out to that member that Westpac's climate change impact report carried out by EY and Vivid Economics released in April of last year indicated that if New Zealand took faster action on climate change it could save $30 billion by 2050. This Government has a plan to transition away from fossil fuels over a number of decades and grow new jobs and new industries. We're implementing it; that side of the House isn't.Jonathan Young: Regarding the 100000 square kilometres that the Minister says that her Government is protecting has she read her officials' advice to her that states that of that particular area the estimation is that there will be four wells drilled with a chance of discovery of less than 10 percent or is she holding to her assertion that 15000 kilometres of that offshore area will be producing active hydrocarbons?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: If that member wants to cling to that hope then he needs to look to colleagues in his party that held the portfolio for failure to plan beyond a fossil fuel future because of that 100000 square kilometres—roughly the size of the North Island—this was identified as some of the best prospects by the industry themselves. This Government knows that we need to plan beyond a fossil future. We have certainty that we can continue to use thermal peaking for the next couple of decades but we are not burying our heads in the sand and leaving communities and this country high and dry.Jonathan Young: So when she talks about people on the ground in Taranaki when participants in last week's road map for Taranaki 2050 were asked to bring a child's drawing of what Taranaki might look like in 2050 is this really how she's going to replace the $28 billion and thousands of jobs that will be lost?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I think that member actually needs to stand by the community he represents. There is actually a lot of positivity in Taranaki about the positivities. I point to the $20 million that this Government has committed through the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) into that region including $1 million towards a green hydrogen feasibility study that will utilise the existing skills in that area. What we have seen is a series of community workshops because we actually do think it is important to talk to those people that will be impacted by change as it comes. That member is free to ridicule it. Jonathan Young: So when she says she's not just sitting back and magically hoping the future plays out in Taranaki [that] we've put $20 million through the Provincial Growth Fund into various projects."—SPEAKER: Order! I just want to make sure that the member has a source for his assertion that the Minister said that. Jonathan Young: She just said it now sir. SPEAKER: That she was magically—Jonathan Young: Yes. Sir she said that on TV ONE news last night.SPEAKER: OK. I'll go and have a look at it. The member will carry on. I'm relying on the member's word remember.Jonathan Young: Sure. I can send it to you sir. So when she says we've put $20 million through the PGF into various projects is she not aware that most of those projects were in place by the previous Government prior to her exploration ban?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: For the member's clarification I actually said I wasn't magically hoping unlike those on the other side of the House. But I'm very interested to know that member is now claiming the Provincial Growth Fund for the previous National Government. I actually see that as a key achievement of our side of the House and what we've achieved in Government. But what we have done is commit to working alongside the people of Taranaki Venture Taranaki the local leadership and accelerate the plans that they want to do. We have got Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment officials on the ground working to accelerate what the local people plan. Have we gone down there and handed out a whole new plan? No. That is not the correct way to transition plan.Angie Warren-Clark: What other comments has she seen about the NZIER report?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I saw one comment yesterday that said the findings of the report were a disaster. I actually think the actual disaster we're facing is unprecedented climate change: the massive ice melt the warming of the oceans rising sea levels and the displacement of people record temperatures almost every year extreme droughts and flooding. The commentator was of course Simon Bridges and it's time that he and his party realise that the real disaster is climate—SPEAKER: Order! Order! There will be an additional three supplementary questions to the National Party as a result of that out of order question and answer.Jonathan Young: Can she tell us how many tonnes of emissions will be removed from New Zealand because of her Government's decision to ban new exploration permits considering the NZIER report says the ban's contribution to the global reduction of emissions is undetectable?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Seven million tonnes. That gas roughly makes up 9.8 percent of our total emissions inventory in 2016 so by rough back-of-the-envelope calculations that's roughly 7 million tonnes."