Connell Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Connell Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:624;Page:19321] 
12.  
BRIAN CONNELL (National—Rakaia) 
 to the  
Minister of Forestry 
: Does he agree with the statement of the Minister of Industry and Regional Development that: “Forestry has the potential to be New Zealand’s largest export earner.”; if so when does he think this will happen? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Labour) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Forestry 
: Yes. I am advised that the Minister of Forestry always agrees with the Minister of Industry and Regional Development. He finds the Minister to be wise intelligent and committed to New Zealand’s economic development. The potential is there because there is an increasing amount of timber available for harvest and there is huge potential to add value on shore. 
Brian Connell 
: How does the wise Minister of Forestry then reconcile that answer with these facts: since Labour took office in 1999 new plantings have plummeted from 40400 hectares per year to a record low of 10600 hectares per year—our third-biggest export earner is in free fall and the Minister maintains he is wise and sits there and fiddles? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Skilfully. 
Opposition Members 
: Aw! 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The Minister addressed the question. The member may not be satisfied with the answer. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: What is the Labour-Progressive Government doing to capture the potential of the forestry industry? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I just so happen to have some of this information before me. The Labour-Progressive Government has in contrast with the previous National Government which shut the Ministry of Forestry down in March 1998 set up a partnership with the forestry industry—the wood-processing strategy. That has for example built desperately needed regional roads to access forestry production established a centre of excellence for wood-processing training and education developed a European market for high-quality New Zealand furniture developed joint-venture research and development for wood products and implemented a market access programme—and there is more good news to come. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That answer was too long. 
Brian Connell 
: Why will this dodgy Minister not— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would the member please withdraw that comment? I heard the word “dodgy”. 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Just yesterday that word was ruled in order when it was used by a Minister in answering a question in this House. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: No it was not. I suggest the member consult his  
Hansard 
. There has always been a difference in this House between describing actions as “dodgy” and describing the person as “dodgy”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would the member please withdraw the word “dodgy”? 
Brian Connell 
: I withdraw. Will this wise Minister who has been engaged in some dodgy activities please explain why new plantings have plummeted to record lows and instead of treating the industry with arrogance and disdain answer the question? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: With great delight. New planting has been falling since 1994 long before the Labour-led Government came into office. The new planting rate has tended to come in peaks and troughs. The last trough was during 1987 to 1991 and before that it was during the 1940s to the 1960s. New planting is mostly driven by economic factors including a booming agriculture sector which has meant a lot of land has been retained in agriculture rather than planted in forests. That has its benefits of course as we have had the strongest continuous economic growth for a generation right across every region. What a great Government we have. 
Brian Connell 
: Why will the Minister not just acknowledge that the main cause for the decline is that this Government intends to introduce a land use change - tax and a deforestation tax? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Because it is not true.