10. Water Supplies—Storage ProjectsHon NATHAN GUY (National—Ōtaki) to the Minister of AgricultureWater Supplies—Storage Projects10. Hon NATHAN GUY (National—Ōtaki) to the Minister of Agriculture: Does he stand by all his statements?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture): Yes in the context in which they were given.Hon Nathan Guy: What is his Government's policy on supporting water storage and irrigation projects given that seven regions have been declared in a drought this summer?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: This Government supports water storage. We also support farmers when they need it and I was very happy to declare a drought three times in three regions that need it. On the basis of my success—and that rain followed—I have to say it's probably cheaper to fly me round the country than it is to build big storage schemes to get water on the ground.Hon Nathan Guy: Given that there are two coalition agreements—one with New Zealand First that states honouring existing agreements" and one with the Greens that talks about winding down Government support for irrigation—and then Shane Jones who's publicly stating he will support localised water storage and irrigation schemes is he not surprised that officials that were in front of the Primary Production Committee are hearing from stakeholders and themselves that they are confused and that there's a huge amount of anxiety because the Government won't step forward and say publicly which projects they support and whether the funding will be allocated or robbed for stupid things like student—SPEAKER: Order! I'm faced with a bit of a problem because the member did have a question that went well beyond a question but there were also I think three interjections from my right during the question. So I think what we'll do is we'll add another supplementary for the National Party on an on-balance basis but I'm going to ask the Hon Nathan Guy if he does get a further supplementary question to make it one that is a question and not a rambling statement.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: The Government does support water storage. We have said quite clearly however that we will wind down Crown Irrigation Investments Ltd because we believe that the money that the National Government gave to schemes was unnecessary. We believe there will be water storage projects in the future but farmers and industry are going to have to work through the best ways of developing those. The coalition agreement between our coalition partners is quite clear. The member quoted them himself and we stand by those.Hon Nathan Guy: Is he aware that five localised projects are construction-ready in 2018—two in April two in June one in August—totalling 45000 hectares—SPEAKER: OK that's enough—that's enough. The member's asked a question.Hon Nathan Guy: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Yes I did ask a question but I was just concluding my sentence with another very important point in terms of context. I would have appreciated you allowing me to finish my question.SPEAKER: I can appreciate that the member might have appreciated that but what I'm trying to do to members of the House—and as far as written questions people have done it very well today—is encourage members when they have asked a question not to add material that is unnecessary to that question being answered.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I am aware of five projects and probably more that farmers around the country would like to have. Those five projects are at different stages of development. They are not ready as that member states and can I say that Ministers are working through this extensive decision-making process and the member's just going to have to wait for the decisions to be made. We've been very clear and up-front with Crown Irrigation Investments; I think they are comfortable with our position.Hon Nathan Guy: Is he aware that if these five projects aren't funded as the commitment has been made by Crown Irrigation and the Ministry for Primary Industries this year the Crown—the Government—will be exposed legally and morally?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I'm aware of different stages of development for all those projects. I don't accept the position put forward by the member over there. We will work through this very carefully mindful of the legal obligations to the Crown.Hon Nathan Guy: While the Minister publicly stated "I think [the Waimea Dam] is necessary" in September last year will he support other irrigation projects or continue to be no friend of the farmer as he's already publicly stated since he became Minister?SPEAKER: No no. I mean first and last calls: it's both out."