Pillay Lynne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Pillay Lynne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:645;Page:14520] 
4.  
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
 to the  
Minister of Energy 
: What reports has he received in relation to projected energy supply for the coming winter period? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for the Environment) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Energy 
: The Minister has received the latest hydroelectricity report which shows that lake levels are in a much better position this week than they were in last week. 
Lynne Pillay 
: What reports has he received about the state of energy generation in New Zealand that are less reliable? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Gerry Brownlee said that the Whirinaki plant is running “flat out”. By “flat out” did he mean 100 percent? If so he was 94 percent wrong. At that time during February the Whirinaki plant was running at 6 percent of its maximum output. Although 6 percent might be a high activity level for Mr Brownlee it is very very low for an energy system. When he was told he had made an error he said that Contact Energy was trying to put a bit of gloss on a very big turd. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that Origin Energy has recently stated that there is potential for large oil and gas discoveries in the Canterbury basin; and noting the Minister’s concern over fossil fuels will he advise whether he believes that to be good news for New Zealand and New Zealanders? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The Minister is sorry that the Minister answering on his behalf has not been briefed on that matter and so is not aware of that detail. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Can the Minister confirm that even if the southern lakes were now to fill the Cook Strait cable is not strong enough to take sufficient electricity across to the North Island to meet winter peaks and that there would have to be considerable expansion of thermal generation which his Government is so very opposed to? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Absolutely not and anyone who has any knowledge of the area would know that that was the case. That question confirms what was said in the  
Herald on Sunday 
 about that member which was that he never checks his facts that he had claimed something that flew in the face of common sense and that it was a very poor effort for a would-be Minister of Energy. I would say something quite a lot stronger but it would not be parliamentary. I just do not understand whether that member is stupid or whether he plays but I think it is probably that he is just stupid. 
Peter Brown 
: I seek leave to table in order to enlighten the Minister answering on behalf of the Minister of Energy a copy of the press release issued by Origin Energy only a few days ago. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I think that in the interests of having certain standards in this House it is not appropriate for a Minister to call someone like Gerry Brownlee stupid. After all everybody knows he is doing his best. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: As the member knows that is not a point of order. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I think the member misunderstood. The Minister was referring to Trevor Mallard. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: We know that was also not a point of order. Can we move on now please.