Whaitiri Meka: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWhaitiri Meka: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 04 November 2015. Volume:709;Page:7695. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]10.MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti) to the Minister for the Environment: Does he stand by his statement that the Land and Water Forum represents a “very constructive process”; if so can he explain why Fish and Game felt compelled to resign due to restrictions on their ability to speak out?Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries) on behalf of theMinister for the Environment: Yes I do indeed stand by my statement. The Land and Water Forum has been the most comprehensive collaborative process of its kind with contributions from over 70 different organisations. Although it is disappointing that Fish and Game has decided to withdraw at this late stage the Land and Water Forum is still due to deliver its fourth report to the Government in the very near future. The allegation that Land and Water Forum participants are being muzzled over speaking is not correct. Participation is a collaborative process and it requires commitment in good faith towards other participants.Meka Whaitiri: Is he concerned that any other members of the Land and Water Forum may resign; if not why not?Hon NATHAN GUY: No.Meka Whaitiri: How can the public trust in his Government’s commitment to water quality when after 7 years of this Government and 5 years of the Land and Water Forum our rivers and streams continue to become more polluted?Hon NATHAN GUY: I am afraid that the member has got her facts completely wrong. This Government has done more to deal with freshwater issues in the time that we have held the Treasury benches in comparison with those members sitting over on that side of the House. What we have done is introduce the first National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. We have also increased by five times the funding for dealing with freshwater clean-ups and we have done more to support and make sure that we have the frameworks in place to allow everyone to get on board with the plans that we have to ensure that we are enhancing our freshwater policies. Actually these are intergenerational issues; they cannot be fixed overnight. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will call the member when we get a bit of—[Interruption] Thank you. Meka Whaitiri—supplementary question.Meka Whaitiri: What faith can the public of New Zealand have in the work of the Land and Water Forum when Kiwi children will not be able to swim in most of our rivers and streams because of high pollution?Hon NATHAN GUY: The member needs to understand that there are something like 425000 kilometres of rivers and streams and 4000 lakes in New Zealand; not every one of those is able to be in a swimmable state. What we have done is introduce minimum standards. What we have done is bring in national bottom lines at wadable levels. What we have done is allow it to be up to regional councils and their communities to make changes if they so wish while bearing in mind that there are economic considerations as well as protecting and enhancing the environment and we believe both of those can indeed—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is little point in carrying on with the answer when the Opposition is not listening to the answer.Meka Whaitiri: Why should the public have confidence in the work of the Land and Water Forum when his Government has used it to silence environmental voices to the benefit of farmers?Hon NATHAN GUY: I refute those comments. What we have done for the first time in the history of the Government is pull together 70 different organisations to come together to work on the importance of maintaining and enhancing fresh water. Seventy organisations have come forward together. Yes there will always be tension in the room but importantly they are working on their fourth report. We are looking forward to receiving it and we will continue to make progress in this area unlike the previous Labour-led Government which did nothing.Iain Lees-Galloway: I seek leave to table a document prepared by the Human Rights Commission. It is a list of human rights commissioners including one Dr Jackie Blue.Mr SPEAKER: I will put the leave. It will be up to the House to decide. Leave is sought to table that particular document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.