2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterRt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the Opposition) to the Acting Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the Opposition) to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Acting Prime Minister): Yes and in the strict context and with the full comprehension and understanding of how they were said in the first place.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Is the climate in a crisis entirely of humanity's making" as claimed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations at a meeting in Tonga yesterday or is that crisis only a result of long-standing weather patterns as implied by Winston Peters to Pacific leaders at the same meeting?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality is both are contributory everyone knows that. For example the advent of the volcano in Tonga was 10 times stronger in terms of climate change than anyone contemplated and to say that's of no matter is just to ignore facts. But both statements are correct.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Does he agree with Winston Peters that "carbon dioxide is 0.04 percent of the Earth's atmosphere and of that 0.04 percent the human effect is 3 percent" or does he agree with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA) that humans are responsible for 33 percent of carbon dioxide that is in the atmosphere now?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: With the greatest respect I can't think of anyone who agrees with NIWA on that matter worldwide.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Does the Minister of Foreign Affairs travelling to the Pacific and questioning the scientific consensus on climate change enhance or diminish New Zealand's standing and reputation in the Pacific?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: No such thing has happened. In fact of the 14 countries—Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Well he just did!Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: No—do you want the answer or do you want to shout out like an inexperienced leader? Do you want the answer? You going to keep quiet?Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: I'd like to get one. What are the odds I'm going to get one?SPEAKER: Yeah very good. Just carry on with the answer.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Of the 14 countries that I visited in a matter of months every one of those countries has been grateful for our understanding of the matters of climate change the financing of climate resilience projects. We launched for example one just the other day with respect to radar in Tonga. It followed very hard upon of course the most dynamic recovery of the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) buoy tsunami warning of 17 DART buoys which were let to run down to the last one before an informed individual—you're looking at him—realised what a disaster this was and all 17 are back in place now. And all those countries all those 14 countries have been enormously grateful for two things: for seeing somebody turn up for the first time for a very long long time and what we're doing to help them.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Why does the Prime Minister believe that it's OK for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to travel to the Pacific and question the science of climate change in front of leaders who in some cases are finding their countries literally sinking into the ocean?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Because nothing of the sort is happening. The reality is when someone is giving an interview and makes a statement it has to be seen in its totality not just grab one little phrase a few words and think "I'll make a home run of that." Now look if you were in a court of law you'd never try that because you're bound to fail every case.Hon David Seymour: Was just now the first time that the Acting Prime Minister had heard in this House the assertion that in fact the sea level is not rising but the Pacific islands are sinking?SPEAKER: That's a question that the Minister has no responsibility for nor any capabilities to scientifically answer. Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Does the Prime Minister agree with his Foreign Minister that "the biggest tsunami in recent times was 1968. There's always climate change."; if so does he think that tsunamis are primarily caused by climate change or earthquakes?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: With respect I don't pretend—no one pretends here to be a scientist on this matter but one has to listen to the science. And the second thing is it can be caused by a volcano; it can be caused by an earthquake. That's why we got the DART buoys out there. By the way could I tell Mr Seymour that actually in the Pacific about 25 percent of the islands are actually in fact rising and the scientific outer space imagery proves that categorically. But of course they wouldn't want to know that would they?Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Is the Minister of Foreign Affairs' refusal to acknowledge humanity's contribution towards climate change a reflection of his Government's abandonment of New Zealand's emissions reductions targets?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality is nothing of the sort. When we were in the Pacific they were greatly concerned about the fiscal cliff the previous Government left. For example they set out the forward financing with respect to climate change but set the ceiling—or the end part—at 2025 not 2026/27/28. It's as though this issue would be solved by 2025. That's how naive they were."