12. Question No. 12—Energy and ResourcesJONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesQuestion No. 12—Energy and Resources12. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Does she stand by the statement in her Cabinet paper Just Transitions: Report back and next steps which says regarding the people of Taranaki There has also been an ongoing need to manage stakeholder expectations around how much resource and funding the Government will bring to a partnership"?Hon DAVID PARKER (Attorney-General) on behalf of the Minister of Energy and Resources: Yes because it's a combination of central regional local government private sector iwi and not-for-profit investment that is required. All have a role to make sure Taranaki's long-term transition is a success and it's not something Government can deliver alone. The good news for Taranaki is that the transition is making good progress. Central government has invested $27 million in the New Energy Development Centre. The Provincial Growth Fund has backed hydrogen projects. Local leaders are doing excellent work with their economic development road map. OMV are investing $500 million and we've also seen several hundred million dollars invested by the private sector in renewable energy. As a consequence rising wages—5100 new jobs in Taranaki since we came to office show that their economic future is bright.Jonathan Young: Well does she accept that she created that expectation she referred to in her Cabinet paper when she said in her speech to the 2018 Petroleum Conference "our Government will take action to support communities that currently rely on fuels that are being phased out. Our Government's Provincial Growth Fund and Green Investment Fund will invest billions of dollars in local infrastructure and clean energy projects in areas like this."?Hon DAVID PARKER: Yes I do accept that the Minister said that. Of course that was in respect of the whole of the country. In respect of what's happened in Taranaki in particular the Tilt Renewables and Genesis Energy announcement of a $325 million wind farm in South Taranaki is a very substantial contribution to that very outcome.Jonathan Young: So in regard to the expectation that that statement created did she say in a recent Cabinet paper regarding Taranaki "This next phase is where trade-offs have to be considered and difficult conversations about costs and responsibilities have to be held."?Hon DAVID PARKER: I haven't seen that particular statement but I am confident that the transition is under way in Taranaki. When we came to office unemployment was 6.4 percent in Taranaki; it's dropped to 6 percent in the last quarter. Of course it takes more than the period we've been in Government to overcome the prior nine years.Jonathan Young: Considering it was 4.1 percent last year is it integral for her to say in her letter to Taranaki businessman Mr Newton in August this year "Government will also invest hundreds of millions of dollars in new infrastructure and clean energy projects in regions that currently rely on fossil fuels." when five days later she is saying to her Cabinet colleagues that the next phase is where trade-offs have to be considered and difficult conversations had?Hon DAVID PARKER: I think I've already well and truly addressed that by reference to the $325 million Genesis Energy wind farm project in South Taranaki.Jonathan Young: So when she recently said in the Taranaki Daily News "[We are] seeing record investment in new energy sources" why did her Government reject the Taranaki Azura wave energy project when New Zealand company CH4 Global say they are needing a wave energy device to help produce the world's first methane-busting cattle feed supplement made from seaweed?Hon DAVID PARKER: I'm not aware of the details of that particular application. I am aware that going back to the time of the prior Labour Government we have tried to stimulate wave and tidal energy in New Zealand and with significant Government subsidies. That hasn't yet been brought to fruition. It appears though that the economics of wind power are very compelling and beneficial to South Taranaki which is why Genesis Energy and Tilt Renewables have just recently announced the investment of the $325 million wind farm investment in South Taranaki that I've mentioned twice already."