Turia Tariana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Turia Tariana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:638;Page:8747] 
10.  
TARIANA TURIA (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: Does he stand by his repeated statements to the House that “The Government regards the water resource as a resource that local authorities … will continue to manage on behalf of all New Zealanders.” given that a private company HydroTrader has been set up to make the trading of water permits easy anywhere in the country? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 Yes. The Government has been very clear on its position and approach to water management—that is that water is a public resource that the Government and local authorities will continue to manage on behalf of all New Zealanders.  
Tariana Turia 
: What protection will be given to Maori and other river users to ensure that companies are not seeking more water than they can use which they can then sell on as a tradable resource? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Although there may be mechanisms such as HydroTrader—and I will come back to that issue in a moment and to the correspondence that has gone to the regional council on that matter which in that company’s words is aimed at facilitating the transfer of permits—I tell the House that the important thing is to recognise that the HydroTrader website or any other similar website or mechanism cannot guarantee a water permit. It may put parties in contact with each other but transfers of water permits are controlled under the Resource Management Act and everyone has proper access to that process.  
Steve Chadwick 
: How has the idea of water markets been received? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I can advise the House that the National Party appears to have endorsed the concept of water markets. I am advised that both Nicky Wagner and Jo Goodhew’s Aoraki electorate chair Mark Oldfield are elected members of the Canterbury Regional Council and appear to be pushing for the privatisation of water. I can advise that the Government has no intention of establishing markets for the trading of water. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Kia ora tatou. Is the Government supportive of the trading of water as suggested on the HydroTrader website; if so whose water is being traded by HydroTrader and are companies specifically set up to buy sell or lease water ? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: No. From the beginning of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action as is evidenced in the discussion documents for that process that the member is in possession of the Government has made it quite clear that the process will facilitate the transfer of permits but not trading or market development. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Why does the Government not introduce a resource rental for the commercial use of water in order to recognise that it is a part of our common wealth and to fund environmental management and co-management rather than allowing private commercial operators as at present a rent-free pre-emptive and exclusive right to use and pollute water usually expecting ratepayers and taxpayers to pick up the tab for the clean-up? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: If the member or the party he belongs to would like to advocate policy change in that direction they have the capacity to do so as part of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action. 
Tariana Turia 
: What action then will the Minister take over statements made on the HydroTrader website that the Government is supportive of the trading of water as being consistent with the Sustainable Water Programme of Action? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: On this whole matter my colleagues the Ministers of Agriculture and of Forestry and I will shortly be reporting to Cabinet on the progress that has been made on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action to date. That progress includes the proposed national environmental standard on water measuring devices and the development of a national environmental standard on environmental flows—the work on that is progressing well. Cabinet decisions have not yet been made however on the national policy statement on freshwater management. That will take place once initial consultation on the proposed national policy has been undertaken with stakeholders and Maori. 
Tariana Turia 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. My question was on what action the Minister will then take over statements made on the HydroTrader website that the Government is supportive of trading water. He has not answered my question. 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I have not seen those statements. When I have done so I will consider them.