Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNorman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 10 April 2014. Volume:697;Page:17169. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green)to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Does he think conservation land designated as ecological areas should be opened up for petroleum exploration as part of Block Offer 2014?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Energy and Resources):Yes and as the member knows any operator wanting to undertake exploration activity within these areas would need to first meet all the regulatory requirements including obtaining an access agreement from the Department of Conservation and resource consent under the Resource Management Act from the relevant local authority. Let us remember that the block offer is a call for exploration bids and that exploration itself is just the first step in a long process that may or may not lead to production.Dr Russel Norman: Is he aware that the Conservation Act which applies to all Ministers says that every designated ecological area “shall so be managed as to protect the value for which it is held.”?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Yes.Dr Russel Norman: Is he aware that the Orikaka Ecological Area was created to protect important great spotted kiwi habitat and how is allowing bulldozers to rip open this area to pave the way for gigantic drilling rigs protecting the value of this special place?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I am glad that the member can name an ecological area because on radio this morning he could not.Mr SPEAKER: Order! Answer the question. [Interruption] Order! I invite the Minister to answer the question.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: But we take these issues very seriously. That is why I said in my primary answer that there is a layered process which this is merely the beginning of. The sort of issues that Mr Norman is raising will be processed and considered by the Department of Conservation and also through the Resource Management Act process.Dr Russel Norman: Is he aware that the Kaniere Ecological Area was created to protect dense rimu hill forest and habitat for long-finned eels and short-jawed kōkopu and how is allowing bulldozers to rip open this area to pave the way for gigantic drilling rigs protecting the value of this special designated place?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I am not aware of that. It could be one of the ecological areas that the Labour Party consented when it was in Government and when Mr Norman’s party was propping it up.Dr Russel Norman: Is he aware that the Te Wharau Ecological Area was created to protect a relatively isolated pākihi and mānuka shrub land ecosystem and a fernbird population and how is allowing bulldozers to rip open this area to pave the way for gigantic drilling rigs protecting the special value of this special designated place?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I will just speak to the member. It strikes me that this is scaremongering by the member simply because that is a party that says no to all development no ifs no buts. Actually this is a party on this side of the House and on its better days—Kevin Hague: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister is making no attempt to address the question.Mr SPEAKER: I agree. The member will repeat the question for the benefit of the Minister.Dr Russel Norman: Is he aware that the Te Wharau Ecological Area was created to protect a relatively isolated pākihi and mānuka shrub land ecosystem and a fernbird population and how is allowing bulldozers to rip open this area to pave the way for gigantic drilling rigs protecting the special value of this special designated place?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I am not aware of any of the emotive claptrap that the member is talking about.Dr Russel Norman: Is he aware that the Mount Hārata Ecological Area was created to protect unmodified red beech - dominant forests and wildlife habitats that are particularly important to birds and how is allowing bulldozers to rip open this area to pave the way for gigantic drilling rigs protecting the value of this special designated and legislatively protected place?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I refer the member essentially to my earlier response to the last supplementary question. But I think it is worth understanding here that ecological areas in this block offer are entirely on the West Coast. The West Coast has had mining and conservation coexisting for the most part harmoniously for well over 100 years. There has been consenting in ecological areas under both the National Government and the last Labour Government which the Green Party propped up and did nothing to stop.Dr Russel Norman: Will he respect the wishes of New Zealanders who love our precious places and wildlife not to mention the Conservation Act by refusing to grant petroleum exploration permits over any designated ecological areas?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Absolutely. That is why under this Government a third of New Zealand is conservation estate and 13 percent is schedule 4. We have a very clear policy that we are not touching any of that. In relation to the other parts of the conservation estate that are not in schedule 4 as I made clear in my answer to the primary question we have absolutely got robust processes through the Department of Conservation and through the Resource Management Act processes post the very start of it—which is exploration indeed that we have consulted on.