1. Question No. 1—Urban DevelopmentHon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Urban DevelopmentORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Urban Development1. Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Urban Development: Does he plan to ensure that future urban development reduces New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions and responds effectively to climate change; if so how?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister for Urban Development): Yes. While the built environment accounts for between 2 and 5 percent of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions urban form contributes to some of the emissions arising from transport. This Government's committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. We've rebalanced transport spending to invest more in public transport in our cities—for example the changes to Auckland's bus network funded by our Government policy statement has meant that public transport patronage has now surpassed 100 million trips in the last year. We're reforming the planning rules to enable more quality intensification and Minister Parker is working on reforms to the Resource Management Act. As well as preventing children from being hospitalised the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 100000 tonnes over the next 15 years. Minister Salesa is working on how building regulation can reduce emissions and is updating the Building Act to enable the use of modern methods of construction. And as the member knows the Climate Change Commission will prepare emissions budgets including for the built environment.Hon James Shaw: What measures will he take to encourage local authorities to plan for urban growth in a way that addresses climate change both through mitigation and adaptation?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well we're encouraging local authorities to plan for urban growth—a radical idea. For example through the Auckland-Hamilton corridor the Government's working with councils and iwi to take a long-term coordinated approach to urban growth and managing land use setting aside areas of special value and providing transport infrastructure focused on the existing rail network. Climate change adaptation and reducing carbon emissions will be a core part of that planning process.Hon James Shaw: Does he agree that local authorities should ensure that new housing developments are high density to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our cities and towns?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well we are working on reforms to the planning rules that will remove the barriers to quality intensification in our cities and we'll have more to say on that in the coming weeks. New Zealanders want to live close to where they work and play and the latest consent data in Auckland shows that half of the growth in building consents currently is apartments and town houses.Hon James Shaw: Would he support an obligation for the Government's new urban development and housing agency Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities to give effect to emissions reductions plans future-proofing its approach to development?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: So we're taking an all-of-Government approach to emissions reduction and I understand that the Environment Committee is currently considering whether the Minister must have regard to the emissions reduction plans of the Climate Change Commission when setting the Government policy statement on urban development. I look forward to seeing the committee's conclusions on that matter.Hon James Shaw: How will he ensure that urban transport design reduces emissions whilst also promoting more livable towns and cities especially in Auckland where road transport contributes 35 percent of total emissions?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well whether we're talking about existing urban locations like the Unitec development or new greenfield communities like those at Drury the challenge is to ensure that from the get-go those communities have great walking and cycling infrastructure and good access to public transport. It's only through integrated urban development and transport planning that we can actually reduce congestion—Hon Judith Collins: We need Mill Road for it. Are we going to get Mill Road?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: —we are going to build Mill Road Mrs Collins—and carbon emissions. This Government is committed to improving New Zealanders' ability not only to get around their towns and cities but to reduce carbon emissions. Hon Ron Mark: Thank you Mr Speaker—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Ms Collins.Hon Ron Mark: Is he aware that on the back of the New Zealand Defence Force's report on the climate crisis Defence is currently developing a plan which it will use in the development of its urban infrastructure on all of its bases and likewise it will be looking as to how it may better specify new capabilities to ensure that their greenhouse gas emissions are likewise reduced?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I note that the Minister recently announced a review of all of the Defence Force's assets its real estate and capability and how the Defence Force is configured across the country for the future. I want to recognise the leadership that that Minister has shown in actually reorienting the Defence Force both in terms of its external capability and its internal resources around the future of climate change. I look forward as urban development Minister to working with that Minister on how we can take that whole programme of work forward.