Smith Nick: Conservation (Natural Heritage Protection) Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Smith Nick: Conservation (Natural Heritage Protection) Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 14 November 2012. Volume:685;Page:6640. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
: 
 I think we are all pretty familiar with the very unique range of flora and fauna that exists only in these islands of New Zealand and that makes us particularly vulnerable to those from overseas who would like to steal either our tuatara our geckos or the wide range of bird species that exist only in New Zealand. We have seen some high-profile prosecutions against people from various parts of the world who have tried to profit out of those pretty ugly crimes and it is appropriate that this Parliament is considering a bill to up both the fines and the criminal sanctions against those people involved in those crimes. I want to join with others and commend Jacqui Dean a member of Parliament for one of the most spectacular parts of the country with both South Canterbury and North Otago in that Waitaki area. I think her practical passion for conservation is what typifies this Government’s blue-green approach of wanting to be pro jobs and pro the economy and wanting to be a successful innovative country but at the same time wanting to ensure that we look after that which is precious. 
I want to respond to a couple of the challenges that have come from members opposite on this bill the Conservation (Natural Heritage Protection) Bill firstly from Green MP Eugenie Sage. She questioned the authenticity of this bill on the basis that the Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson who is doing a great job had said that this was an area that needed to be addressed. Somehow the Green MPs are concerned that a Government MP has taken the initiative and picked up on the work and the comments that have been made by Kate Wilkinson. Well we are a team. Yes we have Ministers doing some pretty good work in this space but we also have strong and capable backbenchers who are complementing that work with this sort of bill. Equally so we have had the tired old rhetoric from a couple of Labour members saying “Hey this is a great bill but National’s not spending nearly enough on conservation.” Well I say that is a bit tired. Do they not know that this Government faces huge economic challenges and that there is no way that anybody could sensibly promote the ongoing increases in public spending? 
I was on the Finance and Expenditure Committee this morning and this morning we had the Secretary to the Treasury and Audit New Zealand noting that the huge increase in expenditure—a 50 percent increase in public expenditure—on core departments in the period from 2002 to 2008 was totally unsustainable. It is absolutely true that whether it is the Department of Conservation or right across the board this Government has had to pull in Government expenses. That is why it is so unfair and uncharitable of members opposite to give the Minister of Conservation a hard time for pulling her weight and doing her share to get this country’s books back in balance. 
The challenge I have got for the next Labour member is this: if you really are serious about increasing the conservation budget you need to say by how much and you need to say how you are going to fund it. These hollow words where I have had spokespeople right across the Labour benches—I do not care whether it is on broadcasting heritage conservation education health or foreign affairs—all say the Government is not spending enough. My simple challenge to members opposite whether it be in conservation or any other area is to show us the colour of your money say it with conviction and commit a future Labour Government to increase levels of spending rather than these weasel words of “Oh you’re not spending enough.” but then not being prepared to commit to how much you would spend. It is not good enough for Labour members not to say how they would fund their increases in expenditure. This bill from my colleague Jacqui Dean is part of this Government’s sensible conservation agenda. She should be commended and this bill should be supported.