Kaye Nikki: Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Kaye Nikki: Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:655;Page:4746] 
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) 
: 
 I am a little bit gutted that Mr Nash has left the Chamber because I wanted to respond to a number of things that he said. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Rick Barker) 
: I can anticipate what the point of order is. The member should not refer to the absence of another member from the Chamber. It is a quaint custom we have here but it is for good reason. 
NIKKI KAYE 
: Thank you Mr Chair. I think it is very important that whilst we are talking about this legislation we also touch on the point of New Zealand being a world leader in climate change response. In order for us to really look at that statement we have to look at New Zealand’s record in that area. In particular it is very interesting to note that under 5 years of Labour we lost 50000 hectares of forest. Under 9 years of National there were 600000 more hectares of forest. It is important to acknowledge that when Labour members talk about being world leaders in climate change their record is appalling. Labour holds the New Zealand record for the worst record since forestry records began in 1921. When members on the other side of the Chamber start talking about being world leaders in climate change it is important that they look at Labour’s record. 
Another emissions record we should look at is that during Labour’s term of Government emissions grew by 14 percent. In fact of 38 countries—the annex 1 countries—New Zealand did not lead the world. We were not even halfway down the list; we were the worst out of 38 countries. When we talk about emissions it is important that we do not caught up in Labour’s hot air in this area because it does not have a good record in terms of forests emissions and also consultation. We are about to move forward with consultation for the target and we are holding a number of public meetings on that. But we should ask how much consultation Labour did when it decided that New Zealand would become a carbon-neutral country. In my view it was totally unrealistic and totally unplanned. That is why there was an appalling climate change record over the period of the Labour Government. 
I am very pleased that although we are here this evening delaying some provisions relating to the forestry sector we have a climate change policy. We are not trying to say that we are world leaders because ultimately one’s record matters and the record of the last Labour Government was appalling in terms of climate change. I am all for moving forward with cross-party cooperation in this area and I would welcome Labour members to stand up and defend Labour’s record in that area. We have to look at our history because other nations will be looking at us and our history in terms of climate change. This can be a new era but members opposite have to be very careful when they start talking about being world leaders because our climate change record is unfortunately not good. I look forward to a new era in climate change in New Zealand but I hope that we have a more realistic way forward with planning around climate change.