8. Question No. 8—Energy and ResourcesHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesQuestion No. 8—Energy and Resources8. Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: How many new permits for oil and gas exploration have been granted in Aotearoa since the Government declared a climate emergency?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Energy and Resources): Thank you Mr Speaker. No new offshore permits for oil and gas exploration have been issued since 2 December 2020 when a climate emergency was declared. Two onshore permits were issued as the outcome of Block Offer 2019. These permits are the result of the agreed policy decision of the three parties that made up the previous Government in 2018 to stop issuing new exploration permits for offshore acreage and to hold block offers for onshore acreage in Taranaki in 2018 2019 and 2020.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Has she seen the latest report from the world's leading agency on energy the International Energy Agency (IEA) stating that all countries must cease new oil and gas exploration and development now if we are to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Yes I did and I read that report with a great deal of interest. It is an important document and an important shift to see from the IEA but I do note that the previous Government of which the Green Party were part made a policy decision to hold onshore block offers in 2018 2019 and 2020 and the two permits that were issued on 29 June of this year are the outcome of Block Offer 2019.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Given the world's leading energy agency is saying that new oil and gas cannot be part of the pathway to avoid catastrophic climate change will her Government continue granting permits for exploration that will add to the global supply of fossil fuels?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: As per the decision that the previous Government made up of the Labour Party New Zealand First and the Green Party—the decision was made by that Government that a block offer would be offered in 2018 2019 and 2020. There is a two-year lag of decision makings of permits so there is a possibility for a further round. In the future beyond that no firm decisions have been made. A number of factors we'll be having to take and to control ranging from security of supply through to the context of the carbon budgets but also important conversations to be had with iwi.Barbara Kuriger: Thank you Mr Speaker. In the Government approval of these latest exploration permits does the Minister now understand that gas is a far better transition fuel than Indonesian coal?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: In response to the member what I would like to hear from that member's party is what their pathway to a decarbonisation of our economy looks like. They seem to be a party that is stuck in climate denial. [Interruption]DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The volume has increased to the point where I can't hear the answer so I'm going to ask—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Point of order Mr Speaker.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'm on my feet. I'd ask members to be a bit quieter.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Point of order Mr Speaker. I'd just note that the Minister did ask the Opposition a question. She just got a lot of answers to her question. It wasn't disorderly; it was just complying with her request.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! And my ruling was about my ability to hear and I couldn't. I wasn't actually criticising the interjections. I know that happens but when it gets to the point where I can't even hear the answer then I can't make any rulings.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Point of order Mr Speaker. Would it be helpful then if just my one voice gave you the answer to each so you can hear it?DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ha ha! It's up to parties if they want to have designated interjectors.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Supplementary.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Can I just—I think others might not have heard. I certainly didn't. So if the Hon Dr Megan Woods could at least do the short version of it.Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: In answer to the member's question as I recall it: what I do accept is New Zealand is having to import a whole lot of coal this year largely due to the failure of gas to ply a reliable security of supply as a backup in a dry year. Hon Julie Anne Genter: Does she think that all countries should listen to and take seriously the IEA when it says to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 Governments must stop issuing permits for new oil and gas projects as well as coal immediately?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: In answer to the first part of that member's question that member can take a great deal of pride in the fact that she was a Minister in a Government that actually got out in front of that report and banned the issuing of new exploration permits for oil before that report appeared that this is a Government that continues to understand the challenges that we have ahead of us and the courageous steps that need to be taken.Hon Julie Anne Genter: What advice has she received about the impact of new oil and gas developments on our pathway to net zero emissions by 2050?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: There are many reports that show the pathways that need to take not least of all the independent Climate Change Commission's report that shows that New Zealand has to move away from using fossil fuels whether they be coal or gas if we are to reach our climate goals. This is an obligation that this Government takes seriously and why as Minister of Energy I was proud to lead the ending of the issuing of new exploration permits for oil and gas.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Will she rule out further permits for new fossil fuel developments be they oil gas or coal as per the International Energy Agency's strong recommendation to all countries?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: As I indicated to the member in the answer to a previous question there are a range of factors that have to be taken into consideration—security of supply. These will all need to be considered in the context of the Government considering how it puts together carbon budgets over the next few months.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Kia ora. When will block offers for exploration permits on land end as desired by Taranaki iwi?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: As I also indicated in the answer to a previous supplementary question when the previous Government—made up of the Labour Party New Zealand First and the Green Party—made the decision to end offshore permitting we gave an undertaking to undertake onshore block offers in 2018 2019 and 2020. As I indicated no decisions have been made around further considerations. One of the factors that I indicated that would need to be taken into account would be the views of local iwi.