Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 30 March 2010. Volume:661;Page:10212. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12. 
Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Conservation 
: Will she be visiting the Coromandel during Easter to gauge for herself the depth of resentment against proposals to allow mining of sensitive schedule 4 land? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON (Minister of Conservation) 
: 
 I have prior engagements this Easter but I am wondering about what other invitations the member has in mind. 
Hon David Parker 
: When did the Minister last visit the Coromandel? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: I have visited the Coromandel in my capacity as either the Minister of Conservation or the Associate Minister of Conservation. If the member wants to know the specific date I can certainly provide that at a later stage. 
Hon David Parker 
: Why does the Minister not acknowledge that because Auckland has no mainland national parks the protection of conservation lands in the Coromandel is all the more important? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: I am mindful of the protection of conservation lands and that is one of the reasons why we have a discussion paper out there for submission. It is actually a discussion paper not a decisions paper. 
Hon David Parker 
: Is the Government’s decision to undermine water conservation orders in Canterbury which occurred under urgency this week yet another example of how her Cabinet colleagues are ignoring her efforts to advocate for the environment; or did she support the undermining of the water conservation orders on the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers and of the application relating to the Hurunui River? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Before I call the honourable Minister I must say that that is a fairly long stretch from the primary question about visiting the Coromandel during Easter to gauge feeling about— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Point of order— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am still considering this point of order. But I will hear the Hon Dr Nick Smith as long as it is a genuine point of order. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The legislation is very clear that responsibility for water conservation orders rests with the Minister for the Environment not the Minister of Conservation. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I thank the honourable member for that clarification. Because this is the last question in this sitting of Parliament I will invite the Hon David Parker to ask a further supplementary question that is a little closer to his primary question. 
Hon David Parker 
: Was the Government’s decision to proceed with the consideration of mining in Coromandel but to exclude consideration of mining in Kahurangi National Park because although it was worried that it would lose Nick Smith’s seat it was not too worried about Sandra Goudie’s? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: We have made no such decision to proceed. We made a decision to release a discussion paper. I would ask why it is OK for a Labour Government to approve and allow mining in or on national parks but it is not OK for the National Government even to discuss it and talk about it.