Copeland Gordon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Copeland Gordon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5244] 
3.  
GORDON COPELAND (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Conservation 
: What steps if any will he take to ensure that neither the Department of Conservation nor his own statutory powers unnecessarily impede efforts by the petroleum exploration industry to discover and bring into production new gasfields in light of the depletion of Maui and the growing electricity crisis? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Conservation) 
: 
 Decisions on petroleum exploration in conservation areas are made under the Crown Minerals Act. I would obviously ensure that decisions are made in accordance with that Act. 
Gordon Copeland 
: Would the proposed Marine Reserves Bill grant the Minister the power to deny petroleum exploration permit-holders automatic access to territory within a marine reserve even if they had met the “minimum impact activity criteria” under the Crown Minerals Act; if it would what effect does he think such a veto power will have on petroleum exploration incentives in New Zealand? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: We have already faced the issue of drilling in a marine protected area in Taranaki and a very innovative programme of directional drilling took place. It is possible to have drilling in a conservation area that does not disturb the biodiversity of that area. 
David Parker 
: Have there been any requests for access to conservation areas from the petroleum industry in recent years? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I am not aware of any requests for access in the last 3 or 4 years. 
Shane Ardern 
: Noting that the petroleum industry is against the Marine Reserves Bill in this Minister’s name that the proposed changes to the Resource Management Act will make it more difficult to obtain resource consent on private land and the present view that he takes on conservation land does the Minister now accept he is the greatest problem in solving this country’s current energy crisis? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: No. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Is he aware of any demands that were made by United Future on issues like this at the time that that party gave an undertaking to the Government on the question of supply or did United Future just lie down and play mouse? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I could not really comment on that matter. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a pretty simple question. I asked whether he was aware of that. He either is aware or is not. It is not for him to say that he will not comment on that; that is why we have question time. For goodness’ sake this is getting beyond a joke and that Minister should be told to either answer the question or resign. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister can say he will not comment. He can say that. I would actually like the Minister to repeat his answer. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: No. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. He was actually asked as is legitimate two questions: is it one situation or the other? The answer cannot be no. It might be that the Minister is embarrassed but the answer cannot be no. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member was asked “Is he aware” and he said “No.” To me that is a complete answer. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked him was he aware of any demands made by the United Future party at the time of the undertaking being given on the question of supply or did it just lie down and play mouse? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No he has no responsibility there. He was asked: “Is he aware” and he said “No.” 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Given that the Government intends to extend the Marine Reserves Act over the full exclusive economic zone apparently in breach of the international law of the sea does he share the concern of the Petroleum Exploration Association which fears that the Minister of Conservation’s approval will be required before any approval is given even to prospect for gas and oil reserves which are much needed for this country? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I can report that the Department of Conservation has an excellent relationship with the petroleum industry and we are very keen to maintain that. 
Shane Ardern 
: I seek leave of the House to table two documents one being the submission on the Resource Management Act from the Petroleum Exploration Association and the other being the submission on the Marine Reserves Bill from the Petroleum Exploration Association. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table those two submissions. Is there any objection? There is.