Marcroft JennyJENNY MARCROFT (NZ First): Tēnā koe Mr Chairman. Thank you very much. It's a pleasure indeed to stand and speak on this on behalf of New Zealand First the Appropriation (2016/17 Confirmation and Validation) Bill with the environment as its theme.I'd just like to note some of the previous speakers on this—particularly the Hon David Parker. Now he mentioned that if you don't get the environment right then the economy suffers. This could not be further from the truth. It is absolutely imperative that we do get this right. Also I make note of the Hon Scott Simpson in his speech earlier talking about the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) that came in for their review and how the CEO is to return to the Environment Committee following the evidence that was given earlier in February and the fact that the entire select committee was in agreement that this should happen.The Hon Eugenie Sage talked about the Department of Conservation's (DOC's) achievements despite the underfunding. I'd like to talk about that a little bit more as we look at what in fact is the role of the kaitiaki of our beautiful nature's stores: maintaining and restoring the diversity of our natural heritage. Stepping out as we go into the great outdoors something that all of us as Kiwis enjoy doing—it's a unique experience. It's on offer in our nature's stores. It's part of what it means to be a New Zealander. This is why so many visitors come to our country. They come to experience our conservation estate and so therefore as kaitiaki of this we all have a role in it as DOC does and we charge them with that.This is our natural taonga. It is something we are very proud of as New Zealanders and this is why so many tourists come to New Zealand. DOC reported in its annual budget that the allocation for capital works in 2016-17 including property was $16.105 million; however they only spent $9.110 million leaving a further $6.995 million unspent. It's held off from investing in some of its capital works in order to assess changes in the tourism industry and how it might better target its resources. We hear stories all through summer of freedom campers and those that litter our beautiful flora and fauna when they go camping and leave behind all manner of remains whether it's paper or other matter indeed. This is an area of concern for DOC and the resources that they need to put into cleaning up after our tourists.Our tourist industry is worth about $34 billion and as the Hon Eugenie Sage pointed out the DOC only receives about $20 million in revenue from that—also noting too with our regional councils and local governments working in with DOC to ensure that we do have facilities provided. That's something this Government will take a focus on in making sure we've got adequate parking for all these campers at all these popular nature spots. It's important that these places will cater for the tourists that come here because it is right that we share our beautiful natural spaces with them. They come here they spend their money and we also need to ensure that they can look after and clean up after themselves.I'd like to also make note of one special project which we're very proud to be involved with and that's our one billion trees project. Now this Government will make sure that New Zealand plants these one billion trees over the next 10 years. Those trees will improve our emissions profile it'll help to limit climate change that we've heard all about and these trees will help with our water quality which is very important—that will be by limiting river bank erosion. Now this tree-planting programme will benefit New Zealand's provinces. It will benefit our environment and naturally then it will also benefit our people. Our climate change objectives will be advanced and our use of natural resources will be more sustainable and productive.What I do really like is that these one billion trees are not just Pinus radiata—although Pinus radiata are very good if you are wanting to build a Lockwood home—but also too there is going to be a mix of a large range of native plants. We can look at tōtara as well as mānuka; they will be forming a large part of these native plantings up to our one billion trees project. So on that kia ora koutou.Reports relevant to the Environment Sector noted.