2. Coalmining—Conservation Land Climate Change and Native SpeciesJAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of ConservationCoalmining—Conservation Land Climate Change and Native Species2. JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of Conservation: Would she like to see more coal mining on conservation land?Hon NICKY WAGNER (Associate Minister of Conservation): on behalf of the Minister of Conservation: There is no black or white answer to this question. A third of the country is in conservation estate and on the West Coast it is nearly 85 percent. So of course mining has always been part of the picture. But in a rapidly changing world we need to have a thoughtful nuanced and intelligent conversation about this.James Shaw: Given that Bathurst Resources paid the Department of Conservation (DOC) $22 million to mine the Denniston Plateau for coal does the Minister still think that it is OK for coalmining companies to pay off DOC to let them dig up the very conservation land that DOC is there to protect?Hon NICKY WAGNER: No; that did not happen.James Shaw: Why is her Government forcing the Department of Conservation to rely on pay-offs from coalmining companies to fund core conservation work like pest and predator control?Hon NICKY WAGNER: We are not.James Shaw: Does the Minister agree with the Department of Conservation that Climate change poses a significant risk to New Zealand's native species and ecosystems."?Hon NICKY WAGNER: This Government is absolutely committed to protecting taonga species but all endemic species as well. That is why we are doing Predator Free 2050 and why we will be launching a threatened species strategy tomorrow.James Shaw: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I can imagine what the point of order is. I am going to invite the member to repeat that question for the benefit of the Minister.James Shaw: Thank you Mr Speaker. Does the Minister agree with the Department of Conservation that "Climate change poses a significant risk to New Zealand's native species and ecosystems."?Hon NICKY WAGNER: Yes of course climate change threatens our species but we are also concerned about predators. That is why we are doing Predator Free 2050 and that is why we are also launching a threatened species strategy tomorrow.James Shaw: Does the Minister agree with the scientific journal Nature that 82 percent of already known coal reserves cannot be burned if the world is to hold global warming to less than 2 degrees?Hon NICKY WAGNER: Yes of course we listen very carefully to what is being said by scientists internationally and as I said at the very beginning of this discussion no decisions have been made on coalmining on the coast. What is more in a rapidly changing world we need to have a thoughtful intelligent and nuanced discussion about it. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Mr Smith. Supplementary question—James Shaw. James Shaw: Does the Minister agree with the Collins English Dictionary that the definition of "conservation" is the "protection preservation and careful management of … the environment"?Hon NICKY WAGNER: Yes she does and I think that is why she enjoys being that Minister.James Shaw: Well then can she explain to the House how coalmining in a kiwi habitat supports the Department of Conservation's Kiwi Recovery Plan?Hon NICKY WAGNER: I will repeat: no decisions have been made and in a rapidly changing world we have to have an intelligent thoughtful and nuanced discussion around these issues.James Shaw: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My supplementary question was asking the Minister to explain how coalmining supports the Department of Conservation's Kiwi Recovery Plan. The Minister did not address that question.Mr SPEAKER: The question itself was addressed because the question started with "can the Minister explain". That gives very wide licence to a Minister in trying to explain. The member might not like the explanation but the question has been addressed."