1. Question No. 1—Energy and ResourcesGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Energy and Resources1. GLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: How is the Government partnering with businesses to reduce their emissions?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Energy and Resources): Recently I announced the Government is partnering with a further 17 businesses to accelerate decarbonisation projects which will cut their use of fossil fuels reduce emissions and protect and create highly skilled jobs in New Zealand. Through round five of the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry fund or GIDI these Government-backed projects are estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 67300 tonnes per year—the equivalent to taking approximately 25000 cars off the road.Glen Bennett: What are some examples of the projects supported through GIDI round five?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Through round five the Government is partnering with Open Country Dairy Awarua on a significant project to install a large high-pressure electrode boiler and three high-temperature heat pumps. This alone will contribute over half of the emissions reductions in round five. We're also partnering with Rainbow Park Nurseries in Auckland which will be the first in the country to use highly efficient heat pump technology to warm the water that runs through the glasshouses. Rainbow Park have said that funding brought forward their green upgrade by at least four or five years delivering emissions reductions sooner and when New Zealand needs them.Glen Bennett: Have any of the projects funded through the Government's partnership been completed?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Twenty-six projects funded through the Government's partnership with businesses have been completed. These include new equipment for energy efficiency and carbon reduction at the Whakatane paperboard mill an electrode boiler at Meadow Mushrooms in Christchurch and a biomass boiler at Napier Pine. These projects accelerate emissions reductions while protecting and creating jobs here in New Zealand.Glen Bennett: How will the Government's partnerships with business contribute to New Zealand's emissions goals?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Across GIDI we've now partnered with 56 businesses on 83 projects to accelerate the decarbonisation of industrial process heat. Once operational all projects are estimated to result in annual emissions reductions of up to 1.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. That is the equivalent of taking approximately 590000 cars off the road. Anyone who purports to cut this scheme needs to tell us how they're going to make up for that.Glen Bennett: What investments is the Government making to support decarbonisation in New Plymouth?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Oh an excellent question. The Government is investing in two decarbonisation projects at Taranaki Hospital. These projects will replace the hospital's fossil-gas boiler with a low-emissions alternative and improve the energy efficiency of the hospital elevating it to green star building status. Once complete these projects are estimated to reduce the carbon emissions at the hospital by 10340 tonnes over 10 years. In addition the Government is partnering with businesses to deliver 21 chargers to the Taranaki region to support the transition to a lowemissions transport system. These projects will help reduce transport emissions and improve the reliability of electric vehicle transport infrastructure in New Plymouth.