1. Oil and Gas Exploration—PolicyGARETH HUGHES (Green) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesOil and Gas Exploration—Policy1. GARETH HUGHES (Green) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Does she agree with former Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges that while the world must progressively transition towards a low carbon future it can't and won't happen overnight"; if so when will an end to exploring for oil in New Zealand happen?Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Energy and Resources): Yes; it will happen when we no longer require things like eyeglasses cell phones aspirin artificial limbs asphalt for roads batteries fertilisers for agriculture raincoats clothing or deodorants as well as hundreds of other everyday products that are made with oil and gas.Gareth Hughes: When scientists warn that we cannot afford to burn 60 to 70 percent of known oil reserves why is the Government promoting new oil exploration? [Interruption]Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Could the member repeat his question? I had some difficulty hearing it.Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Without interruption from my left we will have the question repeated.Gareth Hughes: When scientists warn we cannot afford to burn 60 to 70 percent of known oil reserves why is the Government promoting new oil exploration?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well of course a lot of oil is used in things that are not burnt such as just some of those items that I have listed.Gareth Hughes: Does she think her block offer decision opening up the possibility of oil rigs on the shore of Lake Te Ānau is consistent with how the Government promotes the region and the lake in its "100% Pure" campaign?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: My understanding is that this is a block offer that enables people to consider exploration. It does not actually mean that permits are granted and it is something where New Zealand needs to at least know what resources we have.Gareth Hughes: Why is she prepared to risk the last Māui's dolphins by opening up 35 percent of their sanctuary for oil drilling?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well of course I am not and in fact in Taranaki and the region conservation efforts and exploration have coexisted since the 1960s—well before that member was even born. More than 20 wells have been drilled in offshore Taranaki where there have been six petroleum permits and two mineral permits either in or overlapping the sanctuary. In this time there has not been a single incident reported involving Māui's dolphins.Gareth Hughes: Has the Government ring-fenced the royalty from oil production to pay the $885 million upwards estimated cost of decommissioning its oil rigs or is that expected to come out of general Government spending?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: It would be a bit foolish to ring-fence it since in just the last 8 years there has been $3.2 billion paid in royalties and levies by the industry and if we ring-fenced all of that that would be considerably more than the expected $880 million over the next 25 years for decommissioning costs.Gareth Hughes: Given the oil industry cannot even have a conference without massive protest oil companies are leaving New Zealand and around the country Churches councils and universities are all divesting from fossil fuels when is this Government going to get with the times and support clean energy over fossil fuels?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I am not allowed to use the word for that question given that it was the Green Party that caused so much disruption yesterday at the petroleum conference in New Plymouth. If only that member had come on the plane a bit earlier he would have been there to see it like I did. I can tell him that the protesting and appalling behaviour by some of the people there was not from the delegates but actually was from his friends in the Green Party led by Russel Norman."