6. Budget 2017—Department of Conservation FundingANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua) to the Minister of ConservationBudget 2017—Department of Conservation Funding6. ANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua) to the Minister of Conservation: What announcements has she made about increased support for the Department of Conservation in Budget 2017?Hon MAGGIE BARRY (Minister of Conservation): I was very pleased to pre-announce so far that in Budget 2017 there will be a $76 million funding injection for new and upgraded visitor facilities and experiences on New Zealand's conservation estate—that is the largest increase the Department of Conservation (DOC) has ever had in its 30-year history. This Budget package will let DOC get on with its job of providing quality experiences on conservation land while still maintaining the conservation work necessary to protect our natural environment and threatened species. We will create a predator-free New Zealand by 2050 and preserve our wonderful landscapes for everyone to see and enjoy. In addition I have announced a $21 million Battle for our Birds the largest predator control programme ever undertaken in New Zealand and as part of the Threatened Species Strategy I released 2 weeks ago a $2.8 million injection into the sea lion threat management strategy.Andrew Bayly: What projects will the new money fund?Hon MAGGIE BARRY: The benefits of this funding injection will be felt right across the country. DOC will be upgrading facilities that are under pressure to ensure that the visitor experiences remain top class. We will be building two great walks and putting together a package looking for shorter walks with a new network of great day and great short walks. Importantly this level of investment will deliver more visitors who will have better experiences and therefore it will deliver more revenue to DOC which can then be reinvested in biodiversity and species protection.Clayton Mitchell: Why does the Minister not keep it real about the situation and agree that under her leadership DOC has been on a hiding to nothing with this proposed increase in spending coming nowhere close to the $336 million—$336 million—National has cut from its coffers since it was in power?Hon MAGGIE BARRY: The member is misinformed on this and on many other subjects. Expenditure for DOC—[Interruption]—and if you listen carefully you will learn something has increased by 20 percent and that is from $311 million in 2008-09 to $374 million in 2015-16. That is an increase of $63 million. There is more species protection being done in New Zealand from DOC than at any other time in New Zealand's history. We have a Threatened Species Strategy that points to and focuses on our most at-risk species. We are paying more attention to this than ever before. There has been no reduction in DOC spending and allowances.Andrew Bayly: What other announcement has she made on increased funding for DOC's biodiversity work?Hon MAGGIE BARRY: I have also announced the $21 million funding increase to launch the Battle for our Birds in 2017. That is in direct response to a beech mast or seeding event. It is a major predator control operation and what members need to appreciate is that predator control across 800000 hectares will save a lot of species protect a lot of habitats and improve the lot for biodiversity. We will deal with the plague of rats and stoats that threatens our native wildlife and with this money DOC will be able to carry out real predator control in conjunction with the wilding predator control that we are doing across wilding pines. There are a whole range of species protections and our species and our biodiversity are the real winners here.