Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 30 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2657. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his statement that “efficient water management is a big part of New Zealand’s competitive advantage and our clean and green brand”?  
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does he agree with the OECD country report 2011 that “As an exporter of resource based goods and services [New Zealand’s] brand relies on the environmental integrity of its output and policies.” and is his Government achieving that? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I think that is one of the factors. I also agree with the OECD when in 2010 we were rated as having the second-to-best water quality by Yale and Columbia. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Is the Prime Minister aware that the Yale report that he just quoted from has now been updated and our ranking has moved from second to 43rd and does his Government take credit for the movement in our ranking in the Yale report from second to 43rd? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I would need to look at that particular report and which bit he is taking out of it. Overall what I can say is that if you look at New Zealand we rank pretty well on most of those categories. And if you go and look at the 2011 Global Green Economy Index New Zealand is ranked first out of 27 countries for overall performance which includes amongst other things leadership in green tourism. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Can the Prime Minister confirm that in his Government’s first four Budgets there has been an almost sixfold increase in the amount committed to freshwater clean-ups over the previous four Budgets involving new initiatives for Lakes Ellesmere Rotorua Rotoiti and Taupo; lagoons like Waituna Wainono and Wairarapa; and rivers like the Manawatu and the Waikato; and does not this action more than words speak volumes about his and his Government’s commitment to improving freshwater management? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes I am aware of that and all that it demonstrates is that National in Government cares more about water quality and water standards than Labour did when it was in Government. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I seek leave to table the Yale Environmental Performance Index from January 2012 showing New Zealand at 43rd—no longer second. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Did I hear objection? There is objection. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does the Prime Minister stand by his statements when twice in this House last year and then again today he has relied on the Yale report to justify his Government’s environmental performance—and his former Minister for the Environment relied on it on a number of occasions as well—even though the updated figures show that under his Government New Zealand has fallen from second to 43rd in freshwater quality? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I am not sure that I would characterise it as relying on it; I am saying that it is one particular indicator. What the Government has relied on is what it has done. As opposed to Labour which did very little National has introduced a National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management; established the collaborative Land and Water Forum which is going well; appointed Environment Canterbury commissioners who have delivered an operative water plan for Canterbury; launched the Fresh Start for Fresh Water clean-up fund; passed regulations for metering 98 percent of water takes; doubled the fines for non-compliance with resource consents; and increased the funding to improve our water to almost six times what it was under the previous Government. That is what I have relied on. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Kia ora tatou. Can I ask how he will ensure that councils and governing bodies respect the unique relationship that whanau hapu and iwi have in respect of their kaitiaki obligations and responsibilities throughout their rohe; and does he agree with the Land and Water Forum that there should be better recognition given to iwi tikanga and values in the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: That is somewhat a matter for local government but what I can say is that the Land and Water Forum with the wide participation in that grouping is allowing for a very collaborative process. It has written two reports. The third report will come out in November. But from talking to a variety of different members of that Land and Water Forum including environmental groups themselves I find that they are very optimistic about the results they see and the actions that are being taken. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: In reference to his earlier answer about the national policy statement why did his Government decide to weaken substantially the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management against the advice of the Land and Water Forum and against the advice of the board of inquiry that had been established to make the recommendation on the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Cabinet always considers a wide range of factors. We felt at the time that what the national policy statement had come up with was the best reflection of a balanced approach to what we were trying to achieve. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: How will his Government’s plan to subsidise dairy intensification in Canterbury and elsewhere through both the irrigation fund that has been mooted by the Government and the very large subsidies to greenhouse emissions coming out of the dairy sector result in cleaning up our waterways and help to protect New Zealand’s clean and green brand the foundation of our economy? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Intensification of itself could worsen the problem if there were not a number of other steps being taken. But again if you go and talk to the participants in the Land and Water Forum what they are saying is that both Federated Farmers and Fonterra are taking a much more responsible view towards that intensification. One of the members of one of the major environmental groups said to me last week that in principle if there were to be major irrigation in the South Island he would be supportive of a very large scheme because he thinks that in terms of intensification that would actually help in terms of offsetting it. And in general if irrigation takes place it takes pressure off the aquifers. So overall it is a balanced approach. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does he believe that his approach of talking about a balance between the environment and the economy—so essentially trading off a bit of environmental degradation for a bit of economic growth—is the right approach to take or should we take the approach that the environment is the foundation of our economy and we should stop degrading it because that will fundamentally undermine us in the long run? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No. What I think is important here is establishing how we can grow the economy while ensuring that we preserve our environmental credentials. I think that on balance for the most part we are doing that. In fact if you go and have a look at areas of science the global greenhouse gas alliance is a great example. We are increasing potentially the methane and nitrate emissions that may come from agriculture because of intensification but we are offsetting those through the scientific research that we are doing through the greenhouse gas alliance. If the member wants to go back to the Stone Age where we do absolutely nothing that is fine but it will not pay for the many wish lists he comes up with every day. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Why is it that every one of the Government’s big economic policies the winners that this Government is picking to subsidise—whether it be deep-sea offshore mining fracking dairy intensification or subsidising greenhouse gas pollution via motorways—involves degrading the environment? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I would reject that. There has been quite a substantial increase in areas of the economy where there is no impact at all on the environment. If the member wanted to come and support us on the national convention centre being brought to us by Skycity—or if the member had wanted to get out there and support us when we brought the  
Hobbit 
 movies with their 3000 jobs to New Zealand—I would look forward to it. But the member probably will not do that. He will just carry on whingeing like he normally does.