Smith Nick: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Nick: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:639;Page:9512] 
12.  
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
 to the  
Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues 
: What reports if any has he received on the levels of deforestation this year and what impact will these have on New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions? 
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 I have received the  
2006 Deforestation Intentions Survey 
 which has long been available on the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry website. The deforestation that occurs this year will have only a minimal effect on New Zealand’s emissions during the first Kyoto period of 2008 to 2012. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Can the Minister give a simple answer to a critical question on the minds of foresters as they contemplate the coming planting season of June July and August—that is will plantation forest owners get the carbon credits into the future for new plantings this year? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: The Government’s proposed policy options to control deforestation and to encourage afforestation are well known and decisions on which options will be proceeded with will be made in the next few months. What is abundantly clear is that Dr Smith’s ideas will not work. Just weeks ago Dr Smith was promoting a “cap and trade” scheme with no cap. 
Hon Marian Hobbs 
: What recent reports has the Minister seen on developments that will impact on New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: Two stand out. The first came from John Key trying to pour scorn on New Zealand becoming carbon neutral. His press release was headed “Carbon neutrality—where is it?” Embarrassingly for him the answer came the very same day from National MP and Environment Canterbury councillor Nicky Wagner. Her press release championed progress towards Helen Clark’s goal of carbon neutrality through the introduction of biofuels in Christchurch’s public transport system. So despite John Key’s wish to the contrary carbon neutrality continues to break out everywhere and is now being promoted by his own MPs. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: What sort of incompetent Government is it when it has been in office for 7½ years and it cannot tell foresters who are about to contemplate planting trees in June July and August of this year whether they will get credits for those trees? I say to the Minister that they do not want options or discussion papers but a simple answer: will they get credits or not? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: This Government has already devolved carbon credits for permanent forests. Our discussion documents propose the adoption of one of two options. One is the devolution of carbon credits for new production forests; the other is a grants-based scheme of similar effect. Foresters can have comfort that New Zealand is at the forefront internationally of devolving carbon credit benefits to forestry. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I ask the same question of the Minister so that we might get an answer. This matters because we have lost 8 million trees since he has been the Minister. Will forest owners when they go to plant trees in the normal season of June July and August be eligible to receive the credits for those; if he does not know then why would people bother to plant commercial forests when they can wait until next year and get the credits—and how does that help either the environment or our economy? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: The Government’s proposals on this are absolutely clear. The final decisions will be made within the next few months the Government having already devolved carbon credits for permanent forests and proposed devolution for production forestry. What National needs to come clear on is Mark II of its “cap and trade” scheme. I ask Dr Smith whether it includes the 50 percent of New Zealand’s emissions that come from land use. Does it or does it not? 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Can the Minister explain to the House what is clear—crystal clear to a forester—about a policy that states that there are options for the next 3 months when this very day nursery and forestry contractors are making decisions about whether to plant commercial trees this season; why can the Minister not give a simple answer that they either will or will not receive those carbon credits and can he not see that that is critical to their making investment decisions? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: The Government’s proposals have as alternatives the full devolution of carbon credits for production forests in addition to the devolution that has already happened for permanent forests or a grants-based scheme that is of similar economic effect for foresters. Foresters are not in doubt as to the direction in which this Government is heading. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Is the Minister aware that 8 million trees have been felled and not replanted since he became the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues and that this has added $200 million to New Zealand’s climate liabilities under the Kyoto Protocol; and why does he not announce today that every tree planted will gain carbon credits for the owner so that we might reverse those appalling records? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: The Government has long been aware that 50 percent of New Zealand’s emissions come from the land-use sector. We are proposing a “cap and trade” scheme and other measures that will control emissions from the agriculture sector. National has yet to show its hand. 
Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Recently National members were on their high horse about the use of swear words in the Chamber. During that exchange of questions Dr Nick Smith a National MP stood at his microphone and clearly blurted out a swear word. I think that if those members are so interested in consistency then he should withdraw and apologise. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I used the word “bull” when the Minister said that National said—[ 
Interruption 
] I said “bull”. I said it in response to the Minister saying that National promoted an emissions trading system without a cap. I would simply seek the leave of the House to table National’s  
A Bluegreen Vision for New Zealand 
 document that mentions an emissions trading system and specifically uses the word “cap”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: We will handle the leave question first then I will come back to the point of order. Leave is sought to table a document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Maybe the member’s memory is failing him but I suggest that if he gets the tapes and looks at the play-back on television he will see that he got four letters of the word he mentioned right. There were another four added on the end. 
Ron Mark 
: This is the same member who went out of his way to bring to the attention of the House my indiscretion and I can assure that member that I have received a text message stating exactly what he said. So he might like to consider Standings Orders and tell the truth. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I honestly do not recall which word— 
Hon Members 
: Oh! 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I honestly do not recall whether I used the word “bull” or added additional words to it. But I will apologise to the House so that we can get on with business. I formally apologise for whichever phrase I used.