Estimates Debate — Vote Environment

It is my privilege to stand and speak this afternoon on Vote Environment. I am proud to be one of John Key’s team and proud of the fact that he has navigated the balance so nicely around growing the economy and protecting the environment. I thought I would touch on three areas in particular, and I want to give a very local example of how exactly that balance can be achieved.

I will talk about the creation of the Environmental Protection Authority, under the leadership of Minister Nick Smith; renewable energy, which again has been touched on by the Minister under his climate change responsibilities; and also the environmental issue that affects the Taupō electorate more than anything, and that, of course, is water quality and our Fresh Start for Fresh Water Clean-up Fund.

Let me start with the Environmental Protection Authority, because the establishment of that authority is yet another election promise delivered. It was something that was talked about in the blue-green vision document, and it is great to see it being enforced from 1 July. Clearly, in terms of the estimates, funding has been put aside for this stand-alone authority that provides central direction at a national level and makes environmental protection so much easier. It brings together the range of regulatory functions, but, more important, it provides the direction that has been so lacking under the previous Labour Government. Regional and district councils actually have some guidance now in terms of providing some direction.

One of the other things that the Environmental Protection Authority has been able to do is the national consenting processes. This is particularly valuable with renewable energy projects, of which there are quite a few in the Taupō electorate. One of the questions that came up today in the Chamber, which Minister Smith was talking about, was the stunning results that we are seeing in terms of renewable energy in this country. We are seriously on track to achieve our target of 90 percent renewable energy by 2025, and we have had consented in 2010 the highest level ever in terms of generation with renewable sources. [Interruption] Forty-two percent was geothermal. The Taupō electorate is the heart of geothermal energy.

Progress reported.

Report adopted.

The House adjourned at 5.55 p.m.