50753 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister of Climate Change

50753 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister of Climate Change: Further to replies to Question for Oral No. 11 on Oct 15, does the Minister agree with the statement that 'any suggestion that we're going to hollow out industry, including fisheries, to meet this dreamlike conception of how dangerous climate change is' and if so why, and if not why not?

Hon Simon Watts: I agree that the government will not hollow out industry, including fisheries, nor does it need to continue reducing emissions to meet our targets. I refer the member to the Second Emissions Reduction Plan, which outlines how this can be achieved, and the latest emissions projections, which forecast that we are not only on track for the first two emissions budgets but could also achieve carbon net zero as early as 2042. https://environment.govt.nz/what-government-is-doing/areas-of-work/climate-change/emissions-reductions/emissions-reduction-targets/new-zealands-projected-greenhouse-gas-emissions-to-2050/ https://environment.govt.nz/publications/new-zealands-second-emissions-reduction-plan/