Candidates speak at Green Drinks event

From left, Stuart Smith, MP for Kaikoura, Ben Sandford, Fletcher Tabuteau, Richard Gillies and Tina Porou. Photo/Stephen Parker

The environment came to the forefront in Rotorua's latest political Q&A session.

Tonight's Green Drinks election forum attracted about 100 people to the Blue Baths to hear from the candidates.

There were speakers from five parties, but only three were Rotorua candidates - New Zealand First's Fletcher Tabuteau, Labour's Ben Sandford and the Green Party's Richard Gillies.

As a Green Drinks committee member Mr Gillies was not involved in organising the event to avoid a conflict of interest.

National's Todd McClay was represented by Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith.

Neither Waiariki candidate was there - Labour's Tamati Coffey sent his apologies and Maori Party's Te Ururoa Flavell sent Tina Porou on his behalf.

The first question focused on New Zealand's emissions and climate change.

The Green Party, Labour and NZ First were alarmed at rates of carbon emissions.

Mr Gillies said the Greens' climate change policy would be released on Sunday.

"It is a high priority for us to pass the Zero Carbon Act."

Both NZ First and Labour hoped to introduce a new parliamentary commission on climate change.

Mr Sandford said as a country we had known about this for so long yet not done anything.

"Jacinda said recently that 'climate change is the nuclear free issue of our generation' and I couldn't agree more with that."

From left, Stuart Smith, MP for Kaikoura, Ben Sandford, Fletcher Tabuteau, Richard Gillies and Tina Porou. Photo/Stephen Parker

National's Mr Smith said the Government had to be careful about what it did.

"The bottom line is we don't want to be silly about this."

National have policy in place to change government vehicles to electric by 2021.

Mrs Porou said we were failing to get on top of climate change.

"We want to make sure everybody pays for their impact on the environment."

When it came to forestry all parties agreed it was important to stop deforestation.

NZ First's Mr Tabuteau said an effort needed to be made to plant trees.

Mrs Porou said the Maori Party was also committed to a safer forestry industry.

Water quality was a debate which extended into questions from the floor.

Mr Sandford said poor water quality was "absolutely heartbreaking".

"We want stronger freshwater quality standards," he said.

Mr Smith said it was very easy to impose a tax, but why not do the tough work.

"The farmers shouldn't get the kicking on this. The worst waterways are in urban areas."

The Maori Party representative Mrs Porou rebutted this.

"High intensity farming affects water quality."

She said this was a New Zealand-wide problem and councils needed to have legislation to do something.

Mr Gillies said the last thing to do was pile this on to the farmers.

The Green Party wanted to place a 10c per litre levy on bottled water exporters and recycle that into the local area.

Mr Tabuteau said the first step for NZ First would be reviewing the definition of freshwater.

He said moving the mark to make it more achievable was "pretty much insulting to everyone in New Zealand".

The Maori Party's Wendy Biddle was unable to take part as she'd registered too late as a candidate.