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Bakshi Kanwaljit SinghKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National): Thank you Mr Speaker for the opportunity to speak at the second reading of the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Bill. The previous speaker Stuart Nash mentioned that the Government is trying to downplay the importance of this bill. We are not. We understand the importance and that is why the Minister the Hon Paula Bennett brought this bill forward under urgency. We want to ensure that our community is safe and people feel that safety is the priority for this Government.The two things that this bill has got—the amendments that are in this bill—are that prisoners or convicts who are released on condition will become subject to this bill. What are examples of the conditions? If a convict is released on the condition of attending counselling if he is going for counselling he is subject to come under this register and his information will be available on the register. The second amendment is that he should not be allowed to have access to children under the age of 16. If the conditions are on his release order then he becomes subject to this legislation and his information—all the details—is available on that register.The second clarification that this bill will be making is that if a convict is convicted but has not been sentenced then this register will also hold his information so that the agencies whether it is Police or Corrections can have direct access to that information. The previous condition that I mentioned the first one will bring 107 more people on to the register and the 67 convicts who are yet to be sentenced will also be part of this register.It is very important that the Government is trying to ensure the safety of the community and this bill in urgency will ensure that those errors that have been made will be fixed. This bill went through the robust process of the Social Services Committee. These errors were left out unfortunately but today we are fixing them. I commend this bill to the House.
Wagner NickySecond ReadingHon NICKY WAGNER (Minister of Customs) on behalf of the Minister of Police: I move That the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Bill be now read a second time. The aims of this bill have been well outlined in the first reading but I will briefly speak to them again. It became apparent in operationalising the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act that a small group of offenders whom it was intended to cover may not be able to be put on the register.I want to make it clear that everyone convicted of a qualifying offence and sentenced to imprisonment since the Act came into force on 14 October last year has been put on the register. This bill only relates to a very small group who when the Act came into force were on release conditions or had been convicted but not sentenced. We believe that the public expects that these offenders would be covered by the register so we are acting with urgency to make Parliament's intentions clear and remove any doubt that these people are subject to registration.This bill amends the principal Act to reflect the ongoing retrospective policy intent of the legislation. It is a straightforward amendment. It clarifies those subject to registration under the Act so as to ensure that the original policy intent of the legislation is given effect. I commend the bill to the House.
Dowie SarahSARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill): I rise in full support of this amendment bill which is clarifying this House's intent when it passed the parent Act—the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act—and so we should take urgency to correct it. It was always this House's intent that all sex offenders where there are conditions to their probation be included in the Act. This is a public safety bill. The protection of children from these predators is of the utmost importance. Therefore we must take the time to clarify this House's intention that those who had already been released from prison and were subject to release conditions when the original Act came into force should be on the register.Further this bill clarifies that those who were convicted of a qualifying offence before the original Act came into force but were not yet sentenced should be included on the register. That is so that the specialist register team can keep an eye on those offenders and can monitor their whereabouts so that we can understand what they are doing.As a colleague opposite said this also acts as a deterrent to those child sex offenders when they are based in the community. I took the opportunity to visit Community Probation and Psychological Services and I talked to some of the probation officers to hear some of their experiences in dealing with those offenders. That was certainly one of the messages that came through—that those offenders feel after being monitored that they have a conscience on their shoulders. They are aware that they must stay within the conditions that they are given on their probation and that therefore acts as a deterrent.As I said before preventing the harming of children is of the utmost importance and therefore we should take the time to clarify the parent Act. We should take the time to make very clear to the public what we intended: to keep those predators on a register so that they can be monitored. With that I commend this bill to the House.
Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Bill — Procedure
Urgent Debates Declined — New Zealand Superannuation—Age of Entitlement
Points of Order — New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income (Fair Residency) Amendment Bill—Leave to Introduce
McKelvie IanIAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei): Well we do go around the garden on this thing do we not? It is a pretty simple issue. Of course the Minister when she introduced this amendment bill this afternoon stated that there are no changes to the intention of the original legislation. That is quite clearly the case. We are putting some amendments through because the interpretation of the intention was not necessarily how we wanted it to be. I think that is very simple. It could have been picked up by any member of the Social Services Committee—or in fact in the House during the Committee stage or during the readings of the legislation—so I think it is very unfair to blame the Government for that when everyone had the opportunity to have a look at the issue that has now arisen. I have got a great deal of pleasure in commending this amendment bill to the House and may it get through very quickly.
Young JonathanJONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth): Thank you for the opportunity to speak to this bill. The subject matter is one of the most complex matters that our society faces on how to deal with this situation balancing the concerns of our communities with the rights of people who have been imprisoned for their actions yet want to go on to continue to live in society. Having these registers is important because it enables our communities to be protected. It also enables those people who are for whatever reason offenders or who have been offenders and have the propensity to offend again in the future to have around them the observation and support that would stop them from reoffending and thereby be able to live more freely in our society. Like a number of MPs—perhaps many MPs—I have had constituents come to me who have become aware of sexual offenders living in their neighbourhood. Without the jurisdiction and the observation and the work of Government agencies to ensure that those people behave and live in appropriate ways those families often feel that their homes become a prison. It is important to realise in this very complex area that there is a balancing of rights. This piece of legislation says the young and the innocent should have the balance of rights go their way. What this amendment bill is doing today is picking up a couple of areas that have been identified as needing attention and needing work because out of all the people on this register—and there are over 1600 people—there is nearly 10 percent or 107 people who are not on this register and ought to be. So what this bill is doing is attending to that. I think at times that these sorts of things happen through the passage of legislation and it is important and imperative for this House to address that today. Thank you.
Pugh MaureenMAUREEN PUGH (National): I stand in support of the Child Protection (Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Bill. Last year the Government passed legislation that established the child sex offender register. Since the legislation was passed and since the establishment of that register there have been some concerns raised that it may in fact not be providing for the registration of some offenders as was initially intended. The public's expectation is that all offenders whom Parliament intended to be registered are in fact registered. The intention of the original bill which was passed last year was that it would apply to all child sex offenders who had been released from prison and were subject to release conditions as well as to those child sex offenders who had been convicted but not yet sentenced. However 107 offenders who were intended to be on it have in fact come off the register. Those child sex offenders should be on that register and this amendment bill confirms that.There are two key parts to this bill. One is that it clarifies that those who have been released from prison but are subject to conditions such as attending counselling or not being in the company of a child under 16—and the second part of that is that those who have been convicted of this offence before the original Act came into force but who have not yet been sentenced—should be on the register. There are 67 offenders who qualify for that.There is very little more to say. I am completely in support of this amendment. I congratulate the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Police the Hon Paula Bennett on acting so quickly to make Parliament's intentions clear. I commend this bill to the House.
Bakshi Kanwaljit SinghKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National): I rise to speak on the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Bill. First of all I would like to acknowledge the Minister for her proactive approach. As soon as the problem was identified she came to the House to get it rectified which is the most important thing because we want to ensure that our communities feel safe from sex offenders.The intent of this legislation was to ensure that a register would be maintained where child sex offenders could be identified and that could be communicated among the agencies so that all the details of those offenders can be readily available for agencies. The register provides information to a dedicated police unit as well as to Department of Corrections staff which assists those staff to identify and manage the risk posed by convicted child sex offenders who have been released from custody or who are serving non-custodial sentences or an order in the community.It has been noted from time to time that unless we have got this information readily available for the authorities the offenders can reoffend and we do not want reoffending to happen. When this information is readily available to the agencies it will ensure that we can keep track of these people who move easily in society. The law also already makes it compulsory for them to inform the authorities of the change in their circumstances. When they move to a new address or if there is any other kind of change they have to inform the authority between 48 and 72 hours so that the register can be updated. If we do not have this kind of register or information available then it will be hard to find the sex offenders who move freely in society and they can reoffend.The law governs the release from prison as well as the release conditions. There are complex situations that are dealt with in this law. When the Act was passed last year it was intended that it would apply to all sex offenders who had been released from prison or who were subject to release conditions when the Act came into force. It also specified that those who had been convicted when the law was passed but who had not been sentenced would also be included in this register.So it is an error that we need to fix and with the passing of this legislation in urgency it will ensure that the register can be maintained up to the requirement and that the clarification is made. I commend this bill to the House.
Brownlee Gerry; Carter DavidCHILD PROTECTION (CHILD SEX OFFENDER GOVERNMENT AGENCY REGISTRATION) AMENDMENT BILLProcedureHon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House): I seek leave for the second reading of the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Bill to be taken without debate.Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is objection.
Brownlee GerryURGENCYHon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House): I move That urgency be accorded the introduction and passing of the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Amendment Bill. This bill amends the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act 2016. The House may well wonder why we are back here so quickly. It is because in the pedantic world of legal interpretation there could be some confusion over exactly who should be on the register and when they should be there. The intention of Parliament was very very clearly stated though by all parties in the unanimous support of the legislation in 2016 and this simply goes to a point where we are clarifying further the intention of Parliament so that there may be no misinterpretation of the intention.A party vote was called for on the question That urgency be accorded.Ayes 106New Zealand National 59; New Zealand Labour 31; New Zealand First 12; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Noes 14Green Party 14.Motion agreed to.
Carter DavidURGENT DEBATES DECLINEDNew Zealand Superannuation—Proposed Changes to Entitlement AgeMr SPEAKER: I have received a letter from Andrew Little seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the Government's proposal to raise the age of entitlement for superannuation from 65 to 67 years. This is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. The age of entitlement for superannuation is an important issue but the test for whether a particular case requires the immediate attention of the House is a high one. It requires the matter to be of such urgency that it justifies the House spending a substantial part of the sitting in debating it. In this case legislation is required to give effect to the policy and the Government has indicated it would legislate only if in such a position after the upcoming election. I am not convinced the matter has such an element of urgency that it must take precedence over other business of the House. The application is therefore declined.
O'Rourke Denis; Carter DavidTUESDAY 7 MARCH 2017Mr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.POINTS OF ORDERLeave for Introduction and First Reading—New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income (Fair Residency) Amendment BillDENIS O'ROURKE (NZ First): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to introduce the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income (Fair Residency) Amendment Bill a member's bill in my name and for the bill to be set down as members' order of the day No. 1.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is.
Wednesday 15 February 2017 - Volume 720
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill — Second Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 107New Zealand National 59; New Zealand Labour 30; Green Party 14; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Noes 12New Zealand First 12.Bill read a second time.
Debate on Prime Minister's Statement
VoteThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): The time for this debate has expired. The question is that the amendment in the name of Andrew Little be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That all the words after That" be deleted and replaced with "this House expresses no confidence in this National-led Government because it is out of ideas and out of touch on the housing crisis because it has cut the health services New Zealanders rely on because it has underfunded education and undermined our children's futures and because New Zealanders are crying out for a leader who will stand up for Kiwi values."Ayes 57New Zealand Labour 31; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 12.Noes 63New Zealand National 59; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Amendment not agreed to.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): The question now is that the motion be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That this House express its confidence in the National-led Government and commend its programme for 2017 as set out in the Prime Minister's statement to Parliament.Ayes 63New Zealand National 59; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Noes 57New Zealand Labour 31; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 12.Motion agreed to."
12. Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial—InstallationJOANNE HAYES (National) to the Associate Minister supporting Greater Christchurch RegenerationCanterbury Earthquake National Memorial—Installation12. JOANNE HAYES (National) to the Associate Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration: What announcements has she made regarding the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial?Hon NICKY WAGNER (Associate Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration): Today a significant greenstone installation has been placed near the entrance of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial. The 265-kilogram pounamu has been sourced from South Westland and gifted by Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio of Ngāi Tahu.Joanne Hayes: How will the installation help to enhance the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial?Hon NICKY WAGNER: The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial will provide a place to reflect on the events that changed Canterbury for ever on 22 February 2011. It pays respect to those who lost their life to those who were seriously injured and to the first responders; and it recognises the impact on the wider community. The Māori traditional ritual of touching the pounamu connects visitors back to the land and to all of those who have been there before. It is a special contribution to an area that will mean much to Cantabrians and to the families who were affected by the earthquakes.
7. Broadband Ultra-fast and Rural—Progress and TargetsSARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill) to the Minister for CommunicationsBroadband Ultra-fast and Rural—Progress and Targets7. SARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill) to the Minister for Communications: What progress can he report on the rollout of the Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband initiatives?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister for Communications): Today I released the latest quarterly broadband update which highlights that 31 percent of New Zealanders with access to fibre are now connected to ultra-fast broadband (UFB). That is up 13 percent in the last 3 months. This means that over 320000 households businesses schools and hospitals are connected to UFB nationwide. Today's update also shows that deployment of the first phase of the UFB programme is 71 percent complete with 21 towns now fully fibred and over 300000 rural households and businesses now able to access much faster broadband.Sarah Dowie: How does the recent announcement of phase 2 of the UFB programme help deliver on the Government's targets?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: The overall deployment of UFB is now some 6 percent ahead of schedule and uptake is continuing to track above expectations with New Zealand boasting the second-highest growth rate for fibre subscriptions in the OECD. The extension of the UFB programme which was announced at the end of January will see another 423000 New Zealanders able to access fibre by the end of 2024 across a further 151 towns. By the end of 2024 more than 84 percent of New Zealanders will have access to UFB fibre under both phases of the Government's UFB programme. It is fantastic to see more and more Kiwis getting on board with UFB as access to fast and reliable internet helps create an environment for economic growth and is critical for helping businesses and communities all around New Zealand to thrive.Clare Curran: Why do the people who live on the fringes of Auckland Taupō Rotorua Napier-Hastings Upper Hutt Nelson and Queenstown or in Kaitāia Warkworth Wellsford Ōtorohanga Whangamata Kaikōura Culverden Waimate Waikouaiti and many more towns have to wait until 2023-24—that is 6 or 7 years—to get connected to ultra-fast broadband 2? Is it not true—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The question is far too long. I will give the Minister an opportunity to answer it. Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I would note that Labour in fact voted against it and under this Government it is happening. I am really proud that over time we are getting to 85 percent. We have gone from the back of the pack in the OECD to above the middle and actually under the packages and the hundreds of millions—in fact the billions—of dollars invested by this Government we will be there at the very front of the OECD in ultra-fast broadband. I am really proud of that.
Foster-Bell Paul; Mallard TrevorPAUL FOSTER-BELL (National): I want to respond to the question perhaps rhetorical posed by the member who has resumed her seat Marama Davidson. This House has the kāwanatanga to define what is terrorism and what is legal. We are doing so in this bill and it is a good bill.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Is the member finished? Right. The debate is interrupted and set down for resumption next sitting day. It is time for me to leave the Chair.Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 10 p.m.
Turei Metiria; Mallard TrevorMETIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The House is only a minute away from coming to its normal conclusion. I move that the House be suspended—I think that is the right word—for the evening.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): The member will resume her seat. She is not a Minister and she cannot move that motion.
Graham KennedyDr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green): The Green Party's concerns about the original draft of this bill have been addressed in the course of the submissions and its redrafting. We had supported the 2005 protocols that underpin the bill as they are consistent with the Greens' principle of non-violence. But we were concerned about the potential for the new law to designate legitimate protest groups perhaps as terrorists. Our concern was that legitimate maritime protest activity with a motive of trying to influence the Government might be unintentionally caught under this bill. But the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee therefore has recommended in response to submissions and our own concerns to make it clear that the bill does not intend this and that an avoidance-of-doubt clause will be inserted specifying that a peaceful act of protest or industrial action would not by itself be a sufficient basis for criminal liability under the Maritime Crimes Act.Some submitters were concerned also that the scope of terrorism offences in the bill as introduced could be seen as too broad. So the committee considered developing a narrow definition of the term terrorism". In fact it became clear that the bill does not define the term and nor is the term used in any of the offences identified in the bill. The term "terrorism" is used elsewhere in the bill so in order to address the concerns of the submitters the committee recommends deleting the term "terrorism" from the bill completely. The bill would therefore simply identify the offences as defined but not relate them explicitly or in this legislation to the concept of terrorism.We were therefore satisfied with what turned out to be in our view a very constructive process of submissions and consideration and deliberation of this bill. On the basis of the recommendations of the committee the Green Party can support the bill provided the House agrees with the committee's views."
Goodhew JoHon JO GOODHEW (National—Rangitata): I thank the previous speaker Megan Woods for the details she was able to give on this Maritime Crimes Amendment Bill upon reflection on its time in the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee. I do not have the privilege of having spent time in the select committee on this so I am going to of necessity keep at the higher level of what this select committee process has managed to achieve.This bill is about strengthening New Zealand's ability to deter and react decisively to terrorism. What I have noted from reading about what occurred at the select committee is that because this is regrettably—well not regrettably. It is good that it is pretty new territory for New Zealand to have to come to terms with this. We are meeting our obligations under a number of international treaties in bringing this legislation before the House but I have noted that the select committee and other members present in the House tonight including the Minister of Foreign Affairs have talked about the changes that the select committee made and that to me had a real feel of New Zealand evolving. So a bill is presented to the select committee and the select committee does exactly what its purpose is which is to evolve that bill into something that meets the needs of New Zealand right now.This I am told is about the four pillars of the UN counter-terrorism strategy and it is in the interests of all countries to play their part. New Zealand cannot think that we are a world apart from the rest of the world and that we do not have to deal with this because most definitely we are subject to the need to play our role in strengthening the fight against terrorism and making sure that we make the same observances of potential terrorism and put in place the sorts of measures that will actually address it and play a global role. You know we are pretty good as a global citizen New Zealand. We were an inaugural member of the UN Security Council and as everyone in this House will know we have recently served a term on the Security Council—I believe with distinction as well.We are 4.5 million people separated by a lot of salt water from other parts of the world but in fact we only have to look not too far from us to see terrorism in action and know that there is potential for it to affect us or for us to become a pawn in the game of terrorism which means that this particular legislation is so important. That is what we call our global responsibilities and New Zealand does not shirk those.The world is facing all sorts of threats. One of the biggest challenges is that a lot of them are not visible. We have to protect ourselves before we see them coming and some of them are not even in the imagination of the likes of our agencies. So this bill is putting in place our obligations to international treaties and at the same time trying to play our role in the world. It is a very important bill that I have enjoyed getting to know a little better both here in the House tonight and by reading more about the deliberations of the select committee. I commend the bill to the House.
Dowie SarahSARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill): I rise as a newly ordained member of the Health Committee in support of the Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Bill at this its third reading. Although I did not sit on the committee while this bill was being heard I can certainly relate it to a series of bills that I heard at the Government Administration Committee with regard to harm-minimisation of gambling. As part of that process we heard from submitters who had family members who were addicted or who were themselves addicted to gambling. They were not able to control themselves. They were addicted to gambling with all that that entails. What we heard was the devastation that occurs to the sufferer and not only in respect of their health and well-being and their finances but in respect of their families—their families suffer as they watch the demise of a loved one who is addicted to gambling.The submissions on that gambling bill I believe can be related to this bill. Substance abuse is equally as devastating. This is a bill that is long overdue. It looks to put in place mechanisms to protect people who are severely and seriously addicted to and abuse substances. It is a very good bill. As I said it is well overdue. It has been debated very much in the select committee and puts in place checks and balances to make a decision for that person who is incapacitated through substance abuse. We are looking to protect them from harm to create an assessment as to the extent of the addiction and then to put in place a treatment plan that empowers them to then make decisions as to their own treatment.We heard in the previous speech that there was a lot of debate around the protections of patients' freedoms versus their health but I believe this bill has landed in a very good space. It is only proper that this bill is passed as we look to protect those people who are suffering from severe substance abuse. With that I commend this bill to the House.Bill read a third time.
Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Bill — Third Reading
Simpson ScottSCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): It is a pleasure to take a short call in the third reading of this somewhat truncated—or in fact elongated; it is exactly the opposite—debate on this Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Bill because it has been debated now over several sittings of Parliament which is not in any way to discount the importance of this piece of legislation. It seeks to modernise a principal Act that dates back to 1966. Essentially what this Act does is it provides a framework and a structure for the State to intervene and compulsorily incarcerate a person for their own good. That is a step that the State takes in only very rare circumstances. In this situation the bill seeks to ensure that people who are so ill—they are so deeply and dysfunctionally addicted to drugs and other medications and all sorts of things that they are not able to form their own ability to seek medical attention for their own protection.So getting the balance right has been something that the Health Committee has grappled with during the course of its work and its endeavour. I am pleased to report to the House that the select committee did I think very good work in this area. I think that this piece of legislation finds the balance about right. It is a difficult area it is a challenging area and it is a charged area. But it is an area where we as a Parliament and as a society sometimes have to intervene for the benefit and the good of someone who is not able to act in their own best interests. I commend this bill to the House because the bill seeks to achieve exactly that.
Salesa JennyJENNY SALESA (Labour—Manukau East): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker for this opportunity to complete my contribution on the Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Bill. We should look at the current resources that New Zealand already desperately needs in the mental health services and we should also look into the resources that will be needed in addition just to implement this new proposed bill. We must ensure that mental health services and addiction services are adequately resourced. Our families' health is at the core of the Kiwi Dream but our hospitals are understaffed right now. Our doctors and our nurses are overworked. Our services have been cut. Our Kiwis are missing out on the latest medicines. Labour will invest in health. Labour will ensure that mental health and addiction services are adequately resourced. Thank you.
Mallard TrevorSUBSTANCE ADDICTION (COMPULSORY ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT) BILLThird ReadingDebate resumed from 14 February.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): When the House was last considering this bill Jenny Salesa was speaking and she has 1 minute remaining.
Yang JianDr JIAN YANG (National): I rise to speak briefly on the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill. As other members have stated the bill will repeal and replace two outdated Acts the Fire Service Act 1975 and the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977. Basically the bill will modernise our Fire Service. It seeks to establish a single unified fire service organisation for New Zealand. If you look at the history of our Fire Service you will clearly see the process of evolution. In 1854 the very first New Zealand volunteer fire brigade was formed in Auckland. It started with just buckets and later on it upgraded to manual pumps. In 1856 a Wellington Provincial Council regulation required all citizens to have two buckets of water ready so that they could help in case of a fire.Then basically the Fire Brigades Act of 1906 was the very first piece of New Zealand legislation specifically devoted to fire protection. But ironically in the following year in 1907 the first Parliament Buildings in Wellington were destroyed by fire. Then in February 1946 a massive scrub and forest fire swept through the towns of Taupō and Ātiamuri and that prompted the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1947 which laid the basis for a modern rural firefighting system in New Zealand. On 1 April 1976 the New Zealand Fire Service as we know it today was born but a lot has changed since then. We need a fire and emergency service for the 21st century and we need a structure and laws that reflect the work of our firefighters. This bill will enable us to better serve our firefighters and to also serve their services. Thank you.
Simpson ScottSCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): It is always a pleasure to follow behind a 5 percent party. We have just heard a speech that is aimed at a 5 percent market—a 5 percent market that will be opposed to any initiative and to any forward-moving progressive constructive solid forward-thinking and positive idea that is presented in this Parliament. It is a 5 percent party that will always find 5 percent of detractors. That was a speech that was designed for the marginal for the 5 percent and in my ranking it was probably only about a 3.5 percent speech.Tonight we are considering the second reading of this very important bill. It is poignant and appropriate that we should as other speakers have done acknowledge the work that is being done by so many in Canterbury—in Christchurch—around the Port Hills tonight and over the last few days and will be for what sounds like several more days yet to come if not weeks.I too want to acknowledge the friends family and colleagues of the late Steve Askin who lost his life yesterday fighting to put out and bring under control those fires. In my electorate of the Coromandel we had a similar experience. It was not as large as the one that is currently under way in Canterbury but a few weeks ago we had the Comers Road fire just south of Whitianga. I had an opportunity to go there the day after and see firsthand the devastation of houses burnt to the ground and the remarkable work and dedication of volunteers—almost exclusively volunteers—from around my electorate who had come from every part of the electorate to support that community to bring that fire under control.In my electorate the volunteers the rural firefighters and other members of our wider community are really looking forward to this legislation because it is legislation whose time has come. The environment is right the mindset is right and the opportunity is right for modernising what is an incredibly important part of our community first response not just to fires these days but of course to so many other matters of urgent need mostly on the road.The Government Administration Committee has done a very good job on this bill. I am impressed with the work that it has done. I would like to acknowledge and thank the committee for the work that it has done. It is my very great pleasure to support the bill in the House tonight.
Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
Bakshi Kanwaljit SinghKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National): I was just waiting for the instruction from my whip. Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to speak to the Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill in the second reading.As you know ultra-fast broadband is the name of the game now. We need to connect to the internet. The faster it is the more we enjoy it. That is why UFB is the game-changer in New Zealand. We have been providing these connections and uptake is also increasing day by day. We know that a lot of people live in shared-driveway properties and they live in apartments and to have access to connect them was a challenge. This bill will help to give that opportunity so that they can connect to the internet in a much faster way.We want the maximum number of people reached. We know that 90 percent of the population will be connected through the internet in days to come. We want to ensure that they do not have any hassles while getting connected to ultra-fast broadband. I commend this bill to the House.Bill read a second time.
Borrows ChesterMr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members the House is resumed. Before the dinner break we were debating the Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. Does a member wish to seek the call?
O'Connor SimonSIMON O'CONNOR (National—Tāmaki): I am pleased to take what will be quite a short call on the Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill.Hon Members: Oh!SIMON O'CONNOR: Members should have realised this was coming. In my first speech I noted this was an ultra-fast broadband approach. It was over before it had even started. So I do not need to go on for too long.Peeni Henare: Give us the dial-up version.SIMON O'CONNOR: The dial-up version is what we heard from the Labour Party members earlier on. It went on and on and on and off and did not connect.If members and those in the public are going through the bill it looks like a fairly substantial bill—and it is materially—but what it is trying to do is relatively simple. It is reducing costs and trying to get rid of some of the bureaucracy imposed around installation. The catalyst for this bill is ultimately those with shared driveways or in bodies corporate or where there are shared arrangements. If one person or two out of let us say a group of five want to get their broadband installed there can be objections which slow the process down unreasonably. I think it is really important to stress that word unreasonably" because of course there are going to be times and instances where objection is quite right. This bill deals with that as well including having a disputes mechanism in place particularly around bodies corporate. It allows for more time for objection if required.But overall this is about speeding up the process so that those vexatious if you will and litigious approaches that ultimately stop people for whatever motivation from getting ultra-fast broadband are stopped. As others have mentioned in previous contributions access to the internet these days particularly ultra-fast broadband is becoming akin to that of electricity and water. We would find it quite odd if someone was not allowed to receive electricity to their apartment because the neighbour objected and in a similar way why should someone not get access to ultra-fast broadband?So it sounds as though with the agreement across the House at the moment the Commerce Committee has landed this bill in the right space—weighing up everybody's property rights but realising that there is a good here with ultra-fast broadband.As I said I am not going to speak for much longer on this. I think the technical elements are going to come out in the Committee of the whole House. We can get into the minutiae then. But I do look forward to the passage of this second reading."
Motions — National Lamb Day—135th Anniversary of the First Refrigerated Shipment Leaving New Zealand
Peters WinstonWEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2017Mr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.MOTIONSNational Lamb Day—First Refrigerated Lamb Shipment Leaving New Zealand 135th AnniversaryRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First): I seek leave to move a motion. I want to lay out what it is.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I just need a brief explanation as to what the motion is.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I wish to move a motion without notice and without debate to celebrate National Lamb Day and the 135th anniversary of the first refrigerated shipment leaving this country.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I wonder before we accept that motion whether the member might tell us what his reflection of the weather on that day was.Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Is it related to this matter?Dr David Clark: It is related.Mr SPEAKER: On that basis I will hear from Dr David Clark.Dr David Clark: Given that the lamb export went out of the finest electorate in New Zealand I can assure the member that it was a lovely sunny afternoon.Mr SPEAKER: I need to put the leave as to whether leave is given for that motion to be moved without debate. Is there any objection to that course of action? There is not.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I want to thank the House. I move That this House congratulate New Zealand's red meat farmers our No. 2 merchandise export on National Lamb Day which not only falls on the 135th anniversary of the first refrigerated meat shipment leaving New Zealand but is also a chance to try our national dish lamb some time this week. For the benefit of Mr Brownlee yes I can recall there was a buffoon on the wharf but he would not do any work.Mr SPEAKER: Order! Without the last part the question is that the motion be agreed to.Motion agreed to.
Tuesday 14 February 2017 - Volume 720
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Trade (Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 63New Zealand National 59; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Noes 57New Zealand Labour 31; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 12.Bill read a second time.
Trade (Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
VoteCLAYTON MITCHELL (NZ First): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would like to change our vote if I may please to 12 votes opposed.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Well the clerk has already announced the result. With leave of the House if the member seeks leave we will have it. Otherwise it is too late.CLAYTON MITCHELL (NZ First): I seek leave to change our vote on the last call to 12 votes opposed.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): First of all actually what you are going to be asking for is to call for a party vote because I have already announced the result and so we will need to have a party vote; so you will need to seek leave for there to be a party vote.CLAYTON MITCHELL (NZ First): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I seek leave to call for a party vote.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection. We will have a party vote.A party vote was called for on the question That the Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 108New Zealand National 59; New Zealand Labour 31; Green Party 14; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Noes 12New Zealand First 12.Bill read a second time.CARMEL SEPULONI (Junior Whip—Labour): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I need to correct the vote. It is 31 not 32.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Leave is sought to correct the Labour vote. Is there any objection? There is no objection. The clerk will correct the votes and we will announce the result again.The result corrected after originally being announced as Ayes 109 Noes 12.Electoral Amendment Bill read a second time.
Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Bill and Electoral Amendment Bill — Second Readings
11. Construction Activity—Residential Building ActivityDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionConstruction Activity—Residential Building Activity11. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Minister for Building and Construction: Can he confirm reports that the $19 billion of construction work consented to in 2016 is the highest ever?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Building and Construction): Yes. It is more than double the level 5 years ago and in real inflation terms it is more than 30 percent higher than the last building boom. Two-thirds of the $19 billion is residential and it has grown in the last year by 19 percent nationally and 27 percent in Auckland.Phil Twyford: But it's half what it was in 1974.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: This is practically about—no I just remind the member that this building boom is 30 percent stronger than the boom back in 2004 in inflation-adjusted terms. This is about as fast as you can grow a complex sector like construction. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order!Dr Parmjeet Parmar: What growth has there been in the number of homes built on Government land in the last year and how does this compare historically?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Last year the Government built more homes than any Government in 25 years. A thousand homes were completed by Housing New Zealand through the Crown Land Development Programme and initiatives like we have at Tāmaki and Hobsonville. Agencies have a further 10000 homes on Government land in the pipeline over the next 4 years.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: What new announcements has the Government made to enable continued growth in housing supply?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Today the Government has released a discussion document on new legislation to enable urban development authorities (UDAs) in line with the recommendations from the Productivity Commission. UDAs would enable us to progress major redevelopments like Tāmaki and Hobsonville 3 to 5 years more quickly. We can see in cities like London Sydney Melbourne Toronto and Singapore how UDAs can deliver scale housing developments stronger urban economies and approved amenity and that is why we are adding this to our tool box of housing supply measures. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Question—[Interruption] Order! Mr Twyford.
8. Earthquakes Recovery—Earthquake Relief Fund and 0800 FARMING LineMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister for Primary IndustriesEarthquakes Recovery—Earthquake Relief Fund and 0800 FARMING Line8. MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister for Primary Industries: What recent announcements has he made about Government support to help with recovery on earthquake-affected farms?Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries): Recently I announced that farmers and growers who need an extra hand on their farms as a result of November's earthquake and aftershocks in the South Island can call 0800 FARMING and have their needs matched with skilled workers and volunteers. Many farmers have suffered damage to key infrastructure such as fences and water reticulation systems and require experienced labour to get them back up and running. The 0800 FARMING line has compiled a comprehensive database of both farmer needs and offers of help. All skilled workers deployed will be appropriately remunerated and volunteers can have some costs reimbursed.Matt Doocey: What other announcements has he made regarding initiatives for the earthquake-affected primary sector?Hon NATHAN GUY: Good question. The $4 million Earthquake Relief Fund for uninsurable infrastructure repairs is progressing well. However a number of locals have told me they need more time to gather the important information. Therefore we have extended the deadline for this fund until 31 March this year to make sure that everyone is eligible for this and has the opportunity to apply. Other recent announcements such as the one by Minister Nick Smith to relocate surplus temporary housing from Christchurch to affected farmers have been warmly received.