edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
8. Question No. 8—Building and ConstructionTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionQuestion No. 8—Building and Construction8. TANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister for Building and Construction: Noa'ia 'e Mḁuri. [Uses sign language] Thank you Mr Speaker. What recent reports has she seen regarding building consents?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister for Building and Construction): Kia orana. Noa'ia 'e Mḁuri Mr Speaker. I've seen a report from Statistics New Zealand that shows that a record 41028 new homes have been consented in the year ending March 2020-21—an all-time high. In March 2020-21 alone 4128 new homes were consented the highest number since the 1940s. A decade ago the annual number of new homes consented was 14611. Ten years on the annual number of new homes consented has risen by 181 percent. These figures show that the Government's commitment to responding to increased housing demand is delivering the warm dry safe and durable houses that New Zealand needs.Tangi Utikere: What does the Statistics New Zealand data show for regional New Zealand?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: While the data shows the annual number of new homes consented in Auckland is at a record 17495 we've also seen record numbers of new homes consented in the regions including Waikato Hawke's Bay Taranaki Manawatū Whanganui and Tasman.Tangi Utikere: How is the Government supporting the building and construction sector to build on this growth in consents?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As a Government we are committed to supporting the sector through continued investment in trades training and apprenticeships our building legislative reform programme and improvement to our planning system by repealing and replacing the Resource Management Act. We are also ensuring that we have capacity to meet the increased demand. Through the Construction Skills Action Plan initiative more than 9300 people have taken up education or employment opportunities in the construction sector since 2018.
6. Question No. 6—HealthDr EMILY HENDERSON (Labour—Whangārei) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 6—Health6. Dr EMILY HENDERSON (Labour—Whangārei) to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about new hospital facilities in Northland?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): On Friday I had the privilege of opening two new operating theatres and a cardiac catheter laboratory at Whangārei Hospital. The cardiac catheter laboratory is expected to treat around a thousand patients a year and the two new operating theatres bring the total number at Whangārei Hospital to eight. I also announced the Government's commitment to see out phase two of the Northland DHB critical capacity and compliance stage two project that will address the shortage of in-patient bed capacity and see the accreditation of a laboratory. This is a significant investment into Whangārei Hospital after nine long years of underfunding.Dr Emily Henderson: What will these new facilities mean for the people of Te Tai Tokerau?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Northlanders will no longer necessarily have to go to Auckland for lifesaving heart procedures like angiograms angioplasty and the insertion of pacemakers. These new facilities mean that Northlanders can be treated closer to home and closer to whānau. This will benefit those 1000 people I talked about in the answer to the primary question but this will also alleviate pressure off the three Auckland DHBs to whom those patients would otherwise be referred.Dr Emily Henderson: What other investments are being made for healthcare facilities for people living in Te Tai Tokerau?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Other projects approved for this region so far include the Bay of Islands Hospital redevelopment the Kaitāia Hospital remediation a linear accelerator bunker and equipment at Whangārei Hospital to provide radiation treatment for people with cancer and buses to provide mobile surgical and lithotripsy services.
4. Question No. 4—EducationANGELA ROBERTS (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 4—Education4. ANGELA ROBERTS (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What is the Government doing to address wage inequality amongst early childhood education teachers?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Today I announced that qualified and registered teachers on the lowest pay in early learning education and care services will take another leap towards pay parity with their equivalents in kindergartens. Pay parity for education and care teachers is a manifesto commitment for this Government. It's also reflected in the early learning action plan. It will address the obvious gap that has emerged between teachers in early education childcare centres and their equivalents in kindergartens. We started progress last year by lifting the minimum levels of pay and we'll be continuing to work towards that over this term of Government.Angela Roberts: Why is it important for the Government to address early childhood education pay parity?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Government believes it's only fair that teachers with the same qualifications carrying out the same work and with equal degrees of experience should be paid comparably. That has not been the case. Over the nine years before the Government took office the pay increases that went to kindergarten teachers were not passed on to teachers working in other forms of early learning. That has created a significant wage gap in that area. That is one of the things the Government wants to be able to address. We are committed to lifting the income levels of those lower-paid workers whilst also dealing with significant issues like pay equity and pay parity and today's announcement is further evidence of that.Angela Roberts: What does today's announcement specifically do to ensure pay increases for teachers in education and care centres? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Today's announcement does two things. First and most immediately from 1 July it increases the funding rates for education and care services to ensure that the next increase for kindergarten teacher pay which kicks in this year will flow through to education and care services. The second thing that it does is introduce new higher rates of funding from 1 January 2022 for the services that agree to pay their teachers up to the equivalent of step 6 on the kindergarten teacher salary scale meaning a teacher in early learning and care services that has six years' worth of experience should be being paid step 6 on the kindergarten teachers' salary scale. That's a significant change and it could see some early learning teachers get pay increases of up to 17 percent.
2. Question No. 2—InfrastructureSHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister for InfrastructureQuestion No. 2—Infrastructure2. SHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister for Infrastructure: What recent reports has he seen on infrastructure?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Infrastructure): Securing the economic recovery in New Zealand is being supported by the Government's commitment to building infrastructure for the betterment of New Zealanders' lives. Today Te Waihanga the Infrastructure Commission has released its consultation document He Tūāpapa ki te Ora Infrastructure for a Better Future. This is the legislated requirement that the Government created last term for the Infrastructure Commission to produce a 30-year strategy to help meet our infrastructure needs. The Government is committed to tackling the long-term challenges facing New Zealand and laying the foundations for a prosperous future.Shanan Halbert: Why is an infrastructure strategy required?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There are lots of organisations who plan and deliver infrastructure whether it's roads power lines or hospitals but there is no one organisation that looks across all sectors at our needs and the issues that we face. What the consultation document highlights is the scale of New Zealand's infrastructure deficit that has been built up over many decades. This Government has committed $49.8 billion in infrastructure but even with that we recognise that there is more to do and it must include a more strategic approach. This strategy will help identify what is holding us back and look at the system that leads to the infrastructure we need to build a better New Zealand for everyone.Shanan Halbert: What is the process for the finalisation of the infrastructure strategy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Decisions we make about our infrastructure can affect us for decades or even centuries. Some of the problems we have now such as difficulties with water pipes around cities such as Wellington congestion in our cities or unaffordable homes are the result of decisions made in the past. The document is a step towards a better future. It sets out the challenges we're facing and proposes solutions. Te Waihanga is now asking New Zealanders what they think. Consultation is open for six weeks and from this feedback a 30-year strategy for New Zealand's infrastructure will be developed and published in September.
Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill — Second Reading
Dean JacquiASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Before I take the next call I just want to welcome the students and supporters of Halfmoon Bay School here to Parliament and to thank them very much for their hospitality to the Speaker's Outreach Programme last Friday where they resoundingly beat the members present who were there in the debate—I'm looking at you Rachel Brooking and I in the debate. And now we'll return to our advertised programme.
Dean JacquiASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The House is resumed. When the House rose for the dinner break we were on the second reading of the Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill and I call Ginny Andersen.
District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
Smith NickHon Dr NICK SMITH (National): I just want to take a short call and join with other members of the House as a member of the Justice Committee in support of this bill. I want to acknowledge the bill's sponsor Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki. Can I also acknowledge that it is Sign Language Week and it is entirely appropriate and good fortune that we are debating a bill about disabilities when we acknowledge that group of New Zealanders.The first thing I want to say is that I'm a real optimist and quite excited about the degree to which technology actually is of huge support to those New Zealanders with disabilities. Actually the way in which really smart people have been able to generate voice messages for those people that cannot speak for those people that are blind the development of technologies that assist whether it be those that have wheelchairs man there's been a revolution over time in that sort of technology that is able to support the tens—hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders that have disabilities.Now this bill quite sensibly makes an extension of the limit to which the bailiffs are able to confiscate property where there are unpaid debts. The current law does quite rightly prohibit those things that are essential to life. But actually with the development of so many things that people require with disabilities the member who has sponsored this bill wants to push that boat out a bit and extend the limit on bailiffs to a broader range of people and to a broader range of products and National supports that.The only thing I'd want to add to this debate is a bit of a challenge for the Human Rights Commission that there is a risk with this bill. The risk with this bill is that nobody is compelled to lend their money. If the product of this bill is that those lenders are more hesitant to provide the finance for people's cars for their computers for the other things to support them we will have achieved the opposite of what we have sought with this bill. So my plea is that I would like the human rights commissioner—and I've got a lot of respect for the work of Paula Tesoriero and their team—actually to keep an eye that the Human Rights Act and the requirement not to discriminate is acknowledged so that we ensure that the intent of this bill to actually extend the support for those people of disabilities is followed through. I don't think it's a huge risk but I think it's important that the finance companies that provide these services do know that Parliament's intent is to further protect people with disabilities and not to limit their access to finance and that's why there will be an ongoing role in ensuring the success of this measure and ensuring it does not result in discrimination and less access for finance for these sorts of services.The select committee's got a good job on the bill. I hope we can facilitate its passage as quickly as possible. It is a good bill and it will help those New Zealanders who do require the support of additional technologies and services to be able to fulfil and do all the other things that New Zealanders take for granted.
Brown SimeonSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you Madam Speaker for the opportunity to take a call on the second reading of the District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill. I just want to acknowledge Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki the member in charge who has brought this bill to the House and her intent to seek to make positive changes to provide better protections for people with disabilities who owe money under a court order and the protection that this bill will make. This has gone to the best select committee and I do just want to acknowledge Ginny Andersen for guiding this bill through the select committee process as the chair of the Justice Committee. We don't always agree on everything in the Justice Committee but she does do a good job chairing that committee fairly and giving an opportunity—Hon Simon Bridges: Good feijoa muffins on that committee. SIMEON BROWN: I'm not going to comment on feijoa muffins. That is an inside joke and some jokes should remain inside—shouldn't they Dr Nick Smith. Anyway this bill—he'll be speaking later. This bill will amend the District Court Act 2016 to protect people with disabilities who owe money under a court order and to prohibit the seizure of any item from a judgment debtor with a disability. We've made some important changes I think in this bill which also increases the scope to those who have the important role of also caring for those with disabilities and protecting them so that they're able to continue to provide that care and support for that person who has a disability so that those assets and those people's names are also protected. This is about ensuring that people with disabilities are able to continue living their lives independently and to promote their inclusion in society and their participation and that is something which I believe all members of this House support. I commend the bill to the House.
Bridges SimonHon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga): The member Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki is well placed in her confidence about this bill. Of course she doesn't actually let's be honest need the National Party's support in this Parliament but she can I think be confident of a clean sweep in the Parliament because National is supporting this bill. As she said it's not the biggest bill in the world but it is a good bill and so we stand here in what's going to be a very brief call actually and congratulate the member for bringing this before the House and for getting it shepherding it through not quite yet to conclusion but to I'm sure a successful conclusion.I want to say a former member who used to sit where you sit Madam Speaker from time to time Ross Robertson used to say Courtesy is contagious." and you know it is true that whether the member had been courteous or not I'm sure we in the end would support this bill anyway. But a little bit of sugar helps the medicine to go down and she engaged with us early.Hon Poto Williams: All the lines today Simon.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: That's right. This is what I get paid for. She engaged with us early and has been really good to deal with in terms of this bill and any concerns that we might have. In the end the intent of the bill as I said at the first reading is very hard to quibble with: protecting people with disabilities who owe money from forfeiture of that relevant property whether we think mobility scooter or something they need for communication with the world around them.So that in large part is a large part of the reason why we support the bill although I think through the select committee we've improved it. We've ensured that the intent and the reality—the mechanics of it if you like—gel and work together well.Like the member I'd like to tautoko the disability community. She's already made the point but what we know is that people with disabilities make up a very significant proportion of New Zealanders. It's not an illness; it's different from that and we just remember that and we in this House want to make sure that the work we do makes life better for disabled people in New Zealand.There were a few terminological I suppose you'd call them wrangles in the committee about various bits and pieces and definitions and the like and I possibly led some of those for the Opposition and frustrated my colleagues on the other side of the House. But in the end I'm not going to run through those; they're mere quibbles when it comes to this bill. As I say it's a good one.I really don't have much more to say. Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki is like me a believer and I therefore want to quote Matthew 25:23.Hon Aupito William Sio: Ha ha!Hon SIMON BRIDGES: He likes this—I could include you in this as well—Hon Aupito William Sio: No no no.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: It's not me speaking by the way when I say this; it's our good Lord Christ the saviour right just in case you're thinking that I'm saying this: "Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful with a few things. I'll put you in charge of many things." National supports this bill."
Mallard TrevorPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: Members no papers or select committee reports have been presented. No bills have been introduced. Petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation.CLERK: Petition of Tatum Dyer requesting that the House pass legislation to remove GST on sanitary items in New Zealandpetition of Jarno Noordermeer requesting that the House remove the requirement for wearing face masks in public transport out of alert level 1.SPEAKER: Those petitions stand referred to the Petitions Committee.
Mallard Trevor; Leary IngridWEDNESDAY 12 MAY 2021The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSSPEAKER: Members in light of the fact that it is Rotuman Language Week this week I've asked Ingrid Leary to say the prayer.INGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri): Gagaj 'Ḁitu 'ḁmis 'uḁ'uḁ'ḁkia 'äe 'e reko ḁlalum 'atakoa ne 'ḁmis pō 'e 'otomis mḁuri. 'Ḁmis 'uḁ'uḁ'ḁkia 'äe 'e reko måür 'on Sḁu Hån ta Elisapeti ma far la 'äe la muḁ'ḁkia 'otomis hḁifäegaga 'e terḁni te 'i. La pō la 'ḁmis la a'sokoa 'amnåk tūtū ne Rī Tḁunå' te'is 'e 'ou poto ma 'inea 'e hḁiäf'ḁkiga hḁihanisiga ma huḁg vḁivḁi se 'on lelei ne hanue te'is Niu Sirḁgi. 'Emen.[Lord God we thank you because of all the blessings that we receive in our lives. We thank you for the life of Queen Elizabeth and ask that you guide our discussions today. So that we may carry out the purposes of this House of meeting through your wisdom and knowledge in mutual respect mutual care and humility for the betterment of this nation New Zealand. Amen.]
Tuesday 11 May 2021 - Volume 752
Appropriation (2019/20 Confirmation and Validation) Bill — Third Reading
VoteAPPROPRIATION (2019/20 CONFIRMATION AND VALIDATION) BILLThird ReadingHon DAVID PARKER (Associate Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Minister of Finance: I move That the Appropriation (2019/20 Confirmation and Validation) Bill be now read a third time. A party vote was called for on the question That the Appropriation (2019/20 Confirmation and Validation) Bill be now read a third time.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill read a third time.
VoteClauses 1 to 11 and Schedules 1 to 5A party vote was called for on the question That clauses 1 to 11 and Schedules 1 to 5 be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Clauses 1 to 11 and Schedules 1 to 5 agreed to.House resumed.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Madam Speaker the committee has considered the Appropriation (2019/20 Confirmation and Validation) Bill and reports it without amendment. I move That the report be adopted. Motion agreed to.Report adopted.
11. Question No. 11—Public ServiceHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister for the Public ServiceQuestion No. 11—Public Service11. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa) to the Minister for the Public Service: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions in relation to public sector pay?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for the Public Service): In general yes. However I do regret that details of the new pay guidance for Public Service agencies has been inaccurately characterised as a pay freeze. It is not.Hon Mark Mitchell: Will he consider backing down changing or amending the decision in relation to public sector pay restraints?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The member clearly wasn't listening to the answers I already gave to my colleague from the Green Party: no.Hon Mark Mitchell: Why not?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Because this Government is unashamedly wanting to ensure that pay increases are targeted at those on the lowest incomes.Hon Mark Mitchell: Does the Minister think it's fair to restrain for three years the pay of a teacher or nurse earning $60000?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Again I reject that that's what the guidance does.
10. Question No. 10—HealthTERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki) to the Associate Minister of HealthQuestion No. 10—Health10. TERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki) to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent announcements has she made about improving cancer screening programmes for women?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Associate Minister of Health): Budget 2021 focuses on securing our recovery while making investments that improve the lives of New Zealanders. This year's Budget will deliver a better cervical-screening test and a major upgrade of the breast cancer screening system that will save lives. These initiatives build on our last three Budgets where we have made significant investments in health including delivering the biggest funding boost to maternity care in a decade.Terisa Ngobi: How will the new cervical-screening test increase the number of wāhine who get screened for cervical cancer?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: The persistent inequalities around cervical cancer has been one of the longstanding issues in women's health. Our investment of up to $53 million to complete the design and implement a new test for human papilloma virus—or HPV; the cause of 99 percent of cervical cancers—will make a real difference. The new test which will replace the current cervical smear test for the 1.4 million eligible women aged 25 to 69 years old is a simple and quick swab that women will eventually be able to choose to do for themselves. This will help reduce the barriers to getting screened. Modelling predicts that the move to HPV screening will prevent about 400 additional cervical cancers over 17 years and will save about 138 additional lives. Around a third of the cases prevented and lives saved will be wāhine Māori.Terisa Ngobi: What are the changes to the breast-screening programme?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: The Government is committed to improving the health outcomes for our hard-to-reach communities. The existing breast cancer screening programme operates as an opt-in model where women choose to enrol for screening by calling their GP or an 0800 number. This relies on women knowing that they are eligible for free breast screening and making an appointment themselves. The new technology funded through Budget 2021 will better equip the programme to reach the 271000 women who are currently eligible to access breast screening but are not currently screened. With more Māori and Pacific women dying from breast cancer compared to non-Māori non-Pacific women the new system will allow BreastScreen Aotearoa to identify and target groups of women who may not currently be part of the programme.
4. Question No. 4—COVID-19 ResponseARENA WILLIAMS (Labour—Manurewa) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 4—COVID-19 Response4. ARENA WILLIAMS (Labour—Manurewa) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What recent announcements has he made on MIQ allocations in relation to supporting economic recovery?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): Yesterday the Government announced that over the next 10 months thousands of skilled and critical workers will be allocated spaces in our managed isolation facilities. To help provide a boost to key sectors about 500 managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) rooms will be made available every fortnight for this purpose. To date we've already been consistently averaging more than 10 percent of MIQ spaces set aside for economic purposes per month. That was something that the Labour Party promised at the election.Arena Williams: Who will this announcement apply to?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Of the 500 MIQ rooms to be made available fortnightly we have agreed to allocated spaces for the following groups: around 300 Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme workers every month from June with a total of 2400 arriving by next March; 300 specialist construction workers between June and October; 400 international students for arrival in June out of the thousand previously announced for the start of semester two; and a hundred refugees every six weeks from July. This is of course in addition to those who can enter MIQ through the regular booking system.Arena Williams: How will this announcement support economic recovery?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: This announcement helps some critical sectors in New Zealand get access to the workers they need. It comes off the back of world-leading quarantine-free travel arrangements between Australia and New Zealand and the Cook Islands and part of our plans to reconnect New Zealand to the world. All of these milestones show momentum that we're building; seizing opportunities created through New Zealand's collective response to COVID-19 and the work of our team of 5 million.Arena Williams: What about spaces in MIQ for Kiwis looking to return home?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: One of the things that we have balanced very carefully is the need—Chris Bishop: What about migrants just trying to move here?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: If the member wants to ask a question he's allowed to. In making—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Order! I mean I'm probably stating the self-evident. Well it's not helped from that case—continue.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: —this decision the Government has carefully balanced the need to bring in additional skilled workers with the need to ensure that New Zealanders have a pathway to return home. At the moment we have around 20000 rooms over the next three months available to book through the managed isolation system. Now is a good time for New Zealanders to return home. There is space available. And I would also add a word of caution that it's possible that there will be increased demand later in the year. So for those New Zealanders who are looking to come home now is good.
2. Question No. 2—FinanceDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Securing the economic recovery in New Zealand is being supported by household spending. Today Statistics New Zealand announced that seasonally adjusted retail card spending rose to $6.1 billion in April the highest it has been this year and up 4 percent on the previous month. The gains have been broad-based led by the hospitality sector groceries apparel and household durables. While there was a large increase on April 2020 levels when the country was in lockdown card spending in April was also up on 2019 rising by 6 percent. The durables industry saw the largest increase compared with April 2019 and this industry includes spending on things like furniture sporting goods and pharmaceutical products and shopping in department stores. Dr Duncan Webb: What other reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The latest global dairy trade auction shows a consolidation of prices for whole-milk powder and skim-milk powder which rose 0.7 percent and 2 percent respectively. These increases come after the strong gains from earlier in the year and are due to the robust global demand for New Zealand dairy products. This is a positive outlook for farm incomes those in the regions and the national economy. Economists are optimistic that the recent strength in prices will persist well into the next season. Nevertheless the overall index declined 0.7 percent with butter prices falling 12 percent. This is an important sign that we are still operating in a volatile and uncertain global environment. Dr Duncan Webb: What other reports has he seen on the health of the primary sector? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The dairy industry is not the only one in the primary sector feeling a little more confident. The monthly ANZ Commodity Price Index shows a number of producers are experiencing better returns due to stronger global demand and higher prices. The commodity price index rose 2.3 percent in April extending its record high. Other than the dairy sector the lift was driven by strong prices for beef and lamb which rose 6.2 percent and 8.3 percent respectively and the forestry index that rose 3.5 percent in April to hit an all-time high. Throughout COVID our exporters have helped lead New Zealand's recovery. They are operating in a market of considerable volatility.
McKee NicoleNICOLE McKEE (ACT): Thank you Mr Chair. Minister when will the new authority charged with administrating firearms legislation be implemented? Report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the annual financial statements of the Government for the 2019/20 financial year noted. Reports of committees on annual reviews noted.
Ngarewa-Packer DebbieDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori): Thank you. My question for the Minister: we have Operation Tauwhiro; we have Te Raranga. Where is your aukati or kati te kaikiri tangata whenua strategy please? In English that means: where is your racism strategy against tangata whenua?
Brown SimeonSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you Mr Chair. My last question to the Minister—and I believe we are running out of time but there will be enough time for the Minister to answer it—is around whether she agrees or disagrees with Meng Foon's statement about a month ago when he said that the police are racist. I'm not sure if the Minister has actually made any commentary on that particular issue but my understanding from talking to front-line officers is that they were pretty disgusted by those comments. It undermined the important work that they did and was frankly unacceptable. I was wondering whether the Minister has made any comments and if not will she make some comments as to whether she agrees or disagrees with what Meng Foon had to say?
McKee NicoleNICOLE McKEE (ACT): My question to the Minister in the chair Poto Williams is a reiteration of a question I asked just earlier which is: is there a reason why the Minister will not grant exemptions for licence holders using the COVID-19 legislation as they did before when COVID-19 is one of the excuses by police for the delays in licensing? While I appreciate that there's more staff involved the delays are still quite huge and affect large numbers—thousands—of people. There is a way to make this easier on licence holders and I would question as to why we cannot invoke COVID-19 legislation for an extension on those licences again.
Baillie ChrisCHRIS BAILLIE (ACT): Thank you Mr Chair. Thank you Minister. I often hear in the House ill-informed rhetoric about systemic racism in the police based on selective statistics manipulated to suit certain agendas. My question is to the Minister: do you think you provide enough visible public support to the front-line police who protect us every day and attend incidents that most of their critics would run a mile from? The reason I ask about support is because I'm in touch with many ex-colleagues—current and police no longer serving—and most don't know who their Minister is and they certainly don't feel supported.
Brown SimeonSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you Mr Chair. I was trying to get an answer around the 700 promised additional officers targeting organised crime and the answer was in due course." New Zealanders well know that this promise was made: 1800 new police over three years. Three years is well and truly up and only 242 of those promised police are actually on the beat. The next question I've got for the Minister related to that is: is the police training college actually taking in wings for training at the moment and if not why not? Are the police or is she as the Minister going to try to get more resource so that that 1800 police target can actually be met faster rather than waiting until 2023 which seems to be the year that the target's been pushed out to? It seems quite odd that with increased gangs and increased violence on our streets the Government seems pretty happy to not deliver on what was one of its key targets and promises."
McKee NicoleNICOLE McKEE (ACT): You feel like a bit of a yo-yo doing this. Sorry—it's all new to me. OK the National Gang List—it appears really easy to get on and pretty hard to get off. Would the Minister agree that keeping an accurate list so that it can be used for both intelligence purposes as well as delivering comprehensive statistics would be beneficial to crime prevention in the future?
Brown Simeon; Rurawhe Adrian; Williams PotoSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): A very quick question to the Minister. The Government promised 1800 new police 700 of which were promised to be targeted dedicated to fighting gangs. My understanding is the Government's only delivered 242 of those officers so far. When will that be completed? CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): The Hon Poto Williams—I think you've got about one minute. Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Police): Thank you. OK firstly I have to say that you know we have had a record investment into the police—$450 million—and the promise of not only 1800 new but 1800 growth. We are well on target to reach that by 2023 and 700 of those will be dedicated to tackling organised crime. We are on target to meet our targets in that area. So I thank the member for that question but I must remind the member that the National Party have not invested nearly as much as we have. We are at record numbers of staff with over 14000 people in the service. So: in due course.
McKee Nicole; Williams PotoNICOLE McKEE (ACT): Thank you Mr Chair. I'd like to start off by acknowledging the hard work that our front-line police do on behalf of keeping New Zealand safe and to also thank you Minister for the reminder of the tragedies of the losses that we occur with our front-line police—especially with Matthew Hunt. I'd also like to acknowledge the Minister's work in what must be a very trying portfolio at times. My question is based on noticing the delays in firearms licensing applications which have already been addressed. This is occurring for both renewals for dealers renewals for licence applicants and also for first-time licence applications. It's caused a lot of stress and hardship to business owners and also to individuals. The delays have been quite extensive with nearly 5000 people waiting for a firearms licence for over six months and 1382 people have been waiting over 12 months. The result is that those awaiting renewals must remove their firearms from their police-approved and secure facilities and give them to someone else to hold on to for them purely because the police are failing to complete their administrative job in a timely fashion. Now when an exemption was introduced through the COVID-19 legislation for firearms to be retained by those with expired licences while police worked through their COVID obligations the firearms community understood this. So why then when COVID-19 is still being used as an excuse by police for the delays in firearms licensing does this Government not support their agency and members of the community to extend that exemption? Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Police): If I could just answer the member briefly to say that the police have brought on more staff to process the backlog and have been prioritising the applications for those in need of their licence for work and renewals first off but we do acknowledge that the relicensing process has been delayed. We still continue to suffer the impacts of COVID-19 as we deploy people into other areas but as I say police are diverting staff into this area to bring those applications up to date for those who need their licence for work first.
Rurawhe AdrianCHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): We are now moving on to the next debate. We welcome the Minister of Police the Hon Poto Williams and we'll hear from Ginny Andersen.
Luxon Christopher; Jackson WillieCHRISTOPHER LUXON (National—Botany): Minister thank you for the answer before around He Puapua. I guess I'm sort of reminded of that quote that's attributed to Dame Whina Cooper which says If you walk slowly you take the old people with you; if you walk fast you lose them". I think the bottom line here is that we've seen Māori wards done under urgency and not taking the New Zealand people with them. My question for you is: how do you plan to take the New Zealand people with you and actually make the case for the constitutional change that you might be coming through with He Puapua and other thinking around that? Is it actually important for New Zealanders to come with us on that journey and can you sort of understand why they think it's being done by stealth and piecemeal? Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister for Māori Development): I completely understand where New Zealanders are at and I think New Zealanders are a lot more mature than what the National Party thinks. There's been a huge amount of support for some of the kaupapa that we've been running out. In terms of taking New Zealanders with us we want to go through a process: a process of consultation a process where we work with Cabinet where we work with Māori and then we come back to New Zealanders for their views. So there'll be no rushing through of anything. Just remembering here He Puapua is an independent report but in terms of constitutional reviews it's an obligation for us to look at that. We'll be taking our time not rushing anything through and we won't be scaring the public like the National Party has been trying to do. Police"
Tuiono Teanau; Jackson WillieTEANAU TUIONO (Green): He pātai anō tāku e pā ana ki He Puapua. Ki tāku nei au i pānuihia te ripoata o He Puapua he ara anō mō tēnei mea te Matike Mai te ripoata Matike Mai. Ki roto i te ripoata o te Matike Mai etahi o ngā whiringa ara mō tēnei mea te tino rangatiratanga me te mana motuhake. Me te mea atu ki tōku nei whakaaro kei reira te oranga mō tātou nō reira he momo pātai tēnei ki a koe e te Minita: mēnā kāore tētahi i te kaha ki te whakaae ki te oranga o te Māori ki roto i tōna āhuatanga katoa he kaikiri tērā āhua ki tō whakaaro?[I have another question regarding He Puapua. From what I have read in the He Puapua report it goes in a different direction to the Matike Mai report. The Matike Mai report has proposed some pathways forward for Māori autonomy and Māori sovereignty.Also I believe this is the way forward for us. Therefore I have a question regarding this for you Minister: if someone does not support or agree to Māori living as Māori in its entirety is that racism in your view?]Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister for Māori Development): He pātai nunui tērā e hoa. Engari e tika ana ki te tautoko tō kōrero e pā ana ki te Matike Mai. E mauhara te kōrero o taku matua kēkē me Margaret Mutu—e tika ana ki te tautoko.He maha ngā tūmanako mō tēnei kaupapa He Puapua engari kāore e tika mōku ki te kōrero e pā ana ki tērā rautaki i tēnei wā.[That is an important question. However it is only right that I support your statement about Matike Mai. I remember what my uncle and Margaret Mutu said—it is only right to support it.There are many aspirations for this topic He Puapua but it is not appropriate to talk about that strategy at this time.]
Jackson WillieHon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister for Māori Development): In terms of He Puapua I'll go to that first. As I said in the House the other day I'm going through a process right now which is a consultation process with Cabinet Ministers and it's certainly our intention my intention to bring it forward I think the question was this year—hopefully in the next few weeks. So that's my answer with regards to that. In terms of the ongoing process I think it's important that we don't run scare strategies as the National Party has been trying to do over the last few weeks—picking out He Puapua picking out every Māori initiative. Shame on you really Simon Bridges and your team in terms of the types of strategies that you're trying to run with this. It's an independent paper and I salute them for that and my agency helped Te Puni Kōkiri. But the process going forward: consultation and then we want to get some recommendations and what I ultimately hope to do is we want to work a relationship with Māori to see where they see things are going particularly in terms of the constitution which has been an ongoing debate for Māori for many many years. We want to get their view and then we want the public's on where we go in terms of partnership where we go in terms of kaupapa Māori and in terms of the partnership. I won't comment on the He Puapua view but I think it's everyone's hope—I certainly knew it was the hope of John Key and I certainly know it's the hope of Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party—that we actually forge the right type of partnership in this country. Perhaps we can get our strategy right in terms of our United Nations strategy. We might be able to reach—Hon Simon Bridges: This is actually pretty disciplined Willie. Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Yes a lot more disciplined than the disgraceful campaign that your lot are running at the moment. But other than that in terms of the Māori wards I hear the member over there and the question about the Māori wards—again another campaign that the National Party has been slamming despite their hypocrisy—CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Order! Order! You sit down when I stand. Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Oh apologies. Sorry. CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): That is unparliamentary language. You will stand withdraw and apologise. Hon WILLIE JACKSON: I withdraw and apologise Mr Chair. The Māori wards need support in terms of strategies going forward. I think that there was some wonderful work done by our local body Minister Nanaia Mahuta and it's right I mihi to her for all her work done over the last three years. This has really been her Budget so mihi nui ki a koe te tuahine. But I think the more we talk about it our people are rising up everywhere in terms of laying down a challenge in terms of those Māori wards despite the disgraceful campaign from the National Party. So well done to them in Manawatū and to our people all around the country. Kia ora.
Tuiono TeanauTEANAU TUIONO (Green): Tēnā koe te Pika. Kei a au ētahi pātai heoi anō me tīmata ki roto i te horopaki o te rā: I tēnei ata i tae ētahi o mātou ki te riu o Manawatū. I reira tētahi hīkoi. I karangahia ngā marae 12 o te Manawatū mō te tautoko ngā wāri Māori. I te mea kei roto i taua kaunihera kāore tō rātou koromātua me ā rātou kaikaunihera i tautoko ki te whakarite he wāri Māori ki roto.Heoi anō ko ētahi o ngā pātai i puta mai Me pēhea ngā hapori me pēhea ngā Iwi Māori? Mēnā kāore te e kīia nei wairua o te manaakitanga te wairua o te aro ki ngā āhuatanga o te Māori e ora ana ki roto i aua takiwā. Nō reira me mihi au ki a rātou mā ka tika i te mea i whakarite rātou ki runga o te wairua o te kotahitanga i whakarite i runga i te wairua o te tino rangatiratanga.Heoi anō ko ētahi o ngā hapori he ngāwari ko ētahi atu o ngā hapori he uaua nō reira ko tāku nei: me whai oranga ki roto i te whakangungu me te whakaora ngā āhuatanga i roto i ngā takiwā pēnei ki te Manawatū kia āhei te noho tahi o te Pākehā me te Māori?[Greetings Mr Speaker. I have some questions. However I would like to begin by acknowledging today's events. This morning some of us made it to a hīkoi in the Manawatū valley. It was organised by 12 marae of Manawatū and was about Māori wards. This took place because the mayor and councillors of that council would not support the establishment of Māori wards. Alas one of the questions asked was "What about Māori communities and Māori people if we do not have unity or a commitment to Māori aspects in these districts?" Therefore I would like to acknowledge those who made it and who are committed to unity built upon self-determination.Alas some communities were tolerant others were difficult. Therefore my question is this: is the path to wellbeing through training and education in districts like Manawatū so that Māori and Pākehā can live in harmony?]Kia ora Mr Speaker. First of all I just wanted to acknowledge the hīkoi that happened earlier today in the Manawatū as I was just explaining in Māori. I'd like to mihi to the wider hapū and the wider iwi and Māori communities in the Manawatū for taking the stand in Feilding today this morning for the establishment of Māori wards. What I think here when I look back at this review and use it as a foundation in terms of where we need to move forward my question is: does the Minister have any ideas about building capacity for towns and communities and regions which have not fully appreciated how a Māori ward could actually bring iwi and hapū to the council tables in terms of the way that he sees the direction of Te Puni Kōkiri moving forward? Tēnā koe."