edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Coffey TamatiPart 2 Amendments to principal Act and other enactment relating to tertiary educationTAMATI COFFEY (Labour—Waiariki): Well Madam Chairperson thank you for that. Timing is everything and mine was just off. But that's OK.Look I wanted to stand and have the discussion about wānanga and the ability of wānanga to be able to apply to use the term university". It's a conversation that I've had in my electorate quite a few times with some of our whare wānanga that find it a bit hard to compete when attracting international students. When you get overseas students that are looking for a place to study here in New Zealand unfortunately they don't understand the term "whare wānanga" like we do here in New Zealand so the ability to be able to use that is very good and the fact that this bill is addressing that is also very good.My question to the Minister is just around the flip side of this I guess—so the ability for universities to be able to term themselves a "whare wānanga". And I just wondered whether or not there were any submissions around that throughout the process because whilst this bill deals with the ability for whare wānanga to be able to be called universities on the other hand is it just as easy for universities to call themselves whare wānanga? I think that it's a valid point that I'd like to hear a wee bit more about.There's also the second part around the refund entitlements for domestic students enrolled in short courses at private training establishments and the refund entitlements of international students—so just making sure that we've got a balance when it comes to that. My question to the Minister in the chair Chris Hipkins around that is just around what kind of submissions were heard on behalf of students in that particular area of refunds. I'm just keen to know what the arguments were from those submitters.I think it's a great piece of legislation. It's something that's necessary and like I said earlier I think that as we go into O-Week all around the country at whare wānanga at polytechs and at institutes of technology I think it is very apt that we're taking calls on this part of the bill Part 2 right now. Thank you Chair."
Ross Jami-LeeJAMI-LEE ROSS (Senior Whip—National): I move That the question be now put.Motion agreed to.Part 1 agreed to.
Coffey TamatiTAMATI COFFEY (Labour—Waiariki): Thank you Madam—Hon Louise Upston: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. I'm just interested in terms of the closure motion that my colleague Jami-Lee Ross has just put forward. It seems that speakers opposite are struggling with your repeated direction around Part 1 and then to have a speaker speaking completely on the wrong bill seems to indicate that there are actually insufficient things for them to debate. So I would seek your guidance on the decision not to accept a closure motion.Hon Tracey Martin: Speaking to the point of order.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I don't need any help thank you. It is entirely in the hands of the Chair to make those decisions. I will say to the Government that it is getting repetitive but I decided not to accept the closure motion at this stage. Tamati Coffey's been seeking the call for quite some time. Ministers have stood ahead of him which means they have to get the call so I am now giving him the call.TAMATI COFFEY: Thank you Madam Chairperson Tolley. I'm happy to take a very short call on this particular bill.Alastair Scott: Something new. Add something new and fresh.TAMATI COFFEY: You want something new? I'll give you something new. How about this: I think that it's first of all timely that we're talking about this. I just saw three toga-wearing students outside and as students all around the country are preparing for their first week of university I think this is very appropriate that we're debating this.Let's talk about Part 1 because the part that I'm interested in is the use of allowing wānanga to apply to use the protected term. This has been a debate that I've had in my electorate for quite some time—about the ability for wānanga to apply to be called universities basically.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I'm sorry to interrupt the member but the member is speaking to Part 2 of the bill at the moment and we're still on Part 1.TAMATI COFFEY: Is he?CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): So you could continue if you speak to Part 1—[Interruption] I don't need any help thank you—or else you can sit down and allow another speaker and seek the call for Part 2.TAMATI COFFEY: I'll allow another speaker.
Curran Clare; Tolley AnneHon CLARE CURRAN (Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media): Thank you Madam Chairperson Tolley. Can I take a short call on Part 1 of this bill regarding the schools' management of international student misconduct. Can I thank the Minister in the chair Chris Hipkins for the clarification around the contract of enrolment and misconduct. My question to the Minister in the chair goes alongside that which is essentially around how this bill allows schools to more effectively manage international student misconduct—not only misconduct but pastoral care. So my question is around pastoral care and around how that can be manifested and improved under this legislation while alongside disciplinary action—Hon Christopher Finlayson: What pastoral care are you getting?Hon CLARE CURRAN: I would ask the members on the other side of the Chamber to take this seriously because the contribution of schools and our tertiary institutions to international students is considerable in this country and I would hope that they would take that seriously.This Government stands for balance because alongside disciplinary action and the ability to take disciplinary action comes the pastoral care element and the importance of that. In Dunedin in my city international students play a considerable role in the education ecosystem whether it's at the secondary school level or tertiary level. There was a report earlier last year—I think in March—where there was a contribution from international students of $117 million to the secondary and tertiary economy. Maybe in Auckland terms that might not seem that considerable but in Dunedin terms it is. Not only that but it's actually seen as being an absolutely critical part of the way that our school system and our tertiary system runs that we treat the international students with respect and we have good processes around them.So I'm particularly interested in the pastoral care aspect of that because I think that again this Government stands for balance. While it's important to clarify the contractual arrangements between the host families and the international students and their families and that there are stronger protections around that the pastoral care environment is critical. Speaking for the school system in particular when these young people are coming from countries and into an environment where they have cultural differences and where they're on their own they're young people they're teenagers and they're thrust into an environment that is not within their own family and not within their own culture and obviously issues arise. So alongside any disciplinary or misconduct process goes the pastoral care process.I'm very keen to hear from the Minister in the chair around the importance that is placed in this piece of legislation on that particular process. Thank you.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I just make the point that the member might be very interested in a reply from the Minister but that's not actually what Part 1 is about.
Lubeck MarjaMARJA LUBECK (Labour): It gives me great pleasure to speak to the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. I took an earlier call—I think it was on the second reading—talking about how this bill strengthens the education system brings in more accountability and also provides additional student protection.Now I have some notes prepared on Part 2 of the bill. Are we able to speak to Part 2 or is it just on Part 1?CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): No we're on Part 1 at the moment. We will come to Part 2 so there's plenty of opportunity.MARJA LUBECK: Right right. OK. In that case I'll see if someone else wants to seek the call on Part 1.
Lee DeniseDENISE LEE (National—Maungakiekie): Thank you Madam Chairperson Tolley. I appreciate the chance to take this call and speak to this particular bill. I'm going to speak and briefly touch on three matters here all related to Part 2. The first is clause 16 which inserts the catch-all words (c) conditions that the Commission considers [are] reasonably necessary to enable the Commission to"—and here we go—"effectively monitor the performance of organisations and the tertiary education sector generally."CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I don't like to interrupt the member but I think you're on Part 2 when we're still on Part 1.DENISE LEE: I do apologise Madam Chair.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): Part 1 is quite narrow on clauses 4A to 8.DENISE LEE: All right. Can I—CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): You can continue as long as you talk about Part 1.DENISE LEE: I can continue but I'm sorry Madam Chair I do want to speak to Part 2. CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): Oh that's all right. You can take a call there.DENISE LEE: So excuse me in the interests of being a new MP and I'll let someone else speak to Part 1."
Goldsmith PaulEDUCATION (TERTIARY EDUCATION AND OTHER MATTERS) AMENDMENT BILLIn CommitteePart 1 Amendments to principal Act relating to international and domestic school studentsHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National): Thank you Madam Chairperson Williams. Look obviously this is a bill that has been developed by the previous National Government and much of it we support—in particular a number of measures designed to strengthen the ability of the agencies responsible for maintaining the integrity of the system. There are a number of changes in this legislation that will make it easier for the Tertiary Education Commission and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to maintain and ensure the quality or the integrity of particularly the international education sector. We support that. We see it's an incredibly important sector to the New Zealand economy—$4.5 billion worth of export revenues—and we think the logical response to inevitable areas of poor performance in part of that sector is to ensure that we're giving the parties responsible for maintaining the quality of the sector every ability to do that properly. So we support the Government in doing that.What we don't support is the removal of the section that was in the legislation that asserted the principle of equal treatment of all tertiary education providers. I have Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 17 here which reinserts those two clauses because we think it is essentially a piece of ideology on the part of the incoming Government to just simply remove that assertion which really is a very hard one to understand. What we have and had for the last five or so years in practice is that if the Government is purchasing a quality piece of education and looking for an outcome it doesn't matter who delivers that piece of education; it's the outcome and it's the quality education that is delivered that counts. I think most people would understand that. If you're getting a particular degree in a particular area of study it doesn't matter who delivers that; it's the quality of the education that counts. That's been the practice over the past five years or so and the bill as introduced by National asserted that principle. I can't understand why the new Government—I'd be very keen to hear from the Minister what the rationale is for pulling this away at this stage. You know I would have thought—again we're seeing in a number of instances bills that have gone through select committee processes and then at the last moment through an SOP Government is making changes and not necessarily going back and giving people an opportunity to make a contribution on that.So overall we're about to start through this committee stage and this bill is an important one in terms of giving the enforcement agencies the ability to do a good job particularly in that international education sector. We see that as important but we are disappointed with what we see as just a piece of ideology that the new Government has stamped on it and we'd hope that they would reconsider. Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Bayly AndrewTAXATION (ANNUAL RATES FOR 2017-18 EMPLOYMENT AND INVESTMENT INCOME AND REMEDIAL MATTERS) BILLDischarge and Referral to Finance and Expenditure CommitteeANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua): I move That the order of the day for the second reading of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017-18 Employment and Investment Income and Remedial Matters) Bill be discharged and that the bill be referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee for consideration.
Report of Commerce Committee—International Treaty Examination
Finlayson ChristopherHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National): Well there's nothing to commend to the House because this is not a bill; it's a treaty discussion. I heard the pious claptrap of the previous speaker Priyanca Radhakrishnan. The reality of the matter is that it's because of all the excellent work of the Hon Paul Goldsmith an outstanding Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs—it's a kind of a shame he's in Opposition but it's comedy hour when he questions Willie Jackson; it's a great laugh—and the other people who have been involved in this work from the National Government's days.Fletcher Tabuteau: You're even more bitter than usual.Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: Can I offer—and I hear his interjection—my warmest congratulations to Mr Tabuteau on his assumption of the deputy leadership of New Zealand First.Hon Shane Jones: Hear hear! Hear hear!Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: But if I can—and I know Mr Jones is bitterly disappointed but I have to say this to Mr Tabuteau: being deputy leader of New Zealand First is like being the Prince of Wales in Hanoverian times because whoever was Prince of Wales the old man always hated you. So I would say to him: enjoy the deputy leadership before someone else moves in—probably Mr Jones.Look one could go on at length about this matter but really it all falls to a close examination of section 69 which shows why an amendment is needed. I was very interested in the report of the Commerce Committee. I'd refer honourable members particularly to paragraph 22 when it talks about the failings of section 69. Section 69 as other speakers have said deals with the Provision of Braille copies of literary or dramatic works"—it doesn't cover artistic works—and subsection (4) deals with the definition of those persons who have a print disability—so for example if a person is blind or suffers impairment of his or her sight is unable to hold or manipulate books and so on. There's also a definition—it probably applies to the Deputy Prime Minister—unable to focus or move his eyes.So there are some gaps in the legislation. It talks about a grey area but I would have thought it was quite black and white even though it hasn't been tested in the courts that there is real uncertainty over the legality of prescribed bodies importing accessible-format works. I would have thought it was a no-brainer that there's an obstacle which is why there needs to be an amendment to the legislation. Paragraph 23 sets out what other speakers have said about why we have this Marrakesh Treaty and why an amendment to section 69 is required.So it's a very important piece of work undertaken with zealotry by the previous National Government and I would have thought that we could get an amendment bill in given the dynamic and hard-working Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs that we have now—get it into the House and off to a select committee. I don't think too much more need be said about it."
Goldsmith PaulHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National): Madam Deputy Speaker thank you. I'm pleased take a short call on this issue that we've got before us the international treaty examination of the Marrakesh Treaty. It was my honour I suppose when I was Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs a couple of years ago—that this issue had been before various Ministers for a number of years and as anybody who's had the privilege to be a Minister will know there's a lot of competing priorities for the time of officials to get the work done in order to prepare for such things. This was one thing that hadn't made it to the top and I was determined that the officials do the work so that we could accede to this Treaty because it will make a difference to the lives of many New Zealanders.I want to reach out—well I want to refer to the hard work done by the Blind Foundation who are based in Parnell where I am based and who work so hard on behalf of the broader community who struggle with their vision.The problem that we've had here is that the New Zealand copyright legislation allows for the reproduction or production of works in accessible formats but it doesn't allow for those works to be imported or exported and so New Zealand has to recreate the world in every example and that of course is very expensive and very slow. We've got a whole world of opportunity out there in terms of audiobooks in particular which have been done in many other countries and so this is a no-brainer in terms of giving New Zealanders access to that wonderful store of knowledge and entertainment and joy that is out there.I think everybody in this House sees this as something good and I'm so pleased that we're in the position to make further progress on it. I commend this to the House.
Dean JacquiHon JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. It's an easy thing to get full consensus across this House to support the Marrakesh Treaty because it has been in the machinery of government under various Ministers for a few years now and has just passed through the able chairmanship of Melissa Lee in the previous Parliament's Commerce Committee and its treaty examination. So any question that the House might not support this I don't think carries any weight particularly when as politicians we talk to the people we represent and those who have access to only 10 percent of published works and how frustrating that is for the people who are members of the Blind Foundation the blind citizens of New Zealand. We've met them or we've talked to them in our own parts of New Zealand and heard their frustrations particularly on behalf of young people and children who are making their way through the education system and come up against this barrier of having only 10 percent of printed works available to them in a format that they can access and use for themselves. So the Marrakesh Treaty and this examination in the House is another good step along the way to enacting this treaty so that we can join the other 30-odd international countries around the world who will in their own legislative way provide exceptions to some form of commerce Act. In our case it's section 69 of the Copyright Act that will provide exceptions for non-profit organisations and that is so they can access this material in a form that can be used and then can distribute it to the people who wish to use it. Many of the issues in the Marrakesh Treaty have been traversed in the House and I see that the Government members are taking full calls so it doesn't seem to me that I can add anything particular in traversing the details of this treaty except to say that it enjoys the full support of National as it did when we were the Government. We moved this process along and now I'm very pleased to see the Hon Kris Faafoi continuing the work of previous commerce Ministers in enacting this very worthwhile and worthy treaty. Thank you.
Appropriation (2016/17 Confirmation and Validation) Bill — First Reading
Clark DavidAPPROPRIATION (2016/17 CONFIRMATION AND VALIDATION) BILLFirst ReadingHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Acting Minister of Finance): I move That the Appropriation (2016/17 Confirmation and Validation) Bill be now read a first time. Bill read a first time.
Privilege — New Zealand Bill of Rights Act—Declarations of Inconsistency
Ross Jami-LeeQuestion No. 11 to MinisterJAMI-LEE ROSS (Senior Whip—National): I seek leave to hold this question over until Nanaia Mahuta comes out of witness protection.SPEAKER: I'm going to ask the member to put the leave properly. I'm going to give an expected response to him for the way he asked the question and I'm going to ask him to consider carefully the leadership that he shows from the chief whip's seat in the future. Right ask for leave properly.JAMI-LEE ROSS: I seek leave for this question to be held over until Nanaia Mahuta is available in the House to answer it.SPEAKER: Do we want to make it clear? Does the member want it held over as an extra question or just one of the National Party questions next time?JAMI-LEE ROSS: An extra question.SPEAKER: An extra question. Is there any objection to that? There appears to be objection. Right. The member declines to ask the question.
Hipkins Chris; Mallard TrevorSITTINGS OF THE HOUSEHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I seek leave for the House to rise for the evening at the conclusion of the Rt Hon Bill English's valedictory statement on Thursday. Reflecting on similar such events in the past I think it's unlikely the House will make much progress with the rest of the afternoon if we don't follow that course of action.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that process being followed? There appears to be none. That will be the case.
Mallard TrevorTUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2018The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Karakia.PRIVILEGENew Zealand Bill of Rights Act—Declarations of InconsistencySPEAKER: I have received a letter from the Hon David Parker setting out a proposal to provide a statutory basis for the senior courts to issue declarations of inconsistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 in respect of legislation.The Attorney-General's letter raises matters that warrant early consideration by the House. The provision of a statutory basis for the courts to make findings of inconsistency and the way Parliament might respond to such findings would have an impact on the relationship between courts and Parliament.The matters raised in the letter are ones that should be looked at by the Privileges Committee. It has considered the relationship between the courts and Parliament in recent years and has the power to hear evidence and formulate recommendations for the House that will provide guidance for the future.I have determined that the general question of privilege does arise in respect of this matter. The question therefore stands referred to the Privileges Committee.
Thursday 22 February 2018 - Volume 727
9. Prisons—Future of Waikeria PrisonSIMON O'CONNOR (National—Tāmaki) to the Minister of CorrectionsPrisons—Future of Waikeria Prison9. SIMON O'CONNOR (National—Tāmaki) to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by all of his statements?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice) on behalf of the Minister of Corrections: Yes and in the context in which they were given.Simon O'Connor: Given his answer to question No. 9 on 12 December We are yet to make any final decisions on the rebuild of Waikeria" how long is the public going to have to wait on the decision to ensure that we are able to adequately house prisoners given that there are only around 300 beds left in the prison network?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: In light of the chaos and crisis in which the last Government left the prison service this Government is focused on making sure it makes a good-quality decision about the future of Waikeria Prison and on ensuring that we have a prison service that serves the needs of all New Zealanders.Simon O'Connor: Is he aware that due to his inaction on increasing prison capacity police holding cells and disaster recovery beds are being used to house general prisoners?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: There is no question that as a result of decisions from the previous Government it rapidly escalated the prison population and the last Government left office with no plan at all about how to deal with the trajectory of increasing prisoner numbers. This Government has been left to deal with the problem and we are doing good work and making sure we make good decisions to deal with this long-term problem.Simon O'Connor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It's possible—and obviously your call—that it was addressed but the question was specifically asking about police holding cells and what I know as disaster recovery beds and were they being used—SPEAKER: I think the member started with "in light of the Minister's inaction"—at that point just about anything the member says is addressing the question.Simon O'Connor: Is it his policy to hold prisoners in disaster recovery beds and police holding cells rather than build a new prison in Waikeria?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: It is this Government's policy to ensure that we have a prison service that treats prisoners with dignity and actually seeks to improve them so they leave the service capable of being good citizens. That is not the state the prison service is in at the moment.Simon O'Connor: Given that addressing can he still agree with Kelvin Davis who said in 2016 that it was inappropriate to use emergency beds for routinely holding general prisoners?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: It is inappropriate to hold a sentenced prisoner in anything other than a proper prison designed for the purpose of correcting their behaviour but because of the crisis and chaos the last Government left the prison service in we are left to fix up the mess."
6. Youth Unemployment—Work OpportunitiesHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister of EmploymentYouth Unemployment—Work Opportunities6. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister of Employment: Does he stand by all of his Government's policies on youth employment; if so what is the number of 15 to 24-year-olds not in employment education or training?Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment): Yes I stand by all the Government's policies on youth employment and the number of 15- to 24-year-olds not in employment education or training is 80000.Hon Louise Upston: What is the number of 15- to 24-year-olds who are classified as neet" and are on a main benefit?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: I don't have that information in front of me but if the member wants to write to my office I'll gladly provide the information.Hon Louise Upston: For the 18000 people getting the single-person jobseeker benefit who receive a benefit what is the comparison between what they earn and what someone receives on the minimum wage?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Again I don't have that information in front of me. But again happy to take your question and respond accordingly.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: Why is tackling youth unemployment a priority for the Government?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: The crisis of youth unemployment is real for many rangatahi and their communities and providing them with pathways to sustained employment will help strengthen communities improve living standards and reduce child poverty. Yesterday I started the first of my regional visits in Whangarei. It was wonderful to witness the commitment from employers and people in the community—Māori and Pākehā. It was a fantastic visit yesterday and that's why I wasn't here at question time yesterday. Kia ora Mr Speaker.Hon Louise Upston: What is the Minister's definition on behalf of his Government of "meaningful work"?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: That's a good question. I thank the member for the question. One of the problems we've had is what is work? What is a job? Of course it's recognised as one hour but the whole nature of employment has changed and this Government is fixed on giving dignified work back to the people—dignified work not just throwing them a shovel. We want to throw them a strategy a future and possibilities in the future. So we're talking about dignified work not just any work.Hon Louise Upston: What is the Minister's definition of "dignified work"? Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Dignified work is not having a job on a week-by-week basis that's what dignified work is. Dignified work is about job security; about knowing you have a job three months down the track six months down the track. Dignified work is about investing in employers investing in communities and investing in regions that that previous Government forgot all about in the last nine years."
5. Human Rights Commission—Handling of Sexual Harassment AllegationsVIRGINIA ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of JusticeHuman Rights Commission—Handling of Sexual Harassment Allegations5. VIRGINIA ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of Justice: What announcement has he made regarding recent concerns about the handling of reported allegations of sexual harassment at the Human Rights Commission?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): Yesterday I announced a review of the Human Rights Commission's culture governance management practices policies and procedures for handling internal sexual harassment complaints under section 132 of the Crown Entities Act 2004. This review will be led by former Employment Court Judge Coral Shaw.Virginia Andersen: Why is it important to have an independent review of the Human Rights Commission regarding this matter?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Public confidence in the Human Rights Commission is paramount. As an organisation whose functions include promoting awareness about discrimination and harassment as well as advising on sexual harassment claims they must be an exemplar of best practice. Also a review under the Crown Entities Act respects the independence that the commission is afforded under legislation and under the Paris principles.Virginia Andersen: Why is it important that the Human Rights Commission is an exemplar of best practice when handling sexual harassment complaints?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: A function of the Human Rights Commission is handling sexual harassment complaints. However the standards of the commission should be the same as for any other employer in this country and that is that sexual harassment is not tolerated and complaints are managed fairly and appropriately.
4. Provincial Growth Fund—InitiativesJONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister for Regional Economic DevelopmentProvincial Growth Fund—Initiatives4. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: Does he believe that the Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund is going to make a difference in the Tairāwhiti region?Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development): Yes the Provincial Growth Fund will make a difference in the Tairāwhiti.Jonathan Young: Following the comment of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment at their annual review this morning that the present Government is continuing all of the previous Government's regional initiatives will he continue to support all the programmes around youth employment already started and notably the commitment of $450000 over three years to support the young people of the Gisborne-Tairāwhiti region to get their driver licence—noting the importance of a driver licence to perform many jobs and to get to and from work?SPEAKER: Can I just remind members as I have been this week that that contained an extra bit on the end that was not necessary for the sense of the question.Hon SHANE JONES: Obviously interventions that enable people to go to and from work in the Tairāwhiti region without being stopped by the police and charged for not having the right licence is something that I look forward to championing. But I'm sad that it does disproportionately affect our young Māori folk in that area and in that sense I look forward to working closely with Mr Jackson.Jonathan Young: Is the Government going to announce the first project to be funded under its regional development fund tomorrow; and if so will the Government publish the bidding and funding approval process for the Government's regional development fund before or after the announcement of the first project?Hon SHANE JONES: As a former MP of Gisborne Sir James Carroll was wont to say you'll have to tai ho.Jonathan Young: Following their meeting with Juken New Zealand yesterday is the Government planning to spend $20 million on a wood-processing plant in Gisborne what was Treasury's advice on the Gisborne wood-processing plant and has a cost-benefit analysis of this project been completed?SPEAKER: Any of the four questions.Hon SHANE JONES: I guess I have met with the CEO of Juken Nissho but the majority of my discussions with him related to the future of the Kaitāia Juken Nissho factory. In relation to any specific proposal located in Gisborne about the future of that firm's investments the member will just have to wait and see.Jonathan Young: Will he guarantee 100 million trees a year will get planted knowing that he is already 33.5 million trees behind and can he tell us how many neets" he plans to get off the couch or will he need Willie Jackson to help him with that answer?SPEAKER: Next question."
Tirikatene Rino; Rurawhe AdrianRINO TIRIKATENE (Labour—Te Tai Tonga): Thank you Mr Chair. I'm very pleased to take a call on the Customs and Excise Bill. We are considering the theme of powers and obligations. I wanted to actually just start my contribution by going back to real first principles and asking a real basic question around a key role within the bill—CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): I'm sorry to interrupt the member but the time has come for me to report progress.House resumed.Progress reported.Report adopted.The House adjourned at 5.56 p.m.
Huo RaymondRAYMOND HUO (Labour): Thank you Mr Chair. I thought I had broken the record by delivering the shortest speech in the House; it turned out to be not the case. It's a great pleasure to stand in support of this bill. The Customs and Excise Bill strikes a balance between border control and economic growth between border risks and the law enforcement and between the existing powers and privacy concerns.The Customs and Excise Act review has led to the establishment of a modern and fit for purpose legislation that supports economic growth by making it easier for traders to do business. Now we're not only talking about traders; we're talking about travellers international visitors and holidaymakers coming to New Zealand. So it is a great pleasure for us to learn from tourism Minister the Hon Kelvin Davis that international visitors' spending reached a record high of $10.6 billion in the year to December 2017.The latest International Visitors Survey result from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment released yesterday showed expenditure increased 5 percent compared with the year ended December 2016. Australia and China remain our biggest markets with Australians spending $2.6 billion and the Chinese spending $1.5 billion.The Customs and Excise Bill enables customs to deal with considerable growth in trade and travel and the security and other challenges this growth brings. This bill strikes a balance. Theme 2 covers powers and obligations. I can give two examples. The first one we can see is in clause 187 Cases requiring investigation for public health or law enforcement purposes". A person who has arrived into or is departing from New Zealand and is suspected or is liable for arrest or detention has contravened a court order or has contravened specific Acts may be directed to remain in a designated place for up to four hours for questioning. On the recommendation of the Regulations Review Committee the select committee removed the ability to extend the range of statutes covered by this power by Order in Council. The power in this clause can now only be extended by Parliament through statute. Another example we can see is clause 207 "Data in electronic devices that are subject to control of Customs". This clause restricts customs' power to search data in electronic devices in comparison to the current Act. It does this by setting out thresholds and other safeguards that are designed to protect privacy. In particular a two-threshold test would apply to the search of data in an electronic device by a customs officer.A test of reasonable cause to suspect relevant offending would be used for an initial search of a device. To carry out a full search namely a forensic search of a device the customs officer must have reasonable cause to believe that the device contains evidential material relating to relevant offending. If a threshold is met access to information such as passwords must be provided to a customs officer. It is an offence to fail to do so. So this bill—[Time expired]"
Rurawhe AdrianCUSTOMS AND EXCISE BILLIn CommitteeDebate resumed from 14 February.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): I would like to remind members that in accordance with a determination of the Business Committee we are debating the bill in four themes: information disclosure powers and obligations revenue and trade and mechanics and miscellaneous. When we were last considering the bill we were debating the powers and obligations theme. Raymond Huo had the call and he has four minutes and 55 seconds remaining.Powers and Obligations (continued)
McKelvie IanIAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei): I obviously don't need to say anything about the bill at all after that dissertation from Greg O'Connor. But I do have a couple of things to say which I find intriguing. The first was that I had the privilege to spend some time chairing the Primary Production Committee which put this bill through the onerous part of the business and got it back to the House. The second thing is I want to thank Mr O'Connor for mentioning the Rangitīkei-Ōtaki- originated business of Taylor Preston—two families from the Rangitīkei and Ōtaki—and interestingly the supplier C R Grace also out of the Rangitīkei. I also wanted to just make the comment that my colleague Brett Hudson spent quite some time touring round the very good business. The thing about that business of course is that it relies hugely on the outcomes of a bill like this to get it into place. I just want to say a couple of words about the history of the bill because clearly the previous Minister of Food Safety Jo Goodhew who introduced this bill went through quite a challenging time and actually the whole of the Government went through quite a challenging time at the time of the whey protein concentrate issue. Of course food contamination is absolutely the most important factor that affects New Zealand's ability to export to the world. So this bill is hugely important and while it might seem at times a little pedantic there's a very good reason for that. We need to make sure that all of our gaps are closed in the food processing chain and that we can guarantee the safety of whatever we send round the world. One of the other interesting things that came up in the course of this bill was the difficulty that it creates for small businesses in New Zealand and interestingly the current Minister was very vociferous on this. It's going to be very interesting to see how he gets on as he implements this bill and how they get on with dealing with those small businesses. So I think it's a good effort and it is a very difficult subject and I think the Parliament's done well to get this bill to this point. We've passed it through all phases and I'm pleased to see it finally get to its third reading tonight. So thank you. It's a good bill and I commend it to the House.
Walker HamishHAMISH WALKER (National—Clutha-Southland): I am delighted to rise to speak to this bill which the National Party supports. It's been an interesting six months since I entered Parliament. In my experience with the member of Parliament for West Coast - Tasman who happens to be the Minister responsible for this we've had a bit of trouble agreeing on certain things so it's great that we finally agree on something. In my experience with M. bovis and drought he's been a bit slippery like an eel—a bit like a slippery eel from the West Coast.Hon David Bennett: Yeah a little one too—throw it back I say.Kieran McAnulty: You're using Bennett's line.HAMISH WALKER: That's right.I believe food safety is one of our country's highest value-adds. Our reputation relies on it. Many countries around the world aren't as privileged as New Zealand to have such high food safety standards as we have. Consumers these days are demanding more and more information about where food comes from. We recognise that in a world that is demanding a sustainable strategy and return people want better food with a better line and traceability to source.The area I represent Clutha-Southland—I'd also like to acknowledge Mark Patterson who contributed a couple of speakers earlier and also acknowledge Mark's contribution to the National Party. I believe he was a chair in Clutha-Southland for a number of years.Hon Nathan Guy: When—when was that?HAMISH WALKER: Well you joined in 2004 Nathan. I think Mark joined a few years before that so I'd better acknowledge Mark's contribution to the National Party—appreciate it Mark.The Food Safety Law Reform Bill addresses the whey protein concentrate contamination inquiry recommendations that require legislation and reinforce New Zealand's reputation as a reliable supplier of food and suitable food. I'd also like to comment on the excellent work of the Primary Production Committee who all agreed to the bill with some amendments that were in turn supported by the previous Minister. It is a delight to support this bill and I thank Minister O'Connor for doing so.
van de Molen TimTIM VAN DE MOLEN (National—Waikato): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. It's a pleasure to rise and talk on this bill actually. We're at the point now where we're just about drawing a line under this botulism issue that's been hanging around for a wee while and it is nice to be at the point where we have progressed through and we've got a few appropriate changes in place to ensure that we don't see a similar issue arising in the future.This is a really important issue for our country. Most of us would be aware of the impact caused by the false botulism scare a number of years ago now and the impact something like that can have on New Zealand. We're a major exporting country. We're very much reliant on our primary sector. As we've already heard food and beverage exports account for 60 percent of our merchandise sold overseas. So that's a really critical part for us and we need to be making sure that we have the right processes in place and there were some valid points raised off the back of that scare.So strengthening our response to those food safety issues is absolutely critical and this bill does a good job in that regard so I'd like to commend the Hon Jo Goodhew for first bringing this forward and then the Hon Nathan Guy for continuing the work and finally now the new Minister the Hon Damien O'Connor for continuing and seeing it through to completion.This is as I mentioned really important and we've seen a little bit of focus on the primary sector at the moment which is great. We saw of course last week the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (No 2) going through this House as well and whilst we had some changes made there which again we did support there were some real concerns raised out of that in terms of the breadth of the review that is now in scope for the Government—DEPUTY SPEAKER: This is a third reading; it's quite focused on this bill.TIM VAN DE MOLEN: Yes thank you Madam Deputy Speaker; you're quite correct. So with that like this bill there is a lot of need to remain clear on where we're going and we certainly didn't see that with what was being proposed in the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act review. But in this instance we've got a much clearer message around where the industry can target its communications going forward.So on that as well we need to make sure that we're having a strong focus on biosecurity on traceability—those food safety aspects all of which are really critical to New Zealand as an export nation focused around the food production sector. We employ over 79000 people in this sector domestically so it is hugely critical for all of them to have confidence in their jobs and their industries as well.So look I won't labour the point but the Food Safety Law Reform Bill has the appropriate changes as needed and I commend it to the House.DEPUTY SPEAKER: OK the next call is a split call—five minutes each.
Dyson Ruth; Macindoe TimHon RUTH DYSON (Senior Whip—Labour): I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I think that you did hear the most recent contribution from the member—criticism of the Speaker; Standing Orders 17/6 and probably the whole of page 18. I'd like you to require the member to withdraw and apologise.Hon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): I seek leave to table a tweet from the Hon Ruth Dyson in which she criticised the previous Speaker. I would suggest to you that what goes around comes around.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): I will ask that we just take a moment. I'm just going to check with the Clerk. [Pause in proceedings] Just on the matter that the Hon Ruth Dyson raised unfortunately the member that you had an issue with is not in the Chamber at the moment. At this point I think just to restore order I will speak with the Hon Ruth Dyson as to the matter at hand. But for this particular matter we will continue with the debate.Hon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Could I ask you to rule on the point of order that I raised which actually was seeking leave to table the tweet from the senior Government whip when she was in the previous Parliament.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): OK. Leave is sought for that action to be taken. Is there any objection to that? There is.
Williams PotoFOOD SAFETY LAW REFORM BILLThird ReadingDebate resumed from 20 February.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): Before I call the honourable Minister I just want to remind the House that the last time we were debating this the Minister had nine minutes and 30 seconds remaining to speak and if the Minister would look to me for guidance for the countdown of time it will not be the same as what is displaying on the time clock.
Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
Lee DeniseDENISE LEE (National—Maungakiekie): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I'm taking a call on this bill here this afternoon. I'm happy to take a call on the second reading—my first opportunity to do so since becoming an MP. I have picked up on a linkage between the three select committees that this bill has been through. There has been as the previous speaker Marja Lubeck has noted the Regulations Review Committee then it was the Education and Science Committee that took it and now of course we're the Education and Workforce Committee and I acknowledge those here this afternoon who are on that Education and Workforce Committee with me.I wanted to pick up quickly on one aspect. The former Regulations Review Committee in the former term had expressed concern that the bill would provide for disciplinary action against international students governed solely by the code of practice. I guess the concern was that that code of practice was designed to primarily protect domestic students' access to schools. But of course what we've discovered in our committee is that the code of practice has been specifically designed to protect international students' well-being and rights.In our committee we asked the ministry a series of questions. There's been a theme here this afternoon around student misconduct and the way that the bill helps to address issues in that regard. We asked the ministry to provide information about complaints involving younger international students and their guardians. What came from that particular query of ours to the ministry is that the code of practice and the international student contract disputes resolution scheme the DRS which took effect back last 1 July 2016 is something that is fulsome and can address the concerns of that original Regulations Review Committee. So I just wanted to highlight the fact that we as a committee have been very happy and very much able to support this bill. We on this side of the House do so as well and we look forward to its passage through this Parliament. Thank you.