Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:618;Page:14459] 
1. DAVID PARKER (Labour—Otago) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: Has he received any reports on proposals for future reforms of local government? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 In my capacity as Minister of Local Government yes I have seen reports that the leadership of the National Party is seriously considering proposals to abolish regional councils. Dr Brash has said that this is an issue that needed looking at. National’s environment spokesperson Dr Nick Smith has gone further being reported as implying that regional councils will be abolished. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I seek the leave of the House to make a personal explanation. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to make a personal explanation in relation to? 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: The allegations made by Mr Chris Carter. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There is. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I seek the leave of the House to table—so there will be clarity about National’s position on local government—the speech delivered by the leader of the National Party yesterday at the lLocal gGovernment conference. 
Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave has been sought perfectly properly. Is there any objection? There is not. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This raises the interesting question of what remedies the Opposition has when a Minister stands and makes such outrageous claims as those just made by Mr Carter. Although you might like to say they are debatable points and we have to put up with it the fact is that if we want to ask a question we have to verify the material that is relevant to the question. In this case I understand that the Minister wanted to give an answer but he must also look to the Standing Orders which are effectively when giving an answer a mirror of those required of the questioner. Surely the Minister should have to verify the comments he is making. They were not of a generally political nature. They were explicit comments relating to what he called “National Party policy”. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I just want to say to the member that if the member wishes to deny the Minister’s assertion his word will be accepted. That can be done on a point—[ 
Interruption 
] That is the last time. I tell the member not to interject while I am speaking. The member will control himself. It can be done on a point of order. It does not need a personal statement. It can be done on a point of order. That is the Standing Order and those are the rules of this House. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I make claim that the assertion by the Minister of Local Government is totally untrue and I challenge him to provide any verification that I have ever said the words he said. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member’s word about his own statement must be accepted. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I seek leave to table a report from the  
New Zealand Herald 
 that explores fully Dr Smith’s comments on this area regarding regional councils. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that article. Is there any objection? There is not but I point out that the member’s word will be accepted. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I draw your attention to Speaker’s ruling 131/3 which states: “The Government can answer only for its own intentions and has no responsibility for the Opposition.” Can you please guide us on why that was permitted in response to that question in the context of that Speaker’s ruling? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Because the question asked whether he had he received any reports and he said he had. 
David Parker 
: What are the essential roles of regional councils? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Regional councils have key responsibilities for catchment management civil defence regional transport planning and pest control. Only those who care little for the environment would want to see them abolished. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: What reforms will the Minister be making to the Local Government Act 2002—proudly claimed by him at the lLocal gGovernment conference yesterday to be the “Carter Act”—in respect of the specific provisions requiring consultation with Maori after the speech yesterday by Trevor Mallard Coordinating Minister Race Relations in which he said: “We are all indigenous now.”? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Just as National identified Maori as having a special role in the Resource Management Act when it passed that legislation in 1991 the Local Government Act requires local authorities to have processes in place to consult Maori and consider ways to foster Maori capacity to participate in council decision-making processes. I think that is very appropriate. 
Murray Smith 
: Does the Minister support the proposal contained in my draft member’s bill which would close the loophole in the Local Government Act that enables local authorities to appoint ward committees to take the place of elected community boards? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I believe that the member’s proposal does have merit. I am getting my officials to look at it. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Will the Minister take responsibility for the 10.4 percent increase in rates during the first full year of the Local Government Act—the highest in 10 years and four times the consumer price index increase for the same period—or does he think this huge increase in rates simply has to be accepted by the families and businesses that foot the bill for his politically correct legislation? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Local councils are responsible for setting the rates not central government. It is their responsibility. I do not accept responsibility because it is not mine to accept.