Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRobertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 05 March 2014. Volume:696;Page:16332. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]9.GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to theMinister of Justice: On what date did she receive an invitation to visit the Shanghai office of Oravida Ltd during her Ministerial visit to China in October 2013 and what actions did she take to ensure this visit met her obligations under the Cabinet Manual?Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Justice): I received a letter of invitation from Oravida Ltd by email on 9 October 2013. The letter states that Oravida “specialises in the promotion and distribution of premium food products from New Zealand”. The letter notes that they “are passionate about improving and enhancing New Zealand’s primary food sector”. I accepted the invitation provided that it could be worked into a schedule of a planned visit to China at the invitation of the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China. Consent from the Prime Minister for travel to China pursuant to theCabinet Manual was obtained in August 2013. I had previously told Oravida that it could not use my name or photograph to endorse or promote its business products or services so I did not take any further steps in respect of that.Grant Robertson: Given the first part of that answer that she got the invitation on 9 October why was there no mention in her media release of 16 October or any other publicity prior to travelling to China of her intended visit to Oravida?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The media release is about the major parts of the visit. I was visiting at the invitation of the Ministry of Justice in China and so most of my visits were with that ministry and its organisations.Grant Robertson: Does she consider that using taxpayer funding to visit and promote a company where her husband is the director may lead to accusations of conflict of interest?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member’s premise is quite incorrect.Grant Robertson: Is her husband a director of Oravida Ltd?Mr SPEAKER: Well in so far as there is ministerial responsibility—Hon JUDITH COLLINS: There is no ministerial responsibility but I would say to that member that if he goes on to the Companies Office website he can find the information out himself.Grant Robertson: I seek leave of the House to table information from the Companies Office website that indicates that the Hon Judith Collins—Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that information. Is there any objection? There is objection.Grant Robertson: When she agreed to visit Oravida did she or her office inform Oravida of her obligations under section 2.87 and 2.89 of theCabinet Manual to not endorse products or use any photos in a way that could be perceived as an endorsement by the Minister of its products?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I have already answered that in my answer to the primary question.Grant Robertson: Does she think that Oravida placing on its website two photos of her visit and a description of her “endorsement” of its products constitutes a perception that she might be endorsing it?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: That question is absolutely hypothetical because if the member goes to the English version which I have seen—and unlike the member I am obviously not fluent in Chinese—I would say that Oravida did not say that at all.Grant Robertson: Point of order—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I cannot assist the member with a point of order when there is so much noise coming from members.Grant Robertson: I seek leave of the House to table an English translation of the Chinese text on the website that includes the phrase “endorsement”.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table the English translation. Is there any objection? There is objection.Grant Robertson: Did Oravida Ltd have any involvement in the Minister’s trip to China just 1 month after her visit to the Oravida office where she addressed the APEC women’s leadership forum given that Oravida was a platinum sponsor of that event?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I am trying to work out what the member is trying to say and ask—[Interruption] Well I am trying to work out what the question is. Would he like to have another go—in English this time?Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am going to deal with the point of order first.Grant Robertson: There was absolutely nothing about—Mr SPEAKER: The best way forward is for the member to repeat that question.Grant Robertson: Did Oravida Ltd have any involvement in the Minister’s trip to China just 1 month after her visit to the Oravida office where she addressed the APEC women’s leadership forum given that Oravida was a platinum sponsor of that event?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Certainly not.Rt Hon John Key: Is the Minister aware of whether the Cabinet Office has provided any advice on whether the Minister’s visit to Oravida’s premises in China is in any way a breach of theCabinet Manual?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Yes the Cabinet Office I understand has advised the Prime Minister that my visit in no way contravened theCabinet Manual.Grant Robertson: Does the Minister think that visiting a company where her husband is the director endorsing the product opening its office in Auckland and given that it donated $55000 to the National Party might create in the minds of New Zealanders a perception of conflict of interest?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Again a hypothetical question and secondly I am just wondering whether or not I should have taken a trustee with me and got them to drink the milk instead.Grant Robertson: In light of that answer I seek leave of the House to table the record of donations that shows that $55000—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! That will be information that is publicly available.