Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:641;Page:11653] 
5.  
Hon BRIAN DONNELLY (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: Is he satisfied with the quality of evidence gathering analysis of the issues and conclusions drawn by the inquiry led by David Shand into local government rates and does he believe the report adequately meets the terms of reference for the inquiry? 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 The report—which I should acknowledge owes much to New Zealand First’s constructive engagement particularly during the development of the terms of reference—is an extensive and significant piece of work was completed in the required time frame. An across-Government work programme to respond to the report’s recommendations is now under way. As to the member’s second question I believe that the panel sought in its report to address comprehensively the terms of reference. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Will the Minister confirm that this inquiry was initially called for by New Zealand First that it was vigorously resisted by him and this Government and that it was only when New Zealand First steadfastly held to its position in relation to the need for an independent inquiry that the Government finally relented the night before Rodney Hide’s bill went to the vote? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I can happily confirm the first part of the member’s question—that this inquiry was actively promoted by New Zealand First. As to the second part I can confirm that this Government was convinced by the vigour of and the compelling arguments brought forward by New Zealand First to reach a conclusion to proceed with such an inquiry. 
Martin Gallagher 
: With reference to the report does the Government already have under way any work that potentially addresses any of the report’s very significant recommendations? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Yes indeed. The Government has increased spending on the Rates Rebate Scheme by almost $50 million and I have officials already reviewing a number of matters that have arisen as a result of the greater uptake of the scheme. Other allocations are $154 million over 10 years for drinking-water schemes $150 million over 10 years for the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme and $1.3 billion over 5 years for new transport funding and a significant proportion of that will of course go on local projects. There are many many more examples. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Have he or his staff been briefed on the details of the confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First and in particular the part that states: “The relationship between New Zealand First and the government will be based on good faith and no surprises.” and does he believe that his failure to provide a timely pre - public release briefing to New Zealand First his failure to inform New Zealand First of the press conference until the day it was to take place the failure of his staff to send a copy of the report although they had promised to do so and his complete exclusion of any reference to New Zealand First’s role in securing the inquiry demonstrate acting in good faith with no surprises? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As the— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No be seated. We are in danger of having to hear the answer in silence. 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I can only say to the member that the— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Kia orana! 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Kia ora! The one thing I cannot take responsibility for is the weather which caused his plane to be cancelled; otherwise he would have got to the briefing which had been set up as the member well knows to occur prior to that. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Would the Minister consider taking lessons in how to treat confidence and supply partners from his fellow Minister Pete Hodgson who in stark contrast to the Minister’s own actions gave credit where credit was due at the recent announcement of free doctors’ visits for under-sixes including ensuring that my colleague Barbara Stewart was at the official photo opportunity keeping her fully informed and giving appropriate credit to New Zealand First in his press release; if not why not? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I am always happy to learn from the experience of my colleagues. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Does the Minister understand what the terms “good faith” and “no surprises” mean and if his poor judgment in this matter jeopardises the otherwise constructive relationship between New Zealand First and the Government would he do the honourable thing and resign; if not why not? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: If I could take responsibility for the weather I would but I cannot. The member knows that good faith is a two-way street and the briefing that had been set up could not be completed because the member could not get there. The plane he was booked on did not take off. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Will the Minister confirm that after cancelling three briefings his office offered one the night before the so-called press release the public release of this document which he had not informed his New Zealand First counterpart was even going to occur and that as a result of his office not allowing for that briefing until the day before and not providing advice to the New Zealand First office until only an hour before the press conference New Zealand First had to go into the whole thing without actually ever seeing the document? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: At this point we part company. I cannot confirm all of those assertions. The briefing that was set up was confirmed as soon as it was able to be which was when we had final confirmation of the availability of the chair of the panel who had been overseas. It was important that we had him back in the country before we finally nailed down the release of the document. Secondly the important thing is that it was simply the release of the document. It was not a response to it; it was a simple release. The primary job of the day was having the chair of the committee back in New Zealand to ensure that he could front the release of his committee’s document which was what that occasion was about. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: I seek leave to table an email from the Minister’s office to my office sent at 10.12 a.m. on 28 August advising that a media conference on the report would be held at 11.30— 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: It is becoming very difficult to hear with all the chat. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I seek leave for there to be an immediate vote in order to test the House’s confidence in the Government. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: I seek leave to table for the Minister’s benefit a copy of the confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First— 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.