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SpeechPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: A petition has been delivered to the Clerk for presentation.CLERK: Petition of Kathryn McGarvey requesting that the House urge the Government to grant an Entrepreneur Residence Visa. SPEAKER: That petition stands referred to the Petitions Committee. Ministers have delivered papers.CLERK: Parliamentary paper on a proposed policy change to the Fair Pay Agreements BillDirection to support a whole-of-Government approach given by the Minister for the Public Service and the Minister of Finance under section 107 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.SPEAKER: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. Select committee reports have been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Report of the Officers of Parliament Committee on the alterations to the 2021-22 appropriations for Vote Audit Vote Ombudsmen and Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and the 2022-23 draft budgets for the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environmentreports of the Petitions Committee on the petitions of James Meharg Jay Shack and Piolito Arireport of the Regulations Review Committee on the Examination of COVID-19 Orders presented between 8 March and 15 March 2022.SPEAKER: The reports of the Officers of Parliament and the Regulations Review Committee are set down for consideration. The Clerk has been informed of the introduction of a bill.CLERK: Road User Charges (Temporary RUC Reduction Scheme) Amendment Bill introduction.SPEAKER: That bill is set down for first reading.
Obituary — Sir Robert McDowall (Robin) Gray
SpeechOBITUARIESSir Robert McDowall (Robin) GraySPEAKER: Members I regret to inform the House of the death on 2 April 2022 of the Hon Sir Robert McDowall (Robin) Gray who represented the electorate of Clutha from 1978 to 1996. Sir Robin was the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1990 to 1993. He was also a Minister of State and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs. I desire on behalf of this House to express our sense of the loss we have sustained and our sympathy with the relatives of the late former member. I now ask members to stand with me and observe a period of silence as a mark of respect to his memory.Members stood as a mark of respect.
Salesa JennyTUESDAY 5 APRIL 2022The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSHon JENNY SALESA (Assistant Speaker): Ke tau lotu. 'E 'Otua Māfimafi kuo mau taa'i mālie 'i ho'o 'ofá mo e ngaahi tāpuaki hono kotoa. 'Oku tuku homau lotó ka mau hū atu ke malu'i ange mu'a 'a e Kuiní mo tataki ange 'emau fua fatongia 'i he Fale Aleá 'aki 'a e poto Faka-e-'Otua 'ofa pea mo e 'ulungaanga malū ko e 'uhí ko e mo'ui mo e melino 'a e fonuá. 'Oku mau kole atu 'a e ngaahi me'á ni hono kotoa 'i he huafa ho 'aló pē 'e taha ko Sīsū Kalaisi ka ko homau fakamo'uí 'Emeni.
4. Question No. 4—Energy and ResourcesGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesQuestion No. 4—Energy and Resources4. GLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: What is the Government doing to enable development of offshore renewable energy in New Zealand?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Energy and Resources): In November last year I announced the Government would commence work on the regulatory settings needed to enable the development of offshore wind generation in New Zealand. The Government recognises New Zealand's significant potential for offshore wind generation presents an exciting opportunity to support our transition to net zero carbon by 2050 stimulate regional economic activity create jobs and provide renewable electricity. We will be working with stakeholders including iwi Transpower the New Zealand Wind Energy Association Government agencies environmental advocacy groups and others on the settings to enable offshore wind generation. The work is already providing certainty to investors with a number of major future investments in offshore wind on the horizon.Glen Bennett: What response has she seen to the work the Government is doing to enable offshore wind development?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: In the last few months we've seen interest from a number of potential independent generation partners looking to invest in offshore wind generation. Yesterday the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners announced feasibility work into a massive wind energy development offshore in the South Taranaki Bight. The project is initially planned to deliver 1 gigawatt of electricity 11 percent of New Zealand's current electricity demand and could power over 650000 homes. The project would see an estimated $5 billion pumped into the New Zealand economy including in Taranaki stimulating regional economic activity and creating jobs. It's an example of the kind of exciting 21st century energy projects that will help us decarbonise our energy system.Glen Bennett: What will be the role of iwi in the development of offshore wind in Aotearoa?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: It is crucial that Māori interests and rights are incorporated and therefore any regulatory tools or frameworks will need to be worked through in a meaningful partnership with iwi Māori. I've already met with iwi leaders in Taranaki who have shared their views on how we can work together on a fair and equitable transition away from fossil fuels in Taranaki. Iwi leaders have shown strong interest in new energy projects and the potential of offshore wind. Our engagement will continue while we work to understand the significant benefits of offshore wind.
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): Statistics New Zealand reported earlier this month the GDP rebounded by a solid 3 percent in the December 2021 quarter. On an annual basis the economy grew 5.6 percent and was 3.5 percent higher than the pre-pandemic December 2019 quarter. The New Zealand economy finished 2021 in good shape overall and shows that the actions of hard-working New Zealanders are making sure that we respond to the pandemic well. The support from the wage subsidy scheme and the resurgence support payment help cushion the impacts of Delta and allow businesses to bounce back quickly. Unemployment is at a record low and we're in a strong fiscal position with debt levels well below those of countries we compare ourselves with.Dr Duncan Webb: How widespread was the growth in the December quarter?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The expansion was broad-based. The services industries which make up two-thirds of our economy rose 2.5 percent with strong gains in retail accommodation and restaurants. And with the opening up of the borders the future is bright for those in those sectors. The goods-producing sector also performed strongly with manufacturing up 6.5 percent and construction up 8.7 percent. In contrast primary industries during this period did see a fall of 2.2 percent as inclement weather affected growing conditions. We know that some sectors and regions and businesses have been doing it tough. We're continuing to support those who have been affected the most and as our borders open to workers and tourists that will help accelerate our recovery and build on New Zealanders' successful response to COVID-19.Dr Duncan Webb: What other reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well the ANZ New Zealand Business Outlook for March was released today and it shows that business confidence has recovered by 10 points while firms' own confidence in their activity rose five points. Activity indicators generally including hiring and investment intentions also lifted slightly. ANZ said that the improvement was likely due to waning fears about the impact of the Omicron outbreak although everyone acknowledges the confidence does remain low against historical trends. We recognise that challenges remain as businesses deal with inflation pressures due to global factors including Russia's invasion of Ukraine which has driven up oil prices and the ongoing impact of the pandemic on supply chains. While economic growth is forecast to slow this year the resilience of the New Zealand economy and our strong fiscal position means we're in good shape to be able to support New Zealanders to deal with these challenges.
Tuesday 29 March 2022 - Volume 758
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That this House approve the following orders made under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020: COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework and Other Matters) Amendment Order 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework and Other Matters) Amendment Order 2022 Amendment Order 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order (No 2) 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine and Maritime Border) Amendment Order 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine) Amendment Order 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Self-Isolation Requirements and Permitted Work) Order 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order 2021 Amendment Order 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine and Other Matters) Amendment Order 2021 Amendment Order 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Amendment Order 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine) Amendment Order (No 2) 2022 and COVID-19 Public Health Response (Testing for COVID-19) Order 2022.Ayes 110New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 10ACT New Zealand 10.Motion as amended agreed to.Orders approved.
Motions — COVID-19 Orders—Approval
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Te Pire mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki/Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill be now read a second 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 second time.
Te Pire mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki / Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill — Second Reading
Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021-22 GST and Remedial Matters) Bill — Third Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021-22 GST and Remedial Matters) Bill be now read a third time.Ayes 67New Zealand Labour 65; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Abstentions 10Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill read a third time.
1. Question No. 1—Economic Development Science and Innovation CommitteeMELISSA LEE (National) to the Chairperson of the Economic Development Science and Innovation CommitteeQUESTIONS TO MEMBERSQuestion No. 1—Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee1. MELISSA LEE (National) to the Chairperson of the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee: When will the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee report its findings on the Inquiry into the Review of the Radio New Zealand Charter to the House?JAMIE STRANGE (Chairperson of the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee) (remote): The reporting of said findings is a matter for the committee.Melissa Lee: Has the chair received any directives to postpone or delay the inquiry into the review of the Radio New Zealand charter's final report to the House?SPEAKER: Order! That's not a matter for which the chair is responsible.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order Mr Speaker. The question asks specifically about whether the chair had received—SPEAKER: Yes and the only things that the chair can report on to this House are matters of the decisions of the committee; nothing else. The member knows that—I think the member knows that—and if he doesn't he should have and if he did he's being disorderly.
10. Question No. 10—Emergency ManagementANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) (remote) to the Minister for Emergency ManagementQuestion No. 10—Emergency Management10. ANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) (remote) to the Minister for Emergency Management: How has the Government responded to the Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay floods? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister for Emergency Management): On 24 March I announced that the Government would provide $175000 to the Gisborne District Council for a Tai Rāwhiti mayoral relief fund to support a community that has had to deal with five significant weather events in the past year alongside COVID. On 25 March my colleague the Hon Damien O'Connor declared a medium-scale adverse event for the flood damage across the Tai Rāwhiti district and Hawke's Bay region unlocking $150000 of Government support for farmers and growers as part of the clean-up. The Ministry of Social Development has activated civil defence payments to those needing immediate support and New Zealand Defence Force personnel were deployed to the region and distributed food water and medical supplies. Anna Lorck: What further support is being considered? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: In addition the New Zealand Defence Force has deployed a reconnaissance crew that was deployed on Monday to determine what further assistance the region requires including particularly roading requirements and support. A report detailing these requirements is expected to be provided to the National Emergency Management Agency and the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group within the next couple of days. In addition Waka Kotahi and its roading contractors have been working tirelessly to clean up the debris across the State highway network and to safely restore lifelines in and out of the region. Anna Lorck: What roles have the local community and volunteers played in the response? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: Alongside the Prime Minister this week I have witnessed firsthand the many volunteers and communities reaching out to support Te Tai Rāwhiti and the Hawke's Bay communities impacted by the weather events. These communities often hailed as resilient are tired and they have been operating in isolated areas but nevertheless they have rallied together to support each other. I want to acknowledge the Tai Rāwhiti civil defence emergency management groups in particular that have enabled the communities to stay well connected and I also acknowledge the role of Ngāti Porou and the hapū leads that have rounded around to support the communities. I commend the efforts of all of those that have been engaged and continue to be engaged in the current state of emergency that is occurring in the region now.
7. Question No. 7—TransportGREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 7—Transport7. GREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of Transport: What recent steps has the Government taken to support New Zealanders through the current global energy shock and associated transport costs?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): In March we announced moves to reduce the costs of fuel by lowering fuel excise duty and road-user charges in response to the global energy shock following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We also announced half-price fares for public transport to encourage commuters to consider changes to the way that they travel at a lower cost. Changes to the fuel excise duty were immediate and I've now confirmed that road-user charges will be cut by 36 percent across all legislated rates coming into effect in late April. The scope for public transport services has been confirmed and will include key additional services such as the Capital Connection; Te Huia; and the Total Mobility services that are so important to our disability communities. These changes ensure that it will make a meaningful difference to more New Zealanders and provide more options for them to move around our towns cities and regions.Greg O'Connor: Why is it important that these key additional services were included?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: In addition to the inclusion of bus and train services across the country the inclusion of services such as the Capital Connection Te Huia and Total Mobility recognise the range of different transport modes and the needs of commuters especially those who have particular needs and travel between regions—and I note in particular the advocacy we've received for support for the Total Mobility services for our disability community and we're very pleased to support that. By reducing the cost barrier for these services we're providing more options for commuters to get around which helps us to reduce carbon emissions. It reduces the cost for those commuters and gives people more choices.Greg O'Connor: Why was it important for the Government to move quickly in making these changes?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The global energy shock brought on by the invasion of Ukraine had a particularly acute and rapid effect on the cost of fuel worldwide and New Zealand was no exception. We recognise that the flow-on effects at the pump were having a real impact for Kiwi families and by moving quickly and decisively we've been able to mitigate those impacts and reduce the cost barrier for the users of public transport services as well.
SpeechGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth): Kia ora Madam Speaker. Thank you for letting me as others have said finally take a call on the third reading of the Commerce Amendment Bill. As a member of the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee we have been busy but probably not as busy as our Minister actually and I would acknowledge the Hon David Clark our Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. I mean this is another bill yet again tonight that you are you know pushing through the House at great speed and doing a lot of work. So we acknowledge you Minister for your hard mahi ensuring that New Zealand is a fairer place ensuring that we are set up.Obviously as has been said we are a very small nation. I often talk to people about us very much being a large narrow spread-out city of 5 million people. And because of our remoteness because of the way we live and operate down here in our remote economy we can be susceptible to the concentration of market powers. So it's important for us as a small nation to have effective protections against firms with substantial market powers who may be able to engage in anti-competitive conduct. So this piece of legislation very much is around protecting consumers. But I think as actually my colleague Naisi Chen said and as the chair of our select committee Jamie Strange said competition breeds innovation. I really think that's true and this piece of legislation hopefully helps with that innovation. Because competition between firms can be intense it can also lead to some losing out. But in all of that it delivers better products it delivers better innovation and it often delivers lower prices for our consumers. This competition law that we talk about is not about protecting individual businesses as such but it's about protecting competition as a whole. For us here in the bottom of the world protecting competition is important to us and that's why we've worked hard with our colleagues across the floor to get this piece of legislation to where it is today and to pass it tonight.Competition law very much aims at promoting and at protecting the competitive process. Again it's not about individual competitors. It's about protecting the process. So tonight I want to again come back and thank a few people: the advisers and the officials who steered us who supported us who answered all of our curly questions; our select committee and as I've felt we've worked really well together to get to this place tonight our competent and on to it chairperson Jamie Strange. Thank you for holding us together and bringing us along the way. I also want to acknowledge the Hon Kris Faafoi who was in this role in a previous Government and began this process and again acknowledge the Hon David Clark for bringing good legislation to this House—good legislation that works for competition in New Zealand that works for innovation and that works to ensure that those of us consumers get a fair deal and a fair go. I commend this bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The Hon David Bennett—a five-minute call.
Menéndez March RicardoRICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) (remote): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker. I have lost count of how many sitting nights I've been waiting to give my speech on this bill and so it's a great pleasure to be able to give a brief contribution noting that previous speakers have done a very lengthy and thorough running of what the bill actually contains. From a Green Party perspective we really do want to encourage an Aotearoa where competition is fair. And echoing the sentiments from our previous speaker regarding unfair competition particularly in a duopoly of supermarkets I think this bill is really timely so that the Commerce Commission feels far more empowered—particularly with the delay of this bill coming into effect having the Commerce Commission empowered to give proper advice to people in the market or who wish to enter the market is deeply deeply important.My thanks also goes to the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee to the people who have provided submissions on this bill particularly those who have given feedback around intellectual property (IP) laws as well as the people who have contributed to feedback on protecting Māori IP laws. We hope that this bill has some effect in ensuring fair competition in Aotearoa. I look forward to this bill coming into effect.
Natural Hazards Insurance Bill — First Reading
SpeechBill to be reported without amendment.House resumed.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The committee has considered Te Pire mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki/Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill and reports it without amendment. I move That the report be adopted.Motion agreed to.Report adopted.
SpeechCHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is That clause 2 stand part. All those in favour say Aye—Simon Court: Mr Chair point of order. Is this a debatable motion?CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): It is.Simon Court: I would like—CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Hang on. I call Simon Court.SIMON COURT (ACT): Thank you Mr Chair. In terms of commencement clause 2 we have a major problem with the New Zealand economy and our social conditions right now. There are enormous costs being imposed on business which is struggling to get staff—CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Order! Order! I have put the question. As I put the question that clause 1 as amended stand part that effectively ends the debate. So I apologise to the speaker that I gave the call to but that ends that debate. So I now—Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order. Given that the debate will be short I seek leave that a debate be held on clause 2.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Leave has been sought that a debate be held on clause 2. Leave's not been granted.
SpeechNgā Āpitihanga 1 me 2 / Clauses 1 and 2CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Members we now come to our final debate clauses 1 and 2. This is the debate on clauses 1 and 2 Title" and "Commencement"."
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Junior Whip—Labour): I move That the question be now put.
Tuiono TeanauTEANAU TUIONO (Green) (remote): Tēnā koe e te Tiamana me mihi Saturnalia Subaru hoki ki Te Komiti i tēnei pō.E pēnei ana taku nei pātai ki Te Minita i te mea i a au e rongo ana i ngā kōrero mō te taha o te pakihi. Ki te whakaaro o Te Minita he aha ngā painga he aha ngā oranga mō ngā tāpoi pakihi ki roto i ngā rohe ki roto i ngā takiwā i te mea kei te whakaaro ake au i a ia e kōrero ana mō te rerekē o ngā tikanga Puanga ki ō tātou nei whānau ki Taranaki Puaka ki te Wai Pounamu Rehua ki te Nōta Matariki whānui. Nā runga i tērā ka pēhea tērā āhua e hāpai ana ngā pakihi e hāpai ngā tāpoi pakihi ki roto i ngā takiwā?[Greetings Mr Chair. I should offer my Subaru and Saturnalian greetings to the committee tonight.This is my question to the Minister after listening to the accounts regarding businesses: what does the Minister think are the gains and benefits for the tourism businesses in the districts and the regions? Because I was thinking as I was listening to her talk about the varied protocols Rigel for our family in Taranaki Rigel in the South Island Antares in the North and Matariki more widespread. With that in mind how will the nature of that support businesses and support tourist businesses in the regions?]
SpeechHon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage): Tēnā koe e te Tiamana tēnā koe e te mema mō tērā atu pātai. Heoi anō ko te mahi o te komiti ki te tono ki ngā tāngata katoa ki ngā pakihi ki te homai ngā tono o ētahi rā he aha te taumahatanga i runga a koutou. Heoi anō korekau ngā pakihi kua haramai ki te komiti ki te kī ētahi kupu o tō tono ki a mātou kei roto i te Whare nei kāore rātou e kī kei roto i ngā ripoata mai i ētahi Departments ko te Hīkina Whakatutuki. Kāore a rātou i kī ana tēra hoki. Heoi anō e pai te āhua e pai te rangi o te pātai. Heoi anō kāore a mātou e tono ki te komiti he tino taumaha tēnei taumahatanga i runga i a mātou.Heoi anō ko wai ka haramai ko ngā pakihi o te tāpoi ki te āwhina tēnei pire. He aha ai? Kei a rātou ngā pakihi tāpoi he whakaaro rangatira tēnei mō te pakihi mō ngā pakihi tāpoi. Kei a rātou he whakaaro he wīkene roa he pai rawa atu ki ngā pakihi tāpoi kua neke atu ngā tāngata maha mai i tēnei wāhi ki tērā atu wāhi. Koinā te kī o taku hoa ko te Minita Stuart Nash kei korā. Ko tēnei te tono mai a rātou ngā pakihi tāpoi homai tēnei wīkene roa. Kei te āwhina ki a mātou tēnei kaupapa o te tāpoi kei roto i a Aotearoa.Heoi ki tēnei taha he whakaaro pai ki te mātauranga heoi ki tēnei taha ki te āwhina ngā pakihi. Koinā te tono ki a mātou āwhina mai i tēnei wā rerekē te wā mai i te mate urutā heoi anō ka puta mai āwhina ki a mātou ā he wīkene roa he whakaaro pai ki a rātou.[Thank you Mr Chair and thank you to the member for that question. Well the work of the committee was to ask everyone the businesses to give us their opinions on a proposed date and what are difficulties involved for you. However no businesses came forward to the committee to say a single word about your request to us in the House nor were they spoken about in the reports from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. They didn't mention them either. However the gist of the question is good. However we did not report to the committee that there was a heavy burden on us.But who did come along were the tourist businesses to support this bill. Why? According to the tourism businesses this was a great idea for business for the tourism business. They thought that a long weekend was a really good idea for the tourism businesses as many people would move from one place to another. That's what my friend Minister Stuart Nash over there said. This was the request from them from the tourism businesses Give us this long weekend. This initiative will help tourism in New Zealand."So on one side it is a good idea with regards to Māori knowledge; on the other side it will help businesses. That was the request to us help in these strange times of the pandemic give us some help and we think a long weekend is a good idea.]"
Bayly AndrewANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato): First of all I just acknowledge the Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage for responding to that. I'm glad that she spoke about the issue of cost. So she was saying there the cost is up to about $450 million per annum for holding this holiday which is now specified as being on Fridays. I can accept the proposition that Matariki's very important and as a party we all agree that Matariki should be celebrated in New Zealand. But the issue with the cost is where does the cost lie? The Government seems very generous in terms of wanting to impose that cost burden on small business owners and that is who's going to have to pay the check—who is ultimately going to have to write out the check for the $450 million. And so my issue—and this is the biggest issue that National has with this bill—is that if it was the Government paying and the Government wants be generous that's fine—and I see the Hon Stuart Nash sitting there as economic development Minister—Hon Stuart Nash: I'm also the Minister of Tourism.ANDREW BAYLY: And tourism. If the Government wants to fund tourism activities it should do so directly. What it's doing is requiring business owners to write a cheque out of their business account to pay for a public holiday. So the issue still remains: $450 million is a substantial amount that small business owners have to incur because the Government chooses to make an additional public holiday as opposed to saying Look we will keep the number of public holidays at 11 not extend it to 12." That is the central issue.It's all very well for Government to be generous spending other people's money but this is just another case—and when you line this up with the estimated $2.8 billion of additional costs that the Labour Government has imposed on small business over the last 4½ years this is just yet another cost. The assumption of course is that small business owners are good for it. The mums and dads who own those businesses are good for it. They're always rich; that's the assumption. So again the question is: why is it appropriate that the Government is so generous with the chequebooks of mums and dads that own all our 500000-odd small businesses and employ most New Zealanders—hard-working New Zealanders working every day to try and grow their businesses and support the New Zealand economy."
Bayly AndrewWāhanga 2 Hararei tūmatanui o Matariki / Part 2 Matariki public holidayCHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): We come to Part 2. This is a debate on clauses 5 to 7 schedules 1 to 4.ANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato): I have to say we're having a wonderful debate. We're talking in languages of te reo English Greek and we are covering a wide range of topics—astrological formations the principal stars in the group; it's a fascinating debate.Obviously we're just now turning our minds to Part 2 and I think clause 6(2) is the first bit I want to ask about. Why was the decision made that the Matariki holiday would always fall on a Friday? Obviously during the first stage of the debate just before the dinner break we were talking about how we had different days different significance and when Matariki actually came into existence some iwi had a different perspective on it. So what's been obviously taken and what's been written into clause 6(2) is that it would always be on a Friday.I suppose my first question to the Minister is: why is it always on a Friday? I think we've got to bear in mind who is bearing the cost for this. This is the not the Government writing out the cheque; this is business owners using their hard-earned cash to pay for this additional day. And of course it's an extension—it's another public holiday; it's not a reduction or at least keeping the same number the current number of holidays which is 11. This is taking it to 12 so not only is there additional cost but when a public holiday falls there is also significant impact for business owners in terms of how they arrange their staff and what this means is obviously that staffing their business on that Friday is a very difficult issue. So that's my first question to the Minister: why always on a Friday and what other considerations were taken into account on whether it should fall where it should fall?
Mooney JosephJOSEPH MOONEY (National—Southland): Thank you Mr Chair. Thank you Minister for engaging in the kōrero this afternoon. Look in Part 1 clause 3 Meaning and significance of Matariki to Māori" it marks the beginning of the Māori New Year also known as Mātahi o te Tau. However I note that it also says that some tribal groups use the heliacal rising of other stars as their marker of the Māori New Year—in particular the star Puanga. Other tribal groups and regions also have variations regarding when and how the Māori New Year is observed and celebrated. So my question Minister is how has the decision-making process been come to and how has it been formed in determining that the focus will be on Matariki and at this time of year and not on the other markers that some other tribal groups use and the other stars that they use as their marker for the Māori New Year and the timing that they do for that?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage): Tēnā e te mema. He pātai pai tērā. Koinā he kaupapa o maha ngā wānanga i roto i ngā kāhui o ngā tohunga ki te whakapuāwai ētahi ingoa o te pire. Te Kāhui o Matariki; kei raro rā he maha ngā ingoa mō ētahi whetū heoi anō ko te tino ngako ko te wā o te tau. Ka huri ki ngā iwi o Taranaki pea kei a rātou ko te tino ingoa o tērā atu wā ko Puanga.Ka huri ki a rātou ki te Nōta ko Rehua. Ki a rātou maha o ngā iwi ko te whetū e whiu atu ngā whakaaro ki te Poutūterangi. Kei te whakawhiri ā whakawhiti kōrero a rātou kei te wānanga rātou ā kei a rātou e whakatau e whakaea i tētahi ingoa mō tēnei pire ko te mea e whakaputa rātou koinā te ingoa he maha o ngā iwi he maha o ngā hapū e whai atu nei ko te kupu o Matariki. Heoi anō mō tēnei pire ko te tikanga ko tēnei te Kāhui o Te Matariki heoi anō kei raro rā ko te Puanga ko te Poutūteranga e maha ngā whetū anō.[Greetings to the member. That is a good question. That is an issue that took much discussion in the Māori advisory group to develop some names for the bill. The cluster of Matariki; beneath this are the many names of other stars but the nub of the issue is the time of the year.If we turn for example to Taranaki iwi their favourite name for that time of year is Rigel. If we turn to those in the North it is Antares. To many tribes the star they send their wishes to Altair. They discussed and considered this and they decided and settled on a name for this bill and the one they chose was the one that most tribes and subtribes follow and that is Matariki. So for this bill the practice is this the cluster of Matariki and within that are Rigel Altair and many other stars.]"
SpeechHon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage): Mr Chair thank you. Tuatahi māku e tuku he mihi ki te mema o te rohe Whanganui mō tērā atu pātai ki ahau ki a mātou ki a tātou o te Whare nei. Ka huri ki tēnei pānuitia mai te tohunga o Rangi Matamua kua kite au i tana pānui ki runga i te pepa nei. Ko tēnei te whakamārama i runga i tana pānuitia ki a mātou. Ko te kupu kei roto i tēnei ripoata ko te ingoa Pipiri anake. Heoi anō ka huri ake ki ngā ripoata o te komiti nui mai i te Komiti Whiriwhiri Take Māori heoi anō ka huri atu au kāore e kore he whakaaro kāore i tērā he tono ki a mātou te Kāwana ki te huri i tērā atu ingoa ki te ingoa Pipiri o te Rangi. Heoi anō koinā. He whakaaro pai ki a rātou ngā tohunga o tēnei pire te ingoa Pipiri heoi anō ki a mātou me whai atu a mātou te Karauna ki te mātauranga o te kāhui o ngā tohunga e āwhina i a mātou e whakarangatira i tērā atu whakaaro Māori kei roto i tēnei pire. Heoi anō ko tēnei tā rātou nei whakaaro heoi anō me whai atu a mātou mai i te Karauna. Koinā.[Firstly I wish to acknowledge the member from the Whanganui electorate for that other question to me to us all of this House. I now turn to this statement from the expert Rangi Matamua. I saw his statement on this paper. This is the explanation to us about his what he said. The word in this report is just the one word Pipiri". However if one goes back to the report of the main committee of the Māori Affairs Committee I went back and it is no doubt that was an idea but it was not suggested to us the Crown to change that name to the other name of Pipiri o te Rangi. So that's that. It was a good idea to them the name Pipiri the experts involved in this bill but to us the Crown we had to follow the knowledge of the expert group who were helping us and venerating other aspects of Māori thinking in this bill. These are their thoughts which we of the Crown must follow.]"
Bayly AndrewANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato): Thank you Mr Chair. Look obviously Part 1 clause 3 deals with the business days of the particular days and it specifies a Saturday a Sunday Waitangi Day Good Friday Easter Monday Anzac Day the Sovereign's birthday … Matariki Observance Day and Labour Day". I suppose the big question is—and it is a central question for the Minister—why was no consideration made of reducing the days rather than adding an additional day which means we've now got 12 public holidays plus the specified four weeks of holiday that New Zealanders are entitled to which means that when you put all that together you've got 28 plus 12 holidays? Why was no specific consideration made of looking at reducing existing public holidays? We've talked about reducing the one as an example of Labour Day which we think probably is less relevant now. But my central question to the Minister is why was no consideration made of that when the Cabinet considered this and also when working its way through the select committee process? That's a question for the Minister.HARETE HIPANGO (National): So in relation to this committee of the whole House with questions being directed to the Minister I'm speaking specifically to Part 1 "Preliminary provisions" "Meaning and significance of Matariki to Māori"—I need to put my glasses on not my mask. So page 5 of the bill Minister underneath "Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki" it goes to the explanatory that "Matariki is the Māori name for Pleiades" and further down in the third sentence starting "the winter sky during the last quarter of the lunar month of Pipiri". Minister in the specialist adviser's report with that specialist adviser being Rangi Matamua at page—if I could refer the Minister in the House to the advice. I was talking about Pipiri—the full name for that—and also the explanatory of the correlation or the relativity of that period of time in the Māori lunar calendar to the common calendar as we know it which would be for June. Now I'm still just looking through the specialist adviser's report and I will find that. But for the benefit of all New Zealanders and clarity within this bill would it not be of I think clearer interpretation for the application that "during the last quarter of the lunar month of Pipiri" it be inserted in there—and I wasn't at the meeting of the Māori Affairs Committee at the time this was discussed or otherwise I would have brought it up—that the full name for Pipiri is Pipirioterangi and that it approximates or is the equivalent of the period of June in the calendar month? So I put it to the Minister and to the committee for consideration that for the purposes of clarity and understanding for the benefit of all New Zealanders that that be considered as has been the advice given by specialist adviser Rangi Matamua."
SpeechTE PIRE MŌ TE HARAREI TŪMATANUI O TE KĀHUI O MATARIKI/TE KĀHUI O MATARIKI PUBLIC HOLIDAY BILLIn CommitteeWāhanga 1 Whakaritenga takamua / Part 1 Preliminary provisionsCHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Members the House is in committee—I was going to say for that bill" but I won't. The House is in committee on Te Pire mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki/Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill. I remind members that they're able to participate remotely. If you're on Zoom and want to take a call please type "call" into the chat and I'm sure you all know that. You should also use the chat if you want to raise a point of order. Members a tabled amendment in the name of Joseph Mooney has been lodged. The scope of this bill is narrow. It is to provide for an additional public holiday to observe Matariki. The bill does not seek to affect any existing public holidays. The amendment would remove Labour Day from the Holidays Act 2003 which would also have the effect of turning the bill into an omnibus bill. I'm ruling the tabled amendment outside of the scope of the bill. I'll permit some debate on the topic subject to the usual rules of relevance and repetition. However there will be no vote on this amendment. We come first to Part 1. Joseph Mooney: Point of order Mr Chairperson. If I could just clarify that it was to ensure that there are only 11 public holidays in the Holidays Act 2003. CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Yes I understand that and none the less that has been ruled out of order because it is out of scope of the bill. We come to the debate on Part 1. This is the debate on clauses 3 and 4 the preliminary provisions. The question is that Part 1 stand part."
Grigg NicolaNICOLA GRIGG (National—Selwyn): Rau rangatira mā tēnā koutou katoa.[To the many chiefs greetings to you all.]National is very pleased to support the Te Rohe o Rongokako Joint Redress Bill which along with the Ngāti Kahungunu settlement legislation that was introduced in February will complete Treaty settlements in the Wairarapa.Can I acknowledge iwi and whānau gathered in the gallery this evening. New Zealand is a very small country. My mother is a St Hill-Warren of Porangahau and her family married into the Mohi whānau so I have Ngāti Kahungunu cousins. So I mihi to you.I want to also acknowledge the Hon Chris Finlayson who settled the Rangitāne negotiations in 2016 and the Hon Andrew Little who signed the settlement with Ngāti Kahungunu late last year and finalised the joint redress that we are here canvassing this evening.The Minister and other speakers have already spent time on the settlement redress itself but I do want to say something about the role of cultural redress in settlements. There is a reason that so much cultural redress is related to the environment as is the case here. It's an attempt by the Crown to recognise the aspirations of iwi to be involved in the management of natural resources of cultural significance that matter deeply to them and also to make room—most importantly—for the exercise of their rangatiratanga. It is a vital part of Treaty settlements and relies on the enormous generosity of the negotiating iwi to make what can be at times difficult compromises.Like other settlements the bill we are debating this evening provides for environmental and cultural redress the joint vesting of property and new arrangements for the Crown and iwi to work together to make customary fishing regulations. The centrepiece however is the new statutory board to govern the Wairarapa Moana. It's been formed as an important part of the negotiations and sits squarely in the middle of the Waitangi Tribunal's Wairarapa report to use the tribunal's own words. One of its primary roles will be to produce a Wairarapa Moana document setting out the vision and the aspirations for this management. It will also set out a reserves management plan and a natural resources document for the Ruamahanga River catchment.We often see in the headlines the dollar figures the amounts spent on the settlements and the financial redress but it's the cultural and relationships redress that I think has become most important. It is the part that often places continuing obligations on the Crown and local government to make things work. So when Parliament legislates for the Wairarapa Moana Statutory Board it does so in the expectation that the Crown and local government appointees work to make the agreement that Parliament legislates here to work in practice.Chris Finlayson always says that if the Crown doesn't respect its obligations Treaty settlements will not last the distance. In my humble view New Zealand Inc." needs this legislation along with all other Treaty settlement legislation to last the distance. I am very pleased to commend this bill to the House."
Appointments — Chief Electoral Officer
SpeechAPPOINTMENTSChief Electoral OfficerHon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Conservation) on behalf of the Minister of Justice: I move That pursuant to section 4D(1)(a) of the Electoral Act 1993 and section 32 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 this House recommend Her Excellency the Governor-General appoint Karl Mervyn Le Quesne as Chief Electoral Officer for a term of five years.The Electoral Commission is responsible for maintaining the electoral rolls administering parliamentary elections and—SPEAKER: Order! There's no debate.Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: Well that makes my job very much easier.SPEAKER: It does make the job a lot easier and I think we'll probably say that the member's sheet and mine probably have different references to it. The question is that motion be agreed to.Motion agreed to.
SpeechSPEAKER: Before I call Jo Luxton who is participating remotely I'm going to indicate to people in the gallery that this is the first week back or the second day we've allowed people to be in the gallery and as part of our kawa masks are to be worn and they're to be worn not as chin straps. Thank you very much.
SpeechMatt Doocey: Mr Speaker—SPEAKER: [Member of the public speaks in the gallery] No Order! Order! Sorry I'm just going to address the person in the gallery. Two things: one you must have a mask on; and two you may not use cellphones. [Member of the public speaks in the gallery] I'm going to make it very clear: I am the person who gives exemptions and I haven't.
SpeechPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: No petitions have been presented no papers have been presented no bills have been introduced but select committee reports have been delivered for presentation.CLERK:Reports of the Education and Workforce Committee on the:2020/21 annual reviews of the education sector and the2020/21 annual reviews of the labour sectorreport of the Environment Committee on the 2020/21 annual reviews of the:Department of Conservation and theMinistry for the Environmentreports of the Governance and Administration Committee on the 2020/21 annual reviews ofFire and Emergency New ZealandNational Emergency Management Agency andPublic Service Commissionreport of the Health Committee on the notice of motion regarding the Misuse of Drugs (Classification and Presumption of Supply) Order 2022report of the Social Services and Community Committee on the 2020/21 annual reviews of the arts culture and heritage sector.SPEAKER: The report of the Health Committee is set down for consideration. The briefing is set down for consideration.
SpeechWEDNESDAY 30 MARCH 2022The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSIAN McKELVIE (Assistant Speaker): Almighty God we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests we acknowledge the Queen and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom justice mercy and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.