6. Overseas Ownership of New Zealand Property—Exemption for Te Ārai DevelopmentHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister for Regional Economic DevelopmentOverseas Ownership of New Zealand Property—Exemption for Te Ārai Development6. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: Is he concerned about the effect of Government policies on regional property development?Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development): The policies of the Government are varied and wide. In so far as property development is rolling out throughout the provinces of New Zealand my colleagues have a host of priorities to address housing woes of a community nature of a homeownership nature and I'm looking forward to the Minister leading a body of work to protect the rights of renters in provincial New Zealand.Hon Paul Goldsmith: When exactly did he meet with John Darby and Ric Kayne to discuss their concerns about the effect of the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill on Te Ārai development bearing in mind that Russell Kemp passed away on 11 January?Hon SHANE JONES: The effect on the Te Ārai development can be traced back to the excessive zeal that people chose the fortunes of an indigestible bird over the rights of indigenous people. I was well aware of that bird called a tara which means a fairy tale. Consequently I've always been sympathetic to the woes that Te Uri o Hau have suffered and it has reminded me that we definitely put the boundary in the wrong place for the super-city. They would have had greater prospects had my own regional council considered that issue. I cannot remember the exact date but it would have been very close after the tangihanga for said chief.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Did he discuss the concerns raised by those gentlemen with David Parker soon thereafter?Hon SHANE JONES: I've actually done more than that. I have been very loud on the marae in my own area in my community after I was approached by someone who I felt I should have no fear or favour following his advice encouraging me to meet with these developers—your old boss. Upon doing that—SPEAKER: Not my old boss.Hon SHANE JONES: Upon doing that I proceeded to alert my caucus my colleagues to a potential new source of Treaty grievance as we exercise article 1 powers of sovereignty in order to protect our sovereign interests before the trans-Pacific deal was passed. We may inadvertently create a new raft of grievances for settlement tribes. I have said it then I said it during our discussions but I am faithful to the solidarity of the Cabinet's position.Hon Paul Goldsmith: So I'm still trying to get an answer to the primary question which is when he made those representations to David Parker; if the death was on 11 January are we talking about early February or when exactly does he think he raised those concerns with David Parker?Hon SHANE JONES: Not only with my colleague Mr Parker; with my colleagues I have repeatedly warned about the danger of the way in which article 1 powers of the Treaty could inadvertently crib the ability of economic development to take place and I've done a great job in preserving that opportunity in terms of the more liberal approach to the forestry resources.Hon Paul Goldsmith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There was a simple word that he hasn't responded to which was when".SPEAKER: Yes but part of the problem was that the member referred to a primary question which didn't exist. I mean I should probably have ruled the whole question out. The primary question doesn't say "when" does it as the member asserted?Hon Paul Goldsmith: I'm saying that the primary word in the question which I just asked him said "when" and there wasn't a reply to that.SPEAKER: No I think you said the primary question. That was what the whole premise of the question—Hon Paul Goldsmith: I said "the primary word" in the question not "the primary question".SPEAKER: If the member wants to have another supplementary question to get it right he may.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This is a very important point. The House this afternoon has heard from a question from the Hon David Parker to the Hon Shane Jones that apparently there was no discussion of this matter between the Ministers prior to a date that has been stated in the House today. We've now learnt that the Hon Shane Jones was made aware of this soon after a tangi in early January. The simple question was: when did he—SPEAKER: The member can resume his seat. I've asked the member. I've given him another supplementary to try to get it right.Hon Paul Goldsmith: When did the Minister raise the issues with the Hon David Parker that were raised at the meeting with John Darby and Ric Kayne?Hon SHANE JONES: The issues that have been raised by me—I cannot recollect the exact date—pertain to the movement towards us exercising our sovereign power to secure our rights in the face of the trans-Pacific deal and unfortunately creating potential grievances under article 2 of the Treaty. I have done this on numerous occasions. I cannot recollect any specific date.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he agree with their contention—that's the contention of John Darby and colleagues—that the bill as proposed would threaten regional property development projects including their own?Hon SHANE JONES: The Overseas Investment Amendment Bill as it stands at the moment is about to go into the committee stage so let's wait and see what's the final shape and form. But in so far do the policies impact negatively on the prospects of regional development? No. The Te Arai project fell as a consequence of an indigestible bird in my view.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he concede that falling commercial construction intentions which dropped sharply in today's ANZ activity index from plus 5 to negative 11 percent the lowest rate since 2011 is a sign that the effect of Government policies on property development has been disastrous?SPEAKER: I mean I'll let the Minister answer it but it's getting a very long way away from the portfolio. But I think it's fair to say that the Minister himself has stretched fairly broadly both inside and outside the House.Hon SHANE JONES: Property development prospects are growing prodigiously as a consequence of major allocations of capital and an improvement in infrastructure and that is why my name is being issued with great glee across every province in New Zealand.SPEAKER: Question No. 10 Darroch Ball.Hon Nathan Guy: Seven.SPEAKER: Sorry I've gone too far. It just felt like a long time."