Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:622;Page:17224] 
11.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister for Senior Citizens 
: When did she first become aware of the concerns of residents of the CulverdenCare retirement village? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Senior Citizens) 
: 
 My recollection is that I was advised of residents’ concerns concerning the CulverdenCare retirement village on 2 April this year. 
Judith Collins 
: What representations if any has she received from the local Labour member of Parliament on behalf of the CulverdenCare residents? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I have received direct representations from only one of my Labour colleagues on that—from Judith Tizard not the local member. 
Murray Smith 
: Can the Minister confirm that as a direct result of United Future’s involvement with the CulverdenCare residents’ committee over the last 8 months a well-documented complaint was lodged with the Securities Commission which last August appointed an inspector to investigate the operation of the village as a prelude to possible statutory management; and what in comparison has been achieved for the CulverdenCare residents by the National Party? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No no the first part of the question can be answered. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I can confirm that the member who asked that question did prepare what has been recently described as a “well-documented complaint” to the Securities Commission. I understand that the commission is considering that complaint. To the best of my knowledge no one from the National Party has done a single thing to assist the residents. 
Jill Pettis 
: Can the Minister advise the House of what the Government is doing to ensure that retirement villages operate to good standards and that the rights of residents are protected? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: The Retirement Villages Act introduced by this Government establishes standards of practice for all operators including a requirement to fully disclose the terms and conditions of residency. It also establishes a code of residents’ rights and a complaints and disputes resolution process. 
Judith Collins 
: Why was it left to the intervention of Mr Graham Miller of Covenant Trustee Co. for this matter to be referred to the Securities Commission when the Minister has been sitting on the same information for at least 4 months? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: As I would assume the member may know given her previous occupation I am cautioned by the principle that the Government’s role in civil disputes is to set up the framework for such disputes to be resolved generally through civil action in the courts. However I have ensured in this case that residents have applied for legal aid for their action. 
Judith Collins 
: Does the Minister recall advice to Cabinet that Ian Anderson from the management of CulverdenCare was misrepresenting the compliance costs of the Retirement Villages Act in order to force the elderly residents to give up their homes; if so does she still think that adopting a wait-and-see attitude was the right decision for those vulnerable and elderly New Zealanders? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Yes I do recall that. I also note that Mr Anderson is not the first person in New Zealand to misrepresent a compliance cost imposed by the Government. My concern is to ensure that the situation for the residents is addressed in a way that will have the greatest prospect of success and sustainability. 
Judith Collins 
: Having received the information that she has clearly had—and has admitted to having—for the last 4 months did she not consider that the evidence showed that there could well be a case for the Serious Fraud Office to investigate? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: No.