9. Question No. 9—HealthHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 9—Health9. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by the restrictions for alert level 2? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Yes. In particular I stand by the decision to use a staged approach to the resumption of some activities such as the reopening of bars which we know from the experience of South Korea can pose a particular transmission risk. Hon Louise Upston: What is the public health evidence that supports a limit on funerals to 10 people over the original 100 people? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The advice I have received relates to the number of people at a gathering and the risks that pertain thereto. I have to say that in respect of funerals and tangi this was one of the most difficult decisions that we had to take as a Cabinet. I personally found it very challenging to work through but we didn't want to see a double jeopardy which has been seen overseas at funerals where people come together to grieve and then the virus is transmitted leading to further tragedy. Hon Louise Upston: Does he agree with the president of the Funeral Directors Association that restrictions on funerals are a cruel and heartless blow to the thousands of New Zealand families who have lost loved ones and is unjustifiable."? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Funerals are a time when people naturally need physical comfort from each other. The decision to restrict that was not one we took lightly. I do disagree with those comments as they've been presented by the member. Hon Louise Upston: What does he say to the family who delayed a funeral under alert level 3 because the guidance for alert level 2 announced by the Prime Minister last Thursday included gatherings up to 100 people only to be told yesterday that the restriction is now only 10? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I do reject the premise of the question and I do again want to acknowledge that this is a particularly difficult issue for people. As I've said I know that I found this a difficult decision—to restrict the attendance at funerals—and I know the Prime Minister did and other members of the Cabinet also. But we do not want to see community transmission and we do not want to see the kind of tragedy that's happened overseas at funerals where people have come together to mourn a loved one and then further tragedy has ensued. We hope that in a short period of time we will continue to see the risk diminished and then we will see the ability for more people to gather. But when people gather and are in funeral situations—having conducted them myself I know that people want to physically console each other and it does not seem fair to put people in a position where there is risk to them and to the wider community. Hon Louise Upston: What does he say to the man whose wife sadly passed away from cancer who has to explain to his young daughter that under level 2 a rugby team of 15 can have physical contact and play a game but that she can't have all the support she needs when she says her final goodbye to her mum? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Naturally I feel very sad for that family. This is the kind of situation that is not an easy one at any time—when grieving their loved ones. In terms of the specific matters the member raises I would observe that professional sport only at this stage is progressing and that is with strict contact tracing in place. But equally I'd go back to the main point that I've made before that tangi and funeral are places where people come together to grieve and physically support each other—physically support each other. This is a difficult thing and I as I say am hopeful that in time we will be able to ease these restrictions. Rt Hon Winston Peters: Was the Minister encouraged by listening to a Polynesian undertaker on Morning Report this morning who set out that he fully understood the Government's position and how difficult in the Pasifika and Māori setting it was to keep people apart in that most difficult emotional moment—Hon Judith Collins: Does this undertaker have a name? Rt Hon Winston Peters: —at a tangi or a funeral and he backed the Government in the full—Hon Judith Collins: Or is it enough to refer to him by his race? SPEAKER: Order! Judith Collins has just lost two supplementaries for her side. Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Sorry Mr Speaker I missed the last part of the member's question. SPEAKER: Well I'm going to ask the question to be asked again. Rt Hon Winston Peters: Was he encouraged by the Polynesian undertaker on Morning Report this morning who understood—Hon Judith Collins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: The member can't interrupt a question unless it relates to this question. Hon Judith Collins: Mr Speaker perhaps if you listened to me I find it deeply offensive—SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume her seat. Winston Peters complete the supplementary. Start your supplementary again please. Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That member just made a comment about "his race". What did she mean by that? Hon Gerry Brownlee: How can he take a point of order and she can't?Hon Judith Collins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: Speaking to the point of order of the Rt Hon Winston Peters.Hon Judith Collins: Thank you. SPEAKER: And just to make it absolutely clear one may not interrupt a supplementary question for a point of order unless it relates exactly to that point of order. Once interrupted however rudely a further point of order can be taken. Speaking to this point of order the Hon Judith Collins. Hon Judith Collins: Mr Peters has asked a question. My concern is that he has referred to the undertaker by that man's race as though that is actually relevant. Either he has a name this undertaker or he is an undertaker. Why is it necessary to bring the man's race into the issue? Rt Hon Winston Peters: I can answer that question. I referred to his race because he clearly understood the Pasifika or Māori tangi setting. That's the only reason why I referred to him—not to be ethnic or racial about it. But he just might understand more than some what the setting was all about. SPEAKER: Now I just want to check that the Minister got the gist of the question—Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I think I've got the gist of the question. SPEAKER: —probably—from what went back and forth. Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I have had representations from members of the Pasifika and Māori community saying that they understood the reasons for having this separation and indeed it is very difficult to maintain physical separation in those funeral settings because of the desire to physically comfort one another and because of certain cultural practices. SPEAKER: Question No. 11 Simon O'Connor. Simon O'Connor: If I might actually I think Paul Eagle was next—SPEAKER: Sorry?Simon O'Connor: —if you don't mind. SPEAKER: Oh sorry. Simon O'Connor: If you'd give us two supps back. Otherwise I'll take the call. SPEAKER: Did the member say he wants two supps taken away? Simon O'Connor: I'm not sure my hearing's so good. SPEAKER: Well the member had better sit down."