Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumePeters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 11 March 2014. Volume:697;Page:16465. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First)to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in all his Ministers; if so why?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):Yes; because they are competent and hard-working and they are working for a brighter future for all New Zealanders.Rt Hon Winston Peters: How can he have confidence in Judith Collins when she chose not to visit some of the many other Kiwi businesses in Shanghai but just so happened to pop in to her husband’s company for a cup of tea?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not think it is quite correct to describe it as her husband’s company. Her husband is a director of Oravida. My understanding is that on other occasions she has popped in to promote other New Zealand companies.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Does he believe that Judith Collins should have reported her visit to Oravida in her travel report to Cabinet; if not why not?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think that as a general rule a Minister actually would not record all of the visits they make on a particular trip because that would include an excessive number of visits that people make. They are very busy. Generally those travel reports cover the main things and the main purpose of the trip was in her capacity as Minister of Justice.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Has Judith Collins produced evidence to him that she informed Oravida that it may not use any photos or publicise the event as an endorsement of its products as stipulated in paragraph 2.89 of the Cabinet Manual?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No but I have not asked her for that. I have accepted the member at her word.Rt Hon Winston Peters: In the interests of transparency how is Judith Collins’ behaviour not in direct contravention of paragraph 2.87 of the Cabinet Manual “No Minister should endorse in any media any product or service.” and why unlike Richard Worth and his case is this not a sackable offence?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It is actually quite clear. The Cabinet Office advice is the same as it was under the previous Government and that is that it is quite—Hon Trevor Mallard: No no.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Actually yes it is identical to that under the previous Government. It is quite possible—in fact it is quite within the rules—for a Minister to be involved in the promotion of a company but not the endorsement of a company. For an endorsement to take place a Minister would actually have to say the words themselves produce those words or put out a statement or a speech. And they actually would probably have to do that in isolation for one company over another. None of that actually occurred.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it a fact that this issue of the different treatment of a former and now a current Minister is explained only because he is gravely concerned that if he is unable to do negotiations with other parties Judith Collins and other MPs in his caucus are very prepared to do them instead?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No.Grant Robertson: With reference to the Prime Minister’s answer to the supplementary question before last when he said that an endorsement would require the Minister to “say the words” is he aware of the statement on the Oravida website where the Minister said depending on the translation that she was either full of praise or endorsing the products of Oravida?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well I am certainly aware of reports that that was on the Chinese version and taken down but what is quite clear from the Cabinet Office—Grant Robertson: Why is that not an endorsement?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well as the Cabinet Office would tell the member—and it has been true for successive Governments—in fact just because a company says something just because a company makes a comment just because it writes it down it does not count as an endorsement; it counts as a promotion.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I seek the leave of the House to table a record of the New Zealand companies that have an office in Shanghai—none of which got a visit from Judith Collins.Mr SPEAKER: What is the source of the document?Rt Hon Winston Peters: An impeccable source: the Parliamentary Library.Mr SPEAKER: Well then it is available to all members if they want to see it. [Interruption] Order! The member will resume his seat.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I requested this information. It is not available to all other members. It was sent specifically to me. That is why I wish to table it.Mr SPEAKER: Order! It seems to me that if any other members wanted it they could get it but on this occasion I am quite happy to put the leave. Leave is sought to table this particular document prepared for the Rt Hon Winston Peters by the Parliamentary Library. Is there any objection to that being tabled? There is none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.