Moroney Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Moroney Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:634;Page:6167] 
9.  
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Youth Affairs 
: What is the Government doing to increase opportunities for young people to be engaged at a local government level? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Youth Affairs) 
: 
 The Youth in Local Government conference recently held in New Plymouth is just one example of initiatives supported by the Government— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: There is chipping across the Chamber. David Bennett you are on your last warning. It is what causes disorder in this House and I have been asked to keep order. [ 
Interruption 
] It was not to the Minister; it was across the Chamber. The member is on his last warning. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I have been asked to exit the House because during a question from a member— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member is quite right. Please go David Bennett in the interests of consistency— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: No that is not the point Madam Speaker. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Well he should go anyway. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: No Madam Speaker you seem to have a bias whereby you are very keen to kick National members out. The reality is that Winston Peters while a member was asking a question in circumstances identical to mine made an interjection and he should be asked to leave the House on the— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I agree with the member. If he did that then he should go too. You both should go. That is what is causing disorder in this House. It is not related to the debate at all. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I most certainly did not. Nanaia Mahuta is the answerer of the question. She was on her feet when I said “See you Nick.” The reality is that that is not offensive under the Standing Orders or any prior rulings. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I want to raise that Dr Nick Smith is still in the House. He left the House having been told to do so and came back in to raise a point of order. Members cannot come back into the House having been ordered out because they feel like having a point of order. I am afraid that he is not here on a legal basis at the present time. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Please be seated. No he is not. Would the member please leave until the end of question time. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith withdrew from the Chamber. 
Lindsay Tisch 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. When Dr Smith was exiting the Chamber as you required him to do there was an intervention by Mr Peters who said “See you later Nick.” That is a complete contradiction; he has just admitted he said it and he is still here. He should go too. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I agree. [ 
Interruption 
] No I am sorry but I have ruled on this— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No hang on— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No do not challenge my ruling. Do that at your peril. I want both the Rt Hon Winston Peters and David Bennett to please leave the Chamber. The only way we are going to get order here is if in fact we stick to the Standing Orders. It is this chipping across the House that is causing the problem at the moment. Please leave the Chamber until the end of question time. 
David Bennett withdrew from the Chamber. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Is it a new point of order? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: It is a new point of order; I will leave but I want to make this point of order. Is it your precedent now that one cannot make a comment when a speaker is on his or her feet as a Minister in reply? Because that is new. That is the offence with which I am being charged now falsely by Mr Tisch. He knows full well that when they started out the allegation was that I said what I said during a member asking the question. That was wrong. Nanaia Mahuta had well started her answer when I said what I said—and I do not deny it. But you will remember this: as he walked out he said “Stay awake Winston.” which is where the whole thing started in the first place. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is precisely the problem in this House. It is people having private conversations and exchanging abuse across this House. We have to get some semblance of order and I have been asked to do it. The Standing Orders state that we respond to questions and answers. I will ask the Minister the Hon Nanaia— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I have asked you a question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No you are going out for—not that. It is because of the chipping not because of being on your feet. But please leave the Chamber. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters withdrew from the Chamber. 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: The Youth in Local Government Conference recently held in New Plymouth is just one example of initiatives supported by the Government that encourage young people to have a real and positive role in decision making in their community. Sixty-eight young people from youth councils at least nine mayors and several councillors from all over New Zealand attended the conference. It was an opportunity for young people in councils to share information and ideas concerning young people. 
Sue Moroney 
: How does this contribute to the Government’s vision for young people contained in the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa? 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA 
: This strategy is about supporting opportunities for young people to be the best they can be: healthy confident connected vibrant and resilient. The Youth in Local Government Conference is an example of how young people develop the skills and attitudes they need to make a positive contribution to their community. By encouraging young people’s participation at a local government level they are valued and they have an opportunity to express their opinions and ideas and to contribute to community decision-making.