edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Doocey Matt; Mallard TrevorQuestion No. 11 to MinisterMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): I seek leave to table a Parliamentary Library request that shows there's over 1 million 15- to 29-year-olds in New Zealand.SPEAKER: I think you probably seek leave to table an answer rather than a request—is that right? Yes.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: No no—I say to the Acting Prime Minister that at the moment we have a leave request for the tabling of a document from the Parliamentary Library. That is not a matter which is to be debated. Members if they don't want to have that document tabled have a very clear course of action. Is there any objection to that document being tabled? There is objection.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Acting Prime Minister): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My point of order is that there are probably just over 600000 people of that age description not the figure he pretends to put to this House and he would have been in serious trouble if he had successfully got the motion forward. [Interruption] SPEAKER: No I'm not having any more. Frankly that was not helpful Acting Prime Minister. That was not helpful. We had a matter it was dealt with; the Acting Prime Minister attempted to take a point of order which I ruled was outside what should be done and after the matter had been dealt with we had another point of order which was not a point of order; it was a debating point. The member may well be right and he will have an opportunity if he wishes to take a call during the general debate and to make a debating point and that is the right time to do it.
Parker DavidQuestion No. 9 to Minister—Amended AnswerHon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment): I seek leave to correct an answer.Hon Members: Oh!SPEAKER: Right those members that made a noise during a point of order from my left—stand. You will in unison withdraw and apologise.Hon Members: I withdraw and apologise.Hon DAVID PARKER: Yes I think in the reference to the decline in the populations in the Southland stream I said the decline had been 99 percent. I'm just reading the article in more detail—it's 98 percent in the pools and 84 percent in the riffles.
1. Question No. 1—FinanceDr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour—New Lynn) to the Minister of FinanceWEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2019The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.ORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Finance1. Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour—New Lynn) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the performance of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yesterday the New Zealand Superannuation Fund announced it had grown by more than $3.7 billion over the past financial year to $43.1 billion. This represents a 7 percent return after costs and before tax beating the fund's benchmark by 67 basis points or $261 million. The super fund chair Catherine Savage said the result was satisfying for the fund which as a long-term investor has the ability to look through and profit from … periods of uncertainty and volatility that have impacted global markets." including trade tensions between the US and China and actions by central banks around the world.Dr Deborah Russell: What reaction has he seen about the Superannuation Fund's annual result?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: This morning I saw reports of a radio host that I never listen to saying that the super fund was "having a reasonable old year" and that its 7 percent return was "not a bad return in these difficult and awkward times". This followed super fund CEO Matt Whineray's comments that there had been more economic volatility this year with issues like the recent Saudi Arabia oil crisis and actions by the US Federal Reserve currently occupying market attention. It has indeed been a good year for the super fund which is now backed by a Government that restarted contributions after nine years of those contributions being suspended.Dr Deborah Russell: What reports has he seen on the Government's contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The coalition Government is helping to safeguard the future of New Zealand super. We resumed contributions to the fund in our first 100 days. This morning super fund CEO Matt Whineray was asked on Newstalk ZB whether the resumed Government contributions had helped to which he replied "We received $1 billion last year. We'll get another billion and a half and that all helps to grow this pot over time and helps us with our purpose which is smoothing out the long-run costs of New Zealand superannuation." To which he received the response "Good on yah Matt." On this side of the House we join with Mike Hosking in congratulating the super fund and indeed the Government on such a result during a time of global economic volatility."
Tuesday 17 September 2019 - Volume 741
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Public Finance (Wellbeing) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee.
Public Finance (Wellbeing) Amendment Bill — First Reading
VoteThe question was put that the amendments recommended by the Environment Committee by majority be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Amendments agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Bill read a second time.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Imprest Supply (Second for 2019/20) Bill be now read a third time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Bill read a third time.
Appropriation (2019/20 Estimates) Bill — Third Reading & Imprest Supply Bill (Second for 2019/20) — Second Reading (continued)
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Appropriation (2019/20 Estimates) Bill be now read a third time and the Imprest Supply (Second for 2019/20) Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Appropriation (2019/20 Estimates) Bill read a third time.Imprest Supply (Second for 2019/20) Bill read a second time.
Imprest Supply (Second for 2019/20) Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Imprest Supply (Second for 2019/20) Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Bill read a first time.
11. Question No. 11—HealthANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 11—Health11. ANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about suicide prevention?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Every member of this House knows our rate of suicide is too high and it is a long-term national tragedy. Last week I joined the Prime Minister in releasing Every Life Matters the suicide prevention strategy and action plan. The plan has three main focus areas: promoting wellbeing responding to suicidal distress and behaviour and supporting individuals' whānau and communities after a suicide. At the same time as we released the plan we also announced the establishment of a suicide prevention office which will provide strong leadership and monitor our progress delivering on the plan. There are no quick fixes here but the range of actions we are taking will mean better support for people in distress.Angie Warren-Clark: What other actions is the Government taking to prevent suicide?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Suicide prevention requires a range of community-led and Government responses. We've invested a record $1.9 billion into mental health in this year's Budget and just last week we began the roll-out of new front-line services in places like GP clinics. We're also doing more to support people in crisis. We're increasing suicide prevention services in DHBs. We're supporting Māori and Pacific suicide prevention initiatives. We're funding improved support for the 15000 people each year who arrive at hospital emergency departments experiencing a mental health crisis or who are at risk of suicide. We know that not all of the answers will be found in Wellington so we're continuing to work with local communities and people with lived experience as we develop further initiatives and services.Angie Warren-Clark: What is the Government doing to better support people who are bereaved by suicide?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: For too long we've left families that have been bereaved by suicide without support and we know people who have lost someone to suicide can be vulnerable to suicidal thoughts themselves. That's why we are funding free bereavement counselling for 2500 family members per year. On average it's expected that four sessions of counselling will be provided per person. That will make a huge and long-overdue difference to families struggling with grief.
10. Question No. 10—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Associate Minister of HealthQuestion No. 10—Health10. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Associate Minister of Health: Does she stand by all her statements policies and actions regarding vaccination and the measles outbreak?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Health): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Yes in the context they were given.Dr Shane Reti: Can she confirm there have been measles outbreaks in eight DHB regions this year and if so which?SPEAKER: Order! I think we had this last week—and that is the requirement to link a supplementary question to the primary question; the member did not do that. I'm going to give the member another shot without penalising the supplementary.Dr Shane Reti: Where the Minister has declared an outbreak in Auckland are there eight other DHB regions that have had measles outbreaks this year?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: If the member would like to put that question down in writing I'd be happy to answer it.Dr Shane Reti: Was the Institute of Environmental Science and Research reporting of two measles outbreaks in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty in January this year an early-warning red flag that was missed?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I didn't have the delegation for population health in January of this year so I'd have to go and look at the data to answer that question. I've been very focused on responding to the current outbreak in Auckland.Dr Shane Reti: How is there no issue with supply when last Thursday Waikato DHB offered only 10 single measles vaccines each to Thames and Waihī?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: In the past few weeks an unprecedented number of vaccines have been delivered—about 32000 across the country. Just today 52000 additional vaccines arrived in the country; they will quickly be distributed around the country. I'd like to thank the general practices the primary health organisations the regional public health service the Ministry of Health and Pharmac who've all been involved in delivering this extraordinary delivery of vaccines.Dr Shane Reti: Will she take responsibility if New Zealand loses its World Health Organization measles-free status because of the mismanagement of this Government; if not why not?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I'm sure that member would like to congratulate the general practices and the Ministry of Health who've been working so hard to deliver tens of thousands of vaccines over the past few weeks and to respond to the current outbreak in Auckland. The member will also be aware that the United Kingdom and the United States have already lost their measles-free status and that globally there's been a 300 percent increase in the number of measles cases. It's my absolute priority to make sure that we ensure that the most vulnerable people are able to be vaccinated—and that is children under the age of five—over the coming weeks. I'm very proud of the response so far.
8. Question No. 8—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 8—Transport8. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Transport: Is the Government considering reallocating money from the rapid transit activity class in the National Land Transport Programme to the State highway improvement activity class; if so why?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) continually monitors spending profiles against the activity class ranges set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport. I received some papers on this topic and have met with officials to be briefed on the issue. However any decisions on reallocation are for the NZTA board.Chris Bishop: Has he received advice on the amount of money that could reasonably be reallocated from the rapid transit activity class to the State highway improvement activity class and if so what is the range of money provided by officials?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The amount of money that officials have suggested can be reallocated away from the rapid transit activity class is $313 million.Chris Bishop: Have officials provided advice on what projects could be brought forward if money was reallocated from the rapid transit activity class to the State highway improvement activity class and if so what are those projects? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Yes. Chris Bishop: What are those projects? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I don't have the list of projects in front of me. In fact—actually let me clarify that: the officials recommended a number of different activity classes rather than projects. Chris Bishop: Has he received any correspondence on ministerial letterhead or Green Party letterhead or otherwise from the Associate Minister of Transport related to the possibility of reallocating money from the rapid transit activity class to the State highway improvement class? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: No.
7. Question No. 7—EducationJAN TINETTI (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 7—Education7. JAN TINETTI (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What action is the Government taking to ensure that large school rebuilds are delivered for their communities?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Heaps. This Government is providing additional funding into existing large school redevelopments to get them on track and completed so that staff students and communities can finally use and enjoy them. A total of $52 million of additional funding is being invested into just four legacy school rebuilds for example that were announced back in 2015. These are Western Springs College Cashmere High School Aotea College and Wellington East Girls' College.Jan Tinetti: Why did the Government have to put further investment into these four school rebuilds that were announced nearly four years ago?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: On becoming Government it became clear that the budgets set aside for a significant number of school redevelopment projects were insufficient. There was a fiscal hole—if you could describe it as that—in the budgets that had been set aside for those schools. So we have now increased the budgets so that those school rebuild projects can be completed.Jan Tinetti: How many other school rebuilds announced over two years ago has the Government approved additional funding for because their budgets were previously set too low to absorb additional costs?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: There were a further eight school redevelopments agreed to by Cabinet prior to October 2017 that required more than $123 million in additional funding. This represented a number of schools that had been in the redevelopment pipeline for some time. These projects simply did not have large enough budgets to complete the work that the previous Government had approved.Jan Tinetti: What other changes is this Government making to improve its ability to deliver school rebuilds?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Heaps. The Government's introduced a multi-year appropriation and a longer-term redevelopment pipeline. That will mean that the ministry can establish a much longer-term relationship with the market and with the contractors to provide certainty for the construction sector. The ministry's now publishing its capital works forward pipeline on a quarterly basis which provides much greater transparency to the suppliers and to the wider building and construction industry. This means that suppliers are made aware much earlier of forthcoming tender opportunities and they can resource and gear up appropriately.
4. Question No. 4—FinanceHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of his statements policies and actions?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in the context in which they were given delivered and taken. In particular I stand by the Government's economic policies following the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research consensus forecasts released yesterday showing that economists expect stronger employment and wage growth over the next three years than previously and the unemployment rate to remain down at around 4 percent as the economy continues to grow.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Which of his Government's policies have contributed most to the slowdown in the New Zealand economy from averaging 1.7 percent growth per person for the last five years of the National Government to around 0.7 percent now?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I know the members opposite believe I have great powers but I don't think that the US-China trade dispute is something that I will take responsibility for in this House.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Is he aware that New Zealand's growth rate once we strip out population growth has fallen from 11th in the OECD for the last five years under National to 25th this year?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I prefer not to strip certain things out of the way in which growth rates are worked out. What I do know is that if we look around the world New Zealand continues to outperform other countries like Australia like Canada like Japan and I do worry for the member that he's going to have to explain himself to Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg for why he is so down on the Australian economy given his criticisms of the New Zealand one.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Going from the last question when did he first hear reports of the need to strip out population growth?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well it certainly wouldn't have been during the last Government given that that was what was propping up the growth.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he stand by his statement last Thursday agreeing that he would expect senior Ministers in any industry to react promptly if they were aware of claims of serious misconduct?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he think it right that a Government which holds New Zealanders that it regulates to certain standards should also hold itself to those same standards or indeed to higher standards?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Government holds itself to high standards as the public would expect.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Is he sure that he and his Government have attained the exemplary standards of conduct that he said on Thursday he expects from executives in regulated industries?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes.
Tinetti JanJAN TINETTI (Labour): It's always a pleasure to follow that speaker Nikki Kaye in this House. I find—Hon Chris Hipkins: Because she gives you so much material to work with.JAN TINETTI: I was just about to say because I get so much material to actually speak on". I find that argument quite hollow considering that we are in the third reading of this particular bill and during the committee stage it took roughly 10 minutes to move through the committee stage—an opportunity the Opposition had to be able to put up their Supplementary Order Papers and they didn't put up arguments in that particular stage. A bit hollow just like their nine years in Government. When they could have made a difference for parents in their education and made a difference to free education at that point they didn't but now they stand there in a huge rage saying that this bill is a bad thing. Well this might be a simple bill but it has huge positive implications for the education sector—absolutely massive implications. We are putting money into schools that are not going to be charging donations any longer voluntary donations to their parents. That is a good thing. We have heard here this evening that those schools who are going to be making an increase in funding that is going in to their school that is making those principals and those people those whānau in those schools incredibly happy.Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 10 p.m."
Yule LawrenceLAWRENCE YULE (National—Tukituki): Well I have to say that in my view this bill will achieve absolutely nothing and it's all fluff and is simply a distraction—the Public Finance (Wellbeing) Amendment Bill. If you ask any member of this House what wellbeing" means it will be very different. Chlöe Swarbrick will have a different view to Greg O'Connor who may not have a view on wellbeing. Tracey Martin will have a different view than I have on wellbeing. And the last speaker Kiritapu Allan will have a different view than I have on wellbeing. The problem is that when you end up with fluff you can't measure anything. You end up with such a broad criteria that you end up not achieving anything.I want members opposite to imagine that they're running their electorate and their election campaign. They don't focus on everything; they focus on the things that matter and the important things—for us on this side that's the economy it's jobs and it's exports. Once you've done all of that as my colleague Barbara Kuriger has said then you have some money to spend. Unless you've got the money you can't spend it. What I'm seeing in this bill is really a broadening of everything no deliberate measures and really a lack of focus. It's very easy for a Government to spend money—very easy; that's the simplest part. The hardest part is to earn it. What I worry about in this bill is that all we're talking about and what we're charging Treasury with doing is broadening the framework for decision making. In my experience—and I have watched a number of Budgets over the years with my political interests—all Governments manage the books in the best way they think they can at the time. Their view of wellbeing will vary from one chapter in time to another and one party to another. Most New Zealanders have three basic things they want: they want shelter they want food they want income and they want to feel safe.Hon Chris Hipkins: That's four things.LAWRENCE YULE: Four things—four things. My apology one wrong; four. That's important. I'm trying to be generous. But after that then the discretion comes down as to what they can and want to spend their money on.What I worry about in this bill is that we're going to broaden the whole framework out and we're not going to concentrate on the things that matter the economy and those four things. Thank you Madam Speaker."
Bayly Andrew; Dyson RuthANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua): Madam Speaker thank you. I've just been thinking about things tonight and it's interesting just thinking about this bill; I think that Grant Robertson must be Treasury's best friend. He must be their bestie—or what's the acronym if you're a really good friend? You're a BFF isn't it—best friend forever. Because if you think about Mr Robertson since he's become the finance Minister he's done virtually everything Treasury has been pushing for for years. So what's the first thing he did? Well he had the Reserve Bank—OK so now we've got a dual mandate. The bank had a very clear mandate to have inflation between 1 and 3 per cent so on Treasury's advice that got changed so now we have this one about full employment. Then we had the issue around how you set monetary policy. So what did Treasury want? They suggested we should do the monetary policy committee and of course that's now come into law. What's the third thing that Treasury wanted? Oh that's right Treasury wanted to have a role on monitoring the Reserve Bank because they've been trying to take it over years. So of course we now have a Treasury official that sits ex officio on the monetary policy committee so when we do set the official cash rate of course Treasury is there. Now we've got the next piece of legislation this wonderful piece: the Public Finance (Wellbeing) Amendment Bill. Gee don't I feel better after reading that! Of course National recognises that we have much wider measures than GDP. Of course we don't talk about GDP per capita because under this Government it's gone backwards dramatically—except prior to coming into power it was everything about GDP per capita according to Mr Robertson. But somehow we've forgotten that in time. But the trouble is we've seen an economy go backwards under this Government in 20 short months and we all recognise that having a strong economy powers all the type of stuff we're talking about in this Wellbeing Budget which is about how you fund new schools how you deal with social inequities how you deal with good health outcomes—that's what gives you the money to do it. As my learned colleague beside me Barbara Kuriger mentioned we had very clear objectives about measuring outcomes; not just GDP but a whole stack of them—in fact the Hon Steven Joyce was fixated with measurement. But hey now we've got a Government who wants to talk about wellbeing but doesn't want to measure it. That's the trouble. I'll leave you with this best example the one I've been talking about multiple times today: why has KiwiBuild got no targets? Why has it got no targets? Because this is a Government that doesn't want to measure itself and see how bad it is in performing and executing good policy because it doesn't deliver.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Ruth Dyson): This is a split call. David Seymour.
Kuriger Barbara; Dyson RuthBARBARA KURIGER (National—Taranaki - King Country): Thank you Madam Speaker. Look I think this Government's about as confused as anything I've ever seen before and interestingly enough on a finance bill. So we've heard tonight that the Finance and Expenditure Committee have had briefings on wellbeing. Look the last National Government had 10 Better Public Services targets: reducing welfare dependency increasing infant immunisation rates reducing assaults on children just to actually begin. There's a list of 10 and I won't go through them all.Greg O'Connor: Cheaper public services.BARBARA KURIGER: But the message that I'm going to give you Mr O'Connor is that actually we had targets. And then we had a Government that came in and decided that they didn't like targets because targets are too hard. I mean look at KiwiBuild for example. Let's take the targets away and Oh now we've figured out that it isn't going to work." Well these Better Public Services targets were going to be too hard for this current Government so they moved them. So all of a sudden now they want to have Treasury then start measuring these things again.Let me tell you we've heard a lot of put-downs tonight about GDP and all the rest of it but Deborah Russell over there's an accountant. She will know that a ledger has two sides and you have to have money coming in before you can have money coming out. So it's not that hard; it's one side to earn the money and then to be able to put it in measure it and make targets. It's not actually that hard.Now something that I'm really really really disappointed about right now is that the latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries has just come out and we all know the importance of a strong economy to wellbeing. Well I can tell you that the people who hold up this economy have never ever felt so down and out. The phone calls that I'm getting at the moment and the phone calls my colleagues are getting—and I tell you what: we talk about one suicide being one too many. Just watch this space because if this attitude from this Government carries on with farmers that's what's going to happen. So don't talk to us about wellbeing because actually actions speak louder than words and right now I'm not seeing it. Thank you Madam Speaker.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Ruth Dyson): The next call is a split call. I call the Hon Poto Williams."
McKelvie IanIAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei): Thank you Madam Speaker. I was accused of waffling earlier on so I'll get straight to the point now: this bill is rubbish. I will continue a bit further. The Finance and Expenditure Committee has had a number of briefings on what we should perceive as wellbeing and I would bet that anyone who comes to this House should have a very good understanding of what wellbeing is all about. I would bet that anyone who comes here comes here for that very reason—to create wellbeing for everybody they provide legislation for—and I think anyone who read a Bill English or a Michael Cullen Budget would also have understood what wellbeing was about. So I don't see that altering the Public Finance Act to include a whole lot of what I'd call waffle around wellbeing will make any difference at all to the way this Budget or future Budgets are presented. They'll be presented as they always have been. Now this is a play on words on people's minds and in fact on Treasury's mind and they're challenged enough. I guess they're challenged enough because Mr Twyford's told us on numerous occasions that they're challenged enough. Treasury's role is really to provide sound fiscal advice drive productivity in the public sector identify risk and wasteful spending and advise the Government on where it should go. I'm not sure how we will ever measure wellbeing. I was trying to imagine measuring what I feel like in the morning when I get up. There would be no chance of measuring that publicly. To do away with fiscal measurements and measurements using figures is I think a flawed system and I don't see that in any way this is going to improve either the delivery of our Budgets or the delivery of services that those Budgets are designed to deliver. It effectively excuses Governments from real measurements and I think that's a shame because I do think that we've made some progress in recent years in measuring all sorts of things from health statistics to the way the economy was growing and of course we have to have a growing economy in order to fund the things that we need to provide for in the course of Budgets. I just want to finish by commenting on a couple of things that were said from the other side. I was often thinking as David Clark was talking about walking and chewing gum that maybe the gum will get stuck at some stage and that'll be the end of that because it might have solved the problem and a lot of noise. In response to Mr Tabuteau he was going on about what our people are saying about us to him and I would hate to tell him what our people are saying about him to us. I won't go on and say that but I'm sure that the polls and the voters will in due course. Thank you Madam Speaker.
Garcia PauloPAULO GARCIA (National): Thank you Madam Speaker. The Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities Bill: I understand that the world adheres to the standard that when a promise is made the promise is made with the intention of making good on it and that the promise is not made unless the promise-maker with experience and skills and knowledge and honour and dignity has reasonable cause and intention to make good on that promise. The promise that 10000 homes would be built—1000 in the first year 5000 in the second year and so on—had been made. After two years 258 homes have been built.Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: How many?PAULO GARCIA: Two hundred and fifty-eight homes have been built. Yes and 169 have been sold. All indications are that the promise could not have been fulfilled at the time that it was made yet it was made and repeatedly. The promise is now no more.Under the bill Kāinga Ora will take control of 27000 homes in the pipeline under each year when National left office. Taking control of these homes and the merger of three existing entities into one without any substantive reform in the Resource Management Act or addressing the needs of private sector developers in the building industry we believe will not achieve better outcomes. For that reason we oppose this bill.
Bayly AndrewANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua): We've arrived at the moment haven't we—the Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities Bill. I suspect people on the other side might be wishing Gee I wish that this wasn't coming up tonight." because we know as soon as we start talking about KiwiBuild don't we that's a wrecking ball for the Government—a wrecking ball. It's a slayer of reputations as I said this afternoon when I was talking about the KiwiBuild and of course this bill is about smashing together three entities to try and make it work better. Of course we've got Housing New Zealand the development subsidiary HLC—or Hobsonville Land Company as it used to be known—and the KiwiBuild unit and I'm not sure this is actually going to solve our issues for the Government. Of course we want the Government to actually build some houses—not the 282 that they've built so far but actually some real decent houses and get them out there—but unfortunately they haven't and we've arrived at this situation where we are way under the budget that they promised and promised and promised they were going to do for years and have failed to in the first 20 months. And this bill is not going to make a jot of difference in terms of achieving that outcome.I think the idea that by merging stuff you get better outcomes—well in fact if you look at the history of mergers normally they don't work. Partly and the main reason it's because you get a cultural divide going on when you put entities together. I'm sure that when you merge two very high sort of Government-focused entities such as Housing New Zealand and KiwiBuild and put them together with a commercial arm like HLC that is going to be a problem.But the real issue with this is that you can see what's happening already in the market. This unit is already out poaching consenting staff from Auckland Council paying a lot more to get the same people out of Auckland Council consenting unit. They're hiring them in here and paying a fortune more for them because they think somehow this entity is going to deliver a better outcome. It will not. It's another failure and it won't achieve anything towards a real significant move towards building a heck of a lot more houses which we ultimately need in New Zealand."
Robertson GrantIMPREST SUPPLY (SECOND FOR 2019/20) BILLThird ReadingHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I move That the Imprest Supply (Second for 2019/20) Bill be now read a third time.
Allan KiritapuAPPROPRIATION (2019/20 ESTIMATES) BILLThird ReadingIMPREST SUPPLY (SECOND FOR 2019/20) BILLSecond ReadingDebate resumed.KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour): It is an absolute delight just to finish off in the remaining few minutes I have to speak to the significance of this Wellbeing Budget that the Hon Grant Robertson has introduced that is world-breaking.Before I turn to my final remarks in terms of the impact that this Budget has on Te Tai Rāwhiti I want to make note that this approach to the Wellbeing Budget has received international acclaim from many commentators—but in particular from Cass Sunstein who is a Harvard law professor and he's actually also a former White House officer of information. He said that New Zealand has taken an important step in the right direction and that for other nations it's well worth copying New Zealand's approach to the way in which this Budget has been delivered. I could not agree more.When I look up to the electorate which I am proudly from the East Coast in practical terms what does this Budget mean? Well in practical terms it means that when I speak to the principal of the school of Murupara Area School a school that is decile 1 in a community that has felt left behind by the previous Government I speak to Angela Sharples she has just over 300 students at this school; some of those students are living in hard home environments in terms of poverty. We put children at the forefront of this Budget—that meant that for every student in a school under a decile 7 $150 per student would be provided to those schools that did not ask for a school contribution. When I spoke with the principal Angela Sharples from Murupara Area School she said Kiri we have not been able to ask for a donation from parents for so long and we've just gone without." Well this Budget means in practical terms an additional $50000 per annum for Angela to be able to exercise at her discretion.In terms of what this means to the wellbeing of those children it means that those families can feel slightly relieved that they don't have the burden of having to scalp around for an extra few bucks to try and get those kids off to sports games. It means that those teachers that are often called upon to provide lunches don't have to scrap around in their own personal pockets to try and find that additional resource. Murupara Area School—amongst many others in my electorate—is one of the schools that will be receiving school lunches.Now that to me is a benchmark of a kind caring and compassionate Government. I am proud to endorse this Budget—the Wellbeing Budget—to this House."
Personal Explanation — End of Life Choice Bill—Actions During Debate and Vote
Barry MaggiePERSONAL EXPLANATIONSEnd of Life Choice Bill—Actions During Debate and VoteHon MAGGIE BARRY (National—North Shore): Thank you Mr Speaker. I seek leave to make a personal explanation relating to a matter in the House last week.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that? There appears to be none.Hon MAGGIE BARRY: Thank you. I apologise to the Hon Ruth Dyson for my actions during the debate and the voting on the End of Life Choice Bill last Wednesday night. For me it was a highly emotionally charged situation and I acknowledge now that I was overzealous in expressing my disappointment with the way things were progressing.
Appropriation (2019/20 Estimates) Bill — Third Reading & Imprest Supply (Second for 2019/20) Bill — Second Reading
Visitors — Parliament of the Republic of Fiji—Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence
Robertson GrantIMPREST SUPPLY (SECOND FOR 2019/20) BILLFirst ReadingHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I move that the Appropriation (2019/20 Estimates) Bill be now read a third time and that the Imprest Supply (Second for 2019—SPEAKER: No no—no no. I think you might have the wrong run sheet. I think you're just moving the first reading of the imprest supply bill.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I move That the Imprest Supply (Second for 2019/20) Bill be now read a first time.
Hipkins ChrisSTANDING ORDERSSessionalHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That Kiwi Group Holdings Limited the Judicial Conduct Commissioner and the Māori Television Service be public organisations for the purposes of Standing Orders.This motion will make Kiwi Group Holdings Ltd the Judicial Conduct Commissioner and the Māori Television Service public organisations for the purposes of the Standing Orders. The effect of that resolution would be to subject them to an annual review. An organisation that isn't a department an Officer of Parliament a Crown entity or a State enterprise is subject to an annual review only if the House has resolved by sessional order that the organisation is made a public organisation. As they have not yet been made public organisations these entities would not otherwise be subject to the scrutiny of a select committee annual review process. This motion will rectify that issue.To be clear on the three entities concerned Kiwi Group Holdings Ltd is a holding company for a number of subsidiary companies the major ones of which are Kiwibank Ltd Kiwi Wealth Ltd Kiwi Insurance Ltd and New Zealand Home Loans—Kiwibank Ltd being the main subsidiary which makes up 88 percent of Kiwi Group Holdings Ltd businesses' operating revenue.The Judicial Conduct Commissioner receives and assesses complaints about the conduct of the judiciary. The Judicial Conduct Commissioner's statutory officers are the Judicial Conduct Commissioner and the Deputy Judicial Conduct Commissioner and of course they receive public funding.The Māori Television Service is a statutory corporation. In the 2018-19 year the Māori Television Service received over $19 million in funding from the Crown and $16 million in additional funding through Te Māngai Pāho and the Māori Affairs Committee has conducted five separate inquiries into the financial performance and current operations of the Māori Television Service since it was established because the Māori Television Service would not otherwise be subject to an annual review. This motion will correct that anomaly and make them subject to an annual review.Motion agreed to.
Mallard TrevorTUESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2019The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.VISITORSParliament of the Republic of Fiji—Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and DefenceSPEAKER: I'm sure that members would wish to welcome the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji which is present in the gallery. [Applause] And we wish them luck for the game against Australia at the weekend.
Thursday 1 August 2019 - Volume 739
12. Question No. 12—HealthANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 12—Health12. ANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister of Health: What progress if any is the Government making on ensuring New Zealanders have safe drinking water?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): All New Zealanders have the right to expect their tap water to be safe to drink. We know from the experience in Havelock North in 2016 where 5000 people got sick that unfortunately this has not always been the case. Yesterday the local government Minister and I were pleased to announce approval for a dedicated water regulator to ensure we can have confidence in the safety of our drinking water. This was one of the key recommendations of the Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry Stage 2 report.Angie Warren-Clark: How will a dedicated water regulator prevent outbreaks of water-borne disease like the Havelock North outbreak from happening again?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: For too long drinking-water quality and safety has been covered by a number of pieces of legislation and responsibilities have been split between a number of agencies. As a result oversight has been fractured and ineffective. The new regulator will ensure coherent oversight of the entire drinking-water supply system. They will also ensure compliance with standards through monitoring and enforcement. Furthermore they will provide leadership to the sector; help build capability; provide information advice and education; and report on the performance of the sector.Angie Warren-Clark: What powers will the new water regulator have?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The new water regulator will have the final say on drinking water. Its powers will be set out in the new water services bill the Government intends introducing this year. This legislation will clearly set out all of the obligations to suppliers to provide safe drinking water to their communities. It'll strengthen the compliance monitoring and enforcement of drinking-water regulations. This is a critical milestone for drinking-water safety in this country.
8. Question No. 8—EducationDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 8—Education8. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of Education: Does he stand by all his statements policies and actions around the Reform of Vocational Education?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Yes in the context in which they were made.Dr Shane Reti: How many jobs will be lost from industry training organisations (ITOs) when the Government's own website Education Central states Most of the 1300 full-time equivalent staff in the ITOs [will] lose their jobs under the new plan"?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The website does not state that; 1300 people work for ITOs in total. Some of them may find their jobs are affected. They might find that they're working for a different organisation but to suggest that all of them would overnight lose their jobs is just scaremongering.Dr Shane Reti: How many jobs will be lost from the polytechnic sector given the Minister told TV programme The Nation earlier this year that the reforms would cause significant job losses?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Again that is not what I said on The Nation earlier this year. What I said was that there will be change that the change will be well managed that there is not a target for job reductions—in fact we want to see this sector expand which is not what was happening under the policies adopted by the last Government.Dr Liz Craig: Does he stand by his statement that Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITPs) like the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) will be able to continue to innovate to meet the needs of their students in regions?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes I do stand by that statement and the commitments that we've made including ring-fencing the cash reserves of ITPs that have significant cash reserves so that they can be reinvested back in their local communities which is one of the ways that we can help to ensure that.Dr Shane Reti: Will polytechnics like SIT with the ring-fenced cash reserves the Minister has just talked about have final decision making on how those reserves will be spent?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The way the institution will operate—the operating model of the institution in the longer term—has not yet been determined.Dr Shane Reti: Will polytechnics like SIT Ara Otago the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and the Universal College of Learning have the final say on what they teach and how they teach it?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The decision-making structure of the new institution has not been determined."
6. Question No. 6—EducationMARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 6—Education6. MARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What actions if any is the Government taking to ensure that the vocational education system meets the needs of industry regions and learners?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Today we've announced reforms to create a strong unified and sustainable system for vocational education and training. To pick just two aspects of that to highlight industry will have greater control over all aspects of vocational education and training through new workforce development councils and our 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) will be brought together as a single nationwide campus network.Marja Lubeck: Will this mean big disruption for learners and staff at polytechnics or trainees and their employers?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: One of the ways to get the biggest disruption would be to do nothing. That would result in significant closure of programmes and courses around the country which is what we have been seeing in recent times. We've given a great deal of thought to how to minimise disruption of change so there will not be big disruption in the short term and any changes resulting from the reforms will be well signposted and well planned for.Dr Liz Craig: So how will he ensure that successful and effective ITPs like the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) are able to continue to innovate to meet the needs of their students and regions?SPEAKER: Now I'm going to ask the member to ask the question again without an assertion in it.Dr Liz Craig: How will he ensure that successful and effective ITPs like SIT are able to continue to innovate to meet the needs of their students and region?SPEAKER: The member's had two cracks. She can have one more to take the assertion out of the beginning of the question.Dr Liz Craig: How will he ensure that successful and effective ITPs like SIT are able to continue to innovate to meet the needs of their students and region?SPEAKER: Right that's three strikes; that's the end of that question.