6. Police Minister—Statements About Child PovertyJACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister of PolicePolice Minister—Statements About Child Poverty6. JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister of Police: Does she stand by all her statements?Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police): Yes especially in context and especially when I have said that to blame crime on poverty is so insulting to anybody who does not have a lot of money.Jacinda Ardern: Does she stand by the exact answer she gave yesterday to the Police Association conference when asked the question Do you think your Government is doing enough for child poverty and the gap between those that do have and those that don't have?" an answer from her that included "It's not that; it's people who don't look after their children"?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well I am happy to provide that member with the full question not a little teeny bit of the question as she has quoted. The question was: "Greg mentioned several homicides. I think we're up to nine now—I think. We know we could never have enough resources. You know we couldn't have enough resources in police. We have this chasing-our-tails scenario that continues on and on and on. If we look at the United Nations who have just released a report on child poverty—and of course that is where all our recruits come from continually into gangs and a lot of our offenders are from that neck of the woods. Do you think your Government is doing enough …" then we get to the little bit that Miss Ardern has mentioned. So my answer was: "Well you know speaking with my 'MP for Papakura hat' on so I know something about child poverty I can tell you we're doing a whole lot more than the UN has ever done. So actually yes—a hell of a lot more. But just like police we could always do with more. And one of the things I look at with child poverty—actually I don't see just money or money poverty. I see a poverty of ideas a poverty of parental responsibility a poverty of love a poverty of caring"—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Actually these—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member—[Interruption] Order! I wish to hear the point of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: My point of order is that the length of that answer is matched only by the vacuity of the answer she is giving.Mr SPEAKER: And that again is not a point of order and I—[Interruption] Order! On many occasions again I have said to that particular member I determine when the length of answer is excessive. On that occasion when a quote had been given and the Minister was taking the opportunity to put the quote into full context—although it was a very long answer—I thought it was justified.Jacinda Ardern: If she stands by her answer at the Police Association conference yesterday which also included: "In New Zealand there is money available to everyone who needs it." how does she explain the high levels of income poverty in this country?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well I of course am the Minister of Police. If that member wants to ask questions specifically about child poverty she should have the gumption to ask the Minister in charge—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member will stand and withdraw that part of the answer.Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I withdraw.Mr SPEAKER: Is there a further supplementary question or do you wish to continue your answer?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I am happy to. I am also happy to say that it is not just about money in this country. It is about parental responsibility and that is something that I take very seriously.Jacinda Ardern: If there is enough money for everyone who needs it as she has stated can she tell the House what percentage of families defined as being in income poverty are also in work?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I have indulged the member but really—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon JUDITH COLLINS: As I said yesterday and as I say again I am speaking as the member of Parliament for Papakura but I am very happy to say to that member that if she wants to put a question down on notice I am sure the appropriate Minister will answer the detailed question.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. A Minister of Police speaking to a Police Association conference can only be speaking in her capacity as Minister of Police. She would not have been invited as an individual member of Parliament and therefore it is more than acceptable to ask questions about the statements she made in her ministerial capacity and to expect her to answer them.Mr SPEAKER: The member is on this occasion half right. It is certainly acceptable to ask the question. But when I consider the general nature of the primary question it is not unreasonable that the Minister then is unable to answer the detail that was asked in that question. If the member wants further guidance on this I refer him to Speaker's rulings 191/3 and 191/4.Jacinda Ardern: Is she telling parents like Ebony Andrews who despite stringent budgeting is left with $80 a week from her income as a learning support teacher and has to rely on KidsCan to provide basics like food clothing and shoes for her family that she has all the money she needs to get by or is she telling her that she is a bad parent?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No what I am saying to that person who is now being quoted by Miss Ardern is that I do not agree with the Labour Party or with Mr Stuart Nash who today said that poverty causes crime. I do not believe that."