Robson Matt: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Robson Matt: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3483] 
9.  
Hon MATT ROBSON (Deputy Leader—Progressive) 
 to the  
Minister for Industry and Regional Development 
: Has he seen any practical examples of the Government’s growth and innovation strategy at work; if so can he provide details of these? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister for Industry and Regional Development) 
: 
 Yes I have. Yesterday I visited the human interface technology laboratory in Christchurch. This is an exciting joint-venture between the University of Canterbury the University of Washington in Seattle the Canterbury Development Corporation and the Government to develop innovative ways of working with people and computers using new technology in the virtual reality field. Industry New Zealand the Government’s economic development agency has assisted both the establishment and development of this high-tech laboratory. At the launch I was able to announce a $500000 grant from the Government to assist high-technology job opportunities for both Canterbury and New Zealand. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: What has made this development possible? 
Hon David Carter 
: Subsidy! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I do not mind the odd interjection. In fact they sometimes add to question time but I do not think that shouting out is entirely appropriate. It is just rudeness. I want to hear the Minister’s answer. 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: National Party members may well laugh but if they listen to the answer they will not laugh any more. Dr Mark Billinghurst a young talented New Zealander and a key member of the human interface technology laboratory in the University of Washington—the only human interface technology laboratory in the world—saw an opportunity of a constructive partnership between two universities one in New Zealand and one in the United States as well as local and central government partnerships to return to his native country to offer back his knowledge and experience. He could have gone literally anywhere in the world and he would have been welcomed with open arms because he is such a talented young New Zealander. However he saw that New Zealand is now actively encouraging innovation and he has even persuaded the head of the human interface technology laboratory in the University of Washington Professor Tom Furness to gain New Zealand residency. This is a triumph for the development of high technology in New Zealand. 
John Carter 
: Given the reports in the  
New Zealand Herald 
 today and indeed the debate in Parliament that Sovereign Yachts once the boast of the Government’s “job machine” has now advised that all the workers are likely to lose their jobs what did the Minister mean when he said at a Government-organised innovation conference in Christchurch last year that Sovereign Yachts was amongst firms celebrated as an example for others to emulate? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: Any time that New Zealanders have been overseas and bring back to this country expertise or investment capital and put that at the use of other New Zealanders in this country that is good news. If the member wants to be derisive about developments such as the human interface technology laboratory in Christchurch which is part of his question that I am now answering then he or any member of his party should go down to the laboratory and see what kind of reception they get. 
John Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This is where we get into difficulties in question time. I asked a very specific question about what the Minister meant with regard to a statement that Sovereign Yachts was amongst firms celebrated as examples for others to emulate. He never bothered to answer that question. It was a very short concise question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The original question was wide-ranging. The member honed in on one particular thing. The Minister addressed it in part; he did not specifically refer to that but he addressed the question. 
David Cunliffe 
: What benefits will New Zealand get from the human interface technology laboratory?  
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: Mark Billinghurst has already developed virtual reality techniques of significant use in medical engineering building construction telecommunications and computer graphics which will offer a wide range of commercial and job opportunities both in Canterbury and throughout New Zealand. New Zealand will benefit from having high-quality highly paid jobs strong international links a greater research capability retaining intellectual property and spin-off companies. In the United States the Washington human interface technology laboratory has created 400 jobs stimulated more than US$30 million in research grants gifts and contracts and has issued 12 patents and formed 18 spin-off companies. 
Rodney Hide 
: Does the Minister consider the Sovereign Yachts project at Hobsonville a practical example of his economic strategy at work given that 4 hectares of land valued by the defence force at $10 million was sold by the Government for half a million dollars and does he when he looks at this project now and given Mr Lloyd’s dubious and erratic business background accept that with the Sovereign Yachts project he and his Government picked a loser and not a winner? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: Any time 40 to 60 jobs are created anywhere in New Zealand is good news. If the member is asking for hindsight—what in hindsight does he think about being the first MP to take a ride on Bill Lloyd’s yacht in the Auckland harbour when he started off? 
Rodney Hide 
: We had already got off. Get stuffed! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I call Dr Brash. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! 
Rodney Hide 
: You ask him! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will stand and withdraw and apologise. I have twice called order but he continued to interject. 
Rodney Hide 
: I apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: It had better not relate to my ruling. 
Rodney Hide 
: Not at all. I seek your guidance. When a Minister stands up in the House and says something that is not true what is the appropriate remedy? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member knows that that is not a valid point of order. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We do have a problem. Now we are told that the answer given by the Minister is not correct. We have a series of Government MPs baiting a member on this side of the House he responds and you then bring down your whole authority on an ACT member of Parliament when in fact the whole matter was incited by the Minister making false statements and then being helped by another Minister. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: If that were an accurate reflection of what had happened then of course the member would be correct but it was not. Mr Hide interjected three times. I moved on the third interjection.