edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
7. Question No. 7—PoliceGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 7—Police7. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South) to the Minister of Police: What recent announcements has the Government made on tackling gangs and intimidating behaviour across New Zealand?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Police): Last week the Hon Kiri Allan and I announced a suite of measures to help police respond to gang violence and intimidating behaviour in New Zealand. Recent brazen gang activities have been totally unacceptable and our communities deserve better. Police asked for legislative changes that will give them more tools to crack down on violent offending and the Government has responded to that. We've announced a balanced package based on evidence of what will work.Ginny Andersen: What will these targeted measures include and why are they necessary?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The targeted measures include a new offence in the Crimes Act that could carry a penalty of up to five years in prison if a firearm is discharged with the intent to intimidate; providing police with additional search powers targeting gang members during a gang conflict; ensuring police can seize stashes of cash; helping them to crack down on money-laundering by adding more valuable items to the list of high-value goods that are prohibited to cash sale; and expanding the range of offences that could result in the impoundment of cars motorbikes and other vehicles. We want to hit the gangs where it hurts by taking their guns their cars and their motorbikes and making it harder for them to launder money. [Multiple members interject]SPEAKER: Order!Ginny Andersen: What feedback has he received since these measures were announced?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Police Association welcome the announcement saying—and I quote—the Government is obviously listening to Police and has picked up on several key concerns around gang intimidation and illegal gang accumulation of wealth." Crime and justice expert Jarrod Gilbert also commented on the measures citing that the creation of a new firearms offence would likely fill a gap in existing legislation by strengthening penalties available and it appears eminently sensible. It is worth noting however that the support for the package has not been unanimous and we've had less favourable feedback on the measures from associates of organisations such as the Mongrel Mob Black Power and the National Party.Ginny Andersen: What further work is being explored to help prevent crime in New Zealand?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: While the tools that I've outlined will help the police to keep communities safe there is also work under way across agencies to address some of the drivers of crime in particular the drivers of youth crime. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Truancy. It's getting worse all the time.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: We know that early intervention rehabilitation and reintegration has the most effective route to sustain long-term harm reduction. I agree with Paul Goldsmith that school attendance is one of the things we need to be focused on; it's a shame the last Government made such a hash of it."
5. Question No. 5—HousingTERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki) to the Minister of HousingQuestion No. 5—Housing5. TERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki) to the Minister of Housing: What action is the Government taking to enable more homes to be built across New Zealand?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing): Last week I announced the first seven successful projects to be funded by the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) the Government's $1 billion contestable fund. Through these IAF investments we are laying the groundwork for thousands of new homes across Aotearoa by providing much-needed funding for essential housing infrastructure like roads pipes flood management and other key infrastructure. But this is just the beginning. We have to build our way out of the national housing crisis we inherited and we're working closely with councils and developers to progress further investments to enable more development of homes where they are most needed.Terisa Ngobi: Which areas are set to benefit from the first announcement of IAF funding?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Seven centres will benefit from the first round of IAF funding including Rotorua Ōmokoroa Napier Kaikōura Gisborne New Plymouth and of course Ōtaki. The IAF process means that we get the best value for our investment rather than a blunt one-size-fits-all approach. In Ōtaki an application from Māori land owners the Kāpiti Coast District Council and private developers will see $29.3 million of IAF funds committed to upgrading water supply and roading enabling an estimated 1000 papa kāinga affordable and market homes. In Rotorua we are investing $85 million in stormwater solutions which the Rotorua Lakes district council considers will enable over 3000 homes in an intensification project.Terisa Ngobi: What responses has the Minister seen to the announcement?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: The Mayor of the Kāpiti Coast District said the Government's IAF announcement was a transformational investment" for a community in need of housing. The Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty receiving almost $38.4 million for the Ōmokoroa intersection said "After being [proposed] by various Government's over a 12-year period to finally have it delivered I wouldn't say it's miraculous but it's a word similar to that." And the Mayor of Rotorua said "Government coming in with this [investment] is eyewatering. It brings it forward and we can get going. It's great news for Rotorua. We have to build our way out of this housing crisis.""
Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill — Second Reading
Utikere Tangi; Rurawhe AdrianTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure to rise and take the final call on the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill following on from Mr Penk. The night is nigh and so perhaps this will be the final contribution before the House is able to rise. But I want to thank members of the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee. There is often I think quite a competitive nature in the House when it comes to references to select committees and wanting to be on particular ones. But when I read through the report from the select committee what that one has identified is a number of changes that obviously came to light as a result of listening to the community submissions and identifying those.I have to reflect that Harete Hipango referred to the contra proferentem rule and I remember that actually from when I was teaching year 10 in a school when it concerned Te Tiriti. So it was a nice reminder to be reminded of that rule and what it means in terms of falling in favour of those particularly in treaties where it is constructed not perhaps in their favour.Many colleagues have said this evening that digital identity is one of the most important things that is I guess significant in any state; in any opportunity. So this bill delivers on that and I commend it to the House.Motion agreed to.Bill read a second time.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m. Pō Mārie.The House adjourned at 9.58 p.m.
SpeechGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth): Kia ora Mr Speaker. Back in 2019 research was carried out that found that 79 percent of New Zealanders did not feel in control of their personal information. They were concerned about their personal data and how organisations might use it. In this piece of research they found that nine out of 10 people stated that the idea of being more in control of their digital identity was something that was really desirable. This is what this piece of legislation is about. It's around ensuring that people have control of their online data; in this ever changing ever moving world where things are constantly happening that they are in control. And so being a member of this select committee—hearing submissions hearing some challenging submissions looking forward to one day being back on that select committee—the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill I commend to the House.
SpeechTĀMATI COFFEY (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. We are living in a fast-paced world—te ao hurihuri. The world is turning and it needs us to catch up and making sure that we've got a trusted digital services framework is incredibly important. Coming here for the second reading of this bill means that we're another step closer towards making that happen. I congratulate the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee for going through the process of listening to the concerns of the people. I also note that the work that's been done to reflect Te Ao Māori perspectives in a digital identity system is actually crucial. We need to make sure that Māori have participation in that. We need to make sure that that's reflected in our Treaty partnership and to give effect to that the bill is going to establish a Māori advisory group with specialist information about Māori interests and knowledge. The board has applied to seek the advice of the group on matters of tikanga Māori and Māori cultural perspectives and the board must also give effect to the group's advice to the extent that it considers reasonable and practicable after taking into account other relevant considerations. The work that's being done here isn't something that's going to be forced on all New Zealanders. I know that that was a concern of some of the submitters during the process. This is something that is going to be quite straightforward for those people who choose to enter into it. I think it bodes well for the future of digital identity services and it will enable us to catch up to where other places around the rest of the world are currently heading. So I commend it to the House.
McLellan Tracey; Rurawhe AdrianDr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour—Banks Peninsula): Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you for the opportunity to make a short contribution on a late Tuesday evening to the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill. Now as has been canvassed quite widely tonight it is important that people absolutely trust the way that their identity and their identity data is handled. Providing people with greater control over that over their identity data will certainly help maintain and build on that trust as well. Currently the digital identity environment in New Zealand is as we have heard largely unregulated which really does expose people and it also exposes businesses as well to risks such as online fraud and to privacy breaches as well.Now internationally key trading partners like Australia and the United Kingdom are also modernising their digital identity services and their systems and they're taking a similar approach to what New Zealand is taking. So there's international mutual recognition that our digital identity trust framework is a critical first step in full interoperability. As we all know that sort of full interoperability innovation and collaboration on digital identity services is going to be difficult without clear and without really consistent and without a coordinated approach led by Government. Hence this bill.Now as a member of the coveted Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee—so coveted in fact that I wasn't actually a member at the time when the thousands of submissions were presented and heard but I understand that many of them as has been discussed weren't necessarily specifically relevant to this piece of legislation. Nevertheless it does go to show that the general topic and the sphere of interest for many people is topical. I also understand that the select committee made several changes including in response to concerns from Māori—a requirement has been to add and consult and invite some submissions from tikanga experts who have knowledge of Te Ao Māori approaches to identity.And with that and safe in that knowledge I commend this bill to the House.DEPUTY SPEAKER: This is a split call. I call Harete Hipango.
SpeechDr JAMES McDOWALL (ACT): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure to speak briefly on the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill. As previous speakers have outlined this is a new regulatory framework to establish the goalpost for a secure and trusted identity system one that is interoperable and most importantly not mandatory and hopefully it can improve services for those who choose to use it. The fact that this is opt in is incredibly important. Apart from the obvious issues around forcing companies and users to get on board a mandatory regime would stifle innovation and seriously undermine innovation.This legislation this framework is useful in a world where a much larger much greater number of people are working remotely. Simple identity verification and other tools would be helpful in a lot of sectors and especially in the legal sector—for instance for when they are purchasing property if you're lucky enough to be able to do that or verifying your identity in other ways especially during lockdowns although let's just hope we've seen the back of those.As others have noted a lot of submissions came through and I think a lot of concern has been aired on various social media platforms that this is some sort of quasi form of China's social credit system and I think these sorts of concerns have been absorbed into a range of implausible theories. Look I've seen that system in person over in China and I'm very certain that the Government here in New Zealand does not have the capability of running or creating such a scheme. If they could do that they could probably manage KiwiBuild.Compliance is one thing that has to be there but it could cause issues with incentives or disincentives for companies and organisations to actually take part in the scheme. We've seen this in a lot of other sectors. I think one example is the anti-spam laws that we have in this country. You know there's pretty severe fines for breaking those rules and how well has that enforcement actually been? I know that as a member of Parliament we certainly get signed up to every newsletter on the planet and technically that violates our anti-spam laws. So who knows?I think the way this has been set up—the three regulatory bodies the governance board the Māori advisory group and accreditation authority—is a fairly sensible way and structure of going about it. I'm sure that in the committee stage we will debate the Green Party's Supplementary Order Papers. I think with the Māori advisory group this is not a co-governance issue at all; this is actually a very good arrangement for ensuring that cultural awareness and engagement is integrated into the process in a way that is balanced and appropriate and I think even just that attribute alone kind of counters this idea that this is some form of central control or some sort of secretive communist takeover.So with that we're happy with the bill. Certainly there'll be some discussion and I look forward to that in the committee stage. It's a welcome development in our tech space and I commend the bill to the House.
SpeechNAISI CHEN (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. I also echo all of my colleagues who sit on the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee one of the best select committees in Parliament. We work very collaboratively together as the member who has just resumed her seat the Hon Judith Collins has spoken about. Technology—we are really at the new frontier in terms of how we govern how technology is used. I always talk about how technology is neutral but it's up to those people how we choose to use it and for what reason we use it and then who uses it gives technology its definition in nature.As the chair of the select committee has already mentioned we received a large amount of submissions. However I think the majority of them actually didn't really submit in terms of relating to the real substance of this bill. I think this bill could have been one of the most misunderstood bills I have had the pleasure of dealing with in this House so far.So I just wanted to put on record that this bill is about setting up a framework whereby the Government and the consequent board that was set up the Trust Framework Board will make sure that we have a set of criteria that we will judge a technology company or a place that issues a digital identity whereby the accreditations—if they meet those criteria we can accredit that person. Meaning that as a consumer as a citizen here in New Zealand you can trust websites you can trust entities that have been accredited by this board with your personal information with your own identity information.So this bill is all about the safe governance of your own data of your digital identity online. On that note I commend this bill to the House.
Collins JudithHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura): Thank you Mr Speaker. What a pleasure to take a call on this important bill. And it is actually a very important bill because as we should know our identities our digital identities are becoming significantly more used in terms of just our normal access to Government agencies to councils to actually just part of banking and every other aspect of our lives. We as people tend to demand the best of services and so many of those services now are provided through a digital network it is important with the digital framework that people can have a real trust in it. And I note the comments of the member who's just resumed his seat Jamie Strange from the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee it's really important that we understand that there are people who are very concerned about conspiracies. After some time in Parliament and many years as a lawyer most conspiracies tend to end up being—and using a polite term—more like just mistakes. And what I would say to them is that this particular framework bill is nothing about getting more information on people it's actually focused on trying to make our information that we readily put on a digital medium safer for us and to protect us from people who do want to misuse that information.We had when we were in Government the RealMe system that was set up and certainly it's something that I use and I think many people do. But it is probably something that having been setup in 2018—technology is moving so fast—we need to be able to continuously keep up to date. This is not going to be the last bill on this sort of issue because technology is moving so fast. Certainly the advice that I'm hearing from people in the United Kingdom and Australia around things like open banking is going to mean that we are going to have to constantly keep this sort of technological advance at the forefront of our minds in Parliament.This should not be a political issue; this is an issue that is actually about enabling New Zealanders to be safer on the internet. It should always be about understanding that although politics tends to come into all things where resources are required and need to be used this is not one of those areas because this is like reading and writing. This is that basic now. Our children's generation and the children after that they will consider this the most basic thing that we should be putting in place.So the National Party supports this bill. Obviously it will need to be amended at various stages even after it's enacted as a statue but that will be for the future as technology is changing. What we should never think is that a piece of law but also a bill like this is ever going to always be fit for purpose. It may be fit for purpose now; it may be fit for purpose the next few years. But we are going to end up having to revisit it and we should do so as a Parliament with the sort of willingness that was shown on the select committee to actually work across and try and find the best answer for Kiwis. So I'm happy to support this bill and I commend it to the House.
Rurawhe AdrianDIGITAL IDENTITY SERVICES TRUST FRAMEWORK BILLSecond ReadingDebate resumed from 17 May.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members when we last considered this bill we had completed call number two. We are now on call number three.JAMIE STRANGE (Labour—Hamilton East): Thank you Mr Speaker. I'm delighted to take a call on this bill and I know other members are also very keen—which is great—to take calls on the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill.The bill is now in its second reading. As the chair of the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee I'd like to acknowledge all of those who made submissions on this bill. I'd like to acknowledge the committee members many of whom are in the House tonight for their work on this bill. I'd like to acknowledge all of the officials and the staff in the parliamentary precinct who worked through 4500 written submissions—so quite a lot of interest in this bill.But to me the most interesting aspect was that we received like I said 4500 submissions. But an overwhelming majority—4049—were received in the last two days. I attribute this to the influx of misinformation campaigns on social media that caused many submitters to believe that this bill was related to the COVID-19 vaccine passes which it actually was not but it was about a new regime that would develop rules for the provision of safe secure and trusted digital identity services. I'd like to acknowledge the Minister for bringing this bill to the House and I know it had support of all parties in the first reading. I'm hopeful that that support will continue because it is a really good important piece of legislation in terms of people being safe online.For the sake of time I'll leave my contribution there because I know others also want to contribute. A really important piece of legislation as we become more online—you know more digital—in the way we conduct our lives. I commend this bill to the House.
Rurawhe AdrianMARJA LUBECK (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. And talking about timely isn't it a coincidence that as the other co-chair on the European delegation I get to take a call after my colleague Tim van de Molen. Actually my colleague just mentioned that unexpected things can happen and didn't we see that on our delegation. Not only did our luggage get lost for five days but all members managed to get on quite civilly. And actually I think we enjoyed each other's company. So there you go—unexpected things happen.So what this bill does is it deals with a very important tool that we have in our tool kit and a service that assists New Zealanders overseas in distress. It has been mentioned by several members now but the COVID pandemic of all things has definitely shown us that circumstances at any stage can change very quickly and people find themselves in hot water and for whatever reason are unable to get themselves home. And it's very important that in those circumstances they can then look to their embassy and have some support and assistance.So this is a service that has been provided for over 25 years with the ministry assisting New Zealanders in distress by providing that temporary financial relief by way of a consular loan. I guess as the last speaker I'll just tie a few other strands together. One of the thoughts is that this bill is not seeking to create any new policy approach. It is retrospective but it's to make sure that we have the power continuing to make loans for providers in the legislation as we have for the last 25 years.It is also important to note as a previous speaker has mentioned that roughly between $3000 and $4000 is commonly the cost used to replace either passports or tickets home. The previous speakers also mentioned that this is a very small but important bill and it means that we can ensure that we preserve an important tool we have to assist New Zealanders in distress overseas and I commend it to the House. Thank you Mr Speaker.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is That the Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill be considered by the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee.Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee.
Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill — First Reading
McLellan TraceyDr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour—Banks Peninsula): Thank you Mr Speaker. And not to be out of step with anybody tonight I also stand in support of the Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill tonight. I think most people as has been evidenced by the contributions tonight would agree that providing practical support is a really important service to the New Zealanders who find themselves in distress overseas. As we all know circumstances can change. There's things that we've witnessed on several occasions over the last two or three years and someone can for a variety of reasons simply get caught without the means to get home. And when that happens it's incredibly important that they can look to their New Zealand Embassy for that support.So as has been well traversed tonight the bill simply seeks to re-establish the legislative authority for what is a longstanding practice and it's certainly not seeking to create any new policy approach. What we do know is since 2014 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has provided consular loans to around 443 New Zealanders to either return home or to simply shelter in safety when returning home isn't the best—or even possible—solution. What we also know is those loans are typically around about $3000 to $4000 and they're commonly for replacement passports or for flight tickets home. The retrospective nature of this piece of legislation has been mentioned and while retrospective legislation is unusual it is certainly appropriate—as has been commented on tonight in this particular case—because it doesn't actually change those rights and responsibilities between the two parties between the ministry or between the recipient of the loan.So to summarise the bill is needed simply to correct an error and to ensure that the consular loans can continue to be accessed by New Zealanders in need and given with the proper authority. So I commend this bill to the House.
Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. I just intend to take a brief call this evening because what this bill seeks to do is to effectively fix an issue of a technical nature now that it's been brought to the attention of the House by the Minister. Mr Penk is right when he talks about the retrospective nature of the legislation and how it's an important balance that any Parliament needs to consider in terms of whether legislative provision should be one that includes a retrospective approach. At the moment the process is clearly not satisfactory in law.What is this bill seeking to achieve? Well it's seeking to achieve a fairly straightforward opportunity for New Zealanders and Kiwis who—whether they're on holiday whether they're on business—for whatever reason they are somewhere overseas when they go to as Mr Seymour puts it the oasis that we know either as a consulate an embassy or a high commission that there is a straightforward process to provide financial support to whānau who are in dire need in unfortunate circumstances and who might be meeting a particular need around health and safety. I commend this bill to the House.
SpeechIBRAHIM OMER (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure to take a short call on Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill. For over 25 years the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been assisting New Zealanders in distress overseas by providing temporary financial assistance by way of a consul loan to them when they are in distress or when they don't have other means of financial assistance and their immediate health or safety is at risk. This is an important service for New Zealanders in distress.COVID-19 was a good example when thousands of Kiwis were stuck overseas and some of them didn't have any means of assistance. And so as COVID-19 has shown the circumstances can change quickly for any of us really. As someone who has a lot of family links overseas when things go wrong for me I like to look around and then you know be able to go to my embassy for assistance. In some places this could be quite crucial and critical; in fact it could be lifesaving. So because of that this bill is quite technical but in a way it's also straightforward and simple and it's essential. So I commend it to the House.
Ghahraman GolrizGOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise to very briefly speak on the Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill. As others have said this is an important bill but it is very simple and timely. It's just the change to the statutory authorisation to give the Minister of Foreign Affairs explicit ability to issue or continue to issue consular loans to New Zealanders overseas when they need them. I've been in that position as many have in the House where we have been overseas or lived overseas and it is heartening to know that we have consular support including financial support when and if we do need it. Of course those types of supports have become more and more essential in a time of pandemic and our connectedness with our overseas whānau has come to the fore or been challenged over the past 2½ years. So it's a technical bill it's a simple bill it's a timely bill and we do commend it to the House.
Leary IngridINGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri): I don't mean to be dramatic but to me this technical bill the Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill as has been described by my colleague the Hon Aupito William Sio is actually also about what it means to be a New Zealander because it's incredibly important if one finds oneself overseas in distress and we've heard that word used in difficult circumstances with no back-up alone and desperate to know that the country that one belongs to is going to step in and provide support and that the details of how that will be sorted out—it will be sorted out fairly and that help is available. There's incredible social capital in that and that can't be underestimated because that speaks to our democratic institutions. We can't have democracy without trust and faith in our institutions and so these small numbers of consular loans actually have a huge impact on those who receive them and the goodwill that they have to our country. I certainly know that I would want to know that my family myself could rely on that from the country of Aotearoa New Zealand should we need it.The second part of this bill is technical and it has been said in the House that it needs to clean up what has been illegal loans. That's incredibly important as well because to maintain that trust in our democratic system we need things to be legal we need our processes our rule of law to be correct. So we are doing that cleaning up tonight to make sure that what we have is in order after the 2013 amendment that my colleague spoke to. So on those two grounds this is actually quite an important bill even though it is technical and it's a real pleasure to hear that others are supporting it. I commend it to the House.
McClay ToddHon TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua): Look I do confirm that National support this legislation. It is an anomaly that needs to be fixed. The work that is done by our missions overseas in helping or assisting New Zealanders is extremely important for those who fall on hard times or who are desperate. It gives us the opportunity to help them to make sure they get home. There is a question for other speakers of the Government as to why this needs to go to a committee and then come back to the House and take up extra time. If it is straightforward just fixing an anomaly that was there previously and there are no challenges with it I'm not sure why we're not just taking all stages with this one debate and then voting. And then for those who are uncertain it's fixed; and for those who are needing assistance they can get it. The Minister may also be able to instruct one of her colleagues as this has been found to be not legal at the moment if it's been happening from the moment the Government found it was illegal are they still providing assistance and doing so illegally? In which case there is a necessity to do this a lot more quickly.The final point I think is in around our immigration settings. There will be New Zealanders overseas who are in relationships long term who are married and who want to return to New Zealand and their spouses or partners don't have the visas to allow them to come to New Zealand as permanent residents or as citizens. Once they are here or they've applied overseas they will get those sorts of things given to them but can that assistance be provided to them and their children—a New Zealander overseas in London for instance who for whatever reason has fallen on hard times and must return to New Zealand—can the assistance be provided? Perhaps they have been in a relationship or married for a period of time and have children. Is the assistance available to them also given that they are not New Zealand citizens or permanent residents? They may like the Government to provide clarity for us on that. But it is important that this provision is available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and that the funds that have been given out against the law are rectified as quickly as possible.
SpeechHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Courts): It's a pleasure to follow the speaker on the other side in support of this bill.This is not about new policy. This is a technical correction in the bill. For over 25 years the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has assisted New Zealanders in distress overseas by providing temporary financial assistance by way of a consular loan to them when they had no other means of financial assistance and their immediate health and safety was at risk. So for over 25 years this has been done in accordance with the authority in the provisions of the Public Finance Act 1989 until the Act was amended in 2013. Anyway so that's what we're doing tonight. We saw in the pandemic how necessary this was when New Zealanders and their families were for a number of reasons—lost passports or could not get home safely—required consular assistance and they were able to receive that consular assistance.Many times the provision of safety shelter when returning home was not possible during the pandemic. So a majority of those loans were issued at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were typically around $3000 or $4000. So I think it was really really—still necessary at this point in time. But as I said we were doing this under the provisions of the Act 1989 until 2013 and somebody—anyway so we're correcting that.Happy to support the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the tabling of this bill for consideration.
SpeechFOREIGN AFFAIRS (CONSULAR LOANS) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Mr Speaker I present a legislative statement on the Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill.DEPUTY SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I move That the Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee to consider the bill.The bill ensures the Government has the ongoing ability to issue loans to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who require consular assistance while overseas and are facing exceptional circumstances. The bill by empowering the Minister of Foreign Affairs and their delegates allows New Zealand's consular officials to continue the longstanding practice of issuing consular loans where it is essential to ensure the immediate safety and wellbeing of citizens offshore. That practice has been in place for at least the last 25 years.The bill is necessary to provide the express statutory authority required to issue loans under the Public Finance Act 1989. The practice of issuing consular loans did not require express authority under the Public Finance Act until that Act was amended in 2013. The need to provide express authority to enable the ongoing provision of consular loans was only identified by officials in 2020 a period of unusually high demand for consular loans caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill provides that loans may be issued to a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who is in distress and where exceptional circumstances exist and if doing so would provide short-term assistance and be consistent with New Zealand's consular functions. Such loans are an important tool for assisting New Zealanders offshore whose immediate health and safety is at risk and who have no other means of financial assistance in order to resolve that situation.The bill also validates consular loans already granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in good faith during the period after the Public Finance Act was amended in 2013 and before the ministry received in 2020 its current delegated authority from the Minister of Finance to lend money for this purpose. By advancing this bill we will preserve an important tool in our tool kit for assisting New Zealanders who find themselves in distress and without other means of immediate assistance as they travel overseas and engage with the world. I commend the bill to the House.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.
SpeechANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise from an export-driven region as the member for Tukituki and Hawke's Bay. There are big benefits for Hawke's Bay in this trade deal. And not only is it going to see us continue to deliver and maximise the opportunities from all the great things we grow in this region—and do we grow some good things? We do wine. We do fantastic award-winning wine. And perhaps the National Party particularly the member Todd McClay could take a leaf out of the positive book of growing great regions. Because all I heard was whining—not wine whining and whingeing. Whingeing and whining about what they couldn't get. And yet on this side this Government where we absolutely support free trade and have a record of securing great deals it is being done under this Government the Labour Government.Now if I talk about our region—and I'd just like to acknowledge what the Hawke's Bay wine region said We are a big winner a big winner of the free-trade agreement between New Zealand and the UK." Our largest export to the UK is wine approximately 500 million a year. Overnight $14 million worth of wine tariffs will evaporate. Now that is just phenomenal absolute brilliant results that we're going to see through free trade and doing business. It's about produce. It's about doing things with our wine our kiwifruit our honey all the great things that absolutely champion New Zealand across the world. It is about celebrating these great things that we do as New Zealanders. We are an export-driven economy. We grow jobs in our region.I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Napier Port who last week celebrated the opening of wharf six another way for Hawke's Bay to absolutely maximise the most from our export-growing potential and to be able to free up even more opportunities for us to be able to export hundreds of tons of our quality exports. That's right wine. That's right we've got honey. We've got kiwifruit we've got cherries we've got apples we've got lamb we've got beef we've got everything. And it's coming out from an export region like Hawke's Bay.That's why this is how we need to continue—continue. Unlike—unlike—that side of the House where they just whinge and whine all the time. How about taking a bit of time to celebrate? How about—absolutely that negative National Party never got the deal done. Labour got the deal done. We've had record after record of doing the deals. And I thank everybody who has got this free-trade deal over the line. I'd like to commend this bill to the House with absolute positivity and admiration for everybody who's been part of it. Thank you Madam Speaker."
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Kia ora Madam Speaker. Thank you for that. I always enjoy going after the member for Selwyn. It doesn't matter how bad I am; I'm always better than she was! And I must say one other thing though: seriously I'm surprised the Māori Party has not chosen to take a call tonight on this bill the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill which does great things around embedding Te Tiriti issues in trade. That's something that this Government has done and I commend the Minister for taking a new approach to trade agreements in making sure that they are values based and that not only are they focused on enhancing trade but they are focused on enhancing the quality of that trade and making sure that all aspects of trade—the environmental bottom lines the working conditions of the trading nations and things like Te Tiriti and indigenous people's rights—are respected in the trade area. I think that this Government has really moved the way we think about trade agreements here and this is one of the first trade agreements of real significance that's a top quality trade agreement not only in terms of the reduction of tariffs but also in pushing forward those other agendas. So I really commend the Minister for the hard work that he and the whole team have done on this and it is great that we do have the Opposition benches largely in support of this bill as well. Kia ora Madam Speaker.
SpeechIBRAHIM OMER (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. It's a pleasure to take a call on the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill. The UK is a very important and credible partner to New Zealand. Our relationship is robust healthy and necessary by nature. COVID-19 hit our economy hard as it did many countries. As we open to the world our businesses will be looking for opportunities of any nature anywhere but when there is the opportunity of a free-trade agreement with a country like the UK it's very special. An open access to the market as big as the UK with 69 million people—about $3 trillion GDP—it's a huge success.On 28 February New Zealand signed the free-trade agreement with the UK that would further strengthen the relationship that's already thriving between two countries by creating stronger trade and investment ties. The UK was already New Zealand's seventh largest trading partner pre - COVID-19 with a two-way trade in goods of about NZ$6 billion for the year of March 2020 and the goods trade comprising $3.2 billion of that.This free-trade agreement is wholesome and amongst many things it will deliver for the environment for small and medium enterprises for women and Māori. As a result of this deal the UK is going to eliminate all the tariffs on New Zealand exports with duties to remove it on 99.5 percent of current trade from entry into force. This will provide New Zealand exporters more favourable access to the UK market. As UK exports increase by 50 percent this will provide a much needed boost to New Zealand's GDP—between $700 million and $1 billion once fully implemented. It will create opportunities for Kiwi businesses small and large to grow invest and diversify supporting New Zealand's economic recovery from the pandemic. I would like to outline some of the good outcomes under this free-trade agreement: allowing New Zealand exports to enter UK markets on a level playing field and duties and tariffs removed on 99.5 percent of New Zealand exports to UK. This free-trade agreement underlines the urgent need to address climate change by eliminating fisheries subsidies takes steps to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies promotes sustainable agriculture and many other measures. There are dedicated chapters on trade and gender Māori trade and development and small and medium sized enterprises. Visas for business persons—makes it easier for people to get it if they fall within the specific category and this includes their family members. Finally it reserves the Government's right to regulate in the public interest. This free-trade agreement is a big deal. It's a success. I'd like to commend the Minister and all the negotiating team for this success for getting this over the line. I'd like to commend the Prime Minister's leadership and encouragement to get this over the line. This is indeed a gold standard deal and I commend it to the House.
O'Connor DamienInstruction to Health CommitteeHon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture) on behalf of the Associate Minister of Health: I move That the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 1 December 2022. Motion agreed to.
Salesa JennyASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): Members before the dinner break we were debating the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill. The next call is a Labour Party call.Dr LIZ CRAIG (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. Every year thousands of children get sent to hospital with things like bronchiolitis pneumonia and asthma. All of these are basically made much much worse by exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke. And smoking in pregnancy not only increases the risk of premature birth but also once babies are born increases their risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy. So it's incredibly urgent that we help smokers to quit and also stop young people taking up smoking in the first place.What this bill does is it builds on a number of bills that I've already spoken on in the House over the last few years: one which regulated vaping and then another one which banned smoking in cars with children. So this is an important next step. Basically what it'll be doing is helping us with implementing the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 action plan.When talking to a number of smokers what they often say about why it's so hard to quit is that nicotine is incredibly addictive. And so what this bill will do is it means we can create regulations that set limits on the level of nicotine in smoked tobacco products.I think one of the other issues people find when they are trying to quit is that you can actually pick up smokes and tobacco pretty much anywhere. I think any of us that have gone to the supermarket with a shopping list and then ended up coming home with a whole lot of other stuff you never intended to buy knows about the impact of just opportunistic buying. I think having the exposure to tobacco products in so many dairies and so many other places means that it's very very hard to quit. So what this bill will do is it will actually limit the number of retail outlets that can sell smoked tobacco products and also allow to have a look at maximum numbers of retail premises in particular areas. So that means basically people's exposure to opportunistic products will be much more limited.So this is a really really important bill and I'm very pleased to commend it to the House.