3. Question No. 3—Prime MinisterDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 3—Prime Minister3. DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in Hon Shane Jones given that Stuff reported that he was named as the proposed chairman of Manea Kupe Ltd" in documents provided to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and an email dated 16 February 2018 states Mr Jones attended a meeting at which the Manea Footsteps of Kupe project was discussed and in which his comments had reportedly made the Finance Minister comfortable after the finance Minister had raised his concern about the project?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes I have full confidence in Minister Jones' handling of the Kupe project. The Minister identified he had a conflict of interest and then managed it based on the guidance he received. I also note the Radio New Zealand story yesterday where the trust confirmed Minister Jones was never part of the Manea project. I also understand that the comment around Minister Robertson's level of comfort is not an accurate reflection of what the Minister actually said. I understand that the Minister was referring not to the project itself but to ensuring that there were milestones accurately reflected in the roll-out and a range of other contractual protections. So that would be a more accurate way to reflect his concerns. David Seymour: Does she stand by his statement made yesterday in relation to Shane Jones that "He knew someone involved in the project … some years ago [and] he'd been told about it and [he] thought it was a good idea" when new documents released by Stuff today show that he was officially cited as their proposed chair and had helped them prepare their application for Government money under the previous Government?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Obviously the member has noted that this has been a project around for some time and something that obviously members on the other side of the House will be familiar with as well. What I'm reflecting is that yes the Minister has acknowledged right from the outset that he knew about this project that he'd advocated around this project. That was the very point of him declaring a conflict of interest. In fact the member knows about the conflict of interest because the member himself wrote in written answers that it existed and it was even included in the front page of a briefing document by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment that he had a conflict and should not receive papers on it.David Seymour: How can she reconcile the standards she applied to Clare Curran who covered up having a meeting and was eventually sacked from her portfolio versus the treatment of Shane Jones who also covered up attending a meeting—the only difference being that in the case of Shane Jones $4.6 million of taxpayer money ended up being spent?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I do want to acknowledge that actually Minister Curran resigned from Cabinet. When it comes to the issue that the member has raised of course as I've already pointed out the Minister has documented this issue in his answers directly to yourself around the project. He's declared his conflict of interest. He's outlined the meetings that have been held. He even acknowledged the meeting where Minister Robertson raised issues. It's all in the answers to written questions."