8. Question No. 8—Prime MinisterHon SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 8—Prime Minister8. Hon SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's policies and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Welcome. Yes this Government is making progress on the long-term issues and challenges facing New Zealand including in the area of climate and environment introducing the zero carbon bill; investing in heavy rail trains buses walking cycling and other alternative infrastructure; the planting of 1 billion trees; creating a $229 million sustainable land package to support our farmers improve water quality and reduce emissions; and of course our aspiration of 100 percent renewable electricity.Hon Scott Simpson: Does she stand by her statement that the $100 million Green Investment Fund is a central plank in the Government's plan to transition to a clean green carbon-neutral New Zealand"; and if so how much has been invested from the fund?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That fund is running exactly as the timetable we set out when we established it. The member may not be aware that when you establish a Government-owned investment fund there is some rigour required in establishing such a fund. The roadshow with the fund managers will be beginning next month—I know the member will be listening to that with interest.Hon Scott Simpson: Why when the Green Investment Fund is a central plank of the Government's policy and was allocated $100 million of taxpayers' money in May of last year has it failed to invest a single dollar in the 17 months since?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member will do well to reflect on the time line we set out at that time; it wasn't due to yet either.Hon Scott Simpson: Is she aware that the Green Investment Fund has operating costs of $5 million a year and yet is expected to return $3 million a year; and if so does she think that a fund expected to lose $2 million a year is a good investment of taxpayer money?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The Green Investment Fund is running according to all of our expectations around early establishment. Nothing has changed from the time that it was established.Hon Scott Simpson: Does she think it is appropriate that despite failing to invest a single dollar in 17 months the Green Investment Fund is holding a glamourous cocktail party function next month at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts which will be at taxpayers' expense of thousands of dollars?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again this is a fund that is amongst a raft of things that this Government is doing in the climate space and that includes reducing the emissions profile of our vehicles introducing a process of carbon budgeting through the zero carbon bill the land use package designed to support our agricultural community to transition to being sustainable food producers and of course moving to a low-emissions future with our energy generation through things like hydrogen. That side of the House did nothing. They signed us up to a Paris Agreement. They've had empty words. They have done nothing to demonstrate they even support any efforts to reduce climate emissions in New Zealand and it's shameful.Hon Scott Simpson: Does she accept then that the Green Investment Fund has been a failure considering it hasn't invested a single dollar in 17 months its operating costs are higher than its expected returns—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member's asked one part of a question. He cannot add a whole pile of allegations. If he wants a second leg to a question he will ask it now. Hon Scott Simpson: Does she accept the Green Investment Fund has been a failure considering that all it has to show for itself after 17 months is a taxpayer-funded cocktail function for the rich and well-connected?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No and I would question whether or not the member—given that that Government never established any form of investment fund like this in this area—would expect the kind of rigour we have applied to this process. It is running exactly to time."