Turei Metiria: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTurei Metiria: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 March 2016. Volume:712;Page:9867. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Was he advised prior to 8 December 2015 that the so called “jihadi brides” he referred to during the Intelligence and Security Committee meeting were all resident in Australia and did not leave from New Zealand?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House)on behalf of thePrime Minister: Yes.Metiria Turei: So the Prime Minister can confirm that he knew that none of those women had left for Syria or Iraq from New Zealand?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Yes and the member needs to be aware that as New Zealand citizens it does not matter where they left from. If they pose a security risk to New Zealand on their return then that is something we are concerned about.Metiria Turei: Why did the Prime Minister not make it clear that these women did not leave from New Zealand when he said: “There’s in my view no question that there have been one or two people who have left and it would appear on all factors that we know that they are going as jihadi brides.”?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: It was not actually the Prime Minister who answered the question but what I can say is that where they leave from is irrelevant. They are New Zealand citizens they may return to New Zealand and they are of concern to us.Metiria Turei: Why did the Prime Minister not tell New Zealanders that these women were living in Australia when the media were reporting that these women had left from New Zealand?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: I am unware of the media reports and not responsible for them. The reality is that they were travelling on New Zealand passports.Metiria Turei: If the Prime Minister knew that no women had left from New Zealand for Syria or Iraq for this purpose why did he not give that information to the Islamic Women’s Council which asked for evidence for his statements?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Where they left from is irrelevant. If they are New Zealanders then they are of concern to us. If they are posing a security risk because they may return to New Zealand that is of concern to us. Whether someone is in New Zealand or not does not remove their New Zealand citizenship—as we have recently found out.Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was very clear: why did the Prime Minister not give information to an organisation when they asked for it? It was irrelevant—his answer.Mr SPEAKER: No no but the question was addressed by the Minister—effectively saying that where they left from was irrelevant. That was the way he chose to answer the question. He has addressed the question.Metiria Turei: Why did the Prime Minister allow the misinformation about where these women were living to carry on and was it because he was wanting to build his case for increased spy agency powers?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: No the fact is that these women are New Zealand citizens have travelled to Syria and may pose a security risk to New Zealand on their return.Metiria Turei: Will the Prime Minister now apologise to the many Muslim women—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question can be asked.Metiria Turei: Will the Prime Minister now apologise to the many Muslim women whom he alienated when he misled the public into believing that women were leaving New Zealand to become jihadi brides?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: No because there is only one person in this House who has identified these people as being Muslim. I will make the other point that New Zealand citizens on a New Zealand passport going to Syria from another country left New Zealand at some point.