8. Question No. 8—TourismRACHEL BROOKING (Labour) to the Minister of TourismQuestion No. 8—TourismSPEAKER: Before we go to this question I will warn members that the Minister has been in touch with me to indicate that this answer is longer than I would generally consider desirable.8. RACHEL BROOKING (Labour) to the Minister of Tourism: What is the Government doing to support the recovery of tourism communities?Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Tourism): Thank you Mr Speaker. Last week I announced the Support Recovery and Re-set Plan for the tourism communities to support the social and economic recovery of tourism communities after the impacts of COVID-19 and rebuild tourism on a more sustainable foundation. There were 12 key points in the Tourism Communities Plan. Half are focused on the most vulnerable South Island regions—Fiordland South Westland Queenstown Lakes Mackenzie District and Kaikōura. The remaining six are nationwide initiatives. Support for the five South Island communities will address: (1) mental health and social wellbeing support and training; (2) grants for businesses to get expert advice on planning and decision making in response to COVID-19—$5000 per business; (3) grants to help businesses implement these plans and advice—that's $5000 per business; (4) a $49 million kick-start fund so that businesses that have gone into hibernation or suspended operations can receive grants to help them reopen and resume trading once international visitors return; (5) a reset to the Queenstown/Wanaka regional economy with a $20 million fund to attract private sector investment to diversify and develop alternative industries; and finally (6) $15 million to enable the Milford Sound Opportunities Project to move to its next phase. Transformation is needed to protect Milford Sound and create a more sustainable and high-quality visitor experience.Rachel Brooking: What are the nationwide initiatives in the recovery plan?Hon STUART NASH: This Tourism Communities Plan also offers wide support for the industry as a whole. It is an opportunity for Government councils iwi businesses and tourism operators and communities to work together and reset the industry on a more sustainable model for the future. There are six additional components to the plan to address longer-term challenges nationwide. The first is regional tourism organisations to receive a new round of grant funding of $26 million to coordinate promote and market tourism activities in their regions. Two $14 million to existing loans to inbound tour operators (ITOs) from the 2020 tourism recovery package will be converted to grants. That means 26 ITOs will receive up to $500000 each. Three further investment in Māori tourism businesses. The details will be announced by the Minister for Māori Development later this month. Four $10 million for the Department of Conservation to extend the fee waiver for around a thousand operators on conservation land who pay a tourism concession free. Five $16.5 million for local councils to be able to apply for another round in the Tourism Infrastructure Fund. And finally $10 million for the development of a new tourism industry transformation plan which will see the Government work in partnership with tourism businesses and the tourism workforce councils iwi and researchers and independent advisers. It will build on recent work by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Tourism Futures Taskforce and Climate Change Commission among others to lift industry standards and transform to a more sustainable model.Rachel Brooking: What feedback has he received on the Tourism Communities Plan?Hon STUART NASH: A lot of positive feedback. Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult said the announcement would  'turbocharge' the work done to date on diversifying the economy and 'move us to another level' ". And Destination Kaikōura manager Louise Frend said "On behalf of Kaikoura it's up to me to express heartfelt thanks for this very targeted support."Chris Bishop: Point of order Mr Speaker. Usually when Ministers are allowed to take a bit of extra time to answer a question they're in relation to very technical or complicated primary questions. I don't think anyone could reasonably say that question No. 8 on the sheet today is a technical or complicated question. Instead we've just been subjected to about a three- or four-minute speech from the Minister. Mr Speaker you've made it pretty clear your views about that sort of behaviour in this House."