edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
9. Education—Additional Learning SupportPAUL FOSTER-BELL (National) to the Minister of EducationEducation—Additional Learning SupportPAUL FOSTER-BELL (National): My question is to the Minister of Education and—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! If I hear a further interjection from the Hon Nick Smith today I am going to be asking him to leave the Chamber.9. PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National) to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has the Government made about funding for services for children who require additional learning support?Hon NIKKI KAYE (Minister of Education): I am pleased to advise the House that as part of Budget 2017 the Government has committed an additional $34.7 million over the next 4 years to provide additional behaviour services to children with behaviour difficulties. I am also pleased to advise that this Government has also committed $6 million to provide targeted and specialist support to 3 and 4-year-olds with oral language needs who are at risk of literacy difficulties.Paul Foster-Bell: How many extra children will have access to these services?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I am pleased to confirm that the behaviour services initiative will provide behaviour support for an additional thousand children aged up to 8 years who behave in ways that negatively affect themselves or others. This is on top of the 5000 children who already receive specialist behaviour support each year. We expect that overall up to 50000 children will have access to enhanced language support. Around 7600 of these children with the highest needs will receive more targeted support including support from speech language therapists for around 1900 children.Paul Foster-Bell: What difference will these services make to children?Hon NIKKI KAYE: Every child in New Zealand deserves a fair chance in life and this is about providing more support for some of our most vulnerable children. By providing more support earlier for those children with behavioural or language challenges we are reducing disruption in the classroom and helping more young children into a positive path in learning. This is a Government investing significantly in improving our education system and supporting more of our most vulnerable children.
7. KiwiSaver HomeStart—First-home BuyersDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionKiwiSaver HomeStart—First-home Buyers7. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Minister for Building and Construction: How many people have purchased a first home with the assistance of the Government's KiwiSaver HomeStart in year one and year two of the scheme?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Building and Construction): Over 11000 were assisted in the first year with grants of $56 million. Over 15000 were assisted in year 2 with $73 million in grants. The scheme is on track to grow to $100 million a year of support for first-home buyers and by 2020 it will have assisted 90000 New Zealanders into homeownership.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: Are the Government's changes to KiwiSaver enabling easier access to funds helping young people into homeownership?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes and dramatically so. The withdrawal of KiwiSaver funds has increased from $201 million in 2015 to $457 million in 2016 to $627 million in the last year. In fact if you combine the KiwiSaver withdrawals with the HomeStart grants the scheme is now providing over $700 million a year in supporting first-home buyers and is making up approximately one-third of that used by first-home buyers to pull together a deposit for their home.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: Noting the huge growth in new home construction from 13000 a year to 30000 a year is there an increase in first-home buyers using KiwiSaver Homestart for new homes?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes there is. An increasing portion of the KiwiSaver HomeStart support is going on new homes. In the first year it was $9 million or 17 percent; in the second year it was $16 million or 22 percent—i.e. HomeStart is also helping funding the strong growth in new home construction.
5. Pharmac—Funding and Subsidised MedicinesDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of HealthPharmac—Funding and Subsidised Medicines5. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of Health: Can he confirm that Budget 2017 will invest an extra $60 million over 4 years to enable Pharmac to provide more New Zealanders with access to new medicines?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): Yes indeed. Improving access to medicines is a key priority for the Government and this injection will mean that Pharmac's budget has increased by $220 million from $650 million in 2008 to $870 million per year in Budget 2017. Over our time in Government 820000 New Zealanders have benefited from 414 new and widened-access medicines that this funding has provided and it is important to note that last year 3.5 million New Zealanders received a funded medicine.Dr Shane Reti: Can he confirm any details of the latest round of treatments that Pharmac is looking to fund thanks to the Government's investment?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Yes I am able to. Pharmac has commenced consultation on a new package of medicines including anti-infective drugs earlier access to four HIV anti-retrovirals a medicine to benefit 5000 children with neurodevelopmental disorders as well as new medicines for cancer and cardiovascular conditions. All up over 33000 New Zealanders will benefit directly from this latest package and it just proves that the Government and Pharmac are delivering more medicines for more New Zealanders on an ongoing basis.Dr David Clark: Can he confirm that the cancer drug he has just mentioned which was funded for lung cancer was described last year in a Pharmac report as having no clinically meaningful health gains that Australia has had that same drug for 12 years and that this week he has announced he is funding it?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: What I can confirm is that I take the expert advice of the scientists and doctors at Pharmac over the doctor of divinity over there.Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: This point of order will be heard in silence.Dr David Clark: I did ask quite a specific question and it was around a specific treatment. The answer was dismissive and the Minister does tend to do that. When he is out of depth he goes for the ad hominem answer.Mr SPEAKER: I listened carefully to the question and on this occasion though the answer was not I think helpful to the order of the House it certainly addressed the question particularly the middle part about the meaningful clinical trials. So the question was addressed.
Martin Tracey; Mallard TrevorTRACEY MARTIN (NZ First): Good evening Mr Assistant Speaker—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): This debate is interrupted and set down for resumption next sitting day.Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 10 p.m.
Barclay ToddTODD BARCLAY (National—Clutha-Southland): Mr Assistant Speaker I thought you were about to warn the member of having inconsistent—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): The member is now going to sit down and not comment on my ruling. He knows absolutely that he is not allowed to. When the member gathers himself he can start again.TODD BARCLAY: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. As I was saying it is great to be able to speak on the first reading of the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. I just wanted to pick up on a couple of points following on from my colleague Dr Jian Yang the chair of the Education and Science Committee around international education—the point around the importance of it in particular. International education last year was our fourth-largest export earner generating around $1.3 billion in revenue for our country. Right across New Zealand outside Auckland right through to Southland Otago and other parts of the country everyone benefits from international education. But in saying that it is important that we have the structures right in order to—Tracey Martin: He believes such rubbish.TODD BARCLAY: —accommodate that growth. Clearly Mrs Martin has not been down to Southland and seen the Southern Institute of Technology which runs quite a unique operation. Traditionally the international students whom it attracts are generally older—late 20s early 30s—many of whom come to New Zealand with a partner. While one part of the partnership is studying full-time the other is working. They often have got children as well. So for Southland the proposition of international education—in particular through the Southern Institute of Technology—provides overall benefits for our economy by attracting more people to Southland.The other thing about it is that unlike many of the more urban centres with younger international students—who come perform their studies and many of whom then leave again—of the students who are attracted to the Southern Institute of Technology many of them stay and actually contribute and live in the community for quite a while after that. So it is important that there is a level playing field for international and domestic students and that the codes of conduct are fair in order to protect them while they are here.In terms of the contribution this bill makes towards that around managing the conduct—it is in response to a recent court ruling that said that schools have no rights to manage international students' misconduct outside school. This bill contains a proposal to amend that law to enable State and State integrated schools to manage international students in the same way that private schools do including the use of stand-down suspensions and exclusions for activities performed outside the school environment. That is consistent with the code of conduct and practice of pastoral care of international students who are at tertiary education organisations.It is great to be able to speak on this bill. I look forward to considering it in greater detail in select committee.
SpeechThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Before I call a member I am now prepared to rule on the matter that has been raised. It is going to be an ad hoc but slightly convoluted ruling.The first point that is of debate is Standing Order 287(1)(b) where there is a requirement to indicate the terms of that proposed motion." I think that if that was strictly interpreted it would mean that the Government could not propose a motion other than the one that it indicated as part of the speech. But I have got vague memories of Governments being convinced to change their mind and move things more reasonably to come back from a particular motion—even though it agreed to it—and for the House to allow the motion to be moved. It would of course have been helped if Standing Order 287(2) which requires the delivery of written notice at end of the speech or after the speech to the Clerk—it would have helped our discussion.But there is an overriding matter that means the motion will not be accepted and that is that the motion attempts to bind the House for a period beyond the period when this House is going to be sitting. So the requirement for a select committee that will not be in existence because according to the information we have received from the Prime Minister the House will be dissolved in 4 months and 1 week—you cannot bind a committee that at the time will not be a committee of the House because the House will not be in that form at that stage. So my ruling at the moment is that at the end of the first reading there is not a motion of that type that can be moved. I will also indicate to Minister Woodhouse that he does not have the option now to shorten up the period in order to defeat the ruling that I have just made."
Mallard Trevor; Hipkins ChrisThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): I think I am in the relatively lucky position in that I will take some advice on that question and I will report back to the House this evening on that. My gut feeling is that it is possible—and the fact that the member has not supplied a copy to the Chair which is somewhat unusual might give him a bit more latitude—but I will consider that matter and we will come back to the House on it.CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka): Speaking further to that issue I was on the Standing Orders Committee when this rule change was proposed about two parliaments ago. The decision of the Standing Orders Committee was that the only non-debatable part of a referral motion would be a referral to a select committee with a shortened time frame of no less than 4 months. Any other conditions or any other shortened time frame would be debatable.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): That is absolutely the case and I did not want anything that I said to take away from that. The question I think that the Minister asked was a different question and that was whether if the Government changed its mind as to the type of motion that it wanted to move it had the flexibility to do that. That is something that I am currently considering and will report back on. I think though to be fair to the member who is about to make a speech he is free to refer to the motion as currently indicated now although the debate will happen later.
Hipkins Chris; Woodhouse MichaelCHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Before I get into my contribution on the first reading of this bill I would just like to seek some clarification from you that that referral motion moved by the Minister will be debated separately at the end of the debate on this first reading.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): The short answer to the question is yes. It is a debatable motion not because it is a shortening motion but because of the other conditions that have been put in there. So there will be a debate that will be held if the bill gets its first reading.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Deputy Leader of the House): Speaking to that point of order—and I am moving this motion on behalf of another member—the signal is of the intent to move a motion and at the end of this debate there will be that motion Mr Assistant Speaker can you just clarify whether or not in response to that it is possible to move a different motion that warrants no debate?
Appropriation (2015/16 Confirmation and Validation) Bill — Third Reading
Woodhouse MichaelAPPROPRIATION (2015/16 CONFIRMATION AND VALIDATION) BILLThird ReadingHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Deputy Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister of Finance: I move That the Appropriation (2015/16 Confirmation and Validation) Bill be now read a third time.Bill read a third time.
Parmar ParmjeetDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National): I would like to start by talking about the work that we are doing for children and young people. It is understood that every family wants to do well for their children.The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): Sorry I had better warn the member that this debate finishes at 9.08 p.m. So just forget what is on the red clock; worry about the clock above it.Dr PARMJEET PARMAR: Thank you Mr Chair. All families want to do well for their children but then there are circumstances when families are unable to do that and it is about breaking that cycle. We want to see that every child is safe healthy and attains some formal qualification—and this is for all children whether they come from welfare-dependent families or they come from families who have never been on benefit. These families sometimes need some direction or they need some assistance to get off benefit and that is what this National Government has been doing. We have been seeing some really good results. We have seen that there are 57000 fewer people on the job seeker benefit in September 2016 compared with September 2010.During the select committee process there was a discussion about what happens to those people who go off benefit. There are several reasons why people go off benefit when some assistance is provided to them. The good thing is that there was already some baseline work done by collecting information from people who have gone off benefit between July 2010 and 30 June 2011.Another great outcome that we have seen is that there are 8000 fewer sole parent beneficiaries. This is from 2014 to 2016. Looking at the working-age group who are on benefit we recorded the lowest number of working-age people on benefit in December 2016. This is the lowest proportion since 2007 and that is before the global financial crisis—a very good outcome. This has been possible because we have been investing hugely to help people get off benefit.Our focus has been on young people. We know that if people go on benefit at a younger age they tend to stay on benefit for a longer time so we have been investing. There was a package of $41 million to help 19-year-old beneficiaries with children and also 18-year-old beneficiaries who were considered to be at risk of staying on benefit for a very long time. A very gutsy step this—The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): I apologise for interrupting the member but the time for this debate has expired.
SpeechThe CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): Before I call Kelvin Davis I am just going to make a ruling. The member Nuk Korako might have seen that I went to stand up to interrupt him when he started talking about Treaty settlements because the Office of Treaty Settlements is not on the list of organisations that we are currently looking at. I did however go back and have a look at the finance and government administration sector where one might have expected to find it. I found it is neither there nor anywhere else. So at some risk of criticising my colleagues on the Business Committee who did the allocation it appears that the Office of Treaty Settlements has been missed and I will therefore rule that reference to it can be made as part of this sector.
Points of Order — Crimes (Blasphemy Repeal) Amendment Bill—Leave to Introduce
Seymour David; Hipkins Chris; Carter David; Peters WinstonTUESDAY 9 MAY 2017Mr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.POINTS OF ORDERCrimes (Blasphemy Repeal) Amendment Bill—Leave for Introduction and Setting Down as Members' Order of the Day No. 1DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to introduce the Crimes (Blasphemy Repeal) Amendment Bill a member's bill in my name and for the bill to be set down as members' order of the day No. 1.CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This morning I tabled an amendment to the Statutes Repeal Bill which will be debated on Thursday. It has the effect of doing exactly what Mr Seymour's bill proposes without needing to waste the time of the House with a whole other bill.Mr SPEAKER: I thank the member but I will be putting the leave and the House will decide.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. To be able to make a judgment as we are being asked we need to have seen the bill. Given the propensity of this member to make so many mistakes when it comes to—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No. I need no further assistance. Leave has been sought. Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is objection.
Thursday 4 May 2017 - Volume 721
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill be now read a third time.Ayes 105New Zealand National 58; New Zealand Labour 29; Green Party 14; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Noes 12New Zealand First 12.Bill read a third time.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill — Third Reading
Urgent Questions
11. Youth Unemployment—Social Investment ApproachDARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and EmploymentYouth Unemployment—Social Investment Approach11. DARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment: Does he stand by the Government's social investment" approach when the number of 15- to 19-year-old youth not in employment education or training increased in the last quarter by over 3000 young people to be at its highest level since 2011?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment): Yes. The social investment is about tackling some of our most challenging social issues—intervening early to help the most at-risk New Zealanders to lead better lives become more independent and cost taxpayers less in the long run. While the member has found one of the few age groups that did not progress in the latest statistics I would point out to the member that when looking at the rate of young people in the 15 to 24 age bracket not in employment education or training in yesterday's survey the number actually fell. That means we have 4000 more young people participating in the economy or building their skills.Darroch Ball: Bearing in mind Steven Joyce's earlier answer does he agree with the Prime Minister's answer when asked why increasing numbers of young Kiwis are unemployed not in education or training—up 19 percent under National—that "It's a bit of a puzzle."?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Yes I tend to agree with the Prime Minister. But I think you will find that there are a number of issues for why people are not in employment. The best thing that any Government can do is create the environment for a strong vibrant economy that is producing jobs. That is what we saw yesterday in the paper where we saw that 137000 jobs were created in this economy last year. That is great news for the young people of New Zealand.Darroch Ball: Does he agree with the Prime Minister's statement that the "challenge is just finding them." admitting that over the last 8 years the National Government has invested in young people it could not even find?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: I think what the Prime Minister was referring to is that a number of people that we classify as "neets"—young people not in education employment or training—are just taking some time off. They are young people who are going about spending time looking after family members or having some fun. Like I say the most important thing that we can do is make sure that there is a strong economy so that when they are ready to join the workforce they can."
10. Corrections Department—Secure Online Learning for Prisoners ProjectTODD BARCLAY (National—Clutha-Southland) to the Minister of CorrectionsCorrections Department—Secure Online Learning for Prisoners Project10. TODD BARCLAY (National—Clutha-Southland) to the Minister of Corrections: What recent announcement has she made regarding online learning for prisoners?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister of Corrections): The Department of Corrections has completed a programme to equip all prisons with secure online learning suites that allow prisoners access to online learning tools. The suites give prison-based learners access to secure computer suites and online tools that allow them to engage in education life skills employment and reintegration-focused training. The secure online learning pilot was introduced in August 2015 and has been progressively implemented across the Corrections estate. The project has proven successful with around 1200 learners using the suites last year alone. Our aim is to have 1600 learners by June this year.Todd Barclay: How will secure online learning assist with the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Secure online learning gives prisoners greater access to valuable education resources such as literacy numeracy and digital skills as well as NCEA trades qualifications Te Reo Māori driver's licence theory and careers guidance. These education options improve offenders' rehabilitation by targeting some of the underlying reasons for their offending. They also assist with reintegration by giving prisoners valuable qualifications and improving their job prospects thereby reducing their likelihood of reoffending. Online learning appeals to many people who have had difficulties engaging in traditional educational methods and is especially appealing to the younger prison population.Todd Barclay: What updates can she provide on other Government investments in educational programmes for offenders?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Education is critical to prisoners' rehabilitation and reintegration and in motivating them to make a positive change in their lives. However nearly 65 percent of prisoners are below NCEA level 1 literacy and numeracy meaning that they often cannot cope with the demands of everyday life and work. We have an ambitious programme to turn this around with initiatives like the Yard Project in Christchurch—a partnership between Corrections and Housing New Zealand—which has seen offenders refurbish 50 social houses and has provided them with qualifications and skills for employment as well as contributing to the rebuilding of Canterbury. Offenders spent more the 90000 hours last year learning work and living skills as part of community work sentences. And a pilot programme in the South Island helped 450 young offenders to gain a full driver's licence. In the 2015-16 year over 4600 offenders achieved qualifications.
9. Dairy Farming—Environmental Concerns and Government ResponseEUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Primary IndustriesDairy Farming—Environmental Concerns and Government Response9. EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Primary Industries: Does he stand by his statement There's no way that we can double the number of cows in New Zealand"?Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries): Yes in the context it was given.Eugenie Sage: What does the Minister believe is an appropriate number of cows for the national dairy herd?Hon NATHAN GUY: Well I am a farmer and a dairy farmer at that but I do not think it is in the interests of the House for me to determine whether the number of dairy cows should be 6 million 6.5 million—and let us not forget that in springtime cows have calves so the overall herd size increases. Eugenie Sage: Does he agree with the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that "dairy farming is the land use that has continued to expand rapidly and so is largely the cause of increased nutrient stress on waterways."; if so why is his Government not finding ways to limit new dairy conversions or bigger more polluting herds?Hon NATHAN GUY: I have seen that report. In fact in the last couple of months I have seen many reports highlighting water quality issues that we all face in New Zealand. A lot of these reports summarise the fact that we have got urbanisation we have got industrial growth and we have got agriculture growth. It is pointless playing the blame game; every sector needs to improve and the dairy industry is doing that. Eugenie Sage: Given that dairy farming is responsible for the increased nutrient stress what provisions in his Government's Clean Water package will stop dairy cow numbers increasing if milk solid payouts increase?Hon NATHAN GUY: Regional councils determine land use change in New Zealand. Often when there is a consent they put conditions on that particular consent. It is not up to the Government to determine the number of dairy cows in New Zealand because it actually has to be decided catchment by catchment. The best information at hand comes from the regional councils—the member should know that.Eugenie Sage: Does he believe that regional councils should limit dairy cow numbers in some catchments?Hon NATHAN GUY: If the member listened to an answer that the Minister for the Environment gave earlier this week he talked about restrictions on—I think it was—18 catchments so they are already doing that.Hon Damien O'Connor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave of the House to ask the Minister about a serious biosecurity incursion that has just been announced by the Ministry for Primary Industries.Mr SPEAKER: No that is not a legitimate point of order. There is a process for an urgent question. The member should refer to the Standing Orders."
6. Economy—EmploymentPAUL FOSTER-BELL (National) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and EmploymentEconomy—Employment6. PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment: What reports has he received on the rate of employment in New Zealand?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment): Yesterday Statistics New Zealand released the quarterly household labour force survey which showed our unemployment rate is again 4.9 percent. Our record levels of labour force participation also continue with the rate increasing to 70.6 percent. In real terms there are 29000 more Kiwis employed in the past 3 months as job growth continues to be faster than population growth. We are in the middle of a jobs boom. The numbers show the Government's comprehensive economic plan is working for families with lower unemployment strong job creation and opportunities for all New Zealanders.Paul Foster-Bell: Which sectors are experiencing the most growth?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: We are seeing continued job growth across a range of sectors. The fastest growing is the construction sector with 16100 more jobs compared with this time last year. New Zealand has currently experienced its biggest ever construction boom and we are beginning to see construction employment growing in regions other than Auckland and Canterbury. For example Waikato had a further 3600 people working in the sector. In addition the other two major contributors to the increase in filled jobs this quarter are accommodation and food services increasing by 16200 jobs and an increase of 12700 in the professional and support services industry.Paul Foster-Bell: What will the Government do next to ensure continued growth in the New Zealand economy?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: We are continuing to provide stable predictable and fiscally sustainable Government which helps give business the confidence to invest. The Government has just announced that it will allocate $11 billion in new capital infrastructure over the next four Budgets including $4 billion in the year's Budget alone. We are investing hugely in schools hospitals housing roads and railway and this investment will extend to the run rate significantly and include new investment in the justice and defence sectors. Solid economic growth is driving more jobs and higher wages and we have a clear plan for the future.
4. Employment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill—Exposure Draft ReleaseSARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyEmployment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill—Exposure Draft Release4. SARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What recent announcements has he made in relation to Pay Equity?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): I have recently announced the release of an exposure draft of the Employment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill for public consultation. This Government is committed to achieving an effective framework to provide a practical process for employees to follow if they feel they are not being paid fairly due to gender discrimination. Consultation on the pay equity bill follows the recommendations of the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles and is an important step towards closing the gender pay gap. I encourage the public to get involved in the consultation process and make sure they have their say on this important piece of legislation before consultation closes on 11 May.Sarah Dowie: Why is new pay equity legislation being introduced?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: The Equal Pay Act 1972 is not equipped to provide guidance on pay equity claims and needs to be updated to provide a practical fair and workable process for employees and employers to follow. Importantly the draft bill provides a framework for choosing an appropriate comparable role—something the joint working group was not able to reach agreement on. The guidance in the draft pay equity bill complements the Government's $2 billion pay equity settlement for some of the health sector's lowest-paid workers. I look forward to constructive contributions from interested parties.Sarah Dowie: What reports has he seen on the exposure draft bill?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I have seen several reports that state that the Terranova settlement could not have been achieved under the proposed bill. These statements are simply not accurate. Parties to a pay equity claim are encouraged to negotiate first and try to reach a mutually acceptable comparator on their own. Of significance the recent $2 billion Terranova settlement was agreed to by all parties within parameters outlined in the exposure draft bill regarding comparators. Parties agreed on an occupation from within the health sector as an appropriate comparator. I also note the law guiding the proximity of comparators for pay equity claims in other jurisdictions including the European Union the UK and parts of Canada are confined to within the same workplace company enterprise or employment. In Australia where comparative proximity has been established through case law comparators are thus far confined to the same industry. So what the Government is proposing by way of proximity is actually much more liberal than any other comparable jurisdiction.
Faafoi Kris; Mallard TrevorSITTINGS OF THE HOUSEKRIS FAAFOI (Labour—Mana): Given the progress that the House has made I seek leave for the House to rise now.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Is anyone churlish enough to oppose that? No. The House adjourned at 5.55 p.m.
Foster-Bell PaulPAUL FOSTER-BELL (National): E Te Mana Whakawā tēnā koe. I cannot possibly hope to display the mastery of Te Reo that the member who has just resumed his seat Peeni Henare has done but I do want to commend this Māori Purposes Bill fulsomely to the House. It is an excellent bill sponsored by a very fine Minister the Hon Te Ururoa Flavell. It has been through the Māori Affairs Committee under the chairmanship of a very fine chair the honourable member Tutehounuku Korako.I want to pay tribute to the honourable Wī Pere a five-term member of this House and a great son of Poverty Bay and his area. He was a man who took the seat from James Carroll and was succeeded in it by Sir Apirana Ngata. So he has a place in the pantheon of the great Māori leaders of this country. I want to acknowledge Wī Pere's descendants and those who have been so instrumental in making sure this is a successful trust worth more than $60 million. The modernisation including such things as introducing teleconferencing for board meetings is very sensible. It is an excellent bill and it is a wonderful thing that it has achieved such widespread support in this House. I commend it.Bill read a third time.
Māori Purposes Bill — Third Reading
Mallard TrevorThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Before I call Marama Fox I just want to indicate that I have had indications from both sides of the House that there was slight confusion at that point. Also it is clear that everyone in the House would like this legislation to be passed today and therefore I will manage the times for members and it might be that some people get a shorter time than they might otherwise think. Marama Fox—for a 5-minute call.
Naylor JonoJONO NAYLOR (National): Ā tēnā koe e Te Mana Whakawā ngā mihi ki a koutou ngā Kaitiaki ki Te Wī Pere Trust nau mai haere mai ki Te Whare Pāremata.[Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker and acknowledgments to you the trustees of the Wī Pere Trust. Welcome to Parliament; come hither.]Peeni Henare: Ka pai Jono. Ka pai.Meka Whaitiri: Kia ora. Kia ora. Kia ora.Peeni Henare: Ka pai. Keep going.JONO NAYLOR: It is a—ha ha! It is a great day I believe when we actually—there are a couple of things that are happening here. Firstly it is great to see the old boys of St Bede's College finally outnumbered in the debating Chamber of Parliament. Normally there are so many of them floating around it is hard for any school to get a look in. So congratulations to those old boys of Tipene. I particularly wanted to talk about something that is close to my heart with regard to the passing of this legislation. This legislation while on one level referring to a particular trust is also symbolic to me of a change that is happening across Aotearoa New Zealand right now. The opportunity for Te Ao Māori to actually take back further control of its own destiny is a positive thing for New Zealand a positive thing for Māori. As a recent Pōua to my first mokopuna it is encouraging to me to be able to see that he will be able to walk in his Pākehā world but he is also going to be able to walk stronger in Te Ao Māori because of this type of legislation because of these types of things that are going on.I want to commend the Wī Pere Trust for actually looking to take greater destiny in their own hands to provide to a greater extent for the beneficiaries of the trust. I want to congratulate the Minister for Māori Development for sponsoring this bill through the House. To my good colleague Nuk Korako and his colleagues on the Māori Affairs Committee I congratulate them all on bringing this through and I commend this to the House.
Reti ShaneDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei): Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker. It is a pleasure to speak to this bill today and I also would like to acknowledge the Minister Te Ururoa Flavell and the Māori Affairs Committee for getting this bill to its final reading today.For the Wī Pere Trust this bill clarifies and modernises relationships between the two main actors: the trust and the beneficiaries. The trust has done well—it is not broken—but the trust is seeking the ability to do even better.For the trust structurally it changes from a family trust to an incorporated trust board with a body corporate structure and limited liability company requirements. The benefits of this are the ability to improve economic and management efficiencies in a more corporate structure including the ability for the trust to hold general land and not just Māori freehold land for investment purposes. For the beneficiaries there are many benefits including the expected economic benefits of a corporate structure. There is also clarification of direct lineal succession from Wī Pere. In the middle between the trust and the beneficiaries is accountability of the trust to the beneficiaries and this accountability is maintained and enhanced by recourse to the constitution the Trustee Act 1956 and Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill which is in progress.This is a wonderful footprint that Wī Pere has left. I understand that at its inception—in 1899—it was challenging and yet here it is today on the basis of what may be valued at around $66 million advancing the interests of descendants and beneficiaries. This is a very good thing and it is my pleasure to commend this bill to the House.
Hudson Brett; Tisch LindsayBRETT HUDSON (National): It is an absolute pleasure to rise in support of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill in this its third reading—a bill that will shortly head off to become law in New Zealand. This work is going to finally address some longstanding issues I think around fire and emergency services in New Zealand. For years the Fire Service has dedicated itself to responding not only to fire-based emergencies but to many other incidents that it was not necessarily well funded to address particularly things such as vehicle accidents which are very often serious events. So I am very pleased to have sat on the select committee for the hearing and the scrutiny of this bill. I think what has been returned and what will pass is a very sensible measure—one that is focused on delivering both a more effective and a more efficient fire and emergency response in New Zealand and one that acknowledges that there were gaps in the previous funding model and has looked to address those. But equally it is one that also recognised that there could be some almost perverse distortions brought in if there was not some pragmatism applied to the funding model. I would refer to the gallery and museum sector such as my colleague Paul Foster-Bell mentioned earlier and also as it happens coverage of things like planes particularly on international services.So here we get to a point I think where we have a bill that has support across almost all of the House. It is one that will make a real difference to New Zealanders and a real difference to the men and women who serve in our fire and emergency services. It has been an absolute privilege to play the role I have been able to in this small way through the passage of this legislation. I commend this bill to the House.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): The next call is a split call. Kris Faafoi—5 minutes.
McKelvie Ian; Tisch LindsayIAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei): It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak briefly on this bill—a most important bill. In my time in public life I have seen three goes at reforming this sector—this very valuable sector—of our community and I congratulate Minister Dunne on getting there on the third go that I have seen.I just want to quantify I guess the significance of this part of our community to an electorate like mine. I have some 26 volunteer fire brigades which include over 500 volunteers and that is just in the Rangitīkei electorate. That is pretty significant. We have three defence force brigades six council rural fire brigades and those are supplemented by a couple of full-time Fire Service stations out of Palmerston North. It is a very significant sector of our community. It is a community that for a long time has operated in different manners in different parts of New Zealand and I think this is a very good initiative to try to standardise this around New Zealand. I think it will make quite a difference to the way the service operates. It will particularly make a difference to the way our volunteers operate.In the early part of this latest reform as was the case with the previous two that failed to get off the ground there was a lot of nervousness amongst our volunteers and amongst many in the Fire Service about how this might work. I think it has been largely overcome as the bill has gone through the process in the House and I think the sector has by and large accepted the changes. I think they will be successful. The Fire Service our volunteer fire brigades particularly have seen a massive change in the last 30 or 40 years in the way they operate. Whereas originally they were set up as fire brigades they have now become the first responders to almost everything that goes on in our community. Some of the things they have to deal with are pretty significant and pretty difficult and I think that they should be congratulated on the work they do in our communities. I think the Minister should be congratulated on getting this bill to the post. As with any legislative change there is always some nervousness around how it will play out there are always some teething problems but I am sure this will get wide acceptance in our community and I am sure it will be successful. Thank you.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): The next call is a split call. Denise Roche—5 minutes.
Doocey MattMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): It is an honour and a privilege to rise in wholehearted support of the third reading of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill. Now you will have to indulge me; this is the first time I have spoken on this bill. In fact I am a new member of the Government Administration Committee. I am a new MP; I am here to learn from the best so clearly that is why they have put me in that select committee.Can I just acknowledge the Hon Ruth Dyson for all the work she has done on this in leading the committee; in fact can I acknowledge all the committee members as well. One of the important parts of the legislative process is to take a bill through the public submission stage consult the public and based on its feedback kick this bill around and bring it back in a good shape. I think that is exactly what the committee has done. There were around 105 submissions and I think we bring a very good bill back here in its third reading.I just want to acknowledge the Hon Peter Dunne—very passionate very dedicated and committed to this bill. I think that came out in his call today so I just want to acknowledge all his work. It is the biggest reform since the 1940s. We are following up from the Swain recommendations. It will be replacing outdated legislation from the 1970s and pretty much future-proofing and modernising the service going forward in the 21st century.Like others I do want to acknowledge Steve Askin who lost his life fighting the fires in the Port Hills. Steve was from Waimakariri. But I also want to acknowledge our firefighters—firemen and women volunteer and career firefighters—who give up so much time have so much commitment and have the ultimate professionalism.A good example of that is I recently attended a Gold Star presentation for Rodney Foster a fireman from the Kaiapoi Volunteer Fire Brigade in my electorate. Rodney has committed over 33 years of service to the volunteer fire brigades of not only Kaiapoi and Waimakariri but several fire brigades up and down the country. I think it is right that we are supporting our very hard-working firemen and women with this legislation going forward.One of the biggest tasks when you look to gather all this together in an integrated system is how you deal with the natural tensions. We see this playing out between the tensions of urban and rural of big and small towns and of volunteer and career firefighters. I think this legislation lands in the right place of dealing with those natural tensions by bringing everyone together in an integrated system that will ultimately provide a better response for the safety of New Zealanders our local communities and our families. So I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.
Points of Order — Ministerial Statements—Outbreak of Myrtle Rust in Kerikeri
Mallard Trevor; Carter David; Peters WinstonHon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South): I just wanted to defend you. You have accepted the question and at that point any approach from the Government to have you reverse it is disagreeing with a ruling that you have made and is most inappropriate.Mr SPEAKER: If I could add one more point to the comments made by Mr Mallard for the benefit of the Hon Simon Bridges it is my role to judge whether the urgent question should be asked and taking that into account I have looked at the question the tone of the question and I have also taken into account the public interest in this matter—and I think the public will be very interested in the situation that is developing in Northland they will be interested in the question and I hope they are equally interested in a very satisfactory answer.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Given the urgency of the matter I seek leave to ask my question of the Minister responsible and for him to answer it.Mr SPEAKER: Well I am going to put the leave. Leave is sought by the Rt Hon Winston Peters to ask his question. It would then have to be instead of the question from the Hon Damien—Hon Members: Why?Hon Ruth Dyson: It's not what he sought leave for though.Hon Member: It's a different question.Mr SPEAKER: Order! No I think that is a fair call. So we could have—[Interruption] Order! I am going to put the leave. Leave has been sought by the Rt Hon Winston Peters to ask his urgent question. Is there any objection to that being asked? There is.