3. Question No. 3—HousingHon GERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of HousingQuestion No. 3—Housing3. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of Housing: Is she confident in the systems at the border and in quarantine and managed isolation?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing): Yes I am confident. Our managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) system is working well. This is demonstrated by the fact that 34768 people have been through managed isolation since 26 March 2020. Since New Zealand returned to level 1 all positive COVID-19 cases have been picked up in our managed isolation and quarantine facilities and there has been no community transmission of the virus in New Zealand for more than 90 days. We're one of the few countries in the world that is successfully keeping COVID-19 out of our community. While I am confident in the systems this doesn't mean that human error won't occur from time to time and we've seen that play out in a handful of isolated incidents—all of which have resulted in improvements to the overall MIQ systems. Finally while I do not have direct responsibility for systems at the border I am working closely with my colleagues to ensure all systems are working well to keep New Zealanders safe.Hon Gerry Brownlee: How does staffing of New Zealand managed isolation facilities differ from those that caused community outbreaks of COVID-19 in Victoria?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Since the middle of June since Air Commodore Webb and I assumed responsibility for the managed isolation systems we've been going through a programme of change. What we have is an operational lead at all 32 of our managed isolation facilities from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). There are four to six members of NZDF on site at each of our facilities; there is one permanent member of the New Zealand Police force. We also have Aviation Security Service on site and they are subcontracting private security firms. We also then have staffing of hotel workers that are there and this is of course in addition to the health workforce that is on site at each of the 32 managed isolation facilities. In regard to the staffing levels we have been carrying out a site security assessment on all of the facilities over the last fortnight and that is due to report back to us this week. In that report we will be looking at a variety of factors such as resourcing the level of services accreditation of security firms that are providing services as well as technology that can be deployed in the facilities.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Is there an over-reliance on private security in New Zealand and at managed isolation facilities?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: No. Of the nine managed isolation facilities that I have visited now we have anywhere between four and seven private security staff operating in those facilities. That is matched by between four and six NZDF personnel as well as police personnel that are there full time 24/7.Hon Gerry Brownlee: What steps do private security guards working in managed isolation take to ensure that they don't put their families and the wider community at risk from COVID-19?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: This is an issue that we have been working through for several weeks with those workers and with their representative organisations—that we have rigorous steps in place at our managed isolation facilities to protect all workers not just our security staff. That is the systems that are in place around the physical distancing that is required within our facilities the safe operation from a health perspective around disease control within our facilities and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment when it is required to protect those staff. I think the fact that we have had 34000 people through our managed isolation facilities and we have not had community outbreak shows New Zealanders that they can feel safe they can feel secure and that our managed isolation facilities are offering a strong line of defence in keeping them and the gains they fought for safe.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Has she heard of any instances where people who should not have been permitted to enter a managed isolation facility—such as to make a delivery to a guest—achieved entry because security guards failed to undertake appropriate vetting?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: There are a couple of instances of people trying to get into facilities as well. The reports that I have had and the briefings I have had is that the systems have worked. These people have not got past the common areas they have not made contact and this is a sign of the systems working. What I would like to reassure New Zealanders and not create fear for New Zealanders is that we have a robust system in place that ensures New Zealanders can be kept safe by the fact that we have a strong line of defence in our managed isolation facilities and that our systems are working in there and stopping people either entering or leaving when they should be.Hon Gerry Brownlee: What services including food and beverage services are provided to guests in managed isolation facilities?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: There are three meals a day the member might be pleased to know—three meals a day—that are provided as well as morning and afternoon snacks from my understanding. These are provided on site at the facilities and each facility operates—Hon Grant Robertson: Release the menu!Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: —its own alcohol—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Both those comments are inappropriate and both members should know better.Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I think I've said enough.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Minister as to how she would be able to cope with all the assistance that's needed if there was en masse people coming from China as advocated by the National Party?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: What we are—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker how can you allow a question that's based on a speculative comment from the Deputy Prime Minister with absolutely no evidence to that effect whatsoever?SPEAKER: Well I think I was here in the House when—well I certainly have a recollection of one of the former leaders of the National Party suggesting that a bubble be formed with Australia and shortly after that with China.Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: On this side of the House this Government is committed to making sure that we are operating our borders in a managed way that protects New Zealanders from COVID but importantly also protects the gains that we collectively made as a team of 5 million. We will do this in a methodical planned and managed way to ensure we are not putting all of that at risk.