Cunliffe David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCunliffe David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 12 May 2016. Volume:713;Page:11055. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Labour—New Lynn) to the Minister for Land Information: Does she stand by all her statements regarding Land Information New Zealand and the Overseas Investment Office?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Land Information): Yes especially my statement in the House yesterday that in the 6 months to 31 March 2016 2 to 3 percent of transfers involved buyers who indicated an overseas tax residency. This is in stark contrast to the report that suggests that 39.4 percent of land sales in Auckland are due to a particular ethnic group. That data was released by the Opposition’s spokesperson on housing—Mr SPEAKER: Order! We do not need that part of the answer.Hon David Cunliffe: Does she stand by her statement that the Overseas Investment Office’s failure to brief Ministers on the Grozovsky brothers’ 2011 pollution case was a “one-off”; if so is she aware of any previous issues relating to the Grozovskys?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I reported last week that is an issue that is now under the investigation of an independent quality assessor that the Chief Executive of Land Information New Zealand has appointed and I will wait till the outcome of that review.Hon David Cunliffe: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think the question was quite specific in asking her whether she stood by her statement that it was a one-off—Mr SPEAKER: No. [Interruption] Order! The difficulty was that the member asked not one question but two supplementary questions.Hon David Cunliffe: Was the Minister advised—and if so on what date—that the Grozovsky brothers were not only held criminally responsible for toxic pollution from their tannery in 2011 but also implicated in a 2007 toxic pollution case at the Aguilares sugar mill which allegedly caused fatalities?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: The matter that the member raises is an allegation that was made and the Overseas Investment Office is now investigating that particular allegation. As I have stated in the House before if there are any breaches of conditions related to an application there are options that the office can take.Hon David Cunliffe: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question asked: if she was advised on what date was she advised? She did not address that.Mr SPEAKER: No. The member can hope to get the date as well but to expect the Minister to actually have known the date—the essence of the question was whether the Minister was advised; clearly in the answer given the Minister had been advised.Hon David Cunliffe: When she signed off on the overseas purchase of Radius Properties Ltd last year did the Overseas Investment Office advise her that the majority investor in Radius Properties had been involved in a 2014 United States regulatory investigation and had been fined and permanently banned from trading as that firm in the US?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I do not have the details of that particular application in front of me. I am happy to provide an answerif the member would like to put that down in writing.Dr Jian Yang: What does the 3 percent figure released by Land Information New Zealand include?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: The 3 percent figure related to tax residency includes all property transfers including those made by individuals trusts businesses and companies. In the period from 1 January 2016 to 31 March 2016 the breakdown of the 3 percent figure by buyers who provided an overseas tax residency showed that there were 1158 transfers where at least one of the property buyers provided an overseas tax residency. This equates to 320 transfers from China 312 from Australia and 99 from the UK.Hon David Cunliffe: On what date was the Minister first advised that the Grozovsky brothers were involved in an alleged 2007 toxic pollution case related to the Aguilares sugar mill?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said in my previous answer there are allegations that have been made about the applicants involved and an investigation is currently under way to do with those issues.Hon David Cunliffe: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Point of order—which one? Grant Robertson.Grant Robertson: Mr Cunliffe’s question was very specific about the date. Even if the Minister does not know she has the ability to say that she does not know.Mr SPEAKER: It is certainly a very specific question but can I refer the member to Speaker’s ruling 191/3 and 191/4. A very general primary question was asked: “Does the Minister stand by all her statements?”. Subsequently as we have proceeded through the supplementary questions they have become more and more specific. The Minister is not expected to hold those sorts of details. In fact to guess the answer I suggest might get a Minister into more trouble than it is worth. The question has been addressed.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Point of order the Hon—oh sorry. Grant Robertson.Grant Robertson: One day soon Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Well you live in hope.Grant Robertson: I respect the ruling that you have made. The point is that the Minister did not address the question of the day. She could say: “I don’t know.” She could say: “I haven’t been informed.” In one of her earlier supplementary answers she acknowledged that the office was aware of the allegations. Therefore she is obviously aware of the allegations. So it is following on from a previous supplementary question. I do not think that it would be unreasonable for the—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I am in a generous mood on a Thursday. What I am going to do is allow the question to be asked again but it will be perfectly acceptable for a Minister to say: “I don’t have those details.” I invite the member the Hon David Cunliffe.Hon David Cunliffe: Thank you Mr Speaker. On what date was the Minister first advised of the incidents related to the 2007 Aguilares sugar mill pollution?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said previously there is an issue—there are two issues actually. The first is a review regarding the applicants of that particular place that you are referring to. The second is that there is an allegation that is being investigated and actually I do not believe there is any value in commenting further until that investigation is complete.Dr Jian Yang: What other statements has the Minister made?Mr SPEAKER: That is a very general question. I will try to control the answer.Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I absolutely stand by my statements in the House yesterday that in a country where we have over 200 ethnicities it is absolutely disgraceful that members opposite single out one ethnicity and blame them wholeheartedly for rising house prices. I am waiting for an apology. Maybe that is what Mr Little is doing at 3 o’clock. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Mr Twyford. [Interruption] Order! Mr Twyford I am on my feet. There was an example yesterday that the member might well recall.Hon Annette King: He couldn’t see you.Mr SPEAKER: Well to suggest that he could not see me when he is looking at me does not wash too well with me.Hon David Cunliffe: Does she still have full and complete confidence in the chief executive of Land Information New Zealand?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Absolutely and I said on the record last week that I do have full confidence in the chief executive of Land Information New Zealand. There was an issue with one particular application which I understand is a one-off and a full apology was made by the chief executive related to that one matter.