9. Question No. 9—Regional Economic DevelopmentHon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister for Regional Economic DevelopmentQuestion No. 9—Regional Economic Development9. Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: What statements or actions if any has he made or taken to protect the 100 Air New Zealand heavy engineering workshop jobs in Nelson at threat from proposed closure?Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development): Naturally the COVID experience has been harrowing for the employees of entities such as Air New Zealand. Funnily enough the CEO of Air New Zealand has reached out to me. One of the items that I will be discussing with him when we have said meeting will be concerns that I've heard from Whangarei Kerikeri Nelson and Rotorua.Hon Dr Nick Smith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was what statements or actions had he specifically taken. I don't think he addressed that.SPEAKER: Well I think I heard that the Minister had agreed to meet with Mr Foran.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does he support the proposed closure of the regional maintenance facility in Nelson that will cost regional New Zealand over 100 jobs?Hon SHANE JONES: The Crown has allocated—by way I think of convertible note—nigh on a billion dollars to our national carrier. The final shape and form of the Crown's interest in that national carrier is a matter for the future. However we have inherited an operational model that despite my zest for better outcomes prohibits Ministers from running the operations of Air New Zealand. But my thoughts are most certainly with the employees as they go through this harrowing experience all throughout our provinces.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Has he made any representations to the Minister of Transport or Finance to tag the $900 million of Government support for Air New Zealand to jobs or services to the regions?Hon SHANE JONES: The member would be aware there are a host of fiscal injections. One has already been made into the operations of Air New Zealand and another still exists where airlines that arguably are competitors with Air New Zealand—certainly in those areas where Air New Zealand long since neglected. It seems to me that once we know what exactly the petition says then we'll be in a position to ascertain what if anything Ministers can do given the vast gulf between the operations of that company and the money that was required by them to keep their operations in a robust form.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Why has he made no public statement in support of the regional maintenance facility and the 100 affected skilled engineering jobs when he has on 17 previous occasions made public statements on Air New Zealand's operational matters?Hon SHANE JONES: Yes I have practised my verbal skills in relation to the model which Christopher Luxon ran and now he's on his way as the putative leader on the other side of the House. COVID requires a very judicious approach to the affairs of companies as important as Air New Zealand and as I have said—as I have explained—once the opportunity arises I will meet with the CEO and relevant executive. I would say that the Nelson economy has many other arrows to its fiscal quiver. One of those is the actual Waimea Dam. I am actively pursuing in what way as the provincial champion I can futureproof said dam.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does he agree with the lead petitioner of the petition tabled today of over 16000 people Mr Willie Snowden that his lack of support for the retention of these 100 high-rate jobs in regional New Zealand makes a mockery of his self-proclaimed title as the champion of the regions?Hon SHANE JONES: It will require more than one random indiscriminate hurtful remark for that crown to be removed from my head. The person Mr Snowden—I do not know the individual and I do not wish to speak against such an individual coming and using his rights as a citizen to petition Parliament. But any suggestion that Air New Zealand can be directed by a single Minister as to how they deploy the $960 million—unfortunately I'm blocked constitutionally by doing so. That's as a consequence of the last regime that that former Minister was a part of.Hon Dr Nick Smith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Both this Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have claimed that legislative changes made by National prevented the Minister—SPEAKER: Order! Order! I know the member doesn't like me interrupting—he will resume his seat—but right from the first phrase it becomes clear that he is indicating his unhappiness with the answer and possibly with the accuracy of the answer. If that's what he's intending to do he should stop now. If he has a point of order he will point out the Standing Order and then move on to it.Hon Dr Nick Smith: I seek leave of the House to table the response from the Parliamentary Library with regard to the specific actions that were taken with respect to Air New Zealand that disprove the claims made by the Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.SPEAKER: Well what I'm going to do is take the first phrase that the member used rather than the rest of it and seek the leave of the House for that document to be tabled. Is there any objection? There is none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.