edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
McAnulty KieranHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green): Thank you Mr Chair and I hope these questions do relate to the Estimates. There's a budget of $605 million for the Minister of Local Government and there's quite a chunk of money across various appropriations that are for the water services reform. There were a number of questions that the Governance and Administration Committee asked of the department including some of the risks around key deliverables for the whole reform programme over the next 12 months. The response was that yes the costs of transition—such as key personnel and establishment boards—would be covered and the like. But one of the answers said that there was no intention to undertake a performance assessment prior to the completion of the project the reform programme; there would be a post-implementation review. Given the large amount of money in Vote Internal Affairs and the local government portion of that that is going to the reform why isn't there a performance assessment being done prior to the completion? What assurance can the Minister give that there is appropriate scrutiny of expenditure? And are the questions that have been posed by the National member about the cost of the ICT system and the system of record correct or not? Because questions that were asked to the department about providing an update on the systems and record implementation business case and when it was expected to be presented to the Minister weren't answered with any level of detail. The department is apparently working through a revised work programme but that ICT system will be expensive. So when does the Minister expect to receive it and how much is it likely to cost out of the Minister's vote?Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister of Local Government): I thank the member for her question. The response she received is obviously directly from the department. I will follow up personally and get an answer to her directly.
McAnulty KieranHon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister of Local Government): Thank you. I've been taking notes throughout so I'll run through them. To Mr Watts' first question. There were two parts; neither are relevant to the Estimates. To the second question: it's an estimate only and isn't appropriated for within the estimates. To the third question: yes. To the fourth question: yes. To the fifth question: CEO roles will be sized appropriately to the size and scale of the entity. And to the sixth question: yes and the reason I say that is because the Government can and has always been able to demonstrate that our plan will save ratepayers' money. The member's party's plan such that it is cannot. To Simon Court's question the first one: yes. The second one: the increase is offset by the removal of tranche two of the Better Off funding $1 billion of which was due to be funded by the entities. The third and fourth questions are not actually a matter for the Estimates. In regards to Mr Penk's questions I have a lot of sympathy for those questions and genuinely would like to engage in that discussion. However I'm in a difficult spot where in so far as I'm Minister of Local Government my responsibility doesn't go that far. I've gone through the Estimates documents and looked at it. Definitely there's funding that's come through these Estimates around the seven regional recovery organisations across all the affected regions including those that he's mentioned and of course funding for local government around support for flood mitigation etc.It is true that I am the Minister responsible for the recovery in Hawke's Bay the Tararua district and the Wairarapa but in so far—and I would love to have that yarn but I'm limited in this debate. But I would say that I acknowledge the concerns that the member's raised. They are concerns that I share also as the Minister responsible for Hawke's Bay which is the most affected but also the most advanced. It has been an incredibly complex process but I do want to acknowledge the five councils in Hawke's Bay for showing the leadership that they have and for getting to the point that they have at this point.
Court SimonSIMON COURT (ACT): Thank you Mr Chair. Questions for the Minister: will the forecast establishment cost for the three waters entities projected to increase from $2 billion to $3 billion now deliver any additional waste water stormwater or drinking water infrastructure? If not what value if any will taxpayers and ratepayers get for the additional billion dollars that this Government now proposes to spend on three waters reforms? Minister please note that one down in your notebook.Secondly has the Minister asked the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) to identify where any savings might be made to reduce the $3 billion cost that is going to land on taxpayers ratepayers or water users just for setting up these entities and if so if you ask the DIA for savings what savings did they offer? Another question: how is it acceptable that the Department of Internal Affairs continues to pay between $602500 and $815500—the salary banding that applies to the three civil servants hired by the DIA as chief executives of the three water entities—even though those water entities are disestablished by the Water Services Entities Amendment Bill which is on the order paper today meaning they'll be disestablished today or tomorrow at the latest. How is it acceptable that the DIA intends to continue paying them?—which was your response to my written question. Are there any other Civil Service chief executives who continue to be paid for a role that no longer exists? It's not just the ACT Party that wants to know; every single taxpayer in New Zealand wants to know. How is it acceptable that the Department of Internal Affairs hired recruitment consultants at a cost of $500000 to recruit these CEOs—four CEOs for four water service entities three of whom whose roles will soon be redundant. Half a million bucks to recruit them and will the department ask the recruiters to help find them another job when they're made redundant by the Water Services Entities Amendment Bill when it passes today or tomorrow? Will these same recruiters be asked to help shuffle these people along?A final question from the ACT Party on behalf of all of the consumers and taxpayers in New Zealand: has the Department of Internal Affairs ever ended the employment of any staff as a result of their roles becoming redundant and if so will the department act to save taxpayers money by terminating the three chief executives who've been hired for three water service entities which won't exist after today or tomorrow when the Water Services Entities Amendment Bill is passed? The Government's going to disestablish their roles; will the DIA make them redundant and if not Minister why not?
McAnulty KieranLocal GovernmentHon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister of Local Government): Thank you Mr Chair. On the basis that the Labour Party only has 30 minutes remaining of the 2 hours and 29 minutes I intend to signal to the House that how I'll approach the hour that we've got is that I'll let some questions build up and then answer them all in one go to try and be a little bit more efficient with time.
O'Connor GregESTIMATES DEBATEIn CommitteeDebate resumed from 3 August on the Appropriation (2023/24 Estimates) Bill.CHAIRPERSON (Greg O'Connor): Members—quietly please—the House is in committee for further consideration of the Appropriation (2023/24 Estimates) Bill. The Business Committee has determined to organise the debate by portfolio so there'll be no sector specific debates. All votes are available for debate but only specific Ministers will be available each day to speak to the indicated portfolios only. The Government has indicated that the Minister of Local Government the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Transport will be available today. I understand that the relevant select committee chairpersons have indicated they do not wish to take calls to commence the debates.This debate expires after 11 hours at which point questions will be put that the vote stand part of the schedules and on the provisions of the Appropriation (2023/24 Estimates) Bill. There are two hours 29 minutes remaining in this debate. New Zealand Labour has 30 minutes remaining; New Zealand National has one hour 20 minutes remaining; ACT New Zealand has 22 minutes remaining; the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has 13 minutes remaining; Te Paati Māori has 11 minutes remaining; Dr Elizabeth Kerekere has six minutes remaining; the Hon Meka Whaitiri has six minutes remaining.The Estimates debate should be relevant to the Government's current spending plans as contained in the Estimates of appropriations. A compendium of the reports of select committees on the votes is available on the Table. The committee will be suspending at 5 p.m. for valedictory statements and will be sitting again after the dinner break.The question once again is that the votes contained in the Estimates of appropriation for 2023/24 stand part of the schedules. We start with the Minister of Local Government. The Minister is available from 3 p.m. till 4 p.m.
Rurawhe AdrianURGENT DEBATES DECLINEDMigrant Exploitation—AucklandSPEAKER: Members I have received a letter from Erica Stanford seeking to debate under Standing Order 399 a recent case of migrant exploitation that was reported last night in Auckland. An urgent debate is a way of holding the Government accountable for an action for which it is responsible—Speaker's ruling 200/4. The application does not disclose any Government action on the matter. Indeed it notes that the Government has made no formal statements in relation to these events. The application is therefore declined.
Salesa JennyTUESDAY 15 AUGUST 2023The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): E te Atua kaha rawa ka tuku whakamoemiti atu mātou mō ngā karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga i a mātou. Ka waiho i ō mātou pānga whaiaro katoa ki te taha. Ka mihi mātou ki te Kīngi me te inoi atu mō te ārahitanga i roto i ō mātou whakaaroarohanga kia mōhio ai kia whakaiti ai tā mātou whakahaere i ngā take o te Whare nei mō te oranga te maungārongo me te aroha o Aotearoa. Āmene.[Almighty God we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility for the welfare peace and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]
Thursday 10 March 2022 - Volume 757
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the COVID-19 Response (Courts Safety) Legislation Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 110New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 10ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ian McKelvie): The question is That the COVID-19 Response (Courts Safety) Legislation Bill be considered by the Justice Committee.A party vote was called for on the question That the motion be agreed to.Ayes 110New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 10ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Justice Committee.
COVID-19 Response (Courts Safety) Legislation Bill — First Reading
12. Question No. 12—Climate ChangeMARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Minister of Climate ChangeQuestion No. 12—Climate Change12. MARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Minister of Climate Change: Is he confident that New Zealand's primary industries have all the tools at their disposal to offset emissions and does he believe there will be a significant cost increase to farmers from the emissions pricing schemes proposed in the He Waka Eke Noa discussion documents?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister of Climate Change): In answer to the first part of the question yes. In answer to the second part of the question it depends.Mark Cameron: Does he agree with the director of He Waka Eke Noa who said that We're trying to get something that will actually drive change but not put people out of business." and if not how many farmers will be driven out of business by the He Waka Eke Noa proposals?Hon JAMES SHAW: In answer to the first part of the question yes. In answer to the second part of the question I'm not sure that the industry has provided any figures that would enlighten the member on that.Mark Cameron: If he agrees we are facing a climate emergency why has an application for the Bovaer methane inhibitor which has been approved in the EU sat on the desk of the Environmental Protection Authority for 13 months?Hon JAMES SHAW: I don't have responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency.Mark Cameron: What would he say to claims that reducing production from New Zealand farmers who are the most efficient in the world will increase global emissions and make New Zealand poorer as demand for agricultural products stays high and less-efficient overseas farmers with higher emissions take our place?Hon JAMES SHAW: I'd say that I've heard that assertion a number of times but I've not seen any evidence that it is true. If you look at for example the work that Silver Fern Farms have done they have just released a net zero beef product into the US market which is selling very well and they're looking to expanding that to other product lines as well. There are a number of farms and farming businesses throughout the country that have actually increased their profitability whilst reducing both methane and nitrous oxide emissions into the atmosphere and what that suggests actually after many years of research and trial and error is that it is entirely possible for farming to be both more profitable and lower-emission."
9. Question No. 9—Pacific PeoplesANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) (remote) to the Minister for Pacific PeoplesQuestion No. 9—Pacific Peoples9. ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) (remote) to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: What is being done to improve opportunities for Pacific students in Aotearoa New Zealand's schools and universities?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Pacific Peoples): This year a record number of our secondary and tertiary students will be getting support thanks to the Toloa STEAM fund which encourages study in the science technology engineering the arts and mathematical fields. There will be a total of 238 Toloa secondary school scholarships for our students in the coming year which will be going to 83 schools and cover school fees and equipment for one year to the maximum of $2000 for the first time. I'm also delighted to say that a further 50 Toloa tertiary scholarships have been awarded for Pacific young people to undertake tertiary studies. This scholarship will cover tuition fees and compulsory course-related fees up to $10000 for a year of full-time study for science- technology- engineering- arts- and mathematics-related courses.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: What about the Toloa STEAM providers are they being funded?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: We are building up funding for emerging providers for the Toloa capability fund. I want to build up the capacity and capacity for delivering STEAM programmes to Pacific communities. This year 10 applicants were presented with funding; eight in Auckland and two in Wellington. I'm also pleased to say that another six providers from Auckland Palmerston North Hamilton and Porirua will receive funding from the Toloa substantial provider fund. This will go a long way to supporting our proven and experienced providers to deliver Pacific-centric STEAM programmes.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: What do the Toloa scholarships mean for the wider Pacific community?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: The Government has made empowering Pacific Aoteroa a priority. Education is one way to achieve this goal. Pacific people have been under-represented in the STEAM fields for a long time and we are working hard to change this through the Toloa STEAM programme. We want Pacific peoples fulfilling their potential in the belief everyone in Aotearoa has the opportunity to succeed be able to provide for their families and contribute to the general economic recovery and wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand. With Toloa the Government has created an ecosystem with Pacific learners providers and Pacific leaders where Pacific parents are feeling confident and excited about their children pursuing STEAM studies and our Pacific youth are equally excited that they will own the digital economy. I congratulate all of our Toloa scholarship winners and I wish the students and their families the very best of luck as they pursue their dreams leading in the forefront of the new Pacific Aotearoa.
7. Question No. 7—TransportHELEN WHITE (Labour) (remote) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 7—Transport7. HELEN WHITE (Labour) (remote) to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about support for the aviation sector as New Zealand continues its reconnection with the world?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): Today the Government announced an extension to the Maintaining International Air Connectivity (MIAC) Scheme providing support to the aviation sector through to March 2023 in order to maintain international connections and support New Zealand's economic recovery. In the early phase of the pandemic the Government moved swiftly to keep freight volumes as close as possible to pre – COVID-19 levels as passenger numbers dropped dramatically and in doing so helped to support our economy by maintaining critical links with overseas markets for exports. This one-year extension provides a pathway for airlines to exit the scheme as passenger numbers return to normal which is expected over the coming months. As New Zealand reconnects with the world we are keeping up momentum to ensure the airlines maintain these routes and in doing so we are bolstering our recovery from COVID-19.Helen White: What have been the benefits of this scheme?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The MIAC scheme has played a vital role in ensuring that New Zealanders have been able to return home during the pandemic as well as ensuring we get time-critical supplies such as medicines and special equipment into the country quickly. Since May 2020 Government support through MIAC has enabled more than 12300 flights carrying 235000 tonnes of airfreight with a trade value of $18.8 billion. During the same period nearly 105000 people have returned to New Zealand on these flights which amounts to approximately half of those who have passed through our managed isolation and quarantine facilities. This scheme has protected our connections with the rest of the world and kept trade flowing.Helen White: How does the scheme support our Pacific partners in their recovery from COVID-19?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Our supporting our Pacific partners has been an objective of the scheme since it was established in order to maintain key supply chain links and connections with New Zealand. The scheme has maintained a critical lifeline for our Pacific partners. There would have been no flights to Tonga Samoa the Cook Islands and Niue without it. It has delivered essential air connectivity including for passengers and critical supplies which has helped these countries in their pandemic response by maintaining an economic lifeline and ensuring that they could access the supplies they needed to fight and recover from COVID-19.
1. Question No. 1—Research Science and InnovationSHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) (remote) to the Minister of Research Science and InnovationORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Research Science and Innovation1. SHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) (remote) to the Minister of Research Science and Innovation: What recent announcements has she made about New Zealand's commitment to global vaccine development?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Research Science and Innovation) (remote): Yesterday along with Minister Verrall we announced New Zealand's continued support of global vaccine development through a further $10 million pledge to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations—or CEPI. CEPI plays a critical role in supporting the global scientific community and it was a major contributor to the development of most of the vaccines available for COVID-19 today. New Zealand's continued membership of CEPI and the participation of our researchers and innovators in its network significantly improves our ability to respond to this and any future epidemics.Shanan Halbert: How else is the Government supporting development of New Zealand's science and innovation capability to respond to future pandemics?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: We've supported domestic innovation to support future pandemic preparedness through the COVID-19 Innovation Acceleration Fund investing a total of $33 million to develop solutions to manage COVID-19 including pandemic prediction and monitoring wellbeing and protective equipment. The Government has also invested $10 million into building vaccine research capability and links to New Zealand - based manufacturing through Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand and is investing $36 million into infectious disease research that will help us respond to future pandemics.Shanan Halbert: How is New Zealand supporting our partners to respond to the pandemic especially in the Pacific?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: The Government is committed to ensuring Pacific Island countries are supported to meet their ongoing COVID-19 vaccination needs. So far we've donated over 200000 doses from our domestic portfolio to the Pacific. We are also making significant contributions to global efforts to reach the World Health Organization's 70 percent vaccination target this year by contributing another 7.3 million fully funded vaccine doses to COVAX which may help to accelerate vaccine access in the Pacific and Africa.
SpeechTONI SEVERIN (ACT): Mr Speaker thank you. I'd like to speak on the COVID-19 Response (Courts Safety) Legislation Bill. Like my fellow colleagues here we think this again is a rushed bill and we totally agree that justice is needed. However if you don't already trust what has already been implemented; if you don't trust your COVID-19 testing system where you can do PCR testing or rapid antigen testing; and if they're concerned about the safety of people catching COVID-19 within the court system there is surely enough room within a court in most courts that you can—can—separate people within it and limit the numbers that are sitting within that courtroom. I feel this is so unjust on our lovely select committees who are just so busy. Having to have these things dropped on them so fast and so quickly is just totally unfair on these staff members when they are already at capacity. Also some of them are probably at home with COVID themselves and so they are probably working on limited staff.I think this should not be rushed in the time frame. We need to give our lawyers our judges and even the witness protection people—ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ian McKelvie): Sorry to the speaker. This debate is interrupted and set down for resumption next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday 15 March 2022.The House adjourned at 5 p.m.
COVID-19 Response (Courts Safety) Legislation Bill — Instruction to Committee
Penk ChrisCHRIS PENK (National—Kaipara ki Mahurangi): Thank you Mr Speaker. I'll perhaps only take a short call. I understand that my colleague Hon Paul Goldsmith is also keen. I don't know that he's managed to indicate that in the chat yet but if he does then I'll truncate my remarks. It's perhaps just worth placing on record that National has supported not only the legislation and the fact of it being referred to the Justice Committee—as most parties in the House have also agreed—and even the truncated process. The reason that we've done that is because this is a matter of some urgency—to use the lower case u" for urgency not technically in the parliamentary sense—and this is a problem that requires resolution as soon as possible. Of course there are always dangers inherent in rushing legislation so this is somewhat of a compromise bearing in mind that with the legislation having taken so long to come to the House as an alternative to inclusion in the COVID-19 protection framework Act in the first place and bearing in mind that even with an effective date of mid-April and regulations then to come out of that at some time subsequent it will be difficult to justify any further delay. So for that reason reluctantly we do agree that a truncated select committee process will be necessary."
SpeechInstruction to Justice CommitteeHon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety) on behalf of the Minister of Justice: I move That the COVID-19 Response (Courts Safety) Legislation Bill be reported to the House by 31 March 2022 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions) during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House despite Standing Orders 193 and 196. As we've heard through the course of this debate this bill is an important one and it's needed to mitigate safety risks as soon as possible to ensure that courts can operate both safely and effectively particularly as we face Omicron spreading in the coming period. If key court participants including jurors defendants lawyers communications assistants and others are either unwilling or unable to participate in court proceedings then they may need to be delayed or adjourned. If proceedings have to be adjourned part-way through trials that can significantly extend time frames beyond the extent of the delay itself; in fact it can potentially require a trial to be stopped and a new trial to be rescheduled. A break of just three or four days in a trial can potentially create this. An Auckland High Court trial could potentially get delayed by up to a year if this occurs.Court operations have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. Since August of last year when Delta restrictions had an impact on court operations around about 80000 court events have been impacted. That means that around about 25 percent of court activity over that period has been impacted to some degree. The number of active criminal cases in District Court is now almost 8500 cases more than we had pre-Delta which gives an indication of the kinds of impacts that we're trying to mitigate here including an additional 428 jury trials awaiting trial.The Government is moving rapidly through this bill to give the judiciary and the ministry the ability to address safety concerns. In doing this we do need to be sure that people's rights are protected. The Government has worked closely with the judiciary to understand the issues and to try and strike the right balance before we move through with this legislation.So while this process does allow for a short select committee consideration we believe that is the appropriate balance to strike and as such we think that the process that I have outlined is the right way forward for this bill. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ian McKelvie): The question is that the motion be agreed to.
White HelenHELEN WHITE (Labour) (remote): Thank you Mr Speaker. I am pleased to be speaking in support of this bill which will go to select committee.It's been rather churlish reluctant support from the National Party today. However it is a bill that there is mostly support over. I'd make the point to the Hon Paul Goldsmith that we aren't really over the need for something like this. We have Omicron and this piece of legislation is very much designed around it. What we had was the use by the court of their inherent jurisdiction and yes absolutely a respect for the powers that they have separately. This is something that is being done cooperatively and supportively. So what this will do is actually just give shored-up support over things like the Juries Act the Criminal Procedure Act and the Courts Security Act and what it is about is actually access to justice.Access to justice is an interesting concept. We throw it around and we don't think about it much and actually what that is about is it is about all the vulnerable people who come into a court situation. That involves victims and it involves defendants it involves the media being able to watch the proceedings and it involves lawyers. I was mindful that Golriz Ghahraman—who has not spoken on this bill but her colleagues spoke on her behalf—would be one of those lawyers that would have found this very difficult. Going into the court for her because she's got immune-compromised issues would have been difficult and her clients no doubt would have been the poorer for it.So it's very important we have safe settings in courts because people don't go there for fun. They're actually pretty vulnerable when they go in. So this produces some of those balances and what I think is very important is that it is subject to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. I take my colleague Dr Duncan Webb's point that this is actually built into our system: when people make decisions by delegation they make them mindful of their obligations under that Act. It is temporary and that's important too.It is something where I think the most interesting part of this is the discretion that the judge has despite the decision of the heads of court in actually every single case. So they are actually thinking about what they do mindful of those principles and respectful of them in making sure that access is actually something that's real. So I commend this bill wholeheartedly to the House and I look forward to it coming back from the select committee.
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Tēnā koe e te Mana Whakawā. Look I really just want to make a brief comment around some of the concerns raised from the Opposition to make it clear and reinforce what the Minister introducing the bill noted which is that these restrictions absolutely must be New Zealand Bill of Rights Act - compliant. There is of course a very strong presumption set out in the Drew case I think that this House will not pass legislation which—and Fitzgerald the three-strikes case as well made it clear the presumption that this House will not intend to pass legislation which breaches the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.Further when we get into regulation and acts of the executive of which some of these restrictions under this Act will be it's simply the case that the executive don't have the power that they are constrained in their actions by the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and that in the absence of a truly extraordinary statement by the legislature that they can breach the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act—one which doesn't exist in the law—there is essentially an irrebuttable presumption that any powers conferred on the executive must be exercised consistently with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.So access to justice and—can I just say one other thing—open justice and the ability of people to know what's going on in the courts whether they're a party to a proceeding or not is of critical importance to our constitutional system. This is really a part of making sure that that continues in this modern COVID-affected age and I commend it to the House.
Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Thank you Mr Speaker. I'm delighted to take a brief call on this piece of legislation because equitable access to justice is a fundamental tenet of a free society—and indeed that's the case here in New Zealand—and this bill goes quite some way actually I believe in enabling that within the current context of a global pandemic.The proposed legislation is temporary—that is generally it is tied to the life of the COVID public health legislation—so that gives some context. But judicial officers which many probably—actually when you look at the list that's contained in the schedule within the bill it's much longer than perhaps I think many people might think. But generally most people think of judicial officers as judges community magistrates and the like and they need to be able to facilitate proceedings in a way that they consider to be appropriate. I can share with the House that I've actually had some experience in this space as a judicial officer who has presided over hearings—Dr Duncan Webb: Judge—the judge? TANGI UTIKERE: —not a judge Dr Webb—in courtrooms within the District Court jurisdiction largely around arrests remand and bail hearings and I have done that for over 10 years. Actually Mr Speaker I spent some time in your electorate presiding over bail hearings and traffic hearings in the Feilding District Court. So there's the connection and the link that we make sir. Of course your courthouse is no longer there. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ian McKelvie): Don't need it!TANGI UTIKERE: But what it does I think signal is that there are many courtrooms and court facilities all around the country that are very different. The infrastructure is different. The six courtrooms that exist in my Palmerston North courthouse are all quite different in themselves but distinctly they are different from other courtrooms and courthouses around the country and so what this bill will do is it will provide an opportunity for presiding judicial officers within the context of some guidance from the heads of bench to issue determinations that they consider appropriate within the context of specific proceedings. So the flexibility is important because on the one hand we want to ensure that these proceedings can continue to take place where people have considerations such as health and safety at play but also it doesn't undermine an individual's right to a free and fair opportunity when it comes to justice and natural justice.I think this is a piece of legislation that will go to the select committee. We'll hear from the select committee as a result of this working through the process and I am happy to commend this to the House.
SpeechDr EMILY HENDERSON (Labour—Whangārei) (remote): It's wonderful to be able to take a short call on this bill and thus prove the effectiveness of remote participation in our most fundamental democratic institutions. I want to first turn to the point raised by my colleague Dr Kerekere: yes the courts have been handling this themselves. They have a range of measures much like those that have already been described in terms of seeking that people give vax passes where necessary and amending those procedures where someone is compelled to attend such as a defendant. They've been doing it themselves. This also goes back to my colleague Mr Bishop's point which is why haven't we done this earlier because it is absolutely crucial that Parliament stays as far away from the day-to-day operational matters of the court as possible. These are fundamental constitutional matters. Courts guard their constitutional independence to run their own hearings very very strongly and it is right that they should do so. So we are intervening now because they are concerned that they need the backup to ensure that things continue to run smoothly. That is what we are doing and this is the appropriate moment to do it at.Now there is of course concern from some members that these measures such as remote participation might actually further endanger the right to trial and it's my pleasure to be able to say that not only have we got the COVID experiments that we heard about from my colleague Ms Walters but actually things like remote participation have been tried for many many years in many different courts that we compare ourselves to. So to give one example Western Australia has been running its cross-examination of child witnesses remotely for about the last 25 years. It did that because this is a province where the trials need to be conducted over a huge geographical distance. They don't find it a problem at all. I have spoken to the defence counsel. They say the only problem with remote participation is when you have to listen to the recording of yourself—rather like having to watch or read one's Hansard back. They say it is intensely boring.I would like to take the point lastly that my colleague Ms Walters made. These are things that are going to disappear with COVID in terms of this legislation but the innovation that we get to trial now with no threat to the fair trial is something that we can learn from and that may actually last into the future. So I commend this bill to the House.
Rurawhe AdrianPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSDEPUTY SPEAKER: Members no petitions or papers have been presented and no bills have been introduced. Select committee reports have been delivered for presentation. CLERK: Report of the Regulations Review Committee on the examination of COVID-19 orders presented between 16 and 20 February 2022reports of the Social Services and Community Committee on the Girl Guides Association (New Zealand Branch) Incorporation Amendment Bill andpetition of Trevor Reader.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The bill is set down for second reading. The COVID-19 orders are set down for consideration.
Hipkins Chris; Bishop ChrisBUSINESS STATEMENTHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) (remote): Legislation to be considered next week will include the remaining stages of the Ngāti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill and the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021-22 GST and Remedial Matters) Bill; the committee stage of the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill and the third readings of the Commerce Amendment Bill and the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Bill. Wednesday will be a members' day.CHRIS BISHOP (National): I thank the Leader of the House for that update. I wonder if he might inform as to when progress is expected on the Screen Industry Workers Bill which has been on the Order Paper for 18 months or so and appears to be making no progress.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): The House of course has a very busy schedule and the Government—a very busy and very productive Government—has a lot of legislation that we're trying to work our way through at the moment but I can assure the member that in the fullness of time at the appropriate moment it will make its way to the top of the Order Paper.
Rurawhe AdrianTHURSDAY 10 MARCH 2022The Deputy Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSDEPUTY SPEAKER: E te Atua kaha rawa ka tuku whakamoemiti atu mātou mō ngā karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga i a mātou. Ka waiho i ō mātou pānga whaiaro katoa ki te taha. Ka mihi mātou ki te Kuīni me te inoi atu mō te ārahitanga i roto i ō mātou whakaaroarohanga kia mōhio ai kia whakaiti ai tā mātou whakahaere i ngā take o te Whare nei mō te oranga te maungārongo me te aroha o Aotearoa. Āmene.[Almighty God we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests we acknowledge the Queen and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility for the welfare peace and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]
Wednesday 9 March 2022 - Volume 757
Russia Sanctions Bill — In Committee
VoteCHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that Golriz Ghahraman's amendment to clause 8 as set out on Supplementary Order Paper 138 be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to. Ayes 10Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Noes 108New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Amendment not agreed to.Parts 1 to 4 and clauses 1 and 2 agreed to. Bill to be reported without amendment.House resumed.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Madam Speaker the committee has considered the Russia Sanctions Bill and reports it without amendment. I move That the report be adopted.Motion agreed to.Report adopted.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the House take note of the report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Budget Policy Statement 2021-22 and Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update December 2021.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.
11. Question No. 11—CustomsTĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) (remote) to the Minister of CustomsQuestion No. 11—Customs11. TĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) (remote) to the Minister of Customs: What initiatives are Customs providing to small-to-medium importers?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI (Minister of Customs): Ongoing supply chain disruption has meant many businesses in Aotearoa New Zealand are placing larger or more frequent orders for their products from overseas. This means they are having to make regular payments to Customs to stay within their credit limits. One initiative increases credit limits for low-risk small to medium enterprises so they can more easily import larger or more frequent shipments. Other initiatives include deferred payments which allow businesses to defer their payments to Customs including duties and GST charges.Tāmati Coffey: How have businesses responded to this initiative so far?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Insofar as the credit limit increases initiative as of 11 February 2022 7268 small to medium importers have been notified of the credit limit increases with 6300 opting to take up this offer—an 86.6 take-up rate.Tāmati Coffey: How does increasing imported credit limits support New Zealand's economic recovery?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: It is increasing the economic resilience of thousands of small to medium sized enterprises enabling them to increase the number and volume of orders for their products or materials from overseas and providing certainty during a time when the supply chain is unsettled. Increasing credit limits has given businesses more breathing room with their cash flow allowing them to pay for the essentials—like employee salaries—that keep enterprise afloat and the economy thriving.
9. Question No. 9—TransportGREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) (remote) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 9—Transport9. GREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) (remote) to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has the Government made on keeping New Zealanders safe on our roads?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): I'm pleased to report that yesterday the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill completed its third reading. This legislation authorises random roadside drug testing which aims to deter drug-impaired driving leading to safer roads for all. Driving under the influence of drugs can result in preventable yet very serious harm. In both 2019 and 2020 over 100 people were killed in crashes where a driver was found to have drugs in their system. This is just one part of the Government's Road to Zero strategy to save the lives of people on our roads. We want to see less deaths and serious injuries on our roads and a 40 percent reduction target by 2030 and the passage of this legislation is a step in the right direction.Greg O'Connor: What response has he seen to the passing of the drug-driving bill?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: There's been a very positive response. It was commented on by the Automobile Association as being a significant step forward in road safety." They said that "the introduction of roadside testing devices will not only be welcomed by the vast majority of drivers but also by many of the families that have lost loved ones because of a drug-impaired driver." Drug-driving is a much more complex area than drink-driving because of the range of substances involved and more variation in the ways that drugs can affect individuals but the Government has come up with a well-balanced approach which when implemented will make our roads safer.Greg O'Connor: What other work is the Government progressing to make our roads safer?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Our Road to Zero strategy is part of a plan to build the safest road system we can and work towards zero deaths and serious injuries by 2050 and a 40 percent reduction by 2030. We're targeting all aspects of the transport system to get there and are investing $2.9 billion in Road to Zero activities over the next three years. This includes safer infrastructure people into safer vehicles safer speed limits and an extensive record-breaking road maintenance programme and we're refocusing on targeted and effective police enforcement. The measures that are being introduced are internationally proven and have reduced deaths and serious injuries when they are systemically rolled out."
7. Question No. 7—COVID-19 ResponseDr LIZ CRAIG (Labour) (remote) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 7—COVID-19 Response7. Dr LIZ CRAIG (Labour) (remote) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What recent announcements has he made on New Zealand's COVID-19 response?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): Today I announced that the isolation period for COVID-19 cases and their household contacts will reduce from 10 days to seven days. This will come into effect from 11.59 p.m. on Friday. Household contacts will need to have a rapid antigen test if they become symptomatic during their isolation or if they don't get symptoms they'll be required to have a negative test at day 6 prior to ending their seven-day isolation period. Dr Liz Craig: What public health advice has he seen to support this decision?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: We've received advice from the Ministry of Health on how to get the balance right between effectively controlling the current Omicron outbreak and the flow-on effect on essential goods and services. Omicron and its transmissibility has meant that many more positive cases are being detected but many also have moderate or mild symptoms. Our high vaccination rates are also contributing to that. As case numbers have increased we're seeing large numbers of positive cases and their household contacts isolating. This is having a wider impact on many parts of our lives including on our food supply chains and on businesses' day-to-day operations. The public health advice was that the societal impact of a longer isolation period outweighs the public health risk associated with a shorter isolation period. This is in line with similar changes made in other countries and with increasing international evidence that people are most likely to transmit the virus earlier in their infectious period.Dr Liz Craig: What other announcements has he recently made on New Zealand's COVID-19 response?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Today I also announced that quarter of a million Novavax vaccinations have arrived in the country and people can book these over the phone or online from tomorrow. While Pfizer remains the preferred COVID-19 vaccine for New Zealand Novavax is now available for those people who would prefer or require an alternative. It's available to people 18 and over only. It requires two doses with a three-week gap between them. It has not yet been approved as a booster dose. People will be able to choose appointments at a limited number of sites. It won't be available at every vaccination site around the country. Details are available on the Ministry of Health website.