edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
4. Question No. 4—Climate ChangeHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister of Climate ChangeQuestion No. 4—Climate Change4. Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister of Climate Change: Will the Government follow the final advice of He Pou a Rangi the Climate Change Commission?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister of Climate Change): The Climate Change Commission has set out a clear direction for our path to ensure a safe climate for future generations and we are already moving in that direction. Cabinet will still need to make decisions over the coming months and I can't pre-empt those decisions today but I can say under the zero carbon Act the Government has to either follow the commission's advice or come up with a better alternative.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does he accept the commission's conclusion that current policies are not enough to meet our targets for a low-emissions future?Hon JAMES SHAW: Yes I do and that's why the Government's planning to build on the work that we have already begun to reduce emissions. I welcome the commission's conclusions that existing technologies make taking action affordable delaying action would be more costly and that reducing emissions can also have good outcomes for people's health and energy bills. I take heart that the commission has told us that we are acting in the right areas like transport energy agriculture and waste but we need our actions to be both bolder and faster.Hon Eugenie Sage: How will he ensure the Government follows the commission's advice to work in partnership with Iwi Māori?Hon JAMES SHAW: When Parliament unanimously passed the zero carbon Act we included a specific legal requirement for the Government to pay attention to the effects of climate change for iwi Māori. The commission has told us that upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi must be at the core of our transition." and that is very important to the Government.Hon Eugenie Sage: When will the Government follow the commission's recommendations to incentivise the uptake of electric cars?Hon JAMES SHAW: Budget 2021 included $300 million to incentivise the uptake of electric vehicles and we will be making an announcement about that very soon.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does he support the commission's advice to establish 300000 hectares of new native forest in the next few years including integrated pest management?Hon JAMES SHAW: Native forests are essential to achieving both our climate change targets improving our biodiversity and restoring the ecosystems that sustain us. I agree with the commission that native forestry can provide enduring carbon sinks that clean our air and protect our environment for future generations.Hon Eugenie Sage: What does he expect other Ministers to do in response to the climate commission's advice?Hon JAMES SHAW: Climate change requires a response right across the Government. Many Ministers are already working together to develop the emissions reduction plan and many departments and agencies are also doing their bit. We know that we have the right tools in the tool box; now we need to put them to use. And as the chair of the Climate Change Commission said today "We just need to get on with it now.""
2. Question No. 2—FinanceHELEN WHITE (Labour) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. HELEN WHITE (Labour) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): The wholesale and manufacturing sectors are contributing to supporting the recovery. This morning Stats New Zealand reported a continued rise in manufacturing sales volumes in the March quarter up 0.4 percent from the previous quarter to reach a record peak of $27 billion. The biggest contribution came from the electronic and electrical equipment manufacturing sector. Outputs from this industry fed into the exports of optical medical and measuring equipment goods which have increased over 50 percent during the last 12 months. Meat and dairy products manufacturing sales volumes rose 1.3 percent in the March 2021 quarter the second-largest industry rise. Separately wholesale trade sales rose 3.7 percent in the March 2021 quarter a rebound from a decline in the previous quarter and the biggest contribution here came from the motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts industry.Helen White: What other reports has he seen on the economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Government's efforts to secure the recovery are reflected in the jobs market. The SEEK NZ Employment Report increased by 5.1 percent in May from the previous month to a record high for job advertising numbers. For the year job ads rose 193 percent. More importantly job ad numbers have now surpassed pre-COVID marks by more than 20 percent. A BNZ economist's noted it is not enough to say job advertising has fully recovered … 'It is now exceptionally strong.' "Helen White: What reports has he seen on the impact of climate change on the economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As we have heard today the final report of the Climate Change Commission was released. It shows that we can build on the progress that the Government has already made to meet our climate targets in a way that is affordable and achievable. The commission has revised its modelling of the GDP impact. It now estimates the level of GDP could be around 0.5 percent lower in 2035 and 1.2 percent lower in 2050 than it otherwise would have been. This does not account for co-benefits such as health improvements or wellbeing benefits. Importantly the commission has now included an estimate of the impact on GDP of delaying action. It says that delay particularly in deploying electric vehicles and improved farm practices could result in the level of GDP in 2050 falling by around 2.3 percent. The Government welcomes this report and is now working its way through its recommendations for our response.Andrew Bayly: Has he seen the ANZ New Zealand Business Outlook report which showed that 86 percent of businesses are expecting higher costs ahead which is bad news for superannuitants and low-income earners? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes I have seen that report and what it does say is that firms are very optimistic about their own outlook which is going up; their export intentions; their investment intentions; and their property expectations. So I tend to look on the optimistic side of the report."
Severin ToniTONI SEVERIN (ACT): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of the ACT Party to oppose the Holidays (Parent-Teacher Interview Leave) Amendment Bill. Good lawmaking requires the member responsible for this bill to properly define the problem that they are trying to solve. This bill does not solve a problem that I have been made aware of by many parents that I have spoken to who work varying hours; some work multiple jobs. All that they have told me is that their employer or school have worked with them to make sure that they can make their child's parent-teacher interview.Yes it is important for parents to know how their children are doing in school. But at the expense of employers? This bill is not fair on businesses even though costs are in the small grand scheme of other costs imposed by this Government. Increased minimum wage new public holiday doubling sick leave and less flexible employment relation rules all impose major costs on small businesses. The minimum wage increase alone costs businesses over $8000 per year for a full-time minimum-wage employee. These additional costs risk job creations. Who does the business pass these added costs on to? It is the New Zealand public. So the employers just add the costs that you keep compounding and compounding on them to the rest of New Zealanders.The next thing I would like to know is what other things you would like to regulate for parents. Is it going to be their sports days? Who knows? Are people allowed to go and take their pets because they consider them?I'm a firm believer that parents should be able to make parent-teacher interviews. I do not see there is a problem here. Most schools are very flexible with it and so are employers. ACT oppose this bill.
Shaw JamesHon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): Thank you Madam Speaker—thank you for the prompt. Chris Bishop: It's been a big day.Hon JAMES SHAW: It has. I'm sorry I lost my count. Look I don't think anybody in this House would argue that participation in parent-teacher interviews is a bad thing and oughtn't to be supported. It means that people are able as the previous speaker Marja Lubeck mentioned to participate in their child's education. The Hon Scott Simpson objected to the bill on the basis that he didn't think that employers should pay for their employees to be able to participate in parent-teacher interviews with paid leave. So then the question becomes: if no one's objecting to the principle of people participating why do we think this is necessary? It is because clearly there are people in our society who do not have the opportunity to participate in parent-teacher interviews because they are constrained by their own economic circumstances in doing so.The reason why our side of the House on the Government side of the House continuously raise ways of making it easier for low-income families and so on to be able to participate in things like this is pretty simple. It's because they don't get paid enough. It's because their employment is too precarious and their economic situation is too precarious to be able to take that time out. So if Mr Simpson wants the Labour Party the Green Party to stop proposing small measures like this that make the lives of vulnerable communities and low-income families easier maybe he could back a basic measure which enables people to be paid properly to be paid enough to live on to be able to have secure enough employment that they are able to take some time out from their employment to go and participate in things like parent-teacher interviews. That is the counterfactual.In the absence of that kind of thing then measures like this are absolutely necessary and that is why the Green Party is supporting this bill.
Ngobi TerisaHOLIDAYS (PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEW LEAVE) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingDebate resumed from 14 April.TERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki): Thank you Madam Speaker for the opportunity—albeit for 54 seconds. So in that time it might be just enough time to remind the House of what this bill is about. This Holidays (Parent-Teacher Interview Leave) Amendment Bill is to ensure that all parents or caregivers of children that attend education are able to attend their parent-teacher interview and access leave. We propose four hours per year for them to be able to do this. We know that when our parents or caregivers can come together with the kaiako or the teacher and plan goal-set for their children's year or education year we know that that helps to lift educational outcomes for our tamariki. That's why this Labour Government supports this bill and that's why I commend this bill to the House.
Grigg NicolaNICOLA GRIGG (National—Selwyn): Madam Speaker thank you. I rise just to take a short call—I'm apparently sharing it with Ingrid Leary across the House—on the Education (Strengthening Second Language Learning in Primary and Intermediate Schools) Amendment Bill. Sadly though we're not going to be able to get this bill through and it is really truly unfortunate that the Government has decided to vote it down. As has been acknowledged by a number of speakers prior to my taking this call we have Nikki Kaye to thank for her tireless efforts in getting this bill up and for the huge amount of background work that has gone into it. Labour did previously support this. Again I just have to emphasise it is so unfortunate that they've now decided to take this stance.The second language learning bill and its consequent dumping that is about to happen is deeply disappointing. Killing this bill is narrow-minded. It misses a golden opportunity to equip our children with greater language skills and well-established well-researched cognitive benefits that come with learning a second language. I think members on the other side of the House know in their hearts they're doing the wrong thing. Many of them have got up and spoken at length to the benefits to children of learning a second language. The National Party on this side of the House believes that every child in primary and intermediate school should have the opportunity to learn a second language. We know through countless studies that speaking more than one language has enormous cognitive cultural social and economic benefits so this bill is a big opportunity for our country.May I put on the record in this House that I am the 1992 winner of the Alliance Française competition in Christchurch.Erica Stanford: Oh très bien!NICOLA GRIGG: Merci—merci. Unfortunately I did not continue to study that language.Erica Stanford: Je suis desolée. That's all I know!NICOLA GRIGG: Thank you. I've just momentarily been thrown off my stride. But we do know that speaking multiple languages has enormous cognitive cultural social and economic benefits. New Zealand is a diverse country. We speak over 160 languages here. It's important that our education system reflects and recognises that.Just to conclude this is a missed opportunity and I have noted a number of speakers on that side of the House have got up and lamented the cost of it. Well I ask that side of the House: since when has the Government ever worried about throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at something? Thank you.
Baillie ChrisCHRIS BAILLIE (ACT): I rise to take a short call on the Education (Strengthening Second Language Learning in Primary and Intermediate Schools) Amendment Bill. ACT opposed this bill at first reading but understand its importance. The reason for this isn't the intent; teaching a second language is a great thing. It's something we should be encouraging if it's feasible and desirable for a school and its students. My own kids many years ago became quite fluent in Spanish from watching Dora the Explorer. Young people just soak it up and this has to be encouraged. The reason for ACT's opposition is not the intent of the bill but the way Parliament along with so much of how it seeks to involve itself in education seeks to mandate and restrict the choices of schools. Submitters provided an insight into just how many languages are spoken in New Zealand: many more than 10 and all very important to them to retain their self-identity. If this was a policy to provide more funding for schools to decide where and what they should target and the best way that suited their students that would be great. That would get our support. The point is school choice in tailoring their resources to their particular students and circumstances. It is a principle that is fundamental to ACT's approach to education. Where this bill and so much education policy from Parliament seeks to mandate and restrict; ACT wants to free up and allow choice. It's why we proposed our own teacher reward fund to allow schools to reward demonstrations of excellence. It's why we believe strongly in charter schools. This kind of approach could be used by schools to incentivise second-language teachers to come to their school to reward a particular demonstration of excellence in second-language teaching or to support extra-curricular support provided from teachers who help students with languages. Schools can determine what is best for their students based on their own community demographics and teacher availability. The difference is that the resources provided at the discretion of the school itself; not mandated from Wellington. A number of submitters and committee members were worried that this bill would undermine the current teaching and progression of te reo Māori in New Zealand schools. I don't believe this would be the case and ACT believes all New Zealand children should be catered for and treated equally. Thank you Madam Speaker.
Dean Jacqui; Rurawhe AdrianREPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSECHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): Mr Speaker the committee has considered the District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill and reports progress without amendment. The committee has also considered the Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill and reports progress without amendment. I move that the report be adopted.DEPUTY SPEAKER: We'll just have that motion again.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): The committee has considered the District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill and reports the bill without amendment. Then the committee has considered the Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill and reports progress without amendment. I move That the report be adopted.Motion agreed to.Report adopted.
Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill — In Committee
District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill — In Committee
Edmonds Barbara; Dean JacquiBARBARA EDMONDS (Associate Whip—Labour): I move That the question be now put.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): The question is that clauses 1 to 5 stand part. Clauses 1 to 5 agreed to.Bill to be reported without amendment.
McKee NicoleNICOLE McKEE (ACT): This question is for the member and again congratulations on that work that's been done through the Justice Committee. We have amended section 167 which is the warrant to seize property and we amended this section to include the principal caregivers for the disabled person.I really like what we've done there. I think we have done an outstanding job. But when we were listening to those submitters on this bill at the select committee stage there were many of them who wanted us to ban the seizure of cellphones. Those submitters came from the hearing-impaired and the blind communities because they regard their cellphones as essential items. They now come under the new definition of disability that we've put through there.Seeing as we've not directly addressed this issue in the select committee report I was hoping that the member could clarify just for the record that with the introduction of that changed definition of a disabled person which is also in this section it is the intention of Parliament that those with vision or hearing disabilities would not be adversely affected by this bill if it can be shown that the device is essential for the care support or independence of or to promote inclusion or participation in society of the judgment debtor who is the disabled person.
Prime Willow-Jean; Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaWILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour—Northland): Thank you Madam Chair. I just wish to take a short call and ask a question of the member Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki. Firstly I just want to congratulate the member on having her member's bill drawn and having gotten this far through the process. I am proudly a member of the Justice Committee of which this bill came before us. However at crucial points when the member was interacting with the committee I was subbing her on another select committee so I didn't actually have the privilege of discussing and debating this with the member.What I wanted to ask the member about in particular is that through the select committee process we received submissions from organisations like Age Concern and others who suggested that we actually broaden the people or the group that are captured by the Act in terms of caregivers—so not just the disabled person themselves but also their caregivers. I wanted to ask the member her thoughts on that because obviously in the new legislation that we've got you have decided to adopt the unanimous recommendation of the select committee on that but noting that that wasn't part of the original bill as you put it into the biscuit tin. Thank you.ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Thank you Madam Chair. It's an honour and a privilege to be standing here at the committee stage of the bill. I want to thank the member Willow-Jean Prime for her question in terms of the changes that the select committee have brought about and making final recommendations to the House. But before I do that I want to briefly remind the committee of why this matter came about here in Parliament. Community Law South Auckland had asked me if I could sponsor a gap in the law that needed addressing because there was a disabled person who had their mobility vehicle removed or seized because of debt because of a judgment debt against that person. We are here today in the committee stage.So originally it was as it says in its title District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill. We had a different definition of disability in the original drafting of the bill but it was changed at the select committee. If I go back to the member's question the reason why it was changed at the select committee—if I go back to the title it says Judgment Debtors with Disabilities". So this acknowledges that there are disabled children young people or other people who are from our disabled community who actually do not own the vehicle but the vehicle is owned by the caregiver or owned by the parent. So this is a further layer of protection in terms of protecting persons with a disability and I want to acknowledge the work of the select committee in their recommendations and making this bill a better bill than it originally started. Thank you."
Dean Jacqui; Edmonds BarbaraDISTRICT COURT (PROTECTION OF JUDGMENT DEBTORS WITH DISABILITIES) AMENDMENT BILLIn CommitteeClauses 1 to 5CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): We come first to the District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill. Members this bill will be debated in clauses. We come first to clause 1 the debate on the title. BARBARA EDMONDS (Associate Whip—Labour): I seek leave for all provisions to be taken as one debate.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is none.
Dean JacquiHOUSE IN COMMITTEECHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): The House in committee on the District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill and the Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill.
Ministerial Statement — Report of the Climate Change Commission
Mallard TrevorPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: No bills have been introduced. Petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation.CLERK: Petition of Wayne Lowry requesting that the House urge the Government to include the Lower Kaimai area of the Bay of Plenty Electorate in the Crown Fibre Ultra Fast Broadband area to promote connection as a community improve educational opportunities and support small business petition of James Meharg requesting that the House urge the Government to make the use and supply of glitter and similar products illegal in New Zealand.SPEAKER: Those petitions stand referred to the Petitions Committee. A paper has been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Climate Change Commission: Ināia tonu nei: a low emissions future for Aotearoa. Advice to the New Zealand Government on its first three emissions budgets and direction for its emissions reduction plan 2022-2025.SPEAKER: That paper is published under the authority of the House. A select committee report has been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Report of the Māori Affairs Committee on the petition of Anameka Paenga Māori commissioning for the Māori Health Authority"."
Dean JacquiWEDNESDAY 9 JUNE 2021The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): 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 justice mercy and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.
Wednesday 10 February 2021 - Volume 749
Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Select Committee (continued)
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 4 March 2021 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions) during an evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House and outside the Wellington area despite Standing Orders 193 195 and 196(1)(b) and (c).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.
Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 120New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; ACT New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Can I remind members that when the Speaker declares the vote if they are voting the way that the Speaker calls a vote there's no need to call a party vote. In this instance under the Standing Orders because all parties have agreed to it that is not a vote. So the Ayes have it.Bill read a second time.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the question be now put.Ayes 75New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Noes 41New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 8.Motion agreed to.
Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Select Committee
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment 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 8ACT New Zealand 8.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time. Bill referred to the Environment Committee.
9. Question No. 9—ConservationTĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister of ConservationQuestion No. 9—Conservation9. TĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister of Conservation: How will Jobs for Nature funding support communities and landowners to grow employment opportunities?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Conservation): On 14 January I announced the opening of a $16 million Community Conservation Fund and an $18 million Private Land Biodiversity Fund which together are expected to create 400-plus jobs in ecology restoration trapping pest control fencing and project management. These funds are available to conservation groups and landowners to boost local biodiversity-focused projects as part of our economic recovery and I encourage all those who are interested to visit the Department of Conservation website and apply before they close on 16 February.Tāmati Coffey: What are these two funds expected to deliver for communities and landowners?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: The Community Conservation Fund will enable the scaling up of practical projects championed by our conservationists in the community—projects aimed at conserving New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity—while the Private Landowners Biodiversity Fund will help farmers and landowners better protect and restore rare habitats for native species. Both funds are big wins for conservation on private and public land job creation and for local communities as part of our economic recovery.Kieran McAnulty: What other recent announcements have been made regarding regional Jobs for Nature projects?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: What a fantastic question—in particular for our regions because there is a lot of good news out there as we roll out our Jobs for Nature announcements. We have $816000 of Jobs for Nature funding that has been allocated to improve the health of waterways in the mighty upper reaches of the Waiōuru catchment and Wairarapa; $2.6 million for the Te Waihora restoration nature project in Canterbury for wetlands restoration work through native tree planning and weed management; $500000 for Waitomo-based track maintenance pest control and riparian planning projects to save local tourism—SPEAKER: Order!Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: —and so many more—SPEAKER: Order! Order! When I stand up the member sits down. Some of us have read the press statement. We don't need it read to us again.
5. Question No. 5—Social Development and EmploymentDr EMILY HENDERSON (Labour—Whangārei) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 5—Social Development and Employment5. Dr EMILY HENDERSON (Labour—Whangārei) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What announcements has she made about engaging more Māori in employment education and training?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Today I announced a $2.65 million funding boost for three programmes supporting rangatahi to overcome barriers to employment education and training. This funding will help up to 165 young people in Wellington Porirua and Christchurch gain the skills needed to sustain long-term employment education or training building on the success of previous He Poutama Rangatahi investments across regional and urban areas in New Zealand. Eighty-eight percent of rangatahi engaged in He Poutama Rangatahi are Māori or Pacific and He Poutama Rangatahi has proven that it helps Māori prepare for the workforce and navigate the pathways towards aspirational secure and sustainable employment.Dr Emily Henderson: How does He Poutama Rangatahi help to support pathways into employment education and training in our regions and urban centres?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: The programmes receiving He Poutama Rangatahi funding focus on a broad range of interventions including extensive one-on-one pastoral care mentoring pre-employment training financial literacy CV and interview coaching time management and workplace communication te reo language learning kapa haka and performing arts. In our regions we've supported over 2000 rangatahi into employment education and training including over 700 in Northland; in the Bay of Plenty we've supported over 400 rangatahi into employment education or training; and in Tai Rāwhiti East Coast we've got 298 rangatahi enrolled and have supported 165 rangatahi into employment education or training.Dr Emily Henderson: How does this announcement align with the Government's wider focus on improving Māori employment?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: While unemployment is lower than expected we know that there are areas where Māori and Pacific unemployment for example remains high which is why we need to remove barriers for rangatahi to get into employment education or training. The Government is committed to continuing to work to lift Māori income skills and opportunities into employment education or training. This announcement complements the Government's support for employers to take on and retain apprentices including targeted support for Māori apprentices. This will help ensure we have a skilled workforce available to support New Zealand's economic recovery.
3. Question No. 3—EducationMARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 3—Education3. MARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What reports has he seen about how enrolments in vocational education are faring since the establishment of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): I've seen some very encouraging reports. The Waikato Institute of Technology has reported its domestic enrolments are up around 23 percent higher than at the same time of last year. Unitec has reported a 25 percent increase in domestic enrolments with especially big increases in construction and business courses. Other institutions like Ara and the Eastern Institute of Technology report more modest but still positive growth of around 6 to 7 percent. But I was particularly taken by the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) subsidiary who have advised their enrolments were more than 70 percent up compared to the same time last year.Marja Lubeck: What reasons have been put forward to explain this strong growth?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I did see some advice from a very well-known commentator who will be respected by many across the House—a report covered on Radio New Zealand including the quote that the growth was driven by factors including the government's targeted funding scheme that waived fees for many trade courses" and it goes on to then say that the opening of the institute's new trade campus in Manukau also contributed. That was from MIT's very well-respected Sam Lotu-Iiga.Marja Lubeck: Have numbers of New Zealanders training via an apprenticeship also increased?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes. Since we made apprenticeships free in July last year over 15000 Kiwis have started an apprenticeship nationwide in the second half of 2020. That's up from nearly 7000 over the same period in 2019. That's an increase of 125 percent."
1. Question No. 1—FinanceBARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister of FinanceORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Finance1. BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he seen on how New Zealand's economic recovery has been influenced by the Government's approach to COVID-19?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): The economic recovery is not just happening of its own accord. It is a result of the hard work and sacrifice of New Zealanders and this Government's decisive actions to protect our people and halt the spread of COVID-19. Over the weekend I read a report from the New Zealand Herald's business editor Liam Dann who wrote that the Government's quick roll-out of fiscal support to limit job losses during COVID-19 had worked better than anyone dreamt. This was in response to job figures from Stats New Zealand last week which showed the unemployment rate had dropped to 4.9 percent. That drop from 5.3 percent in the previous quarter reflects our decisions particularly through the wage subsidy to keep people connected to their jobs and support businesses and households through the COVID-19 pandemic.Barbara Edmonds: What other reports has he seen on those employment statistics?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: In its assessment of the household labour force survey ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley said the number of job losses had been mercifully small. He said factors such as the wage subsidy had made a difference through encouraging employers to keep people employed even as businesses had no idea about whether they would be able to continue to operate or how many people they would need in the future. We stand by our decision to support nearly 1.8 million workers through the wage subsidy scheme. The benefits of that investment are now being seen in the recovery.Barbara Edmonds: What other reports have been seen on how the Government's COVID-19 response has helped the economic recovery?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: A report I haven't covered previously in the House came from Stats New Zealand that showed that GDP rose 14 percent in the September quarter. That economic bounce-back was also a result of the hard work and sacrifice of New Zealanders and of the Government's decision to go hard and early during the COVID-19 pandemic. This supported 1.8 million workers through the wage subsidy scheme and invested billions of dollars into infrastructure training and creating jobs. The full effects of COVID-19 are still to be felt in New Zealand and across the world and the Government will continue to work with businesses and workers to support job retention and job creation.
Films Videos and Publications Classification (Urgent Interim Classification of Publications and Prevention of Online Harm) Amendment Bill — First Reading (continued)
Rurawhe AdrianCLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE (AUCTION PRICE) AMENDMENT BILLInstruction to the Environment Committee—VotingDEPUTY SPEAKER: Members during the debate on the instruction to the select committee on the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill the House agreed to the closure motion but did not vote on the substantive motion. When a closure motion is agreed the debate concludes; that's under Standing Order 139. When a debate concludes the Speaker must put the question to the House Standing Order 140. Because this did not occur I will now put the question to the House.
Films Videos and Publications Classification (Urgent Interim Classification of Publications and Prevention of Online Harm) Amendment Bill — First Reading
McKelvie IanIAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei): Thank you Mr Speaker. You would wonder what we're doing taking all this time up on a bill that consists of 76 words but I want to congratulate the Minister for Food Safety on her first piece of legislation through the House. She must be very proud of it. I'm sure it's not something she'll want to remember but none the less I guess it's her first piece of legislation to come to the House. It won't be one that'll stick in her mind.I'm not a great advocate for dietary supplements. I take all of mine out of the bottle or the paddock and I think that's where you should take them from but I've got to tell you a little story because we heard a couple of stories earlier on about a dietary supplement that I did once take. [Interruption] Ha ha! And it's not what you think David Bennett! It is not what you think.Hon David Bennett: Did it work?IAN McKELVIE: No it didn't and I'm going to explain it. It was a thing called a bee venom—disappointing for you I know. It was a bee venom and the funny thing was it was prescribed for me by someone who's very strong on dietary supplements and the next morning having taken the bee venom I couldn't move. And the funny thing about bee venom is if you're allergic to bee stings it doesn't have a very good effect on you. That is the only experience I've ever had of taking a dietary supplement and I won't be taking another one but I am married to someone who takes all sorts of dietary supplements. I think as my colleague on the right of me said earlier she expects it to make her taller slimmer—all those things. I don't think any of them have happened but I'm sure she'll live longer than I will!But just on the topic of this bill there are some stats in this industry which somewhat stagger me and that's the size of the industry in New Zealand or the scale of this thing. Some $2.3 billion—or in excess of $2.3 billion—worth of products are traded in New Zealand on the basis of what we call a dietary supplement which I think's staggering but the other staggering figure is it's grown by 10 percent a year for the last six or seven years. So it's quite an interesting industry and one I think that obviously is going to grow significantly more. Whether we like it or not when you're dealing with products like bee venom there's clearly a need for some regulation or some legislation that controls that. I think also from the New Zealand perspective it's got great potential as an export industry and we've heard talk of things like deer velvet and those types of product which are clearly worth a lot of money to New Zealand and definitely need to be protected in the world market. So there's some reason for this piece of legislation extending the old piece of legislation—the Dietary Supplements Regulations—which interestingly is 35 years old. We're now extending it by another five years to give us time to produce a new bill that will be more relevant to New Zealand. That's my lot Mr Speaker.
Lewis StephSTEPH LEWIS (Labour—Whanganui): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. It is my pleasure to rise and take my first call in the House in 2021. I want to acknowledge the Minister for Food Safety for bringing this bill to the House and giving the industry certainty. I also want to really acknowledge the people and organisations who took the time to make submissions on this bill. As has been discussed tonight this bill seeks to extend the expiry of the Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill which will amend the Food Act to extend the expiry from 28 February 2020 to 1 March 2026. As has been canvassed tonight the dietary supplements can include a range of health products including vitamins minerals herbs fish oils—all of which can be consumed to support individuals' wellbeing and health. It's an important bill because without the regulations that we are seeking to extend the general principles of the Food Act would become the primary regulation or the way that the dietary supplements would then be regulated. This would unfortunately provide uncertainty for producers and consumers because as has been canvassed already tonight it would mean that producers are no longer required to have doses or state what's in their products. So it creates uncertainty but it also creates a risk that products will become unsafe because the general principles of the Food Act aren't specific enough to regulate dietary supplements or respond to the particular challenges associated with dietary supplements. It's important that we extend it by five years to give time as has been mentioned for the new bespoke regime to be put in place and allow a transition period. It's important because this is a $2.3 billion industry as has already been canvassed tonight and we need to give that certainty especially after the last 12 months that we've all endured to producers and to consumers that what they are getting in the supermarket or their local health food shop is a quality product that has been through proper regulation.This bill has been generally supported by submitters including one submitter saying that We appreciate the certainty that the Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill will provide our industry."So with that I commend this bill to the House."
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Madam Speaker thank you. I rise in light of the fact that Te Paati Māori has chosen not to take a speaking slot it appears in this debate but I really just want to endorse this bill. The Minister for Food Safety obviously is a medical doctor as is Liz Craig and they have explained the complex medical reasons as to why we want to know what is in our therapeutic products. But equally from a consumer point of view people are entitled to know what's in it what the strengths are and what the therapeutic claims are and to ensure that that can be regulated. This is as the member for Selwyn said a measure that is in place whilst a more enduring framework is designed and I look forward to that but it is a good measure a necessary measure. I commend it to the House.
Grigg Nicola; Dean JacquiNICOLA GRIGG (National—Selwyn): Thank you Madam Speaker. This is my first attempt at speaking in the House and well I'd just like to say that it's a fabulous opportunity because there's quite simply zero substance to this bill. So as I meander my way through it it should be—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well you certainly haven't had the substance of the last speaker!NICOLA GRIGG: Ha! I haven't begun Mr Brownlee! My congratulations to the Minister for Food Safety on providing some certainty to producers. We've bandied around a few figures but a $2.3 billion industry—at the rate this Government is spending money Lord knows we do need to enable and encourage private enterprise to operate as profitability as it possibly can.But it is important to protect this industry. As this House will appreciate in this current economic environment any opportunity to grow business should be grabbed with both hands. Now I hail from the mighty Selwyn electorate and with all due respect to your own electorate Madam Speaker it is one of the primary producing superpowers of New Zealand; we are leading this country I like to think in our export recovery. So there are a number of producers within my own electorate who this bill will give some much-needed certainty to.So too will the growing number of Kiwis who do supplement their diets and I do have to put my hand up to the member over there Anna Lorck: I do take magnesium and deer velvet and Berocca and fish oil. I know that for myself I do have a new-found appreciation for the regulations that oversee this industry.But before the much-lauded new health product regime can be implemented it is an important aspect of this extension to ensure that the ongoing regulation of labelling is ensured because I for one have fallen foul to claims that they will make me taller thinner smarter well rested and thoroughly Zen. But it is clear from industry that they are only supporting this bill as a stopgap measure and that there is a clear demand for future regulation to bring standards in line with offshore markets so that we can grow our exports to them. In my time at my former role at Trade and Enterprise I did see time and time and time again high-quality producers—things like mānuka and deer velvet—being knocked back from the lucrative markets offshore like China and the Middle East because of labelling and internal regulation here.So as my colleague over here referred Natural Health Products New Zealand has made it clear to the Primary Production Committee that we do need to remove these export barriers by demonstrating that New Zealand does have world-class regulatory compliance in all its systems. So I would hope that that kind of feedback is taken on board as this bill progresses through the House and indeed the new regulatory policy is developed. Thank you.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Dr Duncan Webb—five minutes.
Cameron MarkMARK CAMERON (ACT): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of the ACT Party in support of the Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill. I won't exhaust a lot of oxygen with this one; I think we're all in agreeance. The Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill could hardly be construed as contentious legislation. The dietary supplements industry needs operational clarity. Obviously to support its continuation in the absence of a more precise legal framework is something we need for certainty and clarity for consumers and an extension for industry would do that.It is abundantly clear to us in the ACT Party that there are far more pressing issues facing this Government and this House. Obviously this Government's fallen well behind in housing crime and the Resource Management Act. The fact that we're even discussing what we all agree on is something of being farcical. Thus the ACT Party would fully support the Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill. We commend this to the House.
Sage EugenieHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker; thank you. The Green Party supports the Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill. I don't propose to take up a lot of the House's time except to rebut Mr Bennett because if National wants to get away from its image of having neglected major change when it was in Government it should have done something then rather than continuing to criticise now. The member also neglected to follow the speech of the Minister for Food Safety who highlighted the economic importance of the dietary supplements industry. Last January I was in Golden Bay with a new predator fence which HealthPost had helped fund because of the quite substantial business that they have there in dispatching dietary supplements around Aotearoa. So this is a small bill. It recognises Medsafe which has had responsibility for dietary supplements and the regulations since 2010 when there was an explicit decision that that was more of a medical issue rather than a food safety issue because of the impacts of dietary supplements and interference with medications—sometimes. The regulations haven't been adequately reviewed; there needs to be time for them to be reviewed. We need to ensure that businesses can continue and consumers can continue to have access to them. That's why the Green Party doesn't want the regulations to expire on 21 March with no replacement. This bill ensures that those regulations can continue until that fuller review is done. We support it.