SpeechHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's fair to say this was not the way we expected or wanted the Parliament to commence in 2023. Right now we should be engaging in the cut and thrust of the Prime Minister's statement debate but there we have it.I firstly want to acknowledge the new Leader of the House for what so far has been a very open and collegial approach to an incredibly fluid process. I think there's a bit of wisdom after the event and questions around the actions of the Government which overall I support. But I think he's on about plan D or E. What was contemplated on Sunday was very different from what we discussed in the Business Committee late yesterday and different again from the motion which we're now considering. But I do thank him for his engagement.I also want to acknowledge the Business Committee despite the direct attack on me that's just been made. I was the first to approach the Leader of the House to express support for a determination that all members affected by the cyclone could be considered present for the purposes of voting. I enthusiastically supported one minor party's ability to attend Te Matatini next week and to be present for the purposes of voting. I have encouraged the Speaker to exercise his discretion to support small parties and I will be working in the Standing Orders Committee to make sure that definition is perhaps made more flexible and that the question of remote participation—the sessional order for which is only COVID-related—can be more broadly applied if that's the will of the House. But the reality was that in the time available for the short duration—bearing in mind that at that point nearly all MPs were going to be able to make it here by late today or early tomorrow—it was not deemed—and not just by the National Party—necessary or appropriate to invoke that. There is a member of this place who may want to consider what role she wants to play because being an MP means being here and as Mark Cameron said representing our communities holding the Government to account even in an emergency—in fact especially in an emergency. So the question of supporting this motion is a line-ball call that's really important. But we have heard from the Minister for Emergency Management and I think more strongly the compelling testimonies from our colleagues and from media where we now know there are 170000 houses without power a grid emergency; people on the roofs of buildings with water centimetres below them. The tragedy potentially unfolding within our Fire and Emergency New Zealand staff—we do very much think about them and all responders right across the affected areas and thank them for the tremendous work at some risk that they are putting themselves to. So on balance it is appropriate to suspend the actions of this House and to go back to the places that need that help and then to I guess start again next Tuesday at 2 p.m. where I really hope after successive little interruptions and big interruptions that we have an opportunity to get back to the business of this House that's so important. We will be supporting the motion. We wish everybody affected by the cyclone as best an outcome as can be achieved from now on. And we support the Government in its efforts to support our people.