edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
12. Question No. 12—EducationTEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 12—Education12. TEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister of Education: What advice has she received about why teachers are striking today?Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Education): In the last seven days I've met with both the New Zealand Educational Institute and the Post Primary Teachers' Association who have advised me of a variety of challenges they are facing in the sector. At the same time my officials—who have been at the table with the unions and who I have confidence are dedicated to reaching a positive resolution—have been relaying information back to me frequently about where negotiations are at. From this I know today's strike is not just about remuneration but also a call for better teaching conditions.Teanau Tuiono: Does she agree that staffing shortages and high workloads in primary and area schools are the result of low wages and poor conditions; if not what is causing teaching staff shortages?Hon JAN TINETTI: No that's oversimplifying a very complex issue.Teanau Tuiono: What does she say to secondary school teachers who have had to pick up second jobs working nights because their already low wages have not matched inflation?Hon JAN TINETTI: That's exactly why we're in bargaining in negotiations at this point in time and we absolutely hear that our teachers are feeling that pressure at this moment. I'm looking forward to a positive resolution soon.Hon Jan Tinetti: Does the Minister believe that kindergarten teachers should have additional sick leave that the pay cap for relief teachers should be removed and that there should be pay recognition of kaiako Māori and head and senior teachers and if not why not?Hon JAN TINETTI: Those are issues that I cannot actually talk about because they are under negotiations at this point in time. However I do value the work of kindergarten teachers and I do look forward to a positive resolution to that bargaining soon.Teanau Tuiono: Does she acknowledge that the Government's refusal to improve its offer is forcing teachers to strike which has wide-ranging impacts on parents and families and if so what will she do to ensure that kids are back to school as soon as possible?Hon JAN TINETTI: No I do know that positive progress has been made across all of the collective agreements that are being negotiated at this time. And I know that we are working very hard to ensure that minimum disruption will be caused in the future.
11. Question No. 11—Small BusinessINGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri) to the Minister for Small BusinessQuestion No. 11—Small Business11. INGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri) to the Minister for Small Business: What recent announcements has the Government made about supporting small business in cyclone-affected regions?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Minister for Small Business): Yesterday the Minister for Cyclone Recovery announced a $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses on top of the original $25 million allocated. These grants are intended to help more small businesses in cyclone-affected regions with the clean-up and to get them back up and running. This announcement adds to the $55 million in support that is already going out to our farmers and growers and a new Recovery Visa is also in place to help bring more workers in with the recovery.Ingrid Leary: How will this investment support small businesses and what support has already been provided?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: We are committed to helping people and businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and we are working closely to monitor the needs of those local communities. It is vital that we work with local agencies iwi and councils as those regions move from recovery to rebuilding from these extreme weather events. The uptake of grants to date has been strong. For example in Te Tai Rāwhiti 372 applications for support have been approved with $4.1 million paid out to those small businesses. In Hawke's Bay we have seen over 1200 applications received and over $2.5 million has been paid out. In Northland Northland Inc. has received over 640 applications.Ingrid Leary: What criteria do small businesses need to meet to access this support?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: The extension of funding will not change the criteria for the grants but will allow more firms to be supported. The original criteria placed a cap of $40000 per business and also made some certain requirements: they must be primarily located in the area that's been impacted by the cyclone and they must have faced significant cash-flow issues due to challenges with customer access supply chain issues inability to source stock inability to operate as usual due to physical damage or other delays. They also must be otherwise a viable business both before and after the flooding occurred and they must commit to acting in line with employment law and with due regard to their employees.Ingrid Leary: How can small businesses go about accessing this support?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: Small businesses can work with the following organisations across New Zealand which are distributing the funding and helping support our small businesses. I'd like to give thanks to Northland Inc. Auckland Business Chamber Toi Economic Development Agency Thames-Coromandel District Council Trust Tairāwhiti Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce Tararua District Council and Masterton District Council. Supporting local delivery partners to administer these grants has meant we've been able to empower regions to determine the shape of their own recovery and I'm pleased to see this take shape.
10. Question No. 10—EducationPENNY SIMMONDS (National—Invercargill) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 10—Education10. PENNY SIMMONDS (National—Invercargill) to the Minister of Education: What was the total expenditure if any on the Te Pūkenga style guide and does she have confidence in Te Pūkenga's overall financial performance?Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Education): To the first part of the question I'm advised that the style guide for Te Pūkenga was developed internally by staff and no additional expenditure was spent. To the second part of the question there is no doubt that Te Pūkenga is facing some financial pressures but I have confidence that a sound plan is in place to navigate the new entity towards financial stability.Penny Simmonds: Is it consistent with the principles of academic freedom enshrined in law that Te Pūkenga is limiting the use of—I quote—big words or technical language" and does the Minister agree that the words "participate" "accurate" "reduce" and "combined" are big words or technical language?Hon JAN TINETTI: Look a style guide wasn't something that I have actually ever used in my career but I'm told that many organisations including many tertiary education organisations have style guides.Penny Simmonds: Could the Minister please give us a demonstration of the voice of Te Pūkenga that is "brave bold and open to new possibilities a daring kind of energy and authentically human" as described in the Te Pūkenga guide?Hon JAN TINETTI: No.Penny Simmonds: Has Cabinet considered halting the Te Pūkenga reforms as part of the Government's reprioritisations or has she just inherited a hospital pass of a woefully woke and financially failing Te Pūkenga that Chris Hipkins is forcing her to persist with?Hon JAN TINETTI: No."
9. Question No. 9—HealthBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 9—Health9. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Minister of Health: Does the Government still have an expectation that 95 percent of patients accepted for a CT scan and 90 percent of patients accepted for an MRI scan should receive their scan within 42 days or less; if so is it acceptable that between June and December 2022 the national number of patients who received a scan within 42 days or less changed from 63.4 percent to 60.9 percent?Hon BARBARA EDMONDS (Associate Minister of Health (Pacific Peoples)) on behalf of the Minister of Health: In answer to the first part of the question yes. In answer to the second part of the question no.Brooke van Velden: Is it acceptable that in Northland the number of patients accepted for a CT scan or MRI who received their scan within 42 days or less decreased from 58.4 percent in June 2022 to 23.8 percent in December 2022?Hon BARBARA EDMONDS: As I acknowledged in the primary question no it's not acceptable. There is no single silver bullet to take the pressure off our wait-lists; we're going to need to act on a variety of things. I also acknowledge the stress experienced by all patients waiting for care.Brooke van Velden: Is it acceptable that in Hawke's Bay the number of patients accepted for a CT scan or MRI who received their scan in 42 days or less decreased from 68.4 percent in June 2022 to an even lower 35.3 percent in December 2022?Hon BARBARA EDMONDS: Again I acknowledge the stress experienced by patients across the country who have to wait for care. I've made my expectations very clear to Te Whatu Ora that improving wait times for care is one of my top priorities. These pressures are being addressed by focusing on how hospitals manage the movement of patients through hospitals by prioritising those who need more urgent care and increasing regional coordination to deliver health services.Brooke van Velden: Has the Government broken their promise to end the health postcode lottery considering that in December last year in Waitematā 90 percent of patients received their MRI or CT scan within the expected time frame but just across the border in Northland this figure was just 23 percent?Hon BARBARA EDMONDS: No.
8. Question No. 8—RevenueSHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister of RevenueQuestion No. 8—Revenue8. SHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister of Revenue: How is the Government supporting emissions reductions in transport through the tax system?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Revenue): The Government is exempting public transport from fringe benefit tax from the 2023-24 year onwards. The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2022-23 Platform Economy and Remedial Matters) Bill (No 2) currently before the House exempts public transport from fringe benefit tax (FBT) where fares are subsidised by an employer and the fares are mainly for their employees to travel between home and their place of work. Many employers already subsidise the commuting costs of their staff—for example paying for employer-provided car parks. The Government believes a more neutral FBT outcome is achieved by including the option of more environmentally friendly modes of public transport. This was a recommendation of the Tax Working Group.Shanan Halbert: What improvements has the Government made to the bill since it was reported back by select committee?Hon DAVID PARKER: This week the Government took up a proposal from the Hon Julie Anne Genter to extend the public transport exemption to allow bicycles electric bicycles scooters electric scooters and micro-mobility shared services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they're being used for commuting to and from work. The measure will support New Zealand's shift to more sustainable transport modes and encourage employers to provide further climate-friendly transport options for their staff.Shanan Halbert: What benefits does the exemption for public transport and bikes from fringe benefit tax provide?Hon DAVID PARKER: In addition to the monetary benefit for people being exempt from FBT these exemptions support sustainable methods that reduce emissions and congestion on the roads. It's a point that Julie Anne Genter has made often. There are also health benefits for people travelling to work by more active methods and although this is a small change in the grand scheme of things these sorts of incentives provide valuable transport choices and everything helps us achieve the changes we want.Shanan Halbert: How will these changes support businesses and employers?Hon DAVID PARKER: Well they do reduce costs for employers. They now have more options for remuneration of their employees in relation to their transport choices without FBT and as I've said these have benefits not just in reducing emissions and cutting congestion but they also improve public health. We have included a regulation-making power to make sure that we don't have any gold-plated bikes or scooters so as to ensure that these provisions aren't misused in the future.
3. Question No. 3—Climate ChangeDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori) to the Minister of Climate ChangeQuestion No. 3—Climate Change3. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori) to the Minister of Climate Change: Does he stand by all the Government's policies and actions on climate change?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister of Climate Change): I stand by the fact that this Government has done more for climate action than all previous Governments combined. Because of the actions of this Government more families than ever are enjoying the benefits of low-emission vehicles and their lower maintenance and running costs. The 70 percent increase in the number of electric vehicles that we have seen in our communities since the end of 2021 will save 2 million tonnes of climate pollution from going into the atmosphere. More kids now and in the future will be kept warm at school by clean energy because of the action that we have taken to rip out dirty old coal boilers. We are on track to take coal out of every school in the country. We have supported 100000 more families to make their homes warmer and drier with insulation and heat pumps. Thanks to the work of this Government our low-carbon future is closer within reach than it has ever been before. However I have never made any secret of the fact that I think that we should be doing more.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: How can he stand by the Government's climate policy purge this week when he has already called it very disappointing"?Hon JAMES SHAW: I do not have ministerial responsibility for those programmes or those decisions.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: How can he be effective in his delegated responsibility of overall climate change policy direction as climate Minister when he has admitted that he didn't have a decision-making role in this week's climate policy purge and wasn't even consulted before the decisions were made?Hon JAMES SHAW: I exercise my responsibilities through the emissions reduction plan which we passed last year. It's the first all-of-Government plan that this country has ever had.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Why does he join protests against his and his own Government's failure to act on climate change?Hon JAMES SHAW: I think it's incredibly important to support young people—and in fact all New Zealanders—to hold this Government and all Governments and this Parliament to account for what has been a historical failure to act on climate change.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Will he stand down from his role and stop "greenwashing" the Government's weak climate record given he clearly does not have the influence to ensure the Government acts urgently on climate change; if not why not?Hon JAMES SHAW: There is a saying that the whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves and wiser people so full of doubts. So to answer the member's question I think about it every single day several times a day and every day I come to the same conclusion: the climate crisis is too far gone to quit and I am not a quitter."
1. Question No. 1—FinanceRACHEL BROOKING (Labour) to the Minister of FinanceORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Finance1. RACHEL BROOKING (Labour) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Statistics New Zealand reported today that GDP had declined 0.6 percent in the three months to December following on from the 1.7 percent increase in the previous September quarter. On an annual basis the economy was 2.2 percent larger than a year ago and is 6.7 percent bigger than before the start of the pandemic ahead of most countries with which we compare ourselves. We have said for some time that 2023 will be a challenging year for the New Zealand economy. However we are well positioned to support New Zealanders dealing with the cost of living and the impact of flooding and cyclones given our near record low unemployment rising tourist numbers and the solid shape of the Government's books.Rachel Brooking: How will the Government manage the response to the economic outlook?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The impact of the recent extreme weather is projected to affect activity in the current March quarter but after that the Reserve Bank is forecasting the rebuild will add about 1 percent to GDP over the next couple of years. The Treasury and the Reserve Bank have previously forecasted a period of high inflation that is set to be followed by a shallow recession. In the face of this we will continue to focus on supporting New Zealanders with cost of living pressures while carefully and responsibly managing the Government's finances. We will take a balanced approach that means we invest in public services that New Zealanders need that we address issues such as climate change and that we get a sense of fiscal stability. These are challenging times for many New Zealanders but our economy is resilient and we are building an economy for the long term to deliver higher-wage jobs and lower emissions.Rachel Brooking: What reactions has he seen to the report on GDP in the December quarter?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Kiwibank's economists—and indeed actually ANZ's as well—have said that the quarterly decline in the December quarter is largely payback from the surprisingly strong growth in the September quarter. But even with a weak print" growth over the second half of the year was impressively strong.Rachel Brooking: What reports has he seen on economic activity in the current quarter?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well activity in the services sector has expanded with the BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance of Services Index—or the PSI—at 55.8 in February up 1.1 points from the previous month and above the long-term average of 53.6. If we combine the PSI result with the positive Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) results I discussed yesterday the BNZ's economists said that "the strongly expanding PSI along with the recovered tone of the PMI suggests economic activity is growing relatively well in the early stages of this year"."
Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill — Third Reading
SpeechHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green): I won't keep the House long. In terms of the next bill I guess there are quite a few outstanding issues. It was interesting to hear the Minister for the Environment talk about the slash issue and how that might be dealt with. But I think one of the other issues that I know Gisborne District Council is very keen to be dealt with is the whole issue of annual plans. There was nothing in this bill that really provides assistance to the council when it's trying to enter the recovery phase and the major changes to funding that will be required in terms of the repairs to infrastructure—ordinary programmes within its long-term plan and annual plan. In their submission they asked that there be amendments to the Local Government Act 2002 to deal with the annual plan process so that it can become more of a recovery plan. I'm sure the Minister is aware of that and I hope that the next legislation—not just for Gisborne District Council but others—will provide some flexibility around the annual plan process and budgets to take cognisance of those issues and provide the flexibility that's needed there.I was disappointed that the Minister for the Environment didn't make any commitment to the quite large—over half a billion dollars something like $600 million—budget of the Ministry for the Environment providing any assistance to those small affected councils. Again like Gisborne which has got one of the areas that has real challenges around incomes in the region and affordability. It has a low rates take so it's got limited compliance staff only two for forestry—that there cannot be some funding made available through Vote Environment to assist these smaller councils to actually monitor how those permitted activity provisions play out given the quite sweeping provisions there in terms of the scope of permitted activities and the large areas that they apply over so that we do have good resource management because there's a good understanding of what's happening where and its effect and not just relying always on good faith and trust. So I hope that the Government reconsiders that and perhaps provides more funding assistance to the Environmental Protection Authority so it can stand alongside those councils to deal with any compliance issues.I recognise that everyone has tried hard in the limited time available to improve this bill and I underline the thanks to submitters to officials to Parliamentary Counsel to respond to a lot of the submissions and the collegial process that the House and the select committee adopted.I would just finally comment that we have a climate emergency. It would be very good if the same spirit of collegiality and applying our collective intelligence could be brought together to tackle that instead of the opposition the sniping given the seriousness of the climate emergency and the need to do things urgently. I wish this Parliament would apply its collective intelligence to that in the same way that it has applied it to this legislation. Kia ora.
Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): I wish to join along with the Minister in acknowledging the hard work and commitment of all those members of the select committee and officials in particular that have worked over the last 24 or so hours in order to ensure that this bill was an appropriate state for it to be able to pass through this House this afternoon. It is testament to in particular the officials' work that this has been possible and that should be acknowledge for their good work.I want to acknowledge also the communities and those who are still dealing with the issues in response to both flooding and cyclones that affected multiple regions across this country. The purpose of this legislation is to put in place actions that will support recovery of those regions. It is important that this House has come together across party lines in order to ensure that this meaningful legislation is passed in a timely manner.It is testament to those communities and those members of our communities and in particular those members of our local government that have and continue to work day in day out in order to provide support to many people that are hurting and will continue to hurt for the many weeks and months ahead.Hopefully when one reflects back on the process that has been demonstrated over the past few days we can look and ensure that this has been an effective process. It has achieved an outcome which will provide a positive impact for our communities and our country. I commend this bill to the House.
McAnulty KieranThird ReadingHon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): I move That the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill be now read a third time.This bill makes urgent direct amendments to the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 the Local Government Act 2002 the Resource Management Act 1991 the Food Act 2014 and the Food Regulations 2015 to provide immediate relief to those people and communities affected by the severe weather. This will support recovery and provide authorities with the powers necessary to facilitate an efficient timely and effective recovery and enable all councils to take immediate action to improve resilience to future severe weather events.I would like to take this opportunity to thank those that put in a submission on this bill in a short time frame. They enabled us to improve it which is the point of a select committee but when it is required to happen so quickly it puts pressure on everyone. And I think the select committee needs to be acknowledged for the way that they've worked together to listen to the submitters that worked together to come up with recommendations the vast majority of which we accepted and were in the Supplementary Order Paper and the committee of the whole House stage.I also want to acknowledge the whole House for considering this bill in a truncated process but in a way that enabled everyone to get their views and concerns across but also demonstrate that this whole House supports what is in this bill. The Government plans to bring another bill to this House in the next few weeks to provide for an Order in Council mechanism to modify legislation to support a timely response and recovery. A similar approach was taken following the Canterbury and Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquakes to facilitate an efficient recovery. It is another way we're supporting those affected by the recent severe weather events. Therefore I commend this bill to the House.
O'Connor GregCHAIRPERSON (Greg O'Connor): The question is that the Minister's amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 323 be agreed to.Amendments agreed to.Parts 1 to 4 the Schedule and clauses 1 and 2 as amended agreed to.Bill to be reported with amendment.House resumed.CHAIRPERSON (Greg O'Connor): Madam Speaker the committee has considered the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill and reports it with amendment. I move That the report be adopted.Motion agreed to.Report adopted.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Poto Williams): In accordance with the determination of the Business Committee this bill is set down for third reading immediately.
Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill — In Committee
Penk Chris; Parker DavidCHRIS PENK (National—Kaipara ki Mahurangi): Thank you Mr Chair. I just wonder if the Minister can give any discussion about the logic of the commencement dates. Just obviously competing considerations in terms—want to provide as much certainty going forward but also noting the fact that we're passing this law in a truncated process. I'm not asking for particular dates for particular provisions but just any sort of general philosophy that the Government's had in terms of making it a piece of law that's necessary in the moment but not to have a longer duration than is felt to be needed for that purpose.Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment): Thank you Mr Chair. The commencement date is the date on which it receives Royal assent. People want these permitted activity routes to start as soon as—Chris Penk: The sunset sorry.Hon DAVID PARKER: Oh sorry. The sunset dates have been extended. Actually the main reason that they've been extended was that there was—and this actually goes to the waterlogged nature of some of the soils at the moment. Some of this remedial work is best carried out once the soils dry out a bit. We're coming into winter and so there was a view that the legislation shouldn't drive people in order to take this permitted activity route to do this earlier than it perhaps should be done. So we're giving them a bit more time to do this so that they've both got a bit more time to do it—because people are pretty pressured sometimes—but also secondly some of this is better done after winter when things have stabilised a bit and dried out.
Court Simon; Parker DavidSIMON COURT (ACT): The ACT Party has one final concern which we'd just like the Minister to respond to. It was suggested by the majority in the Governance and Administration Committee to add a clause around requiring landowners to seek permission if they wanted to work on any land that might impact on or be a site of cultural significance to Māori.While we understand that there are sites—potentially wāhi tapu sites and others which have been affected—on property that is damaged by floods and debris and so on every other aspect of amendments to the Resource Management Act facilitate add flexibility provide opportunities and make it easier for people to do stuff with the land. And yet there is new section 331C and new section 331B(3A) and (3B) inserted by clause 21 in the bill—you've added Minister another entire page to the legislation which creates a requirement to give the relevant iwi or hapū … 20 working days' " notice and then potentially to carry out a cultural impact assessment and obtain protocols and management plans before any activity is undertaken.So not even land that has wāhi tapu on it or other significant sites but land that might be impacted by activities next door. So Minister could you please explain to the committee and to rural landowners councils who might want to get on with cleaning up and reinstating infrastructure how on earth on the one hand the Resource Management Act amendments make it easier to do stuff and then these clauses are being inserted which mean you'll have to go and seek permission from people about how private property owners and councils use their land.Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment): I'm sure officials can correct me if I get this wrong but I was advised on this matter over the last day and was advised that this applies to where there are already known and identified sites. There's not an inquiry necessary as to whether the land in question includes sites such as this; it's where those sites have previously been identified in the way that's listed in the legislation.So the landowner already knows that these things are there and therefore the requirement on the landowner is that if they were going to for example dump a great big load of silt that was being moved from another part of the property on to those areas which have been previously identified as being significant in that sense they are required under this to give written notice to the relevant person or entity and then there's a period for them to respond—if that person doesn't respond then you're quite correct they would not have the permitted activity route and they would then have to apply for a resource consent if there was a contest. We think that that is reasonable in the circumstances."
O'Connor DamienHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green): Thank you Mr Chair. I notice that the Minister for primary industries who also has responsibility for food safety is in the Chamber and I just wondered if he was able to update the committee in relation to my questions about clause 12 and affected food businesses and why the bill at plain reading appears to apply these exemptions to all of the food businesses in the impacted areas. Kia ora.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture): Thank you Mr Chair. I don't want to cut across the Minister here but very briefly having had the issue raised by the member before I checked with officials. This is a permissive change. It does rely on trust but it's also to relieve pressure—pressure not just on the businesses that are trying to recover from this flood in Auckland in particular but other regions and councils as well. So the exemption is just a temporary one that allows and says that businesses that haven't been able to get recertified are not deemed to be acting illegally.If there are persistent offenders in the area of food safety then New Zealand Food Safety will be able to visit and the councils will be able to visit to ensure that standards of food are maintained. This simply relieves the administrative pressure on both the council and on those businesses for a short period of time. Yes it is across all of Auckland—as it is across the other regions—and the council rightfully might have some concerns but it hasn't prevented them from intervening where it believes it is necessary.
O'Connor DamienHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green): Thank you Mr Chair and can I thank the Minister for Emergency Management for organising the other Ministers in the Chamber given that this is an omnibus bill. So I have a question that relates to food safety and the changes to the food regulations. I guess it is one of the issues in terms of when the House is dealing with things quite quickly but just in the new subpart inserted by clause 12 of the bill it provides a temporary exemption for affected food businesses but the way in which an affected food business is defined in the bill means a food business located wholly or partly in any of the following regions and districts impacted by a severe weather event: (a) the regions of Northland Auckland Waikato Bay of Plenty Gisborne and Hawke's Bay:" and then the four districts. So a plain reading of that definition could mean that any food business located in one of those regions which hadn't necessarily been itself affected by the weather event could take advantage of these provisions for exemptions. So my question to the Minister is: can that interpretation be taken of this provision? I understand that some councils such as Auckland are concerned about the implications for food safety if it extends beyond businesses that have been directly affected by the weather event because of course if they've had mud and silt through them and flooding that's affected their operations allowing more time for registration makes sense—and similarly if they're in isolated communities and are providing food services for those communities. But if this could be read because of the way an affected food business is defined in clause 12 with the change to section 94B of the regulations to mean any food business in the Northland Auckland Waikato Bay of Plenty Gisborne and Hawke's Bay areas could qualify then that has a whole different impact in terms of food safety than what was considered by the select committee. So can it be read that way?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture): I acknowledge the member and it's a very fair question. Clearly the intent of the legislation is not to go beyond the affected areas but it is also true that in many operations many businesses of course particularly in food it's integrated from the place of work; it might be grown processed and then sold. So there's a possibility from what she states and has pointed out here that an extrapolation of that might mean a whole lot more businesses that are not intended to be covered are exempted by this legislation. So I will commit to ask of officials clarity and if need be to make the adjustments necessary."
McAnulty Kieran; O'Connor GregHon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister for Emergency Management): Thank you very much Mr Chair. Just for the clarity of the House we have Minister O'Connor and will have Minister Parker available to answer specific questions—and of course I'm here as well if anyone wants to ask me a question. But I just want to take the opportunity again to acknowledge the good work of all members of the committee and the House.This bill attempts to address some pretty clear and obvious things that can be done now at this point to assist in the recovery. We have indicated that there will be a second bill which we will continue to engage with other parties on in that respect following a similar approach that was taken after the Hurunui-Kaikōura earthquake. But in this instance we didn't want to delay things.The four provisions that are proposed in this bill will assist those affected communities and local councils and civil defence emergency management groups to deal with the emergency and to assist in planning for the next severe weather event. We have traversed aspects of the bill in detail albeit being in a shortened process so I'll just take the opportunity to hand it over to members if they have questions.CHAIRPERSON (Greg O'Connor): Simon Watts—sorry; Simon Court. Too many Simons. Simon Court.
Belich Camilla; O'Connor GregCAMILLA BELICH (Junior Whip—Labour): Point of order. I seek leave for all provisions to be taken as one question.CHAIRPERSON (Greg O'Connor): Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There is no objection. The bill will be heard as one. The question is that Parts 1 to 4 the Schedule and clauses 1 and 2 be agreed to.
O'Connor GregIn CommitteeParts 1 to 4 the Schedule and clauses 1 and 2CHAIRPERSON (Greg O'Connor): Members the House is in committee on the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill. Multiple Ministers are available to answer questions on the various provisions in the bill so members should be aware that it won't necessarily be the Minister in the chair answering questions. Members we come first to Part 1.
Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill — Second Reading
Rurawhe AdrianVISITORSIreland—Minister of Agriculture Food and the MarineSPEAKER: Members before I come to oral questions I'm sure members would like to welcome the honourable Minister of Agriculture Food and the Marine from the Republic of Ireland.
Rurawhe AdrianPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: No petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation. A paper has been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Report on unappropriated expenses and capital expenditure for the financial year ended 30 June 2022.SPEAKER: I present the report of the Controller and Auditor-General entitled The Auditor-General's strategic intentions to 2028. I also present reports from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment entitled Are we building harder hotter cities? The vital importance of urban green spaces and Estimate of environmental expenditure 2022/23: Method and results. Those papers are published under the authority of the House.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture): Point of order Mr Speaker. I'm not sure whether you are aware that we have in the House the Irish Minister for agriculture Charlie McConalogue. He's up there and I was just wondering whether you had been notified of that.SPEAKER: That's the first either myself or the Clerk has heard of that but we have further business to do and I'll deal with that. Select committee reports have been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Monetary Policy Statement February 2023report on the Governance and Administration Committee on the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill report of the Officers of Parliament Committee on the Inquiry into the Appointment of a Deputy Controller and Auditor-General.SPEAKER: The bill is set down for second reading and the Monetary Policy Statement and inquiry are set down for consideration. The Clerk has been informed of the introduction of bills.CLERK:Appropriation (2021/22 Confirmation and Validation) Bill introductionLand Transport Management (Regulation of Public Transport) Amendment Bill introduction.SPEAKER: Those bills are set down for first reading.
Robertson Grant; Shaw JamesBUSINESS STATEMENTHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Leader of the House): Today the House will adjourn until Tuesday 28 March. On that day a further emergency cyclone response bill will have its first reading. Other legislation to be considered will include the third readings of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2022-23 Platform Economy and Remedial Matters) Bill (No 2) and the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Amendment Bill. I have given notice to the Business Committee that on Tuesday evening in that week the Government intends to move urgency to make up some of the time lost when the first sitting week of the year was adjourned due to Cyclone Gabrielle. Various bills will progress through further stages including the Civil Aviation Bill the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill and Minister Shaw the Organic Products and Production Bill.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): I thank the Leader of the House for that update as I'm sure Mr Shaw will as well. Can he advise whether or not the further cyclone recovery bill will be an omnibus bill?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Leader of the House): As the member is aware the bill is going through its final drafting stages. It will be provided to Opposition parties next week—so during the recess—so well in advance and any discussions about that matter could take place then.Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): I'd like to thank the Leader of the House for his update. Thank you.
O'Connor GregTHURSDAY 16 MARCH 2023The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSGREG O'CONNOR (Deputy Speaker): 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 justice mercy and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.
Wednesday 15 March 2023 - Volume 766
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That this House take note of the report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Budget Policy Statement 2023 and Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2022.Ayes 74New Zealand Labour 64; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Noes 44New Zealand National 34; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Report noted.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Barbara Kuriger): Members it's time for me to leave the House for the dinner break. The House will resume at 7 p.m.Sitting suspended from 6.02 p.m. to 7 p.m.
12. Question No. 12—PoliceNICOLE McKEE (ACT) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 12—Police12. NICOLE McKEE (ACT) to the Minister of Police: Is she satisfied with the Police response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke's Bay and is she satisfied that Police deployed enough staff to the region throughout the response?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Acting Minister of Police): Yes.Nicole McKee: What does she say to the 2600 locals who signed a petition calling for the Eagle helicopter to stay in Hawke's Bay beyond the disaster response and does she know whether police are going to trial a full-time air patrol in Hawke's Bay like the 2020 Canterbury trial?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: While I have huge empathy for those members of the community that are affected what I do say is that Eagle was of course there from the 17 February through to 5 March. That is a decision that police will have to make but we will be having a debrief of what the policing response was and seeing what lessons can be learnt.Nicole McKee: What does she say to a Hawke's Bay resident who said When it was around there was that huge sense of security that there was that extra set of eyes that people who were up to no good were going to be much easier tracked from [the air]." now that the Eagle helicopter is gone and 145 police officers will soon return to their home bases?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: What I say to those residents is that there will be a fifth contingent of outside officers from outside the district that will be coming in to replace the fourth contingent that was there. So we will continue to provide additional support.Nicole McKee: Has the Government given police enough resources to set up mobile units in Hawke's Bay in response to feedback that the 105 non-emergency line was too difficult to access and if so is she aware of why locals were ignored for two weeks before police established these units?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: We will of course continue to review the ongoing requirements in Hawke's Bay."
11. Question No. 11—Economic DevelopmentNAISI CHEN (Labour) to the Minister for Economic DevelopmentQuestion No. 11—Economic Development11. NAISI CHEN (Labour) to the Minister for Economic Development: What announcements has he made on transforming the advanced manufacturing sector?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Minister for Economic Development: This week I launched the Industry Transformation Plan for Advanced Manufacturing. The Government is focused on the issues in front of New Zealanders right now—in particular the cost of living and recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle. These plans set out how we can transform industries by increasing innovation and productivity which will drive higher wages and living standards in a non-inflationary way. I would like to thank Brett O'Riley from the Employers and Manufacturers Association and Rachel Macintosh from the E tū union for their leadership in getting this advanced manufacturing plan over the line.Naisi Chen: Why was advanced manufacturing identified for our industry transformation plan (ITP)?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The advanced manufacturing sector has significant untapped potential to increase productivity and higher-wage jobs and to support the transition to a globally competitive lower-emissions economy the plan sets out how this can be achieved.Naisi Chen: What funding has been allocated for this plan?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As a first step the Government has committed $30 million to implement a number of immediate actions identified in the plan. This includes $3.65 million for company-specific advice on adopting advanced technologies and processes $4 million to upskill manufacturing workers in digital skills and $2.9 million for company-specific support to achieve circular low-emissions manufacturing.Naisi Chen: How will this transformation plan be affected by the recent extreme weather events?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Advanced manufacturing is vitally important throughout the country including in the regions severely impacted by recent extreme weather. Right now many business and workers will be responding to the devastating aftermath of these events. Even as we respond to these immediate challenges we cannot lose sight of the long-term aspiration for a high-wage economy. Delivering the actions set out in the ITP will help us work together through current pressures and transform to the high-wage low-emissions economy that will provide economic security for New Zealanders.Andrew Bayly: Why having been the Minister for more than three years and having spent a quarter of a million dollars on the advanced manufacturing transformation plan does that plan not identify any time line when the initiatives must be implemented?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Minister this is a plan that has been developed with the sector. The sector has helped identify the priorities and unlike the member we're not going to dictate from Wellington exactly how this is done. We trust our advanced manufacturing sector.
9. Question No. 9—HealthGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 9—Health9. GLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Health: What recent announcement has the Government made about HIV?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Minister of Health): On Sunday the Prime Minister announced the release of the national HIV Action Plan laying out our plan to eliminate local transmission of HIV by 2030 and ensure that people living with HIV have healthy lives free from stigma and discrimination. Our targets are ambitious but we're ready to make a big stride.Glen Bennett: What are the prioritised actions?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: One of the key things to achieve elimination is to make sure that we have good access and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Therefore we're funding an update of PrEP clinical guidance to make sure New Zealand is up to date in that area. We'll be funding the scale and roll-out of innovative testing for HIV developing a monitoring plan and working with community organisations so they can be effective in HIV prevention.Glen Bennett: What areas will we be focusing on to achieve HIV elimination by 2030?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: The plan focuses on five key things: reducing new and locally acquired HIV infections improving Māori health and wellbeing in relation to HIV decreasing mortality removing stigma and increasing equity. I'm confident this plan places Aotearoa in a great position to eliminate transmission for future generations.Glen Bennett: How else is the Government supporting rainbow communities?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: The goals of the HIV Action Plan will be supported by the strides we're taking across the health sector to improve responsiveness to rainbow communities. Across multiple determinants of health rainbow and takatāpui - identifying people experience poorer health outcomes than the general population and these inequalities are greater for trans and non-binary people. This Government is committed to a health system that gives all New Zealanders the opportunity to achieve good health and wellbeing outcomes regardless of who they are.