edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Ardern Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ardern Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:7628] 
5.  
SHANE ARDERN (National—Taranaki - King Country) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Is she aware of any new initiatives in the fight against organised crime in this country? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) 
: 
 Yesterday the Commissioner of Police and I announced a major new weapon in the fight against organised crime and the production of methamphetamine. A new team of 22 hardened investigators is being formed by the police to hunt down and seize the millions of dollars in profits from organised crime. 
Shane Ardern 
: Why do we need a specialist team to carry out this work? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Over the past decade or so gangs in this country have evolved into sophisticated criminal businesses which make tens of millions of dollars per year mostly from selling P methamphetamine. Gang bosses have grown very rich. Their ill-gotten gains include farms houses cars boats and other assets. Organised crime is a business and this Government intends to put it out of business. 
Shane Ardern 
: Why are you going to do this to the assets that are confiscated? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I would point out to the member that he must not bring the Speaker into his question. I ask him to repeat his question without doing that. 
Shane Ardern 
: I will repeat the question. Why is the Minister going to do this to the assets that are confiscated? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: We are going to do this because organised crime is all about profits. We want to take the profits off criminals and use those profits against them. We will use the money from criminal assets to help to fund initiatives such as rehabilitation for P addicts Youth Aid programmes and other initiatives that stop young people from joining gangs. Our message to crime bosses is clear: this Government is not going to support them we are coming after their businesses and the New Zealand Police is being given every tool to help to destroy them. 
David Garrett 
: Is she monitoring the effectiveness of anti-gang legislation in South Australia and does she have any plans to recommend such legislation here? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: Yes I am keeping an eye on it. The last time I checked I understand that there were some issues in relation to a Supreme Court challenge to that legislation in South Australia. I will be meeting with my counterpart in South Australia next month and I will certainly ask how that is going.
Parker David: Speaker’s Rulings — Tabling of Documents—Application of Standing Order 368 
Parker David: Speaker’s Rulings — Tabling of Documents—Application of Standing Order 368 
[Volume:658;Page:7622] 
Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek a point of clarification. In listing those documents you said you would not allow current documents in those classes to be filed. Are we to take it that for example leave could still be sought to table an old  
Hansard 
 that is not readily available to people unless it is pointed out to them? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I thank the member for raising a perfectly fair point of order. The intention is that historic documents that are not readily available to members that may have significance and may be useful for members’ information can still be tabled. It is not the intention at all to prevent the tabling of those or likewise media articles from overseas publications that would not be readily available to members but would be relevant to them. The point the member makes is perfectly fair.
Smith Lockwood: Speaker’s Rulings — Tabling of Documents—Application of Standing Order 368 
Smith Lockwood: Speaker’s Rulings — Tabling of Documents—Application of Standing Order 368 
[Volume:658;Page:7621] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: During both question times this week members have sought to use Standing Order 368 to table documents that were readily available to members. Standing Order 368 is new. It provides that a member may table a document by leave. Previously the tabling of documents was solely a matter of leave. The Standing Orders did not recognise the practice. 
Questions have arisen about the application of Standing Order 368. It is the Speaker’s role to decide the application of a Standing Order whenever a question arises. The Speaker is guided by previous Speakers’ rulings and the practice of the House. 
There are a number of rulings on the tabling of documents by leave. I refer members to the ruling of Speaker Tapsell Speaker’s ruling 142/2 and to the guidance of the Standing Orders Committee Speaker’s ruling 142/1. Both emphasise that the primary purpose of the procedure is to inform debate by making available to members documents that otherwise would not be available. 
Members have not always taken these rulings into account when seeking leave. From the next sitting of the House I intend to apply Standing Order 368 consistently with these rulings. It will no longer be in order to seek leave under Standing Order 368 to table documents of the following nature that are readily available to members: first current documents that are part of the published proceedings of the House such as replies to questions for written answer parliamentary papers select committee reports submissions to committees where the e-committee system provides for them to be published on the Parliament website  
Hansard 
 or the Standing Orders; second Acts and bills before the House; and third recent media articles from the major daily newspapers and national weeklies or their websites and from the major television and radio broadcasters or their websites. 
Copies of this ruling will be made available to members in the Bills Office.
Brownlee Gerry: Business Statement 
Brownlee Gerry: Business Statement 
[Volume:658;Page:7621] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 On the first point I think it is highly likely that the House will sit with some urgency on Government business in the remaining weeks before Christmas. Effectively from today we have two 2-week parliamentary sittings so there are 4 weeks until the House goes into the long summer adjournment. I would expect there to be some urgency during that time. But I will notify the member of that well and truly in advance. 
Although he has also asked for a comment with regard to lunch at restaurants in Auckland I can assure him that I have not been to that city in quite some time. I have not been to that particular restaurant. But I noticed that when I was in an interview situation with him yesterday he was late back to the interview because he had taken off early to go to that particular restaurant. I understand it was the custard and cream that he was most excited about and for reasons of decorum I will not mention the name of the restaurant in the House.
Business Statement 
Business Statement 
[Volume:658;Page:7621] 
Thursday 29 October 2009 
Mr Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Prayers 
. 
Business Statement 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 The House will adjourn today for a 2-week adjournment. When the House resumes on Tuesday 17 November it is the Government’s intention to make progress on the Ngati Apa (North Island) Claims Settlement Bill the Whanganui Iwi (Wanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Wanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill the Biosecurity Amendment Bill and other bills on the Order Paper. 
Hon DARREN HUGHES (Senior Whip—Labour) 
: 
 I thank the Leader of the House for that indication. Given that one-third of the time since the election that the Parliament has sat has been under urgency I wonder whether he could confirm that we can look forward to week 7 in a row of urgency when we return. Finally noting that this is a 2-week adjournment and members will be travelling around the country I wonder whether he has any recommendations about restaurants in Auckland that he could make to the country. We would be very grateful if he could give us some advice on that particular matter. I understand he has quite an announcement to make in that regard. 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 On the first point I think it is highly likely that the House will sit with some urgency on Government business in the remaining weeks before Christmas. Effectively from today we have two 2-week parliamentary sittings so there are 4 weeks until the House goes into the long summer adjournment. I would expect there to be some urgency during that time. But I will notify the member of that well and truly in advance. 
Although he has also asked for a comment with regard to lunch at restaurants in Auckland I can assure him that I have not been to that city in quite some time. I have not been to that particular restaurant. But I noticed that when I was in an interview situation with him yesterday he was late back to the interview because he had taken off early to go to that particular restaurant. I understand it was the custard and cream that he was most excited about and for reasons of decorum I will not mention the name of the restaurant in the House.
Garrett David: Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk Pricing Methods) Bill — First Reading 
Garrett David: Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk Pricing Methods) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7587] 
DAVID GARRETT (ACT) 
: 
 I rise very briefly on behalf of the ACT Party to support the Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk Pricing Methods) Amendment Bill. 
When I arrived in this place I was told many things as new MPs are. One of those things was in relation to the Greens—that with Dr Norman it all comes back to water and with the other one it all comes back to trees. We have just seen a wonderful example of that. I despair for the radio audience at home and I see in relation to the live audience that most of them have more sense than to be in here on such a nice day listening to us rabbit on at length about something that needs very little said. 
The bill promotes competition and gives farmers a choice about whom to sell their milk to. That is a very good idea and we support it and I do not intend to take up any more of the House’s time.
Vote: Settlement Systems Futures and Emissions Units Bill — Second Reading 
Vote: Settlement Systems Futures and Emissions Units Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7611] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Settlement Systems Futures and Emissions Units Bill be now read a second time. 
Ayes 115 
New Zealand National 58; New Zealand Labour 43; Green Party 7; Maori Party 5; Progressive 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 5 
ACT New Zealand 5. 
Bill read a second time.
Gilmore Aaron: Settlement Systems Futures and Emissions Units Bill — Second Reading 
Gilmore Aaron: Settlement Systems Futures and Emissions Units Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7610] 
AARON GILMORE (National) 
: 
 I will talk a little bit about the Settlement Systems Futures and Emissions Units Bill. It represents another step along the way of our putting in place a sustainable emissions trading scheme. This bill concerns emissions units and futures trading. 
I will also fisk a bit. A bit of fisking was going on in prior speeches particularly from the other side of the House. We heard from Mr Chauvel that we are in danger of becoming the fossil in Copenhagen. Well under his Government’s emissions trading scheme the only thing in danger of becoming a fossil was the New Zealand economy. Thousands of New Zealanders would have been put out of work and for what? So that Labour could go to some international convention somewhere and say: “Look at us; aren’t we so clever?”. Well we thought this through a bit more and we think that jobs are important. In the worst recession that this country has had for over 60 years we think that helping industry through the transition of introducing an emissions trading scheme is incredibly important. That is a good thing to do. People who have jobs in trade-exposed industries will thank us but I tell members that they will not be thanking Labour. 
This bill along with our other emissions trading bill—the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill; the greater parent bill—is a good step in the right direction. It clarifies the regulatory treatment in support of and develops the market for emissions trading and that is a good thing.
Brownlee Gerry: Sittings of the House 
Brownlee Gerry: Sittings of the House 
[Volume:658;Page:7598] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 We are about 2 minutes away from the dinner break and the House is clearly a little distracted from its current business. Accordingly I seek leave for the House to rise for the dinner break at this point. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is no objection. 
Sitting suspended from 5:58 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Guy Nathan: Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk Pricing Methods) Bill — First Reading 
Guy Nathan: Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk Pricing Methods) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7593] 
Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister of Internal Affairs) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Agriculture 
: I move  
That the Primary Production Committee consider the Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk Pricing Methods) Bill 
 that the committee report finally to the House on or before 2 March 2010 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during questions for oral answer) and during an evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House despite Standing Orders 187 and 190(1)(b) and (c). 
Motion agreed to.
Bridges Simon: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Bridges Simon: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7577] 
SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker Roy. Tena koutou e te Whare. It is good that I take what will be a very short call because I was not present at the select committee hearings. But having listened to other speakers and contributors to this debate I accept that there are issues between the relevant iwi and hapu that will live on potentially past this bill. That should not in my view and in the view of everyone who has spoken in this House obscure what is otherwise a very positive day of celebration in the passing of this bill into law. The bill gives effect to the deed signed between the Crown and iwi in relation to the Whakarewarewa Valley land and the Roto-a-Tamaheke Reserve. 
I will very briefly make some acknowledgments and talk about what the bill does. I think it is important that we acknowledge the representatives of iwi who are here today and that we recognise and acknowledge as well that this bill puts into law an agreement that was inspired and initiated by iwi leaders. They brought their proposal to the Crown and asked that the Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve and the Roto-a-Tamaheke Reserve land on transfer from the Te Arawa settlement legislation together with the adjacent Southern Arikikapakapa Reserve be vested in a joint trust of the iwi partners. As I have said the bill transfers ownership of three areas of reserve land. The fee simple for these lands will be vested in a Whakarewarewa joint trust. The reserves have the status of recreation reserves and are at present administered by the Ministry of Tourism under the Reserves Act 1977. 
The lands are home to the renowned Pohutu Geyser they accommodate Te Puia formerly known as the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and they are situated around the Whakarewarewa Village. The Whakarewarewa reserve land is very well known to many New Zealanders who are not necessarily part of the relevant iwi and to those who may be watching this on television. It is an important historical cultural and spiritual part of our nation. 
This is a positive bill. It is a day for celebration. With those few comments I conclude.
Quinn Paul: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Quinn Paul: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7576] 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
: 
 I join with the previous speakers in welcoming members from Te Arawa. I turn to say hello to and acknowledge my Uncle Anaru Rangiheuea Rawiri Te Whare and Hamuera Mitchell and to acknowledge kuia and kaumatua: tena koutou katoa. 
I think it is important firstly to pick up on something a previous speaker Shane Jones said. He said there is no doubt that both sides of the House are very keen on and particularly committed to going forward to resolve Treaty grievances as expeditiously as possible. In that vein the current Minister is working very hard to do just that. 
In terms of this particular settlement I think it is important to canvas where the bill was at when this Parliament began because it provides and puts into perspective the contribution from my friend and colleague in the Maori Party Te Ururoa Flavell. When the 48th Parliament convened this bill was before the select committee which was about to hear submissions. The big issue for which Te Ururoa has provided the outcome was the issue of mana whenua. This issue taxed the select committee and proved challenging mainly because given that the trust deed had already been approved and signed sealed and delivered if the new Parliament was to try to encompass the issues that arose during the course of the Maori Affairs Committee in a formal process it would mean that the Government would have to go back and quite simply renegotiate the arrangement. Because we did not think that that was the best course of action as we have just heard it was felt a better way of advancing the issue was to try to allow the Minister time to try to resolve the matter. 
The outcome of that task is what we have just heard from the honourable member Te Ururoa Flavell. I think it is important the record note that the understanding the select committee received at the end of that consultation process was that in respect of the agreement—the gentlemen’s agreement a handshake—there will be a process relating to what is termed in the documentation as the beneficial entitlement determination procedure and all the parties have agreed that the whakapapa will be determined by four koroua who are well versed in these issues and who as it was reported to the select committee have been named. From this point on the process will start as I understand it this weekend. 
So it is really against that background and the comfort that the select committee was given around that process that the committee was happy to allow the bill to come to the floor of Parliament for its second reading and Committee stage and now to the third reading. It is therefore with great pleasure that I join members on both sides of the House to recommend that this bill move swiftly to receive the Royal assent so that the beneficiaries are able to get on with the task and the challenge that now face them in taking responsibility for their own land and their own assets. Thank you.
Davis Kelvin: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Davis Kelvin: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7566] 
KELVIN DAVIS (Labour) 
: 
 It gives me pleasure to speak in the Committee stage of the Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill. This bill brings together a number of parcels of Maori land that had been under Crown control for a number of years and it consolidates the land as it rightfully should into Maori ownership. 
As my colleague Mita Ririnui did I acknowledge the efforts of the Minister in the chair the Hon Dr Pita Sharples as well as the previous Labour Minister of Maori Affairs the Hon Parekura Horomia. They have progressed the bill through to the Committee stage. I acknowledge the other members of the Maori Affairs Committee led by Tau Henare and also Paul Quinn and Simon Bridges. I also acknowledge these tribes that are involved: Ngati Whakaue Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao and Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa. As Mita Ririnui said this is a technical bill. It has involved a lot of discussion and talk in getting it to the Committee stage. It is a pleasure that we are almost at the point of finalising this bill and moving it into law. 
For me it is really important that not only the parcels of land we are talking about in Rotorua but also all Maori parcels of land that have been in disparate ownership are brought together so that they can be of use to their rightful owners. As I said in my second reading speech it is important to bring this closure so that those tribes can make progress and move forward for the benefit of their people. It is also important to note that the lease of the land to Te Puia will remain in reserve status. That piece of land has significance to all of New Zealand. It is a wonderful tourist attraction and it is a showcase for Maori talent. In particular there is a weaving institute a Maori carving school and the adjacent geysers. 
Again I acknowledge all the work that has been done to bring this bill to where we are at for the benefit of those tribes that we have spoken about. Thank you.
Sharples Pita: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Sharples Pita: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7565] 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I will take an early call just to explain the relationship between the parties involved in the Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill. First of all I say I agree with the previous speaker Mr Mita Ririnui that it is good to take the bill through its remaining stages as one debate. 
Hon Mita Ririnui 
: The honourable! 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES 
: I agree with the very Hon Mita Ririnui. Two of the three reserves that are being vested through this bill the Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve and the Roto-a-Tamaheke Reserve were originally part of the affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu Treaty settlement. It was decided that Ngati Whakaue should also receive these reserves. In order to allow that process to occur it was decided to remove the land from any Treaty settlement. 
The return of the land to the iwi is part of the ongoing initiative to strengthen the relationships between central North Island iwi and the Crown. The Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve and the Roto-a-Tamaheke Reserve were originally offered to Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa as part of its Treaty settlement as it represented the collective interests of Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao. The Waitangi Tribunal recommended that Ngati Whakaue should be included given its interests in the Whakarewarewa Valley land. Ngati Whakaue was not affiliated to Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa so an agreement was reached with Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa to take the two reserves out of the affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu settlement and together with the Southern Arikikapakapa Reserve vest all three reserves in a joint trust. 
That is the background to the bill that we have before us. In order for Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa to fulfil its responsibilities to its affiliate members it asked that the Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve and the Roto-a-Tamaheke Reserve still be vested in it through the affiliate Te Arawa legislation and then immediately on-vested in the joint trust. The agreement of Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa was thus required for the vesting deed in this bill. So the issue of these reserves has had a long journey. It is no longer part of a claim but is now simply part of this vesting bill.
Brownlee Gerry: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Brownlee Gerry: Whakarewarewa and Roto-a-Tamaheke Vesting Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:658;Page:7564] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I seek leave for this bill to have its Committee of the whole House stage heard as one debate across all parts of the bill with one question at the conclusion of this stage. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection to that course of action? There appears to be none.
Vote: Crimes Amendment Bill Local Government Amendment Bill Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) — Third Readings 
Vote: Crimes Amendment Bill Local Government Amendment Bill Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) — Third Readings 
[Volume:658;Page:7564] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Crimes Amendment Bill the Local Government Amendment Bill and the Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) be now read a third time. 
Ayes 108 
New Zealand National 58; New Zealand Labour 43; ACT New Zealand 5; Progressive 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 14 
Green Party 9; Maori Party 5. 
Bills read a third time.
Wagner Nicky: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Wagner Nicky: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:7560] 
10.  
NICKY WAGNER (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What reports has he received in relation to improving residential care for the aged? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 There has been mounting public concern about poor care in rest homes for the elderly and the Government has taken steps to address it. We have injected an extra $18 million in this year’s Budget to improve nursing quality and supervision in rest homes and from 1 January next year we are launching a new spot auditing regime for aged residential care whereby rest homes will not know when the auditors are coming. We are currently in the middle of a 2-month pilot of the tool to do that and I understand that it is going very well. We will be making adjustments in the run-up to 1 January. 
Nicky Wagner 
: What other decisions have been made in order to improve care for the elderly? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The elderly and their families need to have greater confidence in the monitoring of residential care services and to have an opportunity to understand the various results of audits. That is why the Government has for the first time required a summary of the various audits of rest homes to be made available on the Ministry of Health website. The summary has an easy-to-read colour coding ranging from blue which means a very good performance through the spectrum to red and the red means significant action is needed to achieve the required levels of performance. 
Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 
: Has the Minister seen any reports from his colleague Nick Smith who has just slashed a programme to prevent over-80s from falling whether they choose to live at home or in a rest home? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I am aware of those reports having read some of them in the news media. I have to say having sat through question time today I think the decisions and announcements that are being made are entirely defendable and make sense. 
Rahui Katene 
: Does the Minister agree with the Maori Party when it said in its policy statement  
He Aha Te Mea Nui? 
 that the aged-care workforce is underpaid understaffed and too often does not receive the training it requires in order to deliver the best care and what will he be doing to address these concerns? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: There is no doubt that many of the people who work in the aged-care sector think of themselves as being underpaid. It is very hard work and that is one of the reasons why the Government has increased the subsidy for the provision of aged residential care by 5 percent this year.
Burns Brendon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Burns Brendon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:7559] 
9.  
BRENDON BURNS (Labour—Christchurch Central) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: What reports if any has he received from the board of TVNZ on the estimated market value of the airtime for the advertisement featuring the Hon Bill English promoting TVNZ 7’s  
Spotlight on the Economy 
 series that is being run 130 times on TV One 2 6 and 7? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: He has not received any reports and does not expect to receive any. 
Brendon Burns 
: Is the Minister satisfied with the processes at Television New Zealand (TVNZ) that have seen airtime valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars given over to the “in plain English” promotion involving the State broadcaster’s shareholding Minister? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Yes. 
Brendon Burns 
: Is he satisfied that TVNZ news managers were not consulted during the internal vetting of the “in plain English” promo given today’s  
Dominion Post 
 reports that news staff expressed “strong concerns” about the promotion. 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: The Minister of Broadcasting does not involve himself in the internal workings of any broadcast agency in this country. 
Brendon Burns 
: Is the Minister aware of any proposals by TVNZ to extend its new-found interest in promoting politicians in difficulties and will we soon be seeing a helicopter view of education with 135 trailers for “Plain Tolley” and “ACC Cuts Made Simple” promoting “Plain Smith”? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: He has no idea what the programming future might hold for TVNZ but I suggest that if the member wishes to advance those ideas he talks to the broadcaster directly himself. They seem very good ideas to me.
Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:7559] 
8.  
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What recent reports has she received on the management of sickness and invalids benefits? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 The Auditor-General has released a report that looks at changes attempted by the Labour Government. These changes were supposed to actively help and encourage sickness and invalids beneficiaries back into work. The report says that Labour simply did not do enough. Clearly Labour did not with the increase we saw in invalids benefits and sickness benefits under the previous Government. 
Katrina Shanks 
: What recommendations did the Auditor-General’s report make? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: The report confirms that the changes we committed to before the election are firmly heading in the right direction. The recommendations focused on improving the determination of eligibility providing more comprehensive case management and extending the monitoring and evaluation as National campaigned for. 
Hon Annette King 
: Where in the audit report does it state that the case management of sickness and invalids beneficiaries is a failed programme as she claimed last week; and is it not true that the audit report actually said: “The Ministry … has a challenging task in managing large numbers of … beneficiaries” and encouraged the department “to build on the progress that it has made so far.”? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: The numbers speak for themselves. Since 1999 there has been a 73.9 percent increase in those on the sickness benefit and a 65.9 percent increase of those on the invalids benefit. Unlike Labour we have high expectations for those people. We think we can help get them back into work and that is what we will do. 
Hon Annette King 
: If the changes she claims her Government has made “are … heading in the right direction” why are sickness benefit and invalids benefit numbers soaring to the highest level we have seen in 5 years? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Those changes are to be introduced via legislation next year. At the moment we are still operating on the obviously failing policies of the previous Government and we see that the mechanisms that are implemented through Work and Income are not working. We will actually be making changes that mean positives for those who are on those benefits.
Gilmore Aaron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Gilmore Aaron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:7548] 
2.  
AARON GILMORE (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: What reports has he received on how the New Zealand economy is placed coming out of the recession? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 New Zealand is reasonably well placed coming out of the recession after we inherited an economy that had been mismanaged for the last 9 years by the Labour Government. Both business and consumer confidence have risen significantly in recent months. We have yet to see whether real economic activity follows this improvement in the leading indicators. 
Aaron Gilmore 
: What factors account for the lift in confidence? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: I think one of the significant factors is having a Government that stays focused on the big picture of lifting economic performance and providing New Zealanders with jobs. Many New Zealanders have lost their jobs or are worried about losing them. We are taking every step that we can to ensure there is investment and employment so that people can have secure jobs. 
Aaron Gilmore 
: How credible is the consumer confidence survey? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The most recent consumer confidence survey was the ANZ-Roy Morgan survey. I understand that when it rings up to ask people their opinion it actually says where the inquiry is from unlike the Labour Party’s pollsters. Clearly that survey did not use Rick Barker’s volunteers who apparently have now been totally disowned by the current leadership. 
Hon Sir Roger Douglas 
: Why has the Minister decided that the best way to deal with the fiscal problem he faces is to simply take on $40 billion of debt over the next 4 years and heaven knows how much thereafter? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The Government is taking a balanced approach to dealing with the Government’s very significant fiscal problems. We are borrowing money because we believe that throughout the recession it is better to maintain entitlements and public services and to keep the economy ticking over. But we are now taking steps to make sure that public debt does not grow out of control. 
John Boscawen 
: Can the Minister explain how the continued ownership of KiwiRail Television New Zealand Learning Media and the telecommunications company Orcon will lead to the future prosperity of New Zealand rather than the disposal of those liabilities and the paying off of debt? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The Government has made an undertaking to maintain the ownership of all significant current Government assets. However there is a huge clean-up job to do with regard to those assets because under the previous Government there were too many political appointments to boards and they lost their focus on financial performance. We are going through the process of fixing them.
Calder Cam: Crimes Amendment Bill Local Government Amendment Bill Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) — Third Readings 
Calder Cam: Crimes Amendment Bill Local Government Amendment Bill Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) — Third Readings 
[Volume:658;Page:7546] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 John Key’s National-led Government is principled pragmatic and inclusive. During last year’s election campaign we made promises about what we would do should we be privileged to form the Government. We have that privilege and we are keeping our promises. 
Debate interrupted. 
Sitting suspended from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Crimes Amendment Bill Local Government Amendment Bill Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) — Third Readings 
Crimes Amendment Bill Local Government Amendment Bill Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) — Third Readings 
[Volume:658;Page:7563] 
Crimes Amendment Bill 
Local Government Amendment Bill 
Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) 
Third Readings 
Debate resumed. 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 John Key’s National-led Government is principled pragmatic and inclusive. During last year’s election campaign we made promises about what we would do should we be privileged to form the Government. 
Hon Member 
: And we made them in our own name. 
Dr CAM CALDER 
: That is a very good point. We have that privilege and we are keeping our promises. We are working—a concept alien to others in the House—to find a solution to multiple challenges that have accumulated after years and years of ineptitude from an administration bereft of ideas where creativity was a distant dream and the concept of action a barely recoverable memory from a cobwebbed cerebral closet where the default position was inaction apart from the occasional languid wave from a legislative limp wrist a limp wrist on a leaden hand a leaden hand that stifled innovation and fresh thinking and formed a cloying embrace from a nanny seduced by the conviction that consideration of process equated action. 
Not surprising after year after year of this muddled mugwumpery when National formed a Government we found there was much to do. There was much to do in all portfolios and much to do in law and order. 
National’s principled pragmatic approach which is focused on finding solutions has led to a comprehensive quiver of measures to fight the scourge of crime gangs and drugs. Measures to date include the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act and the Sentencing Act and they are supported by the Search and Surveillance Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill. A significant weapon in the quiver is the gangs and organised crime legislation. It is thoughtful legislation. 
We do not have a magic wand and we cannot change things overnight but we are committed to making a difference. Gangs are a complex problem that requires reshaping of the mesh in a number of areas and at different levels. This legislation will hit participation in gangs allow police to gain intelligence on gang activities by increased surveillance and remove the ability of gangs to cower and hide behind high walls and fortifications. I commend the legislation to the House. 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Crimes Amendment Bill the Local Government Amendment Bill and the Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) be now read a third time. 
Ayes 108 
New Zealand National 58; New Zealand Labour 43; ACT New Zealand 5; Progressive 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 14 
Green Party 9; Maori Party 5. 
Bills read a third time.
Voting — Correction—Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill 
Voting — Correction—Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill 
[Volume:658;Page:7563] 
Voting 
Correction—Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The result of the vote on the question that the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill be now read a third time was incorrectly announced. The correct result is Ayes 108 Noes 14.
Sittings of the House 
Sittings of the House 
[Volume:658;Page:7598] 
Sittings of the House 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 We are about 2 minutes away from the dinner break and the House is clearly a little distracted from its current business. Accordingly I seek leave for the House to rise for the dinner break at this point. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is no objection. 
Sitting suspended from 5:58 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Jones Shane: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Jones Shane: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7527] 
Hon SHANE JONES (Labour) 
: 
 Thank you Mr Chairperson for observing some latitude; it was an impassioned issue. I would also like to acknowledge Te Ururoa Flavell. Both he and I are entitled to have our views recorded in the Chamber and I respect the direction that he is coming from. I want that to be known because those of us who share common roots need to be of a common mind. 
This is the Gangs and Organised Crime Bill but I cannot resist the option of leaving the member with the feeling that the bill ought to be renamed. It ought to be renamed the “Maori Party Talks the Politics but Does Not Walk the Politics Bill”. The title reveals that the bill is not just about an ethnic problem; the problem as we are warned is how we respond as a legislature to organisations. The title of the bill contains the word “organised”; that requires a sophisticated response. We are also required to deal with the word “gangs”. Gang members want to have rights but not obligations and that is probably where we differ from them. Unfortunately I am unlikely to persuade a suitable number of people in the Chamber that the bill should have a new title. Therefore as Labour is supporting the bill we will tolerate the bill going forward with its current name although we know that probably it could have been given a far more fitting moniker given the contributions of some members of the Chamber. 
Clause 1 agreed to. 
Clause 2 agreed to. 
The Committee divided the bill into the Crimes Amendment Bill the Local Government Amendment Bill and the Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) pursuant to Supplementary Order Paper51. 
Bill reported without amendment. 
Report adopted.
Roy Eric: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Roy Eric: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7527] 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: The member is actually challenging me but in a gentle way and I am going to stand firm on what I have said. It is title and commencement from now on. I think we have got to the stage where both sides have been put and we are having a third reading forthwith.
Hipkins Chris: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Hipkins Chris: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7527] 
CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I draw your attention to Speaker’s ruling 110/7 which states “When debating the preliminary clauses at the end members should have some latitude to summarise and make concluding remarks about the issues they have raised during the committee’s consideration of the bill.” I do not want to challenge your ruling because I think you have done very well in providing some latitude for members in the debate. I just want to ensure that members are actually given the opportunity in this to summarise comments and to respond to comments that have been made through the debate.
Roy Eric: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Roy Eric: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7526] 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Just before I call the member I say to members that my tolerance has been— 
Hon Member 
: Exhausted. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: —exhausted and I will terminate the speech of any member not speaking now on the title and commencement. I say to members who want to continue this debate that this is a fine debate. The third reading is forthwith. I ask members to bear that in mind. If Mr Jones wants to make a contribution it must be on title and commencement.
Roy Eric: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Roy Eric: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7525] 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: I gave some tolerance to members on the Labour side of Chamber; I have no option but to give the member some tolerance. But I will conclude the debate on those matters and any subsequent efforts will be on title and commencement.
Calder Cam: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Calder Cam: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7524] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 I move  
That the question be now put 
. 
Motion agreed to. 
Part 3 agreed to.
Roy Eric: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Roy Eric: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7523] 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Before I call the Hon Clayton Cosgrove I say that these are fine speeches but I am trying to connect them to Part 3 of the Gangs and Organised Crime Bill. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: It’s gangs. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: I know that. I have shown a great degree of tolerance and leniency in every part of the bill but I ask members to address Part 3 at this stage in the debate.
Garrett David: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
Garrett David: Gangs and Organised Crime Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:658;Page:7521] 
DAVID GARRETT (ACT) 
: 
 I feel privileged—and I say this without a trace of sarcasm or insincerity—to have just heard that speech by Te Ururoa Flavell. It was a fantastic speech. I am aware of the case that occurred a couple of weeks ago but I was not aware of yesterday’s case that he referred to. I say at the outset that I do not claim to be an expert on Maoritanga; it would be absolutely arrogant and ignorant of me to do so. But I know a little bit about it. What struck me about the case 2 weeks ago—and I am very sorry to have to point this out to my colleague—was that on the previous day it was revealed that his co-leader Dr Pita Sharples had met with gang leaders in part to find out whether they were getting enough entitlements from the social welfare system. The next day the kuia whom Te Ururoa just referred to stood up and said that if gang members were going to dress like that they should go away. I imagine the words might have been a bit stronger than that. Ordinary Maori people recognise those scum for what they are: scum and criminals. I think that speech was fantastic and obviously that attitude towards gang members is a part of the solution to this problem. 
It has been said by Te Ururoa and others that gangs will always be with us and we just have to give up and accept that in some way. Not so! Not so! Dr Jennifer Walsh a criminologist was here to give evidence on the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill earlier this year. I rang her the other day; we stayed in close contact. I just happened to say we do not hear as much as we used to about drive-by gang shootings in South Los Angeles and she said they almost never happen now. I asked why that was and she said it was because the gang leaders were all in jail—they were locked up. So the issue of gangs can be tackled. Yes a multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach is needed but the first step is to take the brave step that those kuia did on that marae in the Bay of Plenty two weeks ago and to have a clear understanding that the gangs are criminal organisations that will not be tolerated.