5. Question No. 5—Prime MinisterHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 5—Prime Minister5. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern's statements and actions in relation to the previous Minister of Customs?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Acting Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: What specifically caused the Prime Minister to lose confidence in Meka Whaitiri?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: There was an incident on the 27 August in Gisborne involving Meka Whaitiri and one of her staff. We can't of course—because of the privacy issues to do with the staff member—disclose that information but there was as the report said an incident and the Prime Minister acted on it.Hon Simon Bridges: Did Ms Whaitiri assault a staff member?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The report says that there was an incident. That is contested by the former Minister and there the facts lie.Hon Simon Bridges: What were those facts?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The two facts I set out very succinctly for that member.Hon Simon Bridges: So why then did the Prime Minister lose confidence in Meka Whaitiri?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Because the Prime Minister had a report saying that there was an incident and being the Prime Minister she is she acted swiftly and responsibly.Hon Simon Bridges: What did the report say?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: For the third time very slowly now the report said that there had been an incident. That is disputed but nevertheless the report said that.Hon Simon Bridges: Will the Prime Minister now tell the House and the public of New Zealand exactly what happened between Meka Whaitiri and her staff member; if not why not?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Contained in the report of course is confidential information which protects the staff member concerned. That is a serious matter for this Government and we are not going to infringe upon that person's rights to indulge the member. But let me say this: we did not sit around for almost a month with a highly costly inquiry and then decide that we'd do press statements writing what we've got on our fingers—like was seen this morning from that member. His cue cards are on his hand. Has he seen that photograph? We don't behave that way.Hon Simon Bridges: How on earth does disclosing the nature of the incident affect the privacy of the alleged victim; let's be clear it doesn't does it?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well that's fascinating. Now that member asking a question has rushed to giving his question his own answer which demonstrates why so many criminals went free in Tauranga if that's the standard of prosecutorial skill he shows.Hon Simon Bridges: Did the report make clear that the alleged victim the claimant received a bruise?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The report has yet to be released. It will have to be of course released with the consent of the staff member and those issues are being worked upon. There's no desire here for any attempt to not be transparent about it.Hon Members: Ha ha!Hon Amy Adams: Put the report out then.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well actually there are certain types of laughing one recognises. One goes to the question of a person's sanity and that's the type of laugh I just heard there. SPEAKER: Order! Order!Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well if she's going to laugh and jeer—SPEAKER: No no—it's all right. I think it doesn't do the House any good to get into areas like that.Hon Amy Adams: It doesn't do that member any good.SPEAKER: Order!Hon Simon Bridges: Why does the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern want to leave the door open for Meka Whaitiri to return to a ministerial position?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I can recall so well Peter Dunne—remember him? Nick Smith—well nobody remembers him but he's back and he was restored to a ministerial post. And Judith Collins—well now how you ever got back from that situation I don't know but congratulations she did.Hon Judith Collins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Thank you Mr Speaker. That member has referred to me in quite a derogatory way. I was completely exonerated after the Chisholm inquiry unlike that—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Right the member will now stand withdraw and apologise because she has deliberately breached the Standing Orders of the House.Hon Judith Collins: Well I stand I withdraw and I apologise.SPEAKER: And the member's going to do it one more time without the additions.Hon Judith Collins: Stand withdraw apologise.SPEAKER: No just withdraw and apologise.Hon Judith Collins: Withdraw apologise.SPEAKER: The member's been here a long time; she's heard it many times. She's got it right eventually. Thank you.