edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Dean JacquiASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The House is resumed. When the House rose for the dinner break we had just finished the first speech in the first reading of Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. The question is that the motion be agreed to.
McKee NicoleNICOLE McKEE (ACT): I take this call and rise on behalf of the ACT Party in support of this bill. ACT originally opposed the primary legislation when it went through due to the wide principles that could be used to restrict communications and the chilling effect that this would have on freedom of speech. We thought back then that amendments could have been made to the Crimes Act and that that would have been suffice. But seeing as that primary legislation was going to go through we thought that we would put in Supplementary Order Paper 93 because we actually had an issue with intimate visual recordings not being captured by the primary piece of legislation. We saw then what the Government sees now: victims in despair humiliated and suffering mental health issues. When the member across the floor there referred to 5 percent of New Zealand adults being victims of online image-based abuse that's 170000 people—that's huge. The reality is that we have also had 407 prosecutions since 2015.A Stuff article reported a couple of weeks ago on a case where an outdoor instructor was convicted for secretly filming an intimate encounter. Judge Maree MacKenzie recorded the effects of the case on the victim when addressing the defendant by saying—and I quote—It has left a permanent scar. It was distressing and as she says it was the most painful and traumatic experience of her life. Amongst other things she feels devastated by the invasion of (her) privacy particularly when her boundaries had been made clear to you. The victim impact statement reveals the incident has had a catastrophic impact on her mental health and well-being. It has impacted all aspects of her life to the point where there are trust issues with men and it has impacted her views on relationships. It has altered her perception of the world."It is a pity that it's taken six years to get to this point but fantastic for the victims that we're here now. We further acknowledge and support that this bill will enable the courts to issue the removal or takedown orders of revenge porn recordings. Revenge porn was a reality before the primary legislation was enacted in 2015 and even more so now in 2021. More than a deterrent this bill acknowledges the impact of harmful digital crime on the victims and in that case we support that and we commend this bill to the House. Thank you."
Swarbrick ChlöeHARMFUL DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS (UNAUTHORISED POSTING OF INTIMATE VISUAL RECORDING) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingDebate resumed from 29 July 2020.CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central): I stand to take the Green Party's call on the Harmful Digital Communications (Unauthorised Posting of Intimate Visual Recording) Amendment Bill. I hadn't intended to speak on this piece of legislation when I walked into the House today but I note that my colleague Jan Logie is bound up in other business at present. I just wanted to add our tautoko to the point that we support this bill particularly going through to that select committee stage to test the application of it.Just to be really clear on how this legislation operates it does so by simplifying the test that presently exists when it comes to harmful digital communications particularly in what is colloquially referred to as revenge porn. At present my understanding is that the Act operates by way of requiring that the person who is sharing the material has to have an intent to cause harm it must have an objective standard of harm caused and the victim must have actually experienced that harm obviously where the burden of proof on those exists within the present court system as status quo. The new offence however involves a simpler test where it is assumed that the sharing of an intimate visual recording is always harmful. It therefore enables that burden of proof to be shifted in such a way that those who have been through what is becoming an even more unfortunately commonplace experience of particularly younger people in this online world to operate in a culture where we take slightly more responsibility for that which we are posting particularly if it is those intimate recordings of others. The Greens support this bill through its first reading and look forward to a rigorous debate at the select committee stage.
Holidays (Bereavement Leave For Miscarriage) Amendment Bill (No 2) — In Committee
Rurawhe AdrianClauses 1 to 5 agreed to.House resumed.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Madam Speaker the committee has considered the Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill (No 2) and reports it without amendment. I move That the report be adopted. Motion agreed to.Report adopted.
McAnulty Kieran; Andersen GinnyKIERAN McANULTY (Labour—Wairarapa): In light of this debate being reframed in terms of cost could the member enlighten the committee in her view what cost it would cause on those mothers that are unable to by right have access to bereavement leave if this bill was pushed out as members opposite are suggesting? GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): Thank you very much to the member. Look I think it's very difficult to quantify that in a financial sense and I think that goes to the heart of the debate. The submissions we received from those women and the partners of those women who were unable to take leave were that they had long-term psychological trauma as a result of having to go back to work on a day and come back from work and clear out the nursery and fold away the clothes and then go back to work the next day. I had stories of women who had had a miscarriage while travelling home on the train and who had to continue to go to work that day and had to go back home on the train. The embarrassment the trauma and the pain that that caused was I guess unable to be quantified. So I believe that that balance taking into consideration humans and the way that we need to be compassionate in order to be a good fully functioning society shows through this bill that we want to have an economy that's not just turning over a profit. That bit reflects the full wellbeing of our people.
Grigg Nicola; Andersen GinnyNICOLA GRIGG (National—Selwyn): Thank you Mr Chair. It's a pleasure to rise in support of this bill. I commend the member for bringing it before the House. I think it does provide a very important clarification that it brings to the law surrounding bereavement leave entitlements. It makes it clear that the unplanned end of a pregnancy by miscarriage or stillbirth constitutes grounds for bereavement leave for the mother and her partner or spouse and that that duration should be three days. But can the member just clarify what other people may qualify for that leave?GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): Thank you very much to the member. Yes the definition of the relationship requirement was extended. The initial drafting of the bill that I undertook hadn't fully contemplated the reach of where it would go to. So that has been extended and it is understood that it's right that parents planning to adopt a child and parents having a baby through surrogacy should also be entitled to bereavement leave on the unplanned end of a relevant pregnancy and it seemed only right and fair that that right should be extended to those parents and that they would be no different to a biological parent in being able to access this right.
Lubeck Marja; Andersen GinnyMARJA LUBECK (Labour): Tēnā koe e te Mana o te Whare. And also congratulations to Ginny Andersen for being at the committee stage of her very important member's bill here.I was indeed a member of the Education and Workforce Committee in the 52nd Parliament that heard 37 submissions on this bill and it is fair to say that all submissions were either in all-round support for this bill or of the intent of it. We did hear some very heartfelt personal submissions from people on circumstances they had to deal with like as my colleague mentioned before having to deal with ambiguity in the law and also with the discretion between an employer and an employee or negotiating some leave during a very difficult period in their lives.We made some changes in the select committee one of them being the wording confirmed" as my colleague Jo Luxton previously mentioned. I'd like to ask the member in the chair a little bit further with regards to this particular issue because some people might argue that removing any proof of a miscarriage from this particular bill could leave a gap. I would argue it's not but I would like to hear perhaps what your thoughts are on the existing obligations between employers and employees that would deal with such an issue. Thank you.GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): Thank you very much for the question. This was raised a couple of times during submissions and wider commentary on the bill. It's interesting that currently when an employee would apply for bereavement leave it's unlikely that they would be required to show a death certificate. So on the same basis the bill does not propose that proof is required. I guess I would just like to note and further to the member's point that while this bill makes quite a small technical change in the legislation what's been very interesting is the wider discussion around women's reproductive rights and the conversation in and around childbirth bereavement miscarriage. So many women have come forward and used it as an opportunity to tell their own stories and ones that have just not been told before. I think that's partly associated with the stigma and the shame quite often tied wrongly to miscarriage and stillbirth. Part of that I think exists in our previous laws that have made onerous requirements to actually have time to grieve. So while this change enables both men and women or partners to have time to grieve I think it also has facilitated a wider conversation around something that's previously been I guess somewhat left in the shadows."
Luxton Jo; Andersen GinnyJO LUXTON (Labour—Rangitata): Thank you Mr Chair. This is my first opportunity to have a chance to speak on this bill and can I just acknowledge Ginny Andersen for bringing something so important to the House. Whilst it's not a large bill the impact of this bill is huge. For so many women out there this will mean so much and not just for women actually but for their entire families their spouses and all those that may be involved. So thank you for bringing this to the House. I just have a quick question. I wasn't actually on the Education and Workforce Committee when we had any of the submitters come before the committee and so I just had a question. I note that the wording around—you took out the wording confirmed pregnancy" and so I'm just wondering if you would be able to talk us through the underlying reasons for this change with regard to the mother's knowledge of the pregnancy. It would be really great to hear a bit more about that. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): Thank you very much to the member. Yes indeed there was a recommendation in relation to clause 4(2) to clarify that proof of a pregnancy would not be required for an employee to take bereavement leave and this relates to existing provisions. It was noted that the duty of good faith that's found in section 4 of the Employment Relations Act would still apply to any application for bereavement leave and this duty requires employees and employers to behave in a way that fosters a responsive and communicative employment relationship. So those same principles of a good employment relationship would apply in the same instance. Mr Chair could I please also take the opportunity to congratulate Team New Zealand on winning the first race while we've been talking."
Rurawhe Adrian; Andersen GinnyClauses 1 to 5CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Members the House is in committee on the Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill (No 2). A reminder that the committee stage is a chance for an examination of the detail of the bill and the effect of its provisions. It is also an opportunity for engaging in discussion with the member by taking short calls and asking questions. Members we come first to the debate on clause 1. This is the debate on the title.GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): I seek leave for all provisions to be taken as one debate.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. Therefore the question is that clauses 1 to 5 stand part.GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): Thank you very much Mr Chair. Currently the bereavement leave provisions in the Holidays Act 2003 are ambiguous in their application to miscarriage. Employees are presently entitled to three days' bereavement leave on the death of a child but it is unclear whether this would also apply when a pregnancy ends in miscarriage or in stillbirth. This ambiguity means that an employee's entitlement is left at the discretion of the employer and in some families' cases they have not been able to take much-needed time to grieve. My bill makes a very simple change. It allows families certainty that they have a legal right to access bereavement leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth. This bill removes the ambiguity by making it clear at the unplanned end of a pregnancy by miscarriage or stillbirth that this constitutes grounds for bereavement leave and that the duration of the leave should be in line with the entitlement after other deaths within the immediate family. I encourage members now for the opportunity to ask further questions or raise issues in relation to the member's bill.
SpeechHOLIDAYS (BEREAVEMENT LEAVE FOR MISCARRIAGE) AMENDMENT BILL (NO 2)In Committee
Dean JacquiASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): I declare the House in committee for consideration of the Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill (No 2).
Girl Guides Association (New Zealand Branch) Incorporation Amendment Bill — First Reading
Bridges SimonHon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga): Thank you Madam Speaker. It's great to speak on this bill about the Girl Guides Association and to help the girl guides in this way. It's very hard running a volunteer organisation as we've just heard and to do good and also do well by your members. So this bill helps the Girl Guides Association economically in terms of rearranging things and land and the like. I wasn't a girl guide although I see the Scouts—I was a Scout—and the girl guides were both founded by Robert Baden-Powell I think that's right to say. I still have very fond memories of being a Scout and the little games we played and things we did and learning the promise. I promised to do my best to do my duty to God and to the Queen to help other people and to keep the Cub law. The Cub law—no I can't remember that to be honest but—Angie Warren-Clark: What about the—[Imitates Scout salute]Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Yeah I had a toggle and the salute to the akela who was a—I was going to say she was a kind woman. Actually she was a battleaxe but let's not go there—she might be watching. But I learnt a lot and the same was true of the girl guides: good values and that's for sure. Of course we know about the biscuits and the girl guides. I suspect actually that if you talked to most New Zealanders they probably wouldn't know a lot about them and their values and the purposes and so on which we've heard about from other members but they would remember and know the biscuit. We've actually still got some from their latest fund-raising effort at home. I've always found they've got just the right sweetness just the right doughiness and just the right crunch. They're an excellent biscuit. I don't know about where they've gone recently where they've now got a chocolate bottom—probably the only thing about me growing up that wasn't chocolate. But anyway we won't go there. I think this is a good bill. It's good to practically help the girl guides rearrange their position so that they can be viable into the future.
McLellan TraceyDr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour—Banks Peninsula): It's my pleasure to take a call on this bill the Girl Guides Association (New Zealand Branch) Incorporation Amendment Bill—quite a mouthful. I think it's fair to say that this bill seeks essentially to help the Girl Guides Association do what they do best: help our young women learn and grow without unnecessary legislative burdens. I too bet that everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand has had some form of contact with this fabulous organisation whether as a member as I can very proudly put my hand up and recall—as well as my colleague based in Taranaki - King Country who painted us several lovely pictures of her very fond memories of being a member. Perhaps we remember the organisation from being a team leader when people were needed. There were plenty of people who did help out and guide and help our young women to develop and flourish. Perhaps we remember being a patron or simply a consumer of the much-mentioned fantastic girl guide biscuits.Going back a step or two to that concept of team leader listening to other people talk and recall some of their memories just reminded me of what a good thing my mum had going on. She was a volunteer for the Brownies and she volunteered to assess the cooking badge and the washing badge and almost every day after school I can recall some person at my house cooking a sausage and an egg and washing socks. My mother didn't volunteer for many other organisations but it has just dawned on me that she had this one pretty well sussed out.If we get back to this bill and what it's doing it's a minor change which will actually be of major benefit to the organisation. It is essentially correcting an inconsistency and allowing the girl guides—as other people have already said—to dispose of what is at this stage an unviable sort of asset.I just reiterate again that this asset in particular includes the property at Otimai which has been used by the guides apparently since 1927 and owned since 1944. Many many thousands of New Zealand women no doubt do hold cherished memories from their time at camps and events at this property but we remember the girl guides is a charity and it's important that they have their ability to free up funding and reinvest as they see fit.When you think about this minor change which will be a major benefit to an organisation eventually correcting an inconsistency in allowing the girl guides to dispose of their assets it's very on-brand. This Government consistently seeks to introduce sensible legislation that allows businesses and charities alike to thrive and this bill is just another example of that.So I think it's fair to say that we wish the Girl Guides Association a long sustainable future. This bill again goes a long way to ensuring that the organisation remains one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most beloved and valuable institutions and on the basis of that I am happy to commend this bill to the House.
Chhour KarenKAREN CHHOUR (ACT): When I was looking at this I was quite excited—not that I was involved with girl guides but for seven years I volunteered with a similar organisation that deals with youth cadets. These programmes are so important for our communities. They bring children together from lots of different demographics and they learn to play together and interact with each other in a way that sometimes schools don't provide because of the different demographics. Schools tend to have the same people whereas this combines children from lots of different areas and allows them to become friends. They encourage our children to become good citizens to have confidence and to become our new leaders—our next leaders that may be standing here one day. It gives them a sense of belonging and it's a place where they know that anyone is welcome and that they are safe and that they have a place that they can go where they can just be themselves. So I think the Girl Guides Association provide such an important service for our communities. So when an organisation is held back by a law that takes away the power to make decisions that are in their best interests I think we should be having a look at that. I've been to Otimai. I've even stayed at Otimai on a leadership course with St. John Youth and it is a wonderful beautiful place. But it is large and it is expensive and if they can no longer afford to maintain this property I don't see why a law should hold them to that. So ACT will support the first reading of this bill.
Kerekere ElizabethDr ELIZABETH KEREKERE (Green): Kia ora. Tēnā koe e te Māngai. GirlGuiding New Zealand has been a staple of communities across Aotearoa since it was established in 1907. From the beginning they have always been far more than purveyors of fine biscuits much as we have loved those biscuits over the years. They offer a range of programmes for Pippins Brownies Guides and Rangers under their vision to empower girls to take action to change the world" as noted by my colleague Maureen Pugh. They provide a "supportive place to grow confident adventurous girls who are ready to be tomorrow's leaders" and this is so they can "contribute to their communities and form friendships in a safe and positive environment". One particular programme of theirs I was very interested in was for National Conservation Week where girls learn about the environment in their communities and what they can do to contribute to society. Since the Greens have a core value of non-violence we also commend the girl guide movement for their longstanding commitment to peace and the theme they chose of "Stand Together for Peace" for World Thinking Day 2021. That is a particularly appropriate theme as WAGGGS or the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Skites Scouts—not "Skites"; I think that's not a girl guide brand. WAGGGS and the World Organization of the Scout Movement have been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. They were nominated by a Norwegian MP from the Scout Movement because—and I quote—"At a time when our world is threatened by so many international challenges be [they] climate wars or the pandemics … We need to offer young people a chance to rally around a set of common values and the belief in service not only to one's own community but to international society." Most organisations in this country can do a remit and change their constitutions at their annual general meeting. It is quite standard for legal entities—be it a constitution trust deeds—or for anybody who owns property to be able to dispose of it regardless of how that property was obtained. Whether they bought it themselves or whether they fund-raised it is now theirs. For GirlGuiding New Zealand however to dispose of their own property to do their own work they need our help. This is a simple and practical bill and I commend it to the House. Kia ora."
Motions — Motion of No Confidence in Speaker—Leave to Debate Declined
Woodhouse Michael; Mallard TrevorMOTIONSNo Confidence in Speaker—Leave DeclinedHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): Point of order. I seek leave for members' notice of motion No. 4 in my name to be set down for debate forthwith.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action? Yes there is.
Salesa Jenny; Mallard TrevorWEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 2021The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): Mālō e lelei. Ke tau lotu. 'E 'Otua Mafimafi kuo mau taa'i mālie 'i ho'o 'ofá mo e ngaahi tāpuaki hono kotoa. 'Oku tuku homau lotó ka mau hū atu ke ke malu'i ange mu'a 'a e Kuiní mo tataki homau ngaahi fatongia 'i he Fale Alea 'aki 'a e poto Faka-'Otua 'ofa pea mo e 'ulungaanga malū ko e 'uhí ko e mo'ui mo e melino 'a e fonuá. 'Oku kole atu 'a e ngaahi me'á ni 'i he huafa ho 'aló pē 'e taha ko Sīsū Kalaisi ko homau fakamo'uí 'Emeni.PETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: No petitions or select committee reports have been presented but Ministers have delivered papers.CLERK: Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board of New Zealand Annual Report 2019/2020Mercury NZ Limited Annual Report 2020Arts Council Toi Aotearoa Creative New Zealand's Statement of Performance Expectations 2020/21.SPEAKER: Those papers are published under the authority of the House.The Clerk has been informed of the introduction of a bill.CLERK: Commerce Amendment Bill introduction.SPEAKER: That bill is set down for first reading.
Tuesday 9 March 2021 - Volume 750
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill be now read a third time.Ayes 75New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Noes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill read a third time.
Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill — Third Reading
Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill — In Committee — Part 1
VoteCHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): The question is that Erica Stanford's tabled amendment to Part 1 inserting a new clause 5A be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Amendment not agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That Part 1 be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Part 1 agreed to.
VoteDEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is That the amendments recommended by the Environment Committee by majority be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 110New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 10ACT New Zealand 10.Amendments agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 110New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 10ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill read a second time.
Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That urgency be accorded.Ayes 75New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Noes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.
11. Question No. 11—HealthCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 11—Health11. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central) to the Minister of Health: Does he consider the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 supports the Government's commitment to minimising drug harm and to treating drugs as a health issue"?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): Yes it does support that objective. In the last term of Government two changes were made to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to better align it with a heath approach. Firstly in 2018 the Act was amended to include a medicinal cannabis scheme; and secondly it was amended in 2019 allowing for police discretion over prosecution for possession.Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he agree with the recommendations of He Ara Oranga the mental health and addiction inquiry and Turiki! Turiki! the safe and effective justice review that we must remove criminal sanctions for a genuine health-based approach to drugs?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: As I recall the recommendation from He Ara Oranga it was that criminal responses that were then in the Misuse of Drugs Act should be replaced with more health-based approaches. That is the effect of the 2019 amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act.Chlöe Swarbrick: What actions has he asked officials to take in response to the recommendations of those reports to decriminalise drug use in order to implement that health-based approach?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Given that the changes in 2019 to the Misuse of Drugs Act do remove the kind of criminal response leaning of that Act to those who are found to be in possession of classified drugs I've given no further instruction to health officials. We have a large work programme for health as we speak at the moment in both mental health and addiction and in wider health reforms and that remains our priority.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Will the Government respect the outcome of the 2020 referendum and rule out any liberalisation of New Zealand cannabis laws?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The Government has respected the outcome of the 2020 referendum on legalisation of cannabis.CHLÖE SWARBRICK: Does he agree with the 69 percent of New Zealanders who in a poll released today believe that cannabis should no longer be criminalised? [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Who interjected then? Well someone over here interjected. Could the person who called out indicate who they were? I'll go back and listen to the tape.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I'm aware that polls on the issue of liberalisation of cannabis bounce around a bit. It was only two years ago that there were polls showing that the majority of voting New Zealanders were in favour of legalising cannabis. When it was put to 2.7 million voters it came out with a different view. So I take those polls with a grain of salt."
10. Question No. 10—Emergency ManagementTĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister for Emergency ManagementQuestion No. 10—Emergency Management10. TĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister for Emergency Management: What progress has been made in building the capability and capacity of the emergency management workforce?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister for Emergency Management): In August 2018 my predecessor the Hon Kris Faafoi on behalf of the Government invested $5.2 million to establish a specialist rapid-response fly-in team to support communities in an emergency now known as the Emergency Management Assistance Team. The multi-agency team became operational on 1 September 2019. Last night I had the pleasure of visiting the third of these 13-day training courses in the mighty mighty Wainuiōmata. By the end of this course there is expected to be around 50 trained members of the team from across central and local agencies.Tāmati Coffey: How does the Emergency Management Assistance Team support responses to local emergencies?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: As part of an emergency response the team will deploy specially trained emergency managers at very short notice to support local groups including by setting up command centres and providing an event controller. Members of the team have significant experience in crisis response and bring specialist skills in public information management strategic communications operations planning and intelligence and iwi and community engagement.Tāmati Coffey: What deployments have been undertaken by the Emergency Management Assistance Team to date?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: Since the team launched in September 2019 it has been deployed to assist the West Coast in a severe weather event in December 2019 flooding in Southland in February 2020 the all-of-Government response to COVID-19 during March 2020 and a Queenstown deployment in May 2020 as part of the COVID-19 response. While we hope that the team does not need to deploy too often the events of last Friday were a timely reminder of the hazards and risks that New Zealand faces. Can I thank the team for the dedication and skill that they bring to their work to deliver to New Zealanders a consistent level of support in emergencies no matter where or when they happen.
8. Question No. 8—EducationWILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour—Northland) to the Associate Minister of EducationQuestion No. 8—Education8. WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour—Northland) to the Associate Minister of Education: What initiatives has the Government recently announced to remove barriers to participating in education for young people in schools? Hon JAN TINETTI (Associate Minister of Education): Recently I was proud to announce alongside the Prime Minister that from June this year all primary intermediate secondary school and kura students will have access to free period products. Young people should not miss out on their education because of something that is a normal part of life for half of the population. Young people have told us that having a period has caused them to either miss school or not participate because of barriers such as feeling embarrassed or the cost of products. We are removing these barriers by offering free products in all New Zealand schools. Willow-Jean Prime: What did we learn from stage one of the pilot programme for free products? Hon JAN TINETTI: Phase one of the period products initiative involved a pilot programme with 15 schools in the Waikato region: 3200 students have so far received free period products. We learnt that choice in the types of period products made available and the way they access them is important to young people. Yesterday I heard from a group of high school - aged young women that prior to the period product initiative periods in their school were stigmatised. The initiative has encouraged more open conversations in schools and communities about menstrual health with both young women and men. Willow-Jean Prime: How will the next phase of the initiative be rolled out across New Zealand schools? Hon JAN TINETTI: Based on the lessons and insights we have had from phase one we are currently running an open tender process for a supplier of period products to be rolled out to the schools nationwide. So far we have already had 1294 schools signed up. When the procurement process is complete the scheme will be rolled out in a phased delivery with period products available towards the end of term 2 for schools and kura that opt in by March of this year. We want to see fewer young people missing school because of their period improved participation in school life and reduced financial hardship amongst families of students receiving products.
7. Question No. 7—Oceans and FisheriesHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and FisheriesQuestion No. 7—Oceans and Fisheries7. Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: How many habitats of particular significance for fisheries management have been defined and protected under section 9(c) of the Fisheries Act 1996 in the last 10 years?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for Oceans and Fisheries): Section 9(c) of the Fisheries Act sets out the environmental principles of the Fisheries Act. That principle informs decisions made under other parts of the Act but habitat protection does not occur under section 9(c). So the answer is that under section 9(c) of the Fisheries Act none has occurred nor could be.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does he think that it's acceptable that under successive Governments Fisheries New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries have failed to use one of the three key environmental principles in its legislation which is about identifying areas of significance for fisheries?Hon DAVID PARKER: I am expecting commentary on that particular issue to be released following the release of the Chief Science Advisor's report which I think will be helpful and is likely to suggest further reliance on habitat protection measures that can be enabled under the Fisheries Act that haven't been.Hon Eugenie Sage: Has the Minister asked Fisheries New Zealand to consider using section 9(c) of the Fisheries Act to protect seamounts from the impacts of bottom trawling due to their significance for aggregations of fish such as orange roughy for fish spawning and for biodiversity; and if not would he consider making such a request?Hon DAVID PARKER: I will be considering the Chief Science Advisor's advice which I think will impact upon issues such as the one that the member has raised.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does he agree with the statement of NIWA's Dr Malcolm Clark about bottom trawling that it may take multiple decades or even centuries for a seamount community in the deep sea to recover and hence management really has got to focus on protecting the unimpacted areas"?Hon DAVID PARKER: I agree that forms of bottom trawling can cause damage to habitat and that that needs to be minimised.Hon Eugenie Sage: When he said in this House last December "We need to do better in respect of bottom trawling" when does he expect to be able to do better?Hon DAVID PARKER: We're working hard on advancing those issues not just through the advice from the Chief Science Advisor but also looking at technological solutions to improve or reduce the impacts of bottom trawling."
6. Question No. 6—InfrastructureANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato) to the Minister for InfrastructureQuestion No. 6—Infrastructure6. ANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato) to the Minister for Infrastructure: How many of the 170 projects announced by the Government as part of its shovel-ready scheme announced in April last year if any has construction not started on?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Infrastructure): I'm happy to advise the member that in fact the Government has now contracted 205 infrastructure reference group (IRG) projects for all of which initial design and planning work has now commenced. Part of the approval process for IRG projects is an expectation the projects must start construction within 12 months of the contracted date. Thus far construction has started on 49 projects. It is important to note that when we announced the funding for the IRG projects we were expecting mass unemployment and a need to create extra capacity in our construction sector. Thankfully that scenario has not eventuated; in fact we are facing restricted capacity in the construction sector but the IRG projects are giving confidence to the sector of a pipeline of work.Andrew Bayly: By what date will the 121 stalled shovel-ready projects have shovels in the ground?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I reject the premise of the member's question. We have contracted 205 projects. What we have is a construction environment that is thriving with 21000 extra workers in the construction sector in December—something the member might want to celebrate.Andrew Bayly: Why 12 months after the shovel-ready programme was announced are there still shovel-ready projects—121—with no shovels in the ground despite there being over 200000 people on the jobseeker benefit?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I just repeat what I said in my last answer: there are 21000 more people in the construction sector than we saw in the December quarter. Two hundred and five projects have been contracted. The Government has done the work. We have now got those projects ready to go. As the construction sector can absorb that capacity we will see those projects roll out.Andrew Bayly: How many of the 170 shovel-ready projects that were promised have been or are being reassessed or re-evaluated?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As I said to the member in my primary answer 205 infrastructure reference group projects have been contracted. I believe there might be another 15 that are currently being worked through to be re-scoped and potentially may not go ahead but actually I think many of them will. [Interruption] Fifteen—15.
5. Question No. 5—Social Development and EmploymentSTEPH LEWIS (Labour—Whanganui) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 5—Social Development and Employment5. STEPH LEWIS (Labour—Whanganui) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What support has the Ministry of Social Development provided to people and families affected by the COVID-19 restrictions?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Budget 2020 in response to COVID-19 provided further funding of $200 million over two years to help social service organisations meet the need created by COVID-19 and to help plan for any resurgence. As a result of the recent alert level restrictions the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) have been checking in with social service organisations in Auckland to ensure they're well placed and able to meet the needs of their local communities. Some reported an increase in demand but the majority stated that they were well resourced to meet that demand. There were a few who reported needing additional funding mostly to meet food demand. MSD were able to provide this.Steph Lewis: What additional support has been provided?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Last week the Government announced the activation of the most recent COVID-19 wage subsidy. So far we've seen $82 million paid to businesses and self-employed people through the wage subsidy. There has of course also been the leave support scheme and the Short-Term Absence Payment. The suite of income support that we're encouraging businesses and people to tap into is aimed to reduce the financial pressure on businesses and to support everyone to continue their valuable role in keeping COVID-19 in check.Steph Lewis: How has MSD been connecting with Māori Pacific and ethnic communities?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Fact sheets have been produced in 12 different languages and have been shared throughout MSD's network channels. These are also available online. MSD have strong relationships in the Auckland region and have been working closely with social services and with Whānau Ora commissioning agencies who play an important role in getting assistance and information out to Māori and Pacific whānau. Alongside this a targeted strategy has been used to ensure key information has been provided to hard-to-reach groups and the Papatoetoe High School's contact list of whānau and students.
3. Question No. 3—EducationANGELA ROBERTS (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 3—Education3. ANGELA ROBERTS (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What is the Government doing in schools to tackle material hardship for families while also improving educational outcomes?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): The start of the school year can be an expensive time for families with a lot of additional costs. Providing a daily nutritious lunch is one way we can help ease the pressure on the household budget and ensure that our kids don't miss out on learning because they are hungry. I can report that an additional 88000 students and 322 schools and kura across the country have started the school year with a regular lunch on the menu thanks to the Government's Ka Ora Ka Ako healthy school lunches programme. They joined 42000 students already receiving weekday lunches under the scheme which was launched last year to help tackle child poverty improve youth wellbeing and learning and boost local economies.Angela Roberts: How much further will the programme be expanded?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: By the end of the year around 964 schools and kura covering over 215000 year 1 to 13 students or around 25 percent of the student population across New Zealand will be receiving a regular healthy lunch at school. We've already served up over 3 million lunches last year with an additional 3 million lunches so far served this year and we're just getting started.Angela Roberts: What are the benefits of this programme to the community as a whole?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: There's huge benefits to the school community in that teachers report students are more engaged and actually student attendance in schools with the lunches programme improves. School lunches also have a positive impact on the wider community with the whole of the supply chain benefiting from local growers delivery drivers local businesses and community organisations that are preparing the lunches and supplying the schools. About 950 jobs have already been generated by the programme and it's estimated that around 2000 jobs will be created by the end of this year.
1. Question No. 1—FinanceANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister of FinanceORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Finance1. ANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he seen on financial support given to businesses in the wake of recent alert level changes?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): The Government has a number of different types of financial support available for businesses during alert level changes. The resurgence support scheme which has kicked in for both the alert level changes on 14 February and 28 February has so far paid out $73.64 million to just over 37500 businesses and sole traders. The payment is intended to help businesses with their fixed costs like rent and is still open for applications for both recent alert level changes. Anna Lorck: What reports has he seen on the wage subsidy scheme after the most recent alert level changes?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The wage subsidy scheme opened for applications last Thursday and as of this morning there had been 37725 applications for the subsidy. Payments began yesterday and already just over $82 million has been paid out.Anna Lorck: What progress has been made on auditing the wage subsidy scheme?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There has been a lot of interest in the integrity measures around the wage subsidy scheme and I can report to the House that as of the end of February 12009 complaints had been received by Inland Revenue the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and the Ministry of Social Development around the wage subsidy scheme; 10934 audits have been resolved. There have been 20973 refunds received with $726.2 million paid back to date.
Taxation (Annual Rates for 2020-21 Feasibility Expenditure and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading
Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Thank you Madam Speaker. Look I've been sitting here listening from—Andrew Bayly: Very good.TANGI UTIKERE: Well yes. I don't know what the other side are doing perhaps but over here we're listening and active. And what I would say is that I have been listening from go to whoa and the contribution that I'll make this evening is that between second reading and third reading it for me has just consolidated my initial view and contribution from second reading and that is that this proposed piece of legislation that the House is dealing with this evening will provide value it will provide currency and it will provide integrity in the auction process—integrity in the auction process when it concerns units in this country's emissions trading scheme (ETS). But I agree with my colleague Angie Warren-Clark in that actually it will help deliver a strong and confident ETS as we head towards becoming that low-emissions economy.The reality is that this particular bill has actually taken on board the changes that had been suggested by some submitters through the select committee process. That does demonstrate actually that the process is working—members on the other side of the House might disagree with that but that is the stark reality. And I also agree that it means that it has made the bill better.It's unfortunate then that members opposite feel as though they cannot support the third reading of the bill because right up to this point perhaps from some members opposite that was not the case—Hon Member: Very disappointing.TANGI UTIKERE: Yes it is very disappointing in that sense.This technical change will be timely as we head in just over a week for the auction and I have to say that New Zealand and international markets will be watching us with some interest. So it's important that when that auction does take place naturally we are in the best possible place as a country and the confidential reserve price and the methodology that lies behind that will ensure that as well.So tonight's third reading is simply another step in the journey that is important towards Government working in partnership with individuals with communities with businesses up and down the country to tackle the issue that my colleague Tāmati Coffey pointed out: that young people around this country have made very very clear to us that we need to do something about it. I commend this bill to the House.