edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
2. Question No. 2—FinanceKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): This morning Stats New Zealand released its latest data on paid jobs for the week ended 5 July. Statistics New Zealand said that by its most accurate measure the number of paid jobs were up by 5020 from the week before. This follows yesterday's labour market data to the end of the June which showed that the unemployment rate had fallen to 4 percent although underlying indicators showed some of the impact of COVID-19 is still to be felt in that data. While we know the path ahead will be difficult for some workers and firms today's data demonstrates the continued resilience in the New Zealand labour market thanks in part to this Government's hard and early economic and health response to COVID-19. Kiritapu Allan: What reports has he seen on recent labour market data? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well ASB released an economic note on yesterday's labour market data saying that June quarter labour market statistics were undoubtedly stronger than expected but that we will still have to wait and see how the job market settles once the economy adjusts to its post-COVID normal. ASB economists did say that they expect the unemployment rate to rise from here but that the peak may be lower than first thought. I also saw one commentator say that what he always looks for is the labour force participation rate which is above all else the most important number and in good times it's up around 70 percent. Towards 69 to 70 percent that's what we want. That's a good number." I'm once again pleased do inform Mike Hosking that the participation rate in the June quarter was 69.7 percent. Kiritapu Allan: Just thinking about that what did the HLFS QES and LCI say about wages—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will start again. Kiritapu Allan: And what did the HLFS—SPEAKER: Order! If the member—that's one gone. The member can have another go now. Kiritapu Allan: What did the HLFS QES and LCI say about wages and how will the Government's investment from the CRRF including the IRG projects administered by the CIP and the PDU support wage growth through the lens of the LSF and the CPF priorities? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: OMG! I thank the MP for the OPQ. According to the QES wages were up 1.2 percent from a year ago while the LCI said wages were up 2.1 percent in the year to the end of June—so not OTT. But the CRRF contains a range of investments not only in the IRG but also in MSD MBIE IRD MOE and MPI all to generate sustainable jobs and wages from New Zealanders. I could go on Mr Speaker but I thought it might be TMI. So I very much look forward to updating this House on the results of the next HLFS QES GDP PMI and CPI but first we've got to duck out for an election—BRB."
Adjournment Debate
Whaitiri Meka; Tirikatene RinoHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): If it pleases the House we'd like to start with Whakaaria Mai" and then the local member for Te Tai Tonga will close this 52nd Parliament with a karakia.Motion agreed to.WaiataRINO TIRIKATENE (Labour—Te Tai Tonga): Ka īnoi tātou. [Let us pray.]Hon Members:Kia tau ki a tātau katoaTe atawhai o tō tātau ariki a Ihu KaraitiMe te aroha o Te AtuaMe te whiwhinga tahitanga ki te wairuatapuAke ake akeAmine[May the grace of the lord Jesus ChristAnd the love of GodAnd the fellowship of the Holy SpiritBe with us allFor ever and everAmen]The House adjourned at 5.16 p.m."
Motions — Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—75th Anniversary
SpeechTHURSDAY 6 AUGUST 2020The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Karakia.MOTIONSAtomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—75th AnniversaryRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister): I seek leave to move a motion without notice and without debate to mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being taken? There appears to be none.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I move That this House mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the 50th year since the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty entered into force by urging all nuclear-armed States to make real progress toward a nuclear weapons - free world; and that it urge all States to maintain the global norm against nuclear weapons testing and all who have not yet joined the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons do so at the earliest opportunity to ensure a world finally free of the threat of nuclear weapons.Motion agreed to.
VoteThe question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 569 in the name of the Hon Jenny Salesa to the proposed amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 567 in her name be agreed to.Amendments to the amendments agreed to.The question was put that the amendments as amended set out on Supplementary Order Paper 567 in the name of the Hon Jenny Salesa be agreed to.Amendments as amended agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): The Hon Nicky Wagner's amendments to clause 21 new section 14A set out on Supplementary Order Paper 536 are out of order as inconsistent with a previous decision of the committee. The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 545 in the name of the Hon Nicky Wagner to clause 26 be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 50New Zealand National 49; Ross.Noes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Amendments not agreed to.The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 562 in the name of the Hon Nicky Wagner to clause 26 be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 50New Zealand National 49; Ross.Noes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Amendments not agreed to.The question was put that the following amendments in the name of the Hon Nicky Wagner to clause 26 be agreed to: in clause 26 replace new section 53(2A) with:(2A)A person must not import for sale sell pack or distribute any oral nicotine product unless—(a)it is a notifiable product that has been notified in accordance with Part 4; or (b)the Minister of Health has given consent or provisional consent to the distribution of the product under the Medicines Act 1981.(2B)To avoid doubt subsection (2A) does not apply to cigars.in clause 26 new section 58 definition of notifiable product paragraph (b) replace product" with "product; or".in clause 26 new section 58 definition of notifiable product after paragraph (b) insert:non-tobacco nicotine pouch.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 50New Zealand National 49; Ross.Noes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Amendments not agreed to.The question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 536 in the name of the Hon Nicky Wagner to Schedule 1 be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 50New Zealand National 49; Ross.Noes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Amendment not agreed to.Parts 1 and 2 Schedules 1 to 3 and clauses 1 and 2 as amended agreed to.House resumed.The Chairperson reported the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill with amendment.Report adopted."
Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill — In Committee
Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill — Third Reading (continued)
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill be now read a third time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 55New Zealand National 54; Ross.Bill read a third time.
VoteThe question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 565 in the name of the Hon Kris Faafoi and the following amendments in his name to Supplementary Order Paper 565 be agreed to:after the item relating to clause 5 insert:In clause 25(2) replace assignment" with "assigning".In the item relating to clause 31(1B) new section 50(1)(ac) after "fixed-term" insert "tenancy".in the item relating to clause 31 replace 31(1C) with:(1C)In section 50(1)(b) (as inserted by subsection (1) of this section) after "53B" insert "55AA".after the item relating to clause 31 insert:In clause 32(4) replace "After section 51(8)" with "After section 51(9)".In clause 32(4) new section 51(9) replace "(9)" with "(10)".after the item relating to clause 39 insert:After clause 42 insert:42A Section 64 amended (Possession orders)In section 64(3) replace "section 55 or section 56 or section 56A or section 59 or section 61" with "any of sections 55 55A to 56A 59B and 61".in the item relating to Schedule 4 replace "section 95A(1) to (3) and (6)" with "section 95A(1) (2) (3) and (6)".A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 55New Zealand National 54; Ross.Amendments agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That Parts 1 and 2 Schedules 1 to 4 and clauses 1 and 2 as amended be agreed to.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 55New Zealand National 54; Ross.Parts 1 and 2 Schedules 1 to 4 and clauses 1 and 2 as amended agreed to.House resumed.The Chairperson reported the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill with amendment.Report adopted."
Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill — In Committee
VoteThe question was put that the amendments recommended by the Social Services and Community Committee by majority be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 55New Zealand National 54; Ross.Amendments agreed to.The result corrected after originally being announced as Ayes 63 Noes 56.A party vote was called for on the question That the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 55New Zealand National 54; Ross.Bill read a second time.The result corrected after originally being announced as Ayes 63 Noes 56.
Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill — Second Reading (continued)
12. Question No. 12—PoliceBRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 12—Police12. BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of Police: Is he confident that the Government's policies are keeping New Zealanders safe?Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Police): Thank you to the member for the opportunity to celebrate our achievements in the police portfolio. Crime prevention measures and safer communities are enhanced by record-breaking investment in front-line police numbers which are now more than 14 percent higher than three years ago—it is the largest and most diverse police service we've had in our nation's history; record-breaking investment in family harm and police assets in successive Budgets all of which that member voted against; the seizure of over 3000 illegal firearms in the last year and tougher penalties on gun crime which that member voted against; tougher terrorism suppression measures through control orders for returning citizens which that member voted against; record-breaking organised crime busts and seizures including a staggering 1.8 tonnes of meth last year which was three times the amount of the previous year; the introduction of the drug driving bill that the previous Government failed to deliver in nine years. I could go on but I'll respond with a resounding yes.Brett Hudson: How does that answer reconcile with the increase of nearly 17500 victimisations to the end of May 2020?Hon STUART NASH: As the commissioner says when you've got more police on the ground you find more crime because people now have confidence in actually coming to police and the fact that they'll actually solve it.Brett Hudson: Why when he said I'm saying more police on the street allows us to solve more crime." have victimisations increased if more police are on the front line?Hon STUART NASH: Because a lot more crime has been solved with a lot more police on the streets.Brett Hudson: How does he explain the increase of nearly 14 percent in assault victimisations over that 12 months to the end of May when New Zealand was in lockdown for seven weeks of that period?Hon STUART NASH: What I can explain is a record investment of police—2250 new police are in our community thanks to New Zealand First and this coalition Government. This is a record number of new police into our communities. Thank goodness for a Government that invests in law and order.Brett Hudson: Does he consider the increase in victimisations and the increase in the number of gang members measures of success?Hon STUART NASH: What I would say about the increase in gang members is as the commissioner said it's fluid and when you get more police out there working closer with communities you identify more bad people so you can arrest them when they do something wrong."
11. Question No. 11—DefenceHon NICKY WAGNER (National) to the Minister of DefenceQuestion No. 11—Defence11. Hon NICKY WAGNER (National) to the Minister of Defence: Does he support the NZDF's initiatives to support smoking cessation?Hon RON MARK (Minister of Defence): Short answer is yes. Service personnel are encouraged to quit smoking as part of a holistic approach to health that puts the individual at the centre of their care with the necessary tools to make healthy choices whether those choices be around eating healthy keeping fit smoking or in fact drinking.Hon Simon Bridges: Well that rules him out!Hon Nicky Wagner: Is he aware that many New Zealand servicemen and women—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat and I think it's fair to say that there's a bit of who cast the first stone" here.Hon Nicky Wagner: Is he aware that many New Zealand servicemen and servicewomen use non-tobacco nicotine pouches in order to quit smoking?Hon RON MARK: Yes I am.Hon Nicky Wagner: Will he then vote for my Supplementary Order Paper 562 to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill that would keep non-tobacco nicotine pouches legal to help people quit smoking?Hon RON MARK: As the Minister of Defence which is where my ministerial responsibility lies in this space I take advice from the Chief of Defence Force and I read all of the recommendations that he might put to my desk. On such matters he has put no such recommendations or policy options before me.Hon Nicky Wagner: Will he accept my recommendation?Hon RON MARK: No.SPEAKER: I thought I heard that twice then."
10. Question No. 10—Climate ChangeMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Climate ChangeQuestion No. 10—Climate Change10. MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Climate Change: What announcements has he made recently highlighting the risks Aotearoa New Zealand faces as a consequence of climate change?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister for Climate Change): This week the Government released the first national climate change risk assessment. The risk assessment sets out the risks to New Zealand in a warming world. The report identifies 43 distinct threats associated with climate change and highlights the 10 most pressing. The report tells us where we need to focus our efforts to ensure Aotearoa is resilient and ready for the future. It's sobering but it is a call to action.Marama Davidson: Now we know the scale of the risk what is the Government doing to respond?Hon JAMES SHAW: We are already working on our response. The national adaptation plan which will set out how we'll work with communities councils iwi and the private sector to create a safer and more resilient Aotearoa is already under way.Marama Davidson: What is the legal status of the risk assessment and adaptation plan?Hon JAMES SHAW: The risk assessment and the adaptation plan are requirements of the zero carbon Act which was passed by Parliament unanimously last year. The Climate Change Commission has the job of updating the risk assessment every six years and the Government has the responsibility to respond with an update to the adaptation plan. The Climate Change Commission is responsible for holding the Government to account on its commitments under the adaptation plan.Marama Davidson: Does this mean we should focus all of our efforts on adapting to climate change not reducing emissions?Hon JAMES SHAW: Absolutely not. We need to tackle the root cause of the climate crisis which are greenhouse gas emissions from energy transport building and construction agriculture and so on. If we don't deal with the structural causes of the problem we will find ourselves needing to adapt to an ever more warming world. There are people in this House who say that we are too small to make a difference but nations producing less than 1 percent of global emissions including New Zealand collectively make up a third of total global emissions. We have made some good progress in this term but we cannot let up. New Zealanders want to see ambitious action on climate change and need to elect a Government up to the challenge.
4. Question No. 4—EducationJAN TINETTI (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 4—Education4. JAN TINETTI (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What measures has the Government put in place to support employers and workers to focus on skill development during the economic challenges due to COVID-19?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Excellent news. I'm proud to report that the Apprenticeship Boost initiative begins operating today. The Apprenticeship Boost provides a subsidy of up to $16000 per apprentice for employers of new and existing apprentices. It'll help to keep first- and second-year apprentices employed and training towards their qualification. The boost comes on top of the extra funding to ensure that people in apprenticeships and other targeted areas of training don't have to pay fees up until the end of 2022. Supporting employers and their apprentices now will mean that New Zealand continues to build a strong pipeline of skills that we will need to support our economic recovery.Jan Tinetti: What indications has he seen that these policies are having a positive impact on people taking up apprenticeships?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: This is very good news. I am advised by the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation that it had 2145 apprenticeship sign-ups in July—double the number it had in July last year. The Primary Industry Training Organisation has advised of a doubling of its July sign-ups this year from last year—from 160 to 380. Even more dramatic though the Skills Organisation which covers areas like electrical and plumbing apprenticeships has gone from 129 starts in July last year to 538 in July this year—a 317 percent increase. I'm advised that industry training organisations have been careful in checking through with new employers that they are committed to supporting their apprentices through their whole apprenticeship journey and they have confirmed that they are.Hon Willie Jackson: What other support for apprenticeships comes into effect today?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: An excellent question. I am advised by the very good Minister of Employment that the expanded Mana in Mahi scheme comes into effect today with the support that employers are being offered doubling from 12 to 24 months dependent on the employee's training pathway. These changes will also better support a wider range of people including workers of all ages who may have to retrain due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Mana in Mahi has exceeded targets each year to put people into employment and for more training since it started in 2018 and I want to congratulate the Minister of Employment for his leadership in that area.
3. Question No. 3—FinanceHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 3—Finance3. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Finance: How many of the 452425 people receiving the wage subsidy extension does he expect will become unemployed when the wage subsidy expires and what is the Government's plan if the majority of those New Zealanders lose their jobs?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I refer the member to my primary answer to the exact same question yesterday and would like to add that I look forward to being able to continue the exchange today that was ended prematurely yesterday.SPEAKER: Order! I hope that's not a reflection on me.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Is the Minister getting weekly briefings from Treasury on the state of employment during this one-in-100-year crisis?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Not only am I getting those briefings; the entire New Zealand public is via the Weekly Economic Update available on the Treasury website.Hon Paul Goldsmith: And what is Treasury telling him about its latest projections for the job losses following the end of the wage subsidy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: While Treasury have not yet updated their formal forecasts that were in the Budget the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update will occur on 20 August. The member can look at weekly updates on the Treasury website.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Since there are around 67000 more Kiwis on a benefit since before COVID how many more does he expect to be on a benefit by Christmas?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I can go back over the forecasts that I talked about yesterday that mean that in the employment numbers which is what Treasury do forecast they said that there would be 2.463 million in the June quarter 2.477 million in the September quarter and 2.523 million in the December quarter meaning that by the December quarter there will be 246000 people unemployed. I do however note that today with the release from Statistics New Zealand at this equivalent point Treasury were forecasting 222000 people unemployed and in fact it's 111000.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Will he adopt National's policy of allowing workers made redundant to use the tax paid on their redundancy as credit to start a new business and to have a go?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Government will not be adopting that policy no. Individual political parties will make their announcements about policies in the election campaign. But I am struggling to keep up with the number of policies that the member has promoted that his new leader has thrown overboard—we've had two in two days I think.
Motions — COVID-19 Public Response Act 2020 — Extension
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That under section 3(2)(b) of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 the relevant period is the period ending on either 1 December 2020 or the tenth sitting day following the first meeting of Parliament after the 2020 general election whichever is the later so that the Act continues in force until that time. Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8. Noes 55New Zealand National 54; Ross. Motion agreed to.
COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill (No 2) — In Commitee
VoteThe question was put that the following amendment in the name of the Hon Gerry Brownlee be agreed to: insert after clause 2 the following new clause: 2AConfirmation of ActThis Act and the amendments made by it are repealed on 1 April 2021 if no resolution is passed to continue the Act by the House of Representatives prior to that date.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 55New Zealand National 54; Ross.Noes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Amendment not agreed to. Clauses 1 to 3 and Schedules 1 to 4 agreed to.House resumed.The Chairperson reported the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill (No 2) without amendment. Report adopted.
COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill — Third Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill be read a third time.Ayes 117New Zealand National 54; New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 1Ross.Bill read a third time.
VoteThe question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 563 in the name of the Hon Gerry Brownlee be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 54New Zealand National 54.Noes 64New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8; Ross.Amendments not agreed to.The question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 564 in the name of the Hon Gerry Brownlee be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 54New Zealand National 54.Noes 64New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8; Ross.Amendment not agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That Parts 1 and 2 the Schedule and clauses 1 to 3 as amended be agreed to.Ayes 117New Zealand National 54; New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 2ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Parts 1 and 2 the Schedule and clauses 1 to 3 as amended agreed to.House resumed.The Chairperson reported the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill with amendment.Report adopted.
COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill — In Committee
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 117New Zealand National 54; New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 1Ross.Bill read a second time.The result corrected after originally being announced as Ayes 117 Noes 2.
COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill — Second Reading
COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 117New Zealand National 54; New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 1Ross.Bill read a first time.The result corrected after originally being announced as Ayes 117 Noes 2.
Hipkins ChrisOFFICES OF PARLIAMENTAlteration to Officers of Parliament VoteHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That a respectful Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor-General commending to Her Excellency the alteration to the appropriation for the 2020/21 financial year in respect of Vote Audit.Motion agreed to.
Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill — Third Reading
Davidson MaramaMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green): It's just that I am finding my shoes. Hon Members: Ha ha!MARAMA DAVIDSON: It's 11.20 p.m. Kia ora Madam Speaker. The Greens are proud to stand and support the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill. As my colleagues across the House have said this is a bill to regulate what are currently grey areas where we can allow ads to effectively target kids via YouTube for example. We cannot trust harmful substances to self-regulate so we work to make this about public health and safety of products as much as possible.This is my first speaking and engagement on this bill at all. So the bill of course will broaden the scope of products regulated under the Smoke-free Environments Act to include vaping products. I was fortunate to hear directly from various Māori and Pacific smoke-free advocacy organisations. I was fortunate to hear directly about the positive impacts on whānau who have been able to use vaping as a successful and positive tool on the pathway towards smoke-free to be able to cut down the massively harmful cigarette and tobacco smoking and going across to vaping a lesser harm on their way to smoke-free. It was also clear from those presentations that there was a call in the passage of this bill to make sure that we—and I did hear the Minister refer to it and acknowledge the call—continue to engage directly with Māori and Pasifika smoke-free advocacy groups and organisations and directly with communities given that Māori and Pacific are disproportionately represented in people who smoke.So we are pleased after the careful consideration and work that happened at the select committee stage to make sure that this absolutely is about public health and safety and a positive journey to becoming smoke-free rather than vaping itself being an activity that stands on its own and rather than people going towards vaping. So all in all some helpful amendments were made some helpful changes were made to strengthen the protections and the regulations in the bill. Good acknowledgment has been made of the monitoring work that will continue to be necessary as we check to see how this will actually fly in the real world. So with that the Greens are pleased to support this bill. Thank you.Bill read a third time.
SpeechAGNES LOHENI (National): Thank you Madam Speaker. Indeed a pleasure to stand and make a contribution on this the third and final reading of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill. I too stand and offer my congratulations to the honourable Minister Jenny Salesa and also acknowledge again the members of the Health Committee and the chair Louisa Wall. I also want to acknowledge the officials for the great work that was done in a very collaborative way across the House to get this bill through. It would be remiss too if I didn't also acknowledge the Hon Nicky Wagner for her work and although we didn't get quite through the changes there that we wanted in terms of how we felt we could strengthen this up ultimately at the heart of this bill we are talking about the thousands of New Zealanders that die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses. I am not a smoker myself but I did grow up in a household where it was very normal to walk into the lounge and there'd be smoke everywhere and it's different times today. I just want to acknowledge the Minister and everyone for the work on this. Ultimately this is a good bill and we are finally here. Congratulations to everyone. Thank you Madam Speaker.
Reti ShaneDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei): Thank you Madam Speaker. It's a pleasure to see this bill finally to the House because on net balance we do believe that the vaping products are effective—that vaping as a mechanism is effective—in smoking reduction. We have taken on board the advice we heard from officials and the cautions. In fact if we look at one of their very early statements the statement to us as a committee was I would like to say that the evidence associated with vaping is still emerging and strongly contested. Particular areas of debate are the safety of vaping products the effectiveness of vaping as a support for smokers to quit smoking the role of flavours in supporting people to switch from smoking and the extent to which we should be concerned about increases in vaping among young people." We took these concerns on board and yet we still believe net that there are advantages to vaping—to reduce the use of cigarettes primarily.I'll come back but before I forget I do want to acknowledge that we were working during lockdown and Matt Doocey and the Hon Maggie Barry did a lot of heavy lifting from our team during the lockdown so I did want to recognise them.Fundamentally this was a balance we were trying to achieve in this bill between moving people down a pathway from cigarettes to vaping nicotine to vaping flavours. That's the pathway we want to encourage. Our dilemma was not going the other way—not being a gateway from vaping flavours to vaping nicotine to then taking up cigarette smoking. In that pathway we—certainly I—learnt an awful lot about flavours. Who'd have known that they could be regulated into the classes of nicotine menthol mint dessert and fruit and that youth particularly are interested in the dessert and fruit? It was one of the discussions we had around whether a specialist vaping store should be allowed to have dessert and fruit flavours.I'd like to also thank the officials who did a lot of work to get us to this place today. We're really pleased this is an effective mechanism. It has taken us time to get here but here we are so let's just keep moving and see if we can get this out get it into the public and get this effective mechanism—for young people particularly where we're most interested—where young people can find an alternative mechanism to reducing cigarette smoking. So we're supporting this bill thank you."
Reti Shane; Salesa JennyDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei): Thank you Mr Chair. Can I speak further to Supplementary Order Paper 562 in the Hon Nicky Wagner's name and ask three very simple questions. Does she have any sense how many Defence Force personnel use non-tobacco nicotine pouches? Can you confirm that that number may be around 10000? And does she think that non-tobacco nicotine patches in any way are an aid to smoking reduction?Hon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): I cannot confirm how many people are using oral nicotine pouches. I've seen reports being written but I cannot confirm it because I don't know how those numbers have been arrived at.Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei): My last question please: are non-tobacco nicotine pouches an aid to smoking reduction in any way whatsoever?Hon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): There have been reports of a variety of products that are helpful in smoking cessation and that are being used by stop-smoking cessation services to assist people to give up smoking. They include vaping which is why we're actually talking about and discussing this particular bill today. We know from evidence from New Zealand including evidence that the Ministry of Health actually collected just last year that there are a lot of our Māori women who have stopped smoking utilising vaping. In terms of oral nicotine products probably similar to gum and other products they do have a part to play. What this legislation is focused on though is ensuring that we regulate vaping products.
Reti Shane; Salesa JennyDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei): Thank you Mr Chair. I'd like to speak now to Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 545 in Nicky Wagner's name which we haven't spoken to yet tonight. This would seem to be imminently sensible because fundamentally what Supplementary Order Paper 545 asks is that authorised community health groups be able to provide smoking reduction information to the communities. Furthermore it needs to be approved community health groups.I've spoken on a previous Supplementary Order Paper about the safety nets that we're proposing in these SOPs to the first Supplementary Order Paper 562 I think it was we were talking to—no here it is here; it's to Supplementary Order Paper 536. I made the point that the safety net is the director-general who had a wide range to approve who could become a specialist vaping retailer. Well here in Supplementary Order Paper 545 again we give that discretion to the director-general—that's the safety net. The director-general will be able to review and approve a lead support health worker assigned to a community-led group. It's hard to understand why this is not a good thing. Here we are wanting to approve community-led groups to go out and legitimately be able to give smoking reduction advice. And so I'd be interested to hear from the Minister what if any concerns she has with this Supplementary Order Paper 545 or if she feels it's otherwise covered in the bill and if so where?Hon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): We don't agree with Hon Nicky Wagner's Supplementary Order Paper 545. We do cover it though—the Government's Supplementary Order Paper covers it. If you refer to Supplementary Order Paper 567 page 9 under the interpretation of who a suitably qualified health worker is we actually provide clarity now that it also includes a person that has completed the Ministry of Health Stop Smoking Practitioners Programme as well as someone who is working under the supervision of someone who has completed that programme. It would also include peer support workers who are supervised by someone who has completed the Stop Smoking Practitioners Programme. We then give the director-general powers to be able to—under noting of the Gazette—also include other folks in that category. You would know Dr Shane Reti that we're also going to go out and consult on these before the regulations are actually implemented. So there is time for NGOs and for our key stakeholders to also have input into this.
Woodhouse Michael; Salesa JennyHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): I'm afraid that reply from the Minister was something of a red herring. She referred to the Philip Morris case. The Philip Morris case is not relevant to the question that is being posed by SOP 562. The Philip Morris case effectively ruled that heat-not-burn products were not unlawful as the Ministry of Health thought at that time. This bill is not actually going to change that. This bill as it was introduced and as it was returned by the Health Committee would allow things like IQOS heat and other vaping products. What I'm talking about is oral products that are actually put inside the mouth. Now vapes and heat-not-burn products aren't that. So we're not talking about that; we're talking about oral products that are put under the tongue or in the side of the cheek.Now within that definition currently nothing can be put into the mouth. That wasn't how the bill was introduced but that was how it was amended at select committee. What the Hon Nicky Wagner's SOP will do is to rather than distinguish between oral and non-oral distinguish between tobacco and non-tobacco. So an oral product that is not tobacco would be allowed under SOP 562 if it's passed but it would not allow snus. What I asked the Minister was: does she agree with that definition? It's a secondary question about whether the parties of Government would actually support the SOP but I want to make sure that we know as a committee exactly what SOP 562 is designed to do. It's designed to rule out snus but allow the non-tobacco oral nicotine products that are popular with the New Zealand Defence Force to be sold in New Zealand. They're currently legal. This would make it unlawful.Hon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): I refer the member to page 39 section 53 in clause 26. So section 53(1) is actually where this particular SOP covers snus. So a person must not publish a regulated product advertisement that directly or indirectly states a suitable chewing or any other oral use. So that is actually where snus comes through. When we go through to section 53(2)(a) that is actually in reference to the question that the Hon Michael Woodhouse is about which is oral nicotine products. Unless the Minister of Health has given consent or provincial consent for the distribution of that particular product it is not allowed.
Woodhouse MichaelHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): I'm just a little confused. I wonder if the Minister could just clarify where in the Government Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) the threshold has been reduced to 60 percent because I'm a little bit lost in my paperwork. Can she just confirm?Hon Jenny Salesa: New section 14A(2)(b) page 15.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: So that is in SOP 569?Hon Jenny Salesa: Sorry in the Government's SOP?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Yep. Is that in SOP 569? Can I just clarify: the Government only has one SOP for this bill?Hon Jenny Salesa: So it's the main SOP yes—567.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: 567. Thank you. All right. While I'm working through that I want to go on to one of Nicky Wagner's other SOPs and that is in regards to the issue of oral nicotine products. Now we were somewhat talking past each other—Government to Opposition—earlier this week and the Prime Minister was in the media on Monday or Tuesday morning saying that the reason that the Government would not support an amendment to allow oral nicotine products was that it would allow products like snus to be sold. Now snus is a chewed tobacco product. It is not consistent with the definition that the Hon Nicky Wagner has in her SOP for oral nicotine products. I can't remember—the Minister of Defence may be in a position to clarify this. I know that in the New Zealand Defence Force there is another product that's quite popular with Defence Force personnel which is oral nicotine but not tobacco. The Hon Nicky Wagner's SOP would allow that product to continue should the House prevail in that SOP but it would not allow snus to be marketed in New Zealand because that is an oral tobacco product. Her definition does not include oral tobacco and therefore snus would not be allowed.Now regardless of whether the Labour Party is going to support Nicky Wagner's SOP I would like to hear from the Minister about whether she agrees that the definition of oral nicotine does not include oral tobacco and therefore would rule out snus because that might clarify some of the misunderstandings from earlier in the week.Hon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): Snus is actually an item that is illegal in New Zealand. Earlier on—actually over a year ago in the case of the Ministry of Health v Philip Morris it was clear from that that in terms of the vaping products we needed to look at regulations. Unfortunately the Ministry of Health was not the winner in that particular case but what it also said clearly was that snus is illegal in New Zealand. Oral nicotine though—it was a bit of a grey area. One of the reasons why we're here tonight to regulate vaping is to ensure that we provide clarity and that we regulate those products that are not currently covered in the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990.When that particular legislation was passed these products like vaping products and all that were not actually envisaged and it's not actually covered by the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990. So it is really important that we get clarity and that we absolutely regulate these products that are currently not regulated.
Salesa JennyAGNES LOHENI (National): I'd just also like to acknowledge the Minister in the chair the Hon Jenny Salesa for finally being in this position to continue with this vaping bill. It's been a long time coming but good to be here.I just want to add more I guess to the Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) in the name of the Hon Nicky Wagner SOP 536 about that threshold. I've heard the comments from the Minister around why the Minister thinks the balance is 60 percent when in fact there was plenty of evidence that came through as to why the limit should be 50 percent. In particular I would just like to note a correspondence that was sent to me by Hāpai Te Hauora who work in the coalface of supporting particularly Māori and Pacific communities who as we all know have high rates of smoking. The quote to me around supporting the SOP of Nicky Wagner 536 to make the threshold 50 percent is around equity of access so that whānau outside of the main centres are not limited. We have to make things equitable and the better choice—which is vaping—the easier choice. That's the quote from Hāpai Te Hauora.I just want some reassurance Minister that the 60 percent threshold is not going to affect equity of access for those that do not live in the main centres.Hon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): The bill that we are introducing here tonight about amending vaping is actually modelled on what is happening over in Canada. In Canada they actually have their threshold at 85 percent and they do not have any exemptions. What we're introducing here is a threshold that is actually lower—70 percent—and we are also already giving the power to the director-general to include things including the geographic location the population that live around that geographic location and the 60 percent threshold of vaping products. We believe that we've actually covered this issue.
Salesa JennyHon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): Kia orana Mr Chair. Thank you. I'd like to begin by addressing Dr Shane Reti as well as the Hon Michael Woodhouse because you both spoke about the Hon Nicky Wagner's Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 536. Can I say that the Government has introduced its own SOP. There were over a thousand submissions made to the select committee and as you both said quite a lot of the submissions were about the threshold. Can I say that the Government SOP though covers this.We actually don't agree with Nicky Wagner's SOP but what the Government has done is we are actually sticking with what the select committee report came back with which was to have a threshold of 70 percent of sales from retail premises and there will be power actually given to the director-general as you say. The Hon Nicky Wagner's SOP actually says that that should actually go down to 50 percent of a person's total sales.But can I just say that one of the main things that we're trying to do here is ensure the balance between ensuring that our young people are not attracted to vaping ensuring that those who are non-smokers do not take up vaping but that actually it's available for those who are smokers and who are using it as a quit tool. So in striking that right balance the Government doesn't actually agree that lowering the definition of who a specialist vape store is down to 50 percent is the right thing to do because it will not strike that right balance.What the Government's SOP 567 does do though and I'm referring here to replacement section 14A in clause 21 is it gives the director-general the discretion to look at several things. He can look at the geographic location of the retail premises; he can also look at the population around retail premises as well as any prescribed criteria under regulations and he will consider 60 percent of total sales from vaping products. So I wanted to just make it clear that the Government does not agree with SOP 536 but we do cover this issue.
Allan Kiritapu; Rurawhe AdrianKIRITAPU ALLAN (Assistant Whip—Labour): I apologise for my tardiness but Mr Reti had jumped to his feet so I—Dr Shane Reti: Sorry.KIRITAPU ALLAN: No no thank you but I thought I'd just delay. I seek leave for all parts of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill to be taken together as one debate.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.