edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Stanford EricaERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays): Thank you Madam Chair. Just starting up where the last speaker Jo Luxton finished off the advice that the Education and Workforce Committee was provided right back at the start made it clear that there were potential problems around employers discriminating against potential employees who have childcare responsibilities that could result in greater use of sick leave. This isn't something that we made up; this was advice that was given to the committee at the beginning and something that we wanted to flesh out and something that I don't think during the course of this bill so far has actually been properly discussed because all we get from the other side—and maybe again today—is Oh well how could this possibly be a problem? I can't fathom it." Well it's actually in the advice that we got and so we take that very seriously and we're entitled to ask the questions: has that been considered what evidence is there to suggest that it won't happen and what considerations has the Minister taken into account? So that was why we're going there. It's not something we made up just to antagonise members opposite. It's something that was in here and that we do take seriously.What I want to ask Minister Wood about specifically is the claims around productivity gains because we heard a lot in first reading speeches from the Minister and others about the increase in productivity to businesses and we posed the question: well if it was so great for productivity why don't businesses already do it? Some big big businesses do that can afford it but the very small ones don't do that for the most part and if it did lead to such a great gain in productivity that would make up for the costs of having 10 days' sick leave then I guess the question is: why don't businesses already do it? I think the answer to that lies in the fact that there is actually no evidence that we were supplied—and it is in the committee report that we did ask for some reports that were mentioned in relation to Australia's minimum sick leave requirement and how that's increased their productivity; that was never supplied. A lot of the advice and a lot of the speeches that we've heard talk about anecdotes and stories that they've heard but actually I want to ask the Minister a specific question: what reports or evidence has he relied on that he can point us to that we can go and look at that show a substantial increase in productivity that would offset the costs of the extra sick leave? So that's somewhere I wanted to go today to ask him about that. I've got a few more questions but I'll let the Minister answer that one first and then perhaps we can carry on."
Woodhouse Michael; Rurawhe AdrianHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): Point of order. I seek leave for the Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Bill to be considered as one debate with questions on clauses put separately.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Leave has sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is none. Given that situation I'm going to restart the clock for the member.
Rurawhe Adrian; Goldsmith PaulHOLIDAYS (INCREASING SICK LEAVE) AMENDMENT BILLIn CommitteeClause 1 TitleCHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): This bill will be debated in clauses. We come first to clause 1 the debate on the title. The question is that clause 1 stand part.Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National): Thank you Mr Chair. So we're debating this Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Bill and the National Party has been opposed to this bill not because—I mean everybody would like anybody that is sick not to have to go to work. We're very conscious of the implications around the COVID situation that we've had that we don't want sick workers at work.In a perfect world there would be no restrictions on sick leave. But we also live in a practical world and when we think of business operations I don't think of the very small number of very large business operations that operate in New Zealand. We recognise that by far and away most businesses in New Zealand are small with fewer than 10 employees—in fact fewer than five employees. And if you put yourself in the shoes of those business owners little cafe owners small-business owners right across the country—in the tourism space in the hospitality space or a small forestry group—many many thousands of small little businesses in this country run by mum and dad owners often having mortgaged their own house to fund the company and the business are struggling from GST payment to GST payment. It's that context where we are conscious of the fact that this Government has been very quick to add substantial costs to those businesses with what appears to be an insouciant shrug of the shoulders by the Minister Michael Wood—oh well it's not a big deal they can soak it up.So I suppose the key question I have for the Minister is: what impact do you think it will have on the small-business owners' ability to remain in business by adding these costs which is—CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Sorry to interrupt the member but we're on clause 1 the title. It wouldn't take much for him to bring what he's said so far into relevancy on—Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Are we having a strict debate just on the title?CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Yep yeah. So unless some honourable member—Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: We don't usually start with the title we usually start with the broader thing so we can actually debate the topic before—CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): As I started off at the beginning it's clause by clause unless some honourable member would like to seek leave to debate it as one then we'll do that.
Woodhouse Michael; Parker DavidHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): Thank you Mr Chair and I thank the Minister for his explanation. I just want to start on that last point about the economic benefit stuff because actually whereas the Minister said he hasn't seen a lot of examples of that where it is happening is with overseas purchasers because the bar to investment is lower with forestry and therefore it may be—and it is it's proven economically viable for the conversion of highly productive farmland into forestry if the barrier to investment is lower and that's what section 16C does.The question I have about the explanation in respect of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is why if that were necessary—and I'm still confused about why this was sort of partly a coalition agreement if we needed to comply with a certain trade agreement why a coalition partner would be relevant at all. But why is it that we comply with the CPTPP when the land is 999 hectares? Would we be therefore in breach of the CPTPP if the land being considered for purchase was 1001 hectares for example? The last part of that question is actually related to other free-trade agreements (FTAs). We've got China we've got South Korea we've got the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership we're in negotiations with Europe and the UK. What do those FTAs say about this issue?Hon DAVID PARKER (Associate Minister of Finance): In respect of the first point that the member made about overseas investment in forest the extent that they're carbon forests there is no primrose path. They aren't getting the easy route through so they have to go through normal processes as they would do for farmland. Officials can tell me if I've got that wrong but I think that's correct. In respect of the member's question about would it make a difference whether it's 999 hectares or 1000: no not pursuant to our trade agreements. That rule is actually found in our overseas investment legislation not in our free-trade agreements. What the free-trade agreements say is that at the date of the agreement existing classes of investment that are screened can be screened but no new investment classes. So if we didn't have forest registration rights being screened they could never be screened but they are now in there to be screened whether it's freehold leasehold or forest registration rights because they've been added. The Government of the day can change the threshold as they see fit because that is within the parameters of our free-trade agreement whether it's the CPTPP or any other earlier agreements.Hon Michael Woodhouse: So we could lower it to 10 hectares potentially.Hon DAVID PARKER: Could do.
Sage EugenieHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green): Thank you Mr Chair. Following on from the Hon Michael Woodhouse it is of concern to the Green Party that this streamlined regime for forestry has led since the law was changed and it was in October 2018—that there have been significant purchases by overseas companies of farmland for forestry purposes. There is a Supplementary Order Paper in my name on the Table to reverse the change that was made in 2018 so that if an overseas company or person is seeking to buy farmland for forestry that has to go through exactly the same benefits test and assessment that buying farmland for other purposes would.I point to the case of New Forests Asset Management. They have acquired some 77000 hectares in less than four years. They started in 2015 with no land for forestry and now they're New Zealand's as I understand it third biggest private landowner. Of our top 10 private landowners in terms of area in Aotearoa New Zealand four of those are forestry companies.In terms of forestry investment ensuring that it does have a benefit particularly with the difficulty that some processors have had in ensuring that logs are supplied to them for the creation of jobs locally—that could be part of the benefits test if land being purchased for forestry had to undergo exactly the same assessment that farmland being purchased for other purposes did. It would put everything on an even playing field.The change was made in 2018 because of the representations of New Zealand First. It was seen as encouraging more forestry to meet the billion trees objective but given that there has been under this Government and the last quite a significant expansion in forestry in our view it is past the time for these special privileges to be given to overseas companies. Given that 70 percent of our forestry industry are overseas companies we just question the need for this privileged pathway and would ask the Minister in the chair David Parker—there was the suggestion in the last term that this regime would be reviewed. If the House does not support the Supplementary Order Paper when is that review likely to occur and what would be the scope for that review?
Rurawhe Adrian; Parker DavidPart 1 Amendments to Overseas Investment Act 2005CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): We come first to the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3). The question is that Part 1 stand part.Hon DAVID PARKER (Associate Minister of Finance): Mr Chairman if I might just assist the committee by putting this bill into the context of the other pieces of legislation that have recently been passed. There have been a number changes made to the overseas investment regime since 2017. The first was to ban overseas buyers of existing New Zealand homes with some exceptions including an exception relating to new builds that are going to be rented out. There was at the same time a revised letter of direction that was provided to the relevant ministry by the then Minister responsible that tightened up how the different competing regulatory criteria for investments in rural land would be dealt with.The next change was a change to bring within the purview of the Overseas Investment Act forestry investments in the form of forestry registration rights which until that time were outside of the regime. The next change of significance that was made was an emergency bill that was passed in response to COVID which introduced a national interest test and took the threshold for screening to zero whilst we saw how things rolled post-COVID. And then the next piece of legislation is the bill that we now have the effect of which is to provide a national interest test which I am sure we'll go into in a bit more detail that is enduring and doesn't rely upon the COVID powers legislation. The other major change that is made by this bill is to put in the primary legislation similar provisions to that which were in the letter of directive so that the more restricted regime that we have in respect of overseas investment and sensitive farmland is slightly more narrowly defined than previously but that those provisions carry forward into the primary legislation so that any future change relies upon this House changing the law rather than a future ministerial directive letter.
SpeechOVERSEAS INVESTMENT AMENDMENT BILL (NO 3)In Committee
House In Committee
Rurawhe AdrianHOUSE IN COMMITTEECHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Ā kāti rā tēnā rā tātou katoa. Can I ask members congregating across the Chamber to please leave the Chamber if you are leaving. Thank you very much.Members the House is in committee on the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3) the Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Bill and the Building (Building Products and Methods Modular Components and Other Matters) Amendment Bill.
Mallard TrevorPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: No bills have been introduced. Petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation.CLERK: Petition of Juliana Carvalho requesting that the House recommend to the Government that it comply with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in relation to immigrationpetition of Jan Logie requesting that the House urge Minister of Finance and the Minister for the Public Service to support the Public Service and reverse the decision to suppress wages andpetition of Sophie Handford requesting that the House urge the Government to deliver an immediate increase in funding to Kāpiti Youth Support and sustainable funding for all Youth One Stop Shops nationally.SPEAKER: Those petitions stand referred to the Petitions Committee. Ministers have delivered papers.CLERK: New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute report for the period ended 24 June 2020Te Tumu Paeroa Māori Trustee annual report for 2020 andreports of the Electoral Commission on the 2020 general election and referendums and enrolment voting statistics from the general election and referendums held on 17 October 2020.SPEAKER: I present the Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament: Summary of annual returns as at 31 January 2021 and the report of the Controller and Auditor-General entitled Preparations for the nationwide roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine. Those papers are published under the authority of the House. Select committee reports have been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Report of the Education and Workforce Committee on the briefing into the 2019-20 performance and current operations of Education New Zealandreport of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the petition of Andrew Baylyreports of the Health Committee on the petition of Kate Cormack and the petition of Pamela McIlwraithreport of the Justice Committee on the Arms (Firearms Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill (No 2) and report of the Primary Production Committee on the petition of Frances Baker.SPEAKER: The bill is set down for second reading and the briefing is set down for consideration.
Rurawhe AdrianTUESDAY 18 MAY 2021The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSDEPUTY SPEAKER: E te Atua kaha rawa ka tuku whakamoemiti atu mātou mō ngā karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga i a mātou. Ka waiho i ō mātou pānga whaiaro katoa ki te taha. Ka mihi mātou ki te Kuīni me te inoi atu mō te ārahitanga i roto i ō mātou whakaaroarohanga kia mōhio ai kia whakaiti ai tā mātou whakahaere i ngā take o te Whare nei mō te oranga te maungārongo me te aroha o Aotearoa. Amene.[Almighty God we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests we acknowledge the Queen and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility for the welfare peace and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]
Thursday 13 May 2021 - Volume 752
Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3) — Second Reading
VoteDEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is That the amendments recommended by the Finance and Expenditure Committee by majority be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendments be agreed to.Ayes 108New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Noes 10ACT New Zealand 10.Amendments agreed to.Motion agreed to.Bill read a second time.
11. Question No. 11—Commerce and Consumer AffairsJAMIE STRANGE (Labour—Hamilton East) to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer AffairsQuestion No. 11—Commerce and Consumer Affairs11. JAMIE STRANGE (Labour—Hamilton East) to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent announcements has he made about reducing merchant service fees for New Zealand businesses and consumers? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs): Yesterday I was pleased to announce the Government's next steps to reduce merchant service fees. It's more good news. Merchant service fees are the fees that banks charge businesses when customers use a credit or debit card to pay. A retail payment systems bill will be introduced later this year that will among other things require reductions in the interchange component of these fees as soon as possible. These proposed changes are estimated to save New Zealand businesses approximately $74 million each year and will have a positive flow-on effect to shoppers.Jamie Strange: How do New Zealand's merchant service fees currently compare with that of overseas jurisdictions?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Currently unregulated New Zealand's merchant service fees are almost double what they are in Australia. Looking further afield UK merchants pay roughly a third of what they do here. These fees add significant overheads for retailers who often pass the costs on to consumers through higher prices and surcharges. We will cap interchange fees for credit card transactions at 0.8 percent which is in line with our trans-Tasman counterparts. We're also capping the interchange fees charged for online debit card transactions at 0.6 percent and contactless debit card interchange fees will be capped at the current average rate of 0.2 percent. For swipe and inserted debit it will stay at zero percent.Jamie Strange: What feedback has he seen following his announcement?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I've seen a range of positive feedback following my announcement from retailers banks and the business community. Greg Harford from Retail New Zealand said For far too long New Zealanders have been paying high merchant [service] fees and it is fantastic news that the government is finally moving to bring us in line with other countries that pay significantly less". Tim Deane of ASB said "ASB has been a supporter of regulatory intervention to help get the balance right for businesses paying merchant service fees recognising that card payment networks are a complex ecosystem involving multiple payment and financial services parties." Matt Cowley from the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce said "It is a great announcement as it complements the government's focus on making it easier for businesses to do more business online." Good news all round."
9. Question No. 9—Workplace Relations and SafetyIBRAHIM OMER (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyQuestion No. 9—Workplace Relations and Safety9. IBRAHIM OMER (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: How is the recent increase in the minimum wage helping working New Zealanders?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): Working New Zealanders on the minimum wage have now had over a month of receiving the new minimum wage rate of $20 per hour which means at least a couple of pay packets in which they are receiving up to $44 additional per week for themselves and their families. Investing in our people is a key part of our economic recovery plan and this measure is lifting the incomes of over 175000 of our lowest-paid New Zealanders.Ibrahim Omer: Why was an increase in the minimum wage important?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Having a good minimum wage is actually one of the most important things that we can do to stimulate local economic activity because it gives the New Zealanders most likely to spend it more money to spend in local businesses. At the same time as we've increased the minimum wage we've seen our unemployment rate drop to 4.7 percent which shows that the more that we support our lowest-paid workers the more that we can support our local businesses and our economy.Ibrahim Omer: What are the flow-on effects of the minimum wage rise?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The increase to a $20 per hour minimum wage is boosting wages across the economy by around about $216 million. There are many Kiwis who earn the minimum wage who have gone above and beyond in our fight against COVID-19 and I think that those Kiwis—the cleaners the supermarket checkout workers and the drivers who have served our country so well—deserve decent fair and just pay to live in dignity.Hon Scott Simpson: On what basis did he reject Treasury advice given to him to postpone increasing the minimum wage increase to at least October of this year and then to do so by limiting it to just $19.75 an hour in order to protect existing jobs?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: That advice was considered and I came to a different conclusion for the same reason that I come to a different conclusion whenever that member and that side of the House say that we need to hold down the wages of the poorest New Zealanders. We have shown that the reverse is true—that we can deliver a good minimum wage for working New Zealanders at the same time as having one of the fastest-growing economies and the lowest unemployment rates in the developed world.
7. Question No. 7—Internal AffairsANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister of Internal AffairsQuestion No. 7—Internal Affairs7. ANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What progress has she seen on New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme?Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Internal Affairs): I'm pleased to report that as part of the Government's COVID-19 recovery package $58.8 million was allocated to New Zealand's public library system to deliver jobs support the role of librarians in our communities and provide free Wi-Fi access in public libraries. So far 161 librarians have already been employed out of the 198 jobs made available through this funding. This targeted funding has not only kept librarians in jobs it has also upskilled them to provide extra assistance to job seekers and to people wanting to improve their reading and digital literacy skills.Anna Lorck: Why was Government investment needed in this area?Hon JAN TINETTI: Libraries play a vital role as community hubs. They can be places where people can get real practical help and stay connected especially during tough economic times. This Government recognises the role that librarians play in communities and that local councils are facing funding pressures. The package also includes—Hon Simon Bridges: Librarians' votes are very important.Hon JAN TINETTI: —$13.3 million to support national library support to schools. This programme—Hon Simon Bridges: Turn up the thermostat. Hon JAN TINETTI: —provides targeted services to children and young people in high-needs communities including rural and isolated communities to help with literacy learning—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! I know that the interjection was a very easy and obvious one to make following Mr Bridges' own interjections but I think we'll just—Chris Bishop: Well thanks for the gratuitous commentary. SPEAKER: Sorry? I'm on my feet. What I would like—[Interruption]—no it wasn't the member. It was the member on his right who interjected while I was on my feet. I think having that sort of interchange about forthcoming publications is not appropriate even during this question.Hon JAN TINETTI: This programme provides targeted services to children and young people in high-needs communities including rural and isolated communities to help with literacy learning and the joy of reading.Anna Lorck: What impact is this programme having in communities?Hon JAN TINETTI: I have heard great reports from communities across the country of how this Government has not only supported jobs and community services during one of our toughest economic times but also enabled our libraries to lead greater digital innovation and enrichment of te reo Māori in our communities. For example in the Central Hawke's Bay the funding has resulted in the employment of two new roles: a digital inclusion programme coordinator to ensure all members of the community have access to digital services and are digitally connected and a He Kura Kāinga coordinator focusing on mātauranga Māori collections and supporting learners and speakers with their te reo Māori.
6. Question No. 6—RevenueANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato) to the Minister of RevenueQuestion No. 6—Revenue6. ANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato) to the Minister of Revenue: Has he seen reports that tax relief has been included in Australia's Budget delivered yesterday; if so can hard-working New Zealanders expect similar tax relief in Budget 2021?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Revenue): All hard-working New Zealanders will be better off after Budget 2021 as well as Mr Bayly. I do not have ministerial responsibility for the Australian Federal Budget but in terms of specific policy areas that may or may not be in New Zealand's Budget the member will have to wait just seven more sleeps.Andrew Bayly: Do hard-working small-business owners deserve tax relief measures in Budget 2021 as was provided in Australia's Budget delivered yesterday?Hon DAVID PARKER: The problem with the National Party at the moment is that Tuesday's finance spokesperson asked us to keep a lid on debt; this day's finance spokesperson asks us to reduce revenue which would increase debt. No wonder people are confused.Andrew Bayly: Will Budget 2021 address the issue of hard-working New Zealanders paying more tax as a result of inflation pushing them into a higher tax bracket?Hon DAVID PARKER: As has been said many times this week the member will have to wait seven more sleeps.Andrew Bayly: Will Budget 2021 provide tax relief for business owners purchasing new plant and equipment as provided in the Australian Budget yesterday?SPEAKER: Was it yesterday or was it on Tuesday?Hon DAVID PARKER: The same answer applies but I would note that considerable support is being given to small businesses throughout New Zealand as a part of COVID. It is actually the main reason why debt has grown—[Interruption]—the enormous amount of support that was given to businesses generally including small businesses to provide wage support to their employees and for the benefit of Mr Woodhouse those payments were all made to businesses not to individuals.Andrew Bayly: Will Budget 2021 deliver any new tax incentives to encourage innovation and to create maximum value from intellectual property created by smart New Zealanders as was provided in Australia's Budget delivered yesterday?Hon DAVID PARKER: As I said in the answer to my first question all hard-working New Zealanders will be better off after next week's Budget.Andrew Bayly: Will he rule out the Government passing the new interest deductibility rules under urgency as part of Budget 2021 so that mum and dad investors can have their say as part of a democratic process?Hon DAVID PARKER: In respect to the first part of the question yes. We don't intend to pass that legislation under urgency as part of the Budget. There is a round of consultation coming on some of the details.
5. Question No. 5—CorrectionsTONI SEVERIN (ACT) to the Minister of CorrectionsQuestion No. 5—Corrections5. TONI SEVERIN (ACT) to the Minister of Corrections: Will he set a target for reducing the number of corrections staff that are assaulted in corrections facilities; if not why not? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister of Corrections: I have zero tolerance for violence in our prisons but I do not believe that setting targets will do anything to actually reduce assaults. We are working on an action plan alongside the Public Service Association and the Corrections Association that will be far more meaningful. Toni Severin: How many times has he met with the Corrections Association about assaults on corrections staff and what actions did he take following these meetings to address any concerns raised? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the last part of the question the Government is working with the Public Service Association and the Corrections Association to develop an action plan in order to ensure that we deal with the issue of assaults in prisons. No assault in prison is OK. In answer to the first part of the question I don't have a list of all of the Minister's appointments. Toni Severin: The policies that you were talking about to introduce—will these be introduced this year so that we will see a reduction of assaults on corrections staff? SPEAKER: I'm just going to note that I'm not introducing anything—Toni Severin: Yep—oh sorry. SPEAKER: —and I'm happy to do some more advice to people about asking questions. But I think we've got the gist of it rather than go over it again. Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The length of time it takes to put in place the actions in the action plan will of course depend on what those actions are and I wouldn't pre-empt that. Simeon Brown: What does he say to the corrections officer who said I really hope this gets resolved fast because I love my job and some days wonder if I will see my children again." and why did he only request monthly briefings on this issue in February this year? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I would say to that corrections officer that they should be entitled to go to work without the fear of being assaulted in prison and the Government is absolutely committed to working to address that issue."
4. Question No. 4—Disability IssuesTERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki) to the Minister for Disability IssuesQuestion No. 4—Disability Issues4. TERISA NGOBI (Labour—Ōtaki) to the Minister for Disability Issues: What recent announcements has she made about supporting New Zealand Sign Language?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Disability Issues): [Uses sign language] Good afternoon Mr Speaker. On Monday I joined the Deaf and hard of hearing community to launch New Zealand Sign Language Week. This week is an opportunity to not only underline and lift the status of New Zealand Sign Language but to also celebrate and affirm the diversity of our Deaf and hard of hearing community. We're recognised as a world leader for our commitment to maintaining and furthering the use of sign language and this is something we should take pride in this week.Terisa Ngobi: What progress has been made to support New Zealand Sign Language?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: This year marks 15 years since New Zealand Sign Language became the third official language of New Zealand championed by the former Minister for Disability Issues the Hon Ruth Dyson. I'm pleased to continue the work of the former Minister as well as the progress we're making. We've increased funding to the New Zealand Sign Language Board. We're now investing $1.6 million each year to support them to promote and maintain New Zealand Sign Language. During COVID-19 an all-of-Government accessible communications group was stood up to make COVID information accessible through the provision of interpreters and we've invested in inclusive and accessible spaces for the Deaf and hard of hearing community through our Creatives in Schools programme for example.Terisa Ngobi: Why is it important that we continue to celebrate affirm and recognise New Zealand Sign Language as an official language in New Zealand?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: There are approximately 20000 people in New Zealand who use sign language as a form of communication and of this approximately 4600 are Deaf or hard of hearing. While this week is New Zealand Sign Language Week every week we must take steps forward towards improving accessibility raising awareness and building inclusivity for our Deaf and hard of hearing community. I'm pleased that New Zealand Sign Language continues to evolve and thrive as an official language of New Zealand.
1. Question No. 1—COVID-19 ResponseSHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—COVID-19 Response1. SHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What progress has been made on the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): I'm very pleased to report that over the last week we've ticked off a number of additional milestones in our vaccine roll-out. As of midnight last night we have delivered 404208 doses of the vaccine across New Zealand an increase of 84320 on this time last week. More than 125000 people have now received their second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine meaning that they are receiving the maximum protection through their vaccinations. Just yesterday we delivered 14694 doses nationally and overall we are tracking ahead of plan. Based on these statistics we're expecting to hit the half-million mark within the next fortnight.Shanan Halbert: How are DHBs currently tracking towards meeting their planned deliveries for vaccination?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The good news is DHBs are overall well ahead on their planned deliveries. We're seeing particularly strong performances from a number of DHBs. I want to acknowledge and extend a special word of thanks to Bay of Plenty MidCentral Capital and Coast Hutt Valley and Southern who are currently leading the pack when it comes to delivery of the vaccine. My thanks go to all of the DHBs right up and down the country for the hard work that they're putting in. I know that some people are working very long hours in the vaccination programme and they are delivering very good results.Shanan Halbert: What vaccination sites have recently opened in Northcote and the wider Auckland region?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: On Monday we saw the opening of Auckland's fourth large community vaccination centre in the Birkenhead mall. That centre will have the capacity to vaccinate up to a thousand people a day and it's in addition to similar large sites in Mount Wellington Highbrook and Henderson. On Tuesday Auckland's first primary care provider Waiheke Medical Centre began its vaccination programme—they'll be doing up to 90 vaccinations a day—and yesterday Auckland DHB's second Pacific-led site at the Westgate Shopping Centre in West Auckland opened its doors. That site's being run in partnership with the Fono healthcare and Pacific collective and they'll be vaccinating up to 300 people a day.
van Velden BrookeOVERSEAS INVESTMENT AMENDMENT BILL (NO 3)Second ReadingDebate resumed from 11 May. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT): It is my pleasure to rise on behalf of the ACT Party in opposition to the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3). The ACT Party opposed this bill at the first reading and we will continue to oppose the bill because none of the problems were solved in select committee. It's this—it's quite simple. This is about amending the Overseas Investment Act. It's supposed to simplify the Act but in fact in looking for more simplicity the Government has somehow made it even more complicated and harder to invest in New Zealand. That's a real issue because overseas investment would lead to more productivity in New Zealand and we cannot continue to live as a country for ever believing that we should be isolated from the world because that is what the Overseas Investment Act does. It stops foreign investment and capital coming into this country and lifting productivity which would lead to our having more money for pharmaceuticals in this country and allow people to have higher wages and better jobs jobs with more technology. This Act stops that. If I look at a couple of the changes that they have tried to have made they've made it harder to invest. They are things like embedding a higher threshold for acquiring farm land" making it harder for New Zealanders to sell their own property. There's also here a change "enabling decision-makers to consider the effects on sustainability of investments that involve water bottling or bulk water extraction". The Resource Management Act is supposed to deal with those issues so if we've got a problem there why on earth are we making a different problem again in the foreign investment space? It's ridiculous. If we look at it and we look at the real simple aspects of this bill it is a tinker—that's all it does—and what is the point? It's been here for months and this is all the Government can come up with. Well the ACT Party yesterday came out with our alternative Budget. We made it very very clear that we actually want to see productivity and wage growth in the New Zealand economy and so what have we suggested? An exemption for OECD countries so that people can send their capital to New Zealand. We want to be a country where people want to send money. We want to be a country where people want to invest and where we can have people aspiring to come here. I think it's atrocious really that this is all that we've ended up with. And in fact we used to believe that we wanted to be one of the highest and most productive countries in the OECD but our productivity has been slipping and it's been slipping for 30 years. This goes no way to alleviating that problem. We need to be seeing more foreign direct investment in New Zealand and more productivity. That's what the ACT Party stands for. It is not what this Labour Government stands for. So it's quite simple: we're opposing this bill. Thank you."
Reports—Interim Report of the Petitions Committee Related to COVID-19 Immigration and Border Policies
Salesa JennyASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): Order! Can I please remind all of the people in the gallery—most of you may be here for the first time—we have a Speaker's ruling that contributions from the gallery including clapping is only allowed with the Speaker's permission prior to being in the gallery.
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker. I rise in light of the fact that the Māori Party's chosen not to speak on this matter but simply really to affirm the comments of the Minister that these are very difficult times and they are situations in which families have been separated and it's important that we recognise that. But these are times in which we must put the health of New Zealanders first and that has led to some very difficult decisions. But the Minister has made some very difficult decisions and the result of that is a New Zealand where we are safe and the economy remains strong and I absolutely stand behind the decisions of the Minister in that regard. Thank you.
Mallard TrevorSPECIAL DEBATESCOVID-19 Immigration and Border Policies—Interim Report of the Petitions CommitteeSPEAKER: Members we now come to the debate on the interim report of the Petitions Committee related to COVID-19 immigration and border policies. I call on the Chairperson of the Petitions Committee to move that the House take note of this report.
Papers Petitions Select Committee Reports Introduction of Bills
Mallard TrevorPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: No papers have been represented. No bills have been introduced. A petition has been delivered to the Clerk for presentation.CLERK: Petition of Anu Kaloti requesting that the House urge the Government to create pathways to residency for normally resident migrant workers who have made New Zealand their home.SPEAKER: That petition stands referred to the Petitions Committee. Select committee reports have been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Report of the Education and Workforce Committee on the inquiry into student accommodation; andreport of the Regulations Review Committee on the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Required Testing) Amendment Order 2021 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Point-of-care Tests) Order 2021 COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border Isolation and Quarantine and Required Testing) Amendment Order 2021 and the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) Amendment Order (No 3) 2021.SPEAKER: The reports of the Regulations Review Committee are set down for consideration.
Hipkins Chris; Bishop Chris; Mallard TrevorBUSINESS STATEMENTHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Thursday 20 May will be Budget day. The Minister of Finance will deliver the Budget speech followed by speeches from party leaders. I have given notice to the Business Committee that I then intend to move urgency. Earlier in the week legislation to be considered will include the first readings of the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill (No 2) and the Plant Variety Rights Bill the second reading of the Fair Trading Amendment Bill the committee stage of the Building (Building Products and Methods Modular Components and Other Matters) Amendment Bill and the remaining stages of the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3) and the Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Bill.CHRIS BISHOP (National): Thank you to the Leader of the House. I was wondering if he could go away and perhaps give some thought to the scrutiny that could be exercised by the House's select committees in relation to COVID-19 particularly in light of the Speaker's remarks in the last sitting period of the Parliament and in light of the Health Committee's determinations yesterday in relation to scrutiny of officials and also Ministers.SPEAKER: That's not something that is a matter of the responsibility of the Government or the Leader of the House.Hon Chris Hipkins: Can I speak to it though?SPEAKER: As long as the member assures me he's not going to cause trouble.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): No no Mr Speaker. It is a matter that I consider regularly as the Minister for COVID-19 Response and I can say I sat in the House for an hour last week waiting to get a single question on COVID-19 as part of the annual review debate and didn't get one.SPEAKER: And at that point I won't comment. Question No. 1 is in the name of Shanan Halbert—oh sorry we have general business.
Salesa JennyTHURSDAY 13 MAY 2021The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): Ke tau lotu. 'E 'Otua Māfimafi 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 ange 'emau fua fatongia 'i he Fale Aleá 'aki 'a e poto Faka-e-'Otua 'ofa pea mo e 'ulungaanga malū ko e 'uhí ko e mo'ui mo e melino 'a e fonuá. 'Oku mau kole atu 'a e ngaahi me'á ni hono kotoa 'i he huafa ho 'aló pē 'e taha ko Sīsū Kalaisi ka ko homau fakamo'uí 'Emeni.
Wednesday 12 May 2021 - Volume 752
10. Question No. 10—Pacific PeoplesINGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri) to the Minister for Pacific PeoplesQuestion No. 10—Pacific Peoples10. INGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri) to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: What recent announcement has he made about supporting Pacific languages in New Zealand? Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Pacific Peoples): Noa'ia 'e Mḁuri. It is with immense pride that I stood with the Rotuman community and the Hata collective on Sunday at the Auckland Museum to mark the launch of Rotuman Language Week the first of nine Pacific language weeks this year. This year's Rotuman Language Week theme is Tutur häk ne måür lelei or in English the four pillars of life" including health: Fak'ata spiritual; Fakforo physical; 'Os A'häe psychological; and Hạikạinagaga relationship with people. Tutur häk ne måür lelei reminds us that Pacific resilience is about more than just physical health. We must also nurture the other aspects that make up our entire beings. This recognises that for Pacific language culture and identity is the cornerstone of our wellbeing.Ingrid Leary: Why is it important to celebrate Rotuman Language Week?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: Pacific languages cultures and identity are essential to the health and wellbeing of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. Language is fundamental to providing Pacific peoples with an anchor to their identity confidence and safety as we navigate our way through the economic and social challenges ahead post the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rotuman language has been identified as vulnerable on Unesco's list of endangered languages. The 2019 Wellbeing Budget provided $20 million over four years toward the support of Pacific languages and cultures. This will fund initiatives critical to increasing the use and value of Pacific languages. Ingrid Leary: What type of support is there for Pacific languages? Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: The Pacific language weeks have extended activities throughout the year with language funding support provided by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to enable year-long language learning initiatives which are led by our Pacific communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The ministry supports Pacific languages with a number of funding streams such as the Provider Languages Community Languages and the Youth Languages funds. Languages funding has been hugely successful in raising awareness and increasing the use of Pacific languages. In 2020 the Community Languages Fund supported 344 community groups and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to ensuring that Pacific languages continue to thrive in Aotearoa New Zealand."
9. Question No. 9—COVID-19 ResponseCHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 9—COVID-19 Response9. CHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: Does he agree with the Prime Minister who said yesterday In part that is because yes we really were at the front of the pack in terms of securing agreements with companies for the delivery of vaccine" and is he satisfied with the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): Yes the Prime Minister was absolutely correct yesterday when she signalled that our objective of keeping New Zealanders safe from COVID-19 was a key factor in securing a diverse vaccine portfolio last year so that we can ensure that everyone in New Zealand is able to get a free vaccination. In relation to the second part of the member's question again yes. As of midnight last night we have so far delivered 388877 doses of the vaccine across New Zealand. That's an increase of 83000 on this time last week. DHBs are generally tracking ahead of their national roll-out plans. Progress continues in the lead-up to the nationwide roll-out of the vaccine to most New Zealanders from July onwards.Chris Bishop: Why was a pre-booked 81-year-old turned away from her appointment in Auckland yesterday and is it acceptable that seniors are being turned away when turning up on time for their pre-booked appointments?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the second part of the question no. My understanding is that in that particular case that vaccination clinic was taking a mix of bookings and walk ins—people coming in without appointments. They had more people walking in without appointments which meant that they became congested. I understand there was a health and safety issue and so they closed the centre for a short period of time and the woman concerned was affected by that. I think that is very regrettable. It is something that I know the people doing the vaccines work hard to avoid and I'm sure that they will have learnt from that experience.Chris Bishop: Why was a border worker in Rotorua told they had to travel to Tauranga to get a COVID-19 vaccine and that there wasn't a vaccination centre in Rotorua when in fact there is?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Well I think the last part of the member's question probably answers the first part of his question which is they were clearly being given wrong information. Without knowing who gave them that information it's very difficult to comment.Chris Bishop: Why were pre-booked people told that the East Tāmaki vaccination centre had run out of COVID-19 vaccine doses last Thursday when it had not forcing people to book in for their vaccine appointments again?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I don't have responsibility for what all 5 million New Zealanders say to other New Zealanders around the availability of vaccines."