Upston Louise: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeUpston Louise: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 01 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19038. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]8.LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō)to the Minister for Economic Development: What reports has he received on how the regions contributed to New Zealand’s economic recovery?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development):Yes I have received a variety of reports that indicate that the regions have led New Zealand’s recovery out of the global financial crisis. The recent regional GDP data released by Statistics New Zealand shows that regions like the Bay of Plenty Gisborne Hawke’s Bay Nelson-Tasman Canterbury Otago and Southland all experienced growth above the national average for the 5-year period from 2008 to 2013. I have also received the recent ANZ Regional Trends report which notes that 11 regions reported growth in the first quarter of 2014. The Nelson-Marlborough economy has risen for 12 consecutive quarters the Bay of Plenty economy has risen for nine quarters in a row while ANZ estimates that Northland grew at 7.4 percent in the last year.Louise Upston: What policies has the Government put in place to strengthen the regions?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: For New Zealand to build a more productive and competitive economy we need all of our regions to achieve their potential. That is precisely what the Government’s Business Growth Agenda is all about. So here is a list of just a few of the things that we are doing to help grow jobs and investment in regions around New Zealand—Hon Member: Where are the jobs?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: —84000 in the last 12 months—all of which sit alongside the big investment in regional roads announced by the Prime Minister at the weekend. These include our Rural Broadband Initiative project in ultra-fast broadband Primary Growth Partnerships Callaghan Innovation’s research and development funding the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise regional business partners programme—Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I had the Parliamentary Library calculate the average length of answer from Mr Joyce because of our repeated points of order as to his breaching the Standing Orders. It is 111 words per primary answer which is unheard of and I seek leave to table—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I just remind members that it was a point of order. I was trying to listen to it. There was a lot of interjection coming from my right which is unacceptable. I presume the Minister has now completed his answer?Hon David Parker: I sought leave to table that document.Mr SPEAKER: I would be quite interested in it. So leave is sought to table that document.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Order! No. On occasions if the member has something relevant to ask I will allow it but on this occasion I think we will put the leave and then we will move on. Leave is sought to table this particular Parliamentary Library document. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is none. I look forward to seeing it.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Louise Upston: What policies would in his view hold the regions back from growing strongly and delivering more jobs and more growth?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I have seen a number of policies advocated that would hold the regions back. For example a carbon price that is five times the world price would hold New Zealand’s regions back; a capital gains tax on every productive business and farm in the country while exempting two-thirds of residential property would harm regional New Zealand; stopping people using wind-blown timber on the West Coast would hold that region back; rolling back reforms of the Resource Management Act would hold all our regions back; and policies that are anti-trade anti-investment anti - oil and gas anti-dairy and anti anything that develops our national resources would hold our regions back and those—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I think we have all got the picture.Louise Upston: What recent innovative ideas for regional development has he seen that merit closer attention?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I have seen one as late as this morning that I could only describe as genius. A gentleman has proposed the resuscitation of our extinct flightless bird known as the moa. I think this is a serious proposal that requires some examination. It shows the value of having somebody with this gentleman’s long experience around in the policy development process. He is probably the only member who can personally recall how successful—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon John Key: Does the Minister feel he has expertise in this area having a degree in zoology?Mr SPEAKER: I will listen very briefly to the answer.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I think I do possibly have some experience in this area but then I think so does the person who came up with the idea of course. With the name Mallard he would know a lot about birds of different feathers.