1. Question No. 1—Prime MinisterCHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Prime Minister1. CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): Yes.Christopher Luxon: How are Kiwis expected to believe that Michael Wood Kiri Allan and Stuart Nash are all just one-off bad eggs instead of a repeated failure by his Government to follow and enforce the rules?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I don't believe that those people are bad eggs. I believe that in two of those cases they made a mistake. In terms of Kiri Allan's inclusion in that the reason that we're having that discussion is that she did disclose and manage conflicts of interest.Christopher Luxon: Why did he say just two weeks ago that he had trust and confidence in Michael Wood and how can Kiwis trust him or his Government?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Of course I have to rely on the information that I'm given at the time. The information that I was given was incorrect and there has been a consequence for that.Christopher Luxon: Did he seek or receive assurances from Michael Wood that there were no other conflicts of interest after it was disclosed that he had failed to sell his airport shares? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes. Christopher Luxon: Why does that keep happening with his Ministers; when he asks for clarity of whether they've got conflicts of interest they keep saying No no no I don't." and then they do?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In this case the Minister indicated there was nothing further I needed to know. There clearly was information further that I needed to know. He is no longer a Minister.Christopher Luxon: If his own Ministers don't take him seriously enough to tell him the truth when he asked them how on earth should New Zealanders take him seriously as Prime Minister?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I believe in this case Michael Wood failed to identify and manage his conflicts of interest appropriately. I think New Zealanders can trust me because in that circumstance I have accepted his resignation as a Minister.Christopher Luxon: Why does it always take him so long whether it's Stuart Nash Michael Wood or Kiri Allan to actually hold his Ministers to account for their rule-breaking?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I absolutely reject that. I found out about this yesterday. I took action almost immediately. These processes take a period of time. Someone is entitled to a process of natural justice. He has made mistakes and there have been consequences for those.David Seymour: Does the Prime Minister accept New Zealanders are frustrated with crime on the streets and potholes on the roads and if so can he assure them that those problems have not been caused by Ministers in charge of their portfolios who can't even keep within the basic rules of being a Minister?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes I do accept that New Zealanders are concerned about crime and they are also concerned about potholes on the roads. In terms of the last part of that potholes on the roads had there not been such a woeful under-investment in road maintenance we might not be in this position.Christopher Luxon: Is this Government so incompetent that it can't follow the rules or so arrogant that it doesn't believe that the rules apply to them?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Ministers who don't follow the rules face consequences for that.David Seymour: Would it be helpful does the Prime Minister suppose if he stopped blaming the last Government that went out of office nearly six years ago and started holding accountable the Ministers in his Government now for their performance or lack thereof?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'm very proud of the fact that under this Government the budget for road maintenance has increased significantly. The number of potholes being repaired has increased significantly. I do note the previous Government decided not to invest in those things so that it can invest in roads of national significance. The reality is we need to build new roads and maintain the roads that we have at the moment. The last Government chose to prioritise one over the other when we need to be doing both. Ricardo Menéndez March: Does he accept that living in poverty is one of the biggest drivers of health inequities for Māori and Pacific families; if so will he commit to ending poverty for all families by introducing an income guarantee and a tax-free threshold of the first $10000?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the first part of the question yes; in answer to the second part of the question no.Christopher Luxon: Is he confident none of his other Ministers have undisclosed conflicts undeclared shares unreported links to donors undeclared donations or any other violation of the rules?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I have confidence in the Cabinet Office processes to identify those things and I've just outlined further steps that are being taken to strengthen those processes.Christopher Luxon: How many more Ministers does he expect will resign or be sacked before the election?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I think that's a ridiculous question. I would have thought the member should be more concerned about the conflicts of interest in his own team which he doesn't seem particularly focused on."