4. Question No. 4—Prime MinisterCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 4—Prime Minister4. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): Yes and especially this Government's action to turn around the miserable track record of achievement in maths for children from low-decile schools. Our Government believes in giving every child a shot no matter what school they go to or wherever they grow up. The latest maths data shows that just 8 percent—8 percent—of children in our lowest-decile schools are at curriculum in maths in year 8 and we can and will do so much better than that. I'm proud that we have a Minister who has a plan to turn that track record of underachievement around and to deliver opportunity for every child across New Zealand in every town. I'd say that member if she cares about equality of opportunity get on board and back these changes.Chlöe Swarbrick: Does the Prime Minister accept that the major determinant of educational achievement in this country is in fact poverty or parental income?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: What I accept is that there has been system failure over many many years in this country on education. What I accept is that four out of five of our kids not being where they need to be at year 8 and three out of five being more than a year behind is utterly unacceptable and we make no apologies for focusing the education system around academic achievement. We need to teach our kids to read and we need to teach our kids to do maths.Chlöe Swarbrick: How can the Prime Minister say to the children of this country I cannot change the … home that you were born into" when his Government's decision to lower child poverty reduction targets will intentionally allow for up to 23000 more children to live in poverty under his Government's economic and social policies?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well I'd just say to that member that we are committed to reducing child poverty with this Government's actions. We are doing that by rebuilding the economy restoring law and order and delivering better health and education. I'd just also say the Treasury advised us in the changes in the last Budget that we will lift 17000 children out of poverty. I think that's a good move.Chlöe Swarbrick: What does section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act currently do?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: What we're doing with section 7AA just so we're—[Interruption] We want the legislation to make sure it protects the wellbeing and the interests of our children above and beyond anything else and is unambiguous doing so.Chlöe Swarbrick: Point of order Mr Speaker. I don't think that that went anywhere near close to addressing what section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act currently does.SPEAKER: Well I mean I think the point is that there was an answer about 7AA and clearly if the Prime Minister didn't know what it was he wouldn't be amending it.Chlöe Swarbrick: Does the Prime Minister know what section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act actually currently does and can he please outline that specifically for the House?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: In answer to the first leg of your question yes.Chlöe Swarbrick: Does the Prime Minister see any problem at all with his coalition agreement promise to make decisions based on data and evidence and his complete inability to produce any data and evidence about why he wants to remove the section of the Oranga Tamariki Act which does the bare minimum on upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: What we are focused on is actually making sure the wellbeing and the best interests of the most vulnerable children in this country are protected. We want that to come first above and beyond anything else—above and beyond their cultural needs or anything else. It's important that children are protected and are safe. We'll continue to do that."