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SpeechGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth): Kia ora Mr Speaker. This evening I want to begin by acknowledging our caregivers who have for many years cared for children of the State. This evening I want to rise and acknowledge our Oranga Tamariki staff community leaders community activists those who fight for the right of our tamariki of our pēpē of our rangatahi. But most of all this evening I want to rise and acknowledge the children who are living and have lived in State care the challenges that they've experienced the challenges sadly that some of them probably tonight are experiencing. I rise tonight and acknowledge them and the reason I stand is I want to do right by them.Now I actually to be really frank with you don't really want to speak on this piece of legislation not because I don't believe in it but because I dream of a Parliament I dream of a nation where Oranga Tamariki is a redundant organisation where the State doesn't have to be involved in the care and protection of our tamariki. But unfortunately we live in a time when the State must be involved and must do what they can to protect our young people.Now we could do nothing and allow what's happening to continue to happen or we could put things in place and begin to work on it. For myself I am acutely aware—in fact this weekend I was reminded—as I buried one of my foster boy's fathers of his journey as a young person in care of his journey as a young person going through youth justice of his journey of actually not being particularly listened to or heard or respected within our State care system. So I stand here today to ensure that systems are in place that can ensure the future of young people in care is protected.Now there's one thing I want to just reflect on in the select committee process that came out of this for me and I kind of knew it but it became really starkly clear to me. It was that this place isn't particularly accessible. This place isn't particularly accessible whether it be if you have a disability particularly whether it be language whether it be understanding what is going on and that's been talked about a few times tonight. So for me listening a learning I take from this is: how do we be the most inclusive and open Parliament in the world when it comes to not only working with our young people but working with all people throughout Aotearoa? That's important to me and some of the conversations with some of the young people we spoke with—they spoke very strongly about that and how that could work.This evening I just want to leave you with a line that hit me actually really hard from one of our young submitters. It talked about one of the divine spark of our mokopuna—the divine spark of our mokopuna. I'm not going to claim that this is perfect but this is something that we put in place to ensure that the oversight of the Oranga Tamariki systems is better than it is now for the divine spark of our mokopuna. Kia ora.
SpeechDr LIZ CRAIG (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a real pleasure to speak on this bill. I've only just joined the Social Services and Community Committee and so I wasn't actually on the committee when they heard the submissions but I am very familiar with the advocacy work of the Children's Commissioner and so I'd like to focus my comments today on those aspects because over the last few years we've had some very strong advocates in the area particularly of child health and child poverty and I do remember working alongside and with over previous years Children's Commissioner Dame Cindy Kiro and also Dr Russell Wills on that advocacy around child poverty. I think the issue we've got is that the needs of New Zealand's children and young people are incredibly diverse and so I was really pleased to see that the advocacy functions of the Children's Commissioner would be strengthened in this bill. Basically what we're putting in place is a Children and Young People's Commission with a clear legislative mandate to advocate for all children and young people in Aotearoa. The addition of a board will mean that we've actually got a wider range of skills and experience around the table and so basically what the requirement is is that half of the board will need to have Māori knowledge and understanding of tikanga Māori so bringing much more of that expertise around the table but also having the ability then to have people with expertise in Pacific communities disability and a whole range of other aspects because there's a significant amount of advocacy work that needs to be done and strengthening that is really important.In response to a lot of the submissions there was a real sense that there was a need for a clearly identifiable advocate and so as we've had canvassed tonight the committee recommended that we have a Chief Children's Commissioner who will also chair the board so that there's that single person people can focus on but that also allows for that diversity and experience around the table. I think one of the other things I understand people were advocating for was having it very clearly spelt out that the Children and Young People's Commission could report directly to the Prime Minister on matters affecting children's rights. While there was no preventing that happening in the current legislation it wasn't spelt out and so that is a change that again the select committee has recommended.But basically the independence of the commission won't be changed and it will remain an independent Crown entity. So I think this is an important bill and I'm really looking forward to seeing the impacts it'll have on strengthening the advocacy that the Children and Young People's Commission can do on behalf of the whole diverse range of children and young people in our country. I commend this bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ian McKelvie): I call Melissa Lee for five minutes.
SpeechOVERSIGHT OF ORANGA TAMARIKI SYSTEM AND CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S COMMISSION BILLSecond ReadingDebate resumed.ASSISTANT SPEAKER Ian McKelvie): Members the House is resumed. When we broke for the dinner break we were up to call number two on the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People's Commission Bill and I'll call the next speaker. I call my neighbour Harete Hipango.
Maiden Statement — Dan Rosewarne
Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People's Commission Bill — Second Reading
SpeechDr GAURAV SHARMA (Labour—Hamilton West): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker. Tēnā koutou e te Whare. Just looking at all these smiley faces up in the gallery I realise that I am one of the last speakers before my good friend Dan Rosewarne embarks on his parliamentary career with his maiden speech. Before I speak on this Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) I also want to acknowledge that such is life and that when somebody new comes in sometimes people also leave this place. I want to acknowledge my colleague David Bennett on the other side of the House who has recently announced that he will be stepping away from his role at the end of this term. On behalf of the people of Hamilton I just really wanted to quickly thank David Bennett for his years of service to our beautiful city and also especially as a progressive member of this Parliament for his support for both the marriage equality bill previously as well as the abortion legalisation bill. Thank you for that and congratulations once again on your new child as well. Now coming to the Education and Training Act which came into force on 1 August 2020 it was one of the most significant education bills to come into force and it solved a lot of issues that we saw in this education workplace. But one of the things that I heard on my recent visit to a BestStart early childhood education centre in Hamilton was that there were only some centres which have already been built. The infrastructure was already in place but unfortunately there was a bit of anxiety around whether they would be affected by some of the things that are being proposed in this bill. I just want to quickly acknowledge the work of the Education and Workforce Committee in helping delay the network management commencement from 1 August 2022 to 1 February 2023 because that will reassure people who have invested in helping set up these early childhood centres already. But this is a great bill and it solves a lot of issues in the education sector and I would highly recommend this to the House. Thank you.
Williams ArenaARENA WILLIAMS (Labour—Manurewa): I liked the colourful turn of phrase from my friend on the other benches Teanau Tuiono when he said that when listening to the debate tonight and the Opposition's comments you might think that we were discussing burger joints. But these are Government-funded education centres. I feel a little bit for the Opposition because they know that the system for these Government-funded education systems is not working and is not resulting in having those early childhood centres (ECEs) where we need them. So they've decided to defend a fiction—a fiction where in all parts of the country we have choice where parents are spoilt for choice. The member for East Coast Bays said that parents are spoilt for choice but she didn't consult her colleague the member for Selwyn who then quoted extensively from an early childhood centre from a growing region in our country where the population is increasing and where ECEs are saying We do not have enough capacity. There is not enough choice for parents." I would suggest to members that the solution to this is a planning network. Perhaps we could call it a network planning model where the Minister who is elected by the people takes responsibility for the parents around the country and makes sure that we can send our kids to our local ECE centres because do you know what the system does now? The system pushes women out of the workforce. Women like me from South Auckland who are Māori and like my colleagues who are from South Auckland and are Pacific have the lowest rates of workforce participation in this country. Not having access to ECEs that work for our whānau and our communities means that women are locked out of working and are limited in their opportunities for further development and it keeps people poor. That's why I commend this bill to the House."
SpeechSARAH PALLETT (Labour—Ilam): Thank you so much Madam Speaker. I rise to take a short call on the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) with great pleasure. Although I was not sitting on the Education and Workforce Committee whilst this bill went through its various processes I really want to take a moment in time just to commend them for their hard work and I look forward to speaking later on further work that they've done. This is the next step in the comprehensive programme of continuous improvement for the education sector. Whilst as I said I didn't have the pleasure of sitting on committee for this particular piece of legislation I read the bill with interest and I was particularly interested in the strengthening of the processes around police vetting because unlike Penny Simmonds opposite I simply disagree that it is a waste of police time to vet people before they have or are likely to have unsupervised access to children. I find that attitude utterly baffling. It's a process that costs approximately $70 if an individual wishes to do it themselves before they seek employment and it takes about 20 working days—20 days where significant harm could be done. I don't feel that it's unreasonable for parents to expect that people who have unsupervised contact with their children have undertaken a thorough police vet and I commend this bill to the House.
Sosene Lemauga LydiaLEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour): Madam Speaker thank you for the opportunity to make a short contribution on this bill and I do want to acknowledge our teachers across Aotearoa. It's really important that our community understand why this bill has been introduced by the Government as the Education and Training Act was passed in 2020. The amendment bill makes minor urgent amendments to that Act and the provisions in this bill cover a wide range of areas. For South Auckland where I am from there are a number of early learning centres—specifically in Māngere there's over 25 and I just wanted to make that point.I'm just going to focus a few comments on the early learning sector and as a response to the matters raised during the select committee process. I wasn't a part of the Education and Workforce Committee at that time. The recommendation of commencement has now been moved from 1 August 2022 to 1 February 2023 to give it more time as you've heard from the chair of the select committee.The amendments will improve the quality of services by introducing new requirements to demonstrate capability by strengthening the fitness and proper test of early childhood education (ECE) to ensure that the early learning centres' national and regional policy statements will provide a map where supply and demand will meet the need and meet the strengthening test of applicants for suitability and other amendments.As you've heard the bill focuses on early learning to further improve quality of services of these new requirements—that require to be demonstrated. As the Government provides significant investment to ECEs we need the enablement of the network management with the intent to ensure to provide the approvals process and provide that rigour.So under the new bill the amendments set out that the Government requires the early learning network to create a strong sustainable and higher quality services with a diverse network of ECE services across the motu. This amendment bill is an important step towards improving success across Aotearoa for our learners and it's the first of a number of bills that the Government has prepared to progress the education work programme. It will contribute to the continuous improvement of the education sector—clear consistent and consolidated by the Government. I commend this bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): I call Nicola Grigg—a five-minute call.
SpeechIBRAHIM OMER (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. It is a pleasure to speak on the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2).National left behind a damaged education sector. It was worrying that teachers and the schools were in despair. The education legislation was outdated but most of the energy and the legislative changes had gone into the flawed ideological sideshows like national standards and charter schools. There was a lack of unifying vision or sense of mission. Early learning in particular had suffered from frozen funding for most of the decade and the rampant competitive model. This bill is a part of the Government's comprehensive programme to reform the damaged education sector. The Act brings all of the legislation on early learning school and tertiary education into one single statute. It makes amendments to the Education and Training Act to align with a new policy and make minor technical changes. It will create a more student and their whānau - centric approach.The Education and Workforce Committee heard from a few submitters and their views were part of the finalised bill. The committee listened to their submissions and their views and also concerns. So I'd like to thank them for their submissions and I'd also like to thank the officials who worked hard to make this look the way it is now. So it's a good bill. It's a bill that rights the wrongs of the past; it's a good one. I commend it to the House.
SpeechMARJA LUBECK (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure to take a call on the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2). It was a pleasure to chair the Education and Workforce Committee. While we considered this bill we had a very constructive way of working together as we usually do on our select committee—although I do have to say that some days are better than others.This bill was introduced on 30 November 2021 with the first reading on 14 December of that year. The Supplementary Order Paper relating to the network management of licensed early childhood services was referred to our select committee on 14 December 2021 to be considered alongside this bill—a bill that both contains new policies and minor and technical amendments to existing provisions in the Act.The Minister has already outlined that this bill is the next step in a programme of continuous improvement. He also spoke on the quality concerns in particular that the reforms in this bill are designed to deal with. They have been extensively detailed in the previous stages as well so I won't go there but I will be creating a more sustainable and more diverse network of early learning services.We received 36 written submissions and we heard 14 oral submissions and I want to thank all those submitters for their time. It has been really helpful to receive that feedback. Several changes were made as a result of the feedback that we heard and I want just to mention a couple of those. The previous speaker spoke about the delay to the commencement date of the timing of the network management changes to 1 February 2023 and that was one of the changes that the select committee made.Also the Minister in his speech touched on the police-vetting provisions. They were changed. And in particular the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa expressed their concern about what they saw as a loophole in the police-vetting processes where registered teachers who don't hold a current practising certificate and are employed in a non-teaching role were under the current legislation not required to obtain a police-vet. So we heard the concerns about that particular loophole and we addressed that and as a result we made an amendment to clause 65. Police-vets are now required for non-teaching staff who are registered teachers but who do not hold a practising certificate.So I'd like to finish by commending the Minister of Education for introducing the bill. As has been said before it is the next step in the programme of continuous improvement in the education sector. Therefore I commend the bill to the House. Thank you Mr Speaker.
Hipkins ChrisSITTINGS OF THE HOUSEHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That the sitting of the House today be extended into the morning of Thursday. 28 July for the second reading of the Accident Compensation (Maternal Birth Injury and Other Matters) Amendment Bill and the consideration in committee of the Data and Statistics Bill the Three Strikes Legislation Repeal Bill the New Zealand Bill of Rights (Declarations of Inconsistency) Amendment Bill and the Plant Variety Rights Bill.
SpeechPETITIONS 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 Greenpeace Aotearoa requesting that the House ban unnecessary single-use plastic bottles in New Zealandpetition of Yulian Varbanov requesting that the House pass legislation to ban gangs from wearing their patches in public petition of Migrants United Council Inc. requesting that the House urge the Government to automatically reinstate the visas of migrants whose visas expired while our borders were closed due to COVID-19 restrictions petition of Victor Wellington requesting that the House urge the Minister of Immigration to vary re-entry/travel conditions to indefinite" for people who now have residence visas who had their skilled migrant category visa processing delayed due to Immigration New Zealand's internal criteria.SPEAKER: Those petitions stand referred to the Petitions Committee. A paper has been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Electricity Authority statement of performance expectations 2022-23.SPEAKER: I present the report of the Controller and Auditor-General entitled Matters arising from our audits of 2021-31 long-term plans. Those papers are published under the authority of the House. Select Committee reports have been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Reports of the Justice Committee on the 2022/23 Estimatesfor Vote Attorney-General and Vote Parliamentary Counselfor Vote Corrections andfor Vote Courts andreports of the Justice Committee on the 2022/23 Estimatesfor Vote Forestry andfor Vote Lands."
Ministerial Statement — Myanmar—Executions by Military Regime
SpeechSPEAKER: I call on general business.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Tēnā koe e te Pīka. Tēnā tātou e te Whare.SPEAKER: Well—yes I realise they get a call but the member never took it. I called the next matter. Unless any member objects I will return and let the member have her call. But I do want to remind her of the obligation to take calls when they're available. I'm not a mind reader as to whether people want a call or not.DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori): Sorry about that Mr Speaker I didn't hear. I rise on behalf of Te Paati Māori thank you to support the ministerial statement from Minister Mahuta this afternoon. We join with the Government in totally condemning the senseless and brutal executions of political prisoners in Myanmar. Our hearts go out to the whānau and communities who are reeling from the disgraceful act of violence. The death penalty has no place in a civilised and moral world and using the power of the State to oppress terrorise and murder political prisoners is the kind of disgusting behaviour we see from dictators and despots around the world. The Myanmar Government is being run by a totalitarian military junta who have rightly been condemned across the world for suppression of human rights and attacks on ethnic minorities. The four men who were executed were campaigners for democracy and human rights. They put themselves on the line in the fight for liberation and freedom.The United Nations has warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar with an intensification of violence and a rapid rise in poverty. We are disappointed to see the comments of the Government of China and their refusal to condemn these actions. The innocent lives of ordinary people are continually being sacrificed in the power games of imperial powers. We have seen it with Myanmar and Tibet we've seen it in the Ukraine and Eastern Europe and we've seen it in the Middle East. Aotearoa must strengthen our commitments to human rights and denounce these acts whoever they are committed by. We can be an example of the world leader nation with an independent foreign policy that reflects our place in the South Pacific. That is what Te Paati Māori will support and continue to fight for. Nō reira tēnā tātou katoa.
van Velden BrookeBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT): On behalf of the ACT Party I wish to share our condolences with the family members and loved ones of the four political prisoners and democracy activists executed in Myanmar by the military regime. We condemn these violent actions that violate human rights and the rule of law. They are barbaric. Nobody in any country should be persecuted for their political beliefs. No matter our beliefs we all share in a common humanity. These political prisoners were persecuted for their belief in democracy for wanting their country to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech freedom of association freedom of movement and property rights. These are values that ACT and this Parliament seek to uphold but it's saddening to anyone who believes in democracy to see it under threat around the world and to see people lose their lives for wanting freedom and democracy. We should speak up against human rights abuses when and where we see them and so the ACT Party joins this Government in condemning the executions carried out in Myanmar. We call on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to also condemn these executions. The CCP was unwilling to condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russia but will they condemn this action? Once again we share our condolences with the family members and the loved ones of those executed for their beliefs. Our thoughts go out to you. My question is to the Minister: will this Government call on the Chinese Communist Party to condemn these executions in line with the United States?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): We will be absolutely consistent in advocating for a return to civilian Government and condemn the executions that have taken place with all members of the ASEAN group including strategic partners.
Ghahraman GolrizHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): In the immediate aftermath of the coup on 1 February 2021 New Zealand acted quickly and decisively—as the member points out—to express our condemnation and to take measures to place pressure on the regime towards a return to civilian government. Immediate actions included suspending high-level political and military bilateral engagement travel bans on those responsible for the coup and/or ongoing human rights abuses and ensuring our Government-funded cooperation activities are not channelled through or benefit the military. In relation to the direct question that was asked by the member can I say that progress has been made to ensure—in relation to the Superannuation Fund—that a responsible investment framework is in place and we continue to monitor that framework.GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green): Thank you. My second question is: will she set the minds of Myanmarese in New Zealand to rest in particular those who might be on temporary visas by assuring them that they will not be made to return at any point while it's still unsafe to do so and to provide safe and timely pathways to residency for those who wish to avail themselves of that right?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Many in this House will recall that this was a matter that was raised with regards to students studying here and were concerned that they wouldn't have the ability to have their visas extended. At the time the undertaking was that those matters would be dealt with. We have not since had any representation from any of those students that were impacted that they are dissatisfied with the approach that we've taken.GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green): Thank you. And finally I do commend the Minister in noting that in international forums we won't participate or be trading with the junta as the Government of Myanmar but I would ask whether our Government can undertake now to call upon all our allies and trading partners to desist from and to refuse to recognise the junta as the official Government of Myanmar continuing to recognise the Unity Government of Myanmar as the elected and legitimate Government of Myanmar.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): We will certainly use our voice to highlight the concerns that we have with the military regime—and in relation to the executions that take place—that are entirely consistent with New Zealand's position on the death penalty. How they choose to exercise their decisions around their interests are a matter for them. But we believe that the best opportunity to do that is to support both regional and international architecture and fora to be able to ensure that we are acting with like-mindeds. Can I just note that the ASEAN leadership of the Five-Point Consensus is one avenue that we can continue to affirm a way forward to seek a resolution and we'll continue to do that as well as in other fora.
Ghahraman GolrizSPEAKER: Clearly the member is not remote—Golriz Ghahraman. GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's good to be here in person though it is in no joyous mood that I stand firstly to recognise the courage and humanity of the people of Myanmar as they face yet another bout of violence in an ongoing harrowing atrocity being committed by the junta. We do join with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to condemn in the strongest terms the murder by execution—and masked by a military court—of Kyaw Min Yu who was better known as Ko Jimmy Phyo Zeya Thaw Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw. This is a chilling act being faced by this brave nation who have continued to fight for democracy and I want to recognise also the Myanmari community here in New Zealand. I know firsthand the heartbreak of being far away from home as you know that a repressive so-called regime is committing acts of violence against your countrymen. We stand with you here in Aotearoa and we send aroha to your whānau and community back at home. Of course this is nothing new as others have said. The junta has been a force of atrocity in Myanmar for decades and I want to recognise the minority communities like the Rohingya community who have already faced a genocide committed by this military force both in and out of power. I do want to commend our Minister for taking very swift action when the coup first happened both in diplomatic terms and in increasing humanitarian aid and in public condemnation of the coup. My question is one of three but the first to the Minister is whether the Government will take immediate action to seize or prevent any investment or trade that may directly or indirectly contribute to the acts of the junta. I do want to note that we found out last year that even our Superannuation Fund may be involved in continued investments in building companies for example that continue to build for the junta. I want to note as well and ask the Minister to let us know the ongoing work that's being done as a result of the independent review of our export controls regime which found that actually trade or exports that were being approved by her ministry weren't being done in a systematic way to uphold our human rights obligations and ask whether she's seeking to introduce legislation as was recommended by that review.
Brownlee GerryHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): Can the Minister tell the House why she thinks greater isolation of those who are running that country at the present time will be useful in trying to persuade them to change their ways given that diplomacy seems to be the only likely way out of the situation in Myanmar/Burma?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Just in response to that question that is not what I said. We continue to engage with ASEAN and we believe that the centrality of ASEAN's leadership is very important. While we do not engage at a diplomatic or defence level with leaders of the military in terms of ASEAN and the infrastructure of ASEAN at a government-officials level it has been a useful forum to be able to convey our concerns in relation to what's happening in Myanmar.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): What are the assurances the Minister has that the $70 million provided so far for humanitarian assistance in Myanmar is being spent appropriately to make people's lives better and not contribute to the activities of the junta?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): This is a significant decision that the Government took when we ceased high-level diplomatic political engagement and started to channel our humanitarian funds through organisations that were servicing communities and people on the ground and we have sought assurances through our humanitarian aid networks to maintain the support that is required but also maintain the integrity of that support to assure us that it is getting to where it needs to go. There are far too many people suffering. We want to make sure that those organisations are enabled to be able to support them.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): Yes the question was about what the assurance is that there's no particular gain to the junta by making that assistance available.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): As I say the support that the Government provides is not through the military regime; it is direct to the organisations that are able to provide the humanitarian support that we've identified is required and needed.
SpeechSPEAKER: The way that ministerial statements work now is that they are interactive. When a question is asked of the Minister the Minister replies at this point. Mr Brownlee still has some more time to go when he gets a response. Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Thank you Mr Speaker. My apologies to the member; I misunderstood the rules. Can I thank the endorsement of the National Party for the decisions that the Government's taken. In my statement I reiterated that New Zealand was quick to support ASEAN's leadership and the development of the Five-Point Consensus. We've been absolutely consistent in terms of endorsing an ASEAN-led solution and made that very clear from the time that the consensus has been revealed. I'll also refer the member to my statement and that we're mindful of the humanitarian needs within Myanmar and also the way in which we've been providing support direct to organisations that can support the humanitarian needs in Myanmar.
Brownlee GerryHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): The New Zealand National Party joins the Government in condemnation of the executions of the four pro-democracy prisoners in Myanmar Burma. History records that Burma has long as a country been beset by the sort of strife that ensures far too much human misery. It's a country that has been an international concern for many years. Post-independence in 1948 saw a period where democracy was developing—until 1962 when the coup occurred. First that prevailed until democracy was partially restored in 2010. But after the elections of 2020 a military coup again took over the country and it is objection to that junta that has led to the four being executed.There has been—and can be expected—much condemnation of the executions from all around the world. Since most of the recent condemnation has also been directed at the coup with a strong recommendation for the restoration of democracy the coming meetings will be all the more important. The question now has to be: what more can be done and what can New Zealand particularly do to work alongside other nations that have similar concerns particularly the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) as mentioned by the Minister so that the 55 million Burmese who want to return to democracy can live freely in their own country?While we condemn these actions of the Myanmar junta for allowing and defending the executions we recognise that those four people—Kyaw Min Yu Phyo Zeya Thaw Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw—have given their lives for a cause dear to so many Burmese people. I'm sure that history will not see their lives lost in vain. So my question to the Minister is: what additional support will the Minister propose in support of the five-point plan when she's at the ASEAN meeting next week?
SpeechWEDNESDAY 27 JULY 2022The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSIAN McKELVIE (Assistant Speaker): Almighty God we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed upon us. Laying aside all personal interests we acknowledge the Queen and pray for guidance in our deliberation that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom justice mercy and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.
Tuesday 26 July 2022 - Volume 761
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the motion be agreed to.Ayes 107New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10. Noes 12Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Motion agreed to.
United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill — First Reading
VoteInstruction to Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade CommitteeHon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Trade and Export Growth): It's been a night for a few little hiccups. I move That the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill be reported to the House by 13 October 2022 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions) during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House and outside the Wellington area despite Standing Orders 193 195 and 196.
VoteDEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is That the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill be considered by the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee.Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 107New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 12Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 109New Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 32; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 10ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): The question is That the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill be considered by the Health Committee.Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Health Committee.
Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ian McKelvie): The question is That the Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media Bill be considered by the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee.Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee.
Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media Bill — First Reading
Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) — In Committee
VoteBill to be reported with amendment.House resumed.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Mr Speaker the committee has considered the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) and reports it with amendment. I move That the report be adopted.A party vote was called for on the question That the report be adopted.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Report adopted.
VoteClauses 1 to 3CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): Members we now come to our final debate and that's on clauses 1 to 3. This is the debate on clauses 1 to 3: the title commencement and principal Act. The question is that clause 1 stand part.A party vote was called for on the question That clause 1 be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Clause 1 agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that the Minister's amendment to clause 2 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 162 be agreed to.Amendment agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that Erica Stanford's amendment to clause 2 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 184 be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 75New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Amendment not agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that clause 2 as amended stand part.A party vote was called for on the question That clause 2 as amended be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Clause 2 as amended agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that clause 3 stand part.A party vote was called for on the question That clause 3 be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42 New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10Clause 3 agreed to.
VotePart 2 Other amendmentsCHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that Part 2 stand part.A party vote was called for on the question That Part 2 be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Part 2 agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that the Minister's amendment to Schedule 1 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 178 be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Amendment agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That Schedule 1 as amended be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Schedule 1 as amended agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That Schedule 2 be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Schedule 2 agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That Schedule 3 be agreed to.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Schedule 3 agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that the Minister's amendments to Schedule 4 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 162 be agreed to.Amendments agreed to.Schedule 4 as amended agreed to.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the question be now put.Ayes 76New Zealand Labour 64; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that the Minister's amendments to Part 1 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 162 be agreed to.Amendments agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that the Minister's amendments to Part 1 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 178 be agreed to.Amendments agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that Erica Stanford's tabled amendment to Part 1 amending new section 2(1) of clause 3A be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 74New Zealand Labour 64; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Amendment not agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that Erica Stanford's amendment to clause 5B set out on Supplementary Order Paper 182 be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 74New Zealand Labour 64; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Amendment not agreed to.CHAIRPERSON (Ian McKelvie): The question is that Erica Stanford's amendment to clause 5B set out on Supplementary Order Paper 183 be agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 75New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.Amendment not agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That Part 1 as amended stand part.Ayes 77New Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10; Te Paati Māori 2.Noes 42New Zealand National 32; ACT New Zealand 10.Part 1 as amended agreed to.
11. Question No. 11—Education (School Operations)SHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Associate Minister of Education (School Operations)Question No. 11—Education (School Operations)11. SHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Associate Minister of Education (School Operations): How is the Government supporting schools to prepare for term 3 winter illnesses and protect against COVID-19?Hon JAN TINETTI (Associate Minister of Education (School Operations)): We know that winter illnesses historically peak at the start of term 3 and we have also been experiencing high numbers of cases of COVID-19 around the country. With schools returning this week we have provided supports to them to help keep their students and staff safe. Last week I wrote to boards of trustees of schools reminding them that the Government strongly encourages mask wearing. The public health advice continues to clearly show that mask wearing is a strong tool in the defence against the transmission of COVID-19 and other airborne respiratory viruses. That is why the Government is providing 10 million free child masks for terms 3 and 4 and continues to make adult-size masks available to schools for staff and older students. These masks are in addition to the 24 million adult-sized masks and nearly 4 million child masks already provided to schools this year.Shanan Halbert: Why was a mask mandate considered as not necessary at this time for the school environment?Hon JAN TINETTI: Schools implement their own mask-wearing policy reflective of the current case rates in the school and community and I am confident in their ability to do so. The ministries of health and education provided advice that mandating mask use is not necessary at this time but it has strongly encouraged as much use as possible. We understand that mask wearing poses implementation challenges for schools—for example younger children and students with learning support needs are unlikely to be able to comply with the mask mandate. There are also situations in schools where mask wearing might not be practicable where it will have a significant impact on teaching and learning. We recognise that schools are best placed for managing mask requirements flexibility to retain an appropriate balance of safety and minimise disruption to students' learning. Schools have this and I back them.Shanan Halbert: In addition to free masks what other supports are in place?Hon JAN TINETTI: Funding is being made available for urgent ventilation property improvements and a supplementary heating payment will help schools with their energy bills when balancing heating and ventilation this winter. A further distribution of CO2 monitoring devices and portable air cleaners at no costs for State and State-integrated schools has been confirmed and will occur early in term 3. We are confident that schools are able to implement appropriate health assessments based on public health advice and that is reflective of the needs of their school community. I want to take this opportunity to thank our teachers principals and parents who are doing a fantastic job. I'm pleased we're able to provide this extra support to help them get through winter.