2. Question No. 2—Building and ConstructionBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionQuestion No. 2—Building and Construction2. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Minister for Building and Construction: Does she expect that building and construction costs will continue to increase this year beyond the 10.4 percent seen in 2022 and does she expect the supply of building and construction materials will be able to meet the demand for new buildings and repairs following recent extreme weather events?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Defence) on behalf of the Minister for Building and Construction: It's well known that there have been cost increases over the past couple of years due to supply chain constraints relating largely to COVID. While it is too early to speculate on the impact recent extreme weather events will have on prices and supply of materials I continue to monitor the situation closely. Since January we've been engaging with the sector to assess supply chain constraints following extreme weather events to identify where there may be blockages and what needs to be done. My officials continue to engage with the Construction Sector Accord building merchants and the Critical Materials Taskforce to ensure we're responding to any immediate material shortages. I'm also a member of the newly established Cabinet Extreme Weather Recovery Committee which has been set up to coordinate and direct the Government's response to recent weather events.Brooke van Velden: Point of order Mr Speaker. It wasn't clear that the question was addressed about whether the Minister expected that the costs would increase. We heard about costs due to COVID but not whether they'll increase this year.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Speaking to the point of order my answer said while it is too early to speculate on the impact recent extreme weather events will have I continue to monitor the situation closely.Brooke van Velden: Is she concerned that some building merchants have already contacted their clients noting supplier price increases of up to 10.5 percent for Pink Batts 16.5 percent for cement board and 16 percent for framing connectors and brackets by the end of April this year?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister the advice I've had from officials is they have not yet seen any material price increases as a result of the extreme weather events and they keep the matter under close monitoring.Brooke van Velden: Why is the Government progressing with new H1 building standards which will add an estimated $15000 of additional costs on to a new residential build when a report from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment on the new standards noted that consumers are already under financial pressure in light of cost of living increases"?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister our country's history is littered with times when we relaxed standards or abandoned standards altogether and the consequence of that in the building sector was low-quality buildings. We don't intend to repeat that.Brooke van Velden: Has the Critical Materials Taskforce identified any equivalent materials that could be made available in New Zealand to mitigate any artificial shortages in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle excluding plaster board?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: On behalf of the Minister the role of the Critical Materials Taskforce is to monitor the availability of materials to support our construction activity both in relation to responding to the extreme weather events we've had recently and just to continue the programme of work that this Government has promoted and encouraged to increase housing supply. They don't deal in particular policy areas; that is a matter for the relevant ministry and they keep abreast of what the sector needs from time to time."