edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Young Jonathan: Third Readings — 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Young Jonathan: Third Readings — 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19915. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) 
: 
 I am very pleased to stand in support of the third readings of the bills arising from the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill. The public have justifiably reacted against the figures released recently on 31 March 2011 that state there are at present $672 million worth of unpaid fines. I think the Minister of Justice made a very interesting comment. A recent survey discovered that half of the respondents said that they thought they could get away with not paying their fines. Not only is there great concern for the amount outstanding but also I believe that the general public are terribly concerned about this attitude which prevails amongst so many. 
The purpose of this legislation is to enhance the courts’ power to collect fines reparation payments and civil debt and to strengthen the enforcement measures available when people do not arrange to pay or do not continue to pay outstanding moneys as ordered by the courts. This legislation will see reparations paid sooner rather than later. The legislation notes that reparations receive priority over all other fines. Reparations are court-ordered payments to victims. This legislation is designed to strengthen the recovery of these unpaid moneys and is the most comprehensive set of legislative measures in 12 years. 
There was a very interesting process to go through on the Law and Order Committee. I give my regards to the previous Minister for Courts for the work that he did. It is my pleasure to commend this legislation to the House.
Mallard Trevor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Mallard Trevor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19904. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 I seek leave to table a page of a document from the Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit that indicates that the advice to the Government was that significant participation by foreign investors will be essential to achieve the Government’s overall objectives in its privatisation programme. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Mallard Trevor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Mallard Trevor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19901. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
10. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: When he said that “I did visit the Chinese Investment Corporation … They are very pleased with New Zealand’s economic policy” was one of the policies he discussed with this foreign sovereign wealth fund his plan for privatising state assets? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 No. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: What is the official advice that he has received on whether foreign investment would be essential to his plans for privatising assets? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: We have not received any advice that it is essential. The Government has made its intentions clear—that is we will maintain 51 percent ownership and we will provide a very good opportunity for New Zealanders to invest in New Zealand. Kiwi mums and dads will be at the front of the queue. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: When he went on to say “Contact Energy … still has the largest register of shareholders on the New Zealand stock exchange—shares still largely held by Kiwi mums and dads.” was he aware that 97.5 percent of Kiwis have been stripped of their ownership of Contact Energy two-thirds of the company is owned overseas and over $1 billion of dividends from Contact Energy have headed offshore so far? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: Well the Opposition uses the example of Contact Energy which was sold in a different way. It was sold to overseas owners in a majority. Edison Mission Energy bought 40 percent of Contact Energy shares. The Government’s plans are to retain 51 percent ownership of State-owned energy companies. In the end we would rather pay dividends to Kiwis than interest to overseas lenders. Labour wants us to pay interest to overseas lenders; we want to pay dividends to Kiwis.
Calder Cam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Calder Cam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19898. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
6. 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: What work is his Ministry doing to help New Zealand take up the opportunity from green growth following the OECD May 2011 report on the high expected global demand for such products and services? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 The Government established the Advisory Group on Green Growth led by Business New Zealand Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly earlier this year. This week it issued a discussion paper highlighting some of the opportunities. Our objective is to get our regulatory research and economic policies right so New Zealand businesses can maximise those global opportunities. 
Dr Cam Calder 
: What examples does the Minister have of green growth businesses that the Government is supporting and which are providing jobs and improving the environment? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I could give many examples but I want to draw the attention of the House to EnviroComp a Canterbury-based family business that was started in 2009 composting disposable nappies which is a world first. It has announced plans to expand to Wellington. It is now exporting that technology to both the UK and Australia. Another Kiwi business Eco Stock Supplies was started in South Auckland and it recycles food processor waste into livestock feed. It now employs over 30 people and diverts 25000 tonnes of food waste from landfill into useful product. I commend both Nicky Wagner and Cam Calder for the way they have championed those sorts of businesses.
Upston Louise: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Upston Louise: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19894. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
4. 
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
 on behalf of  
LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupo) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What reports has she received on the latest benefit numbers? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 The June benefit numbers show nearly 800 fewer people on the unemployment benefit since May and 94 percent of that reduction is of young people—that is about 754 of that nearly 800. This is the fifth consecutive month that benefit numbers have fallen and the first time in 4 years in the month of June that numbers have fallen as well which is of course a credit to the sound economic direction set by our Prime Minister and this National-led Government. 
Katrina Shanks 
: What impact have this Government’s policies had on benefit numbers? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: This Government has reduced the numbers on the unemployment benefit by more than 9000 since September with a range of measures designed to give businesses coming out of the recession the confidence to take on new staff. These measures include lowering company and personal tax rates in October and in April this year; extending the 90-day trial period to all companies which has made a significant difference; providing 12000 Job Ops places for young people; and implementing the first phase of the welfare reforms in the Future Focus package last year. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Kuaheke iho te tataurangamongatangataMaori e noho kore mahi ana? 
[ 
Has the number of unemployed Maori reduced? 
] 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: The number of Maori receiving unemployment benefit - related benefits decreased by 399 or 2 percent during June. [ 
Interruption 
] Do you not want to hear the answer about Maori and unemployment— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the Minister but a member of the Maori Party asked a supplementary question; he has the right to hear the answer. I ask the Labour Party on this occasion to please cut the noise because it is so discourteous. [ 
Interruption 
] On this occasion the Hon Annette King again is being particularly naughty and the honourable Minister the Hon Paula Bennett will cease this noise. When I am on my feet this nonsense will stop or someone will be taking an early shower. 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: The number of Maori receiving unemployment benefit - related benefits decreased by 399 or 2 percent during June. This decrease was larger than the overall decrease of 1.4 percent in unemployment benefit - related benefits. The largest decreases were in the Auckland region where the number was down by 374 and the Northland region where it was down by 112. The number of Maori on the unemployment benefit in June 2011 was 19400 and in June 2010 it was up at 21100 so we are making a bit of a difference.
Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19894. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
KATRINA SHANKS (National): On behalf of Louise Upston to the Minister of Social Development and Employment what reports has she received— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the honourable member. Would both the Hon Annette King and the Hon Bill English please cease the interjections—and the Hon Chris Finlayson for good measure too—because I cannot hear Katrina Shanks.
McClay Todd: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
McClay Todd: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19889. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: What reports has he received on the economy? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 The general picture is that the economy has stabilised and is beginning to grow steadily. Both the June  
Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion 
 and the National Bank survey showed levels of business confidence returning to where they were prior to the recession in 2008 with the exception of the construction sector which remains weak and some uncertainty about Christchurch. Overall the economy is expanding in line with Budget forecasts. 
Todd McClay 
: What steps has the Government taken to ensure that this lift in confidence is sustained? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The policies that the Government has pursued are assisting with the improvement with activity and confidence which have both risen in the face of the earthquake and with rising household savings despite a fairly high dollar. In our first Budget we turned back a decade of deficits. In our second Budget we invested in infrastructure and changed the tax system. In this last Budget we have set out a track back to surplus. If the Government has its books under control it gives confidence to everyone else that they can get on with it. 
Todd McClay 
: What policies would endanger this lift in confidence? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: New Zealand is currently enjoying low taxes stable Government spending the lowest interest rates in 45 years and the highest savings rates in 20 years. Most of what the Opposition is proposing would undermine all of those things.
Twyford Phil: Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Twyford Phil: Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19918. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
PHIL TWYFORD (Labour) 
: 
 I begin the debate this afternoon by providing a little bit of context on this issue. Many many New Zealanders have had their lives not just touched but blighted by the leaky homes disaster over the last 20 years. Those people need no explanation about what a catastrophe leaky homes have been but many others particularly those who live in parts of the country that have not been badly affected by leaky homes may not have had firsthand experience of this problem. Many New Zealanders will have seen the documentary that screened on Television One last night and was fronted by John Gray of the Home Owners and Buyers Association of New Zealand—HOBANZ. The documentary set out a little bit of that history and told the story of people who had bought homes that became leaky. It showed the enormous financial stress and emotional burden they have had to carry and the sheer difficulty of navigating through what became a bureaucratic and financial nightmare for many of them. 
The leaky homes problem has exacted an enormous toll on those homeowners on the economy of this country and on the building and construction industry. It has set back by many years the broadly bipartisan efforts to reform our building and construction industry. There is much to be regretted. 
The leaky homes problem is one of the great legacies of the free-market fundamentalism that blighted this country throughout the 1980s and 1990s. We can lay the blame for this problem on a handful of measures. First we can lay it at the door of the decision made by the Building Industry Authority under the National Government in the 1990s to allow the use of untreated timber in the construction of houses. There was a failure to have a proper product certification regime in place. The winding down or the destruction of our apprenticeship system was also a major contributor to that problem. Those things are all to be regretted and many of those lessons have been learnt. The review of the Building Act that was begun under Shane Jones as the Minister—
Power Simon: Business Statement 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Power Simon: Business Statement 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19889. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon SIMON POWER (Acting Leader of the House) 
: 
 Not at this stage.
Mallard Trevor: Business Statement 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Mallard Trevor: Business Statement 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19889. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 I thank the Leader of the House for his advice. I wanted to check that he has no plans for urgency next week.
Power Simon: Business Statement 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Power Simon: Business Statement 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19889. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon SIMON POWER (Acting Leader of the House) 
: 
 When the House resumes on Tuesday 12 July the Government intends to move the first reading of the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3) and to make further progress on the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill.
Business Statement 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Business Statement 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19889. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Thursday 7 July 2011 
Mr Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Karakia 
. 
Business Statement 
Hon SIMON POWER (Acting Leader of the House) 
: 
 When the House resumes on Tuesday 12 July the Government intends to move the first reading of the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3) and to make further progress on the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 I thank the Leader of the House for his advice. I wanted to check that he has no plans for urgency next week. 
Hon SIMON POWER (Acting Leader of the House) 
: 
 Not at this stage.
Williamson Maurice: Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Williamson Maurice: Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19927. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Minister for Building and Construction) 
: 
 I will try to respond very quickly to two things. 
I say to Dr Rajen Prasad again that we have a great difficulty in trying to exclude property speculators. There will be a number of people who choose to buy one of these homes because the person who currently owns it says they cannot afford to service even the 50 percent loan and they would rather sell it. They would rather sell what they have and go. There are people doing that already. So a young couple—it could be the member’s son and daughter-in-law—could say that they will buy one of those places. They can get it at a lower rate—there is still a lot of risk associated with it—they will spend money to do it up they will have the Government and the local authority contribute and then they will live in it. If we start to exclude people from doing that we have a real definition problem on our hands about who is a speculator and who is a young couple deciding they will give it a go. It is very difficult. It is very difficult to do. 
The other issue the member talked about is a real serious concern and we have a mechanism in the process to address it. When assessors look at a building and say they think there is $100000 of damage—they do their probes checks and so on—and when the cladding comes off they say: “Sorry old son. You were so wrong. This is much more.” there is a process to go back and negotiate the higher level an agreed position with all parties concerned. One could take that $100000 settlement to say a $200000 settlement. It is not saying: “This is what you signed up to and it is fixed.” There will be an iterative process. I have been on enough building sites now to have had enough of an education on this issue. There are many times when until people have torn off the cladding they cannot tell how endemic how severe and how far-reaching the damage is.
Calder Cam: Third Readings — 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Calder Cam: Third Readings — 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19917. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 This legislation went through the Law and Order Committee in a spirit of cooperation and collegiality. I commend this legislation to the House.
Quinn Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Quinn Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19899. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
8. 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What is the Government doing to improve Wellington’s commuter rail network? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 A huge amount. This week the Government has entered into an agreement with the Greater Wellington Regional Council and KiwiRail that will provide a permanent improvement to the commuter rail network in Wellington. As part of that plan the Government has committed to funding a further $88 million of renewal of the Wellington rail network infrastructure. Earlier in the week I was present at the signing of an agreement that included KiwiRail transferring ownership of the GanzMavag trains to Greater Wellington and the council committing to upgrade the GanzMavag trains at a cost of around $80 million. As a result of this asset transfer the regional council is now the owner of much of the region’s above-track rail infrastructure including the rolling stock and most of the stations. This will give them more independence and flexibility in how to configure services going forward. 
Paul Quinn 
: How will these measures affect users of Wellington’s commuter train services? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: This package coupled with previous investments from the Government and the regional council including the new Matangi trains will at last deliver Wellington a modern reliable commuter rail service into the future. Commuters have put up with the shortcomings of the Wellington rail network for a very long period of time—too long. Although new trains double tracking to Waikanae and other initiatives have been a great start more work has needed to be done to provide a consistent modern service. These improvements will give commuters a real choice about travelling to and from the central business district leading to less congestion on the roads and greater mobility for those unable to drive.
Vote: Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Vote: Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Financial Assistance Package) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19935. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the amendment be agreed to. 
Ayes 51 
New Zealand Labour 41; Green Party 8; Progressive 1; Independent: Carter C. 
Noes 67 
New Zealand National 58; ACT New Zealand 5; Maori Party 3; United Future 1. 
Amendment not agreed to. 
The question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 250 in the name of Phil Twyford to insert new section 125FB in clause 6 be agreed to.
Sittings of the House 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Sittings of the House 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19937. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Sittings of the House 
JO GOODHEW (Junior Whip—National) 
: 
 I seek leave given the progress we have made for the House to rise a little early this evening. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Vote: Third Readings — 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Vote: Third Readings — 
[Sitting date: 07 July 2011. Volume:673;Page:19917. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the District Courts Amendment Bill the Land Transport Amendment Bill the Summary Proceedings Amendment Bill (No 3) the Children Young Persons and Their Families Amendment Bill (No 2) the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 4) the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Amendment Bill the Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 2) the Disputes Tribunals Amendment Bill (No 2) the Family Courts Amendment Bill the Immigration Amendment Bill the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 1978 Amendment Bill the Personal Property Securities Amendment Bill (No 2) the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Amendment Bill the Privacy Amendment Bill (No 2) the Railways Amendment Bill the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No 3) the Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 5) the Social Security Amendment Bill (No 4) and the Tax Administration Amendment Bill be now read a third time. 
Ayes 106 
New Zealand National 57; New Zealand Labour 38; ACT New Zealand 5; Maori Party 4; Progressive 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 10 
Green Party 9; Independent: Carter C. 
Bills read a third time.
Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20561. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What steps has the Government taken to manage gateways between benefits? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 We have ensured that the gateways between benefits have been tightened through better management of the benefit system. This is all despite a global recession. In 2004 the net flow of people going from the unemployment benefit to the sickness benefit was 5963 people. In 2011— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the Minister but the member asking the question has a right to hear the answer. The Opposition has been commendably brief in its interjections today but on this occasion the interjections are unreasonable. 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I will start again Mr Speaker. We have ensured that the gateways between benefits have been tightened through better management of the benefit system. This is all despite a global recession. In 2004 the net flow of people going from the unemployment benefit to the sickness benefit was 5963 people. In 2011 for the first time in over a decade it was negative 712. Not only has National halted the flow but also we are now seeing more people transfer from the sickness benefit to the work-tested unemployment benefit and that is a good thing. 
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi 
: How has the Government’s better management of the benefit system— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi but it is not fair to a colleague who has been called to ask a supplementary question if front-bench members continue to interject. It is rude. It is certainly not good enough. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: We weren’t sure who he was Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi 
: How has the Government’s better management of the benefit system impacted on the overall number of those on the sickness benefit and invalids benefit? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: In the 2000s we did see the number of people on the unemployment benefit decrease but the number of people on both the sickness benefit and the invalids benefit increased by about 50 percent. Yes we have seen an increase in the number of those on the unemployment benefit over the last 3 years but we have not hidden the numbers or simply transferred people to another benefit to make ourselves look better like Labour did when it was in Government.
Cosgrove Clayton: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Cosgrove Clayton: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20554. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
5. 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) 
 to the  
Attorney-General 
: Will he meet with earthquake victims’ families to hear directly why they need independent legal representation; if not why not? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) 
: 
 Yes. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Is the cost to the Crown the reason he will not provide independent legal representation to quake victims’ families? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: No. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Specifically then given that answer what is the harm in providing independent legal representation to quake victims’ families? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: It is not a question of harm; it is a question of what is appropriate in the circumstances. I have been very happy with the excellent work the royal commission has done. Justice Cooper who is the chair of the commission the counsel assisting and the families’ liaison person have kept in very close touch with these families to help them through this time. It is very like the royal commission on the Victorian bushfire which I know the member is interested in. The commissioner said: “The significance of the losses of 7 February led counsel assisting to adopt a role in the hearings that represented as far as possible the public interest and particularly the interest of families friends and communities affected by the fires.” 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Does he agree that refusing to provide independent legal representation to the families is likely to result in those families losing confidence in the effectiveness of the royal commission inquiry the evidence of which is provided in an open letter from Quake Families to him and the Prime Minister which is partly published today? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: No. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I seek leave to table a letter from Quake Families—a group representing 50 quake families. It is an open letter to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General dated 10 August 2011 which details the lack of confidence I spoke about. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Given that there is no harm in providing independent legal representation why is he still refusing those requests for assistance when providing such representation will afford grieving families some degree of comfort during what can be described only as an incredibly traumatic time? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: Because I am very satisfied with the excellent work being done by Justice Cooper counsel assisting the royal commission and the families’ liaison person. They are doing wonderful work and are keeping in touch with the families. I believe they will enable the families to be helped through this very difficult period.
Nash Stuart: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Nash Stuart: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20556. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
STUART NASH (Labour) 
: 
 In question No. 1 Bill English said that household debt had dropped. I seek leave to table a diagram that shows total household— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: What is the source of this document? 
STUART NASH 
: It is from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand July 2011. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is this its standard publication? The Reserve Bank makes a number of publications. 
STUART NASH 
: “C5 Sector credit: resident New Zealand claims of”— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Which document is it from? 
STUART NASH 
: It is just off the Reserve Bank website. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Oh it is off the Reserve Bank website. Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.
Boscawen John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Boscawen John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20555. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
6. 
Hon JOHN BOSCAWEN (Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: Does he stand by his statement that “I think the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research is referring to some longer-term issues around demographic change and healthcare costs and we share the chief executive’s concern”? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 Yes I do although I would say having gone back and looked at the chief executive’s comments that I think he has exaggerated some of the challenges a bit by using language like saying that costs will grow exponentially over time. 
Hon John Boscawen 
: Does he believe that it is fair on pensioners to have to worry about the costs of the increasing number of elderly while he pretends that the age of entitlement can stay at 65 especially when Australia has announced several years in advance its intention to shift the age of entitlement to 67; if so why? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: I think the message for pensioners is that they do not need to worry because they have attained the age of 65. I do not think that anyone is proposing that a change in the age of entitlement would affect them. They are a group who tend to worry more about these things but in this case they do not need to. On the issue of raising the age of entitlement the Government’s position is quite clear and well understood. 
Hon John Boscawen 
: How is it that Australia a far richer country than New Zealand recognises that the age of entitlement must be shifted out but here in New Zealand we have a Government promising to take on billions of dollars of extra debt over the next 4 years and potentially bankrupt New Zealand rather than facing up to reality? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: We do not believe that those are the choices. 
Hon John Boscawen 
: Does he accept that his Government’s decision to hang its reputation on holding the age of entitlement to 65 is a political one to the long-term detriment of young people in New Zealand who must shoulder the debt; if not why not? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: No. I think the Government’s reputation will hang on considered and consistent economic management in difficult times. With regard to the age of eligibility yes because it is a decision made by Parliament it is a political decision. Our Government has made a decision not to raise the age of eligibility and that is our position.
Auchinvole Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Auchinvole Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20559. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
8. 
CHRIS AUCHINVOLE (National—West Coast - Tasman) 
 to the  
Minister for Communications and Information Technology 
: What progress is being made on the Government’s goal of delivering fast broadband to rural areas? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Communications and Information Technology) 
: 
 Yesterday the Government released two further tender documents for the final parts of the Rural Broadband Initiative contracts. Together these contracts will cover a further around 260 schools integrated family health care centres and up to 82 libraries. Following this roll-out 98 percent of New Zealand schools will be connected to ultra-fast broadband at the same speeds as their urban counterparts and the remaining 60 remote schools will have access to improved terrestrial or satellite wireless broadband services. We have been able to extend the roll-out to more health centres and some libraries as a result of the value delivered by the Government’s tendering process. 
Chris Auchinvole 
: What difference will the Rural Broadband Initiative make to rural communities? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: When fully implemented the Rural Broadband Initiative will mean our rural communities have improved access to the best health care and education services. The tyranny of distance will be almost completely removed. Fibre connections to places like Te Puia Springs hospital will mean that specialist services can be delivered to remote residents in the Gisborne region or in fact anywhere else in the country. This will save people having to travel for hours by road to access some health services and specialists will be able to spend more time treating patients rather than driving to clinics. The New Zealand economy depends on the rural sector and the extension of super-fast broadband to rural community hubs like libraries will also help keep our rural communities connected to the rest of the world.
Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20554. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
4. 
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: How have Government reforms to the Resource Management Act helped increase competition in the grocery business? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 The supermarket circus has long been a problem with the Resource Management Act. Both chains in New Zealand have abused the Act to block others establishing competing supermarkets with pseudo-environmental arguments. The Wairau Pak ’N Save debacle on the North Shore involved objections from Progressive Enterprises and went all the way through the system from commissioners’ hearings to the Environment Court and the High Court taking 12 years to resolve. The latest case involves Foodstuffs trying to block Progressive Enterprises from building a new Countdown store in Tawa. The losers in these legal charades are consumers who are denied competition and choice and getting the best value for money for their groceries. National’s 2009 amendment Act sought to stop such anti-competitive behaviour by disallowing trade competitor objections and appeals under the Resource Management Act. 
Katrina Shanks 
: What reports has the Minister received on whether the new provisions are working? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I am pleased at reports that the objection from National Distributions Ltd a subsidiary of Foodstuffs to the new Tawa Countdown has been struck out using National’s new Part 11A provision of the Resource Management Act. The company had argued that even though it was a 100 percent subsidiary of Foodstuffs it was a land development and property business and not a supermarket so it believed it was entitled to object and appeal against the new Countdown store. I am pleased that this argument was not upheld and that the intent of National’s reforms was carried through in this important test case. This is good news for the 14000 people of Tawa who currently have only one supermarket. It is a well-documented fact that food prices are most affordable in those areas where there is strong competition.
Young Jonathan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Young Jonathan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20549. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: What advice has he received about factors that lie behind the current turmoil we are witnessing on world financial markets and what are the implications for New Zealand? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 Two related factors appear to be at work: a downgrade in world growth expectations and increasing worry about the creditworthiness of some countries and companies. So we have seen sharemarkets fall sharply while some sovereign debt markets have improved. Credit risk premiums for lower-quality debt have increased and economically sensitive commodities such as oil have seen declines in prices while gold which is seen as a safe haven has risen in price. Our markets are increasingly differentiating between the strong and the weak. New Zealand is among those countries that are seen as having strong creditworthiness. Therefore the market view of our debt has been improving. 
Jonathan Young 
: What are the main actions the Government has taken that are helping New Zealand to ride out this crisis and keep interest rates low? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The Government started taking appropriate action back in 2008 because it believed that New Zealand was vulnerable to just these kinds of events. So we have worked to keep net debt below 30 percent of GDP and to focus on returning to surplus so that our debt will stop increasing. We have continued to protect the most vulnerable and we have worked on channelling Government spending to where it can be most effectively used as well as taking a range of measures on the broader economy that will improve our growth prospects. 
Jonathan Young 
: In what way is New Zealand better placed to withstand the current turmoil than it was 3 years ago? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: In any number of ways the New Zealand economy is fundamentally more sound than it was 3 or 4 years ago—in particular because New Zealanders have changed their view of debt. Through the first decade of this century there was excessive borrowing by households but New Zealanders have taken the message from the world. They have stopped increasing their borrowing and are increasing their savings. That alongside Government action is reducing the vulnerability of New Zealand to these kinds of events. 
Jonathan Young 
: What are the policies that put New Zealand’s financial stability most at risk? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: Given that markets are increasingly distinguishing between countries with strong creditworthiness and those that are weaker anything that weakens our creditworthiness would be focused on quite intensely in today’s market. The kinds of policies that would take us there would be bigger Government spending higher taxes and more debt. We are not going to go down that path.
Finlayson Christopher: Business Statement 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Finlayson Christopher: Business Statement 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20549. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) 
 on behalf of the Acting Leader of the House: When the House resumes on Tuesday 16 August the Government intends to move the first reading of the Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill and the second reading of the Biosecurity Law Reform Bill. The Government then intends to move that urgency be accorded to the passage of a number of bills requiring timely implementation. The Acting Leader of the House intends to provide the Business Committee with further details next week.
Vote: Education Amendment Bill (No 4) — Second Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Vote: Education Amendment Bill (No 4) — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20586. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the amendments recommended by the Education and Science Committee by majority be agreed to. 
Ayes 104 
New Zealand National 57; New Zealand Labour 38; ACT New Zealand 5; Maori Party 2; Progressive 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 7 
Green Party 6; Independent: Carter C. 
Question agreed to. 
Bill read a second time.
Sittings of the House 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Sittings of the House 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20596. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Sittings of the House 
JO GOODHEW (Junior Whip—National) 
: 
 I seek leave for the House to rise given that such extraordinary progress has been made this afternoon. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There appears not.
Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20565. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) 
Third Reading 
Debate resumed from 10 August. 
CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) 
: 
 I intend to take only a very very brief call on the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2)— 
Paul Quinn 
: You’ve said that before. 
CHRIS HIPKINS 
: —but the more Paul Quinn interjects the longer it will be. My contribution will be brief. I welcome the introduction of electronic voter enrolment. It is particularly relevant for younger enrolees and prospective voters. It is of huge concern to me that younger people under the age of 25 dominate the list of people who are eligible to enrol to vote but do not. I hope that allowing electronic voter enrolment will certainly go some way to addressing that. 
I hope that in the next Parliament and the near future we will have a debate about whether electronic voting should be allowed in this country because I think that would potentially also encourage more young people to vote. I know that will be a source of significant debate. I hope it is one we can address in the next Parliament not this one. I think it should be addressed. 
Overall it is a good bill and Labour will be supporting it. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 I just want to make it clear that I totally endorse the comments of Chris Hipkins. 
SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) 
: 
 Some members think electoral law makes one’s eyes glaze over but of course it is of fundamental importance and constitutional significance. I think—as Carol Beaumont an authority on constitutional matters said yesterday in the House on the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2)—that there is really nothing at all controversial about this bill. That is a testament to what this Government has done in this area. We have taken much of the heat and controversy out of electoral law matters. 
This bill is the final stage of two stages of reform to amalgamate electoral agencies. It is a good measure without controversy and I commend it to the House. 
Bill read a third time.
Business Statement 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Business Statement 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20549. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Thursday 11 August 2011 
Mr Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Prayers 
. 
Business Statement 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) 
 on behalf of the Acting Leader of the House: When the House resumes on Tuesday 16 August the Government intends to move the first reading of the Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill and the second reading of the Biosecurity Law Reform Bill. The Government then intends to move that urgency be accorded to the passage of a number of bills requiring timely implementation. The Acting Leader of the House intends to provide the Business Committee with further details next week.
Goodhew Jo: Sittings of the House 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Goodhew Jo: Sittings of the House 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20596. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JO GOODHEW (Junior Whip—National) 
: 
 I seek leave for the House to rise given that such extraordinary progress has been made this afternoon. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There appears not.
Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Domestic Violence Amendment Bill (No 2) Care of Children Amendment Bill Adoption Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Domestic Violence Amendment Bill (No 2) Care of Children Amendment Bill Adoption Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
[Sitting date: 11 August 2011. Volume:674;Page:20594. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) 
: 
 It is my pleasure to speak on this important legislation the Adoption Amendment Bill. The aim of this bill is to amend the Domestic Violence Act the Care of Children Act and the Adoption Act. 
This bill is intended to deal with the serious issue of domestic violence thereby protecting children and families from violence and abuse. This bill is to address the risk of children being wrongfully removed from New Zealand. The Government believes it is essential that the issue of domestic violence be confronted with some urgency. Offenders should be made accountable for their behaviour. In particular it is important to protect our children the future of this country. I commend this bill to the House.