Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:632;Page:3898] 
4.  
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What is his estimate of the total weekly benefits and other subsidies and allowances paid to the occupants of the two Housing New Zealand Corporation properties that the family of Chris and Cru Kahui lived in? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 I am not prepared to divulge information about individual family circumstances but I can say that I have asked the Ministry of Social Development to look into this case to ensure that all benefits being paid are legitimate. If there is any evidence that they are not the ministry will take appropriate action. 
Rodney Hide 
: Does he understand the anger and frustration of Kiwis who work hard to look after their own children and pay taxes at providing an estimated $2087.48 a week to a family who gave no care to their babies despite family members not having to work and having an income twice that of many families who do? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Yes. Nothing excuses the sort of action we have seen but I repeat the statement I made in my previous answer. 
Georgina Beyer 
: Can the Minister advise in a general sense what the Government is doing to ensure the integrity of the benefit system? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I can repeat my advice to the House that the Ministry of Social Development has a zero tolerance policy with regard to abuse of the benefit system. I can also advise that the integrity of the system will be further enhanced by the Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters (Information Matching) Amendment Bill currently before the House which will permit further data-matching between the Housing New Zealand Corporation and Work and Income and I would like to acknowledge at this point the support that other parties have given to that bill. 
Sue Bradford 
: Does the Minister think the outcome for the Kahui babies was likely to have been improved had there been no income-related rents or welfare benefits going into that home? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: No. But as I said earlier nothing excuses the actions we have seen. 
Judith Collins 
: Why when the Family Violence Intervention Programme was set up specifically to develop collaboration between Government agencies and departments did staff at the neonatal unit of Middlemore Hospital fail to inform Child Youth and Family Services of their concerns regarding Chris and Cru Kahui? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I have no responsibility for the actions of the staff at the neonatal unit at Middlemore Hospital. 
Judith Collins 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Perhaps the Minister could reflect on that comment given that the Family Violence Intervention Programme is a Ministry of Social Development initiative—so he really should have some responsibility for how it has been operating. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No that is not a point of order. 
Rodney Hide 
: Does he believe he is overseeing a welfare system that sponsors responsible parenthood or irresponsible parenthood and what is he doing to ensure we have more responsible parenting in New Zealand? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: The answer is yes to the first part of the question and I draw to the member’s attention the very considerable funding in the immediately past Budget for the current year of $35 million for initiatives to address that issue among other things.