edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Horan Brendan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Horan Brendan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4311. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
BRENDAN HORAN (NZ First) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Transport 
: Is he satisfied that everything is being done to maintain KiwiRail safety? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Associate Minister of Transport) 
: 
 Yes and can I take this opportunity in Rail Safety Week to commend the great work that KiwiRail and the Chris Cairns Foundation are doing right now to raise awareness about the dangers around rail tracks and crossings for pedestrians. 
Brendan Horan 
: How can he claim that rail safety is being maintained when rotten sleepers remain in place at critical locations on the rail network? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: I think it is worth taking this in context. There are some 7000 hardwood sleepers that are showing signs of premature decay. That is 0.12 percent of the 6 million - odd sleepers in the network. KiwiRail is taking this very seriously. It has taken action to test inspect and replace the sleepers and has assured me and the public that it would not run services if it considered that there was any risk to public safety. 
Brendan Horan 
: How can he claim that rail safety is being maintained when almost 200 KiwiRail maintenance staff are being made redundant despite the backlog of maintenance including thousands of rotten railway sleepers not yet replaced? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: Well because the Turnaround Plan that KiwiRail is instituting is about business sustainability and putting precious funds to their best possible uses but in no way shape or form is this compromising safety. 
Brendan Horan 
: Given the extent of rotten sleepers at critical level crossings will he take responsibility for any accidents that occur through a failure of those sleepers? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: I am not aware of any safety issues where sleepers are leading to safety issues. Of the two cases where sleepers that were decaying could possibly have caused derailments they were not as I understand it near level crossings.
Lotu-Iiga Sam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Lotu-Iiga Sam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4305. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
5. 
Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development 
: What reports has she received on the public submissions on the  
Green Paper for Vulnerable Children 
 about how to better protect our most vulnerable children from abuse and neglect? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development) 
: 
 Today we released a summary of submissions on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children and over 600 full submissions from various organisations. There has been a huge level of public debate on this. The number of submissions has been impressive to say the least. At the 17 green paper meetings that I fronted around the country I was just hugely impressed with people’s willingness to come forward and actually give their opinions. This process has resulted in almost 10000 submissions made by non-governmental organisations community groups and members of the public including over 2000 from children and young people. 
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga 
: Why release the submissions summary and the submissions? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Because of transparency. This was a very open and public consultation process so I felt it was important to release as much of this information as possible. Ideally I would release all of the submissions but many people provided very personal information as they wanted to relate their own horror stories so that future children would have better outcomes and I am going to respect them and this process. 
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga 
: What was the methodology for analysing the submissions and how has it helped drafting the white paper? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: All submissions were given unique identifying numbers. Various ideas from the submissions were grouped into common categories and the frequency with which each idea came up was recorded. This process allowed the team of analysts to describe the submissions’ common ideas and opinions and indicated how often submitters raised a particular idea. These submissions are playing a significant role in the writing of the white paper.
Henare Tau: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Henare Tau: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4300. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
2. 
Hon TAU HENARE (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: What reports has he received on the cost of living? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 Inflation for the year to June came in at 1 percent—the lowest rate since 1999. Food prices fell 1.8 percent in the year to the end of July. Fruit and vegetable prices fell 6.6 percent. In that year the price of grocery food was down 1.7 percent and the price of meat and poultry was down 1.6 percent. It is good to see that inflation is relatively low. However many families still have difficulty meeting their weekly obligations. That is why we are focused on building a faster-growing economy that supports more jobs and higher incomes. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: How do the latest consumer price figures compare with wage movements in the past year? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: Although inflation has been falling the economy has been growing moderately and this has been reflected in moderate average wage increases. Annual inflation is running at about 1 percent. The average wage increased by 3 percent in the past year or 2 percent more than inflation. In addition floating mortgage rates at around 5.75 percent are at their lowest level in almost 50 years. This is giving New Zealand households a small amount of freeboard which they appear to be using to reduce their debts and increase their savings. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: How does the current level of inflation compare with that in 2008? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: Inflation is considerably lower now probably because of the after-effects of the global financial crisis and a generally more competitive economy. Annual inflation in November 2008 was running at 5.1 percent. That was made up of 9 years of electricity price increases which added up to 72 percent; floating home mortgage rates of almost 11 percent; and of course the economy having been in a recession for almost a year. By contrast the lower inflation we are now experiencing combined with steady increases in average after-tax wages means that the real spending power of the average wage earner is increasing slightly. 
Hon David Parker 
: Over the past 2 years have ordinary-time wages as measured by the Labour Cost Index grown by 4.24 percent while prices as measured by the Consumers Price Index have grown by 6.28 percent? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: I cannot vouch for exactly those figures. What I can tell the member is that the relationship between the average ordinary-time wage and inflation has meant that superannuitants have had a New Zealand superannuation increase in each of the last 2 years in order to maintain the value of New Zealand superannuation.
Dunne Peter: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
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Dunne Peter: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4298. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I want to join with others in paying huge tribute to the New Zealand Olympic team for its phenomenal achievements over the last fortnight. The team not only did our country proud; it upheld all of the Olympic traditions and it gave a real sense of uplift to this country in the middle of a very bleak winter. 
We acknowledge and we celebrate our six gold medallists. It is not true as the Australians like to gibe that we do very well in sports where we sit down and go backwards! Actually our rowers our yachties our canoeists and Valerie Adams all did extraordinarily well and surpassed most people’s reasonable expectations as did all our other medallists and we hung on their every achievement. They deserve our richest and fullest congratulations. But there were other members of the team who did equally well. I saw a statistic at the weekend that in the events New Zealand competed in at the games something like three-quarters of our competitors ended up in the top 16 in their event and over half of those were in the top eight. So when we make comparisons—and I think comparisons are probably invidious—about where we stand in the international rankings I doubt that many countries would have had that level of achievement with a significant number of their athletes and their performers ending up within the top eight in the world in their particular events and winning per capita the number of medals that we did. 
I thank our athletes our administrators and everyone associated with the Olympic performance for the uplift they have given our country in recent weeks and for the inspiration that the individual performances have given our young people who now all see themselves as a Valerie Adams a Sarah Walker a Mahe Drysdale or whomever because they have ambition and they have people to look up to. The real achievement of the Olympic ideal is not just the winning and taking part not just the being there not just the camaraderie but the inspiration of future generations and in that our team has done us exceptionally proud. I thank you all for what you have done for the sacrifice you have made for the dedication and the commitment you have shown and for your discipline for your performance and for your achievement. 
Motion agreed to.
Banks John: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
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Banks John: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4298. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon JOHN BANKS (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 On the occasion of John Walker’s 40th birthday I had the privilege of meeting arguably the greatest athlete in the history of the world. On that occasion I said to Sir Roger Bannister: “Why is it that you have come all this way to New Zealand to celebrate this birthday? You’re leaving tomorrow morning back to London.” He said: “I’ve come around the world to give thanks and praise to one of the greatest athletes of all time and one of your great Olympians.” So today we give thanks and praise to our great Olympians: the young people who have made us proud these last 2 weeks. 
 Our success is a remarkable achievement for a small nation. It has promoted our country centre stage to the rest of the world with six gold two silver and five bronze—13 medals in all. These medals represent tens of thousands of hours of commitment and determination and much sacrifice. To those who came home victorious we stand here today and salute you. In rowing kayaking sailing and shot-put we showed the rest of the world that we were truly the best and in other sports we showed that we are a force to be reckoned with. 
The can-do can-win attitude of the New Zealand athlete is as time-honoured as that first 4-minute mile run by Sir Roger Bannister and the success in London in these past 2 weeks brings much credit to our small country. In one of my previous roles as Minister of sport I attended two Olympic Games—at Atlanta and at Barcelona. There is nothing like being able to experience the excitement privilege and responsibility of all the athletes their coaches their supporters and their families firsthand. I am sure Sir Roger Bannister would be glad that this Parliament is giving thanks and praise to our athletes who have done so well. 
On behalf of the ACT Party and all New Zealanders I extend to them all our warmest congratulations—to those who represented our country at these 2012 games in London. I also extend from the South-west Pacific my congratulations to Lord Coe. I was with Lord Coe on the day he was first appointed to the job of managing the 2012 Olympics. Britain has done us proud as the New Zealanders have also done us proud.
Harawira Hone: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
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Harawira Hone: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4298. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
HONE HARAWIRA (Leader—Mana) 
: 
 I have just received a text from Dr Sharples to say that because of the translation service breaking down he would like me to translate what Mr Flavell has just said. Mr Flavell has just told the country that most of those Maori who got medals over at the Olympic Games were descendants of the  
Mataatua 
 canoe in the first instance. The  
Mataatua 
 canoe as Te Ururoa and the rest of Maoridom know is buried up in Tai Tokerau. So he would like to thank Ngapuhi for graciously giving all of their descendants for the glory of this country! Tena koutou kia ora tatou katoa.
Peters Winston: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
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Peters Winston: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4295. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 Every 4 years we take time out to marvel at the amazing feats that can be achieved by the disciplined human athletic body. New Zealand can take great pride in every one of our Olympic athletes representing our country amongst the best in the world whether they won or were placed somewhere way down the list. The success of each individual elite athlete in making the Olympic team represents years of gruelling physical training mental determination resilience and above all sacrifice by them and their families. 
There was disappointment mixed in with glory but this time we did perform above our weight. According to the 
 Guardian 
 which can be relied upon because it is an English newspaper per capita of population we came in fourth. Our congratulations to all our medal-winners and members of our Olympic team and best wishes to the Paralympians from New Zealand soon to be performing at that theatre in London. 
I just want to say something special about Valerie Adams and her coach whose face told us volumes during and after the event. But even though they suspected something was seriously wrong they acted with dignity said nothing and took it like we would expect a New Zealander to take what looked to be an ungracious circumstance where they were going to be defeated. Then of course we found out the truth and she is for the second time an Olympic gold medal - winner. I congratulate her on that and on the way that she and her coach in particular handled themselves—and indeed all our New Zealanders. But to Valerie Adams the words of the great Bard are true: “All’s well that ends well.”
Banks John: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
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Banks John: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4292. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon JOHN BANKS (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 I rise today on behalf of the ACT Party to pay our respects to Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone both 26 who died serving our country in an inhospitable and dangerous place on Saturday 2 weeks past. We offer our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends at this very difficult time. A mum’s boy a father’s son—no words can ever take away the pain of their loss. But we hope they can find some solace in the country’s recognition of their sons’ heroic contribution. 
The young men and women who choose to join the army do so knowing the high risks and inherent dangers of the job but they choose to do so willingly. On the gates of Burnham Military Camp in Christchurch the following words are written: “Remember that prosperity can only be for the free and that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.” Lance Corporal Durrer and Lance Corporal Malone ordinary men who demonstrated extraordinary courage died doing exactly that. 
Hearing their colleagues speak about them was to know they were both men of much humour much fun and much wit. Their bravery came from their families. The shared values of loyalty commitment and patriotism were inherent in their background and indeed their sense of duty and sacrifice came from their great-great-grandfathers. Some of the greatest battles in history have defined this nation’s character from Cassino to Guadalcanal to Afghanistan—across the world a century of sacrifice and tragedy. This country stands apart for our role in the global destiny of freedom and peace and the common thread is young soldiers prepared and ready to go to defend our fragile democracy. 
At this time we are also thinking of Major Craig Wilson the commander of the New Zealand troops caught in the ambush at Bamian Province and their five comrades who were seriously wounded. We acknowledge and salute their bravery on this fateful day 4 August 2012. We wish them well. 
For the fallen Lance Corporal Durrer and Lance Corporal Malone: 
They went with songs to the battle they were young  
Straight of limb true of eye steady and aglow.  
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted  
They fell with their faces to the foe.
Dunne Peter: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
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Dunne Peter: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4293. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 Yet again we take time out from this House to pay tribute to the memory of brave talented and able young New Zealanders who have lost their lives in a field of conflict as horrific as barren and as desperate as Afghanistan. Today we pay rightful tribute to Lance Corporals Rory Malone and Pralli Durrer and we acknowledge the sense of loss that their comrades their friends and their families will be feeling at the circumstances of their deaths. 
I think it is time to recall also the memories we have every Anzac Day when we think about those brave soldiers a century ago who against incredible odds made the remarkable sacrifices that they did. We marvel about their bravery we marvel about their maturity and we marvel about their sense of duty and accomplishment. These two young men epitomise that spirit. We need marvel no longer. We have seen it demonstrated in our soldiers in the work they have done in Afghanistan and sadly in the sacrifices they have made. It is a historical coincidence that in the case of Lance Corporal Malone there is a linkage back to that great conflict at Gallipoli. But in every sense Lance Corporals Durrer and Malone are the modern embodiment of that Anzac spirit. 
Although our words give due solemnity to the occasion and although our words speak for the nation in the sense of paying its tribute to those men they will be only a form of comfort to the families who have to live now constantly with the loss. But maybe there is some consolation in memory. Maybe there is some consolation in the high regard that these young men were obviously held in and the gratitude that this country feels for their service and for their contribution. May they rest in peace. 
Motion agreed to.
Graham Kennedy: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
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Graham Kennedy: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4291. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green) 
: 
 The Green Party stands to acknowledge the sacrifice that Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer and Lance Corporal Rory Patrick Malone made as members of the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan. Both men have been taken from us far too young at 26 years of age. This loss the greatest loss of life and injury in active New Zealand service since Viet Nam is felt throughout the country. We also acknowledge those who were injured in the same action. We wish them a rapid recovery and know that everything possible will be done to assist them in their physical and psychological recovery. 
It takes courage to put one’s life on the line in the service of New Zealand and of humanity. We acknowledge the dedication the skill and the bravery of both men. Both had served overseas before assisting with the stabilisation force during times of trouble in Timor-Leste. Our thoughts are with the men’s families and their larger whanau at this sad time. I was privy to their powerful and moving statements of love and loss at Burnham on Saturday and to the invincible haka and the haunting bagpipes that sent Pralli and Rory on their final journey. May those grieving today be comforted in the knowledge that the pride in which they held their loved ones is shared by the rest of this nation.
Peters Winston: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
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Peters Winston: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone in Afghanistan 2012 Olympic Games—Success of New Zealand Team 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4291. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 On behalf of New Zealand First I wish to express our condolences and utmost sympathy to the families and friends of Lance Corporal Rory Malone and Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer. The questionable issue of the continued positioning of our soldiers in Afghanistan should wait for another day. Today it is appropriate that we all join in this country and in this House to pay our respects to these men and their families and friends. They have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of this country. We also wish a quick recovery to those comrades-in-arms who were injured alongside both Lance Corporals Malone and Durrer.
Personal Explanations — Estimates Debate Vote Energy—Number of Houses to be Insulated 
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Personal Explanations — Estimates Debate Vote Energy—Number of Houses to be Insulated 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4376. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Personal Explanations 
Estimates Debate Vote Energy—Number of Houses to be Insulated 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Energy and Resources) 
: 
 I seek leave of the House to correct a figure that I gave about 15 minutes ago. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Is there any objection to that course of action being taken? There is none. The Minister may proceed. 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: In my speech about 10 or 15 minutes ago I said that the number of houses we are seeking to insulate is going from 188000 to 240000. The increase is actually about 40000. I should have said that the number is going from 188000 to 230000 not 240000. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Thank you Minister.
Urgent Debates Declined — Education National Standards—Decision to Release Data 
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Urgent Debates Declined — Education National Standards—Decision to Release Data 
[Sitting date: 14 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4313. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Urgent Debates Declined 
Education National Standards—Decision to Release Data 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have received a letter from the Hon Nanaia Mahuta seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the Government’s decision to publicly release school national standards data this September. The decision is a case of recent occurrence that involves ministerial responsibility. However not every ministerial decision will warrant an urgent debate. There must be an element of urgency for the matter to take precedence over other business. The authentication for the member’s application reveals that this is the first time the national standards data will be published on the website but that the Minister has developed a 5-year plan to improve year-on-year quality and the use of national standards data. The issue is a developing one. In these circumstances I am not persuaded that the setting aside of the House’s business for an urgent debate today can be justified. The application is therefore declined.
Bennett David: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
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Bennett David: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4286. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 I want to take just a really short call. I think the Labour Party has obviously run out of things to say on this bill the Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill. It is a good bill it is in the best interest of our tax policy and we look forward to it passing through the House.
Woodhouse Michael: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
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Woodhouse Michael: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4287. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) 
: 
 It is my pleasure to stand in support of the Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill. I have been listening very carefully to the contributions by members on all sides of the House. I certainly respect the different points of view including those of the Greens which I simply cannot agree with. One of the things that we have found over the last couple of years is the very eloquent way in which they tell half a story very well. The so-called tax cuts for the rich completely ignore the fact that we now have one of the fairest tax systems in the world once again I think whereas we saw increasingly distortionary tax policies being put in over 9 years of a Labour Government which the Tax Working Group was very clear about. This Government under the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Finance has set out on a path of remedying those distortions and I think this bill continues that very well. 
I am particularly interested in the software changes and I look forward to talking about them in the Committee stage of the bill. But in the meantime it is my great pleasure to support it.
Roy Eric: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
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Roy Eric: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4286. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Is this a split—[ 
Interruption 
] Order! I will put the question if someone does not—[ 
Interruption 
] I am addressing the member the Hon Trevor Mallard. Is this a split call? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Not that I’m aware of. 
Hon Member 
: Yes it is. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: It is—5 minutes. The Hon Trevor Mallard—5 minutes.
Robertson H V Ross: Non-bank Deposit Takers Bill — Second Reading 
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Robertson H V Ross: Non-bank Deposit Takers Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4253. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Can I say that the member of course is perfectly entitled to seek leave of the House but whether the House gives it to him is another matter. So I am going to put the question. Is there any objection to that course of action being taken? There is. I am sorry Mr Parker; there is objection.
Simpson Scott: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Simpson Scott: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4238. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
4. 
SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel) 
 to the  
Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment 
: What changes is the Government making to improve results from industry training? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment) 
: 
 Yesterday I announced the Government is seeking to further improve the performance of industry training by boosting the number of apprentices and increasing the support for apprenticeship training. These proposals follow a comprehensive policy review conducted by the Ministry of Education. The changes are the next step in improving the performance of the Government’s investment in industry training and include clarifying the role of industry training organisations increasing the performance expectations of industry training organisations enabling learners to transition easily between workplace-based and non - workplace-based training and ensuring a sustainable funding regime is in place for results-focused industry training. The Government expects the changes to drive a higher level of qualification completion in industry training so that workers are equipped with transferable skills that improve this country’s productivity and boost economic growth. 
Scott Simpson 
: Given the revised system’s focus on improving the performance of the Government’s existing investment in industry training who will benefit from these proposals? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: When the Government came into office it was clear that training enrolments were high but actual credit achievement was very disappointingly low with huge numbers of phantom trainees. We set about making changes as we have in other parts of the tertiary system to focus on results and improve value for money for taxpayers. Those changes have successfully raised credit achievement in the industry training sector by 19 percent since 2008. A more high-performing industry training sector will significantly benefit trainees first of all in achieving valuable skills and higher wages in the labour market but also businesses with a more productive workforce and the New Zealand economy in producing goods in demand around the world.
Graham Kennedy: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
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Graham Kennedy: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4287. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green) 
: 
 In the interests of House efficiency let me just sum up the Green Party position on this which was quite ably presented by our co-leader Russel Norman both in the first reading and in the second reading today. We see that there are small but significant parts to this bill the Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill that are positive. 
In a more broad sense we see this bill as essentially the tip of an iceberg of the Government’s general macro policy which reflects a position that is socially regressive in its GST policy and its income policy fiscally negative in increasing the deficit economically irresponsible in increasing the national debt ecologically destructive in not imposing a resource rental on water and not imposing a true carbon charge and regionally skewed against Canterbury for failing to impose or introduce a levy that would make it fairer for Cantabrians in the broad recovery process which is in the national interest. For those reasons the Green Party will continue to oppose the bill.
Goldsmith Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Goldsmith Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4233. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: What reports has he received on progress in lifting New Zealand’s household savings and reducing household debt? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 The latest available data comes from the year to March 2011 and shows that net household savings in that year were 0.2 percent of disposable income. Although this is modest it is the first annual positive savings rate since 2000 and only the second since 1993. Treasury forecasts an increase in the household savings rate from 0.2 percent of household disposable income to 3.9 percent by 2016. This higher savings rate and the reduction in household debt are expected to be helped by continued restraint on consumer spending which of course is not such good news for the retail sector. 
Paul Goldsmith 
: What impact has the recent increase in household savings had on household debt? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: Household debt did grow quickly through the mid-2000s. However since then the growth has slowed and started to turn down helped along by New Zealanders being careful with their money. As a result household debt as a percentage of disposable income has fallen from 155 percent of disposable income in 2009 to 140 percent today. So that is quite a significant reduction. The level of household debt however is still high and I would expect that New Zealand households will continue to pay down their debt. 
Paul Goldsmith 
: Given the improvement in household savings and the fall in household debt what factors are behind forecasts for the current account deficit over the next few years? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The current account deficit is forecast to go out to 6.7 percent of GDP by March 2016. This is still significantly less than its peak at 8.7 percent of GDP in 2006. The forecast widening of the deficit will reflect a couple of factors. One is the Christchurch rebuild which is being part-financed from overseas insurance inflows. Statistics New Zealand estimates $15.7 billion of reinsurance for Christchurch. A second driver of it will be increasing business investment—that is where people are financing investment in their own businesses which will generate future income. 
Andrew Williams 
: Has the Government any plans to ensure more household saving is invested in New Zealand - owned financial institutions rather than in foreign-owned banks; if not why not? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: There is a bit of a trade-off in this respect where large investors such as the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and ACC have investment policies that include diversification of their holdings. Both of those funds are so large that they have probably invested almost as much as they can in the New Zealand stock market though they do invest a considerable amount of their funds offshore as a rational investor probably would.
Vote: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
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Vote: Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4288. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Taxation (Annual Rates Returns Filing and Remedial Matters) Bill be now read a second time. 
Ayes 106 
New Zealand National 59; New Zealand Labour 34; New Zealand First 8; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 11 
Green Party 10; Mana 1. 
Bill read a second time.
Mallard Trevor: Business of the House 
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Mallard Trevor: Business of the House 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4233. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 Can the Deputy Leader of the House confirm that it is the Government’s intention to move in the next 3-week period to debate the age-related matters of alcohol law reform and then to do the substantive Committee stage in the September period and when is it the Government’s intention to announce a request for substantive Supplementary Order Papers so we can get a more coordinated approach?
Mitchell Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Mitchell Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4245. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
10. 
MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) 
 to the  
Minister for Communications and Information Technology 
: Has she received any reports on the progress of the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiatives? 
Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister for Communications and Information Technology) 
: 
 Yes. Today I am releasing a report on the results of the first year of the build programme for both the Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative and the Rural Broadband Initiative. Under the Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative the fibre network now reaches over 76000 premises exceeding the year 1 target by nearly 10 percent. Under the Rural Broadband Initiative 69000 homes and businesses in rural areas now have access to improved broadband meeting all first-year expectations. The four rural hospitals scheduled for connection have been connected. A total of 661 schools now have fibre to the gate representing 85 percent of an ambitious year 1 target with the remainder to be connected by September. As well as the nearly 500 rural schools 10 of our most remote schools have also been connected. These initiatives are part of the National-led Government’s commitment to deliver world-class connectivity to drive innovation create jobs and grow our economy. 
Mark Mitchell 
: Has the Minister seen any reports on the provision of international bandwidth and its effect on ultra-fast broadband? 
Hon AMY ADAMS 
: Yes I have. This is an area that we monitor closely. Although our position is that we would welcome and encourage a second cable provider we are satisfied that the existing capacity is sufficient to meet New Zealand’s needs. The key point is that the case for our ultra-fast broadband and rural broadband projects was never reliant on a second cable. There is ample capacity in the medium term in the Southern Cross cable with upgrades planned to increase capacity tenfold by 2016 and numerous commentators have now confirmed this position. New Zealand also indirectly benefits from the competitive international market in Australia as Southern Cross Cables charges New Zealand the same rates as it does in Australia. I am confident that as market dynamics change there is every likelihood that the investment case for a second cable will improve. 
Clare Curran 
: What is the best estimate she has received to the nearest $100 million of the economic loss to the country from the collapse of the Pacific Fibre cable deal? 
Hon AMY ADAMS 
: My interest in this issue is ensuring that the Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative and the Rural Broadband Initiative will not be hampered by the provision of international bandwidth. I am satisfied that they will not so I have not requested any further analysis in that regard.
Wagner Nicky: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Wagner Nicky: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4247. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12. 
NICKY WAGNER (National—Christchurch Central) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: What recent announcements has she made in relation to the Waste Minimisation Fund? 
Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 Last month I announced that more than $1 million has been awarded to 10 projects that will reduce the amount of landfill rubbish under the latest funding round for the Waste Minimisation Fund. The 10 projects receiving funding this round include initiatives that encourage public recycling the sorting of treated and untreated timber to make biofuel and a project to help businesses compost more of their waste and raise the importance of composting. Every year New Zealanders send 2.5 million tonnes of waste to the landfill. That is over a tonne of rubbish per household. These projects will make a significant difference to our environment by encouraging individuals and businesses to reduce reuse and recycle. 
Nicky Wagner 
: How have previous projects funded through the Waste Minimisation Fund helped to reduce waste in landfills? 
Hon AMY ADAMS 
: I have recently received a report describing that more than 650 tonnes of plastic farm waste has been recycled nationwide during the past year thanks to a Government-accredited product stewardship scheme called Plasback. Plasback supplies more than a thousand recycling bins to New Zealand farms and collects agricultural plastics such as bale wrap agrichemical containers crop bags and silage wraps and covers which are recycled into new plastic products. This voluntary scheme is about getting alongside farmers and providing an environmentally friendly alternative. Thanks to the Waste Minimisation Fund and the agricultural sector’s commitment this means there are now 650 fewer tonnes of plastic waste that are no longer being burned or buried.
Tolley Anne: Business of the House 
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Tolley Anne: Business of the House 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4233. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Deputy Leader of the House) 
: 
 Next week the House is in a 1-week adjournment. When the House resumes on Tuesday 14 August the Government will look to complete the remaining stages of the Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill and begin the Committee stage of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill. Wednesday is a members’ day.
Lole-Taylor Asenati: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Lole-Taylor Asenati: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4242. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
7. 
Le’aufa’amulia 
 ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister for Whanau Ora 
: Does she stand by her statement that “I don’t object to any vulnerable family receiving Whanau Ora support because that’s what the money is for”? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Prime Minister) 
 on behalf of the Minister for Whanau Ora: Yes. 
Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor 
: Given that answer how does the Minister justify the Mongrel Mob receiving $20000 through Whanau Ora? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: I am not sure what the member is referring to. I know there is a trust that is before the courts facing charges of misappropriation. I am not sure whether it is the same group that the member is referring to. 
Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor 
: Has her department undertaken any inquiries into how the Mongrel Mob came to be in receipt of $20000 of taxpayers’ money; if so what was the result of these inquiries? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: I understand the relevant department has made inquiries. In fact those inquiries may have been of some assistance to the police.
Tolley Anne: Business of the House 
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Tolley Anne: Business of the House 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4233. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Deputy Leader of the House) 
: 
 It is my understanding that the Leader of the House has already indicated that he will be bringing the matter of the alcohol law reform bill to the Business Committee in the next session for discussion.
Business of the House 
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Business of the House 
[Sitting date: 02 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4233. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Thursday 2 August 2012 
Mr Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Prayers 
. 
Business of the House 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Deputy Leader of the House) 
: 
 Next week the House is in a 1-week adjournment. When the House resumes on Tuesday 14 August the Government will look to complete the remaining stages of the Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill and begin the Committee stage of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill. Wednesday is a members’ day. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 Can the Deputy Leader of the House confirm that it is the Government’s intention to move in the next 3-week period to debate the age-related matters of alcohol law reform and then to do the substantive Committee stage in the September period and when is it the Government’s intention to announce a request for substantive Supplementary Order Papers so we can get a more coordinated approach? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Deputy Leader of the House) 
: 
 It is my understanding that the Leader of the House has already indicated that he will be bringing the matter of the alcohol law reform bill to the Business Committee in the next session for discussion.
Hutchison Paul: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
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Hutchison Paul: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 01 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4216. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
: 
 I seek leave to have a call. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Is there any objection to that course of action? There is. Sorry. 
Vote agreed to.