van Velden BrookeBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of my ACT Party colleagues opposed to the adjournment of Parliament as the only party willing to hold the Government to account in spite of an emergency. Our MPs believe we have a duty as representatives to bring our voice and the voices of members of the public to this House to hold the Government to account and ask the questions that are on the minds of New Zealanders—those who have been affected by the floods and those who have not.We've heard from our National Party colleague just before that even when there is an emergency—and especially when there is an emergency—we should be here to hold the Government to account. But rather confusingly they've opted to forgo democracy and Parliament. The ACT Party believes we need to be extremely clear: when the Government in an emergency takes on extra powers we should be here to hold those powers to account and to hold the Government to account.When the ACT Party heard of the cyclone and the travel disruptions that could occur we did our best to make plans to be in this Chamber so that we could be here to ask questions of the Government. We've heard from our colleague Mark Cameron that his own farm has been affected his own livelihood been affected his community has been affected and yet he is here to provide a voice for rural New Zealanders who want to ask questions of the Government—and that is his right and his duty to be here as it is for all 10 of our ACT MPs. We should have at least made question time an option even if it was a virtual question time but instead we're forgoing Parliament completely. I do want to acknowledge that it is unfortunate that people across New Zealand have been affected by this cyclone. Many people have lost their homes and their livelihoods and will be wondering what the effects of this cyclone will be in weeks and months to come. But for many New Zealanders the worst of the weather event itself has passed. Flights are returning; travel disruptions—in some regards—have not happened. Importantly members of Parliament who were affected are now able to fly down to Parliament like they were not able to yesterday. We know that people have been affected but there are people who have been affected who still have questions to ask the Government. And it's our job and our duty to be here to ask them for them.On a rough count looking around this House there are around 75 members of Parliament here present. That's 75 members of Parliament who can debate. That's people who have made travel plans to be in Parliament and people who can question the Government and I note there are around 11 or 12 Ministers that could be here to be held to account.Parliament is making the decision to adjourn as the worst of the weather has passed. We know that the effects in the community are severe. There are people going through terrible terrible events but what will be different about tomorrow than will be different next week? There will be a clean-up happening in our communities tomorrow; there will be a clean-up in our communities next week. There are houses that may not have power this week next week and the following week.We are in a national state of emergency but we cannot suspend democracy because of the weather. We have a duty to be here and we oppose the adjournment of Parliament.