12. Question No. 12—Building and ConstructionTIM VAN DE MOLEN (National—Waikato) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionQuestion No. 12—Building and Construction12. TIM VAN DE MOLEN (National—Waikato) to the Minister for Building and Construction: Does she stand by all of her statements and actions?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister for Building and Construction): Yes in particular I stand by my statement that A report from Statistics New Zealand … shows the number of building consents has broken yet another record with 44299 new homes having been consented in the year ended June 2021—another all-time high. This is an increase of 18 percent from the June 2020 year with 4310 new dwellings consented in June alone. These figures demonstrate … how far we've come in the last year since facing the initial disruptions of COVID-19. We've responded to the sector uncertainty by investing in the sector to keep the momentum going to deliver the warm dry and safe homes that New Zealanders need."Tim van de Molen: Does she stand by her statement that she is considering limiting log exports to boost the domestic supply; if so why?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I stand by my comments that ultimately this is for suppliers to manage. Advice I've received from the Construction Sector Accord shows that some suppliers are already increasing structural timber production over the next six months reducing exports and moving stock from the South Island to the North Island where demand is higher. Additional wood-processing capacity has recently come online including the opening of a new cross-laminated timber manufacturing plant in Rotorua. The Accord is working alongside industry to inform Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment guidance on product substitution information raising awareness of alternative products and reducing reliance on constrained building products.Tim van de Molen: What advice if any did she receive from the trade Minister or officials about the implications on our trade obligations had she progressed with her intent to restrict log exports?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Can I confirm with that member that I stand by my comments that that is ultimately for suppliers to manage.SPEAKER: Order! No the member didn't address the question. The Minister will address the question.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I have not had a conversation with the Minister for Trade and Export Growth because ultimately matters of export are for the suppliers to manage.Tim van de Molen: Is it correct her own advisers told her that limiting log exports won't materially help domestic structural timber supplies as the bulk of logs exported from New Zealand would not be suitable for the structural timber?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: What I can confirm is advice I've received that suppliers are already increasing structural timber production over the next six months and reducing exports and moving stock from the South to the North Island where demand was high.Tim van de Molen: What does she say to claims that there is a sufficient supply of logs for domestic use but that the issue is a lack of processing capacity driven by increasing costs such as the price of power—if you can get it?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I'm clear that advice that I've received has advised me that additional wood-processing capacity has recently come online as I've already said including the opening of a cross-laminated timber manufacturing plant in Rotorua.SPEAKER: That concludes the time for oral questions.Hon David Bennett: Aw!SPEAKER: Look Mr Bennett. I know how much you love it but if you keep this up you're going to have a few fewer of them—especially if you groan while I'm on my feet. It does have a feeling after only two weeks of being like the last day of term."