3. Tourism—Proposed Tourist Levy Tourist Numbers and Infrastructure SpendingJAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of TourismTourism—Proposed Tourist Levy Tourist Numbers and Infrastructure Spending3. JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of Tourism: Does she stand by her statement regarding a tourist levy that I'm personally not a big fan … because we're really expensive to visit"?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister of Tourism): Yes and what I was going to go on to say when I gave that interview but just did not get a chance to get all those words in at once was that I am interested in looking at how much extra tourism infrastructure we actually need so we can evaluate each project on its merits. Some of the projects that are being put forward by councils are not due to increased tourism; they are core infrastructure that should be provided by councils.James Shaw: Can she confirm that visitor arrivals are forecast to increase from 3.1 million in 2015 to 4.5 million in 2022?Hon PAULA BENNETT: There are a number of forecasts and we are ahead of where we thought we would be when we were working towards 2025. So I have seen one that projects that but that may or may not happen.James Shaw: What evidence has she seen that an increase to the levy that tourists pay to come to New Zealand to a level still lower than that paid by visitors to the United Kingdom or Australia would deter significant numbers of visitors to New Zealand?Hon PAULA BENNETT: As I said it is not just a matter of us being more expensive. I think there is also the matter of tourism infrastructure being able to stand on its own merits and actually present a business case. I agree with the member completely that our border levies are not necessarily more expensive than other countries' but for example our accommodation is. On average Auckland and Queenstown are more expensive than Melbourne and London for example.David Seymour: What is the net fiscal impact to central and local government of the average tourist visiting New Zealand?Hon PAULA BENNETT: The average spend by a tourist to New Zealand—I can give you that off the top of my head—is about $3200 and they stay for 19 days. Those who come in and spend their time around New Zealand in campervans—fully equipped with toilets installed—spend $5200.James Shaw: Does she agree with the finding in the McKinsey tourism report released late last year that says that the size of the tourism infrastructure deficit in New Zealand is in the region of $150 million per year?Hon PAULA BENNETT: No.James Shaw: Does she agree with the former tourism Minister John Key who said late last year that small tourism charges were unlikely to have any great impact on visitor numbers?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Yes.James Shaw: Well then why is it so unreasonable to ask the people who have come from all over the world to enjoy our natural beauty to help pay to protect it?Hon PAULA BENNETT: It is not; they already do. As has been well canvassed many times they pay GST they put fuel in their vehicles and they pay taxes via that. We well accept that there are some infrastructure projects that need assistance and the Government is prepared and is already doing work on them. We have funded 14. We have an extra $5.5 million out there at the moment and we have money for out-years. We are also looking through the Budget process as to what else we might do. We do not deny at all that particularly for those with a small rate base and high visitor numbers there is pressure. We also acknowledge as I did on Sunday that there is pressure on the Department of Conservation (DOC) estate. Nearly 50 percent of our international visitors visit DOC so there are some great initiatives that I am sure the Minister would love an opportunity to talk about through DOC as well. Rt Hon Winston Peters: When the chairman of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) Lawrence Yule National Party candidate in the next election says that local government is down $1—Hon Gerry Brownlee: You're just jealous.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Not of you I'm not no.Mr SPEAKER: Order! We will just have the question quickly otherwise we will move on.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have a point of order. I wish to hear it in silence.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Mr Speaker as you know questions should be asked in silence. I hardly—[Interruption] I should not have to raise a second point of order about the first point of order not being heard in silence.Mr SPEAKER: This is a point of order. We will hear it in silence.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Every time one gets to his feet he is being challenged by the front bench of the National Party. Frankly they should wait at least until the answers from the Minister come but they are getting in first and they are never stopped. The worst offender is that Minister over there "Mr Novopay" himself. Now—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Now I have heard quite enough. The member is right that he has every right to ask a supplementary question. It cannot be heard in silence but we will hear the question and there does not need to be interjection from my right-hand side. I also do ask the member in asking a supplementary question whether we can have the question without the lead-in about a particular chairman happening to be a National Party candidate. That does not add to the question at all. I will now have the supplementary question. [Interruption] Order! We will have the supplementary question.Rt Hon Winston Peters: If the chairman of Local Government New Zealand Lawrence Yule on the very day that the Minister offered $5.5 million to support local government infrastructure says they are down $1.4 billion why does she not fund it from the central government take?Hon PAULA BENNETT: As I have said this Government is prepared to look at infrastructure needs particularly for small councils with a high visitor number. But unlike that member—Denis O'Rourke: All talk and no do.Hon PAULA BENNETT: Keep listening. This is what is happening with some of those projects that are on LGNZ's list. So no we do not think $108 million for Wellington's wastewater— Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have asked a direct question about the disparity of a demand and the Government's response and now I am getting a list of a whole lot of nothings for some time never.Mr SPEAKER: No no that is not the case. It was not a direct question. It was quite a well-rounded question and I am certainly giving the Minister an opportunity to respond.Hon PAULA BENNETT: So part of that $1.4 billion that the member raised is for $188 million for Wellington's wastewater network so no I do not think tourists should be paying for all of that. There is $122 million for Wellington's drinking-water network $40 million for a new Northland airport which might be a good thing—Mr SPEAKER: Bring the answer to a conclusion.Hon PAULA BENNETT: —but actually New Zealanders use that as well."