Tremain Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Tremain Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:646;Page:15793] 
7.  
CHRIS TREMAIN (National—Napier) 
 to the  
Minister for Economic Development 
: Is he confident that all current grant programmes offered by the Ministry of Economic Development are good value for the taxpayers’ dollar; if not why not? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for the Environment)  
on behalf of the  
Minister for Economic Development 
: I am confident that the Ministry of Economic Development is doing its best to help New Zealand businesses to grow. 
Chris Tremain 
: How does awarding $90000 from the Buy Kiwi Made Sector and Regional Initiatives Fund to the National Distribution Union in an election year so that it can advertise the Government’s message to its own members provide good value for taxpayer dollars? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Believe it or not a number of workers make purchases. That is the basis of that campaign in the same way that the same fund has allocated $149870 in one grant and $53688 in another grant to Business New Zealand. This is a tripartite approach something members opposite would not know a damn about. 
Chris Tremain 
: Why is it credible that the Government rejected 30 out of 33 proposed Buy Kiwi Made projects in the first round of applications because they lacked demonstrable economic merits but then turned round and found $90000 in the second funding round so that the National Distribution Union could advertise the Government’s own advertising to National Distribution Union members their non-union colleagues and their families? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The answer to the first part of the question is because my predecessor was tough and did not want to waste Government money. 
Sue Bradford 
: Can the Minister confirm that all the independent evaluations that have been carried out through the Ministry of Economic Development of the efficacy of the Buy Kiwi Made campaign have shown that so far it has outstripped all expectations? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It certainly outstripped my predecessor’s expectations. 
Chris Tremain 
: Why has the $3000000 Buy Kiwi Made Sector and Regional Initiatives Fund been closed down after three rounds of funding with only $975000 granted or allocated for grants; and why is the Government planning to transfer the remaining $2000000 of the fund towards yet more Government-funded advertising in election year? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I just do not understand why members opposite hate Kiwi-owned businesses. 
Chris Tremain 
: Can we expect the final Buy Kiwi Made funding round of $400000 to include more funding for Labour’s union mates and more funding for Government advertising and can we expect the National Distribution Union’s promotion of Government messages to be completed before this year’s election? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Given the fact that Phil O’Reilly has had twice as much funding as the National Distribution Union I think the member should just have a little look at the facts that he received and that are there. That member should know that there has been a campaign as part of the arrangement with the Greens to develop New Zealand business through Buy Kiwi Made something that is strongly supported by New Zealand First. I do not see why those members opposite think that services and goods should all be imported. 
Chris Tremain 
: Where is the evidence of good value for the taxpayer from the Government’s multimillion-dollar Buy Kiwi Made Sector and Regional Initiatives Fund advertising campaign when 430 workers are out of a job today because Fisher and Paykel has been forced to relocate manufacturing offshore? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Let us try to get consistency from that member. Does he want New Zealand - made stuff or not? The Government has made a real effort in concert with New Zealand First the Green Party and Business New Zealand to focus on buying New Zealand - made products. Members opposite do not want that. I think that on a day like today having a question like that just shows a lack of taste. 
Chris Tremain 
: I seek leave to table the paper obtained under the Official Information Act that shows that it was the farmers’ market and Buy New Zealand Made online shopping mall not Phil O’Reilly that made applications. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Bill English 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I notice that the Government did not actually put down a question about Fisher and Paykel. Perhaps it would like to put down a question about the next announcement from Dunedin that the Tamahine Apparel Solutions knitwear factory is also going to close today with the loss of 50 jobs. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: As the member knows that is not a point of order. That is exactly the sort of matter I was referring to in my ruling. I hope this is a point of order. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I think you did indicate that you would deal with disorderly behaviour rather than just refer to it in your ruling. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: We will move on to question No. 8.