Woodhouse MichaelHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): I thank the Minister for Infrastructure for something of an answer to that question. I think I heard him say that yes while it is a separate fund it's all part of the same Cabinet and the COVID response and recovery fund is all part of the broader economic development for our regions.I didn't hear an answer to the question of why the Government sees fit to be giving—ACC which has an investment portfolio approaching and exceeding $35 billion needs $12.5 million for a project in Otago and I'm still none the wiser about what the issue is there. But what that does speak to I think is a propensity for the Government to hoover up as many projects as possible including shovel-ready projects that would have happened anyway. And one of the patterns that we're seeing in the dashboards right across the country is that these projects for roading for fibre connections for local body infrastructure would have come to pass either with central or local government funding. And what we see is that the Minister gets an opportunity to cut a ribbon or otherwise make an announcement.So another question—there was an article recently about the Olympic pool for the Hawke's Bay aquatic centre and it was announced actually by the Minister's colleagues the Hon Grant Robertson and the Hon Stuart Nash. I am fascinated at why an Olympic pool is 51.5 metres long and people with memories long enough will remember that fantastic documentary comedy written and starring John Clarke—the late great John Clarke—which was called The Games. It had a fantastic sketch around the 100 metres track at the Sydney Olympic stadium being about 100 metres. So I would love for the Minister to be able to elucidate the House as to why an Olympic pool which in any other part of the world is 50 metres long is in Napier going to be 51.5 metres long.While we're on the subject of pools I note also that the Gisborne Herald on 14 July reports $40 million for a pool upgrade in Gisborne.Hon David Parker: It's a stretch target.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: A stretch target—very good. Well I'll tell you what there won't be any world records broken at the Napier Olympic pool at 51.5 metres. So it's all down to hundredths of seconds and I don't think that's going to help in the least. But the Gisborne pool upgrade is $40 million. Now I think that's a fantastic asset for the good people of Gisborne to have but I think about the community pools that I have been aware of around the country in places like Mosgiel which is spending a much more modest sum to get a thoroughly decent asset for that community. And I'm just at a loss to know how on earth we can be spending $40 million on the Gisborne pool which raises the broader question about value for money. Now this side of the House understands the need to stimulate regional economies with smart job-creating assets but I am far less convinced that there is enough scrutiny by the Provincial Development Unit and the Government more generally and whether they are more interested in cutting ribbons than they are about ensuring that they're getting value for the taxpayers' investment in these things because frankly you could probably hold the Olympics between Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay with the two Olympic-sized pools and aquatic centres that they're going to be building for the great—[Interruption] Well that's right. There'll be no world records broken Mr Smith. That's quite right. But I do want the Minister to assure the committee as he failed to do actually in the Estimates review appearance before the committee that actually the sufficient scrutiny is under way to ensure that the taxpayer is indeed getting value for money.Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development): I actually embrace this approach that Ministers should be required to address and hopefully answer the questions. Now I have just been assisted by arguably since Geoffrey Palmer the brightest lawyer—oh no I see David Parker I apologise. I apologise. Dr Webb is the honourable member who has pointed out to me that in actual fact the reason a pool is slightly longer than 50 metres is to account for the pads at each end so that the highly athletic well-trained knuckles fingers and other parts of the anatomy are not damaged as they seek to achieve Mark Spitz - like gold status for New Zealand swimmers. So I have to acknowledge that the chairman of the Environment Committee has a tremendous future ahead of him given that he's capable of teaching me.Secondly look I know that we have to tolerate these tawdry remarks that the jobs of New Zealanders are being channelled through the political aspirations of the parties that comprise the Government. That is wrong. That devalues our fellow Kiwis. What the Ministers of the Cabinet are doing in taking an appropriate period of time to tick off the various projects is not only to assure this House but to assure the public that this $2.6 billion worth of pūtea goes through a process especially where we're dealing with applicants who are not local government. We have a level of expectation that local government in receipt of Crown pūtea will actually not squander it.Actually on the point where the honourable member asks about the issues pertaining to three waters and other infrastructure projects he is absolutely correct. By and large those projects have been steered to the pot of funding under the administration or the stewardship of the finance Minister and the Minister of Local Government the Hon Nanaia Mahuta. But let me come back to that modest area that I have some influence over. The aquatic centre the Gisborne applications—they reflect people legitimately proceeding into the corridor otherwise known as the Crown infrastructure process aided by the Provincial Growth Fund process. It's not unreasonable that people should have expectations that if they put forward a project that's going to lead to jobs it's going to endow—endow—a region with one of the three following infrastructure outcomes: grey infrastructure which on this side of the House we tend to regard as bridges and roads perhaps wharves; green infrastructure which deals with flood resilience and there's well over $200 million I'd say to the honourable member that's available there; and wellbeing infrastructure. Wellbeing infrastructure is akin to community infrastructure and it's not the corporate glittery end of town; it's those relatively modest projects that have been brought to our attention and promoted by community groups acting in association with local government. I had the rare pleasure of making an announcement in that regard conveniently in the township of Kaitāia yesterday and if I can give the honourable member an indication—a sum of $7 million dedicated to Te Hiku enhancement. That project originated with a community group acting in collaboration with the Far North District Council led by a former parliamentarian the Hon John Carter a fine Northlander who from time to time does raise the ire of the ratepayers but that's what happens in the North—your good works don't go unpunished.