1. Question No. 1—Prime MinisterHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Prime Minister1. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements policies and actions?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes particularly the Government's Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy which was released today and which will help New Zealand be the best place in the world to be a child. As part of that package children in 30 primary and intermediate schools who are among the most vulnerable will receive a free lunch every day from term 1 next year which will make a real difference to reducing hardship. Hon Paula Bennett: Is the Crown through officials nominees or any other third party in any way involved in the negotiations to reach a deal on Ihumātao? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister the Kīngitanga is leading a process with mana whenua on that matter. Hon Paula Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I fully accept that they are leading a discussion. The question was: is the Crown involved in it? SPEAKER: And that was not addressed. Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Could you repeat it? SPEAKER: Could the member repeat the question. Hon Paula Bennett: Is the Crown through officials nominees or any other third party in any way involved in the negotiations to reach a deal on Ihumātao? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister to the best of my knowledge no. Hon Paula Bennett: Is the Crown in negotiations to provide a taxpayer-funded loan to either party to purchase private land at Ihumātao? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister the process that is being led by the Kīngitanga with mana whenua is an important process to find a resolution there. I do not want to engage in any speculation that would undermine that. Hon Paula Bennett: Does she understand that our questions are not about negotiations between Kīngitanga and mana whenua but between the Government and Kīngitanga and will she answer those? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I do understand the member's questions.Hon Paula Bennett: When she said the Crown is not a party to the conversations happening at present but from our perspective we know we have obligations" is one of those obligations to provide taxpayer money to purchase private land at Ihumātao?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister the obligations the Prime Minister was referring to were the ones she said yesterday. They are the obligations as a Treaty partner they are commercial obligations and they are the obligations to do the right thing on behalf of New Zealanders to bring us together not seek to divide New Zealanders against each other.Hon Paula Bennett: What are those commercial obligations?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister as I said in answer to earlier questions I am not going to engage in speculation that undermines the process that the Kīngitanga is leading.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she accept that there is a very real public interest in knowing whether taxpayer money is being used to settle the dispute at Ihumātao?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister I believe that the public interest is in letting the Kīngitanga play the leadership role that they are playing with mana whenua to resolve this settlement. The Government understands that real leadership comes from knowing where the public interest lies.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she think there is public interest in taxpayers being entitled to know if their money is being looked at to be spent on buying private land through the Kīngitanga?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister I repeat my previous answer. The public interest lies here in letting Kīngitanga get on with the process of working with mana whenua to deal with an issue that is of great significance to the people in that area. I do not want to do anything that undermines that process.Hon Paula Bennett: Will she rule out any transfer of taxpayers' money on any terms whatsoever as part of the deal at Ihumātao?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister that is a very similar question to one asked both yesterday and today. The answer to that question is that I do not want to do anything that undermines the process that the Kīngitanga is leading with mana whenua. On this side of the House we take seriously our responsibilities to draw New Zealanders together not to seek to divide them against one another. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Before the member asks her question can I ask for just a little bit more volume turned down while the Minister is answering. I'm having some trouble hearing him because of the interjections from my left.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she take seriously her promise to be the most open and transparent Government ever when she will not even let the public know whether or not taxpayer funds are being negotiated to buy private land that people are currently illegally occupying?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: In answer to the first part of the question yes."