2. Mental Health Services Canterbury—SchoolsJACINDA ARDERN (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterMental Health Services Canterbury—Schools2. JACINDA ARDERN (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that a great country is one where children with a tough start will be supported so they can live good lives"; if so will he back Labour's plan to invest in mental health workers in Canterbury schools to help children affected by the earthquakes and their aftermath?Mr SPEAKER: In calling the Hon Steven Joyce on behalf of the Prime Minister my office has been advised that this answer may be longer than normal.Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Prime Minister: In response to the first part of the question yes and in response to the second part of her question I would say no. We prefer to back National's plan to support vulnerable children and that is a real investment that this Government has been making. Firstly to help the well-being of Cantabrians since the earthquakes the Government has provided the Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) with an extra $106 million to meet additional costs of recovery since the earthquakes including $20 million following the Valentine's Day earthquake in 2016 an extra 27 fulltime-equivalent primary care community-based mental health workers and further funding for successful programmes such as telehealth and workforce well-being support. On top of that just this week the Government announced details of a $100 million social investment fund in mental health including $23 million for school-based initiatives.Jacinda Ardern: How many DHB staff currently work in schools specifically to help primary- and intermediate-age children with their mental health needs—how many?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I have not got the exact number of mental health workers but there are also public health nurses there are also social workers in schools there are also guidance counsellors in schools and this week the Government has announced a $100 million social investment fund including significant investment into schools around the country including Christchurch schools.Jacinda Ardern: Is he aware that two-thirds of children in Canterbury who need help wait more than 3 weeks for their first appointment with mental health services and that 92 percent of children referred are waiting more than 2 months for their second appointment; is that acceptable?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I would have to check those numbers for the member but can I say to the member that actually the social investment programme that we have just announced includes the ability to invest in better screening across all schoolchildren because one of the challenges we have as a society is making sure of early detection of mental health issues. If the member would like to go and have a look at the fund and at the details of all the initiatives of the fund she might find some of the answers to the questions she is raising.Jacinda Ardern: On his announcement then how many new front-line staff is he committing to addressing the mental health needs of children within schools in Canterbury?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: That depends on the level of need. I would imagine that Canterbury would probably get a greater proportion given the identified level of need around the country. Again the member can seek to deny it but the Government has just invested another $124 million in core mental health services in district health boards around the country including in the Canterbury District Health Board as well and that just started on 1 July of this year. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! A little less chat between two friendly Christchurch MPs please.Jacinda Ardern: Does he believe the $3.75 per student for front-line mental health services he announced will be enough given the increasing need amongst our children and young people?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member in taking that approach is of course ignoring all the investment that is already taking place which I know is traditional with the Labour Party. But actually the Government invests very very significantly in mental health services. It has added significantly to that investment over the last 8 years and announced an additional investment in most importantly new services and different ways of conducting the services in the announcement made earlier this week. That is important because if you look at all the scientific advice of which there is a lot it suggests that new approaches must be taken and it is not a good idea to just heap the old way of doing things on top of the old way of doing things.Jacinda Ardern: If he has made the significant investment in mental health that he claims why is one Christchurch school funding its own counsellor because the Ministry of Health and his Government have not; is that what he would expect?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The schools have the independence under a thing called Tomorrow's Schools to use their operational grant in the manner they think best fits the times they are in and the issues they are experiencing. It is actually OK for schools to be able to do that but for the member to suggest that that means the Government is not investing in mental health services in Canterbury is patently—patently—incorrect.Jacinda Ardern: Will he consider joining with Labour to hire 80 new front-line workers specifically for primary and intermediate schools in Canterbury given the need is so great?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I actually answered that question in response to the member's primary question when I said no that the preference is for the Government's package. Actually perhaps the member might like to go and have a look at the mental health package announced on Monday. She might find some things in there that are going to work and work well with the best scientific advice backing them. We are committed to assisting not just the schoolchildren of Christchurch and Canterbury who are important but also schoolchildren around the country.Jacinda Ardern: If he wants this to be a truly great country for children as we can be will he commit the resources needed to help kids and give them a chance for a better future? Because if he will not I will.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The answer to the member is that we are doing exactly that. The way we are doing exactly that is by having a strong economy so that we can afford to provide the services. If the member wants to get into Government and tax the heck out of the productive economy then she will find she has a lot fewer services she can fund compared with today.Question time interrupted."