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Mallard Trevor; Woodhouse MichaelMr SPEAKER: Before I declare the House in committee again I just want to make one comment to the House and it is that there are a lot of amendments before the committee. I've had a quick look at some of them and have received advice on them. It has become clear that a significant number of those are not in order. The general practice has been recently to allow debate until such time as they are ruled out of order and to curtail debate at that point in time. My encouragement to the officers of the House is to rule out out-of-order amendments quickly in order for the House not to be misled or waste time having arguments about things on which it cannot have votes. It used to be the practice for them to ruled out more or less immediately and for debate not to be held on it.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You have just made a very significant ruling and I just want to clarify if I may whether or not this is a formal Speaker's ruling that will be tabled in the documents because we did have a situation with an omnibus bill last year where there were whole new parts put in in the committee stage that were arguably not within the scope of the bill. And at that point the question of whether they were in scope was very clearly indicated to the committee; that regardless of that decision they were in fact debatable and the debate was prolonged. So I am seeking your ruling that that is now a new process because that is quite a significant change.Mr SPEAKER: I'm going to make it very clear. From the point that a Chair of the committee rules that a particular amendment is out of scope or otherwise not allowed—and there can be a number of reasons why amendments can be ruled out—from that point on it is not debatable.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Just a small clarification: that means then that at that point the Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) is not voted on?Mr SPEAKER: It never is. If an SOP is ruled out of order it is never voted on.
Dyson Ruth; Mallard TrevorHon RUTH DYSON (Senior Whip—Labour): I move That the question be now put.Mr SPEAKER: Well we have had a very simple question before us we've had two eloquent speeches explaining the reasons for it and I think the House is in a position to make a decision as to whether or not. If members feel that it's not they can vote against it.
Bishop ChrisLAND TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT (REGIONAL FUEL TAX) AMENDMENT BILLInstruction to CommitteeDebate resumed.CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South): Thank you very much Mr Speaker. When I was speaking last night in my contribution on the motion moved by Mr Jami-Lee Ross to essentially reset the counter to zero for members speaking in the committee stage of the Land Transport Management (Regional Fuel Tax) Amendment Bill I'd made three remarks—or I was coming to the third remark. The first point I want to just quickly recapitulate for the House is the very important point—Mr SPEAKER: I'm just going to warn the member—we had a slight problem with the clocks so he hasn't got quite as long as it appears.CHRIS BISHOP: OK. The first very important point I made was around taxation and I talked about the constitutional importance of taxation in this House as a means of testing the confidence of the House in the Government and the paramount importance of taxation bills because of the power the State gives to itself in regard to its citizens. What we're dealing with here are two bills to do with taxation: regional fuel tax apparently only to Auckland but potentially further around the country but also very important rules around multinational tax base erosion and profit shifting—something that has concerned many members of the House on both sides of it. I think that means we need to debate the bills thoroughly particularly because we are in a very unusual situation of urgency having been moved at 9.35 p.m. right on the cusp of the House lifting.The second point I made was in relation to that unusual use of the urgency. Usually urgency is advertised in advance. There's a couple of days' notice given every member knows exactly what bill is about to be debated arrangements are made so have that question time can happen and maybe Estimates can happen and select committees can sit—Mr SPEAKER: The member's time has expired.
Motions — Prime Minister—Best Wishes
Hipkins ChrisHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): I'll be very brief in speaking on behalf of the Labour Party to this motion to also add our best wishes to the Prime Minister which of course have already been passed on in person. It's a very unusual situation I think that the Prime Minister finds herself in where the international media is staking out the hospital waiting for the outcome of this particular delivery. There aren't many people that face that when they are giving birth and so I think that adds an added dimension of pressure to the Prime Minister at a time when she's probably got more than enough pressure to cope with as she goes through this process. But I think the whole House wishes her all the very best. It is world leading for New Zealand and I think we are all very proud of her.Motion agreed to.
Bennett PaulaMOTIONSPrime Minister—Best Wishes for Impending BirthHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National): I seek leave to move a motion without notice or debate wishing the Prime Minister and Clarke Gayford well with the impending birth of their child today.Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that? There appears to be none.Hon PAULA BENNETT: Thank you Mr Speaker. I move That the House wish the Prime Minister and Clarke Gayford well with the impending birth of their child today.It is unique circumstances that the country itself finds itself in today and it is a really really big time for both the Prime Minister and for Mr Gayford. I know certainly the whole House and the whole country is sitting on the edge of their seat and I just wanted to put on record that we wish her and this baby the best of health a speedy and hopefully really pleasant birth—as good as they can be. I know this is an exceptional day for them and we certainly just want to really wish them both—and the whole three of them we hope—all the best for today.Hon Chris Hipkins: Mr Speaker?Mr SPEAKER: Well I'm going to be a little bit liberal now because we've just accepted a motion without debate.Hon Chris Hipkins: Well the motion was just debated.Mr SPEAKER: No. That was the motion actually. I'm sure the House—there's a bit of fairy dust around us and if the member wants to respond—
Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersDocument for deletingA document for getting rid of other documents by having its document id replaced with that of the document to be deleted. Then the date role=removed" field takes over to ensure the document is retired.Content:some content"
Rurawhe AdrianThe CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Just for the avoidance of doubt the question is That Parts 1 to 3 schedules 1 to 3 and clauses 1 and 2 stand part.
Thursday 30 November 2017 - Volume 725
Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Bill (No 3) — Third Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Bill (No 3) be now read a third time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 56; ACT New Zealand 1.Bill read a third time.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2) be now read a third time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 56; ACT New Zealand 1.Bill read a third time.
Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2) — Third Reading
10. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child—New Zealand's AdherenceHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for ChildrenUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child—New Zealand's Adherence10. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Children: Is she committed to implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in full?Hon TRACEY MARTIN (Minister for Children): Successive New Zealand Governments have committed to the progressive implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) in line with the UN committee's guidance. This Government's commitments align strongly with the recommendations made by UNCROC: for example child poverty reduction investigating historic abuse and violence towards children in State care and improving housing affordability and standards.Hon Louise Upston: Does the Minister accept that a child has the right to know their parents as per article 7 of the convention?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: I think it is generally accepted that every human being has the right to know their whakapapa. There are however times when for the protection of the child it is important that their voice is heard and recognised inside some of the Government procedures and policies.Hon Louise Upston: Does she agree with article 8 of the convention which states that parties undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity including nationality name and family relations as recognised by law without unlawful interference?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: We do. We recognise and have strengthened actually under Oranga Tamariki the understanding of how important whakapapa is to all our children—that they know their wider family and whānau that they know iwi links and any cultural background links that they have.Hon Louise Upston: Based on her answer will she then oppose legislation that removes the child's right to know their parents—in particular the removal of sanctions in section 70A of the Social Security Act?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: The Government will always consider what is in the best interests of the child and more often than not that is the case to know their full family. But there are times for the protection of the child or of their remaining parent—for the other parent—that certain information is not recorded.Hon Louise Upston: Does she not understand then that there are exemptions in section 70A already that provide for the protection of the child; and if she's going to oppose that legislation on the parent's right to know their parent when will she tell the Minister for Social Development?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Unfortunately the member may be somewhat misled herself. I am very aware of the exemptions inside the legislation. However penalising the child's family by taking away financial support this Government does not believe is appropriate.Mr SPEAKER: Just before I ask for another question can I just say to the Hon Mr Little that having two Ministers answering a question at the same time makes it relatively difficult.
9. State Services (Open Government) Minister—Official Information Act RequestsBRETT HUDSON (National) to the Associate Minister of State Services (Open Government)State Services (Open Government) Minister—Official Information Act Requests9. BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Associate Minister of State Services (Open Government): Does she stand by her statement in Parliament yesterday that this will be the most open most transparent Government that New Zealand has ever had"; if so how?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of State Services) on behalf of the Associate Minister of State Services (Open Government): Yes quite easily.Brett Hudson: Does she stand by her 29 November refusal to answer an Official Information Act (OIA) request made on 20 November which sought a list of all reports briefings memos or aide-mémoire that she had received since being sworn in as Associate Minister of State Services on the basis that the request did not meet the requirement to be "specified with due particularity" as per section 12(2) of the Official Information Act?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes.Brett Hudson: Was she aware of the Chief Ombudsman's opinion of 17 February 2012 with respect to an OIA request to the then Minister of Finance for a list of all reports and briefings by title and date received from any Government department since 9 November 2008 in relation to his roles as Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Finance and Minister for Infrastructure that it met the requirement of due particularity as per section 12(2) of the Official Information Act?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I haven't seen that particular advice from the Ombudsman. I have seen a range of advice from the Ombudsman—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member has answered the question.Brett Hudson: How can she be the ministerial standard-bearer for the most open most transparent Government that New Zealand has ever had if this is how she responds to Official Information Act requests ignoring the precedent guidance from the Chief Ombudsman?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I think as we've seen in question time today the bar was relatively low for the release of official information under the previous Government. We saw examples of that around KiwiRail around the Saudi sheep deal and around all of the other dodgy dealings that they did that they refused to release information on. We won't be following their standards—the very low standards they set.Brett Hudson: Will she follow the Ombudsman's guidance in the future with respect to responses to Official Information Act requests?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Generally we do follow the Ombudsman's advice including the advice under the previous Ombudsman Beverley Wakem where she said that ministerial offices had been inappropriately interfering in the release of official information by Government departments under the previous Government."
6. Tourism—Potential LevyHon JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) to the Minister of TourismTourism—Potential Levy6. Hon JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) to the Minister of Tourism: Does he stand by all his statements?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education) on behalf of the Minister of Tourism: Yes in the context in which they were made.Hon Jacqui Dean: When he told the Tourism Industry Association—Mr SPEAKER: Order! When he" told.Hon Jacqui Dean: That's what I said.Mr SPEAKER: Sorry I thought you said "you". Left ear—sorry. Away you go. I apologise to members. Start again.Hon Jacqui Dean: Thank you Mr Speaker. When he told the Tourism Industry Association in a public forum that he was exploring options for a tourist levy which would include local government funding models had he had many discussions with local government about it?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I can't speak for the conversations that the Minister might have had with local government in particular but I know that the Labour Party component of the Government had a wide range of conversations with the New Zealand public about the matter; it was called a general election campaign.Hon Jacqui Dean: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was to the Minister of Tourism not to the Labour Party.Mr SPEAKER: Yes and I think that your question to the Minister was answered in the very first phrase. You got some additional information which may or may not have been helpful but the question was certainly answered.Hon Jacqui Dean: Why is he backtracking from a firm commitment to an international tourist levy to consideration of that as just one of a number of options?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Because a new Government has been formed.Hon Jacqui Dean: What is his response to Tourism Industry Aotearoa's statement that a levy on foreign tourists is completely unworkable?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The current Government is considering a range of options to better support the tourism industry including a levy. I'm sure we'll receive a range of views on that matter."
3. Mental Health Services—Outcomes and FundingHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) to the Minister of HealthMental Health Services—Outcomes and FundingHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote): Why did he tell the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists conference's Q & A session on 23—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I did give members some advice yesterday to try reading the question that's on the sheet which is a very very different question.3. Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) to the Minister of Health: What measurable outcomes if any will his policies deliver? [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I just want members to settle down and remember that quite a few of us have new roles and I think all of us will make mistakes.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Improved health for New Zealanders.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: Why did he tell the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists conference's Q & A session on 23 November that in three years' time after Government investment in mental health people are still going to say the system is terrible our suicide rate is still too high and our mental health issues are still there?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: One suicide in New Zealand is one suicide too many. We will not get to zero in our first term.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: So is he really saying after making mental health his top election issue that in three years' time under his watch people will still say the system is terrible the suicide rate will still be too high and mental health issues will still be there?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I can confirm today that we will not neglect the mental health sector like the previous Government and it will not take nine years to have measurable gains in mental health.Hon Steven Joyce: Just in reference to the conversation we had at the start of question time today I noted the Minister referring to the previous Government in his answer. I think in the context of the conversations we've had it might be perhaps preferable that he didn't do that.Mr SPEAKER: I'm not going to go that far and the member wouldn't like it in the long term.Dr Liz Craig: So how will the Minister deliver improved outcomes across the health system?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: To deliver improved health outcomes we need a health sector that is effective and works together to deliver the services New Zealanders expect. That will require building strong relationships across the health sector. These relationships were seriously strained under the previous Government.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: How will he afford his Government's additional new spending promises including fixing the mental health system; extra pharmaceutical spending; more affordable dental care; and the Prime Minister's promise of more funding for palliative care given that he said his promised $8 billion for health had been pretty much spent"?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: We will afford them in the same way that previous Government's did: we will spend money responsibly on behalf of taxpayers to deliver more affordable access to quality care for New Zealanders."
Salesa Jenny; Rurawhe AdrianHon JENNY SALESA (Minister for Ethnic Communities): Thank you very much Mr Assistant Speaker. I stand here today in support of the Births Deaths Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill and I'd like to begin by acknowledging the Hon Tracey Martin for her work as well as for the department's work in supporting her—the Department of Internal Affairs. Like the previous speaker Andrew Falloon I'd like also to acknowledge the Hon Peter Dunne because he had done some work on this bill.I'm here to speak on this bill and as Minister for Ethnic Communities I'd like to acknowledge that the intended improvements that the Hon Tracey Martin is introducing to this bill would mean that for New Zealand's diverse ethnic communities—we have over 200 ethnic communities in this country Aotearoa New Zealand—the improvements introduced in this bill would ensure that they have access to Government information and services.This Government is focused on inclusion. We are focused on ensuring that all cultures are valued that every individual person is valued—no matter who they are no matter where they come from—and that they can all achieve their full potential. The bill that we are discussing right now has implications because it refers to the statutory system for death notifications. The Law Commission's review of this bill especially of the burial and cremation law is an important issue for the ethnic communities of Aotearoa New Zealand and this particular bill will actually actively seek input from our ethnically diverse communities and it will be important to go out and to consult and to ensure that all of their views—from all of the 200 or so ethnic communities in Aotearoa New Zealand—and their human rights are considered and acknowledged.This bill will also aim to create a more cohesive piece of legislation as it changes the language and the order and the content of removing redundant provisions that were previously introduced. We will look at certain recommendations that the Law Commission has handed down to us as I said especially with the cremation law and other administrative and operational matters. One of the things that we would also look at that our former speaker from this side of the House spoke about is the use of digital and online channels to ensure that we look at the historical records and ensure—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Sorry to interrupt the member. This debate is interrupted and is set down for resumption next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday 5 December 2017. Pō mārie .Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 6 p.m.
Falloon AndrewANDREW FALLOON (National—Rangitata): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. It's wonderful to be taking a call tonight on the Births Deaths Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill. And I say that genuinely because it is an excellent bill from the previous Government that's being progressed.I have to say though that I am a bit perplexed because I've been through Labour's much-vaunted 100-day programme many times and not once did I find in it the Births Deaths Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill . There was a lot of talk about building houses legalising marijuana increasing the minimum wage addressing climate change and making tertiary education free. But instead we're finishing week three of the six weeks before the end of the year debating the Births Deaths Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill.And it is a good bill which is no surprise given it's a hand-me-down from the previous National Government. I do have to contrast what we are debating now with the previous Labour Government. Within three weeks of taking office the then finance Minister Michael Cullen  introduced legislation to increase taxes. Now I don't want to give the members opposite any ideas but at least they were doing something. We've seen nothing from this Government at all. Weeks have gone by and they haven't introduced anything new.Hon Iain Lees-Galloway: Just passed two bills.ANDREW FALLOON: And I'm sorry Mr Lees-Galloway but the two bills that you've just passed are regurgitated bills from the last Parliament. They're not new at all.I do want to commend the bill. It makes a number of changes to update the Act and to make it more accessible. It aligns with the previous Government's Better Public Services (BPS) target which I genuinely hope the new Government progresses with. The BPS target showed that Government can improve outcomes when targets are set and proper measurements are made.This is a good bill. I want to join other members of the House in commending the Hon Peter Dunne the former Minister and also the former Government for bringing it to the House; and I also want to congratulate the coalition Government for making it such a priority. Thank you very much.
Lees-Galloway IainThird ReadingHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety) on behalf of the Leader of the House: I move That the Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Bill (No 3) be now read a third time.
Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Bill (No 3) — Second Reading
Brown SimeonSUBORDINATE LEGISLATION CONFIRMATION BILL (NO 3)Second ReadingDebate resumed from 28 November .SIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you very much Mr Assistant Speaker. I would just like to acknowledge the previous speaker from the other side Kiritapu Allan for saying Let's get on and push this Government business through." I'm very privileged and proud to be standing here progressing another National Party piece of legislation through the House the Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Bill (No 3).This is an example of how this Government has hit the ground running! They've hit the ground running! I've just had a look at their website and they are hitting the ground running with a programme of business across housing health education families the environment and other priorities. So I thought "Well maybe this is one of their other priorities—a bit of a secret priority like that secret 33-page document which we still haven't seen." This legislation is talking about the Customs Import Prohibition (High-power Laser Pointers) Order 2017 the Excise and Excise-equivalent Duties Table (Alcoholic Beverages Indexation) Amendment Order 2017  the Energy (Petrol Engine Fuel and Gas) Levy Regulations 2017—well maybe the 33-page document talks about those pieces of subordinate legislation. I'm really looking forward to seeing that.Look I don't want to waste this Government's time. They've got a lot to do. They've got a whole 100 days of stuff to do and part of that is passing the Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Bill (No 3). So I'm going to let them carry on. We'll be supporting this legislation—National Party legislation—and hope that they can get on with their priorities. Hopefully we'll see a few more of those over coming times. Thank you very much—busy Government!Bill read a second time."
Allan KiritapuKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour): What an absolute delight to be able to stand and speak in respect of the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2). I am the final speaker on behalf of the Government which will introduce—this is the third reading of the second piece of legislation from this brand new Government that is going to see improvements for real New Zealanders everyday New Zealanders not just the elite few at the top but for the many that need a Labour - New Zealand First - Green Government at the helm.I am so proud—so proud—to stand in this House. I want to commend the Hon Phil Twyford for your absolute stellar efforts. You've been at the front line championing housing because there's been an absolute shortage. Every day all of us out there in our electorates who know our people who go into those homes—we see the condensation crawling down the windows we see the mould up on those walls. I thank you Phil because the number of people on the East Coast up in Gisborne in Kawerau in Whakatāne and all throughout that cape are going to be in a better position because of this bill. I am absolutely so excited to stand on behalf of a compassionate and caring Government.Now the member that has just gone before said that we speak kind words. Well I want to say that yes we speak kind words. She commended us to follow through with action. Well in 10 sitting days we've just seen two brand new bills go through this House under this Government. I want to commend our executive for fast-tracking those expedient bills that are going to make real change for real people—real lives.I don't need to go on and on and lament about how excellent this legislation is because unlike the Opposition we're just here to do the job and do it blimmin well. So I commend this bill to the House.
Tirikatene RinoRINO TIRIKATENE (Labour—Te Tai Tonga): Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker. I am absolutely delighted and proud to be able to speak at the final reading of this Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2). We have a famous saying in Māoridom. It's Ka mate kāinga tahi ka ora kāinga rua." and what that means is that when one house dies another house opens up. That can be used in lots of contexts but in this context here new houses are opening up—healthy homes with established minimum standards that will be implemented under this bill to give hope to the 50 percent of Kiwis that live in rental properties and the 80 percent of Māori especially of Māori families that live in rental accommodation. So I'm delighted to speak in favour of this bill. This bill is going to make a huge difference in the lives of so many people. To those good landlords out there in Aotearoa thank you. Thank you for providing appropriate accommodation for the many renters out there. But there are many also that are totally inadequate.We've heard the waxing and waning from the other side. They had nine years and they were completely ineffective in this area and that's why we're taking a stand. I'm absolutely proud that we are delivering this afternoon on our hundred-day promises that we are wanting to deliver. We've had paid parental leave just before this and I'm very proud to be here to speak on this Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2).I won't prolong my contribution because I want to get this bill passed as soon as possible. We're going to put the framework in place that can provide the assurances that will set those minimum standards that will make sure that those whānau out there that have been longing for appropriate warm accommodation and housing and rental housing—that will finally be able to be delivered under this Government. So I'm absolutely delighted. Can I acknowledge the Minister of Housing and Urban Development and I 100 percent tautoko this bill to the House. Kia ora tātou."
Brown SimeonSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you very much Mr Assistant Speaker. I'm glad to have an opportunity to speak in opposition to this Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2). National agrees that every New Zealander deserves the opportunity to have a warm dry and affordable home. We have made significant investment in home insulation and we've succeeded in insulating every State house capable of being insulated. Our record stands true: we have insulated hundreds of thousands of homes over the last nine years while we were in Government which compares to 50000 done under the nine years of the previous Labour Government.I represent the electorate of Pakuranga in Auckland an electorate that is almost completely residential. There are people who rent there are people who own and there are people who also own rental properties and the question that they have of this bill is: what will it do? It's called the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2) but it's going to do either of two things: it's going to do nothing or it's going to impose significant impositions on them. We have not been given any subordinate legislation or regulations that go alongside this bill. It gives the opportunity for these to be created but normally the process is that they would be signalled as to what they would be what the standards would be and there's been nothing put on the table. This means that there has been no opportunity for what the cost of these regulations will be on landlords and on people who own properties who will be subjected under this legislation.This Government is full of kind words but what we're looking for is action and this bill while it may be called the Guarantee Bill" as I said provides no guarantees and therefore will continue to mean that the current legislation which we've already put in place—we're not sure whether it's improved whether it does anything really. So the National Party can't support legislation where we don't know what it's going to do we don't know what the cost of it is going to be. We want certainty from this Government not more and more of these platitudes and kind words so we will be opposing this legislation. Thank you very much."
Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill — Third Reading
Parliamentary Service Commission — Membership
Points of Order — Oral Questions—Reflections on Speaker
Prime Willow-JeanWILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour): As I stand here in our Whare today to speak to the third reading of this bill I draw on a Māori whakataukī: Te piko o te Mahuri tērā te tupu o te rākau."—the way in which the young sapling is nurtured determines how the tree will grow.For how the children grow so will be the shape of Aotearoa. So with that whakataukī in mind it is a great honour to stand here today to speak in support of the bill which will increase paid parental leave to 26 weeks. The bill will be the first piece of legislation passed by our new Government; and how appropriate putting people at the centre of what we are doing—people. And not only that: our pēpē our babies our taonga tuku iho our future.This is about giving our children the very best start in life. The evidence is clear that this time is crucial for infant development for developing close bonds with pēpē supporting breastfeeding for the first six months and reducing parental and family stress. Those are the aims of this bill. So I thank Sue Moroney the 26 for Babies campaign coalition and the many many organisations who have worked tirelessly to achieve this change. It is also great that finally we have a consensus in the House for better support for our children and families. It is with great pride that I commend the bill to the House."Turuturu o whakawhiti whakamaua kia tina haumi e-e hui e-e tāiki e-e!"["Make it tangible make it practical join gather and unite it indeed!"]Bill read a third time."
Points of Order — Oral Questions—Ministerial Responsibility and Accountability
Speaker's Statements — Motions—Scope
Motions — Israel—70th Anniversary of Recognition as State
Craig LizDr LIZ CRAIG (Labour): It's an absolute privilege to be speaking on the third reading of this bill and to be in this House with Sue Moroney who's taken it through twice right through the select committee process only to have it vetoed by the previous Government.For me I have a really personal commitment to this bill. I wasn't eligible for paid parental leave with my first son. I had to go back to work at six weeks and it was absolutely tough. I had paid parental leave for my second son. It went to three months and the difference was transformational but it was still way way way too soon to go back to work. So paid parental leave is absolutely vital.Just very briefly I want to talk about our breastfeeding stats as a country. As a country we only have about 65 percent of our women breastfeeding at six weeks and that goes right down to 58 percent by three months and 27 percent by six months. That's despite World Health Organization recommendations that we should be fully breastfeeding all the way through to six months so kids don't get infections they get optimal nutrition—a whole range of positive benefits.One of the big things about early cessation of breastfeeding is having to go back to work early. So this Government is absolutely committed to extending paid parental leave for the primary caregiver right out to 26 weeks so that we can have the option of people breastfeeding through with that ease.So it's an absolute privilege to be part of a Government that sees this as one of the first bills through the House in the first few weeks that we've been in power. I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.
Penk ChrisCHRIS PENK (National—Helensville): Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. It's a pleasure to rise in support of the bill and I congratulate all those who have been involved in its passage and indeed—nearly—implementation. I note that the affordability element is an important one and of course in the context of the fiscal element we need to ensure of course in passing legislation that things are affordable not only now but into the foreseeable future. No doubt this has been part of the calculation of the new Government and it's certainly to be hoped that we will have a robust financial situation in this country such that we are able to afford social policy such as this. The dire predictions of a member of the new Government in choosing his coalition partners I hope will not prove a self-fulfilling prophecy in that regard.Politics is of course the art of the possible. It's pleasing that this is possible and it's pleasing that it's now deemed to be possible but it wasn't in the nine long years" that that party opposite and their same coalition partners had before that.It's interesting to note that the reflections on the side of the House by some of the speakers might well be regarded as self-reflections and I'm pleased that they too have caught up with themselves perhaps as much as anything in promoting these 26 weeks of paid parental leave.I'm pleased with this legislation in that it promotes parental involvement. It is not one of those situations I think in which the Government will be interfering or substituting itself in the lives of families because it's specifically allowing families to bring up their own. So to me that seems a very positive thing indeed.Much has been said already so I won't continue at length on the point of whether paid parental leave might more effectively be named "paid maternal leave" notwithstanding that in some occasions of course it is not actually a father who is the second parent. I would just establish the frame for the debate which I expect and hope will follow with perhaps new legislation or a member's bill in relation to allowing the flexibility which is simply to emphasise a point that I would hope would be self-evident but in any case I will make which is simply that it should be what is best for the child and not necessarily the adults in the situation. Of course those things will generally be in alignment but the paramount consideration must of course be the welfare of the child and I would urge all those who will be involved in any future legislation being promoted and possibly passed in relation to the flexibility elements to bear that very much in mind. Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker for the opportunity and it's been a pleasure to be involved in the debate."
Radhakrishnan Priyanca; Williams PotoPRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour): Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. It is absolutely an honour to take a call on this bill. As my colleagues have mentioned before this is an excellent bill and it is one that many of us on this side of the House—all of us on this side of the House—have fought extremely hard for.I want to begin by thanking New Zealand First and the Greens for their support. I also want to express my gratitude and my thanks to former Labour MP Sue Moroney who led the charge on this bill and fought extremely hard for so many years to achieve this. I also want to extend my thanks to everyone who fought for this. There were a number of groups across the country who have fought for paid parental leave to be extended. Thanks also to the Minister Iain Lees-Galloway for this bill being—for us getting to where we are today.It is the collective efforts of so many that have actually dragged the previous Government to their commitment to 22 weeks although they vetoed it so many times—multiple times. It's a little bit rich that members on the other side of the House talk about this being a sad day and missed opportunities when they had nine years to implement this if not more whereas we are actually getting this done in less than nine weeks of being in this House since the election.Chris Penk: You had nine years before that.Hon Iain Lees-Galloway: Yeah and we did heaps.PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN: Yes—[Interruption] So this absolutely is an excellent bill. It's a great day for babies for parents for families and indeed for all New Zealanders and this Government is committed—absolutely committed—to giving our families our babies the best start in life possible.So thank you. I'm going to leave it there because we've talked quite a bit about the detail of this bill. My colleagues have talked about how this will benefit families and improve bonding. I once again want to end by thanking Sue Moroney for the work that she's put into this bill. Thank you.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): Chris Penk—five minutes.
Genter Julie AnneHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Minister for Women): Tēnā koe Madam Deputy Speaker. Tēnā koutou e Te Whare. The Green Party knows that parenting is one of the hardest and most difficult and most important jobs that people do. As a country we all benefit when parents are supported to spend more time and be able to give more attention to their babies particularly in the first six months. So it's a very proud day for New Zealand that this bill will pass—that we will extend paid parental leave to 22 weeks and then 26 weeks. I'm incredibly proud to be Minister for Women in this new Government—this multi-party Government—that is finally going to deliver what New Zealanders have been asking for for so long and that unfortunately was vetoed twice by the previous Government.The Green Party's policy is 13 months' paid parental leave and of course we'll still be campaigning for and making the case for extensions. I think the ultimate paradigm shift is understanding that important work that is not part of a commercial transaction is still fundamental to our society. We don't have a successful economy if we don't have a successful healthy society with babies who are able to grow up in good conditions. We know that investing in paid parental leave will benefit all of us in the long run.I personally haven't had the joy of needing to take parental leave for having a child and I don't know if I'll ever be lucky to be able to take advantage of this law. But I absolutely support making that contribution as a member of Aotearoa's society that all babies will have this opportunity. Although I should say that we do need to do better because in fact a third of babies born each year don't qualify for paid parental leave. So we need to find other ways of assisting those parents who are in precarious work to enable them to have the opportunity.I think that's what this Government is committed to because we understand that people and the environment are the most fundamental thing and you can't measure economic success simply by commercial transactions. So let's recognise all work especially unpaid work and especially the unpaid caring work that so many women in this country do. Very proud day—very happy to be supporting this bill. Kia ora koutou.
Martin TraceyHon TRACEY MARTIN (Minister for Children): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. It's fascinating to follow the last speaker Michael Woodhouse and the crocodile tears coming from the National Party benches. I mean there is some dressing up I agree and some sort of platitudes but they are somewhat spiked. If I go to the contribution by the Hon Amy Adams there was a National Party member having a go at a Labour - New Zealand First Government for not spending enough money. I thought I must listen more closely because there is a National Party member standing up after nine years talking about a paid parental leave bill and the last speaker somewhat misled the House.Ms Moroney's bill was always to be implemented over a number of years. It went through the Government Administration Committee that way; the Government picked it up that way. So when the last speaker makes a statement that the Labour Party campaigned on and should be bringing in 26 weeks today that is not quite correct. People should go back and check the Hansard and they should go back and see that Ms Moroney did an enormous amount of work to make sure that this bill—her bill—was always fiscally responsible. That's part of what this Government is continuing to do so to actually hear a National Party member a previous Minister of the Crown stand up and bemoan the fact that a New Zealand First - Labour Government is not spending more money seems somewhat disingenuous particularly as there are other previous Ministers who are standing up having a go at the current Government which has been here for five weeks which is attempting to improve the lives of all New Zealanders.And with this particular bill we will be improving the lives of all New Zealanders. I take on board Mr Woodhouse's comments around fathers. Only 1 percent of fathers currently in New Zealand take paid parental leave. There is nothing stopping them of course. There is nothing stopping fathers working with their partners and their baby's mothers. That was not Ms Moroney's motivation behind this bill but I point it out. Any man who is a father can step forward and come to an arrangement with the birth mother to actually take part of this paid parental leave.I'm not going to take up much more time because this bill has been traversed. It is time to put these measures in place for New Zealand families. It is fiscally responsible. It was mutated and dumbed down by the previous Government but now there is an opportunity and it's with some pride that we stand up on this side of the House and in the first 100 days stand by children stand by mothers and fathers and say this is a Government now that will support you going forward.Hon Louise Upston: Not dads.Hon TRACEY MARTIN: It is with some interest I note that the members of the Opposition benches after nine years now say not standing up for dads". I would ask them to point to in the Hansard one piece of legislation whereby they stood by dads."
Faafoi KrisHon KRIS FAAFOI (Labour—Mana): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. As this is my first contribution to the 52nd Parliament Madam Deputy Speaker can I acknowledge you and congratulate you on your role as one of the presiding officers of this House and welcome returning members and new members to this Parliament. It's good to see you in the seat Madam Deputy Speaker.Can I use this short contribution to acknowledge another strong woman who is with us in the gallery this afternoon? That is our former colleague Sue Moroney whose dogged determination through her years as a member of Parliament was I think basically all the hard slog that got us here to this third reading. So Sue can I thank you and acknowledge you for all the trials and many of the tribulations of making sure that this House finally gets to the point where families in this great country can have 26 weeks of paid parental leave. It is going to make a huge difference to many families and as my colleague Iain Lees-Galloway has pointed out many leading world health organisations have pointed out that at least six months of paid parental leave makes a massive difference to the development of young children.I think when we look at some of the issues that are highlighted around the development of children and some of the issues that we have in families that very early bonding between the parent and the child is extremely important and despite the politics—that that should be washed away so easily—of the last 15 years around this debate the fact that we are getting to this point where we have 26 weeks is a big achievement for this House. So Madam Deputy Speaker can I thank again our colleague Sue Moroney and a lot of the help that she's had along the way: 26 for Babies that group as well. What we are debating what this third reading will achieve has been a long time coming but will make a massive difference to families here in New Zealand.
Hipkins ChrisPARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSIONMembershipHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That pursuant to section 15(1)(d) of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000 the following members be appointed as members of the Parliamentary Service Commission: Hon Ruth Dyson Gareth Hughes Clayton Mitchell Jami-Lee Ross David Seymour.Motion agreed to.