2. Prime Minister—Contact with Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media and Minister of Internal AffairsHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterPrime Minister—Contact with Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media and Minister of Internal Affairs2. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in all her Ministers?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: What did Clare Curran tell her about Clare Curran's meeting with Carol Hirschfeld?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I mentioned in the House yesterday she advised me that it was a high-level meeting that they discussed the future of broadcasting generally and some of the ideas that were already very much in the public domain about the role of public broadcasting in New Zealand.Hon Simon Bridges: Was the Prime Minister advised whether funding for Radio New Zealand was discussed at the meeting; if so what was said?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I said yesterday and again today very much what the Minister I'm advised discussed was what's already in the public domain. For instance the Labour Party's policy in particular around RNZ Plus is free and available for everyone to see.Hon Simon Bridges: So to be clear was funding and was RNZ Plus discussed at the meeting?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said the issues she discussed were already in the public domain. For the specifics you are absolutely able to ask the Minister directly but again all of it is already in the public domain.Hon Simon Bridges: Then what is the Prime Minister's understanding of why the meeting was hidden both by Clare Curran and by Carol Hirschfeld?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've also said in this House previously the Minister should have absolutely disclosed when first asked in a written question that the meeting occurred. The fact that she did not she has apologised for. What I do not accept however was that it was a secret meeting. Secret meetings are generally not held in places like Astoria they're not put in the diary and they're also not confirmed with a journalist which she did on the day she was asked.Hon Simon Bridges: How many meetings have Clare Curran and Carol Hirschfeld had since Ms Curran became a Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I believe that was included in her corrected written question which the member already has.Hon Simon Bridges: How many meetings have Ms Curran and Ms Hirschfeld had since Ms Curran became Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: My recollection of the corrected written question is that she included then the breakfast meeting and I believe she was also in attendance at a wider meeting that happened with others from RNZ at her office.Hon Simon Bridges: Shouldn't all meetings have been with the chief executive and chair of Radio New Zealand not Ms Curran as is made clear in Ms Curran's briefing to the incoming Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The Minister absolutely understands that her primary relationship exists with the board chair and with the chief executive. However Ministers can—and do—meet with others who work within Crown entities. To say that they couldn't would mean that someone who worked for instance for a Crown research institute a scientist couldn't discuss any of their work with the Minister for research and development or that a transport Minister could never speak to anyone who worked within the New Zealand Transport Agency. The primary relationship of course is always with the board chair.Hon Simon Bridges: What possible legitimate purpose is there in a meeting between the relevant Minister and a senior journalist and manager in Radio New Zealand when it's quite clear it should have been with the chief executive and chair only?SPEAKER: Well that's very marginal especially the last part of it. I'll let it go but I'm going to ask the Leader of the Opposition to tighten his questions going forward.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The Minister in holding this meeting was not acting in breach of the Cabinet Manual. Nor is it unusual for Ministers to meet with people who work within Crown entities. She should have been transparent about the fact that it happened. That is why she has apologised but the fact that she did not include it in a written question is the primary error not the fact of the meeting itself.Hon Simon Bridges: Was the discussion where the Prime Minister sought assurances" from Tracey Martin regarding Jenny Marcroft and the Provincial Growth Fund carried out by her in person; if not how was it carried out?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member will know from the sequence of events that I outlined that I intended to seek assurances from each member on the Tuesday morning.Hon Simon Bridges: Intended?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes at that point I hadn't done that. Immediately after I phoned each of those Ministers and spoke with them directly. Of course the phone was a quicker way for me to be able to do that.Hon Simon Bridges: So how long was that phone call with Tracey Martin?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Seeking an assurance from a Minister that they were not involved in a situation doesn't take that long.Hon Simon Bridges: Has the Prime Minister or her office done any further checks to corroborate Tracey Martin's version of events?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I take Ministers who work within Cabinet at their word as I'm sure the leader takes his members at their word. That is how Cabinet operates.Rt Hon Winston Peters: If the—SPEAKER: Order! I haven't called the member yet and the reason that I haven't called him is that I'm waiting for people including a number of people on the cross benches—I'm getting a little bit of help from the National Party backbench about how many people should be standing up and they are right. But I was waiting for members in front of that member to be quiet before I called them. I won't name the three members concerned now.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Prime Minister: if qualities of leadership and ministerial posts are important what would she think of someone who claims to have been a Crown prosecutor although he never held a Crown prosecutor's licence?SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I'm on my feet. That is not something for which the Prime Minister has responsibility. Are we finished there? Yes."