edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Mallard TrevorMr SPEAKER: I want to thank members for their contributions to the debate and to put a few facts on the record before some thanks.The first is that the House has now sat this year for a little over 454 hours. There have been 71 bills introduced and 52 have been passed. That is probably as a result of there being quite a few members' bills that haven't quite made it. There have been 844 oral questions asked. There have been 20563 written questions asked. And I want to give a bit of a warning that next year I will be looking to the quality both of the questions and of the answers. I want to indicate to new members that their time for being able to read their speeches has passed. And I want to remind the former Ministers that they have to lose their habits of reading from prepared notes.I want to thank a number of people. First of all the Rt Hon David Carter. There was an incredibly smooth transition and I think it is a credit to our parliamentary system but also to David in the way that that transition occurred in our office.I want to thank my fellow official presiding officers—in particular the Hon Anne Tolley Poto Williams and Adrian Rurawhe. It's fair to say that you've had a bit more of a challenge than I have had during your times in the Chair.I want to thank the unofficial presiding officer Roland Todd and Carlie Bromley from my office as well. Roland you appear to be adjusting to me—or I haven't found out if you haven't. And Carlie's certainly adjusting well to the change.I want to thank David Wilson Andie Lindsay and the Clerk's extensive team which supports us so well.To Parliamentary Service who almost certainly got an unexpected big lump of work two or three months ago I want to thank them for the enormous efforts that they have put in to what very few of us would have been expecting four or five months ago.I want to thank the team in and around the House: the Serjeant-at-Arms messengers security the people who staff the phones who clean and cook for us those who help with our travel and our research—especially the people in the Library—and all of the people who are employed and in some cases volunteer to make this place work.I want to wish all members a safe and merry Christmas. Have a good rest and come back here next year in good form to stand up for the things that you believe in—unfortunately it's not always the same.Motions agreed to.The House adjourned at 5.58 p.m.
Hipkins ChrisHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Mr Speaker it is a great privilege to be the second to last speaker in this debate. I'm aware that it is now down to you and me—we are the only things left standing between the House and the Christmas adjournment so I will keep this very brief as well. I'd like to thank Simon Bridges for leaving a few rats and mice on the Order Paper after the election. I think we've done quite well in tidying up the mess that they left behind and I can assure him that there is plenty more coming in the new year that will keep the Opposition very busy. I do want to on a very genuine note extend a vote of thanks to people that we often forget in this House—that is the families of all members of Parliament and I'd like to thank Barbara Kuriger for mentioning them in her speech. I think we often forget—well we don't forget but we fail to acknowledge that when we come here to Parliament to do what we do our families make an enormous sacrifice for that. That is across a number of levels not just through our absence but through the things that they have to do to assist us to do our jobs. So I want to take a moment to thank all of our families for the enormous sacrifice they make which allows us to do the jobs that we do. I'd like to thank all of the parliamentary staff all of the ministerial staff all of the departmental staff and all of the people that make this place and the public sector tick and again allow the Government to do what it does and the Opposition to do what it does. I wish everybody a very merry Christmas.
Bridges SimonHon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga): Mr Speaker can I just once again congratulate you on your election as Speaker. Can I wish you a very merry Christmas. Can I wish the Clerk of the House all of his staff—who I've learnt I think in Opposition are so integral to the running of this Parliament—a very wonderful Christmas and holiday break and all of the parliamentary and Government staff across the parties and in the National Party for all their great work.I want to also single out the Hon Grant Robertson not for the $60 or $70 a week I'm going to get for my newborn child but actually for the Advent calendar yesterday. I appreciate it. I hope he doesn't mind me saying that with a beard he would resemble someone else very prominent at this time of the year so I probably will be telling my children this evening when I get back to Tauranga that that Advent calendar came from Santa Claus.It's been a very interesting year. I hope the Hon Chris Hipkins doesn't mind me saying there have been a few hiccups in the House. I particularly appreciated the way so much legislation—I should say so much National Party legislation—has been progressed in this House over the course of the end of this year and long may that continue.Can I also say we've had a few other firsts: Ministers filibustering their own bills and a record set I believe on a debatable motion or a motion without time limit last night. The Hon David Parker of course kept that going much longer than necessary and I thank him for that also.But I say to this House: I wish you a wonderful Christmas New Year and break. Have a great rest. You're going to need it next year and we look forward to it. Bring on 2018.
Kuriger BarbaraBARBARA KURIGER (National—Taranaki - King Country): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's going to be just a short call. The thankyous have all been said so from you Mr Speaker right the way through this precinct I want to thank everybody as others have. I also want to acknowledge the whips who sit with the other parties on the other side of the House. It's always a pleasure to do business with you in this House as we're working together. Now I just want to say it's been a bit of a year of occurrences and ups and downs and surprises but the thing that surprised me the other day—and the thing that I'm so grateful for—was that during the piece of legislation that we were doing around the foreign buyers I actually saw the Green MPs stand up and want to rush this legislation through so that they could then get on and support the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership. So I say thank you to this Government for progressing with the trade agreements that are so important to our rural communities and our wider country. If that's working together let that continue. I don't know how long that's going to last but I'm going to make the most of it while it is lasting. I just want to put a call out for kindness and generosity. We hear a lot—particularly from over on the other side—about being kinder to each other and I think it's time that we thought about sensible policy and thought about taking the people with us. We work for the people; we don't deal it to the people. We're here at their whim and we need to respect that. I often hear a lot of rhetoric—and James Shaw and I have had a number of conversations and earlier in the year one of the highlights that I had was making a video with James about some of the bullying that was going on in schools around farmers' children. You know whatever level it is that is not OK. Whether it's in this House or whether it's at schools for people who do a particular occupation it's not our role to bully people. Everybody wants to do the right thing. They just want to know what the expectations are how long have they got what it's going to cost and where are the tools and they will get up and they will get on with it. So it's about doing the right thing. I again want to thank our families because they offer a huge amount of support for us in the House as do the huge number of volunteers not only within our parties but within our communities. I know that if the volunteers in our communities at midnight tonight switched off and said We're not going to do anything for the next month." we would have a real problem. So I want to put a shout-out to those people. I hope they have a merry Christmas. A lot of them will be spending their Christmas helping other people as they do. I hope that this Christmas spirit that we're wishing each other today will continue into 2018 because I'm looking forward to it. Thank you."
Lees-Galloway IainHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): Well that member obviously didn't get the memo about the flight times this evening so I will try to make this a quality rather than a quantity speech. But what we did learn from that speech of course is we know one person who's going to Simon Bridges' barbecue this summer. I'm interested to know who else is going to Simon Bridges' barbecue. Who's going to be going to Amy Adams' barbecue and who's going to be going to Judith Collins' dark plotting session—because it couldn't possibly be a barbecue. That's the question on everybody's lips.Hon Member: It's over the cauldron—it's over the cauldron.Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: It's the coven—the coven—at Judith Collins' house. That's the question on everybody's lips—the barbecue season ahead for the National Party. And of course we are interested to know who's going to be going to the barbecue at Simon O'Connor's house. We know Simeon Brown will be the first one along to that one—Hon Ruth Dyson: Colin Craig.Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: —and Colin Craig will probably be there as well—to set up the new National Party Friend Party"—Hon Member: Ah the breakaway.Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: —the "Breakaway Party". It was so interesting that they had so many questions about the waka jumping legislation because once that's passed they can't set up a breakaway party so they'd better get on to it fast.So a busy barbecue season is ahead for the National Party as we go into summer and I say good on them—good on them—because of course it is time for a brighter better leader for the National Party. Away with the walk-run I say. The walk-run must come to an end. It's time to bring an end to spaghetti on pizza and other ham-fisted and belated and misguided attempts to convince New Zealanders that the misery they experienced after nine years under National actually was them just being in touch with the issues. No it is definitely time in the words of one esteemed Radio New Zealand reporter to kill two peas with one pod. It's time to see the end of Steven Joyce the "$11 billion man" and it's time to see the end of Bill English as leader—the only leader to lead his party to two successive defeats 15 years apart. So I say good luck to the National Party. Merry Christmas. Enjoy the barbecue season because it's going to be a tough time ahead.I say there's been a lot of people who've been thanked this afternoon. I want to particularly thank the officials and the ministerial staff who have allowed this Government to get up on its feet as quickly as possible. The things we have achieved in the last eight weeks put the last nine years of National Party Government to shame. It is time for us to go and enjoy a Christmas break under the Christmas coalition of Labour the Greens and New Zealand First. Merry Christmas everyone and God bless the National Party."
Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Bill — Third Reading (continued)
Hayes JoJO HAYES (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. I stand to take a call in the third reading of the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Bill. I just want to congratulate again the select committee the Minister Megan Woods and the former Minister Nicky Wagner for the work that they've done to actually get this bill here today and to get it through for the people of Christchurch.Regardless of all of the submissions that came in through the Stuff media and people saying they didn't want it—some wanted it but didn't want to pay for it etc. etc.—the arguments were debated in many ways within those newspaper articles. So I am really pleased that we've got to this point. As the speaker before me Duncan Webb just mentioned we are now ready to move through to the next stage: the hiring of architects. I am sure that after today once this bill reaches its Royal assent through the Governor-General's signature that side of things will actually start to roll fairly quickly.I want to extend my thanks to the Christchurch City Council. They have done an amazing job to get to their decision which they announced last night. Also to the ratepayers: I mean it is a little bit more in your rates but everybody—not just yourselves in Christchurch but everybody in Aotearoa New Zealand—is going to enjoy the results of this new church and what it will bring to the city of Christchurch. I for one will be pleased to actually see something go up in that square. After a while you get a bit sick of driving around just a pile of dirt sitting in the middle. I think it will be in memory of all of those people who did lose their lives. This is a resurrection for the centre of the city.I won't take up any more of the House's time. The committee has done a great job. The contributions here have been very good and I commend the bill to the House. Thank you.
Doocey MattMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): Thank you very much Madam Assistant Speaker. It's a great pleasure to rise in support of the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Bill. I must say what a fantastic Christmas present to Cantabrians a week or so out from Christmas as we pass this bill in its third reading.I'm going to be as bold as to predict that I feel Cantabrians are going to fall in love with the cathedral again. We've had years of division years of argument and I feel that over the course of the next 10 or 15 years Cantabrians and especially the people of greater Christchurch or Christchurch are going to reconnect with the cathedral. But I feel it's not only going to be the cathedral but the area of Cathedral Square as well.I mean it's interesting as Cantabrians we look back at Christchurch pre-earthquakes with a bit of rose-tinted glasses and in fact there were a lot of areas including Cathedral Square that were pretty dated. People weren't actually happy with the functionality of it but I think we've got a real opportunity now not only with the cathedral but the whole city as we rebuild the best small city in the world to actually make Cathedral Square a regeneration area. And the cathedral will be the gem of that regeneration area because of course there's wider regeneration going on with the future use of the red zone.So it's an exciting time and I really hope that people come together get excited and who knows? Maybe in a few years' time we'll be back to the old days where we'll be having New Year's Eve concerts in Cathedral Square. Maybe the Dance Exponents will not be playing their final concert until the next year and then maybe the next year after that—but all the good stuff that we remember about Christchurch and about Canterbury.What's really important about this legislation is that yes time is a factor in our rebuild. Yes things could be done quicker and when you talk to people on the street quite rightly they want anchor projects like the cathedral done quicker. But actually when you talk to the people on the ground their first criteria is they want things to be done right and they want it to be done to high quality. That's exactly where I feel this bill has landed. It's enabling legislation that will actually allow a design to unfold—because of course the design will unfold over the years very much like the city. No city is ever built; it's always building. It's going to be quite exciting to see where we end up in 10 years' time with this new cathedral.Just to conclude I do hope that all the stakeholders involved in this reinstatement play nicely and play well over the coming years. I just encourage any prospective donors out there: now is the time to come forward in the Christmas spirit as we look to rattle the tin and get the money together to build a cathedral at the centre of Christchurch. Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker.
Robertson GrantAMENDED ANSWERS TO ORAL QUESTIONSQuestion No. 3 to MinisterHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I seek leave of the House to correct an answer I gave to a supplementary question to question No. 3 today.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): Leave is set—Hon Ruth Dyson: Sought.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): —sought for that. Is there any objection to that being taken? There is none.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: In answer to part of question No. 3 today I read a quote from the ANZ in response to the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update. I don't believe I offered the full context so the full quote was: In our view while we are constructive about prospects going forward this economy has already picked the low-hanging fruit." I read an edited version of that statement: "In our view we are constructive about prospects going forward". I don't believe that was accurate so that's why I need to correct it."
Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Bill — Third Reading
Tirikatene RinoRINO TIRIKATENE (Labour—Te Tai Tonga): Thank you Madam Chair Williams. I'm pleased to make a short contribution in this committee stage.I also just have a couple of questions for the Minister in relation to the definition of reinstatement". The new paragraph (fa) "use of any new materials:"—I note that that doesn't sort of link to any part of the cathedral. They are the addition of new materials and I'm wondering if there's any intention behind that because every other element to that definition is linked to the cathedral in some way.Also I'm just wondering why the bill also—and I may be wrong here but when I look at clause 8(4) there's reference to the "joint venture or entity that's managing the reinstatement of the Cathedral". But I note that that's not included in the actual—it seems to me there's no reference to that and I'm assuming that that links back to the document but there's actually no sort of definition or further elaboration of the actual joint venture or of the entity that's managing the actual reinstatement of the cathedral and I'm just wondering if that's intentional or is it all implicit by virtue of the Cathedral Working Group report? Thanks.Parts 1 and 2 schedules 1 to 3 and clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.House resumed.Bill reported without amendment.Report adopted."
Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Bill — In Committee
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): I really just wanted to say a couple of words about the issue of reinstatement in committee because I think it's worth noting those discussions—in particular the addition to the definition of reinstatement" of the Cathedral Working Group paper and in particular the fact that anything set out in the Cathedral Working Group paper or contemplated by it as reinstatement will fall into that definition.I think it's important to note that because what became apparent was that although there were some differences in language all submitters were fundamentally at one in respect of the definition of "reinstatement" and what it actually meant and the additional clarification in the definition there that indeed although something need not be exactly replaced the fact that it's not exact replacement exact reinstatement or restoration doesn't mean that it doesn't fit within that definition.I just really wanted to take a moment to inform the Minister of those discussions so that she was aware when she came to look at those questions in terms of making any orders. That's really all I wanted to add to this debate today."
Wagner NickyHon NICKY WAGNER (National): Thank you very much. I think the Minister gave us a good summary of what's happening in this bill and I just want to reflect on a couple of things that were in Part 2. Obviously the Orders in Council—we think that that mechanism works well. The only change that we made was to limit the time from 20 working days down to 15 working days. We felt that that gave a balance. Of course 15 working days is a full three weeks and we thought that that gave balance for people to have a say but also not to hold up the process.Definitely the reinstatement review panel that was detailed right in this part—and I think we were happy with the rules around that. The ability to introduce new Acts—well of course with the submitters we ended up introducing quite a lot of Acts that were important to the submitters: the Building Act 2004; the Land Transfer Act 2017; two local government Acts 1974 and 2002—that was at the request of the Christchurch City Council—the Public Works Act 1981; and the Reserves Act 1977. So of course the Minister has an enormous amount of power with these Acts in the legislation. Although the mechanism for the clause to introduce new Acts is in this bill we are pretty sure that we've covered the lot of them and we're not expecting any more Acts to be introduced.Finally of course to keep a balance here we do have the 15-year sunset clause and I think that is appropriate. It also means that we need to get this job up and on the way and the reinstatement completed. We are happy. The Environment Committee worked very well together. We are happy that we have got a balance in this bill. We are very aware that it's extraordinary legislation under extraordinary circumstances but we believe it's an enormously important bill to the people of Christchurch Canterbury and beyond and we hope that by writing this carefully and thoughtfully it will empower the people to come together and to make this reinstatement work smoothly in a streamlined efficient and effective way. Kia ora.
Smith NickHon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson): I appreciate the Minister in the chair's response but she has not addressed the fundamental question that is critical to the powers that she is seeking from this Parliament around the Building Act. The very simple question I put to Minister Woods—and I'll put it to her again—is that Parliament post - Christchurch earthquakes has put an enormous amount of work into setting a minimum standard for earthquake-prone buildings and that is that any building has to meet a minimum of 34 percent of the new-build standard. Now while I'm supportive of this bill before the Parliament giving the Minister the power to use Orders in Council—and I'm sure the member is aware of the concern of the Regulations Review Committee which is that we're giving you very wide powers—I want a reassurance that you are not going to use those powers to go to less than the 34 percent that Parliament has deemed and the royal commission has recommended. Now it may be that the Minister wants to use these powers to exempt the cathedral spire from having to have a lift as well as the historical staircase. I'm quite relaxed about that but I do not think this Parliament should be relaxed about walking away from that 34 percent minimum standard recommended by the royal commission and imposed in the Building Act amendments passed two years ago. This bill could give the Minister the power to undermine those standards and I just simply seek a reassurance. Given that the Christ Church Cathedral has faced six earthquakes with significant damage I simply seek a simple reassurance that those Building Act amendments for earthquake-prone buildings will not be bypassed through these Order in Council powers.
Joyce Steven; Mallard TrevorQuestion No. 2 to MinisterHon STEVEN JOYCE (National): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I wish to raise a point of order as I believe information has just been delivered to me that suggests the finance Minister may have misled the House and he may wish—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat and he will consult with members on either side of him who can tell him the appropriate course of action to take if he believes that is the case. The member is out of order but I don't want to spend an extended time now coaching him on the appropriate approach.
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"
Wednesday 21 February 2018 - Volume 727
Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Renewal of Licences) Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading
VoteSPEAKER: Members before I declare the result what I am going to do is something that is slightly unusual. It won't affect the result but it is something that I want to see because I've been informed in two different ways as to the vote of a particular member. Therefore I am going to ask for a sample of members' proxy forms including that member's to be shown to me at some stage later on. I will ask for the Hon Chris Hipkins' proxy form the Hon Winston Peters' proxy form the Hon James Shaw's proxy form and the Hon Bill English's proxy form all to be given to me or to my office at the conclusion of this exercise because I want to be absolutely certain. Clearly one of them is of more of concern than others but to be fair to all parties I don't want to single out any particular set of whips at this point. I think it is important. The proxies have to be relied on and when I'm informed in two different ways for one member that is something that is important and I do want to check.A personal vote was called for on the question That the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Renewal of Licences) Amendment Bill (No 2) be now read a first time and that Supplementary Order Paper 14 be referred to a select committee.Ayes 63AndersenHughesMitchell CSioArdern (P)Huo (P)Nash (P)StrangeBallJackson (P)O'Connor GSwarbrickClark (P)Jones (P)O'Connor D (P)Tabuteau (P)Coffey (P)Kanongata'a-SuisuikiParker (P)TinettiCraigLees-GallowayPatterson (P)TirikateneCurran (P)LittlePeters (P)Twyford (P)DavidsonLogiePrime (P)Wall DavisLubeckRadhakrishnanWarren-Clark (P)DysonLuxton (P)Robertson (P)Webb (P)EagleMahutaRurawheWhaitiri (P)FaafoiMallardRussell (P)WilliamsGenterMarcroftSage (P)Wood (P)Ghahraman (P)Mark (P)Salesa (P)Woods (P)Henare (P)MartinSepuloni (P)Teller:Hipkins (P)McAnultyShaw (P)AllanNoes 56Adams (P)English (P)McClay (P)StanfordBakshi (P)FalloonMcKelvie (P)Tolley (P)Barry (P)Finlayson (P)Mitchell M (P)Upston (P)Bayly (P)Goldsmith (P)Muller (P)van de MolenBennett D (P)Guy (P)Ngaro (P)Wagner (P)BishopHayes (P)O'Connor S (P)Walker (P)Bridges (P)Hipango (P)Parmar (P)Woodhouse (P)BrownHudson (P)Penk (P)YangBrownlee (P)Joyce (P)Reti (P)Young (P)Carter (P)Kaye (P)Ross (P)YuleColeman (P)KingScott (P)CollinsKorako (P)SeymourDean (P)Lee D (P)Simpson (P)DooceyLee M (P)Smith N (P)Teller:Dowie (P)Macindoe (P)Smith S (P)KurigerBill read a first time.Bill and Supplementary Order Paper 14 referred to the Governance and Administration Committee.The House adjourned at 10.10 p.m.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Education (Protecting Teacher Title) Amendment Bill be now read a first 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 first time. Bill referred to the Education and Workforce Committee.
Education (Protecting Teacher Title) Amendment Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Education (National Education and Learning Priorities) Amendment Bill be now read a first 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 first time.Bill referred to the Education and Workforce Committee.
Education (National Education and Learning Priorities) Amendment Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the KiwiFund Bill be now read a first 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 first time.Bill referred to the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee.
KiwiFund Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Local Government (Freedom of Access) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 56New Zealand National 56.Noes 64New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party 8; ACT New Zealand 1.Motion not agreed to.
11. Employment Minister—StatementsHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of EmploymentEmployment Minister—Statements11. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Employment: Does he still stand by all of his statements?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister of Employment: Yes in the context in which they were made.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he stand by his statement in the Manukau Courier that there is a crisis" in New Zealand employment?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes.Hon Paul Goldsmith: How many jobs has the New Zealand economy created in the past year while it has been in crisis?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I don't have those figures with me."
10. Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media Minister—Disclosure of Meeting with Radio New ZealandMELISSA LEE (National) to the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital MediaBroadcasting Communications and Digital Media Minister—Disclosure of Meeting with Radio New ZealandMELISSA LEE (National): I seek leave for this question to be held over until the next question time when the Hon Clare Curran is available to answer this question.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that? Yes there is.10. MELISSA LEE (National) to the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media: Does she believe it is important for State-owned broadcasters to be independent?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media: Yes.Melissa Lee: Does she agree that maintaining the independence of Radio New Zealand includes full disclosure of any meetings the Minister has with RNZ's head of content?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes and the Minister has corrected the written answer that she gave which was referred to in the questions yesterday.Melissa Lee: If she does believe it is important for State-owned enterprises to be seen as independent why did she have secret breakfasts with the RNZ head of news that she did not include in her answer to written question No. 19129 last year when it was asked?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: If it was a secret breakfast it wouldn't have been in a particular cafe in Wellington that is known to be frequented by half of the parliamentary press gallery and lobbyists. It may be quite a revelation to the members opposite that occasionally Ministers meet with journalists and those involved in the news media.Melissa Lee: Did she discuss the need to correct her answer to written question No. 19129 with the Prime Minister prior to her correcting the answer this morning after wrongly answering the question yesterday?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'm not sure whether she discussed it with the Prime Minister; I do know she discussed it with the Leader of the House.
9. Provincial Growth Fund—Progress and BenefitsCLAYTON MITCHELL (NZ First) to the Minister for Regional Economic DevelopmentProvincial Growth Fund—Progress and Benefits9. CLAYTON MITCHELL (NZ First) to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: What progress has been made on the Provincial Growth Fund?Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development): The rate of progress is best described as blistering. The Provincial Growth Fund is a cornerstone policy of the coalition agreement between Labour and New Zealand First and more will be announced in Gisborne when Poverty Bay feels the love on Friday.Clayton Mitchell: How will the Provincial Growth Fund benefit New Zealand provinces?Hon SHANE JONES: For many of the provinces moving from a historically comatose state under the last regime they—in particular Tai Tokerau Tai Rāwhiti Manawatū Whanganui and West Coast—will be early recipients of well-thought-out well-tested project financing options to address historical infrastructure neglect and a host of other projects that have been gathering mould on the shelves over the last nine years.Clayton Mitchell: Will the fund be available to all provinces?Hon SHANE JONES: Whilst there are some surge areas—such as the west the east the south and the north—Christchurch Auckland and Wellington at this stage are not conceived to be target provinces. But every other province is more than welcome to make an application and they will find a great deal in contrast to the last nine years: friendliness and finance.
8. Education (Māori Education) Associate Minister—Charter Schools Conflicts of InterestHon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education)Education (Māori Education) Associate Minister—Charter Schools Conflicts of Interest8. Hon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education): What recent discussions or meetings has he had to progress opportunities for young Māori in our education system?Hon KELVIN DAVIS (Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education)): I met with officials as recently as yesterday to talk about our Māori education work programme which for the first time in nine years is focused on ensuring young Māori succeed as Māori.Hon Nikki Kaye: Did he attend a meeting to help progress young Māori with the Minister of Education and representatives from He Puna Mārama Trust at Waitangi?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: No.Hon Nikki Kaye: When he said on 13 February that I've been working closely with He Puna Mārama Trust the CEO and the senior manager there and we're very confident that together we'll make sure this transition happens very easily with very little fuss." can he confirm that he's had several conversations with the trust including helping them out with fund-raisers?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: I can confirm that I have had a conversation around the publicly available information that the Minister of Education proactively released.Hon Nikki Kaye: In his capacity as Associate Minister of Education has he had any discussions or made any declarations with the Cabinet Office about potential perceived conflicts of interest?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: No because there are no conflicts of interest. I have no delegation—no ministerial responsibility—for charter schools. As the local MP I am responsible for ensuring that constituents in the Tai Tokerau who are bombarded with misinformation from the Opposition are provided publicly available information to dispel the mistruths.Hon Nikki Kaye: If there is proof that in his discussions about young Māori he either engaged in negotiations around partnership schools or provided perceived preferential treatment will he resign as Minister?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: The member needs to provide evidence. Put up or shut up."
6. Government Financial Position—Fitch Credit Rating Outlook for New ZealandDr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour—New Lynn) to the Minister of FinanceGovernment Financial Position—Fitch Credit Rating Outlook for New Zealand6. Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour—New Lynn) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on New Zealand's Sovereign credit rating?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Acting Minister of Finance): Last week Fitch Ratings released its latest credit rating outlook for New Zealand which reaffirmed New Zealand's AA+ local currency and AA foreign currency long-term credit ratings both with a stable outlook. Fitch said New Zealand's ratings are underpinned by very high governance standards a strong policy framework and institutions and a commitment to prudent fiscal management." Fitch was the third of the three major international credit ratings agencies to reaffirm their sovereign ratings for New Zealand following the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the coalition Government's Budget Policy Statement on 14 December.Dr Deborah Russell: And what did Fitch say about the Government's financial position?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Fitch noted that the Government's "Adherence to prudent medium-term fiscal management continues despite the near-term expansionary fiscal policy." It also said it is important that the Government is continuing to maintain fiscal discipline while focusing on a policy programme to address social issues. Under our Budget responsibility rules the Government will reduce net core Crown debt to 20 percent of GDP within five years of taking office.Dr Deborah Russell: And how did Fitch factor the Government's policy programme into its review?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Fitch noted the Government's policy programme to address social issues including the families package KiwiBuild lifting the minimum wage and restarting contributions to the Superannuation Fund. It said that as a result of these initiatives and others fiscal policy will turn more expansionary and bolster growth. Fitch said GDP growth is expected to remain solid over the next few years and above that of similarly rated countries."
4. Health Minister—Disclosure of Information on Proposed Rural Medical SchoolHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) to the Minister of HealthHealth Minister—Disclosure of Information on Proposed Rural Medical School4. Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his answer in the House yesterday to a question regarding a third medical school specialising in rural medicine that I don't think it's in the public interest to give further information on that matter"?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): I appreciate the high level of interest in ensuring that we have the workforce required to deliver the health services New Zealanders expect and deserve. However it is not in the public interest to explore in this House the proposals currently under consideration. Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: What criteria does he use to determine whether a matter widely and extensively reported in the Waikato Times and through other national media outlets is in the public interest or not?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I use the usual considerations that Ministers apply. Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: What possible issues of national security or individual privacy would cause him to answer a question on a third medical school by saying "I don't think it's in the public interest to give further information on that matter."? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I note that the member skipped over some of the usual reasons such as privacy and commercial sensitivity that occur in the list of reasons that a Minister may look at to declare something not to be in the public interest. In fact it is not required that a Minister declare exactly why but I note that the member has carefully avoided those that are most likely. Dr Shane Reti: Does he agree with Derek Wright acting CEO of Waikato District Health Board who told the Health Committee this morning that there is a lot of public interest in a rural medical school?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: We have had an issue with producing enough GPs in this country and particularly getting them in rural placements. That is an established fact. The previous Government failed miserably to address this in any way. We have pledged to increase the number of GP training places. We're doing something about this issue unlike the previous regime.Dr Shane Reti: Does he deny telling Otago Medical School and Otago University that this Government will not support a third medical school?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Yes.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: OK we'll check that one.SPEAKER: Order!Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: Sorry—just under my breath. I withdraw and apologise OK? Pre-emptively—all right?SPEAKER: Lucky.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: Have his advisers pointed out to him that it's not a good idea to dodge legitimate questions in the House by pulling the first thing out of your brain that comes—SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. That question's gone.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: Could I rephrase it?SPEAKER: No. The member is a very senior member a long-term front-bencher and he should know better."
3. Education—Work ProgrammeJAN TINETTI (Labour) to the Minister of EducationEducation—Work Programme3. JAN TINETTI (Labour) to the Minister of Education: How does the Government propose to go about making changes to the education system?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): The broad and ambitious education portfolio work programme that I released today will champion a high-quality public education system for all New Zealanders. Education is a portfolio where success depends on broad engagement and shared ownership and achieving successful change will not happen by dictating what ought to be done—at least not most of the time. We will work in a way that respects and engages and draws in educators together with parents whānau iwi employers and the wider community.Jan Tinetti: Why has he seen the need for such an extensive programme of change?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: New Zealand has an education system that we can be very proud of but the way that we work and live continues to rapidly change and therefore the demands that we have of our education system also need to change. Too many of the current educational policies are focused on the accountability and compliance mind-set rooted in the 20th century not the current one.Jan Tinetti: How does he intend to involve the wider public in these changes?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: A whole-of-portfolio education summit will be held in May. It will be the keystone national conversation about what New Zealanders want their education system to look like in the future. I want children young people adult learners their parents their families their communities teachers researchers and education leaders at all levels including employers and industry to participate in these events and the summit will provide that opportunity. Hon Paul Goldsmith: What consultation if any did he have with the tertiary sector about the Government's decision to devote $2.8 billion entirely to student support? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Every one of them got a vote in the last election.
Tuesday 20 February 2018 - Volume 727
Commerce (Criminalisation of Cartels) Amendment Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Commerce (Criminalisation of Cartels) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party 8.Noes 56New Zealand National 56.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Families Commission Act Repeal Bill be reported to the House by Monday 30 April 2018 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions) during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House despite Standing Orders 191 and 194(1)(b) and (c).Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party 8.Noes 56New Zealand National 56.Motion agreed to.
Families Commission Act Repeal Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Families Commission Act Repeal Bill be considered by the Social Services and Community Committee.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party 8.Noes 56New Zealand National 56.Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Social Services and Community Committee.
11. Climate Change—Extreme Weather EventsGARETH HUGHES (Green) to the Minister for Climate ChangeClimate Change—Extreme Weather Events11. GARETH HUGHES (Green) to the Minister for Climate Change: What did he learn from yesterday's briefing with MetService experts about the relationship between climate change and extreme weather events here and in the wider Pacific?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister for Climate Change): The MetService officials that I spoke with last night made it clear to me that where experts were once reluctant to link any single weather event such as Cyclone Gita to climate change we can now say that every single weather event is in some way shaped by climate change. As MetService meteorologists said to me we seem to be talking about new records all the time now and due to climate change they can see that continuing to happen.Gareth Hughes: Does this mean that we can expect the frequency and severity of weather events to increase?Hon JAMES SHAW: I think the reality for a lot of people who have endured this summer's droughts and storms would suggest that this is the case. As the MetService explained last night we've been experiencing a maritime heatwave that's increased the temperature of the Tasman Sea by 6 degrees Celsius above the average. The warmer sea increases the intensity of cyclones like Fehi and Gita. One expert told me at last night's briefing that the cyclones that we're seeing these days are of a higher intensity than they used to be. In the case of Cyclone Winston last year the only reason that it was a category 5 and not a category 6 is that currently there is no category 6.Gareth Hughes: How does that influence the Minister's thinking on New Zealand's approach to action on climate change?Hon JAMES SHAW: What we're seeing with ex-tropical Cyclone Gita and the damage that Cyclone Fehi inflicted just a few weeks ago strengthens my resolve to see New Zealand do everything that we can to play our part in the global effort to stop climate change. That includes implementing measures like the zero carbon legislation which will help us to achieve our Paris Agreement commitments to limit global warming to 2 degrees and to strive for 1.5 degrees.Gareth Hughes: How will the Government ensure that communities councils and the country are prepared for the effects of a changing climate?Hon JAMES SHAW: Our actions will be based on strong scientific and practical evidence provided by a number of expert bodies including the Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group started by the previous Government. The working group will report back around the beginning of April on a range of options for New Zealanders to consider in regard to dealing with the impact of climate change. A programme of consultation after that will ensure that together we as a country are making sensible decisions about future investments. In the meantime I'd recommend that councils communities and businesses take a good look at the updated coastal hazards guidance that I released in December which provides some common-sense guidelines about developments at or near sea level.