Finlayson Christopher: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Finlayson Christopher: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:632;Page:3688] 
12.  
CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage 
: Is she satisfied with the recent report commissioned by Creative New Zealand into New Zealand’s participation at the Venice Biennale; if not why not? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage) 
: 
 Yes. 
Christopher Finlayson 
: Does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister’s comments in this House on 27 July 2004 when she said about New Zealand’s participation at the last biennale that “… the process has gone awry.” and “… that will have a bearing on my thinking about resourcing levels for Creative New Zealand in the future.”; if so what action has she taken or will she take? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: Yes and the action was this report and the increased funding for Creative New Zealand in this year’s Budget. 
Lynne Pillay 
: What recent reports has the Minister seen on Government support for the arts sector? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: I have received a report that acknowledges: “Labour has been very successful in the arts area and the creative area in persuading the general populace that it’s only the Labour Party that’s interested in these things. And in fairness they’ve done a great deal to increase funding for the arts which the National government in the late 1990s should have done.” That quote was from new National Party MP Chris Finlayson in the  
Sunday Star-Times 
 on 4 June. 
Christopher Finlayson 
: Does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister who said that when half a million dollars of taxpayer money is involved key personnel must include the artist and that those key personnel should undertake ambassadorial and publicity responsibilities? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: Yes 
Christopher Finlayson 
: Why when the Prime Minister herself said she had expressed concern about what appears to be a breach of the selection criteria is the Minister not giving a direction to Creative New Zealand that further changes need to be made to those criteria in light of the recent report which recommended only minor changes and more funding? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: Creative New Zealand is established by legislation passed by this House. It is not for the Minister to give direction to it about the creative nature of the arts. However I am very happy to say that the present membership of Creative New Zealand—including the new appointees—is very aware of the Government’s views. 
Christopher Finlayson 
: Following on from that answer is the Minister not aware that Creative New Zealand is an autonomous Crown entity pursuant to section 7 of the Crown Entities Act and that it must have regard to Government policy when directed by the responsible Minister? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: However under the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 1994 Creative New Zealand has the right to make artistic decisions on its own. We are not Stalinist Russia yet. 
Chris Auchinvole 
: Can the Minister confirm that if she attended fewer functions and openings she could spend more time holding Creative New Zealand accountable for taxpayer funding when everyone knows she would attend the opening of an envelope? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Before the Minister replies I just remind members of Standing Order 371. I suggest they read that in the future before they ask questions that obviously have matters in them that could be seen as contrary to that Standing Order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I trust you heard what was an attempted question but I would like to know what the question was given that it was a vague attempt by somebody who has been irrelevant in this House to point out that he is getting paid for his existence. But it made no sense to me at all. As for the suggestion of opening an envelope I mean how ridiculous is that? 
Hon Member 
: What’s the Standing Order? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Standing Order? That the member should keep his mouth shut when I am making a point of order—that is the first one. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member has made his point. I understood what the content of the question was; it was just that it was contrary to Standing Order 371. We have a lot of latitude in this House in connection with that particular Standing Order. I am just reminding members of it for the future. I am aware that the question may well have been the first question the member has asked. I am doing that to be helpful to the House. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. You just saw a very good illustration of what these members are doing in the House. They should be silent when a point of order is taken. You distinctly heard that member shout out something— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes I did. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: You know that the Standing Orders require him to keep quiet and therefore he should pick himself up depart from the House and wait outside until the end of question time. That is what the usual Standing Orders and Speakers’ rulings require so why does that not apply this time? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes the member is right. We are in the last question and I am trying to be helpful to the House on this occasion. But I know that Mr Brownlee also wants to be helpful with his point of order. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Well I do. I just point out to you that I think Standing Order 372 which deals with answers from Ministers is a mirror image of Standing Order 371. If we are being clipped on Standing Order 371 I say that there have been numerous occasions today particularly when Ministers should have been pulled up for the way in which they answered the questions. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I agree with the member. Normally the answers are in response; it was just that this last question went a tad too far in terms of the substance of the question. But I will ask the Minister now to address the question. 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: I am very happy to go to any event that New Zealanders who are interested in arts culture and heritage would like to invite me to. I also think that if that member of Parliament does not think opening envelopes is important it may indicate why those members are on that side and we are on this side.