edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
6. Question No. 6—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 6—Transport6. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Transport: Has the Ministry of Transport recommended to him that the NZ Infra proposal for Auckland light rail should be selected as the preferred delivery partner for the project and what advice if any has the ministry provided about a start date for construction of the project?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister of Transport: The Ministry of Transport has made a recommendation to the Government on the Auckland light rail project. Due to commercial sensitivity I don't believe it's in the public interest to go into the details of that recommendation before Cabinet has made a decision on it. No advice has been given on a specific date for construction to start.Chris Bishop: Has the Ministry of Transport recommended either of the two proposals for Auckland light rail?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I said in my primary answer I don't believe it's in the public interest to go into the detail of the advice that has been received until Cabinet has made a decision on it.Chris Bishop: When he said last week that The cost of capital is only one factor to be considered there are an array of other issues." what are the other issues?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: All of those issues will be considered in the advice that's given to Cabinet. That advice has not gone to Cabinet yet.Chris Bishop: Why did the New Zealand Infra proposal for light rail involve 1500 pages of detailed route designs and stations when according to the Ministry of Transport the twin track process is designed to select a delivery partner and not choose a detailed proposal?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: It's up to them what they put in their proposals.Chris Bishop: Has the ministry provided him with a best-case estimate of when construction could start on Auckland light rail and if so what is it?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I indicated in my primary answer advice on a specific date for construction to start has not been provided.SPEAKER: Question No. 7 Simon O'Connor. [Interruption] Order! Both of you again."
5. Question No. 5—FinanceJAMIE STRANGE (Labour) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 5—Finance5. JAMIE STRANGE (Labour) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): The impact on New Zealand's economy from the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak is starting to show. I've seen a wide range of reports on economic activity highlighting that different industries in different regions are being affected in different ways. For example in ANZ's commentary on its Truckometer series for February the bank economist said activity was still business as usual around most of the country" as areas associated with logging were impacted more than others. This shows why a tailor-made response targeted at those industries and regions that are most affected is the appropriate way forward at this time as we work together with businesses to finalise the details of the Government's business continuity package.Jamie Strange: What reports has he seen on the international context for the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The COVID-19 outbreak is causing a global economic shock as supply chains are disrupted and demand is impacted. We've seen the global reaction to the virus spreading in countries outside China and reflected in the global stock markets in recent days. International credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) last week cut its 2020 global growth forecast by half a percent saying that Australia Hong Kong Japan Korea Singapore and Thailand will either enter or flirt with recession. This highlights why the strength of the New Zealand economy going into this situation is important. S&P last week forecast 2 percent growth for 2020. We go into this with unemployment at 4 percent; Government debt lower than we inherited it at 19.5 percent of GDP; and just today we saw that manufacturing activity in the December quarter had had its strongest rise in six years.Jamie Strange: What actions is the Government taking to support businesses and workers through COVID-19?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yesterday the Government signalled work on a business continuity package. The timely package includes a targeted wage subsidy and scheme for workers in the most adversely affected sectors training and redeployment options for affected employees and working with banks on the potential for future working capital support for companies that face temporary credit constraints. The measures we undertake as part of this package will be targeted to those businesses and workers who are most affected and least able to adjust. We've also instructed officials to develop a macroeconomic programme in the event of a sustained global downturn. Our first responsibility as a Government is the health and wellbeing of our people which is why our response continues to be led by a public health response. We stand ready to assist our businesses and workers as the economic impact of the global health crisis unfolds."
3. Question No. 3—ConservationHon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of ConservationQuestion No. 3—Conservation3. Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of Conservation: How will the goal of predator-free status by 2050 be achieved in Aotearoa New Zealand?Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Minister of Conservation): Thank you Mr Speaker. Yesterday I was proud to launch the Government's Predator Free 2050 strategy towards a predator-free New Zealand and its accompanying action plan. They set out how we can turn the dream of being predator-free into a reality with Government Department of Conservation working alongside iwi landholders councils local businesses and community organisations to eradicate possums stoats and rats. Hon James Shaw: What funding has the Government provided to support this plan?Hon EUGENIE SAGE: Unlike the previous Government this Government has given the biggest increase in conservation funding since 2002 and that included $81 million in 2018 so that the department could undertake the largest ever aerial predator control operation rather than the department having to go cap in hand as it had to under the previous Government. And in 2019 through the Provincial Growth Fund there was an additional $19 million to Predator Free New Zealand Ltd to expand the number of regional projects and to invest in new tools and technology for predator control.Hon James Shaw: And what involvement has the wider community had in the development of the Towards a Predator Free New Zealand strategy?Hon EUGENIE SAGE: The Predator Free 2050 Strategy was developed by the Department of Conservation in consultation with iwi with input from technical experts scientists environmental organisations communities and the public. It draws on mātauranga Māori derived from generations of interaction between people and te taiao and expertise gained from decades of working successfully to eradicate predators from 117 of New Zealand's offshore islands.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Minister how many 1080-free and predator-free initiatives—like that on Waiheke Island—has she launched since the new Government came to power?Hon EUGENIE SAGE: There is also an initiative in Otago for predator-free Dunedin and Otago Peninsula that relies a lot on trapping. Through the Provincial Growth Fund and that additional $3.5 million there's a lot of work being done on new tools and technologies traps lures new bait all designed to provide a range of tools in the tool box—much more investment in actually making predator-free happen than the National Party's dream. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Both of you please.
Rurawhe AdrianCHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): The Hon Ruth Dyson's amendment to insert new section 20AAA in clause 7 set out on Supplementary Order Paper 472 is out of order as being outside the scope of the bill.
Tolley Anne; Dyson RuthCHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): Marama Davidson's amendments to replace new sections 15 to 17 and amend new section 21 in clause 7 set out on Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 474 are out of order as being inconsistent with a previous decision of the committee in relation to SOP—[Interruption] They agreed to that.Jan Logie: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. Could I just check the vote and how it evolved around David Seymour's SOP and what the outcome of that vote was?CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I put the vote. I said the Ayes have it.Jan Logie: Yes I'm just wanting to check and to see if I needed to correct my vote.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): Well it was a vote on the voices so I have no way of knowing—the committee has no way of knowing.Jan Logie: But what was the outcome for us to note—CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): The outcome was that the amendment was agreed to on the voices. No one called for a personal vote no one called for a party vote so the amendment was agreed to. That's perfectly in order.Jan Logie: And is it possible to go back and ask—no?CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): No. Oh I'm sorry you could seek leave to go back.Hon RUTH DYSON (Labour—Port Hills): I seek leave for a personal vote to be taken on that vote.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): Leave is sought. Is there any objection to that?Hon Members: Yes.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I'm afraid that's fairly—OK. OK so just to repeat then that knocks out SOP 474 in the name of Marama Davidson.
Rurawhe AdrianCHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): We have a correction I think for the previous vote on Supplementary Order Paper 325. Before I give it can I again stress that members should take care when they're voting particularly if they have given their proxy to another member and they are also present and they vote differently to the proxy they have given. Therefore on the previous vote the Ayes are 12; the Noes are 106.
Rurawhe AdrianCHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Members before I put the next question can I ask all members that are holding proxies to make certain that they vote correctly and that all members present also make sure that they vote correctly. These votes are taking longer than they ought to. I just want you all to take care.The Hon Nicky Wagner's amendment inserting new clause 6AA set out on Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 468 is out of order as being outside the scope of the bill. The question is that Jan Logie's amendment to amend new section 10—Jan Logie: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I was just mindful that the House is the master of its own destiny and was wanting to seek leave of the House to actually consider Nicky Wagner's SOP. If there is unanimous support for it then I think we can pass it and take this opportunity to rid this piece of legislation of that terribly disablist language.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Yes and as the member said herself that is the power of the House not the committee of the whole House and an instruction should have been—a motion for that instruction—moved before we went into committee so the ruling stands.Hon Michael Woodhouse: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Without wishing to challenge your ruling Mr Chair the difficulty with that is that the Chair's decision on whether the SOP is out of order is not made until we get to this stage in the voting process of the committee of the whole House. So we have something of a conundrum where there is reasonably widespread support for the bill. I'm not sure we can do this during a vote but we could report progress and consider that matter in the House but you can appreciate the difficulty that the committee has that we've only now found out that the amendment is out of scope.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): I've accepted a closure motion. That means that all of the motions relevant to this part need to be put. The only way that that can be overruled is by leave of the committee to report progress to the House. David Seymour: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. According to Standing Order 4 I move that any Standing Orders preventing this amendment being voted upon be suspended.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Only the House can give that power not the committee of the whole House.David Seymour: Really?CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Yes.
Rurawhe AdrianCHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Members we come now to the voting on Part 1. We will deal with each amendment in the order they would appear in the bill. This means that all amendments to clause 5 will be taken before those amendments to clause 6 and so on. Where two amendments would appear in the same place we will vote on the one released first. Because many Supplementary Order Papers (SOPs) contain amendments to different clauses there may be multiple questions on a single SOP so members should look closely at the specific amendment they are being asked to vote on.
McAnulty Kieran; Tolley AnneKIERAN McANULTY (Labour): Thank you very much Madam Chair. I wish to take the opportunity to ask the Minister a very simple question. It has arisen from a number of emails that I've received from local people in Wairarapa who I believe are sincerely and genuinely concerned around what they believe is in this bill. Given this is the committee of the whole House stage I'd like to invite the Minister to address their concerns. Their emails read that they believe that this bill as it's written would allow up-to-birth abortions with a specific concern around those babies that have been diagnosed with Down syndrome. Now it's my view that if this bill allowed that then I don't think there's a single person in this House that would vote for it.But given the nature of this debate and the stage that we're in we have an opportunity to ask the Minister a very specific question and that is what I would like to pose to the Minister. Can you please Minister take the opportunity to outline to members here tonight and those that are watching how that is not the case in the bill as it's currently written. I believe those who have written to me sincerely and genuinely worried perhaps they have been informed of this or perhaps this is a conclusion that they have come to themselves but nevertheless I think that this is a good opportunity through the parliamentary process to reassure these people that what they fear is actually not the case.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I call—um. Let's have a look.Chris Penk: Chris Penk.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): Ha ha! Simon O'Connor.
Garcia PauloPAULO GARCIA (National): Thank you Mr Chair. I stand to speak to Supplementary Order Paper 466 as it seeks to amend clause 7 of the Abortion Legislation Bill Part 1. This is in the name of Alfred Ngaro. The amendment seeks to include a requirement to have individuals or organisations who are tasked with responsibilities under the bill ensure that the cultural background of persons seeking abortions be taken into consideration when assessing their situation and giving them advice.The House knows very well that I am a New Zealander of Filipino descent. I represent a community of first generation migrants. And due to the migration settings in the past decade or so when Filipino skilled migrants arrived in New Zealand and doubled in number the immigration settings had Filipinos arriving with young children children in their teens and young adults. The relevance of these facts goes to the probability that when a young person comes seeking an abortion the request is made out of a desire to keep her pregnancy secret. This desire is based on many many factors but most likely on the basis that the father is absolutely absent or is coercive towards that point. There is also in our culture especially that feeling of shame or desire not to cause distress to her parents and extended family.I speak for families in this situation—Filipino families families of other migrant communities I also speak for all families who will identify with the words that I am speaking. These circumstances place the person asking for an abortion in a vulnerable state where she makes the request already predisposed to having an abortion due to her circumstances and quite truly not really out of her own free choice. Culturally for Filipinos and many migrant communities as well and families out there there would be an overwhelming desire for families to come in support of a pregnant teen to make sure that she gets that support from family and allow her to carry on give birth take care of the child and continue to live a life where she can study and work—a meaningful life.Taking that into consideration will allow the advisers of the person who seeks an abortion to be able to take into consideration and include these circumstances in their advice especially on top of these considerations as new migrants where English is not their first language. A perfect storm is gathering where young women are driven to decide to have abortions even as their families would be more than willing to help them through a pregnancy. The full extent of the abortion process therefore must be described in clear detail—taking all of their circumstances into consideration and including the level of physical pain and of course the possibility of resulting isolation due to her cultural circumstances must be described to her clearly to help her and give her the advice that she needs at that point when she seeks this advice: looking for an abortion. Thank you Mr Chair.
Wagner NickyHon NICKY WAGNER (National): Thank you very much Mr Chair. And thank you for the opportunity to give my contribution on this Abortion Legislation Bill. I would like to speak to Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 468 which is in my name. This SOP provides for a new clause 6AA and this clause would be inserted after clause 6 on page 5 after line 2.What it will do is replace the heading that now exists which is Administering of contraceptives to mentally subnormal females". The new clause would read: "Administration of contraceptives to persons without capacity to make or communicate decisions". This is really a technical amendment. It is designed to modernise the language of the Act and to remove the term "subnormal females". This term is offensive in the 21st century and I think it's offensive to all of us in this House as a description of someone with an intellectual disability.There is absolutely no change to the intent of this bill with this SOP. The description of the term "not to have the capacity to consent" is aligned with the provisions the terms and clinical tests within the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 and the Care of Children Act 2004. Finally the SOP also clarifies that a parent or a guardian including a welfare guardian with a clinician may consent to the administration of contraceptives but emphasises also that any decision must be made consistently with the promotion and protection of the welfare of that person. I urge members in this House to support SOP 468 in my name. It is solely focused on language it is not a policy change and I believe that we all agree that describing a disabled person as subnormal has no place in the 21st century and certainly no place in legislation promoted by this House. Thank you Mr Chair."
Logie Jan; Tolley AnneABORTION LEGISLATION BILLIn CommitteeJAN LOGIE (Green): I raise a point of order Madam Chair. I seek leave for the question on the amendments contained in my Supplementary Order Paper 455 to be put at the end of the committee's consideration of the bill and if agreed to for the amendments to apply to the bill as amended.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): So did everyone hear that? I'm aware that there's quite a lot of noise in the Chamber. So leave is sought to consider Jan Logie's Supplementary Order Paper at the end of the part. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.
Willis Nicola; Mallard TrevorQuestion No. 12 to MinisterNICOLA WILLIS (National): I seek leave for my question to be held over to the next sitting day with the proportionate number of supplementary questions allocated. This is due to the Minister's statement that the written answers she provided—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The rest of this is unnecessary. The question is that one National Party question from today be held over until tomorrow. The question of supplementaries is in fact a matter for my discretion and I've indicated my view on that. Is there any objection to that? Hon Shane Jones: Yes absolutely.SPEAKER: There is objection. And I'll say to the Hon Shane Jones as a result of that process the National Party instead of having four additional supplementaries tomorrow will have eight.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Can we ask the question now?SPEAKER: The member can ask the question if she wants.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Well thank you for the generous allocation of extra questions. Could we use some of those now on this question today?SPEAKER: You're absolutely welcome to use as many of the eight that have been allocated today if the member so wishes. I'll just say to Mr Jones that he puts the House in a very bad position when one of his colleague Ministers indicates at the beginning of question time that the basis of a question is wrong and places the Opposition in a bad place and the Government in a bad place.Hon Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do agree that the Opposition is disadvantaged in this particular case because the information they relied on in lodging this question is not accurate and in order for them to lodge a more accurate question—because they won't necessarily want to ask this question; they'll want to ask possibly a different question—SPEAKER: Well with the leave I put they can ask any question they want.Hon Chris Hipkins: That's right. I am therefore seeking leave for the Opposition to have an additional primary question allocated to them tomorrow.SPEAKER: Well I think I just put that and we're not meant to put things twice but given the discussion I think we can be a bit loose on the rules. Is there any objection to that? There appears to be none.
Faafoi KrisQuestion No. 7 to Minister—Amended AnswerHon KRIS FAAFOI (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)): I seek leave to correct part of an answer that I gave to a supplementary question earlier in oral questions.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that process? There is not.Hon KRIS FAAFOI: I attached a number to Budget 2018 during the flow of supplementaries. That number should read $234 million.
Personal Explanations — Written Questions—Corrections to Written Answers
Sepuloni CarmelPERSONAL EXPLANATIONSWritten Questions—Corrections to Written AnswersHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Because it may be relevant to my answer for oral question No. 12 today I wish to seek to correct an answer to a written question. SPEAKER: The member seeks the permission of the House—the leave of the House—in order to make a statement in order to correct an answer to a written question. Is there any objection to that? There is none.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: In preparing for oral questions it became clear that the detail provided in a response to written question No. 31387 (2019) may not have been accurate. The Ministry of Social Development will be providing me with an amended answer to rectify this as soon as possible. Hon Gerry Brownlee: What's the correction?SPEAKER: Well it's—[Interruption] Order! Order! The member has made it clear that she has a new interim answer in place for that as members do every now and again unfortunately too often—well probably not often enough because there are not enough Ministers who correct them when they should. But until the final answer is available there's nothing I can do to sort it out any further. Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I'd just ask you to consider how this works when the Minister herself clearly is aware—because we don't with all due respect know exactly the contents of question 31387 but we can assume now that it relates to the number of families receiving support from Work and Income and the question will be if we've relied on that answer for the verification for the question in the House then how is it reasonable that we use some of our questions to a Minister now based on incorrect information? The Minister will be able to refer to the fact that I've corrected myself.SPEAKER: Sure and it's a very fair point and I'm going to suggest to the House that if the member responsible for the question seeks the leave of the House to have a question tomorrow instead of today and a proportion of the supplementaries be carried over as well if the National Party so wish then I think it would not be good if anyone declined leave for that to occur. So the member's got until the time to sort it out.
Ministerial Statements — COVID-19—Government's Response to Economic Effects
Robertson GrantHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I thank the member the Hon Paul Goldsmith for that contribution—in particular his offer to work together. I'm sure he'll appreciate the briefing that he's getting—I think this afternoon—from Treasury.Three quick points in response. The first of those is that this package and the work we have been doing has all been undertaken in consultation with the business community and indeed with the union movement. It is important that we continue to work with them. They are the people who are telling us that this package needs to be targeted and needs to ensure that it reaches the people who need it.I also note in that regard with reference to the member's comment about the minimum wage that is precisely the across-the-board sweeping knee-jerk reaction that is not useful at this point. What is useful at this point is ensuring that support gets to businesses who need it via a targeted approach while also ensuring that our lowest-income New Zealanders get a fair go. We know that those on the minimum wage tend to spend the increases that they get because that is the nature of being on a low income and we continue to support those New Zealanders to be able to move forward in that way.Thirdly I just want to make reference to the member's comment about the timeliness of this package. All countries around the world are grappling with an evolving situation. He will not be able to find countries other than those directly in the eye of the storm who have taken actions beyond what this Government has done. In fact this Government is well ahead of the curve in part because of a fully funded infrastructure package that we announced at the end of January. The New Zealand Government has ensured that we are in a good position to deal with what is a serious situation and we will continue to take a measured and active approach.
Obituaries — Jeanette Mary Fitzsimons CNZM
Seymour DavidDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I wish to join with other party leaders on behalf of ACT in condolence to Jeanette Fitzsimons' family and in commemoration of her life and her contribution to New Zealand politics and this House. I'm sure that as a lifelong proponent of and campaigner for the mixed-member proportional system she would want it to be so. I did not coincide with Jeanette Fitzsimons in this Parliament nor unfortunately was I able to know her but in a way the fact that what I know of her has been learnt by osmosis has bled out through society and through secondary connections speaks all the more strongly to those values that I know she had.There are politicians who believe it is an achievement to hold a particular office. There are politicians who believe that it is about what she might have called the he said she said" BS. Jeanette Fitzsimons was clearly a politician who believed that being in office was not an achievement but presented the opportunity to achieve not on the personality but on the issues. That's why we hear so frequently in the last few days as people up and down New Zealand have come to terms with her passing words like "principled" "kind" "dogmatic" "humble" "achieving"—values that I think all of us should aspire to and values for which all of us can have a great admiration for Jeanette Fitzsimons.I want to extend again condolences to her Green Party colleagues and the wider Green Party whānau and to those in her real biological whānau—they must be feeling such a sense of loss and our thoughts are with them—and of course to her our commemoration of a great life well lived. Thank you Mr Speaker."
Mallard TrevorTUESDAY 10 MARCH 2020The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Karakia.OBITUARIESJeanette Mary Fitzsimons CNZMSPEAKER: I regret to inform the House of the death on 5 March 2020 of former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Mary Fitzsimons CNZM who was a member of Parliament from 1996 to 2010.
Thursday 5 March 2020 - Volume 744
Screen Industry Workers Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Screen Industry Workers Bill be reported to the House by 2 June 2020 and that the committee have the 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 and outside the Wellington area despite Standing Orders 191 193 and 194(1)(b) and (c).Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 56New Zealand National 55; Ross.Motion agreed to.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Screen Industry Workers Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Bill read a first time. Bill referred to the Education and Workforce Committee.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That all the words after That" be deleted and the following substituted: "this House has no confidence in the Labour-led Government because in just two short years it has plunged New Zealand into deficit and failed to deliver on any of its promises." Ayes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Noes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Amendment not agreed to.A party vote was called for on the question That this House express its confidence in the Coalition Government and commend its programme for 2020 as set out in the Prime Minister's statement.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Motion agreed to."
12. Question No. 12—HealthANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 12—Health12. ANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister of Health: How is New Zealand's public health service responding to the COVID-19 coronavirus?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): We always knew that COVID-19 would arrive in New Zealand and have been preparing since January in line with the comprehensive pandemic plan. The actions we have taken such as travel restrictions and supporting people to self-isolate bought us valuable time to ramp up those preparations. As of now New Zealand has three confirmed cases of COVID-19. Our public health staff are working hard to contain the situation using contact tracing and self-isolation to limit the chance of spread. But while excellent progress is being made I do anticipate further sporadic cases will be identified.Angie Warren-Clark: What is being done to support primary care to respond to COVID-19?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The Ministry of Health has been providing regular updates and advice to the primary care sector since early January. There has been a strong focus on the provision of information including around the use in primary care of personal protective equipment. The ministry is working with DHBs and primary health organisations (PHOs) across the country to ensure personal protective equipment—or PPE—is available to those who need it. I'm advised that all general practices now have appropriate PPE. The Ministry of Health are in regular contact with DHBs PHOs primary care and pharmacies and have weekly teleconferences to ensure anyone with concerns can raise them directly.Angie Warren-Clark: What can the public do to help support our response to COVID-19?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The most important thing the public can do is listen to the very sensible public health advice that is coming from our health professionals. Avoid close contact with people with cold- or flu-like illnesses. Health professionals advise also to cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing. Health professionals advise also to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with water and soap and dry them thoroughly before eating or handling food; after using the toilet; after coughing sneezing blowing your nose or wiping children's noses; and after caring for sick people.
9. Question No. 9—DefenceDARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister of DefenceQuestion No. 9—Defence9. DARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister of Defence: What recent announcements has he made on defence capability projects?Hon RON MARK (Minister of Defence): On Tuesday I announced that Defence has signed a contract to replace the Defence Force 1980s - era fixed high frequency radio capability with modern equipment. High frequency radio provides reliable communications coverage including into some of the most remote regions on the planet where New Zealand is operating from deep in the Southern Ocean to the vastness of the Pacific. High frequency communications acts as a backup to satellite communications and would also boost national resilience by helping emergency services maintain communications during a crisis increase resilience against malicious cyber-attacks and that project will be delivered by Babcock New Zealand. It has a capital budget of $26.6 million and is expected to be fully operational in August 2023.Darroch Ball: What progress has been made in modernising the Defence Force's domestic response vehicle fleet?Hon RON MARK: The Ministry of Defence has released a request for tender and is currently seeking proposals on a range of domestic response vehicles with delivery expected before the end of 2022. These capabilities help support our communities enable military operations at home and in our region and keep our women and men in uniform safe. They include domestic and rural fire engines to support Fire and Emergency New Zealand air force response appliances aircraft refuelling tankers and the long overdue and much waited for New Zealand - based military ambulances which are desperately and urgently in need of replacement.Darroch Ball: What progress has been made in upgrading the communications capabilities of navy vessels?Hon RON MARK: More good news. A further planned investment has gone to market seeking proposals to upgrade the external communications systems on HMNZS Canterbury the offshore patrol vessels HMNZS Otago and Wellington and delivery is also expected before the end of 2022. These ships conduct fisheries patrols protect our borders and support disaster relief operations such as HMNZS Wellington did at Whakaari / White Island. Communications at sea are critical for the safety of the crews and to ensure New Zealand vessels are able to operate effectively together and with our partners. Investment in all three of these capabilities is critical to national resilience and has been deferred for far too long and that's why this coalition Government is taking care of business.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is that the reason why for the first time for an awfully long time international allies of ours have a new-found respect for our country?SPEAKER: Order! Order! That's not something that Minister has responsibility for. The fact the Minister asked the question probably does.Hon RON MARK: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Could I suggest that my office in the last three weeks has been full of delegations from the EU NATO United States and just this morning—SPEAKER: All right. OK well the member's probably answered the question.
7. Question No. 7—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 7—Transport7. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Transport: Why did he say on 22 January 2020 that What the Super Fund proposed is that they would design build and operate the light rail line for the next 50 years" and was he basing those comments on the unsolicited bid for Auckland light rail made in May 2018 by NZ Infra?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): I said it as an illustrative example because not everyone understands what a public-public investment could look like. And to the second part of the question no.Chris Bishop: Has he been briefed by officials on the duration of the contract proposed by NZ Infra for Auckland light rail?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I have been briefed by officials on the results of the twin track process that Cabinet mandated.Chris Bishop: Has he been briefed by officials on the duration of the contract proposed by NZ Infra?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Yes that's part of the bid that was put to the twin track process.Chris Bishop: When did that briefing take place?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Look if the member wants a detailed question of that nature answered he should put it in writing.Chris Bishop: Why did he say yesterday "When I made those comments in January I was—it was an illustrative example—I hadn't been briefed at that point on the detail of the bids" when he's just told the House that he was briefed on the duration of the contract proposed by NZ Infra?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I made the comment in the House yesterday about the briefing that I received in January this year at the conclusion of the twin track process. That's a long time after those original comments were made.Chris Bishop: Can he assure the House that the NZ Infra proposal—which the chief executive said yesterday was 1500 pages long—will be released publicly?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: It's currently subject to a commercial probity—strict commercial probity requirements. When Cabinet has made its decision it will release all the appropriate information."
4. Question No. 4—Foreign AffairsJAMI-LEE ROSS (Botany) to the Minister of Foreign AffairsQuestion No. 4—Foreign Affairs4. JAMI-LEE ROSS (Botany) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Has he received any reports of foreign interference activities in New Zealand from foreign State actors of the type described by Canterbury University Professor Anne-Marie Brady in her paper Magic Weapons" as united front work carried out by the Chinese Communist Party; if so what efforts is the Government making to protect New Zealand's interests?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Foreign interference is not a new threat and New Zealand isn't immune to such attempts. Yes I have seen reports to that effect but I can't discuss specific countries operational details targets or methods or systems of surveillance. But I can assure the member that this Government takes the threat very seriously and has robust measures in place to protect our democratic values institutions and our economy.Jami-Lee Ross: Does he share the concerns of Professor Brady that foreign State actors make efforts to control diaspora communities to utilise them as agents of foreign policy suppress any hints of dissidents as well and if so what resilience strategy will New Zealand implement to protect against this foreign interference?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Can I tell that member we do share a series of concerns. If that member or indeed any member of the public has information that relates to foreign interference from any country they should report it to the relevant authorities. This is a serious issue that this Government is dedicated to addressing and appropriate processes should be followed. But let me say this: this is the first time in New Zealand's history that a political party has announced its candidate list in China and you have to ask yourself why.Jami-Lee Ross: Does he share the view of SIS director Rebecca Kitteridge that one vector of foreign interference in elections is "Building covert influence and leverage including through electoral financing;" and if so what advice does he have for New Zealanders concerned about this foreign interference?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The member will I'm sure appreciate the fact that we cannot single out any one specific country. The important thing is that we have flexible and adequate mechanisms we believe in place to protect our democratic values institutions and the economy. The witness and evidence that he has recited in his question is some testimony to that but the reality is we have open channels to raise issues with countries if and when we ever need to do so. But it behoves political parties not to be undermining this Government's serious purpose to protect our democratic institutions."
2. Question No. 2—FinanceHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of his statements and policies?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in their context. In particular I continue to stand by my statement that the New Zealand economy is in good shape to respond to the economic impacts of coronavirus. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Why has the Government moved to ease access to benefits without also outlining plans to help businesses directly affected by the coronavirus outbreak to keep employees in work? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: We've been particularly focused on making sure that people in regions such as Tai Rāwhiti are able to pay their bills. That's what people would expect of the Government to do. We're working closely with industries and businesses right around New Zealand on responses. But when it comes to it New Zealanders know that the Government is here to support them in times of need. Hon Paul Goldsmith: What does he say to the Restaurant Association spokesperson who said efforts to raise issues with Ministers about the impact of coronavirus on the economy have fallen on deaf ears"?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I appreciate the position that restaurant owners around New Zealand find themselves in. I understand that there has been a response from the Government and obviously we've previously met with the hospitality industry and later today I'll meet again with the tourism industry representatives as well. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he think the economic priority now should be on keeping people in work by taking pressure directly off affected businesses? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There are a range of measures that we can undertake to keep people in work. That is most definitely our focus at this time. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Why has his Government not yet detailed a business support package like National did after the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes that offers businesses directly affected by the coronavirus outbreak $500 a week for every full-time worker—SPEAKER: Order!Hon Paul Goldsmith: Well I'm just outlining the details.SPEAKER: Well we don't need unnecessary information. Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I appreciate what the member is trying to do here but it's really important to understand the distinction between this incident and the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes. This is not an earthquake; this is an evolving situation. We are responding as that situation evolves appropriately and we are supporting New Zealand businesses and we will continue to do so."
Salesa Jenny; Rurawhe AdrianSMOKEFREE ENVIRONMENTS AND REGULATED PRODUCTS (VAPING) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingHon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): I move That the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Health Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 2 June 2020 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 on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House and outside the Wellington area despite Standing Orders 191 193 and 194(1)(b) and (c).Public health in New Zealand has battled against smoking and tobacco for decades. Governments of all descriptions have pursued and progressed policies that sought to reduce the harm and the deaths that come from smoking-related diseases inflicted on our communities. Today we write the next chapter of that story because although we've greatly reduced smoking rates in Aotearoa New Zealand we still have around 5000 people who die each year from smoking-related diseases. We know that Māori and Pacific people are disproportionately represented in this fatal cohort. Aotearoa New Zealand has the aspirational goal of reaching smoke-free 2025. As Associate Minister of Health I know that given where we are in smoking rates for Kiwis and the rates for Māori and Pacific people it will be a huge challenge to get to smoke-free 2025.Public health experts for many decades have grappled—ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): I'm sorry to interrupt the member but this debate is interrupted and is set down for resumption on the next sitting day.Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 6 p.m.
Brownlee GerryHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam): It's not our usual habit to support the truncation of a select committee time but it would be strange if there wasn't a speedy select committee process when there is unanimity across the House about the purpose and effect of the bill. For that reason we do support the shortened select committee time on this particular occasion.Motion agreed to.
Greater Christchurch Regeneration Amendment Bill — First Reading
Twyford PhilHon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister for Economic Development) on behalf of the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration: I move That the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 2 June 2020 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 in which there has been a sitting of the House on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House and outside the Wellington area despite Standing Orders 191 193 and 194(1)(b) and (c).I want to set out the reasons why we believe that there needs to be a shorter time than is normal for consideration of this bill at select committee. It's necessary to truncate the normal time in order to obtain the most benefit from the proposed amendments to this bill and for this to occur the amendments need to be enacted in the middle of the year.The amendments in this bill will provide certainty for Christchurch on its future institutional arrangements and remove extraordinary arrangements that are no longer required. This will provide the people and the communities of Greater Christchurch with clarity on what and how regeneration will be handled into the future. In order to achieve this I'm requesting consideration by the select committee and report back in three months as well as allowing the committee to meet at times that would otherwise be prohibited by the Standing Orders. Given that this bill is removing provisions and only extending some of the land-related powers in a geographically limited area I think this is reasonable. In addition no new powers are proposed for introduction. The revocation of the section 71 powers and the disestablishment of Regenerate Christchurch were always intended. This bill just sees them happen earlier. As noted the extended land powers are geographically limited in their application and only relate to a limited set of powers.Finally I want to reiterate that the proposed amendments in this bill are about showing progress in Greater Christchurch while continuing to support ongoing regeneration as intended.
Allan KiritapuKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour): The words have been said in this House about the significance of this bill and what it means to the Christchurch region. Can I commend both sides of this House for the collegial debate and acknowledge that this will be a significant transition for the city to enable it to move forward. So with no further ado we commend this bill to the House.Bill read a first time. Bill referred to the Governance and Administration Committee.