edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Tirikatene RinoRINO TIRIKATENE (Labour—Te Tai Tonga): Thank you Mr Speaker. I just wish to make a brief contribution but wholeheartedly in support of this bill at its first reading. We're implementing a farm mediation scheme under this bill. It's one of those bills where we actually hope that we don't have to use this legislation too much but it's there. It's a mechanism that's in place that we want to try and alleviate the stresses that many farmers and other folks involved in the primary sector face with the burden of debt and their relationships with their bank.So this is a very pragmatic piece of legislation. I want to commend Minister O'Connor and also Mr Patterson for their work in bringing this bill to the House. It is very important. It is a process. It does not get the lenders off the hook but it puts in place a process where hopefully mediation can help in certain instances navigate a way forward for both the debtor and the creditor. So I support this bill. I'm looking forward to hearing submissions through the Primary Production Committee. I think there will be interesting questions just around the scope of the bill just around the mechanics of mediation.I note that the bill incorporates tikanga Māori in the mediation process so that's quite an innovative measure. I'm looking forward to learning a bit more about that but I certainly hope in terms of the Māori agribusiness—inherently Māori farming interests are very conservative so they don't have a hell of a lot of debt that they have incurred just by nature of the fact that by having communally owned land banks are reluctant to take on security interests around Māori land as such. But it's nice to see that there is recognition of that within the bill. So I'm looking forward to the further progress of this bill and I commend it to the House.
Maritime Transport (Offshore Installations) Amendment Bill — First Reading
Points of Order — Leave for Introduction and Setting Down as Members' Order of the Day No. 7 — Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill (No 2)
Speaker's Statements — End of Life Choice Bill Second Reading — Tone of Debate
Genter Julie AnneMARITIME TRANSPORT (OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingDebate resumed from 25 June.Bill read a first time. Bill referred to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee.Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Transport): I move That the Maritime Transport (Offshore Installations) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 29 October 2019.Motion agreed to.
Andersen GinnyHOLIDAYS (BEREAVEMENT LEAVE FOR MISCARRIAGE) AMENDMENT BILL (NO 2)Discharge of Previous Bill and IntroductionGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker I seek leave.SPEAKER: Well you've got to say what for.GINNY ANDERSEN: Oh sorry. Mr Speaker I seek leave for the House to withdraw the Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill in my name and to introduce the Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill (No 2) and have it set down as members' order of the day No. 7.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that process? There appears to be none.
Woods Megan; Woodhouse MichaelBUSINESS STATEMENTHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Energy and Resources) on behalf of the Leader of the House: Today the House adjourns until Tuesday 23 July. Legislation to be considered in that week will include the remaining stages of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability (Waikato DHB) Elections Bill the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Bill and the Copyright (Marrakesh Treaty Implementation) Amendment Bill. The Taxation (KiwiSaver Student Loans and Remedial Matters) Bill will receive its first reading. On Thursday 25 July the Ngāi Rangi Claims Settlement Bill will receive its third reading.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): I thank the acting Leader of the House for her update and wish her and her Labour colleagues all the best for 3.15 this afternoon. Can I inquire—SPEAKER: Order! Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: —as to any progress in obtaining sufficient support to progress the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill including the support of Government parties? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Energy and Resources): Thank you Mr Speaker. I thank that member for his well-wishes for this afternoon and I can advise that member that that legislation will progress at the appropriate time.
Mallard TrevorTHURSDAY 27 JUNE 2019The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.SPEAKER'S STATEMENTSEnd of Life Choice Bill Second Reading—Tone of DebateSPEAKER: Members I just want to very briefly thank members for the tone of the debate last night. I also thank Adrian Rurawhe and Aupito Willian Sio who with staff led a short ceremony here earlier this afternoon to acknowledge the fact that we had invoked the names of a number of people who are close to us as part of the debate to help us move along from that.
Wednesday 26 June 2019 - Volume 739
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Companies (Clarification of Dividend Rules in Companies) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 65New Zealand National 55; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Noes 55New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9.Bill read a second time.
Companies (Clarification of Dividend Rules in Companies) Amendment Bill — Second Reading (continued)
VoteA personal vote was called for on the question That the End of Life Choice Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 70Adams (P)Henare (P)Mark (P)SimpsonAndersenHipkinsMartinSmith SArdern (P)HudsonMcAnultyStanfordBallHughesMitchell C (P)SwarbrickBennett PHuoMitchell MTabuteau (P)BishopJackson NashTinettiCoffeyJones O'Connor Gvan de MolenCollinsKayeParkerWallCraigKingPattersonWarren-ClarkCurran (P)KurigerPeters (P)WebbDavidsonLees-GallowayPrimeWilliamsDavis (P)LittleRadhakrishnanWillisDooceyLogie (P)RobertsonWoodsEagle (P)LubeckRossYang FaafoiLuxtonSageYuleFalloonMallardSepuloni (P)Genter (P)Marcroft (P)SeymourTeller:Ghahraman (P)Mahuta (P)ShawDysonNoes 50AllanGoldsmithO'Connor D (P)TirikateneBakshiGuyO'Connor STolleyBaylyHayes (P)ParmarTwyford (P)Bennett DHipangoPenkUpstonBidoisKanongata'a-SuisuikiPughWagnerBridgesLee DReti (P)WalkerBrown Lee MRurawheWhaitiriBrownlee (P)LoheniRussellWoodCarter (P)MacindoeSalesaWoodhouseClark (P)McClay (P)ScottYoungDean (P)McKelvieSioDowieMullerSmith NTeller:GarciaNgaroStrange (P)BarryBill read a second time.The result corrected after originally being announced as Ayes 70 Noes 51.
End of Life Choice Bill — Second Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill be now read a third 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 third time.
Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill — Third Reading
12. Question No. 12—EmploymentWILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour) to the Minister of EmploymentQuestion No. 12—Employment 12. WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour) to the Minister of Employment: What reports if any has he seen on He Poutama Rangatahi?Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment): I've seen figures that show that there's nearly $21 million in funding committed so far over the next four years to target just over 3750 rangatahi. Currently we have 1700 young people participating in He Poutama Rangatahi programmes around the regions.Willow-Jean Prime: Has the Minister seen any specific outcomes for He Poutama Rangatahi programmes?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: I've been really pleased with what I'm seeing out in the regions. Some of our young people have significant barriers to employment and I'm pleased to share with the House that these programmes are making a real difference in the lives of rangatahi. For example in the Northland College pine project all 16 participants completed their training obtaining the level 2 certificate in New Zealand forestry qualification. Twelve of these rangatahi are still in full-time employment and three have been promoted to crew boss.Willow-Jean Prime: What is the impact He Poutama Rangatahi is having in our communities?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: I want to share with the House the success that a programme like the Development Hub with its Initiate Programme has had in the Hawke's Bay community—a community-based social enterprise that matches training for local rangatahi wāhine with skills and job shortages in the area. Thirty-six women started the programme and 33 completed it. Currently 27 have remained in continuous education or employment since then. That's 27 whānau that are seeing positive impacts in their lives and He Poutama Rangatahi has played a significant part in that and in our communities.
11. Question No. 11—PoliceBRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 11—Police11. BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by all his statements policies and actions in relation to the Government's firearms buy-back scheme?Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Police): Yes in the context in which they were given.Brett Hudson: How can the price list for the firearms buy-back scheme be fair and reasonable compensation when the experts who designed it had only five hours to do so?Hon STUART NASH: Well that is absolutely untrue. As I have already stated publicly several times KPMG consulted widely on behalf of police. KPMG consulted farmers hunters dealers valuers auctioneers collectors and gun clubs. So I would say to that member there were many many five-hour meetings.Brett Hudson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was specifically to the experts which were referenced by the Minister yesterday not to a wider group.SPEAKER: Well you can't get a yes/no. If the member is not satisfied with the answer he can keep asking supplementaries.Brett Hudson: Supplementary—SPEAKER: Order! If the member thinks it is inaccurate then he'll bring it up with the Minister and the Minister will correct it. If he thinks it's deliberately inaccurate he will write me a letter but I cannot get for him the answer that he wants.Brett Hudson: I appreciate that Mr Speaker. That's why I'm moving on with another supplementary as you suggested.SPEAKER: I'm pleased you're moving on. I was getting some appeals from people in front of you.Brett Hudson: How is it fair that there are not separate prices for E category and A category firearms as recommended by the experts in the KPMG report?Hon STUART NASH: We have not separated out E category and A category. What we want to do is take out any illegal firearm that we made illegal through legislation.Brett Hudson: Why does he think that the firearms buy-back will work when thousands of people are already saying that they won't hand their firearms back because they feel ripped off by the Minister's proposals?Hon STUART NASH: There are two things I'd say to that. First of all thousands of people are not saying they feel ripped off. Our feedback is that 80 percent of all phone calls are positive; only about 5 percent are negative. Secondly we are not ripping people off" at all. Thirdly if people do not comply with the law they face up to five years in jail and I trust that the good hard-working people of New Zealand are law abiding and will obey the law."
10. Question No. 10—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 10—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South): When will construction begin on the City Centre to Māngere light rail project and how much is the project expected to cost?SPEAKER: Does the member want to have another crack?10. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Transport: When will construction begin on the City Centre to Māngere light rail and how much is the project expected to cost?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): Firstly congratulations to the member on his promotion to transport spokesperson. Light rail is able to carry 11000 commuters per hour. That's the equivalent of four lanes of motorway through one of the most built up parts of the city connecting commuters to some of the biggest concentrations of jobs in the country. As I said yesterday in the House the most recent cost estimate I've seen is around $4 billion. However it is important to note that the business case and the final design will provide more certainty on the final cost and when construction will begin.Chris Bishop: Does he stand by his statement One of my first actions as Minister will be to have officials advise on how quickly we can start and how soon we can get it built. I would expect Queen Street to Mount Roskill within four years as a minimum." and nearly two years into his term as transport Minister how's that going for him?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well as the member knows this is a major at-scale infrastructure construction project that would run the equivalent of four lanes of motorway right through the middle of one of the most built up intensely populated parts of our city. We are committed to taking the time to get it right and we will be making announcements in due course.Chris Bishop: Is it correct as his colleague the Hon Shane Jones has said that the cost of the city centre to Māngere light rail project could be $7.6 billion?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well I almost always agree with my colleague the Hon Shane Jones but in this case the answer is no.Chris Bishop: Does he have any idea as to why the Hon Shane Jones would have said yesterday the cost of the city centre to Māngere light rail project could be $7.6 billion?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: It's way above my pay grade to guess what's going on in the mind of my colleague.SPEAKER: I think that's a no.Chris Bishop: Apparently. Will the Government proceed with the city centre to Māngere light rail project if the business case is negative?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well a business case is not generally described as being positive or negative; a business case is what it is. A business case often includes a benefit-cost ratio but those are two quite different things."
9. Question No. 9—Economic DevelopmentMARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister for Economic DevelopmentQuestion No. 9—Economic Development9. MARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister for Economic Development: What is the Government doing to boost innovation and support higher incomes and more jobs?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for Economic Development): The coalition Government has a comprehensive plan to boost innovation. As part of the Wellbeing Budget we announced the venture capital fund to accelerate the development of high-growth New Zealand start-ups as they expand. The announcement of this fund has received overwhelming approval from all sectors of society as it will develop New Zealand's points of comparative advantage supporting higher incomes and growing jobs. I note this is something that the OECD has been urging New Zealand Governments to do for some time and this active Government's getting on and doing it.Marja Lubeck: What has the OECD said about New Zealand's capital markets and innovation?Hon DAVID PARKER: In successive reports the OECD has noted New Zealand's low productivity is caused in part by over-investment in the speculative sector rather than investment in the productive sector. The OECD has noted that Governments should support venture capital markets as these generate knowledge benefits across the economy. In 2013 the OECD specifically urged New Zealand to provide more support for the expansion of early-stage firms to help address our productivity problem. Follow-up reports from the OECD noted perhaps with dismay that no action had been taken. After years of inaction this Government's done it.Marja Lubeck: What announcements will the Government be making about innovation in the near future?Hon DAVID PARKER: As the OECD has said New Zealand has for too long had a productivity problem. We believe that technology and innovation are important parts of the solution and as part of the Government's economic plan next week we'll be launching our industry strategy From the Knowledge Wave to the Digital Age. This will be a call to arms for New Zealanders to work together to grow our points of comparative advantage so that we grow the jobs of the future as we lift exports productivity and the incomes of New Zealanders.Hon Todd McClay: How can he claim his Government's policies are working when economic growth has more than halved job creation is in decline and Stats New Zealand has just today said life satisfaction has become worse over the last two years?Hon DAVID PARKER: I think it's clear that the New Zealand economy is recalibrating away from an excessive reliance upon speculative investment. House price inflation on average in New Zealand has tailed off. We are seeing increased investment in the export sector. It's reflecting in the increasingly sophisticated mix of our exports and by the booming increase in the number of technology exports earned by the TIN200.
7. Question No. 7—EducationMARK PATTERSON (NZ First) to the Associate Minister of EducationQuestion No. 7—Education7. MARK PATTERSON (NZ First) to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made regarding early intervention learning support?Hon TRACEY MARTIN (Associate Minister of Education): On Monday I went to Toru Fetu Kindergarten in Porirua to announce another increase in early intervention funding from Budget 2019. This extra $24.8 million over the next four years will provide early intervention to preschool children who have communication behaviour development and disability needs. This is additional to the $21.5 million over four years provided as part of Budget 2018. It will be used to recruit additional specialists to work with children across all regions in the country.Mark Patterson: Will this new funding reduce waiting lists?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: No not on its own. The last five years have seen demand increase by 21 percent for behavioural services 15 percent for communication services and 15 percent for early intervention services. We also saw a stagnation or slight decline in the specialist workforce over that same period. Rebuilding the specialist workforce and changing the way support is delivered is also required. The roll-out of the learning support delivery model and changes in practice bringing the services to the children rather than referring the children out and waiting is showing that we can address demand pressures. [Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Order! The pair of you just settle.Mark Patterson: How will this new investment help grow the learning support specialist workforce?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: An additional 19 front-line specialists will be recruited to work with children across all regions in the country. This adds to the additional 120 recruited between December 2017 and March 2018 but there will also be an increase of 35 early intervention study awards worth $20000 each and 28 speech language therapist scholarships worth $5000 each over the next four years.
5. Question No. 5—State ServicesGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of State ServicesQuestion No. 5—State Services 5. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of State Services: What reports has he seen on New Zealanders' trust and confidence in public services?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of State Services): Good news Mr Speaker. On Monday the State Services Commission published the 2018 Kiwis Count survey which shows that trust in public services is at an all-time high. The Kiwis Count survey provides a voice for New Zealanders who use public services and gives us a clearer picture of what the Public Service is doing well and it also gives us an indication of where we can focus our activities to do better. Achieving a record service satisfaction high with the public" on 43 commonly used public services—such as applying for New Zealand superannuation for example—speaks to a culture change that the coalition Government has been putting into place ensuring that people's wellbeing is at the centre of what we do.Hon Phil Twyford: What does the survey show about the public's satisfaction with Housing New Zealand?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: More good news. It shows that a significant improvement in the public's satisfaction with Housing New Zealand has occurred the largest increase since 2012. Of those who applied for or are living in a Housing New Zealand house or with a community housing provider their satisfaction increased by 13 percent between 2017 and 2018. Of those who applied for or received a housing subsidy or accommodation supplement their satisfaction increased by 11 percent between 2017 and 2018.Hon Peeni Henare: What does the survey show regarding public satisfaction with applying for a community services card?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: It shows a record level of satisfaction from the public when they were asked about applying for or using a community services card—again the largest increase in 2018 since 2012.Hon Peeni Henare: What does the survey show about the public's perception of Work and Income support?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: More good news. It shows a significant change in the public's satisfaction with Work and Income with the largest increase since 2012. In those applying for or receiving a sole parent or jobseeker support payment: 6 percent up between 2017 and 2018.Hon Willie Jackson: What does the survey show about the public's satisfaction with using services for employment or retraining opportunities?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: More good news. The survey shows the largest increase since 2012 in people's perceptions of using public services for employment and retraining opportunities with an 8 percent increase since 2017.SPEAKER: Right I was going to say the next one can just be "ditto"."
2. Question No. 2—FinanceTAMATI COFFEY (Labour—Waiariki) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. TAMATI COFFEY (Labour—Waiariki) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yesterday the OECD released their 2019 survey for New Zealand. I'm sure that the House will be pleased to know that it said that economic growth in New Zealand is solid and it commended the Government for its sound economic management. Equally pleasing is that the survey's recommendations support the policy direction this Government is taking including in the Wellbeing Budget. The 2019 survey looked at New Zealand through a wellbeing frame with the OECD finding that current wellbeing in New Zealand is generally high [with our performance] very good for employment and unemployment…health social support air quality and life satisfaction."Tamati Coffey: Did the report highlight any risks to the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes it did. The OECD said that the greatest risks facing the economy were a sharp economic contraction in China and also natural disasters. That's why the Government is managing the books responsibly so that we can face global economic headwinds and make sure we are in a strong position to deal with any event such as a natural disaster. The OECD said the greatest domestic risk was a housing market contraction not because it expects one but because of the high levels of indebtedness that have been built up in our housing market over previous decades. That's why this Government has a comprehensive housing plan that includes reform of our urban planning systems building affordable houses changes to the rules around foreign buyers and the extension of the brightline test.Tamati Coffey: What other reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well today the International Monetary Fund released its concluding statement following its article IV mission. While they noted a slower rate of economic expansion they did say that the near-term growth outlook is expected to improve on the back of Government investment and accommodative monetary policy. They went on to say that Budget 2019 strikes an appropriate balance between supporting policy priorities and maintaining prudent debt levels. They noted that New Zealand's sound fiscal framework had been further strengthened by this Government's approach. While these international organisations may have some different policy prescriptions from the Government they agree that the fundamentals of the economy are strong and that the Government's priorities are focused in the right areas.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Minister of Finance as to whether he will share that information on the OECD and the IMF with the Leader of the Opposition and yet another finance spokesperson?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I certainly intend to do that. I've been sharing it with the House today and I shall make sure it's done in very short sentences."
Guy Nathan; Rurawhe AdrianSITTINGS OF THE HOUSEHon NATHAN GUY (National—Ōtaki): We've had a pretty good day in Parliament today. I seek leave for the House to rise.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.The House adjourned at 9.58 p.m.
Guy NathanHon NATHAN GUY (National—Ōtaki): Well this is a wonderful opportunity to stand up and support my colleague Todd Muller for bringing to the House a small bill but a very important bill.I'm very disappointed to hear from Kiritapu Allan who sat on the select committee who from all of the engagement that we've had in the primary production select committee gave me the impression that Labour were going to be supporting it. I look forward to Mark Patterson's speech this evening because all of the communication and body language that I got from Mark Patterson in the select committee was that New Zealand First were going to be supporting this small but very important change to shares and constitutions. I can only but feel and understand that the tentacles of the leader of New Zealand First the Rt Hon Winston Peters has decided for some unknown reason that this bill now shouldn't progress. So we're going to hear from Mr Patterson in a moment.We know already that Labour are against. I think Mr Patterson's going to get up in a couple of moments' time and say that New Zealand First are against. But what we are hearing is the Greens are supporting. So why on earth would New Zealand First and Labour collude like this and not include their coalition partner for what is a simple small but important bill that is going to make a difference to companies to clarify about wet and dry shares getting dividends? We heard from Queen's Counsel we heard from the head of the cooperatives for Business New Zealand and we heard from Zespri who were all supporting this bill. So something has happened. Winston Peters' tentacles have come down for some unknown reason and said No we don't support this." So I commend the position of the Greens for supporting the National Party and doing the right thing for cooperatives and clarifying these particular issues to do with shares. I don't want to speak too much more because I want to hear from Mark Patterson New Zealand First's views and why they have changed from the sentiment and the communication that we had in the Primary Production Committee which is one of the more general select committees where we get on and actually do the business for the New Zealand public. So I'm going to sit down now and I look forward to hearing from Mark Patterson why is it—why is it—that they have suddenly changed their tune and got the Labour Party to roll over and now they don't support this very important bill."
Mallard TrevorVOTINGCorrection—End of Life Choice BillSPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker on the bill I'm going to have to admit to a very embarrassing error in the declaration of the vote on the End of Life Choice Bill. The actual vote was Ayes 70; Noes 50. I want to apologise to members for my mis-adding. It's not the first time that Ms Kanongata'a-Suisuiki has caused some problems in the House but unfortunately her name went over two lines and it was crossed off twice and she was double counted. So I re-declare the vote as Ayes 70; Noes 50.
Companies (Clarification of Dividend Rules in Companies) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
Mallard TrevorSPEAKER: The time determined for this debate by the Business Committee has now expired. I have determined that the subject of this vote will be treated as a conscience issue. That won't surprise people. In this case I know there are members who will want a personal vote and I will therefore accept one. The process we follow is that I put the question people vote on the voices I declare the result and I'm pretty certain that at that point someone will ask for a personal vote and one will be held.
KiwiSaver (Foster Parents Opting in for Children in their Care) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Thank you Madam Speaker. I really just want to make a couple of comments about this excellent bill the KiwiSaver (Foster Parents Opting in for Children in their Care) Amendment Bill the name of which is likely to change at committee.Firstly the two things that I think are really valuable about this bill are its emphasis on the importance of long-term financial planning and the fact that parents and carers have an important role to play there because KiwiSaver is an absolute cornerstone of New Zealand's essentially long-term financial framework. That's the first thing I want to say—that the prudence in financial planning that this encourages is really good and also linking it in with the importance of foster care the many people in our community who care for children who aren't their own children and may not in fact be part of their own whānau.What is important is the great work the select committee has done here. It is to really take an excellent idea and refine and review it—in particular recognising the perhaps a little loose definition of foster carer" and recognising the fact that foster carers come in many different shapes and sizes. In particular there are some carers who may only care for those children for months or perhaps even weeks. These financial decisions these decisions about long-term financial planning should be made by people who have the long view of the child's welfare.Now we may think that KiwiSaver is a great idea but the fact of the matter is that in some instances it may not be the right decision. We've heard the member talk about some providers providing fees waivers. Not all do and so we want to avoid those possibilities—that someone puts the child into a KiwiSaver and they end up with a negative balance; they're worse off than when they started. So we need to make sure that the appropriate carer is the person who makes that decision. That's essentially what this bill does.So congratulations to the member for taking a great idea and taking it through that select committee process seeing it through to a situation where we've got the ability for foster children to get exactly the same benefits through the appropriate legal guardian—whether that be Oranga Tamariki or another appointed guardian—not simply by someone who happens to have their day-to-day care on an interim basis. That's a great step. It's good to see that there's support across the House for this. I commend this bill to the House."
Tinetti JanJAN TINETTI (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. I too am delighted to stand and take a call in this the second reading of the KiwiSaver (Foster Parents Opting in for Children in their Care) Amendment Bill and I too would like to congratulate the member Hamish Walker on getting this bill drawn from the ballot but I think more importantly actually taking a concern from a constituent and developing that into a member's bill is a perfect example of the work that we actually do here in Parliament.I have worked with many young foster children in foster care over the years and I think it's really really important that we afford the same rights to those children as we do to other children. While it might seem a simple bill it actually sends a good signal of how important (a) that we believe KiwiSaver is but (b) that we do appreciate those particular children and their carers and as I said that we're giving them the same rights and opportunities as any other child in this country.We are committed to making sure that KiwiSaver remains strong for all New Zealanders. We think that this bill goes a long way with that. As I said it might seem a small bill but actually it adds to a whole package of bills that are going through the House around KiwiSaver.I'd like to congratulate the Social Services and Community Committee for the work that they've done. We heard from the member Jan Logie here just two speakers previous that there were quite a number of amendments that went through that we do believe will strengthen this bill and we look forward to it progressing through the House. With that I commend it to the House.
Warren-Clark AngieKIWISAVER (FOSTER PARENTS OPTING IN FOR CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE) AMENDMENT BILLSecond ReadingDebate resumed from 22 May.ANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. I'm going to be very quick. It is a great pleasure to stand and talk about the KiwiSaver (Foster Parents Opting in for Children in their Care) Amendment Bill. When I last stood to speak I was very pleased to thank the foster parents out there for the things that they're doing for the children in their care. I also want to congratulate the member Hamish Walker for his intent for the bill for enabling children to have the opportunity to get access to KiwiSaver funds. With that I take my seat. Thank you.
Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I do want to acknowledge you for always making an effort to pronounce my name correctly. Along with Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki people also get Kieran McAnulty's name incorrectly pronounced—so it's the Irish and the Tongan here. Anyway it's a pleasure to stand here to be the last speaker on the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill. This bill is in the spirit of getting a fair day's pay for a fair day's work and when one feels a grievance about unfair treatment one should be given the opportunity to air that unfair treatment through this process which is what we are talking about here. All the members on the other side have forgotten that this is about the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill. I want to commend Kieran McAnulty. This is historic for the class of 2017 and Kieran McAnulty for his leadership and for the passionate delivery of the passage of this bill in the House has been excellent. I want to finish off by saying that every worker in New Zealand deserves to have their grievance aired regardless of who the employer is—regardless of who the employer is. I commend this bill to the House. Malo 'aupito.
Scott AlastairALASTAIR SCOTT (National—Wairarapa): Unfortunately for my colleague Kieran McAnulty a fellow Wairarapa MP he got given the hospital pass. He didn't want this bill. I know that because we speak to the same sorts of employers around the same electorate and I know that I got a lot of people a lot of employers telling me that the original bill was a terrible terrible bill. I know that Mr McAnulty would have received exactly the same messages from exactly the same people. Unfortunately he caught the hospital pass given to him by his senior colleagues and he has found himself in an embarrassing situation where the bill as originally brought to the House has been stripped—has been stripped. Following select committee discussions and agreement to changes all sections relating to collective agreement coverage have been removed. Now that was the whole purpose of the bill. That was the whole meat behind the bill. This bill has been stripped and we've found a shallow framework of the original intentions of the bill because as previous speakers have said this is a beat-up on the contractors that provide a fantastic service. We've had a member opposite absolutely telling us about the use of the contractors and how important they are to her business and I would agree. We've also heard from this side to say that there is already protection for employees to take personal grievances and employment grievances to the court. There's absolutely adequately protection for employees already. So this has created another layer of bureaucracy another layer of compliance—a feast for the lawyers to get themselves gorged on. This is an opportunity not to protect employees and it's certainly not a bill that is going to increase productivity. It's not going to help businesses thrive. It's not going to reduce compliance. It's not going to reduce bureaucracy. In fact it's going to do exactly the opposite of those things. Overall it's going to take away opportunity and it's going to reduce GDP if you like—if you want to call it that. It's going to reduce wellbeing—if you want to use the term that the opposite side use frequently—from the communities that we all live in. I know Mr McAnulty will be pleased to see it passed but it has been quite clear to me what a tough road and probably quite a disappointing road it has been to track. With that I am very pleased to oppose this bill.
Tinetti JanJAN TINETTI (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. We've heard a very confused argument from the Opposition here this afternoon. According to them either this bill is a nothing bill that does nothing or it's a bill that demonises labour hire companies and the sky is falling in. I don't know that those members opposite over there can actually work out their own argument. Instead of being either of those things this bill is a great bill about protecting workers' rights. It is very good. I have to do two shout-outs: first to Darien Fenton who first introduced this bill to the ballot many many years ago and to the member who has picked it up and worked with it Kieran McAnulty. I too sat on the Education and Workforce Committee and I am proud to have sat beside the member who has shepherded this bill through the House. He has done an absolutely fantastic job. He listened to those submitters. The submitters that we heard who were labour hire companies that came in all acknowledged that there were issues in the sector. He worked with those companies. He contacted those companies and worked with them to get a bill that would protect the workers' rights and that was also something that those labour hire companies could work with. This might be a start—who knows? But it is a very very good bill and I am proud of the work that has been done to bring it to this point.
Warren-Clark AngieANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. Actually I'm very proud to stand in support of this wonderful bill the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill. I would like as is the custom but certainly is very heartfelt today to commend my good friend and a thoroughly thoroughly good bloke Kieran McAnulty for shepherding this wonderful bill through the House.This bill is very simple. I've heard today that we don't know anything about being an employer. Well I'm currently an employer in a private business a construction business. So we have at times had to use in emergency situations or situations where we've been caught short labour hire firms who we like. And most of us in the Labour Party are quite happy to do so and I don't think that there is any reason that the last member should say that we are hating on that industry. We're certainly not. But what myself as an employer and our party and in fact this Government says is that every worker deserves the right to be able to take a personal grievance. As an employer I stand here and say very clearly that absolutely we have as an employer no issue—no issue—with this bill. Thank you Madam Speaker.
Willis Nicola; Tolley AnneNICOLA WILLIS (National): I think it's very telling that the sponsor of this bill could barely make it to five minutes when he came to have the opportunity to address the benefits that this bill will create. And that's because as others have mentioned during the course of this debate the bill we see in front of us is a mere shadow of what was originally brought to this House. That's because the bill that was originally brought to this House had a very clear purpose and intent and that was to demonise labour hire companies. That was the purpose of the bill. It was to make out that somehow labour hire companies are exploitative agencies that abused workers and don't provide good employment conditions. In fact what we heard at the select committee was that labour hire companies in fact perform an incredible role in our communities of providing flexible work to a range of employees who might not otherwise find employment of providing flexible contracts to people who have changing work requirements and in fact they are a very important part of the modern working relationships in New Zealand. We heard that message loud and clear. So Mr McAnulty's attempt to demonise labour hire companies failed at select committee and his bill had to be gutted. I want to clear up some assertions that have been made on the other side of the House during this debate because it is absolutely National's position that we support worker rights. That is very important to us. We also support people having access to the jobs that labour hire companies create. What we are also clear on is that the current law should not and does not allow for exploitation against workers. The current law allows people hired by labour hire firms to raise personal grievances. That was made clear to us by officials by submitters again and again throughout the process. So what this bill actually does is something very technical. It's the sort of amendment that lawyers will really enjoy that they will make much hay out of because what it does is it sets up a rather elaborate process in which a controlling third party can be joined to a personal grievance and then the authority or the court can give rise to a great debate about how liability should be divided—who's more liable and who's less liable—and I would suggest that that is not what New Zealanders think courts should be spending their time on. In fact I don't think that necessarily serves the needs of workers because actually what workers want is clear decisions made in quick time. What they don't want is endless legal debates about apportioning liability and that's what this bill does.This bill creates more legal ambiguity. It is actually a bill that was intended to demonise labour hire companies who perform a very important role in our economy. It is simply a bill that will make hay for lawyers; it is not a bill about worker rights. If there is any clearer endorsement of that it's the fact that the sponsor of the bill could barely make it to five minutes of arguments in support of it. Thank you Madam Speaker.DEPUTY SPEAKER: This is a split call.
Logie JanJAN LOGIE (Green): Thank you Madam Speaker. I'm not sure to be honest how great it's going to be. I want to congratulate the member Kieran McAnulty for shepherding this bill through Parliament. I too would like to acknowledge the original member Darien Fenton for initiating this piece of legislation around 11 years ago. There's been a long gestation to get to this point of bringing this law change to life. Where it came from was her being on a parliamentary visit to the UK and seeing similar legislation being introduced there in acknowledgement of the increased casualisation of the workforce in the UK. The former member Darien Fenton was looking at the change in employment relationships in New Zealand and seeing the similar levels of casualisation and a concern that with that casualisation and what's sometimes described as flexibility" there was some collateral damage for people around being able to take personal grievances and a loss of conditions for people in pay and ability to control their conditions. So this bill was an attempt to rebalance that to ensure that while the benefits of labour hire employment practices were able to continue there was a guarantee that there wasn't a loss in conditions and employment rights that went along with that. The legislation as it was initially introduced addressed the personal grievance aspect as well as making an attempt to extend collective conditions across to those employed by labour hire organisations. Through the select committee process it was found that that aspect didn't really work in this context. So the member accepted that and that aspect of the bill has been removed. We're now left with quite a simple piece of legislation to ensure that people are able to easily—where appropriate—take the personal grievance. And those third party employers—those people who in effect manage the staff on a day-to-day basis—we encourage them and have this legislative framework to ensure that they are good employers. We're not removing that responsibility as that's kind of effectively been removed up to this point because there hasn't been that guarantee that grievances could be taken against bad behaviour. So we're now ensuring that that pathway is clear.So the Green Party is very pleased to be able to support this as part of a package of reforms that this side of the House is supporting around rebalancing employment relations to make sure that people who are doing all of the work are being fairly compensated and protected in their workplaces."
Lubeck MarjaMARJA LUBECK (Labour): Tēnā koe e Te Māngai o Te Whare. I would just like to correct the previous speaker Scott Simpson on his incorrect assertions. He is picking and choosing from a paragraph that actually clearly outlines that the departmental report recommended to our select committee that we extend the provision of personal grievance by way of this bill. This actually goes to the core of how the Opposition does not understand how this works in real life for real people.I'd like to outline it with an example: there's an owner of a building who gets his building cleaned. He complains about the cleaner. There's no particular reason given for this complaint; however the owner of the building says Look I just don't want this cleaner around." The cleaner may have raised a concern about health or safety practices. The cleaner may have flagged an issue around bullying or harassment or sexual harassment—whatever it is the cleaner is told that they've lost their job because the employment contract states that they need to be given access to the building. So under the current law that worker has no right to a grievance Mr Simpson—that's the second part of that paragraph you left out. Under the current law the worker has no right to raise a personal grievance. So at least this particular bill will provide some protection to those workers. Now that cleaner can sue the owner of that building and get his justice.There was a submission put to us that I'd like to read because it goes to the core of what our workers are facing: "Labour hire workers never know whether they have a job tomorrow or if they'll be able to make the rent next week have enough petrol in their car to get to work or afford lunch for the kids. They are employed on zero-hour contracts that allow the host company to determine their ongoing employment. If they get sick suffer bereavement or take leave they can find their hours cut or their assignment ended without notice or reason." These people are in precarious employment and the other side of this House has denied them their human right to even bring up a personal grievance in case they get dismissed without notice.This bill contains a fundamental right. I'd like to congratulate the member Kieran McAnulty for bringing it to this House. Thank you very much."
Speaker's Statements — End of Life Choice Bill—Speeches
Goldsmith Paul; Mallard TrevorHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave for leave for a 10-second extension to the previous speaker Shane Jones so he could talk about progress in regional development.SPEAKER: Order! No the member was deliberately disorderly—deliberately disorderly. He knows—he's been round this place for a long time—that he cannot seek leave on behalf of any other person. He knows he cannot make facetious comments by way of point of order. I would've thought given the fact that he's gone just about to the top of the class he would try behaving himself for a day or two. He will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon Paul Goldsmith: I withdraw and apologise.