edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Hayes Joanne: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHayes Joanne: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8167. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]9.JOANNE HAYES (National) to the Acting Minister of Conservation: What are the benefits of the Pike29 Great Walk and the extension of the Paparoa National Park that takes effect today?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Acting Minister of Conservation): The 3971 hectare extension to the Paparoa National Park ensures that the mine site is properly respected but is also accessible for the families and loved ones of the 29 miners. It is also a significant gain for conservation in that it includes rich podocarp and beech forests and is home to the great spotted kiwi to whio or blue duck to kaka and to kakariki. The new track is the first Great Walk in more than 20 years and the only one exclusively on the West Coast. It makes up stunning views from the limestone gorges of the Pororari Valley stunning views from the Moonlight Range of the Tasman Coast and the Southern Alps and it also will give people an experience of the rich mining history of the West Coast through to the community of Blackball.Joanne Hayes: Who initiated the idea of the Pike29 Track and what will be the next steps from here to create this new Great Walk?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The track was first proposed by the Pike families group and its spokesperson Mr Bernie Monk. I visited the site and met with the families both in person and in conference calls and there was overwhelming support for the venture albeit it is inevitable across such a group of families that there will be some differences of view. The track will require changes to the Paparoa National Park Management Plan and consultation on that will begin shortly. The Department of Conservation will also start the process of design and procurement. Cabinet has provided a budget of $10 million for the track to be constructed as well as ongoing maintenance funding of $350000 a year in the department’s baseline.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This question is set down to the Acting Minister of Conservation. I just seek some clarity from you as to the basis on which a Minister can be acting when the primary Minister is in the House.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I will allow the Hon Gerry Brownlee. I do know the answer.Hon Gerry Brownlee: It is not uncommon that if there is any possibility of there being any conflict of interest then a Minister will hand that responsibility to another Minister. That is the simple explanation. There is nothing being hidden here.Mr SPEAKER: And indeed the announcement made at the weekend I noted was in the hands of the Acting Minister of Conservation.iqsNew Zealand Trade and Enterprise—Saudi Agri-hub Report
Carter David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCarter David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8166. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am very tempted to be asking that Minister to leave the House. The question has been called. There is no need to interject like that.
Twyford Phil: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTwyford Phil: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8166. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū): My question is for the Minister for Social Housing—[Interruption]
Genter Julie Anne: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGenter Julie Anne: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8165. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Minister of Transport: Does he agree with the Secretary to the Treasury that “there could very well be some merit” in evaluating and funding rail infrastructure on the same basis as State highways and other transport infrastructure?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport): Yes to some extent although I note it was a very qualified statement by the secretary.Julie Anne Genter: Why is rail infrastructure not eligible for funding from the National Land Transport Fund when it benefits road users and the country as much if not more than highway expansion and also decreases carbon pollution?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: It does in fact receive money from the National Land Transport Fund—just last week I was at a park-and-ride opening in Ōtāhuhu—but primarily rail is funded from the centre through Crown appropriations.Julie Anne Genter: Why is his Government spending over $1 billion a year on highways—and that funding is ring-fenced—with low economic efficiency that increases carbon pollution when it could be investing that money in the rail network which complements the road network moves freight more efficiently and reduces pollution?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: The reason we invest so heavily in roads is that they are great for the economy and for people but we also invest and have over the time we have been in Government billions of dollars in rail. We have got a proud record of that.Julie Anne Genter: Is he aware of any country in the world besides New Zealand that is looking at scrapping electric trains and replacing them with diesel trains because of lack of funding?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I would have to do a Google search.iqsHomelessness—Families
Carter David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCarter David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8165. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr SPEAKER: I will not be putting the leave. Can I ask members to please have a look at Speaker’s ruling 169/5. Does the member wish to continue?iqsTransport Infrastructure—Railways
Genter Julie Anne: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGenter Julie Anne: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8165. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am on my feet because we are about to hear a point of order.JULIE ANNE GENTER: I seek leave to have my question transferred back to the Minister of Finance as he is ultimately the Minister responsible for the funding of rail infrastructure.
Yang Jian: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYang Jian: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8165. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]6.Dr JIAN YANG (National) to the Minister of Education: What progress has been made on the Investing in Educational Success initiative?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): I was pleased to announce this morning that the number of communities of learning have more than doubled including more than a quarter of a million of our children and young people—and in every region. Communities of learning now cover 793 schools—almost a third of all schools—only 1 year after introduction. This is significant progress in this Government’s $359 million Investing in Educational Success initiative and reflects that schools across New Zealand are driven to provide the best possible educational achievement for their students. These latest communities include schools in Northland East Coast Taranaki and Wellington meaning that we now have every region in the country involved in this enormously exciting initiative.Dr Jian Yang: How do communities of learning assist students and teachers?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Communities of learning put kids and their achievement at the centre of a joined-up pathway from early childhood to schooling and on into tertiary options. They set common achievement challenges and receive additional funding to enable teachers and principals to share expertise and best practice to meet them. We know that quality of teaching and leadership are the biggest in-school factors for lifting achievement. The involvement of families and communities is also vital and communities of learning will help everyone to play a part in helping our kids to succeed.Chris Hipkins: How much of the $53.1 million underspend in primary education last year a significant factor in the Government’s momentary claim to surplus was due to delays in the roll-out of the Investing in Educational Success initiative?Hon HEKIA PARATA: The roll-out of this policy began on 1 July 2014. We have not yet completed this financial year. We are ahead in terms of the numbers forming but we are being very prudent with the resources available.Chris Hipkins: It’s not what the annual report says—read the annual report.Hon HEKIA PARATA: I do read the annual report and I think we commended it to you in the written parliamentary questions.
Carter David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCarter David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8163. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr SPEAKER: No—I was unaware that it had been transferred but if it has been transferred that is the decision—[Interruption] Order! If the member wants to stay to ask the question he had better not interrupt in that vein. The member can proceed if he so wishes; otherwise we can move forward. [Interruption] Order!iqsDairy Industry—Milk Price Forecasts
Robertson Grant: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRobertson Grant: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8163. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave for this question to be answered by the Minister of Finance for whom it was originally set down.
Young Jonathan: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYoung Jonathan: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8161. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Finance: What proportion of the economy is made up by the services sector and how can the Government boost the productivity of this sector?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance): The services sector now generates around 70 percent of GDP. This includes retail media accommodation construction food services and utilities and of course services also contribute to goods production. It is a large sector and therefore its productivity is an important driver of productivity in the economy. The Government of course is the largest provider of services making up a bit less than half of the services sector. So we focus as our contribution to productivity in the economy on the productivity of Government services.Jonathan Young: Why is competition important to the services sector and what steps is the Government taking to improve productivity?Hon BILL ENGLISH: A number of steps: sharpening competition law as announced yesterday; reviewing the Commerce Act to ensure that the sections preventing anti-competitive behaviour are appropriate; and improving the ability of consumers to drive competition themselves—for instance in the electricity sector but also significant pilots in the disability sector where people who have long-term disability can control their own budget and make their own choices. This is a bit disruptive of traditional Government services but it will improve the productivity of the services and the living standard for people with long-term disabilities.Jonathan Young: How have different components of the services sector been performing recently?Hon BILL ENGLISH: The latest BNZ productivity of services index shows that the services sector which makes up 70 percent of the economy has had 63 months of expansion and in September recorded the highest rate of growth since 2007. The ICT sector has been growing at about 9 percent per year since 2008 and ICT exports have grown at 14 percent a year over the past 6 years. Tourism has been performing particularly well. Total tourism spend in the year to March 2015 was $30 billion up more than 10 percent on the previous year.Jonathan Young: What are the main drivers of productivity in the services sector and what steps is the Government taking to lift them?Hon BILL ENGLISH: In its recent report Boosting services sector productivity the Productivity Commission identified five drivers: competition knowledge sharing through internationalisation new skills development innovation and quality regulation. The Government is taking steps in each one of these areas—in particular through the likes of the Rules Reduction Taskforce where we are taking steps to cut red tape that prevents innovation in services—and also through the reform of Government services to promote innovation and more efficiency.iqsOverseas Investment—Silver Fern Farms
Seymour David: Obituaries — Jonah LomuText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSeymour David: Obituaries — Jonah Lomu[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8159. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I will not reflect on the previous speaker’s choice of the greatest rugby school in New Zealand but I would like on behalf of the ACT Party to join with other leaders in expressing condolences at this very sad time to the family of Jonah Lomu and also to pay tribute to such a tremendous man such a freakishly great athlete such an inspiring leader and such a great ambassador for New Zealand. Thank you.Motion agreed to.
Flavell Te Ururoa: Obituaries — Jonah LomuText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFlavell Te Ururoa: Obituaries — Jonah Lomu[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8158. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL (Co-Leader—Māori Party):Jonah Lomu te toa o Tonga Jonah Lomu te tōtara o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Jonah Lomu te ngākau ngāwari Jonah Lomu te pāpā ki ngā tamariki e moe! I nanahi nei i kōrero tēnei Whare mō te hunga i Wīwī i mate i te parekura nui i tū ki reira. I tēnei rā kua hoki mai ki te wā kāinga. I noho tata te hunga mate o te wā kāinga ki te hunga mate o tāwāhi kia taea ai te kī koutou o te mate haere haere whakangaro atu rā. Ka tangi ake ki a ia me tana whānau tana hoa rangatira otirā rātou o Tonga e tangi nei i tēnei rā. Nō reira kāti ake huri noa kia ora tātau katoa.[Jonah Lomu warrior of Tonga tōtara of the Great Ocean of Kiwa affable one and father to children sleep! Yesterday this House accorded tributes to the ones in France who died in the huge calamity that occurred there. Today we have returned to the home front. The death of the one at home is closely associated with those overseas making it possible to say to you the dead depart go forth and fade away. I truly mourn for him his family his wife and at the same time those of Tonga grieving today. So enough—my appreciation to us all throughout.]I join with other speakers in saying what a sad day it is for Aotearoa and it was a bit of a shock to see the news coming over.I will just bring one other perspective to the House today. As an old boy of the greatest rugby school in the country St Stephen’s School there are about three or four schools that my generation my school loved playing: Wesley College Te Aute College Church College and others. One was Wesley College and I in my day played Wesley College and because that was pretty much one of the closest schools to St Stephen’s School when it was alive it was always a very very hard game. I am glad that I was not around in the generation that Jonah Lomu came through because he brought a totally different perspective to the game that we have. In my day Wesley College played our third XV; in his day they played our first XV.I can say this from all the old boys of St Stephen’s School who think about the relationship that St Stephen’s had with Wesley College we think about our Wesley brothers and sisters and we think about Jonah Lomu’s whanau. We hope that the next couple of days will be easy on them as the whole nation mourns the death of a wonderful man who gave as the Minister said not only to the rugby world but actually to the nation by way of his donations and looking after our tamariki. Nō reira e moe Jonah Lomu te toa o Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa.[And so to you Jonah warrior of the Great Ocean of Kiwa sleep.]
Peters Winston: Obituaries — Jonah LomuText is incorporated into the Bound VolumePeters Winston: Obituaries — Jonah Lomu[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8158. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First): As Muhammad Ali was to boxing so was Jonah Lomu to rugby. He was simply the greatest player we have ever seen and anyone who was lucky enough to be at the Sydney sportsground the time he first turned up—when he got the ball 70 metres out sent Damian Smith and three other guys flying got all the way to the corner and then gave the ball to Kronfeld—would have then heard the buzz which no one will ever hear again so loud of Aussie admiration which is not easy to get. An Aussie sports field will never forget how good this man was. To use Tina Turner’s famous song he was simply the best.It is a very sad day—a tragedy—because for much of his playing time towards the end he was never fit he was never really well and we did not see the best of him.Our condolences go out to his family; to the very special relationship he had with Tonga as someone whom they owned; to Wesley College his school which he made seriously famous because of his athletic prowess; to the people of Māngere in South Auckland; but above all to all his friends and admirers all over the world.
Hague Kevin: Obituaries — Jonah LomuText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHague Kevin: Obituaries — Jonah Lomu[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8157. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]KEVIN HAGUE (Green): I rise on behalf of the Green Party to join others echoing the comments made by the Minister and by Trevor Mallard expressing our sadness and condolences to Jonah Lomu’s family. Recently we have been celebrating the performance of our All Blacks team at the Rugby World Cup and of individual players within that team. But it is true that at no point either now or at any point in the past has any player so dominated the sport of rugby as Jonah Lomu did and will continue to do in people’s memories. Others have already mentioned that 1995 World Cup campaign and in particular that try involving the encounter with Mike Catt.Jonah Lomu’s fame popularity and influence have extended far beyond the sport of rugby and indeed far beyond the countries where rugby is played. He has become an icon for his strength skill determination and as the Minister says for his generosity also. He was often the last player to leave the field still signing autographs for kids until the kids had gone.I sit on the Health Committee and we have recently been hearing about the ordeal that is dialysis and that is an ordeal that Jonah Lomu has had to sustain for many years now.The Green Party expresses our shock and our sadness and our deepest sympathy to Jonah Lomu’s family and friends.
Mallard Trevor: Obituaries — Jonah LomuText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMallard Trevor: Obituaries — Jonah Lomu[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8157. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South): On behalf of the Labour Opposition I would like to join with the Minister for Sport and Recreation and extend our condolences to Jonah Lomu’s family—both to the immediate and to the extended family. Those of us who have been watching rugby for some time will remember him bursting on to the scene at the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens and then following that in 1995 when although there were four tries it was the one that sat Mike Catt on his backside that we will remember the most over a period of time.Jonah went on to earn a total of 63 All Blacks caps over his career. He played for a number of Super Rugby teams. I think the Minister is correct to say that a combination of international television Sky Sport and the predominance of Adidas frankly meant that he went from being one of our stars to a world star. That was something that I think was really important especially given the fact that he was a Wesley College old boy and from South Auckland.I think it is also appropriate to place on the record our thanks to Grant Kereama for donating his kidney for extending Jonah’s life and the quality of his life. I do not totally agree with the Minister as to this being a major surprise. I think that those of us who saw him in the stands in the telly shots during the Rugby World Cup recently saw a frailness that we had not seen for some time and that was to a certain extent foreboding.The Labour Opposition supports the Minister and extends our condolences to Jonah Lomu’s family.
Coleman Jonathan: Obituaries — Jonah LomuText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeColeman Jonathan: Obituaries — Jonah Lomu[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8156. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister for Sport and Recreation): I seek leave to move a motion without notice on the sudden passing of Jonah Lomu.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There is none.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I move That the House mark the passing of the prominent New Zealander Jonah Lomu. The whole of New Zealand will be in shock and sadness today to learn of the sudden passing of the great Jonah Tali Lomu—the greatest No. 11 ever in an All Blacks side. Anyone who was living in New Zealand in the 1990s and the 2000s would not have failed to notice the massive impact that Jonah Lomu had not only on sports fans but on the wider community in this country. He was a man who came from very humble beginnings in Māngere South Auckland and who rose to become the first ever global rugby superstar. He brought a lot of joy to New Zealanders and no one will ever forget his performance at Cape Town in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup in 1995 when to the great delight of all New Zealanders he scored four tries against the English ran right over the top of them and asserted our primacy at the top of the rugby world at least for a week.Jonah Lomu was a man whose achievements went way beyond rugby. He was a major inspiration to a whole generation of young Polynesian men because Jonah proved that you could come from anywhere in New Zealand and make it to the very top. He was a man who was extremely generous with his time. He was a loving father. He gave generously to a wide range of causes and he remains an inspiration not only to those who follow sport but to anyone who is battling against the ravages of a chronic disease.There will only ever be one Jonah Lomu. In 100 years from now when they name the greatest ever All Blacks team he will still be the best ever No. 11.We mourn his passing. We know that he leaves behind Nadene his wife and two young sons and our thoughts at this time are with those two little boys and their mother.
Mallard Trevor: Social Security (Commencement of Benefits) Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMallard Trevor: Social Security (Commencement of Benefits) Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8156. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): I apologise for interrupting the member but the time has come for the lunch break.Sitting suspended from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.Debate interrupted.
Logie Jan: Social Security (Commencement of Benefits) Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLogie Jan: Social Security (Commencement of Benefits) Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8156. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JAN LOGIE (Green): The Green Party opposes this bill which seeks to retrospectively remove the legally established rights of New Zealanders for the primary purpose of saving this Government some money. I think this bill speaks to some very important points in relation to New Zealanders’ relationship with the Government around trust balance the rule of law and transparency.Over 1 million New Zealanders did not vote in the last election. Many of those New Zealanders were low-income New Zealanders. Today we heard from the Salvation Army that children in Auckland are living in cars garages camping grounds and emergency housing. We heard that this is due to a lack of housing in part but also because some people’s experience of Work and Income has been so bad that they will do anything to avoid going to Work and Income even if that means giving up their legal entitlements to support. These two things are calling us as a canary in the mine warning us of a very fundamental breakdown in trust between the Government and this House and a large number of citizens in this country.This bill does not work to rebuild that trust. This bill fundamentally erodes that trust further. The urgency that this bill is being brought to this House under is a fabrication and an abuse of power. There is no plane arriving tomorrow and there is no threat to the country; there are only people without much money lodging claims for an average of $80—$80 to which they are still legally entitled. There is only a Government that has since May last year knowingly denied people their legal entitlements and that now seeks to give those people only 7 weeks to be able to get their legal entitlements and that is knowingly denying anyone else before that point access to justice. This bill—
Muller Todd: Social Security (Commencement of Benefits) Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMuller Todd: Social Security (Commencement of Benefits) Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8155. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]TODD MULLER (National—Bay of Plenty): I rise to take a short call to stand in support of the Social Security (Commencement of Benefits) Amendment Bill. I guess we are already at the start of what no doubt will be a somewhat arduous afternoon and evening based on what we have just had to listen to. We have heard that the core difference of opinion in respect of this bill is about what the policy intent of the stand-down period was. When that regime was put in place successive Governments going back a number of years—as you can see here back to 1998—always held the view that if you were put on a stand down when that regime was put in place it was for a calendar week. Everybody—those who were administering the law and those who were claiming under the law—held the view that it was for 7 days that you were stood down and on the eighth day you stood back up in terms of accessibility for a benefit. Everybody assumed that that was indeed the law that we were working to.So to have the conversation here around broad natural justice now for those before May 2014 where everybody could be available for further review and potential addition for money that they were potentially excluded from—to me that misses the point. If you have a policy intent that is clear and you have successive Governments that have acted accordingly then that ultimately has to be at the core of this debate. Of course when you have had—as we have had—a ruling in May last year that identified comprehensively that this was actually a technical error and that technically under the law as it was written it should have been paid on the seventh day as opposed to the eighth day as everyone had assumed that it should be then clearly this legislation is required. It is required under urgency as we have all collectively agreed today and you need to apply some natural justice.Therefore what the Government is proposing in this bill where you provide opportunities for those from that day forward to when this legislation comes into effect—actually 7 weeks beyond that even—I think is a particularly generous approach. I think it is fair-minded and it gets the balance right between ensuring the original intent of this legislation is upheld—and that we make it absolutely clear through retrospective legislation that we are going to have in law what everyone assumed to be the case all along—and having a process for those who were in a review prior to May last year and for those who have subsequently identified that there is a particular issue. I think that is fair legislation. I look forward to having a sensible debate around that policy intent being confirmed by legislation here over the next few hours. I very much support this bill through the stages and commend it to the House today.
Roy Eric: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRoy Eric: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8142. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: This is a 5-minute call on behalf of the Green Party—David Clendon.
Naylor Jono: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNaylor Jono: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8142. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JONO NAYLOR (National): Well it has been an interesting discussion over this last day and a half as we have been hearing things. Some of them actually have even related to the bill. It has been interesting and I guess disappointing from my perspective to have heard so much focus from a lot of people on Australian law when this House should be dealing with New Zealand law.I guess I would ask the question: is it the role of New Zealand to advocate for our citizens who are living abroad? Absolutely yes it is. And in dealing with that—and that is why I just want to commend the work that has been done by the Prime Minister and by Ministers Adams Woodhouse and Lotu-Iiga who have been dealing with their counterparts in Australia doing that work. But this bill is not about what happens in Australia; this bill is about what happens as a result of what is happening in Australia which is that there are people who are being deported from Australia who are New Zealand citizens. Yes maybe they do not have a lot of connection with New Zealand but although they have been in Australia for all that time unfortunately they have not become Australian citizens for reasons that only they can tell for themselves.One of the concerns that I have heard from members opposite—and I just want to reiterate that this is not the case. There is a lot of talk about those people who are being deported for issues of character. Those people are not caught up in this process. The bill is very clear in Part 2 in its description of who a “returning offender” is and who a “returning prisoner” is. Those people who are being deported for issues of character—I think we would all agree that that is not necessarily a great thing for Australia to be doing but they will not be picked up in this. So those people will not be victimised by this bill in the way that I think members opposite have been conveying and I think that is disappointing.This is a good bill. It is a bill designed to help keep New Zealanders safe. It is designed to ensure that those people who are returning after convictions in other countries will be treated in the same way that people who are being released from New Zealand prisons will be treated. I think it is only summed up really by the overwhelming support that it has had around this House. It is in fact a good bill and I look forward to seeing it enacted hopefully later on today or tomorrow.
Dean Jacqui: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDean Jacqui: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8137. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki): I will make only a brief contribution. I think many of the issues have been traversed. I just want to pick up on a point from the rather breathtaking speech that Kelvin Davis has just given to the House. He fears that under this legislation returning offenders will be “dumped on the streets”. Well the news is that this piece of legislation fills the gap and will take care of people so they are not dumped on the streets. That is exactly the point of this legislation.The point that I think is being missed by the Opposition is that this bill is about protecting New Zealand citizens. This bill captures those people—and I used that word advisedly—at the border where hitherto in particular under the previous Labour Government hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of serious offenders came across our border unremarked unknown about only caught by chance if they were caught and then were essentially free to go into New Zealand society to live adjacent to schools and adjacent to families with one child and that Government of the day did nothing. So spare me your hollow words across the House because this is the legislation that is plugging that gap and making New Zealanders safer in their own homes.I have sat through much of this debate listening to the Opposition saying that this Government is making bad law. Really? Is this Government making bad law? I did not hear a single argument about why. David Parker alerted us to a spelling mistake. Thank you very much. It may have been a point of grammar but I did not hear any cogent argument as to why members opposite were saying this was bad law because it is good law. What this law is doing is placing a new supervision regime which is very similar to that which is imposed on New Zealand - based offenders when they are released from prison when they go out in our society. Tell me what is bad about that. The thing is the Opposition essentially agrees with the position of this Government and that is where its objection to this bill has utterly failed. This is a good bill and it will do as it intends to do which is to make New Zealand safer for New Zealanders.
Naylor Jono: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNaylor Jono: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8129. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JONO NAYLOR (National): I move That the question be now put.
Tisch Lindsay: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8127. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): I am going to hear the Hon David Cunliffe.
Foster-Bell Paul: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFoster-Bell Paul: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8127. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National): I move That the question be now put.
Mallard Trevor: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMallard Trevor: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8116. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): The honourable Grant—no.
Mallard Trevor: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMallard Trevor: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8115. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): We have now been on this part for 2 hours and I think it has been half an hour at least since I heard anything that was new. So I think the Committee is in a position to make a decision on the matter.A party vote was called for on the question that the question be now put.The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): While the Clerk is adding up the votes I will remind people—I will pretend I did not hear I think—that if people call for a division from a particular point of view it is a requirement to vote that way. I will not name the member who appears to have done the opposite.
Ross Jami-Lee: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRoss Jami-Lee: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8115. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JAMI-LEE ROSS (Junior Whip—National): I move That the question be now put.
Vote: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeVote: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8089. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]A party vote was called for on the question That the question be now put.Ayes 63New Zealand National 59; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Noes 57New Zealand Labour 32; Green Party 13; New Zealand First 12.Motion agreed to.Part 1 agreed to.
Vote: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeVote: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8052. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]A party vote was called for on the question That the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 107New Zealand National 59; New Zealand Labour 32; New Zealand First 12; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Abstentions 14Green Party 14.Bill read a first time.
Davis Kelvin: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDavis Kelvin: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8101. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]KELVIN DAVIS (Labour—Te Tai Tokerau): I have got just a couple of questions for the Minister around again clause 9 “Police may request returning offender to provide identifying particulars”. My colleague David Parker has gone through those particulars namely—I will start from the second point—photograph or visual image impressions of a person’s fingertips palm-prints footprints. All of those things are something that can exist along with the person’s name and date of birth but my concern is the address. What happens to these people who turn up and they do not have an address to go to? I believe that for the first 5 days they will be put up in a motel or hotel. What happens to those people after those 5 days when they do not have an address to go to?I ask the question because it is an offence not to provide that address. The offence is that they are liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months to a fine not exceeding $5000 or to both and I would hate to think that just because they are people who have been deported to no fixed abode in New Zealand and do not have an address to provide the details of to a policeman they would in fact be in breach of that particular part of this bill. So that is something that I would like to have cleared up.What happens to these people who do turn up? They do not have an address. They are put in a motel for a couple of days and then after that what happens to them? They are given I believe only a couple of hundred dollars in their back pocket. That will not pay rent for particularly long and after that they are on their own. That is the question that I would really like the Minister to answer. I think it would just be totally unfair for these people to be in breach of the clauses.The other issue that I have is just around the wording in a number of the clauses. It is the word “may” that is scattered around.Debate interrupted.
Tisch Lindsay: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8089. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): Yes we have had an extensive debate on these four clauses so I am going to put the question.
Bishop Chris: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBishop Chris: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8089. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]CHRIS BISHOP (National): I move That the question be now put.
Bayly Andrew: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBayly Andrew: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8087. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua): I move That the question be now put.
Dean Jacqui: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDean Jacqui: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8085. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki): I move That the question be now put.
Macindoe Tim: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMacindoe Tim: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8069. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): This is a very important measure which needs to be enacted as quickly as possible. I welcome the broad support it is attracting throughout the House.Bill read a second time.
Naylor Jono: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNaylor Jono: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8066. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JONO NAYLOR (National): Firstly can I just acknowledge the history lesson from the member opposite Mr Henare. It was a good reminder I guess that there have been times in New Zealand when things have been less than ideal and hopefully as we continue to improve things right across history we can now make sure that some of those things do not ever happen again and we can have legislation that will be good for New Zealand.This as I said in the first reading is good legislation for New Zealand because paramount behind this legislation is the protection of New Zealanders in order to keep them as safe as we possibly can—in this instance from people who are returning from overseas who have been deported because of their criminal behaviour. There is an expectation as I said in my first reading speech that New Zealanders can expect that we will have similar sorts of provisions in place for people who have been serving time overseas as for those who have been serving time in New Zealand.There has been—and I guess I would expect there to be anyway—a certain level of concern about people’s civil rights in this kind of legislation but I think ultimately we have got to find that balance between people’s civil rights and safety. I think it is important to highlight that this regime is going to apply only to offenders returning to New Zealand within 6 months of being released from custody. So we are not talking about those people who perhaps are just being deported for issues of character and we are not talking about just those people who have had issues with speeding fines or otherwise but we are very much targeting those people who have committed crimes that have had custodial sentences attributed to their crime.So what we now need to do is have something in place to ensure that if they are going to be returned to New Zealand whether it is against their will or otherwise we reintegrate them in the best possible way we can. That is exactly what this bill sets out to do and so I commend it to the House.
Tisch Lindsay: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8064. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): The next call is a split call. David Clendon—5 minutes.