Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRobertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 12 March 2014. Volume:697;Page:16554. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central)to the Minister of Justice: Did she seek advice from the Cabinet Office regarding any conflict of interest arising from her husband’s directorship of Oravida Ltd; if so when and why?Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Justice):I wrote to the Cabinet Office on 31 January 2013 advising that my husband had been appointed to a number of directorships including Oravida Ltd. This letter was in addition to the annual review of Ministers’ interests.Grant Robertson: Does she believe that her actions in China while on a taxpayer-funded visit including visiting Oravida’s office and having dinner with the chairman of Oravida and a Chinese Government official gave rise to a conflict of interest?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No. However I do believe that there is a risk of a perception of a conflict of interest and that is important.Grant Robertson: What has changed between today and yesterday when she did not think there was a perception of a conflict of interest?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well that particular issue was not raised with me yesterday by that member.Grant Robertson: Did she consider the conflict of interest implications before the dinner of having dinner in China with the chairman of the company that her husband is a director of and a Chinese Government official; if so what did she do about that?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No I really did not because I viewed it as—Grant Robertson: Really?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No I really did not because I viewed it as that I was having dinner with two close personal friends. My adviser who is also a close personal friend was with us as well as another friend. Actually in the fullness of time and in hindsight I can see why there might look like there is something there. But I am sorry I just did not even think of it.Grant Robertson: What issues were discussed at the dinner with the Chinese Government official and the chair of Oravida?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Not an awful lot because of English language issues. Having said that—Hon Annette King: Oh so none of our negotiations—Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No no negotiations. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Allow the Minister to complete her answer.Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Actually we talked mostly about me saying how it would be really good if more people came to visit New Zealand because it is the best little country in the world.Grant Robertson: Is the Minister telling the House that at the dinner that she held with the Chinese Government official and the chair of Oravida Ltd there was no discussion about Oravida’s business activity?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Yes.Grant Robertson: Did she hold any other meetings with business contacts during her trip to China that she has not yet declared?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I have declared meetings with business contacts in China already.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was not the question; the question was whether there were any other meetings.Mr SPEAKER: In the normal course of events if the member who asked the question is unsatisfied with the answer he may appeal to me.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do not believe that the Minister—Mr SPEAKER: I agree with the member so I will ask him to repeat the question.Grant Robertson: Thank you. Did she hold any other meetings with business contacts during her visit to China that have not been declared?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: They have all been declared either by way of the Official Information Act or in the House.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I seek leave—can you tell that guy on the camera to get there faster.Mr SPEAKER: I cannot hear the member’s point of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well he has finally got the microphone to me. Through you can I ask him to get there faster. Right?Mr SPEAKER: Would the member just raise his point of order if he wishes.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I seek leave—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! We have now finally ascertained that this is a point of order. It will be heard in silence.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I seek leave to table an article from the Oravida website and its English translation.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that information from the website and its translation. Is there any objection to that being done? There appears to be none. They can be tabled.Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House.