Tremain Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Tremain Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:634;Page:5630] 
9.  
CHRIS TREMAIN (National—Napier) 
 to the  
Minister for Economic Development 
: When will he announce details of the New Zealand Inc campaign that will run in parallel to the Buy Kiwi Made campaign and how much will it cost? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for Economic Development) 
: 
 After those details have been decided by Cabinet. But I can give the member an assurance that there will not be a preference given to people who make coffins as appeared to be promoted by the Leader of the Opposition when he went to be measured up recently in a photo opportunity that appeared to be promoted by John Key. 
Chris Tremain 
: Thank you Madam Speaker. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member is entitled to be heard. 
Chris Tremain 
: Can the Minister provide some clarity over the confusion that reigns regarding the second campaign with the announcements yesterday about the $11 million Buy Kiwi Made campaign when a spokeswoman was quoted in today’s  
Dominion Post 
 as saying it would cost less than $11 million but this morning the Minister said on National Radio that he did not know how much it would cost? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am sorry but I think the member is talking about the first campaign not the second one. 
Peter Brown 
: Can the Minister confirm that New Zealand First pressure ensured that the Buy Kiwi Made campaign was not—[ 
Interruption 
] Madam Speaker is this tolerable? I do not mind—let them go and I will go. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No. Some members I will admit have louder voices— 
Peter Brown 
: Forty-eight to one is about fair. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Mr Brown please be seated. Some members have louder voices than others and they are in danger of not remaining with us for the rest of the session. Peter Brown would you please start your question again. 
Peter Brown 
: Can the Minister confirm that New Zealand First pressure ensured that the Buy Kiwi Made campaign was not widened to include foreign-produced goods and will he confirm also that the tax revenue from New Zealand Inc participants will more than offset the cost of administering the second campaign on its behalf? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Not really. I am not in a position to do so. 
Charles Chauvel 
: Has he received any recent reports on this issue? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Please be seated. Members I know it is members’ day. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Yes I am advised that Phil O’Reilly the chief executive of Business New Zealand has supported the approach that the Government is taking. It is a pity that the Opposition did not consult with business leaders before making its ill-considered comments. If Opposition members spent more time talking to real business people and less time being measured up then they would make some progress. 
Dr Don Brash 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Members are reminded that if they interrupt during points of order they will leave the Chamber. 
Dr Don Brash 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The photograph that the Minister has just shown was taken at a sheltered workshop in Invercargill where the participants are basically intellectually handicapped. It is totally inappropriate for him to refer to them in a derogatory manner like that—as their not being real business people. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member. That is not a point of order but a point of information. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: We now have another point of order. I ask members to remember that they will leave the Chamber if they talk during a point of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. From this far away I cannot see the photograph that was held up by Mr Mallard. I wonder whether he could table the photograph in the House because from here it looks like the photograph was taken by a mortician. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That was not a point of order either. But I am sure the Minister can follow that course at the end of this question if he wishes to do so. 
Chris Tremain 
: Is the only reason the Minister is going ahead with the alternative New Zealand Inc campaign which he described as “not a top priority to the Government” that Helen Clark promised that companies like Icebreaker would be included and is $11 million a fair price for New Zealanders to pay so that he can avoid embarrassing the Prime Minister? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I think two points should be made. The first is that as I indicated in my primary answer the amount of money involved has not yet been decided. But probably the more important point concerns when that member will stand up for a modern economy whether he shares the values of those who say our economy is being hollowed out by overseas ownership whether he values the farmers who grow the merino that goes into Icebreaker and when he is prepared to back New Zealand designers. These are all examples of positive attributes of the New Zealand economy and our identity and I want to know why the Tories keep running it down. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: How is that in order? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Please Dr Smith. That answer was not in order but neither was the question because it actually offended Standing Order 371 if we were applying it strictly. As I have said in the past some questions get answers that are consistent with the way in which those questions are asked. It is question time not speech time; that is coming up if we ever get to it in the general debate. 
Chris Tremain 
: What impact will the New Zealand Inc campaign have on companies such as Icebreaker which already has 1500 stores worldwide already exports to over 20 countries has $100 million in turnover and experienced 800 percent growth over the last few years; and does he think this company needs a helping hand domestically? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: A wide variety of firms in New Zealand need to be valued and I think people who run them down—[ 
Interruption 
] No I think the idea of having a generic campaign that values New Zealand design values New Zealand ownership and values New Zealand producers is something good. I just do not understand why Tories hate Kiwis who make money. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: How was that in order? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Well that did address the question. 
Chris Tremain 
: I seek leave to table a document from the Icebreaker website that shows its growing involvement overseas and how it needs help in an overseas market not domestically. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I was asked previously to table the photo of Dr Brash and I seek leave to do so. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.