"\u003C!DOCTYPE html\u003E\u003Chtml xmlns:xlink=\u0022http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\u0022 xmlns:xsi=\u0022http://www.w3.org/2007/XMLSchema-instance\u0022 xmlns:mml=\u0022http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Chead\u003E\n    \u003CMETA http-equiv=\u0022Content-Type\u0022 content=\u0022text/html; charset=utf-16\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmeta name=\u0022viewport\u0022 content=\u0022width=device-width, initial-scale=1\u0022\u003E\n  \u003C/head\u003E\n  \u003Cbody style=\u0022font-family:sans-serif; font-size:100%;\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00224d7fa0693d3c4adb98ae5f0d97525e46\u0022\u003EThursday, 20 July 2006\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022896aa1e5ea9d4c538945e119805786c5\u0022\u003EThursday, 20 July 2006\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000002\u0022\u003EMadam Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000004\u0022\u003EPrayers.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00225982f9dd0f0e45d99ffb2d814111d72b\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002231e43a35dce34b6b86e4391ee208c9c1\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022 data-id=\u00222d8e1a24bca84d8a8ad2ca9848c86745\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222d8e1a24bca84d8a8ad2ca9848c86745\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E Next week in the House priority will be given to the completion of the Appropriation (2006/07) Estimates Bill and the remaining stages of the Protected Objects Amendment Bill and the Coroners Bill. If possible, priority will also be given to the first readings of the Ng\u0101ti Mutanga Claims Settlement Bill, the Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 2), and the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EWednesday is a members\u2019 day, and it has already been agreed between the parties that the Hon Jim Sutton\u2019s valedictory speech will occur at 5.30 p.m. on that day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002241ea3e47ff1146cb9582c0cb5f2a628a\u0022\u003E Questions for Oral Answer\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002227e3abaf5c2b44a7af6b49f404b60304\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c6ed075fe50b418a9908967c16afbeaf\u0022\u003EEarly Childhood Education\u2014Accessibility\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002290b7f09707344ba683c0517de0afd170\u0022\u003E1. MOANA MACKEY (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: What is the Government doing to put quality early childhood education within the reach of all New Zealand families?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022 data-id=\u00220f9434db81dc4461b0a226f7ab529dbc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220f9434db81dc4461b0a226f7ab529dbc\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E Today I am announcing $9 million in new grants to assist 42 early childhood education providers to plan for and build new early childhood centres. The funding, which goes to low socio-economic, rural, and isolated communities, will provide for nearly 500 new places across New Zealand\u2019s growing network of early childhood centres.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f357488a7a3e49aa861005d8e903ac31\u0022\u003EMoana Mackey\u003C/span\u003E: What else is the Government doing to lift the quality of early childhood teaching and lower the cost to all parents?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3fa888ee53b4f5a85c3fe270cf78f9f\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY\u003C/span\u003E: Heaps, but I will just limit myself to the following. Through this year\u2019s Budget, the Government will invest an additional $162 million in early childhood education. That includes $128 million to implement Labour\u2019s policy of 20 hours a week of free early childhood education for 3 and 4-year-olds, $30 million to help centres to employ more qualified teachers, an extra $4 million to ensure playcentres remain financially sustainable, and, overall, ensuring that people carry on remembering how much Labour is doing for early childhood and how little National did.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002251dfea20-2244-4fc7-bd7d-ebf7a98580e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223248b7e0f0ac4a34bda71c1c3a004003\u0022\u003EHon Tau Henare\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister believe that the downgrading of the Parents as First Teachers programme in the Hawke\u2019s Bay is something that he is doing to put quality early childhood education within the reach of all New Zealanders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228d4d616c511647439ffefe6ca4b50d35\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY\u003C/span\u003E: It has not been downgraded.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221a59d3ae-788b-4b19-b7dd-7d0e29a626fc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e8e84fafbffe413e856aececf95c7e60\u0022\u003EHon Brian Donnelly\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister explain why a parent who works 5 hours per day for 4 days will have 20 hours of early childhood provision subsidised by the Government, whereas someone who works two 8-hour days will have only three-quarters of his or her childcare subsidised?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8a9b948548c47398b975218f9f535b8\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY\u003C/span\u003E: The member is referring to the fact that we have agreed with the early childhood sector that we will introduce the free 20 hours at 6 hours per day. The reason it is being introduced in that way is that the current way of funding the early childhood education sector is for 6 hours per day. The sector agrees with us that we should introduce this new policy with current arrangements, monitor it, and change it when necessary.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002269b5b90f5e384c098b40f1c4b007f6dd\u0022\u003EForeign Affairs, Minister\u2014Confidence\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d48244fc-ceef-4ef5-9cee-851e4d439468\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fef23145866d4f2984d975e15cee8746\u0022\u003EDr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in the Minister of Foreign Affairs; if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022 data-id=\u002292ed949176214c40b056ff36747395e2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002292ed949176214c40b056ff36747395e2\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes, because he is a hard-working and conscientious Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d48244fc-ceef-4ef5-9cee-851e4d439468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d6420dc6ef6245feb2b68e1c7d2bf8e2\u0022\u003EDr Don Brash\u003C/span\u003E: Does she believe the behaviour of the Minister in Washington yesterday was acceptable, when he interrupted Senator John McCain, potentially the next President of the United States, as the senator was in the middle of answering questions from journalists; if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a11ce4e-9fb3-4738-b0be-5a9f81d975da\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d80a68f67c184b0b8c4ed6d0395e5fd7\u0022\u003EHon Maurice Williamson\u003C/span\u003E: Ah McCain, you\u2019ve done it again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227bb3d31c9745437d8c12e54178b6e240\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: Indeed, he has; he has supported New Zealand. Indeed, \u201CMcCain, you\u2019ve done it again.\u201D\u2014I thank Mr Williamson for that. There is no indication that Senator McCain took any offence. He probably was not used to the aggressiveness of the New Zealand media in seeking interviews.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d48244fc-ceef-4ef5-9cee-851e4d439468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227905581e59df434096e15fff487181b2\u0022\u003EDr Don Brash\u003C/span\u003E: How can she possibly be happy that Mr Peters rudely interrupted the man who could be the next President of the United States when he was in the middle of comments lavishing praise on New Zealand, advocating a free-trade deal with New Zealand, and suggesting that New Zealand should be regarded as an ally?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022380952a3ea49447d9275056cf217f9f7\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: Indeed, of course, what Senator McCain was saying was that he did not see our nuclear-free policy as any impediment to a free-trade deal, which is directly contrary to what Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith PhD has been trying to tell the country for umpteen years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e3dc3d88-a571-4ed7-a4b4-b66dedd6134b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224b9dc784eaba43ee8ce02d7769477d8f\u0022\u003EPeter Brown\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister confirm that all official reports\u2014and I stress \u201Cofficial reports\u201D\u2014show that the New Zealand - US relationship has indeed been enhanced by the visit of our foreign Minister and that any person looking at the substance, against the spin, would see that the language and tone used by senior US officials demonstrate clearly the strengthening of this relationship?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8c3af22fcab444bbcd1478bb581411d\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: Indeed, and, of course, Mr Peters also had a fruitful meeting with Condoleezza Rice\u2014another person who could be the next President of the United States. Of course, if Mr Peters were to meet all the people who could be the next President of the United States, he would be very busy indeed over the coming months.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d48244fc-ceef-4ef5-9cee-851e4d439468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c224c84738c43929697cb5734dcc3d8\u0022\u003EDr Don Brash\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister think it is telling that Mr Peters had no press conference with the US Secretary of State after his meeting with her today and that his meeting with her was cut short, from 1 hour to 30 minutes, and does she not think that Mr Peters may well have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3fad6429f1e4823af99a6e3064e5c4f\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: No, Mr Peters does not model himself on the Leader of the Opposition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a13967182e24b1e96fa2f94d972c52f\u0022\u003EHon Phil Goff\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that it is not the practice of the Secretary of State ever to have a press conference with another foreign Minister after their meetings, though the Secretary of State would do so for the Prime Minister of New Zealand, such as when Colin Powell had that meeting and described our relationship as being \u201Cvery, very, very close friends\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f291043af594ed68fad05757d2bdc1f\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: That is my understanding, and, indeed, United States politicians hold far fewer press conferences than their counterparts in New Zealand are accustomed to holding.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226c1d5df8-ac1d-4ce1-a778-202845cfc69f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002239993ddd34b145909e7e845602cd41ce\u0022\u003EHeather Roy\u003C/span\u003E: Is Winston Peters a better person for the job of Minister of Foreign Affairs than his predecessor, the Hon Phil Goff, or is Mr Peters\u2019 appointment simply the price that this country has to pay for the Prime Minister to keep her job as Prime Minister?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b730885c68d14d54bdfe07172b94b7a6\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: They are different but both excellent men in their very different ways. But I do note that Mr John Key was boasting some months before the election that National had already offered the Foreign Affairs job to Mr Peters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8383f38-c78c-4e5d-8324-677d91e95c49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bedc948a16984adb80d7292ac8d5dd8c\u0022\u003EKeith Locke\u003C/span\u003E: Did Mr Peters raise with American leaders New Zealand\u2019s abhorrence at the gross human rights abuses at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre; if not, why did the Government miss such a valuable face-to-face opportunity to express New Zealanders\u2019 concern that a country such as America is so undermining international human rights standards?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022292a3a0af1444d3781b99bc5984ecc27\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: I have no information on that point. It would seem particularly inappropriate to have done that with Senator John McCain, who has himself raised some questions about those matters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8383f38-c78c-4e5d-8324-677d91e95c49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229eaad61c0d71470eba2bfabf845dee0f\u0022\u003EKeith Locke\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Given that the Prime Minister cannot give us the specific information now, could the Prime Minister find out whether Mr Peters did raise that question and report back to the House?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1f20e605c8e4951b7e214b81e64511e\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is that a supplementary question?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8383f38-c78c-4e5d-8324-677d91e95c49\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c70c90159ee414da4d66238f330a13a\u0022\u003EKeith Locke\u003C/span\u003E: No, it is a point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227a40403fd7534765950fe4fe01cd106d\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am sorry, it is not a point of order, but I remind the member that he could put it down as a written question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d48244fc-ceef-4ef5-9cee-851e4d439468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022283cfb74de1e469890b18cfa58a93fb2\u0022\u003EDr Don Brash\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Prime Minister seen the comments of veteran reporter Barry Soper, who described the Minister\u2019s behaviour in Washington yesterday as \u201Cembarrassing, arrogant, and insulting\u201D, adding that it was the most embarrassing thing he had seen in 26 years of travelling with Ministers and Prime Ministers, and does that assessment not cause her to review the wisdom of appointing Mr Peters as the Minister of Foreign Affairs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228dd88bb9e6cd4b5a81e49bea2a11630e\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: On the last point, I would remind the member that his colleague Mr Key was boasting some months before the election that National had offered that job to Mr Peters\u2014and I have no doubt that if that had been the price of a coalition with National, National would have paid it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d48244fc-ceef-4ef5-9cee-851e4d439468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022896d851971de4b44a623f01cbbfa0fb1\u0022\u003EDr Don Brash\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister agree with the account in Mr Peters\u2019 press release of yesterday\u2019s incident, or does she believe the statement by Barry Soper that the release was \u201Cfull of untruths\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b0f4f246e96e49ca9c942c6457c2d1e2\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: The press release I have relates to a productive trip to Washington for Mr Peters. It outlines whom he met, it states that we have a longstanding relationship with the United States, and it states that the discussions raised were across a wide range of areas. All of those seem to be purely factual statements to me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e3dc3d88-a571-4ed7-a4b4-b66dedd6134b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002253b50164650c4de39f528685f7962d1f\u0022\u003EPeter Brown\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to confirm that this is not the first time that a particular Television New Zealand reporter has engaged with politicians under one auspice only to portray the result on national television as being something completely different?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c71fd2d9dc2471cbef9ef996b5ef6a0\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: Modesty prevents me from commenting on that question any further. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002233d715484df343d19ac3df3b4d8ea258\u0022\u003ETe Reo M\u0101ori\u2014School Programmes\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022638130549acd44d386ba5582d9523f48\u0022\u003ETE URUROA FLAVELL (M\u0101ori Party\u2014Waiariki)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: E whakapono ana ia ki t\u0101 te Kaiwhakahaere Matua o Te Taura Whiri i te Reo a Haami Piripi i k\u012B r\u0101, \u201Ck\u0101re te T\u0101huhu o te M\u0101tauranga i te whakamanako i Te Reo M\u0101ori, \u0101, k\u0101re hoki i te whakauru \u0101huatanga M\u0101ori ki roto i ng\u0101 h\u014Dtaka ako o ng\u0101 kura\u201D, koin\u0101 te kaha aro pono mai o taua tari ki Te Reo M\u0101ori, \u0101e r\u0101nei, k\u0101re r\u0101nei; ki te kore he aha ai?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E[Does he believe that \u201Cthe Ministry of Education does not give te reo M\u0101ori the acknowledgment that it should and is failing to push M\u0101ori in school work programmes\u201D, as stated by M\u0101ori Language Commission Chief Executive, Haami Piripi, is a true reflection of his ministry\u2019s commitment to te reo; if not, why not?]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022 data-id=\u0022ddce7912651f46b8998a7b94a6f6b0c4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ddce7912651f46b8998a7b94a6f6b0c4\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E No. I understand that the comment was from a discussion on the Te Karere programme about the need to strengthen our acknowledgment of M\u0101ori language learning in the school curriculum. The new draft curriculum, which is being launched on 31 July, includes specific acknowledgment of M\u0101ori language learning. I am also pleased to announce that, for the first time, a draft curriculum to support the teaching of te reo M\u0101ori as a curriculum subject is being developed. That is due to go out for national consultation at the end of this year, following regionally based trials.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b2cecfec8d542c4b37d6f0b562a1352\u0022\u003ETe Ururoa Flavell\u003C/span\u003E: He aha te take e p\u0101nui atu ana Te Ara Reo a-Iwi i ng\u0101 ara ki Te Reo M\u0101ori ki Aotearoa wh\u0101nui m\u014D nga Tari K\u0101wanatanga e ono, ar\u0101, Te Tari Hiranga Tangata, Te Ratonga Manene, Te Tari Koporeihana Whare, Te Tari Taiwhenua, Te Koporeihana \u0100whina Hunga Whara me Te Tari Pirihimana engari, e ngaro nei Te T\u0101huhu o te M\u0101tauranga?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E[Why does the Office of Ethnic Affairs Language Line advise New Zealanders that they can request M\u0101ori language services at six Government departments\u2014namely, Work and Income, Immigration New Zealand, the Housing New Zealand Corporation, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Accident Compensation Corporation, and the New Zealand Police\u2014but the Ministry of Education is not included in that list?]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f6749675d3724323bb01b55608d91511\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY\u003C/span\u003E: I was not aware that they were not being referred to the Ministry of Education. It is probably because of the very wide range of schools, which of course would deal directly with parents who were concerned about the issue. But I am happy to take that up with the member and see whether it would be a useful development.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212f01718-dc1f-4307-b0b3-451098ab73df\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a075910cf3ab46039794c0522a3caa13\u0022\u003EDr Ashraf Choudhary\u003C/span\u003E: What else is the Government doing to support the teaching of te reo M\u0101ori in New Zealand schools?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b77e8e7d5f864ad8adcd98da542d2255\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY\u003C/span\u003E: The Government supports the full range of te reo M\u0101ori learning. That includes providing nearly $18 million a year to support teaching in M\u0101ori immersion, $7 million a year for M\u0101ori medium resources, $5 million over 4 years for the teaching of M\u0101ori in mainstream settings, and $500,000 through Budget 2006 to develop a M\u0101ori language education outcomes framework. I should say that today my colleague Parekura Horomia is launching a radio dramatisation of the first M\u0101ori language novel. It was developed in partnership with the M\u0101ori Language Commission, and will be a welcome addition to the resources currently available in the M\u0101ori language. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b4f28f93a91450e8595c5662a19cb9d\u0022\u003ETe Ururoa Flavell\u003C/span\u003E: He aha i kore ai a ia i kite i \u0113tahi p\u016Btea h\u014Du m\u014D ng\u0101 rawa \u0101-reo M\u0101ori nei i te w\u0101 e umere ana ng\u0101 kura m\u014D aua rauemi?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E[Why did he not seek any funding for M\u0101ori language resources, at a time when schools were screaming out for such resources?]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ff765afbaaa472e9b9d4258bc7bdb76\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY\u003C/span\u003E: I will just take the member back to the fact that we already have, in the Budget, substantial money that is still being rolled out\u2014$18 million around M\u0101ori immersion, $7 million around M\u0101ori medium resources, and other areas in the Budget, like the $500,000 for the language education outcomes framework. There is the fact that we are regionally trialling the curriculum I mentioned before, and the fact that next year it will go out nationally. All that funding is there already. That is why I do not at the present time need additional funding above that. We have a large amount to implement right now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022883f4e5f9e704051b445e22043a817e1\u0022\u003ETe Ururoa Flavell\u003C/span\u003E: Hei whai haere i te whakaaro nui o Te Kura Kaupapa M\u0101ori o te Rotoiti ki te whakam\u014Dhio i te kupu \u2018kura\u2019 i te taha o te kupu \u2018school\u2019 i \u014D r\u0101tou tohu \u0101-kura, he aha t\u0101 te T\u0101huhu o te M\u0101tauranga i te taha o LTSA ki te whakak\u014Dhatu i Te Reo M\u0101ori hei reo t\u016Bturu i Aotearoa nei? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E[Following the initiative of Te Kura Kaupapa M\u0101ori o Te Rotoiti to introduce the word \u201Ckura\u201D alongside the word \u201Cschool\u201D on their bus signs, what work has the Ministry of Education initiated with the Land Transport Safety Authority to affirm the official status of te reo M\u0101ori?]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022605133aa-6c88-4150-82dd-7d9fcf1824b4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b694316265d4459c9af4370caacd728d\u0022\u003EHon STEVE MAHAREY\u003C/span\u003E: The member is right. That is a matter for Land Transport New Zealand, but I have personally made it clear that I am comfortable with having both words on the bus.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224f0cad22f87c488c8186e081141bb00a\u0022\u003ETaito Phillip Field\u2014Ingram Report\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E4. Hon BILL ENGLISH (National\u2014Clutha-Southland) on behalf of \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8ded29ba58847df8e0207b1801ebfb5\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader\u2014National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does the Ingram report exonerate and vindicate Taito Phillip Field of any wrongdoing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022 data-id=\u0022d6c727701c7743afa14dae39a1391fed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d6c727701c7743afa14dae39a1391fed\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Acting Prime Minister)\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Prime Minister, as I have said, Dr Ingram found that no conflict of interest existed or appeared to exist between Mr Field\u2019s private interest and the use of his influence as a Minister. The report did find significant errors of judgment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a401f358937444aa62ed660d9125d47\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Why does she regard the actions of a millionaire MP, who used formerly illegal immigrants as slave labour in return for political favours, as only \u201Cerrors of judgment\u201D, not political corruption?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022351060267cb54816968a8bc5f0fa6fdc\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: The member may use as much pejorative language as he likes. Those are not the findings of the report.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222de0c8416f74447b94882ded8ad9a8ae\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Can she confirm to Parliament that the Ingram report examined Taito Phillip Field\u2019s conflict of interest only in his capacity as Minister of the Crown, not in his capacity as a member of Parliament; and why did Labour refuse leave for a Privileges Committee inquiry, which can investigate his conflicts of interest as a member of Parliament?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d19272bdeef54fb09d085619af095bb0\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: On the first matter, the member is, of course, correct. Those are the terms of reference. If the member would stand back from the particular circumstances of the case and think about the circumstances in which the Government would start launching inquiries into the affairs of members of Parliament, as opposed to Ministers, he might have pause for thought.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247af379e662346c2b6b1beed2a1acdc0\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Can we take it from the last answer that the Prime Minister agrees with the view of the National Party that Taito Phillip Field\u2019s actions as a member of Parliament have not been investigated, were not covered by the Ingram report, and therefore ought to be investigated?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f42ad0035f9c4e39902e2e896d5cf04e\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: No. Quite a range of matters in relation to Mr Taito Phillip Field\u2019s role as a member of Parliament were investigated. It was not an appropriate matter for Mr Ingram to conclude anything in relation to conflicts of interest in that respect. If we were to have a commission of inquiry every time allegations were made about a member of this House, we really would have a very large number\u2014starting off with any number of members on all sides of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bc7ac1222bb94cadb61a8fad11a68df4\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister not see the difference between allegations made about members of Parliament in a general sense, and highly specific information contained in the Ingram report, which suggests, if not describes, paying workers below the minimum wage and not paying PAYE or GST\u2014actions regarded by her Government as exploitative and potentially illegal for every citizen of New Zealand except Taito Phillip Field, where they are apparently not meant to be investigated and are regarded as simply errors of judgment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bc625fe6ce1a4406824675931b6b7b93\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: The matters the member raises can, of course, be brought to the attention of a range of authorities that act independently in those matters. I note the member\u2019s support for the so-called 90-day bill that removes the rights of all workers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc80ee725f474c1098ffbdb2d10c8ee1\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: At this time of the 90th birthday of the Labour Party, which was celebrated in a high-profile event in Taito Phillip Field\u2019s electorate, can she outline how using slave labour in return for political favours is consistent with the principles of equal opportunity for all, and a fair day\u2019s pay for a fair day\u2019s work?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e1b45bc1ba2415d99d8a40c7eb70758\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: As I said before, the member may use as much pejorative language as he likes; those are not the findings of the independent report. I note that the one person in this House who I know opposes any kind of minimum wage and wants to remove most protections that workers have is the Leader of the Opposition, who has given speeches on that matter frequently in the past.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b494c18e5e640e0a8f5c3ba271a2253\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Does this Prime Minister have any sense of shame about any action she is willing to defend, if it prolongs the stability of her Government and her period in office, or will she surprise everybody by acknowledging that this is the worst breach of standards of public life in a long, long time and there ought to be severe consequences for it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de6d2d94a833451f82af4307f2fdf7e5\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: If we had a commission of inquiry on every member of Parliament, we might well find that that statement was not true.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c79f139ecf2549c4ba9e5c27f66913e9\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Prime Minister now telling the House that the reason why these matters should not be investigated further is that they are actions that are similar to actions taken by every other member of Parliament, and can she understand why the rest of us might find that grossly insulting?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002241f3280cff714349a1712493e52335ea\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: No, but what the member seems to have ignored is that Mr Phillip Field is no longer a Minister, was not reappointed to the ministry, and has not been reinstated\u2014whereas National kept everybody on, no matter what they did when they were Ministers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226cf99663d862488e9dcb40ed1fadcae1\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Can we take it from the Prime Minister\u2019s statement that when she removed Taito Phillip Field from the Cabinet after the 2005 election, she already knew what matters were going to be brought forward by this inquiry?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c00dec7d36594f038932c27c218eae3c\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: A number of allegations had already been made. That is why the inquiry was being held. That is why Mr Phillip Field could not be reappointed to the ministry while the inquiry was under way. Mr Field has not been reinstated, unlike Dr Nick Smith, who, found guilty of contempt of court, kept his place on the front bench of the National Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228644536a8e4e495dae6819aee9f4fc4e\u0022\u003EAustralia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency\u2014Legislation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002297bf37049fc4488eaa225ded0de5d075\u0022\u003ESUE KEDGLEY (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of State Services: Does the Government still aim to introduce legislation to the House this month to set up an Australia New Zealand therapeutic products agency; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022 data-id=\u0022ea221e70a1dd4c49802d6666c06df87c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ea221e70a1dd4c49802d6666c06df87c\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING (Minister of State Services):\u003C/span\u003E No. Consultation on the proposed Australia - New Zealand therapeutic products agency is ongoing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022197d7d45ba9c4411a57525bc55908f28\u0022\u003ESue Kedgley\u003C/span\u003E: Has she seen Australian consultant Val Johanson\u2019s damning report predicting that if New Zealand joins the trans-Tasman therapeutic goods agency, compliance costs for natural health products will escalate, over 50 percent of small dietary supplements businesses will close down or move offshore, and the cost of natural health products will significantly increase; and can she explain why she would want this to happen in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae5aa294a7224488976524d1b646ddd2\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I have seen that report. I do not agree with everything in it, but certainly, in terms of the consultations, we are looking at ways we can ensure that those who make complementary medicines in New Zealand will not be unduly affected by the cost of compliance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a40f5af7-f9b0-4b44-9669-9e63be1c3ced\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c43f0b5bf9c040c3bfe4cf592f016d17\u0022\u003EDarien Fenton\u003C/span\u003E: Has she seen the reports from opponents of the scheme stating that traditional M\u0101ori medicines and healing would be legislated out of existence; and is this correct?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bfbb5394581f459f9d47c488cd3b1a88\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I have seen such reports. Their information regarding M\u0101ori and other traditional medicines is wrong. The authors have been told that is the case, but for their own purposes they continue to peddle this misinformation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f7dda06c2a05495487938d709ad3d577\u0022\u003EBarbara Stewart\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister acknowledge that there has been significant public opposition to the agency, and that the establishment of the agency is in doubt because New Zealand First will not support the accompanying legislation; if so, for how long does she intend to pursue this rather futile exercise?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a23f9f072b44e8b86c0271b2c742469\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I will continue to negotiate a joint regulator until all the issues have been finalised. It will then be up to this Parliament whether the proposal is accepted. But I would note that this regulator and the negotiations around it have been almost 10 years in duration. They started under a National Government and continued under this Government for the very good reason that we are progressing our joint relationship with Australia. This proposal is seen to be an advance on CER, which I think it is to the benefit of New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022819f0006a879475abb93bc7497ed1cdf\u0022\u003ESue Kedgley\u003C/span\u003E: Why has the Government spent $6 million to date on a project that has never had parliamentary endorsement or approval, and why will the Minister not admit that she does not have sufficient support in this House to get the legislation through, and that she does not have support amongst most people in the dietary supplements industry; why will she not call it quits, stop wasting taxpayers\u2019 money, and convene a working-group across all parties in this House to come up with a New Zealand - based alternative?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229d89b20fb8db4f8ca57031971c5b9d8e\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: Because more than those in the complementary medicines sector are involved in this joint regulator. I am certain members of this House have received letters from those in the pharmaceutical industry who are in favour of it, from those in the over-the-counter industry who are in favour of it, from those in the medical devices industry who would like to see changes but are in favour of it, and from some of those in the complementary medicines sector who want to see regulation that protects New Zealanders. What I have not ever been able to understand from that member is why New Zealanders should have to put up with this sort of thing happening in this country. These are herbal medicines, complementary medicines, that have to be withdrawn from our market because they are not regulated in New Zealand. These so-called complementary medicines have in them undeclared prescribed medicines. They have been put into the so-called complementary medicines, and that is able to happen because we do not regulate them in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002248f621adbc4c43b78a812c05636b7360\u0022\u003ESue Kedgley\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree with Marcus Blackmore, head of Blackmores New Zealand, that in Australia regulatory creep has resulted in a drug-based model of over-regulation, of unnecessary red tape that is too complex, too costly, and bears little relation to the public risk involved; and does she further agree that we should have random testing of all products in New Zealand under the present legislation, that all members of Parliament in this House agree that we need a simple regulatory system that will ensure all complementary medicines are true to label, and that it should be in existence now with random testing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f90f3b83fe24040926977f5196726cb\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: If it were so simple that all one needed in a regulatory system was a random test, then we would have a very poor system indeed, because it is exactly what we have now. The only way these products are detected is by a random test. What we ought to have is good manufacturing practice and, in every part of the process, knowledge of what has been put into the product. That does not occur in New Zealand. We find out by chance in this country, by a spot audit, not by products being manufactured in a proper way, as is done in every First World country around the world.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022008cc0009d3d4b239c7d432bd46e9175\u0022\u003EForeign Affairs, Minister\u2014United States Visit\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225192f6d3-dca6-43c8-a55e-381e1d7c1225\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229bffde5b6a1d49dbb95b2fd6a0f32dac\u0022\u003EHon MURRAY McCULLY (National\u2014East Coast Bays)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Trade: Is he confident that the current visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the United States will have a positive effect on the effort to get a New Zealand - United States free-trade agreement; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022 data-id=\u0022399507fa561f4ffea757f1eab3dc3d3f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022399507fa561f4ffea757f1eab3dc3d3f\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Trade):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, I am reliably informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that Winston Peters had a very successful meeting with Condoleezza Rice this morning. Trade matters, of course, are not specifically within the Minister\u2019s portfolio, but I am told by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that the meeting was characterised by both sides as being friendly, constructive, and forward-looking, which I believe is very positive for our overall relationship.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225192f6d3-dca6-43c8-a55e-381e1d7c1225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022527a296a53aa40cd9f6ac813c6cecb0c\u0022\u003EHon Murray McCully\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister judge Mr Peters\u2019 meeting with Senator McCain yesterday to have been a success; if so, how?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205f550bb538444f6818901567d4588b7\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: I judge that meeting on the substance of the meeting, and again I am informed that it was a positive and constructive meeting with a senator whom both Winston Peters and I have met before in New Zealand, and who is a very strong supporter of New Zealand\u2019s case, both for the resumption of training in military matters and for a free-trade agreement. I judge it on the substance of the meeting, not on the spat that might have occurred between some journalist and the Minister because they had a disagreement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022749a724d-1ef9-49cb-9ba2-2610403653ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b770a52bd754236b342550e4041cbdd\u0022\u003EDianne Yates\u003C/span\u003E: How does the Minister assess the level of support within the United States\u2019 political and business sectors for free-trade agreements with New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b5cf38a96aa5491a8c59c6dd5d40e69c\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: There is very strong support within the corporate business and congressional sector for free-trade negotiations. If I use as an example Tom Donohue, who is the President of the US Chamber of Commerce, or Governor John Engler, who is the President of the National Association of Manufacturers, I can say that both have been strong advocates for such an agreement. Within Congress the New Zealand caucus now has 65 members. Included amongst those members, or supporters, are Senator John McCain and Senator John Sununu, who both, on leaving New Zealand, after meeting with Winston Peters and myself, wrote personally to the President advocating for such an agreement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225192f6d3-dca6-43c8-a55e-381e1d7c1225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2cea826afeb42eda9cc8af19b628eef\u0022\u003EHon Murray McCully\u003C/span\u003E: In what way did the decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Peters, to interrupt Senator John McCain in mid-sentence as he was promoting the case for a free-trade agreement between New Zealand and the United States advance the prospect of such an agreement being reached?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229285334e22244b65a4d21a6a01c1fd81\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: I understand that the Minister was advised that this was a photo opportunity only. He has a certain amount of time for discussions with his counterparts and he did not want that time to be taken up with questions from journalists who could have asked those questions after the meeting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022749a724d-1ef9-49cb-9ba2-2610403653ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022390ae1b0e2f8413295c31b01e286f375\u0022\u003EDianne Yates\u003C/span\u003E: What support is there within the administration for starting free-trade negotiations, and what is the likely time frame?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fbcfb7dc07a44c61b74dcb7fbfa0bf6e\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: The Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs is Chris Hill. He has been very supportive of New Zealand\u2019s case, much more so than I can remember of anybody in the administration over the last 6 years. I have to say that both the former US Trade Representative, Rob Portman, and the current Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, have shown some sympathy for New Zealand\u2019s position. It is likely, however, that major negotiations that are taking place between the US and Korea and Malaysia, which are amongst their top trading partners, will take up most of the time that is left within the current trade promotion authority. I think our position at the moment should be to position ourselves for the next opportunity to come up when there is a new trade promotion authority.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225192f6d3-dca6-43c8-a55e-381e1d7c1225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af200a2c591a4f0f944c15ef3ebfc18a\u0022\u003EHon Murray McCully\u003C/span\u003E: If the approach taken by Mr Peters in his discussions with Senator McCain yesterday was as successful as the Minister has just told the House it was, can we take it he will be using such an approach as his own model for future negotiations overseas; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002239af937c1f334aafa0b6595998efb7ec\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: I think the Minister and I have slightly different approaches in these matters, but I can assure the member that the independent reports I have from those who were at the meeting\u2014and neither the member or I were there\u2014were that this was a substantive, positive, and constructive meeting. The fact that there was a disagreement between the Minister and the media is neither here nor there in relation to his good relationship with his counterparts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225192f6d3-dca6-43c8-a55e-381e1d7c1225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a35aac5358e47138202ac552bd38321\u0022\u003EHon Murray McCully\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister believe that the earlier statement made by him that the Government\u2019s relationship with Mr Peters is the sort of relationship one has with one\u2019s mother-in-law has any application in relation to events in Washington yesterday; if so, what is that application?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223d72bc384ce4af5b9673a8272fff5ee\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: With due deference to my late mother-in-law, I had a fantastic relationship with her, but I do know that she liked her own space and I like my own space.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225192f6d3-dca6-43c8-a55e-381e1d7c1225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b662d9a0a8db4b7ab4d70de0423154f5\u0022\u003EHon Murray McCully\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister been advised why it was that Dr Cullen was appointed Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mr Peters\u2019 absence, rather than himself as a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and can he reassure the House that no adverse conclusions should be drawn regarding his working relationship with Mr Peters as a result of that oversight?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002292ff899db9d640699d847632025d492a\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: The member can be absolutely assured of that. The member may be aware that I am frequently out of the country on trade business. For the sake of continuity it is very good to have the Deputy Prime Minister acting in that role.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ca296171cbc9402884f148f0d2faca69\u0022\u003EExports\u2014Product Types\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b63935ee-d78b-43a8-a3bc-996e7951fb9b\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226dcaffe8b39e40f6b799b454e02cc2e6\u0022\u003ER DOUG WOOLERTON (NZ First)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he believe that high-value, high-tech products developed from a huge, stable commodity base provide more certainty for increased exports than new, unproven enterprises?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022 data-id=\u00225a568b394ba6484287969304c8951c5b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225a568b394ba6484287969304c8951c5b\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister for Economic Development: Yes, to a certain extent. But we do need a balanced portfolio of products, and that means added-value products from our existing product base and new products that either use new technology or exploit emerging new market opportunities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b63935ee-d78b-43a8-a3bc-996e7951fb9b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002253d4ba07f7f54c24916460b0dfc7c6c2\u0022\u003ER Doug Woolerton\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister put any proposal to Cabinet seeking more funding for the Waikato Innovation Park; if not, will he consider doing so in the near future to aid the expansion of innovation within the pastoral sector, which remains the backbone of our economy and export industry?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bba52546b81d4006b44731510b035903\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: At the moment we have received no formal request for additional funding for the Waikato Innovation Park. Of course, an initial $2 million was funded. The park has been so successful that it is now looking for further space, and initial discussions are under way with the park around the financing of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f1bcaea16f254caa938a8cc1e1b120e9\u0022\u003EImmigration Service\u2014Ministerial Discretion\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222c322328fa7f4d26aab5281c9648f086\u0022\u003EDr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National\u2014Rodney)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Immigration: What accountability, if any, does he accept for decisions made when ministerial discretion is being exercised in giving directions to the New Zealand Immigration Service on cases that are exceptions to policy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022 data-id=\u002207369bfb4d6542b6b8ce85d89adee10c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002207369bfb4d6542b6b8ce85d89adee10c\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration):\u003C/span\u003E The Minister of Immigration is accountable for decisions being made when ministerial discretion is being exercised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022298f7baa8af44d62a2da7126f40dd223\u0022\u003EDr the Hon Lockwood Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Why was a ministerial discretion exercised, in response to submissions from Phillip Field in the case of Mr Sunan Siriwan, to direct that a work visa be issued, when Mr Siriwan had been an illegal overstayer in New Zealand for 8 years, working illegally during that time, and had also been declined refugee status\u2014a ministerial decision that an experienced immigration consultant described publicly as \u201Cdefying logic and precedent\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0419dd870a04cf0b97b8d4cdc68cb20\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE\u003C/span\u003E: As I clarified yesterday, and upon which you ruled, Madam Speaker, the Ingram inquiry does not fall within my responsibilities. Ongoing immigration matters do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002240b374866097416f9fe2917fbed2ab84\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Yesterday I listened very carefully to your ruling, and it is out of order for the Minister to quote your ruling to reinforce his position. You did not rule yesterday that the substance of the Ingram inquiry was outside the responsibility of the Minister. In fact, yesterday our member did not ask questions about the Ingram inquiry itself; he asked questions about matters that were raised in the inquiry. So we seek from you a reassurance that the Minister will not be able to use your rulings to reinforce his wish not to answer any of these questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002283233e7278da40adbdfa6cc7b8829f39\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, although I have no wish to draw the Speaker unduly into the debate, I note that yesterday\u2019s ruling stated, according to the uncorrected transcript: \u201CAs I heard the Minister\u2019s answer, he said he was not responsible for the report and then went on to address the question relating to immigration. So, in effect, that is not a valid point of order.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022856e4e36b4684d3aa8cd982dde8a83bd\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I will rule on the point of order. As I recall yesterday, I ruled that the Minister was not responsible for the report but is responsible for matters relating to immigration\u2014not the report itself. Therefore, perhaps we could have the question again for the benefit of members\u2014not an additional supplementary question, but the same question\u2014then we can start again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220088e2c1a81c49d683e6ddd7ec058af4\u0022\u003EDr the Hon Lockwood Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Why was a ministerial discretion exercised, in response to submissions from Phillip Field in the case of Mr Sunan Siriwan, to direct that a work visa be issued, when Mr Siriwan had been an illegal overstayer in New Zealand for 8 years, working illegally during that time, and had also been declined refugee status\u2014a ministerial decision that an experienced immigration consultant described publicly as \u201Cdefying logic and precedent\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f941b7f288e4fb3832988d7443a28e2\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE\u003C/span\u003E: Ministerial discretion is exercised because no two cases are alike and not all circumstances can be foreseen when policy is written. It is important that policy and practice are humane as well as robust. Members on all sides of the House accept this when they put forward representations for ministerial discretion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d5fe9e8ae74e4ed7b734a449f80e109b\u0022\u003EDr the Hon Lockwood Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Why was ministerial discretion exercised, in response to submissions from Phillip Field, to direct that a removal order be cancelled and a work visa issued to Ms Phanngarm\u2014the partner of Mr Siriwan\u2014who had been an illegal overstayer in New Zealand for almost 5 years, whom, Noel Ingram said, the Refugee Status Board had found to be \u201Can entirely incredible witness\u201D, and who had been declined refugee status four times and deported?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200b3a76baafa410b8905ce467e3dbfbc\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE\u003C/span\u003E: As I have said, no two cases are the same. Ministerial discretion is exercised on the basis of the information made available to the Minister at the time. If members opposite have additional information they wish to put forward in relation to a current case, then that, of course, will be considered.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e9e10a6ab884d3a9bda1d4538877289\u0022\u003EDr the Hon Lockwood Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Why was ministerial discretion exercised, in response to submissions from Phillip Field in the case of Ms Ngaosri, to direct that a 12-month work permit be granted, when Ms Ngaosri had been an illegal overstayer in New Zealand for some years after having been declined a request for a special direction by the Minister in 2001, and declined refugee status in both 2002 and 2003?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c3a7166d678840e1b49625bf8f417647\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE\u003C/span\u003E: If members opposite are going to trawl through every exercise of ministerial discretion by members on this side of the House, then I am sure they will be interested in some of the decisions of the Hon Tuariki Delamere or, for example, of the member who asked the question, when he was Associate Minister of Immigration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be907d068e6443f4a29c0ca05afab601\u0022\u003EDr the Hon Lockwood Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister investigated whether there were any unusual circumstances in the pattern of decision making involved in the 262 special directions given by his office over the period 2003-05 inclusive, in response to submissions on immigration cases from Taito Phillip Field?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002217425fe5db30402084a3531bbeec866d\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE\u003C/span\u003E: Current and past Ministers and Associate Ministers have received submissions from all sides of the House. Some members work harder than others. The member Dr Lockwood Smith has put forward 21 submissions in the last 3 years, which is not as many as his colleague Mr John Key has put forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c1c4acd94c64d09afdd290afd4c7664\u0022\u003EDr the Hon Lockwood Smith\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I asked the Minister very specifically whether he had investigated whether there were any unusual circumstances in the pattern of decision making involved in those 262 special directions in response to Taito Phillip Field\u2019s submissions. That was a very specific question. The Minister may not wish to answer it, but he either has investigated those decisions or he has not, and the House has a right to know.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac95c7690a5d423886385937e240c79a\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: As the member knows, no member has a right to a yes or no answer. The Minister did address the question, though obviously not to the satisfaction of the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c186d0a2-99f4-408b-9b4d-d484cf19724d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207b6f9cf2c7c4304b15bd22b4d7993b2\u0022\u003EHon Lianne Dalziel\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that several members of the House asked the Minister of Immigration to intervene in the multiple case of Chinese Indonesians who had claimed refugee status in New Zealand and had had their claims declined, and who remained in New Zealand and worked in the country illegally, on the advice of a pastor of a church in Auckland, and supported by the MPs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cbbd11a75e7e4f6b95f5b47d1786e9a4\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE\u003C/span\u003E: I can confirm that current and past Ministers of Immigration have received requests for discretion from members on all sides of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225abe0d6d1b904a8099e243ef76939e5a\u0022\u003EDr the Hon Lockwood Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Was a special direction given in the case of Mr Bulakorn Nakhen for him to be issued with a work visa in February 2005, or did the New Zealand Immigration Service issue the visa in response to a letter it had received from Phillip Field in which he sought, according to Noel Ingram QC, to \u201C \u2018clarify the understanding\u2019 he had allegedly reached with Mr O\u2019Conner whereby Mr Nakhen \u2018would be allowed to re-apply for re-entry via a legal permit preferably a Work Permit \u2026\u2019 \u201D; and does the Minister consider it acceptable for either a fellow Minister or a member of Parliament to write directly to the New Zealand Immigration Service telling it of agreements allegedly reached with his office?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5ba71175814410a8ce8c26220400478\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE\u003C/span\u003E: I am advised that in the case mentioned by the member, no ministerial discretion was exercised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022db0f7b1505194810be7e49ae3feddfb7\u0022\u003EOral Health\u2014Improvements\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2567d3e-a09c-47b4-bd50-2f5bb4049762\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2a31d0cbc8f49319ba401a7b6573975\u0022\u003ESUE MORONEY (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: What work is being done to improve the oral health of New Zealanders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u0022953e7eb2e18e457b9c175e050ca9196d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022953e7eb2e18e457b9c175e050ca9196d\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u0027CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Health: In addition to the $40 million child and adolescent oral health package announced in the Budget, the Government will be undertaking the largest oral health survey in New Zealand\u2019s history. The survey will involve over 7,000 participants, and has been welcomed by the New Zealand Dental Association.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2567d3e-a09c-47b4-bd50-2f5bb4049762\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a6a3d4a9a3894ac4b676e21e88c33d9a\u0022\u003ESue Moroney\u003C/span\u003E: What reports has the Minister received on factors contributing to a decline in the oral health status of New Zealanders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002282c9558afeb543d6a52e2bb27161f6aa\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u0027CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: I have seen reports that a lack of dental therapists has resulted in more children developing cavities. M\u0101ori, Pacific, and rural children have been the hardest hit. Amazingly, the lack of dental therapists is a direct result of the National-led Government\u2019s decision to completely stop training new therapists. The Labour-led Government has restarted the training programme, and the first new graduates entered the profession late last year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260d4d1d65c46450fbd3f55afa1ea3fb1\u0022\u003EJudy Turner\u003C/span\u003E: When will the Minister step in with some money so that the Catholic Sisters of Compassion no longer have to fund a Saturday dental clinic for children in Lower Hutt, who currently cannot access services in a timely way when needed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4a16b1864ea42a190b13d9d32428e0b\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u0027CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: The Government has already announced expenditure of $100 million over the next 5 years for dental services. It is the first time, for a long, long time, that we have seen a real commitment from a Government to oral health services in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221079253071814fccb405315b13f7f833\u0022\u003EPolice\u2014Priorities\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002218df1b68d2134f0398605218d6a02c11\u0022\u003ESIMON POWER (National\u2014Rangitikei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Police: Is she satisfied that police effectively prioritise their time and resources; if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022 data-id=\u0022b67251a689e54f419ec95db0d165c8d7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b67251a689e54f419ec95db0d165c8d7\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Police):\u003C/span\u003E In general, yes. The responsibility for prioritising time and resources rests with the commissioner and district commanders. I accept, however, there has been some confusion over the past few years, about the concept of performance measures in regard to traffic enforcement. That confusion was put to rest by Commissioner Broad\u2019s policy directive on 5 July. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022460d864a7fb54f91b7d4e3b3e9eba651\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: Does she stand by her statement made in the House yesterday in relation to the two central district memos pressuring officers to issue more traffic tickets: \u201CIt is interesting that this problem has come out of one district.\u201D; and does she still think it is interesting that there is now a third memo\u2014this one from Marlborough and dated 6 June\u2014ordering all officers to issue at least two traffic tickets a shift, until the end of the financial year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f7bccfd3e8541d1889777382dd6a1fc\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I do stand by what I said yesterday. It is surprising that the two memos came out of one district, but the member might be interested to know that the story he has just quoted was in the Marlborough Express in June.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221a705910-5320-43bf-aa82-027a761519f6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224f0033295e9a4f73bf6ca478052bca05\u0022\u003ERussell Fairbrother\u003C/span\u003E: The Minister mentioned in her primary answer that there has been confusion over performance measures; does she have any other information on this?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002261bc41895f674d2bbe91f9b4193f8ba1\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I have been trying to get to the bottom of the confusion, and members might like to listen. I have done a lot of work on the issue. It is now apparent that the use of infringement notices and traffic offence notices\u2014performance measures\u2014was first introduced in 1997-98 in line with Treasury guidelines. I also have with me the New Zealand Police road traffic enforcement agreement 1999-2000, and it lists the data that must be provided by each district. The data includes speeding offences detected per hour, drink-driving offences detected per hour, and contacts per hour, to name but a few. This particular agreement was signed by one Clem Simich, Minister of Police, and by transport Minister, Maurice Williamson. I also happen to have with me a 1997 press release that says: \u201CPolice have to issue a set number of traffic tickets and detail their time on the beat this year, as part of a Government push to make the force more businesslike.\u201D I am glad I have finally got to the bottom of why districts have been allocating tickets on individual police numbers. I am glad I have got to the bottom of it, at last. I can say that the issue is finally being cleared up by the new Commissioner of Police. I can tell members that no such performance indicators now exist. When the member opposite stands up and tries to blame it on this Government, with a hidden agenda, New Zealanders should have a look at what was going on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d4212b82427450fb522be00b874f27e\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I remind members that both questions and answers are meant to be succinct, and that continuous barracking does not aid those who wish to hear the answers to hear them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022704effc1189e4004abb176b0daf966eb\u0022\u003ELindsay Tisch\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. That was a speech. If the Minister wants to reply in that manner she should call a press conference. Not only that, her answer was allowed to continue; it should have been stopped a lot earlier. When there is barracking from this side of the House\u2014and on many occasions you have said there is too much noise coming from this side\u2014it cannot be stopped when a Minister like that carries on in that manner, which was giving a speech, not giving a response to a very clear question. [Interruption] There should not be interjections when I am speaking. I ask that you ask the Minister to apologise for her response to these matters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022355e7e878fbe4876bb2e798f016ecec1\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c1031db15ce416aa4363d3ba06f41c2\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Are you speaking to the same point of order?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228eeac87a75384e1c82468b3cb235358b\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I am. I rise to take this point of order because I could not hear the detail of the answer. Given that New Zealand First was the first party to raise the issue of quota ticketing in the House, I was extremely interested to hear the quotes from the documents\u2014in particular, the times and the Ministers involved\u2014but with the barracking and the noise, despite no matter how hard the Minister tried, I could not hear. It is partly due to the fact that I have suffered hearing loss on one side, due to my military service, but that is just something that\u2014[Interruption] Mr Power may disagree with what I am saying, but it is against the Standing Orders to interrupt on a point of order, as Mr Ryall knows. Both members should be ejected from the House if equality is truly to be applied.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022caba060b694942b880ce561f9290aa58\u0022\u003EHon Dr Michael Cullen\u003C/span\u003E: I think I should, in all fairness, admit that Government members were doing a fair amount of the barracking on that occasion, for which I apologise. We were, of course, stunned to find out that these actions were the result of National Party decisions in 1997. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d09f433c29443fd903e048f2006682c\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I know it is Thursday, but members should just settle. We are nearly at the end of question time. I have ruled on the matter. If I am asked to intervene each time there is a long question or answer, it will be accompanied by a whole lot of points of order objecting. I ask members to actually exercise some control in these matters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002238716fb217d7409b96152d44b966351f\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that in order to make issuing traffic tickets a \u201Cfirst priority\u201D and \u201Ceverything else is secondary\u201D for front-line officers, the Tasman district commander pulled the plug early on \u201COperation Vanquish\u201D, which targeted real crime including dishonesty crimes and, according to the memo, had made \u201Ca fantastic impact into Marlborough\u2019s crime scene and criminals\u201D, and how can she still claim that traffic tickets are not being given priority over real crime?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a8eea8f4ed44f2e90e3c3d45919efe0\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: My understanding from the Tasman district is that it had one of the highest rates of road crash and deaths for a district in New Zealand. I happen to have the comments that the superintendent made at the time. He stated: \u201COur staff are the people that knock on the doors and tell people that fathers and mothers, and sons and daughters, are dead. They remove seriously disfigured human bodies from roadsides. We have the power to change this. We have the duty to do so.\u201D I would prefer to take the word of Superintendent O\u2019Fee, who actually faced that high death toll in the Tasman district and wanted to do something about it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222512009238d42c6b68fe55380e3ee86\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister received any reports about the Hon Tony Ryall, when he was the spokesman for law and order in the National Party, cautioning New Zealand First about attacking the quota ticketing controversy because it really was about road safety and getting the number of lives lost down, and if she has not seen those reports, would she like to have one?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223282517712d5418eabb69a8a1571c5f2\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, the Minister has no responsibility for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8517bda563f453aac227f3c9626bfc2\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Ministers are routinely asked to comment on whether they have seen reports, and they are always permitted to answer questions on whether they have seen reports on matters relating to their portfolio. This is clearly a matter relating to the Minister\u2019s portfolio; it is about quota ticketing. It is clearly a matter that has been debated in the House by Mr Ryall and myself, and it is about a report I am asking the Minister to comment on, and the conclusion to my question is, if she has not had such a report, would she like one? She is perfectly able to comment on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022128f359cf687471e8f2750752513278a\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, normally there are not comments on shadow reports in the way in which the member has phrased the question. He would perhaps like to reconsider while I call the next supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221a705910-5320-43bf-aa82-027a761519f6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac68450b32f540c99ac44f426ed2001d\u0022\u003ERussell Fairbrother\u003C/span\u003E: What would be the likely impact of cutting back on traffic enforcement?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a82e40a17111430ab8692fca6dab73c0\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I think it is very clear that when the policy to insist on indicators for district performance was brought in under the previous National Government, we started to see a drop in the number of road crashes and road deaths. I do not know why National members would not want to take some credit for it\u2014they do not\u2014but I have to say that because the New Zealand police have been policing to reduce deaths and injury on the roads, we have seen a dramatic drop from around 700 deaths in 1999 to about 404 deaths last year. A lot of people\u2019s lives have been saved in that time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4f621d4531b4725b2a60f375a861db0\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: If what the Minister claims is correct and the purpose of prioritising traffic tickets over other crime is to save lives, why do all these memos mention the end of the financial year as the target?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca9e4ec4c16543a287acc630f2a4f3b7\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I would imagine it was because the original agreements, which go right back to 1991, were done in a financial year and were signed every year. I would imagine that is the case. But I think it is time we accepted that New Zealand does have a high road toll, we have too many people hospitalised from accidents, and we should stop making excuses for people who receive tickets when they break the law.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aef84b40b1db485f85132cf31865d8d9\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. In your generosity you have given me an extra attempt to ask that question in a manner that is acceptable. Are you saying that it will be counted as the first of my supplementary questions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022508afad6217c40d49a2ebf0c4325168e\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, you can have your supplementary questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4d57b40391744769ccf92f267efabf5\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I shall come back to that, thank you Madam Speaker. Is it not a fact that the controversy causing the public such angst in terms of traffic ticketing and quota ticketing has its roots in the previous National Government\u2019s decision to merge the traffic officers into the police and that National Government\u2019s decision to require beat officers and detectives to issue traffic tickets, and will the confidence and supply agreement between New Zealand First and Labour not look at that issue in respect of evaluating the costs and benefits of demerging traffic policing from the police? [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7c33655dca64865af538b3e6a51e154\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I have asked members to take notice of the fact that questions and answers should be succinct. I would also note that in supplementary questions it is one supplementary question. So would the Minister succinctly reply to one of those matters, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ea6a7bd960243b7b490365909e3cbe5\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: The decision to include infringement notices and traffic offence notices as performance measures against speed, drinking, restraint, visible road safety enforcement, etc., commenced in 1997-98. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022882ae3f9d898436a9b6c002d2821f930\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s not a quota.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221bda5fefac7e4ef08521ddd7394ef140\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: That was when the numbers of tickets that needed to be issued were first decided. I say to the House that the effect of that decision has seen the road toll come down and lives saved, and I wonder why members opposite do not take some credit for the fact that the number of lives lost started to come down then.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227859e967190445bf9d856be21a17ac95\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that the policy directive from Commissioner Broad came on 5 July\u2014after the first memo came to light\u2014and would that policy ever have changed, had these revelations not been brought to her attention?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277448b56b0114536887c8479c340df26\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I cannot say for sure, but I would wonder, when they came to light in the newspaper as a headline in 1997, why it was not fixed by National members then if it was such a problem. If it was such a problem, why did they not fix it then? That is what I would ask. But I have been the Minister for 9 months, and the issue came up in that time\u2014in July. I then set about addressing the issue with the commissioner. That has been done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c1c1dfec0cb54d60b813ca542d1be46e\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister not accept that a lot of this controversy arises as a result of the National Government\u2019s decision to merge the responsibility for traffic with the police, and is it not New Zealand First\u2019s intention to work with the Government, under the confidence and supply agreement, to evaluate the costs and benefits of demerging traffic enforcement from police duties during this term of Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c34b4ca052f43938322c0a3f32cae23\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: A review into the merger of road policing and general policing is being undertaken by the State Services Commission, and will be reported to both parties in November this year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222457578acd8e493bb11568d2cb19a5b8\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree that although, in the Prime Minister\u2019s words, \u201Cone swallow does not make a spring\u201D, three memos do make a policy, and can she reassure the House that there are no further memos instructing police to give priority to ticket writing over other crimes\u2014since she was not able to give that assurance to the House and the public of New Zealand yesterday?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223fe64c437dd74e22af53f3e67a41f0a6\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I said in this House yesterday that I could give no such assurance. I am being upfront, because I cannot give such an assurance. But I also said that I would be interested if there were any memos of that nature after 5 July. I would be concerned, if that were to happen, and would ask the Commissioner of Police to account to me for it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022196c637e04274ed881c1361d521feefd\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table said Marlborough police district memorandum that requires the district commander\u2019s priority to issue two traffic tickets per shift.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b2a041c5b0446779d30490d2f6d2177\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table three documents. The first is the agreement of the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Police with the Commissioner of Police, 1999-2000.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc5d39a1ce0145378fa642acd7eb56b2\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table a press release from July 1997, where the police are told to issue a set number of traffic tickets and detail how they spend their time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295f52c03b9614b2ab7586036019ca4e1\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002297a9354141714f859137144084996ba9\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table an article about Superintendent Grant O\u2019Fee, district commander for the Tasman Police District, regarding Operation Life, in which he says it is his staff who have to knock on the doors of people when their families have been killed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EDocuments, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e6504cbd7aec4fd6aa96deb68b04b61f\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask for guidance, please. Given that the Minister, in answering that question that I did not even get to hear, was quoting from official documents, my understanding is that under the Standing Orders it is not a question of her having to seek leave to table those documents\u2014thus giving National the chance to veto such leave to save embarrassment\u2014she is actually formally required to table those documents. Is she not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216d96c131c9b4c469d8ca8cadc2b9e9c\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No. No one sought leave to have them tabled. The member, at the time, should have sought leave if he had wanted it. Can we please move on?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229afa46cc004740d5aacfcde3eeedc929\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave under the Standing Orders, given that the Minister quoted from official documents in giving an answer, for her to table those documents.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002206d260e1c9bf4316a1810bb2640a75b3\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: She has tabled them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a56c0513dd844e51b47a37b21ca84864\u0022\u003ECivil Defence and Emergency Management\u2014Wairarapa and Wanganui\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f6e1ae1-8aa5-4f71-8e73-30bb378026c4\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0e6ee7d3c6c47c3a6eeab8378271d25\u0022\u003EGEORGINA BEYER (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Civil Defence: Was he satisfied with the response of regional civil defence and emergency management personnel in the Wairarapa and Wanganui regions in the last 2 weeks; if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002203bc0052-6dd8-4807-998a-4768a4732e0b\u0022 data-id=\u0022332965bccf4449bfbdac48ca0ef7a8d7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203bc0052-6dd8-4807-998a-4768a4732e0b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022332965bccf4449bfbdac48ca0ef7a8d7\u0022\u003EHon RICK BARKER (Minister of Civil Defence):\u003C/span\u003E I am very satisfied with the response of the local civil defence personnel during the periods of adverse weather throughout New Zealand. Coordination activities undertaken by civil defence and emergency management personnel in the Wairarapa and Wanganui regions were swift and effective. I congratulate all personnel on their efforts in response to the various emergencies. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f6e1ae1-8aa5-4f71-8e73-30bb378026c4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa741c7eb92c45c895296ea727653627\u0022\u003EGeorgina Beyer\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister advise on any specific action, as a result of effective agency engagement between the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management and other key agencies, in the areas during the response phase of those emergencies; if so, what?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203bc0052-6dd8-4807-998a-4768a4732e0b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf56d6794d64481ea86e2a6d2cdc1a92\u0022\u003EHon RICK BARKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I can. On Sunday, 9 July, a three-span bridge was knocked out at Mangamahu, cutting the area off. On Wednesday, 12 July, I contacted Transit, which said it had a bridge and, if requested, was willing to build it, but it had no funding to do so. The office of the Minister of Transport suggested that I contact Land Transport New Zealand, and within hours of my having done so, Land Transport had agreed to fund the Bailey bridge in its erection. We had a bridge, engineers, and funding\u2014all to the delight of the local mayor, Michael Laws. I thank the good Minister of Transport, Annette King, for responding to my request, and I thank local government staff for their hard work during that time. This response shows how effective local decision-making, with national support, can be.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ae94eea7-ba5f-4303-bf71-49e708bc9888\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220039433212704ceb8878dcda8aca3d2e\u0022\u003EJohn Hayes\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table a request from the Carterton District Council that appeared in today\u2019s edition of the Wairarapa News, which asks the Government for $200,000 for flood repair to damaged roads.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e32ab0657ec04f438922101e479bfd63\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f5ba6d4d1ca64e98abde9d8f929cb514\u0022\u003EWaste Strategy\u2014Confidence\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223439dfdefa6843f1854003ce0eada8c4\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for the Environment: Does he agree that there has been a \u201Closs of confidence\u201D in the Government\u2019s 2002 New Zealand waste strategy because key elements have not been implemented, as reported by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022 data-id=\u00220a5ab911a2f14a86b86be6fa95d91040\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220a5ab911a2f14a86b86be6fa95d91040\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for the Environment):\u003C/span\u003E No. The member must be speaking in support of the parliamentary commissioner\u2019s particular focus on the development of economic instruments, such as taxes, levies, charges, and permits. Although the Government believes that economic instruments are potentially one important element in changing wasteful behaviour, we realise that other tools and work programmes can contribute significantly to that objective. Our success in meeting waste reduction targets, while working collaboratively with stakeholders, confirms that is an appropriate strategy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab884cda534b4c789035eaa461043837\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister explain the purpose of providing every one of the 600 delegates to the Local Government New Zealand conference this week with a single yellow child\u2019s gumboot, stamped with the Ministry for the Environment\u2019s logo; is that gimmick a good use of public money and the right example to set on waste? [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207989e01e6b9436c9e83348c2b1c2fd5\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am waiting for order, so that the Minister can respond and we can hear the answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b94786d242ea49f592f7019266c9793e\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: It would have been more useful if the member had read out the line that is written on the gumboot. It is in relation to issues around climate change. I have heard that member urge the community to consider climate change. As far as the gumboot is concerned, I advise the member that the Ministry for the Environment tells me that the gumboot is a penholder. However, given its size, it might be more appropriate for the member to use it to contain National Party policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002225c22a83-ff2c-474c-a092-883be2dd63d3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266b6a708dde849ea869765171ef183f8\u0022\u003EDave Hereora\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister aware of alternative approaches to working collaboratively with stakeholders, including local government, on matters such as waste?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b775ab79ae545189f1ec4181f52d443\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: I am aware that the National Party has suggested two alternative and rather unpalatable approaches to working with local government. One approach is \u201Can overbearing form of leadership that demands obedience, and that stifles free thought and innovation, that dictates rather than leads.\u201D That statement was made by Don Brash, who was apparently describing Nick Smith\u2019s new-found interest in economic instruments to the Local Government New Zealand conference. The other approach is Don Brash\u2019s own view that the local government leaders are a frustrated middle management group, who are introverted in their thinking and are merely awaiting inspired leadership to reform their ways. That is why one mayor who spoke to me said the Leader of the Opposition had referred to them as being dicks who did not know what they were doing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022642a934e6a234fc4880fe7a1f56c2d2b\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I remind members again that their answers and their questions should be succinct.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a89856708cb543199026fbd3e4101617\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister explain to Parliament how providing 600 mayors and councillors with a left-footed yellow gumboot with the words: \u201CAre you thinking about climate change?\u201D on it may stop global warming?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222fc7f628afbd4a128bc9b33def7cfdda\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: The member has just illustrated the usefulness of focusing on this issue. I inform him that Local Government New Zealand gave those members who did not wish to use the penholder the opportunity to recycle those boots for the use of young children. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab2712ac53fb4d0a970bdfb2986d52b1\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Would members please control themselves if they wish to remain in the Chamber. I will not call the member until there is silence. Members can sit here until 6 o\u2019clock, if they like\u2014until we have silence, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223123d819f4b84902a8d20ca23bdd963c\u0022\u003ENicky Wagner\u003C/span\u003E: Why, when there are serious and urgent environmental issues all over New Zealand, did this Government last month choose to spend $125,000 on a lightweight, glossy booklet, which was described as a gift from the retiring chief executive Barry Carbon, and this month to spend $1,000 more on single children\u2019s gumboots to give to 600 mayors and councillors, all of which will end up in the landfill; does that not illustrate a culture of both waste and extravagance in his ministry?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022273b97ff2ded4e01b1dc7d039c65a4a3\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely not. I would like to thank both that member\u2014for reasons she will understand in a moment\u2014and Dr Smith for their really helpful publicity for an excellent publication. I am pleased to announce now that largely thanks to that fantastic publicity, the print run for that publication has been exhausted, such has been the public demand for it. I have since authorised a rerun of that excellent publication.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b86a744ed3c741a4857f784b3bc798aa\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Given that the Government has no policy on climate change, that emissions in New Zealand have increased at four times the rate of the United States and three times that of Australia, that the Government\u2019s carbon tax has been thrown in the bin, that its animal emissions levy has been canned as well, and that there is now no climate change policy in New Zealand, does he really think that a single yellow gumboot\u2014passing the boot to local government\u2014is the answer?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221312bea26c214f7591df81ba53632fb5\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: As the member is aware, I do not have ministerial responsibility for climate change issues. In terms of policy on this matter, I say that this Government has substantially more policy than the Opposition. On Monday the National Party told us that councils should have more choice about how to handle waste. On National Radio Nick Smith has said exactly the opposite of that\u2014another example of the total discord within National. With regard to the boot, there have already been some really useful suggestions about where it will go this weekend in Christchurch.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225eed79848c254a38bcfa8733fe14c70f\u0022\u003ELindsay Tisch\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. When my colleague last spoke, there was some distortion with the microphone. She is probably not aware of it. I wonder whether she can now move to another microphone to ask this supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002229c4bf5c535946b7b1b3940651ab464f\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I thank the member for that; I was going to suggest it myself.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226f0f4d006b77468c95af056370b1dbd9\u0022\u003ENicky Wagner\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister tell the House how much the 600-odd gumboots cost, including the cost of, no doubt, extensive policy and public relations advice, and the cost of every one of them being embossed with the ministry\u2019s logo; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b14f10fbdc114356bd9e82fa92802072\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: I will be happy to provide that information for the member if she puts down a written question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022594dbcdf6be64a09b04430d5252d1cb7\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister believe it was good value for money for taxpayers, through his ministry, to provide every mayor and councillor at the Local Government New Zealand conference with a 5-year-old\u2019s yellow gumboot?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe8231ea4c814b9a9a65ec0b60d5af31\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: I think it has been extraordinarily good value in focusing on climate change, and I thank the member for his contribution.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a6d28cbfe00492a9208e3ae2b29990f\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table the Government\u2019s great contribution to the climate change debate: a child\u2019s yellow gumboot, for a left foot.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EGumboot, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00222019dd38fa96434ea8122807c15f5eeb\u0022\u003EStanding Orders\u2014Sessional\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a75494424b0342b9a4337b8bc5a40d71\u0022\u003EStanding Orders\u2014Sessional\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022 data-id=\u002207109848cbbf4faab3428345d8fdb9ac\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002207109848cbbf4faab3428345d8fdb9ac\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That, pursuant to section 25(1) of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000, this House adds the following premises to the parliamentary precincts:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003Ethe parts of Bowen House, situated at the corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, Wellington and described as \u201Cadditional premises\u201D in the letter dated 24 December 2004 varying the Deed of Lease dated 14 December 2001 between Capital Properties (Kingsway) Limited and the Parliamentary Corporation; and\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003Ethe area of the first floor of Bowen House contained in Certificate of Title 37A/166, subject to a Deed of Extension and Variation of Lease signed and accepted on 30 November 1999 between Capital Properties (Kingsway) Limited and Her Majesty the Queen acting by and through the Secretary for Internal Affairs; and\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003Ethe premises known as \u201Cthe House of Representatives ex-Debating Chamber\u201D situated at levels sub-basement and sub-sub-basement at No 3 The Terrace, Wellington on land contained in Certificate of Title WN41C/805 subject to a Memorandum of Lease B.263261.1 (Wellington Registry) dated 29 October 2004 between AMP NZ Office 1 The Terrace Limited and the Parliamentary Corporation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022 data-id=\u002255e65c47fafb402a9c440758cabc7e28\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002255e65c47fafb402a9c440758cabc7e28\u0022\u003ETE URUROA FLAVELL (M\u0101ori Party\u2014Waiariki):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Madam Speaker, the M\u0101ori Party is pleased to have the opportunity to talk to this notice of motion, particularly about the additional premises associated with parts of Bowen House. Most members of this House would be aware, no doubt, of the long association Bowen House has had with the Crown. I found out that it was named after Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Governor of New Zealand in 1867, and indeed the first Governor to assume office in the new capital of Wellington in 1868. So the relationship of the building to the House of Parliament has a lengthy whakapapa. The inevitable question we bring to this debate is how the whakapapa specific to tangata whenua\u2014and in this case to mana whenua\u2014is included within the scope of this notice of motion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe parliamentary record shows that it was Bowen who appointed two M\u0101ori representatives to the Legislative Council in 1870, which was described as a sign of goodwill. And it is with goodwill also that the M\u0101ori Party asks this House to consider the significance of the Bowen House site as a potential settlement asset. Bowen House has a memorial on its certificate of title, under section 27B of the State-Owned Enterprises Act, for the full building in the claim before the Waitangi Tribunal from the Wellington Tenths Trust. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270fa4cbd-9380-4916-9f2a-78da059d220e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223d65c457890d425f8ca0314670675be1\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson)\u003C/span\u003E: Would members leaving the Chamber please show some courtesy to the member trying to address it. It is a longstanding convention that members should not conduct conversations in the House unless it is necessary to do so, and then only without disturbing proceedings.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ffcc46ba79994b0488adc786f93203ea\u0022\u003ETE URUROA FLAVELL\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The M\u0101ori Party comes to this debate then, thinking of those tupuna of Te \u0100tiawa: Ng\u0101ti T\u016Bpaia, Taranaki, and Ng\u0101ti Tama who were resident around Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara, the Wellington Harbour, in the 1840s. Fifty years after the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Native Land Court determined there were 301 beneficial owners of the Tenths reserve, the M\u0101ori reserve lands based largely in urban Wellington. There are currently over 4,500 beneficial owners descended from them. The M\u0101ori Party considers that it is important to flag the interests of those owners, and that any property which has a memorial on the title\u2014such as the additional premises on the first floor of Bowen House, be included in the scope of this motion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe Wellington Tenths Trust is a recognised iwi authority and, as such, it is in active consultation and partnership with city and regional councils regarding development and long-term planning. One such example of their working relationship is their active involvement in the Wellington City Council\u2019s open space naming policy, which confirms the council\u2019s commitment to ensure that traditional M\u0101ori names are used where appropriate. It was pointed out to me that evidence of their expertise is right outside this very House in the small triangle of land on the corner of Molesworth Street and Lambton Quay. I would recommend that members, who have not already done so, walk outside this Chamber to visit the magnificent pou whenua gifted by the Wellington Tenths Trust.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThat site has a fascinating history. In 2002, a member of the public asked the Wellington City Council to name the corner Anzac Corner, as that had been the colloquial name for the site in the 1920s when the temporary cenotaph was placed there. The council approached the Tenths Trust, who determined it should be named Waititi, meaning the place of shining waters. This name refers to its history as a beach front, where water seeping from Te Awa o Waipiro\u2014Waipiro Stream\u2014gave the sand a shining appearance. This stream connected the two p\u0101 sites: Kumutoto and Pipitea. The site is of great significance to iwi as it was a tauranga waka\u2014a landing place for waka\u2014and, as such, it is a w\u0101hi tapu. Topography suggests that this beach was a significant entry point to Tinakori, Kumototo and to Te-One-i-Haukawakawa. In light of this history, and in respect of its significance, the Wellington City Council rejected the suggestion to name the site Anzac Corner, and instead it has become known as Waititi Park. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI take the time to track over this history, because it will indicate to this House our history as tangata whenua and how that is so strongly linked to our history as parliamentarians. The origins of the Wellington Tenths Trust predates Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The trust derives its source from the 1839 deed of purchase by the New Zealand Company, which promised the chiefs of the Port Nicholson district that they would retain one-tenth of the total land ceded by them to be held in trust for their heirs, forever. The Waitangi Tribunal has found that this deed of purchase was flawed. Indeed, its finding in 2003 is as follows: \u201CThe Tribunal finds that the 1839 deed of purchase was invalid and conferred no rights under with English or M\u0101ori law on the New Zealand Company or on those to whom the company subsequently purported to on-sell part of such land.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThese are substantive issues. The report of the Waitangi Tribunal into the Wellington Inquiry District\u2014Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara me \u014Dna takiw\u0101\u2014validates the history passed down through the generations. It is a story we must be familiar with before we make any decisions on memorialised properties or core Crown properties. The Waitangi Tribunal found, through its Wellington inquiry, that the Crown had in fact breached the Treaty of Waitangi on at least 70 occasions. It also recommended that tangata whenua and the Crown should enter into negotiations to seek and settle historical claims.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe Port Nicholson Block claim is about the taking of Wellington land through the various actions of past Governments. Wellington Tenths seeks, like all other iwi, a fair and equitable settlement\u2014a settlement that honours its importance as mana whenua. Wellington Tenths is able to negotiate only for assets held by the Crown\u2014properties such as the one currently under debate. If the properties are core Crown properties, such as No. 3 The Terrace, the trust has also sought a first right of refusal in any negotiation. It is not able to seek redress involving privately owned property. Indeed, the trustees\u2019 stated commitment is that they do not want to act in a manner that will be detrimental to the communities in which they live.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EWe must never forget the history and the significance of tangata whenua. The M\u0101ori Party stands here today to ensure that properties such as the Bowen House site do not become further alienated from M\u0101ori. We recognise the deed of lease between Capital Properties (Kingsway) Ltd and the Parliamentary Corporation as signed in 2001, but we also recognise that any properties with a memorial on the title are to be considered part of any Treaty settlements. The aspirations of the Wellington Tenths Trust are that its interests in any memorialised properties or any core Crown properties are protected. Those are simple aspirations to be heard, to be respected, and to be recognised. The M\u0101ori Party is happy to take up the trust\u2019s call. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002251c8e61f250849aebc2cc344407e9812\u0022\u003EEstimates Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002226d0fef10a4f46799dd763e5366219c9\u0022\u003EIn Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000247\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 18 July on the Appropriation (2006/07 Estimates) Bill.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e1d7fa4fb91c4472891289823c7ae734\u0022\u003EVote Economic, Industry and Regional Development (continued)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225cee6a89-68e3-40fd-b2d8-d8adb0ba5da0\u0022 data-id=\u0022e1af0b0524554de798aa3ac4b31c09c0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cee6a89-68e3-40fd-b2d8-d8adb0ba5da0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e1af0b0524554de798aa3ac4b31c09c0\u0022\u003EGORDON COPELAND (United Future):\u003C/span\u003E It is a lengthy, expensive, and time-consuming process for middle-sized, and even smaller, New Zealand businesses to develop overseas export markets. The Minister in charge of this vote, Trevor Mallard, will well remember a meeting that he and I attended earlier this year in Lower Hutt with a surprisingly large group of manufacturers who are really grappling with this very issue. They have a desire\u2014and we as a nation need to back them strongly\u2014to export more products into overseas markets. But they are faced with a huge marketing task that can take a long period of time\u2014sometimes amounting to years\u2014and most of them do not have the capacity to actually fund that sort of campaign in distant markets, such as Europe, Asia, and so on. At that meeting I strongly advised that the Government should do more to assist those kinds of businesses.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cee6a89-68e3-40fd-b2d8-d8adb0ba5da0\u0022\u003ESo I begin today by strongly endorsing the Government\u2019s decision to invest more money into the area of market development assistance through the Market Development Assistance scheme. The increased investment amounts to an extra $19.8 million in the 2006-07 year and increases of $14.8 million for each of the following 3 years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cee6a89-68e3-40fd-b2d8-d8adb0ba5da0\u0022\u003EThe development of new export markets for the New Zealand economy is now an urgent necessity. By comparison with other small nations of our kind, such as Ireland and Singapore, we are both a long, long way further from our markets and also, I think, significantly off the pace in terms of actual uptake in getting into new export markets, particularly in manufacturing, technology, and so on. It is more difficult for us because of our geographical isolation. In fact, New Zealand is the most physically distant developed country in the world, relative to major export markets in Europe, USA, and Asia.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cee6a89-68e3-40fd-b2d8-d8adb0ba5da0\u0022\u003EThe type of assistance offered through this vote is well designed, with a matching of the market development expenditure of companies or, indeed, a cluster of companies\u2014something I specifically recommended to that group of manufacturers in Lower Hutt earlier this year\u2014working through a joint export development project. The grant is for up to $100,000 per year for a minimum of 5 years on a matching basis. In other words, if the company or group of companies put up a hundred grand, that figure would be matched by the Government. I encourage New Zealand firms to avail themselves of the opportunity this new vote presents to them, and to get out and develop new international markets for New Zealand exports.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cee6a89-68e3-40fd-b2d8-d8adb0ba5da0\u0022\u003EOur nation is running a large balance of payments deficit, and our trade and future economic success will continue to rely, as it has done in the past, on a vibrant, marketing-orientated export sector. I note that this theme has been taken up in recent days by the New Zealand Institute, which has come out with a new study, and also by the Canterbury Manufacturers Association, amongst others. The New Zealand Institute report is well worth reading. It is the first of what will be a group of five reports, with four still to come. I therefore call on the Minister and the Government to continue to give assistance and support to exporters through a consistent, well-thought-out plan as we move towards Export Year 2007.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cee6a89-68e3-40fd-b2d8-d8adb0ba5da0\u0022\u003E In drawing attention to the fact that next year is Export Year for our country, I want to mention that there was a debate at the Commerce Committee on this vote about which is better: tax incentives for business to get into exports or Government grants. It was an inconclusive debate, although the Minister said we should be having it. Because I belong to a dynamic centre party I want to say that the answer, in my view, is a bit of both. A matching dollar for dollar grant system is a good idea, but there must also be a place for direct tax incentives. I am hopeful we may see some of those incentives in the business tax package that we have announced for the very near future, pursuant to the supply and confidence agreement between the Labour-led Government and United Future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cee6a89-68e3-40fd-b2d8-d8adb0ba5da0\u0022\u003EI hope we will continue to develop more innovative means of giving assistance to New Zealand companies that want to get involved in export markets, and I think that that matter should remain very near the top of the Government\u2019s economic development transformation agenda for the foreseeable future. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022 data-id=\u0022ffd5018cc2f74077a903c9fd29eadabc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ffd5018cc2f74077a903c9fd29eadabc\u0022\u003EHon PAUL SWAIN (Labour\u2014Rimutaka):\u003C/span\u003E I am pleased to rise in this debate. I thought we might have some discussion on the State-owned enterprises issue, because it is one of the matters that are the subject of this estimates debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022\u003EI begin by saying that one of the issues, of course, when we are talking about the finance area, is that there are some very clear policy differences between the National Party and the Labour Party.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270fa4cbd-9380-4916-9f2a-78da059d220e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e34ac7ef6b8e40cbabbb3ea52acf9699\u0022\u003EThe CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson)\u003C/span\u003E: I am sorry to interrupt the member, but this is not the actual State-owned enterprises debate. That is the next one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270fa4cbd-9380-4916-9f2a-78da059d220e\u0022\u003EVote agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ec241e7c424442c184658534bedc8d51\u0022\u003EVote State-Owned Enterprises\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002295ac7206-f497-429d-bf58-715224d5160f\u0022 data-id=\u0022013a627d736b44fe8c06302f9eb8eebf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295ac7206-f497-429d-bf58-715224d5160f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022013a627d736b44fe8c06302f9eb8eebf\u0022\u003EKATHERINE RICH (National):\u003C/span\u003E We have already had a taste of what Mr Swain is going to discuss, since he brought up his issues in the previous vote. It is interesting to see that the Minister, Trevor Mallard, is once again not able to take the chair, but I note that Minister Cunliffe will be all ears, listening to some of the issues the Opposition is going to bring up. In the area of State-owned enterprises, there has been a subject of great debate over the last few weeks, because, of course, the Minister announced a major change to State-owned enterprise policy. He asked State-owned enterprises to spread their wings and expand their operations. The Opposition was a little concerned by this, not least because we had a concern that there was an opportunity for crowding out private sector investment, but also we wondered about the expertise that some State-owned enterprises have. We raised some concerns, but that coincided with research released by Victoria University, which also stated that those board members surveyed had concerns about the skills they had around the board table, and also concerns about some of the appointments that had been made, more relating to political affiliation as opposed to skills. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295ac7206-f497-429d-bf58-715224d5160f\u0022\u003ESo I would like to hear the Minister in the chair explain how this new regime will work, why he thinks the present board members around the table have the skills to take State-owned enterprises into this new realm, and also how it will make any difference. Because in the last couple of weeks we have had quite a high-ranking ex - Labour Cabinet Minister say publicly that he does not think it will make any difference to the way State-owned enterprises are doing their business at all. He pointed out that State-owned enterprises have always had some flexibility and some ability to make commercial decisions and get into other areas, without having this new announcement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295ac7206-f497-429d-bf58-715224d5160f\u0022\u003EI would also like the Minister to explain why he thinks it is OK that New Zealanders should feel confident that State-owned enterprise decisions are going to be good ones, because Minister Mallard has said that he and Michael Cullen have the final sign-off. I would like to hear the Minister explain why he thinks those Ministers have the financial ability and business nous to make sometimes complex business decisions that traditionally have been made by those boards. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295ac7206-f497-429d-bf58-715224d5160f\u0022\u003EI would also like him to explain the theory behind this new change. Because in all the advice from officials, concerns have been expressed. The Ministry of Economic Development has expressed concerns. Treasury certainly did. The Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit expressed concerns about pushing State-owned enterprises into these new additional areas of commercialism. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295ac7206-f497-429d-bf58-715224d5160f\u0022\u003EI would also like the Minister to talk about why he thinks this will contribute to economic transformation. Because, when one ignores the big issues such as tax, accident compensation, the Resource Management Act, employment law, and trade policy, why does he think expanding the area of State-owned enterprise work is going to make any difference to kicking New Zealand\u2019s economy along? Yes, there have been some successes, but also there have ultimately been some failures, or, as Treasury euphemistically put it, non-successes. I would like to hear about that theory underpinning this strategy, when all officials pointed to concerns and clearly were unsure about what the spill-over benefits would be. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295ac7206-f497-429d-bf58-715224d5160f\u0022\u003EI am concerned that State-owned enterprises are starting to be treated as extensions of the Government\u2019s social agenda. Is that OK when one is talking about firms that basically look after over $2 billion worth of assets? If one has $2 billion worth of assets I do not think it is OK to use as one of the reasons for expanding State-owned enterprise areas that it is to make them more exciting and less boring places to work. When one is overseeing $2 billion worth of assets I do not think there is a business, or a businessman or businesswoman, in the country, who would see that as being a good excuse to expand State-owned enterprise risks and investments. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295ac7206-f497-429d-bf58-715224d5160f\u0022\u003ESo in terms of the State-owned enterprises plan I hope the Minister will get on his feet and explain more about how this will contribute to the grand plan of economic transformation. Because it is not clear from what has been said\u2014if anything, the more the Minister gets interviewed on this, the more murky the thinking appears to become. What kinds of projects are they going to get into? How will New Zealand\u2019s economy fare better with expansion of projects from learning media, etc.? I would like to hear from the Minister on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022 data-id=\u00225d659b80e1454e78ae1fccd105e4e80a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225d659b80e1454e78ae1fccd105e4e80a\u0022\u003EHon PAUL SWAIN (Labour\u2014Rimutaka):\u003C/span\u003E After a little bit of a false start I am very keen to take part in this debate. I have just changed my opening words, as I thought they could have been a little better. I thought it was very interesting that the National member Katherine Rich, who has just resumed her seat, talked about State-owned enterprises but actually left out the most critical issue for National, which is whether it will sell any. Of course, the big problem National members have is that deep, deep down they do want to flog off State assets but they cannot bring themselves to say it, because if they say it they will not be elected. That is the huge dilemma the National Party has. So National members went into the last election with a whole pile of waffle around this area. In fact, when they were pushed, they could never get anybody to identify which State-owned enterprises they were prepared to sell off. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022\u003EIn fact, the leader himself said: \u201CWell, there are many State-owned enterprises we could privatise.\u201D, but when we asked him which one, he said: \u201CWell, not that particular one, maybe another one.\u201D It goes back a couple of years, but he has made many, many statements on State-owned enterprises. For example, in 2004, when pushed, he said: \u201CIf it were up to me, I would sell Kiwibank.\u201D Then as it got close to the election and people started to wonder whether Kiwibank would be sold\u2014and a lot of the people who banked with Kiwibank wanted to know the answer to that question\u2014we heard John Key say: \u201CWell, in fact, we wouldn\u2019t sell it within our first term.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270fa4cbd-9380-4916-9f2a-78da059d220e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022720007fc5a61414fb02d82de5f8da5c5\u0022\u003EThe CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson)\u003C/span\u003E: 2006-07.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022820f161d6d1248cda5523c78f84a3477\u0022\u003EHon PAUL SWAIN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, Mr Chairperson. So the question is, as we look forward in terms of this debate, what is National\u2019s policy on State-owned enterprises? For example, would there be any changes if the National Party were in power? Would we be having a different kind of estimates debate now? I think it was disappointing the previous speaker did not raise that issue at all. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022\u003EHaving had the pleasure of being a former Minister for State Owned Enterprises, I can say that our State-owned enterprises perform particularly well relative to the private sector, even when we take out the fact that there are some monopolies within them, such as Transpower. When we look into the future, this Government has clearly said that it will not have asset sales. We are opposed to asset sales, but the same old issues need to be addressed. For example, how much should the companies retain as retained earnings for their own future work\u2014because State-owned enterprises need to keep moving forward\u2014and how much should be given back to the shareholder, who ultimately is the taxpayer, by way of dividend? This age-old issue is always debated. We have been engaged in a long-term hold project whereby we have been working out how to try to mimic the private sector without, obviously, the discipline of the sharemarket. In all of these things State-owned enterprises are looking forward to the future. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022\u003EOf course, they have always been able to expand their business. It is only when it comes down to major issues and major capital outlay that they need to come back for a decision from the shareholder, which is no different from the operations of any other major company. The board is responsible for the governance of the company and for making sure that the company is performing, but if any major issues need to be decided, or if any major investment is required, then back to the shareholders it goes. I think that the State-owned enterprises model is a good one. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ba6fde7e-93f4-4636-9ce2-02c07007973a\u0022\u003EIt is clear that this Labour Government is committed to State-owned enterprises. We are opposed to asset sales. We are keen to ensure that in this financial year they continue to perform strongly and well, and that there is a balance between making sure there are sufficient earnings so they can expand and how much should be returned as a dividend. We know that State-owned enterprises must be able to continue to develop, because to stand still means to go backwards, in particular in areas where there is international competition, and in energy and other areas where our State-owned enterprises compete. The decision about how much there should be in terms of retained earnings and how much should be in dividend is a matter for the Government. I congratulate the State-owned enterprises, which have been good performers over the last little while and will continue to be over the next 12 months.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022 data-id=\u002214c36da9ac7f429a8a22990ae4213ca8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002214c36da9ac7f429a8a22990ae4213ca8\u0022\u003EHon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration):\u003C/span\u003E I wish to recognise the contribution of the former Minister for State Owned Enterprises, the Hon Paul Swain, for whom it was my distinct pleasure to serve as Associate Minister in times gone by. The Hon Paul Swain was a prudent, careful, but visionary Minister, who should take some considerable credit for the fact that under his stewardship the average rate of return amongst the State-owned enterprise portfolio was higher than the average rate of return for the NZX50. That tells us two things: not only is the governance model for the State-owned enterprise stable appropriate, but also the public has nothing to fear from those who think, as a matter of religious conviction, that anything owned by the State must, by definition, perform inadequately. Under Mr Swain\u2019s tenure, quite the reverse of that was proven to be the case\u2014and it still is the case. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003EThe reality is that the State-owned enterprises matter. They have over $10 billion in assets. They are responsible for something like 16 percent of Crown revenue, and that amounts to billions of dollars per year. And, of course, they make a contribution to essential services and essential infrastructure that New Zealand needs, not only today but for the longer term. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003EI wish to address a couple of the points raised by the Opposition spokesperson in her remarks. The first is that notwithstanding the Government\u2019s willingness to see State-owned enterprises play a more transformative role in the economy, we will continue with the regime of prudent monitoring, of tight performance expectations, augmented, as the Hon Paul Swain has noted, by the long-term hold owners\u2019 review process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003EThe Opposition spokesperson indicated her concern that there may be a tendency for Ministers to take important commercial decisions. I think it is worth noting that it is certainly the view of the current shareholding Ministers that when they appoint a board, they back them or sack them. Board members are the people who have the expertise, and they are the people who must judge the commerciality of decisions, in the first instance. If Ministers are deeply unhappy, then they have remedies available to them under the State-Owned Enterprises Act. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003ELet us consider, however, the policy advantages that State-owned enterprises have, because the reality is that the Crown is the kind of shareholder that any company and any management team would want to have. Why? Because the Crown is not in it just for the quick buck; the Crown is in it as the custodian of the public interest for the long term. Because the Crown has an eye on long-term value creation, we can make investment decisions that take a while to pay off. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003ELet me conclude with, I think, the best example to show the difference between the two sides of the Chamber. When the present Opposition members were in Government\u2014and I know it is a long time ago now\u2014they issued a directive under the State-Owned Enterprises Act to prohibit State-owned enterprises from investing offshore. The National Government said: \u201CThou shalt not invest!\u201D. We lifted that directive. Meridian Energy bought Southern Hydro in Australia. National opposed that. Meridian built it up and extracted portfolio synergies between wind energy and hydro generation. Meridian sold Southern Hydro for nearly a billion dollars of profit, much of which has contributed to the Government\u2019s ability to upgrade the transport infrastructure around this country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e0192ed9-5715-4f6c-bd52-8db4f3466087\u0022\u003ELet us reflect on that example. National opposed offshore investment; it used the most draconian provision of the State-Owned Enterprises Act to prevent it. Labour gave boards the right to make those decisions, and Meridian Energy did us proud. Meridian Energy returned the capital to the Crown, and it has been used for the good of the public of New Zealand. What we want is good, tight, prudent management that delivers sustainable returns for New Zealand and invests in this country\u2019s transformation for the future. I believe that is what this policy will deliver. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u00222be615cd8c5245cca9afb833cae8ab23\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That Vote State-Owned Enterprises be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 61\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 50; New Zealand First 7; United Future 3; Progressive 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 48\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 48.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAbstentions 9\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGreen Party 6; M\u0101ori Party 3.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EVote State-Owned Enterprises agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002222db99a5ab82461cb60cd0de7540a03c\u0022\u003EVote Sport and Recreation agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225321255a9ebf435c8c47b30b8c5035a7\u0022\u003EVote Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022 data-id=\u0022edbf6d56122d477f94246dcce2fc12fb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022edbf6d56122d477f94246dcce2fc12fb\u0022\u003EHon TONY RYALL (National\u2014Bay of Plenty):\u003C/span\u003E In Parliament\u2019s voting of $10 billion to the Minister of Health for the administration and provision of our national health service, Parliament has to ask itself what progress this Government is making towards delivering a healthier nation and the improved welfare of our people. This is a Government that is asking Parliament to vote it over $10 billion, which is an increase of $4 billion since it came to office, but what has it got to show for it? There is all that extra money, and we have a sicker nation. There is all that extra money, but one has to be sicker today to get an operation in any public hospital than 5 years ago. There is an extra $4 billion, but there are fewer elective surgeries being performed in this country than 5 years ago. There is an extra $4 billion, but our public health initiatives are still not reaching the most at-risk groups in our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EThis Government has run out of ideas, it has run out of energy, and it has run out of commitment to provide the vision and leadership that we need in the health sector to provide this country with better health and welfare in terms of our natural beings. This is a Government that, this year, came to Parliament to ask for $10 billion, but we know that it is already planning on having $100 million worth of deficits in the accounts of the nation\u2019s district health boards. That is how bad this Government\u2019s management is of our public health system and the public purse, which is shown here in Vote Health. A $100 million deficit in district health board accounts is already being budgeted for in this year\u2019s appropriation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EThis is a Government that is having all its chickens coming home to roost. It has been able to cover up its poor performance in health through bluster and spin, but now the public is on to it. Everywhere one travels around the country one sees there is widespread dissatisfaction with the New Zealand public health system. Doctors in both our hospitals and our general practices are disenchanted with this Government\u2019s management and the way in which the system is bogged down in bureaucracy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EWe have fewer general practitioners in this country than we had 6 years ago. General practice has to be the cornerstone of our health service, and there are opportunities for general practice to have an even greater role in providing for the health and welfare of New Zealanders. But this Government is attacking general practice at every opportunity. There are fewer general practitioners in the country today, and there are many thousands of New Zealanders who cannot get registered with a general practitioner.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EEarlier this week I was in the Horowhenua. In the Horowhenua they are flying down a general practitioner from Kerikeri 3 days a week, because of its shortage of doctors. On the Kapiti coast the person who runs the primary health organisation, a contracted provider, told me on Monday that 1,000 people on the Kapiti coast cannot get a doctor. We know that New Zealanders cannot get registered with a general practitioner in Timaru or Gisborne. That has been reported. We know that in Waimate almost 2,000 people cannot get on the books of a general practitioner. That is the state of the general practice workforce in New Zealand, which the Government continues to ignore.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EThe pressure on that workforce is becoming even worse as a result of this Government\u2019s cynical plan to manipulate the nation\u2019s public hospital waiting lists. That cynical plan is not about providing New Zealanders with treatment or care; that cynical plan is not about prioritising patients who need to get care; that cynical plan is all about chopping people off waiting lists, so that the Prime Minister can stand up in the Chamber and say that she has cleared those waiting lists. But New Zealanders are on to that. Every day hundreds of New Zealanders find out about their friends and neighbours getting a letter or a phone call from their district health board telling them they have been culled from a hospital waiting list.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EThere are two areas where people are being culled from their waiting list. The first concerns those people whose general practitioners say they need to see a specialist. Those people\u2014over 120,000 at the last count about April\u2014need to see a specialist. Their general practitioners say they need to see a specialist, but the Minister and the Government say that people who have been waiting more than 6 months, regardless of the urgency of their care, are to come off the waiting list. The cruellest cut of all, though, has come for those thousands of New Zealanders who were promised an operation. The Government never wanted to see that list revealed, but we got the information out. An estimated 10,000 New Zealanders, who were promised an operation, have been culled from hospital waiting lists\u2014and the human cost is incredible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003ENew Zealanders heard about the young woman who had a breast mastectomy and was promised a breast reconstruction, but because of the severity of her disease she had to wait more than 6 months in order for things to settle down. What did this Government do? Did it honour the pledge to sufferers of breast cancer that they could have breast reconstructions? No, she was cut off the waiting list by Pete Hodgson. What about the young child who cannot smile? That child was chopped off the waiting list by the Government. What about the young woman who was turfed off a hospital waiting list and, as a consequence, was admitted to hospital as an acute patient and now has a colostomy bag? How happy are Labour members about that? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EThe Labour Party has just celebrated its 90th anniversary, but did Labour members really come to Parliament to dump from waiting lists old people, women who have lost their breasts, and children who cannot smile, and cut them out of the public health service? Did they really come to Parliament to provide fewer elective surgeries for New Zealanders who need them? Did they really come to Parliament to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on an extra 1,800 bureaucrats in the health system? Is that really what Labour is about?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EUnder this Labour Government, health dollars have gone further and further up the social strata. The Government is providing a political strategy rather than a health strategy. Its own people are the ones who are missing out. When Labour party people were celebrating in the electorate of the millionaire member from \u014Ctara, did they think for one moment about the tens of thousands of their supporters who have been culled from hospital waiting lists? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cc6a59e2cae94bc4a83b6e4aa9b72bf8\u0022\u003EDr Jonathan Coleman\u003C/span\u003E: Too busy with the chardonnay. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225769fd9e7399405387f1f61d92d35931\u0022\u003EHon TONY RYALL\u003C/span\u003E: Too busy with the chardonnay! Did they think what they were doing for the tens of thousands of their supporters\u2014people who live on little more than national superannuation, a welfare benefit, or a low income? Did they think of the young woman with skin cancer eating away at her face, who has been culled from a hospital waiting list and who cannot get care? Is that the Labour vision of a public health system in New Zealand? Is it Labour\u2019s vision that millionaires in Whakat\u0101ne pay $20 for a visit to the doctor, but beneficiaries in Tauranga pay $30? Is it Labour\u2019s vision that for every two nurses who have been employed in the public health system in the last 5 years, there is another manager? Is that really what Labour came to office to have? Did Labour really come to office to have the aged-care workforce fade away through lack of support and training? Is that what Labour is really about?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EThis Budget is not honest to Labour\u2019s roots, nor is it honest to the people of the public health system. This is a Budget that throws money everywhere but does not provide the care or attention needed to provide a decent health system in this country. Is this a Budget that says we have limits on our capacity in the public system so let us use the independent sector to provide more care in our hospitals and more care for New Zealanders? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221cc002440d9d43b7aca174ddc1add7da\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022191dac7ecd5d4f2dafa77fe56f575ca7\u0022\u003EHon TONY RYALL\u003C/span\u003E: No. Is this a Government that has decided that it wants to support the work of non-governmental organisations? No. Is this a Government that says it wants to keep pace with inflation and the cost of drugs, and put more money into Pharmac? No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022 data-id=\u0022526506af7dc2486f89a624f0d2da631b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022526506af7dc2486f89a624f0d2da631b\u0022\u003EBARBARA STEWART (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E On behalf of New Zealand First, I am pleased to take a call on the Appropriation (2006/07 Estimates) Bill. This year, again, there have been some very positive developments in Vote Health. New Zealand First has long said that New Zealand needs a properly funded health system and that, as a start, we must move towards health expenditure of 10 percent of GDP, which many other countries around the world have. We believe this is totally achievable if we have an economic plan to improve our national income. So we definitely support the increased appropriation this year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003EWe must acknowledge too that there has been a considerable increase in health spending over the last 7 years, and that is to be commended. We now have over $10 billion, in total, for health, and that also must be commended. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E The fact that the major priorities have been outlined for the 2006-07 year means there is no confusion about where the moneys will be spent, so the public of New Zealand can expect some positive outcomes in many areas\u2014for example, the health of older people, children\u2019s health, primary health, and obesity. All those areas need some dedicated moneys.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003EUnfortunately, there are no quick solutions to the many and varied challenges facing the health sector, and we are pleased to see that some of the challenges are at last being recognised and worked on. New Zealand First believes that one of the aims of the health service must be to provide New Zealanders with certainty about their health care, and to ensure timely access to quality services. This is, in part, largely successful, particularly when it comes to emergency admissions to our hospitals. The Minister has said, and the figures show, that 75 percent of all hospital admissions come in through the emergency department. It is only the remaining 25 percent of hospital admissions for elective surgery that we hear the most about. That is where the dissatisfaction comes about. The dissatisfaction comes from the mismatch of the public\u2019s expectation and what the system can actually deliver in a timely manner. New Zealand First believes that that needs to be addressed relatively rapidly. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003EWe applaud the announcement of the additional moneys for the oral health of New Zealand children. We know that the school dental service and the Adolescent Dental Benefits Scheme were both in dire straits\u2014and perhaps, to some extent, still are\u2014and that fewer than 40 percent of eligible preschoolers are enrolled in the school dental service. The Government has recognised that we no longer have the first-class service that existed in years gone by, and has moved to rectify the situation. This funding is a step in the right direction. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003EWe will be very keen to see in action the process for allocating the funds. When we split the $40.8 million between 21 district health boards, it is fairly obvious that district health boards will not be able to make much of an impact on children\u2019s oral health with that amount of money. We know that some district health boards have proposed projects of $10 million, and if we do the calculation we find that that is 25 percent of the total amount that one district health board wants to spend. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003EWe have been reassured by the Minister of Health that those with business cases approved later on in the year will still have the funds available. We will be most interested to see how that will work. We know that oral health is important to a child\u2019s health, or to a young person\u2019s health, overall. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003EIn the area of the elderly, we believe that the Minister of Health must honour his commitment to ensure that the money in this year\u2019s Budget for elder care is passed on promptly and in full. The key to that is to ensure that the district health boards deal fairly with the providers in the sector. Allocating funds in the Budget will be absolutely pointless unless they get to their intended destination. We know that low pay rates and the lack of training that carers of the elderly receive is a situation that must be corrected if we are to see sustained improvements in this industry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022 data-id=\u00229f042a156e514878958d3c88c8b7ac4b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229f042a156e514878958d3c88c8b7ac4b\u0022\u003ESUE KEDGLEY (Green):\u003C/span\u003E I start by looking at one item in our financial review of the Ministry of Health\u2014the proposed trans-Tasman joint therapeutics agency. In this year\u2019s estimates $1 million is allocated for setting up a joint therapeutic agency with Australia, and that is on top of $5 million that has already been spent. In our report we questioned the ministry\u2019s mandate to proceed with this project and to spend all this money. We pointed out that it is operating under an executive mandate, not a parliamentary mandate. We also pointed out that this huge expenditure of money\u2014we are now up to $6 million\u2014has never come before our Parliament. There is no parliamentary mandate for this project. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003EThe other extraordinary thing about our hearing on this particular aspect of the estimates was that we asked the Minister of State Services, Annette King, to come down and brief us in our select committee about the agency, but she refused to do so. She refused to come to the select committee to brief us about it. We know she has been meeting with her Australian counterpart. I think they have had 15 meetings and they have made a series of decisions. We asked whether we could see the minutes of those political meetings, but she refused to provide them. The Minister Annette King has also, for 3 years, refused point-blank to address my Official Information Act requests. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003EWhat the Minister did tell us was extraordinary. In our estimates hearing, a two-page briefing was sent in place of the Minister coming. I am speaking specifically about what is in the estimates, if members want to read the report. She said she expected that legislation would come before Parliament in July. At a cross-party briefing outside this House the officials said the same thing. The officials said that legislation setting up the joint agency would be introduced in July. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003EIn the House today the Minister admitted there would not be any legislation introduced in July, for the simple reason that the Minister does not have sufficient political support in this House to introduce the legislation. She also does not have support from the majority of those in the dietary supplements industry in New Zealand. They are implacably opposed to what she is doing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003E So, basically, we are calling on the Minister to call it quits, acknowledge that she does not have the numbers, acknowledge that she does not have the support of the industry in New Zealand, and, instead, get a cross-party group together to work on a simple New Zealand alternative in place of the legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003EThe Minister said, with great glee, that it is terrible that some dietary supplements have been found to cause adverse reactions. That is what she said in the House today. It is good that she has found out about some of those supplements, and there should be constant monitoring of them. But what she did not mention was the information that I eventually managed to extract from her after numerous written questions, which was that, last year, more than 20,000 New Zealanders suffered adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals, almost 17,000 New Zealanders suffered adverse reactions to a medicine in a hospital, and a further 4,000 adverse reactions were reported in the primary health care sector. However, representatives of the centre for adverse reactions monitoring said that that was probably only a tiny fraction of the number of adverse reactions that occurred, because there is no mandatory requirement to report adverse reactions to medicines. The centre therefore knows that it receives reports of only a very few of those occurrences. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003ESo here we have 20,000, or probably 40,000 or 100,000, New Zealanders becoming ill with an adverse reaction to their medicine. What are we doing about it? We are doing nothing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022 data-id=\u0022d6a39b252dcd4d968df7602b2ec44037\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d6a39b252dcd4d968df7602b2ec44037\u0022\u003ETE URUROA FLAVELL (M\u0101ori Party\u2014Waiariki):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. In the last month a number of ground-breaking reports have been released that add to the depressing chronicle of evidence about the state of health in Aotearoa. The M\u0101ori Party welcomes these reports; however, they become drained of any moral value if we fail to act. The estimates debate is an opportunity for the Government to dare to act in the interests of the health of the nation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003ESo let us set the scene. The world\u2019s leading independent general medical journal, The Lancet, surveyed over 10,000 New Zealanders, asking them about any incidents of discrimination when they approached a health professional. The study described the health system of this country as \u201Cracist and discriminating against Maori\u201D. It claimed that 4.5 percent of M\u0101ori experienced unfair treatment by a health professional compared with just 1.5 percent of P\u0101keh\u0101. It stated: \u201CThe findings of this survey show that deprivation and experiences of perceived racial discrimination contribute to inequalities in health outcomes between Maori and Europeans. Indeed, the combination of deprivation and discrimination as measured seems to account for much of the disparity in the health outcomes assessed.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe impact of multiple factors of disadvantage in limiting health outcomes has always been well understood by tangata whenua. Ng\u0101ti Hine leader Moe Milne, for example, described te oranga o tangata whenua as being influenced by factors other than purely the absence of disease. She stated: \u201CI was told, \u2018We lose our tangata whenua status when we don\u2019t have whenua to stand on. We lose our whenua status when we don\u2019t have tangata to stand on it.\u2019 \u201D It is in this relationship of all the intersecting parts that the greatest damage lies. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EReference is often made in this Chamber to the most vulnerable of our communities\u2014the so-called welfare cheats, the dole bludgers, the welfare dependants, and those who are said to be ripping off the system. But I have to ask who the greatest beneficiaries are. Who feels good about the theft of M\u0101ori resources\u2014our waterways, the land confiscations, and the foreshore and seabed\u2014and who feels bad? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe relationship between health, wealth, and well-being is absolutely linked. The determinants of health are overlapping and multiple. Poverty, intergenerational and lifestyle factors, ethnicity, racism, and ill health are factors that are all related, yet this Government persists in treating one factor in isolation. These are systemic issues. We are always told that people must take personal responsibility\u2014and, yes, people must do that\u2014but who in this Chamber will take personal responsibility for the creation and support of systems and policies that will guarantee disadvantage and that will not change the lives of the most disadvantaged? This Parliament is frequently swamped with accusation, denial, and decision makers who will not take responsibility for decisions they have made to create what to many of our people is an unjust system. If we are really to eliminate health disparities, we need to address the institutionalised racism that reveals itself in the link between racism, morbidity, and mortality. We need to treat the health of the wh\u0101nau as being intricately associated with the health of the individual\u2014we need to make the associations, and we need to act. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe National Party must also stand up and take responsibility for its role in planting the seeds of racism amongst the public mind. I wonder how many members in this Chamber have had calls from M\u0101ori who are sitting in their homes listening to National members talk about M\u0101ori in terms of privilege, and I wonder how that wounds the psyche of M\u0101ori people. The focus on so-called M\u0101ori and Pacific privilege is in itself creating disadvantage. That party is allowing people to talk about us in a negative way. That party is giving people permission to be racist, and that must stop. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003ELast week the Public Health Advisory Committee released its report called Health is Everyone\u2019s Business. That report urged New Zealanders to rise to the challenge of reducing health disparities, particularly between M\u0101ori and non-M\u0101ori. The committee advised the Government of the widening social and economic inequalities that are resulting in whole population groups being left behind. It described how in New Zealand ethnicity presents an independent and significant effect. The committee concluded that being M\u0101ori or Pacific further increases the risk of death or ill health across all socio-economic categories. I repeat\u2014being M\u0101ori or Pacific further increases the risk of death or ill health across all socio-economic categories. If we were to say that being P\u0101keh\u0101 further increased the risk of death or ill health, would that be ignored? If we were to say that being an MP further increased the risk of death or ill health, would attention be taken? So why is it that the association of being M\u0101ori or Pasifika with the risk of ill health and death is so casually described\u2014almost taken for granted\u2014as a universal assumption of truth? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe Public Health Advisory Committee identified that there is no easy solution to health inequalities, no quick fix, no one-size-fits-all. Collaborative effort is required to address the social and economic determinants of health. Health cannot be treated in isolation. The final report, released just a week ago, proved that although poor health can be expected to lower living standards, there was also evidence that poor living standards increase the risk of poor health. And who are the New Zealanders most at risk of poor living standards? Forty percent of M\u0101ori and 58 percent of Pacific people experience some degree of hardship, compared with 19 percent of Europeans. That is not a gap; that is an ocean. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EDisparities emerge and grow from the overlapping disadvantages of racism and poor health, and impoverished living standards and deprivation. If we add to those factors the variable of being M\u0101ori or Pacific, the result will be severe and significant hardship. Yet the appropriation has allocated a measly $3 million to policy advice on reducing disparities in health status for M\u0101ori. Worse still, there is no specific funding at all for Pasifika health. I, like many others, have heard all the excuses that the priority of better health for all perhaps means reducing inequalities for M\u0101ori, Pasifika, and those on low incomes, without actually having to spell it out. Well, I am a firm believer in spelling it out, telling the truth, and facing the facts. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe reports I have spoken of today are not M\u0101ori Party documents. They are not the reports of M\u0101ori researchers, academics, or w\u0101nanga graduates. They are not the reports of the United Nations special rapporteur. They are the reports of Professor Peter Davis of the University of Auckland, of the Public Health Advisory Committee, and of Ministry of Social Development. We must act decisively, with courage and information, to make the connections explicit and to treat the whole rather than the separate parts. Within Te Ao M\u0101ori, we know we live the reality of taking into account all aspects of our spiritual, physical, social, cultural, intellectual, and psychological selves when we consider the concept of health. K\u0101ore te taha wairua i te t\u016B i t\u014Dna kotahi; the spiritual side does not stand by itself. We cannot divorce the water from the lake and still call it a lake. So we understand only too well the impact of multiple disadvantage\u2014that everything is connected, that nothing can be treated in isolation. Solutions must be all-embracing and inclusive. We must all take responsibility for being a part of that solution. I ask today: who in this Chamber will address the living conditions that create poverty, misery, and the underclass? Who in this Chamber is prepared to burst the septic boil of racism and stand up to protect the well-being of all? When will we invest in raising the standards of living? Only then will the state of health in Aotearoa be something we can all be proud of. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022 data-id=\u00220dbe5142d1384155a3d30fabfe84fd46\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220dbe5142d1384155a3d30fabfe84fd46\u0022\u003EDr JACKIE BLUE (National):\u003C/span\u003E The Labour Government is failing ordinary New Zealanders. It has had 7 years to prove itself, and it is failing miserably. Under Labour, New Zealanders are getting sicker\u2014yes, sicker. This month, Judith Collins, National\u2019s welfare spokesperson, exposed figures showing that a staggering 122,000 New Zealanders were on the sickness and invalid benefits.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022256084ce5bf24393a26beca6c9520f96\u0022\u003ELindsay Tisch\u003C/span\u003E: How many?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209323276ec614fd888e771501aa2138d\u0022\u003EDr JACKIE BLUE\u003C/span\u003E: It was 122,000. That is more than the population of Hamilton City or Dunedin City. Judith Collins showed that the numbers of people drawing those benefits had increased by 47 percent and 38 percent respectively under this Labour Government. That is an astonishing figure. The population has not increased by 40 or 50 percent, so what is going on with New Zealand\u2019s health, we can ask. Why are New Zealanders getting sicker? I will tell colleagues what is happening, and it is not good. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022\u003EThey are not getting the operations or drugs they desperately need. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders are being dumped from waiting lists and not getting the procedures that specialists say they need. Why are they being dumped? They are being dumped because the hospitals do not have the resources to do the operations. That is despite the millions of extra funding that has gone into a bloated health bureaucracy. Half of all the district health boards are struggling to match last year\u2019s numbers of operations. Compared with 5 years ago, fewer patients are getting elective surgery. Patients now have to be sicker to get an elective operation and because they have to wait longer the operations are more complex, more complicated, and bigger. It does not make sense. There is no logic in it. There is not a lot of sense in Labour\u2019s failed policies. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022\u003ERecently there was some publicity about medical adverse events that cost taxpayers a massive $850 million each year. That is serious money. The figure comes from a 2002 study. We would think that the Government would sit up and take notice of that report, and implement immediate and urgent steps to reduce medical adverse events\u2014not only to reduce the pain and suffering of New Zealanders but also to save money. But has it? No, it certainly has not. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022\u003EThis Government is interested in spending money and not in saving money. This Government is more interested in wasting hard-working New Zealand taxpayers\u2019 money than in relieving New Zealanders\u2019 pain and suffering. The irony is that although this Government is happy to spend money as if there were no tomorrow, in pharmaceuticals it is the opposite case. That is an area where the Government needs actually to be spending money, but it is doing the exact opposite. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c437bda8-4741-4ac5-89ab-b0818e1ab9fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022058558fa0de64d2596c23b118fac9694\u0022\u003EDarren Hughes\u003C/span\u003E: Who wrote this rubbish?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b5f592f8edf47e1969fcc411080890d\u0022\u003EDr Jonathan Coleman\u003C/span\u003E: Shut up, Darren. You might learn something.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022539c131da2dc4c9d92af131b26f531f9\u0022\u003EDr JACKIE BLUE\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, he might learn something! The per capita amount of pharmaceutical spending has been flat-lining and dropping over the last 5 years. Pharmac\u2019s annual budget is not even keeping up with inflation or the consumer price index.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c437bda8-4741-4ac5-89ab-b0818e1ab9fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f0eba72396964cd09288368f616612cc\u0022\u003EDarren Hughes\u003C/span\u003E: All these prepared speeches. It is a debating chamber.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a19f21bea33d417ab7a3546b4418c65f\u0022\u003EDr JACKIE BLUE\u003C/span\u003E: There has actually been a press release this afternoon from that member\u2019s Government. It has announced an increase in Pharmac\u2019s budget to $600 million, which is up from $582 million in last year\u2019s budget. But when one works out the figures, one finds that that figure represents an increase of only 3 percent, which in no way will match the 11 percent predicted increase in prescription volumes. So it is pretty simple to work out that we are going backwards quite fast. This has done a disservice to New Zealanders. They are not getting the drugs they desperately need to keep them well and out of hospital. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f99bcf9e-1ad4-4ed4-9a97-1cccb5b1e11a\u0022\u003EA recent study shows that in the last 6 years Australians have had access to 58 more new emanated medicines than have New Zealanders. New Zealanders are missing out on medicines compared with their counterparts in Australia. This study also confirmed that the few drugs we have in common are more restricted and more difficult to access than in Australia. Pharmac tried to fudge the issue, and even the Minister was reported in the House for fudging it and saying that New Zealanders had access to more medicines than Australians. Government members were very, very quiet when the detail of it was worked out. It was pointed out that Pharmac included items such as condoms, peak flow metres, Janola, and calamine lotion. These are hardly lifesaving and innovative new drugs. It takes far too long to get drugs through Pharmac\u2019s process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022 data-id=\u00226aca4d9b7fae4011b038d66eec40035a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226aca4d9b7fae4011b038d66eec40035a\u0022\u003EDr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E We are talking about the estimates of appropriations, but, quite frankly, when it comes to health we might as well be talking about the estimates of misappropriations. This debate goes right to the heart of what is wrong with health under this Labour Government. The Government is now spending $10.5 billion a year on health. That is a 66 percent increase on what it was spending when it came to office. As everyone knows, and as the Labour members know, health is actually not improving in New Zealand. Those members have nothing to say about that. The marginal member for Otaki, Darren Hughes, was saying that this was a debate. Well, why do Labour members not get up, take a call, and actually debate some of these issues? Why do they not get up, put their money where their mouths are, and tell us what they will do? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003EFrankly, health has been an abysmal failure under Labour. The reality is that the more the Government spends on health, the worse it gets. For 6 years we had a Minister of Health who was a dental nurse. Now we are counting the problems in oral health. We all know that oral health is a problem in New Zealand. It has been going on for 6 years, and what is the Government doing? It is commissioning a report. It will have another committee, it will have a hui, but it will not have any answers. Goodness knows what we will have after 3 years of having a vet as Minister of Health. We may be counting the number of successful dog microchippings\u2014it will be just as relevant to the health of New Zealanders as what we have had so far. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003EWe can conclude that the more money Labour throws at the health problem, the worse it gets. Labour members are averting their eyes\u2014they do not have the answer. They know that health is a minefield; it is a disgrace. The Minister of Health is a joke. He is an embarrassment to the Prime Minister, he is an embarrassment to the front bench, and he is not even here to take a call today. It will be very, very interesting to see what happens when the Associate Minister gets up and tries to justify the $10.5 billion of expenditure. We know that the system is in crisis. We know that one has to be sicker than ever to get an operation in New Zealand. One cannot fool the listeners at home. They know that that is absolutely correct. They would be absolutely appalled to know that one dollar in every five of Government expenditure is going into health, yet the kids are getting fatter, people are getting sicker, parents cannot get operations\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022022abfee3ecc4d37a2ca2ad42afaca98\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: What would you do?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c4b3ad1656d4fb68940c506c824ea25\u0022\u003EDr JONATHAN COLEMAN\u003C/span\u003E: The member for Waimakariri asks a very good question. I will tell him. The one line that should be in these estimates of misappropriations is the big line called bureaucracy. I can tell the member that under this Government we now have 12,000 bureaucrats and 12,000 hospital beds. That is one bed for every bureaucrat. We have had an increase of 2,000 bureaucrats in health alone under this Government. I say to the listeners at home that Government members are not saying anything now, because they know it is true. They know that since this Government came to power 17 football fields are now needed to accommodate all the bureaucrats in Wellington, in terms of office space.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c437bda8-4741-4ac5-89ab-b0818e1ab9fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022356fb2d26bca448ea1b785bf38aa401b\u0022\u003EDarren Hughes\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dbefcf7507854da59950eca34f7811d2\u0022\u003EDr JONATHAN COLEMAN\u003C/span\u003E: That is a joke. It is a disgrace. Darren does not have an answer to that\u2014he knows it is true. We have fewer general practitioners, fewer people having operations\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c437bda8-4741-4ac5-89ab-b0818e1ab9fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237a1c9cce9ca48268fb2c5962d08d989\u0022\u003EDarren Hughes\u003C/span\u003E: Rubbish!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d92e464cd0143d29e64151813e5fb2a\u0022\u003EDr JONATHAN COLEMAN\u003C/span\u003E: It is true. We have more bureaucracy. Labour thought health was in a safe pair of hands, but it has turned out to be the nightmare portfolio. Who on that front bench would want to have that portfolio now? The answer is no one. The fact is that health under Labour is in the cart, Mr Hodgson is in palliative care, and the people of New Zealand are waiting for a change of Government so we can start to get the services that the people of New Zealand deserve. They are not getting those services under Labour. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003ELast week we had the roll-out of primary care. What a dismal failure that will be. Three million dollars will go to the poorest people in New Zealand and $60 million will go to people who can already afford to go to the doctor. How is that targeting need? The reality is that Labour is letting down the people who voted for it\u2014the poorest people in New Zealand, who have the highest health needs. The message is actually getting through, because those Labour voters know that this Government does not represent their interests. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003EThis Government is more concerned with irrelevant, fringe, social issues, rather than with strengthening health, strengthening education, and strengthening the economy. That will come back and bite it in 2008, if not earlier. Government members are not saying anything now, because they know it is true.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022 data-id=\u00222089936e7f134311bde97606c0aee7f5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222089936e7f134311bde97606c0aee7f5\u0022\u003EHon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Minister for Building Issues):\u003C/span\u003E It is too difficult to resist having a crack at that member, who is allegedly a general practitioner. When we asked that member what his policy for health would be, all he talked about was bureaucrats. Has he forgotten the Health Funding Authority? Has he forgotten that when something went wrong in the health system before we had district health boards, we had bureaucrats? But no one would take any responsibility when things went wrong under the Health Funding Authority that Dr Jonathan Coleman\u2019s crew in National set up, and that he, as a general practitioner, milked and got his income off. Now, at least we have district health boards with accountable people. If communities do not like what the health boards have done, they can get rid of them\u2014they are accountable. That member, as a general practitioner, milked the system under the Health Funding Authority all right, and National created the bureaucrats in the system\u2014a huge monolith of bureaucrats. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003EBut here is the deal: Dr Coleman said we should get rid of the bureaucrats, but what does that mean? I will just talk about that. Here is an economic fact: the health sector requires money. Where do Governments get money from? They get money from taxation revenue. Is that not right? That member\u2014a general practitioner\u2014was elected on the basis of National\u2019s policy of a $7 billion tax cut. I will explain to him what happens when revenue is reduced. The money has to be found from somewhere. When a $7 billion tax cut is given\u2014[Interruption] The member did not do very well when he was on his feet; he is doing even less well now that he is squawking like a headless chook over there. Half of the $7 billion tax cut was to have been based on borrowing. Where would the other half have come from? The other half would have come from cuts in expenditure like that on health, or from asset sales. One could not sell enough assets to cover what National wanted to do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003EI ask Dr Coleman to tell the truth. I ask him to get up again, take another call, and explain to the people he hoodwinked in the electorate he won that if he had his backside on the Government side of the Chamber, he would cut health expenditure in order to give away a $7 billion tax cut and then he would borrow the other half of the money needed for the tax cut. That does not mean getting rid of bureaucrats. If he got rid of every so-called bureaucrat and administrator in our health system, he still could not pay for the tax cuts that he wants to give people. What would Dr Coleman do? He would get rid of nurses, cut services, and put cash registers back into the hospitals, as National did in the 1990s\u2014and that genius over there was a general practitioner in the 1990s. I ask him to go back and think about the legacy that the National Government put through. I ask him to look at the health figures that that Government left\u2014at the cash registers in the hospitals. Under that Government, people were not bumped off a waiting list; they were bumped off permanently because they could not get into a hospital. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003EI challenge Dr Coleman to say whether he would get rid of the primary health organisations and the Public Health Care Strategy. There is silence. He is lost for words, and so is that other thing over there beside him. Would Dr Coleman get rid of the primary health organisation system? Would he get rid of the district health boards? We do not hear anything now. The reason is that this is not an election year. In election year, the only thing he came out with, of course, was a $7 billion bribe. I say to that member that he has no credibility. He may be a general practitioner\u2014he may be a witch doctor, for all I know\u2014but he has no understanding of economics. What is even worse is that he stands up in this Chamber and thinks everybody who listens to him is an idiot who does not see through that. Well, I say people are not idiots.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c437bda8-4741-4ac5-89ab-b0818e1ab9fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002234e0b5cc2bfc4d0f9cffbe70df5fce5f\u0022\u003EDarren Hughes\u003C/span\u003E: He is arrogant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226de0a896b78d4495bcb86d7180eb7120\u0022\u003EHon CLAYTON COSGROVE\u003C/span\u003E: He is arrogant\u2014absolutely arrogant. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003EWould National get rid of the primary health organisations? Would it do away with the free doctors\u2019 visits for under-sixes? No, Dr Coleman will not say what National would do away with. He will not tell us how he would fund his health proposals, because he does not have any health proposals. That member over there has shown himself for what he is. He is a political fraud\u2014an absolute political charlatan. He is a naive new member, who is up himself to the point where he goes out and tells people whatever they want to hear. I say to Dr Coleman that if he were in Government, Rangiora Hospital would be gone by lunchtime. If he were in Parliament on the Government side of the Chamber, Canterbury District Health Board would have its budget slashed under him. Why would that happen? Because we know he could not pay for tax cuts without doing that. We know\u2014as John Key said\u2014that National would borrow half of the $7 billion needed in order to give a tax cut. [Interruption] The member says that is right. That is the first truthful thing he has said in this contribution. John Key said that. I wonder whether the folks who are listening to this debate\u2014the elderly who would have been turfed out of rest homes, or the people who would not have had cheaper prescriptions\u2014heard that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003EWe know that when we got into Government, many people could not access the public health system, and if some of them had been able to access their doctor and their specialist for treatment of their injuries, they would not have needed to be put on a waiting list. If they had minor injuries, those could have been stitched and fixed up, and they would have gone away, back to their normal quality of life. This Government has put a heap of money in the pot in order to clear the existing waiting lists out\u2014and we are doing that. Also, for anyone with a minor injury or illness, surely it makes sense to do what we are doing: providing those people with the drugs they need, and getting them in a measured and cheap way to their specialists and their primary health care providers, so they can be fixed up and stitched up without needing to be put on a waiting list\u2014because, by God, they are healthy. That is our policy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003EWe did not hear anything from members on the Opposition side of the Chamber, except for a lot of voodoo economics. The National members are running like mad from their tax cut bribe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u002246226f044fdc4ea3873702e66ff1c9c1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002246226f044fdc4ea3873702e66ff1c9c1\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u0027CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E I take the opportunity to close this debate. Never before has a Government invested so much money in the health status and care of its people. It has committed $10.5 billion. I am very proud, as Associate Minister of Health and as part of a Government that has committed so much to the future health and well-being of its people. I acknowledge New Zealand First for its wisdom in contributing to this debate and to this Government. Barbara Stewart, quite rightfully, points out the priority areas in health care that we have laid out in front of the public and are absolutely committed to. Those are the health of older people, the health of children, primary health care, and dealing with public health-care issues like obesity. We have invested a huge amount in primary health care, because prevention is better than cure. We know\u2014as the public of this country knows\u2014that money spent up front looking after people, preventing many of the ailments and many of the long-term problems, is money well invested. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ETony Ryall made a very good point. He said that general practitioners are very, very important people. Yes, they are. They are key components in the Primary Health Care Strategy. I am not sure whether Dr Coleman is a necessary general practitioner, given his ignorance and the ignorance he showed in the House just before. But general practitioners and other primary health care providers, and nurses\u2014all those people\u2014are essential elements of our Primary Health Care Strategy. Another very good point raised in this debate was the fact that 75 percent of people go into our hospitals through emergency care or acute incidents. Every one of those people, almost without exception, will say that the care he or she received was exceptional. It is absolutely amazing. Every day, up and down this country, we can meet people who will say, and know, that when they need health care they will get it, and it is our public health system that will deliver it to them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe National Opposition focuses on the 25 percent of people who go into the hospital system\u2014and members should remember that that is just one part of the health system\u2014for elective surgery. That is always an area of difficulty, because with increasing technology, with increasing knowledge, and with more drugs, we are able to deal with more people. That is a fact, and, because the demands on the system will never ever be entirely satisfied, we have had to make some calls. We have said we will focus on public and primary health care areas where prevention will deliver for us as a nation long term. We have said we will target areas of need. As the M\u0101ori Party quite rightly pointed out, too many of those areas of need are, unfortunately, found within the M\u0101ori and Pacific Island populations, because disparities of wealth align with disparities of health care. There is no doubt about that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThat is why we have said all the way through our health strategy, and through the primary health strategy as well, that we will focus on areas of need. That means we will focus on the disparities in health for M\u0101ori and Pacific Island peoples, and we are proud of that. It is a health system based on need, not on ability to pay. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe other reality pointed out by my learned colleague the Hon Clayton Cosgrove is that if National were to offer $7 billion worth of tax cuts, as it did, it would have to slash funding.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002251334f94f9b04cde9c881f7ff4895deb\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: Who to?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242b8229700ac405699e068d18ba88afd\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u0027CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: They blame, as the member pointed out, the bureaucrats, the administrators, and the managers in the health system. Well, if funding in health care is increased by 66 percent, we need to know that it is being spent in the right areas. We need to know that that money is being well managed. That is why we have had an increase in administrators. We do our very best to minimise increases in that area, but we need to know that every dollar is being well spent. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe other reality, of course, of the National Party\u2019s alternative policy is that one would not only have to slash funding to health but actually hand responsibility over to the private sector. The National Party ideologically believes that the private system can deliver more efficiently. Well, I struggle to understand that, because we have had some models that have attempted to do that\u2014for example, when the National Government privatised the railways, although I am not sure that that is a wonderful example of large infrastructural private management. But we do need a nationwide system of health care, and that is what we are backing. The National Government\u2019s experiment in railways did not work, and privatisation in other areas it reformed has not worked, either. Its reform of the electricity system, based ultimately on the ideal that privatisation would deliver to us, did not work. Those two simple examples of key infrastructure reforms\u2014of key Government services, such as health\u2014have failed under the private sector management models. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThat is why we as a Government are absolutely committed to the provision of public health services throughout this country. We will take taxpayers\u2019 dollars, spend them, and invest them wisely in health care, because that ultimately will determine the wealth of this country. One\u2019s health is one\u2019s wealth. There is absolutely no doubt about that\u2014members should ask people who face acute and immediate health problems. They know where their priorities lie. So too does this Government. That is why I am proud to say that under the Minister Annette King and now under Minister Pete Hodgson we have invested 66 percent more money into health care since 1999.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c437bda8-4741-4ac5-89ab-b0818e1ab9fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a18569cec71b47b6a3030c20c21bb0c1\u0022\u003EDarren Hughes\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s a pretty good record.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022506fbce948644ff9860f11bde728ce39\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u0027CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: It is a very good record. In spite of all the harping on by the National Party we will have increasing health status for New Zealanders, not only now but into the future. Oral health care, which was raised by members in the Committee, is a classic example. The National Government, through its 9 years of management of this country, chopped investment in training dental therapists. As a result, we have seen a decline in the standard of dental health of young New Zealanders. There has been a direct decline in oral health because of worthless management and a lack of investment. We have started now to invest. We have 100 dental therapists training at the moment. We are investing $100 million over 5 years into dental care. That is the kind of investment we have had to make to offset the dumbing down, the shrinkage, and the attempt at private provision by the last National Government. It is a big job. We are committed to doing it properly. I think we have done an exceptional job and we will continue to do so for a long time into the future as a Labour-led Government, with the assistance of our wise coalition colleagues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022334b41a9c2c6482782c824c11febce61\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That Vote Health be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 61\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 50; New Zealand First 7; United Future 3; Progressive 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 48\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 48.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAbstentions 8\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGreen Party 6; M\u0101ori Party 2.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EVote Health agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a376da82524747bc8e727bb432eea388\u0022\u003EVote M\u0101ori Affairs\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022 data-id=\u0022e83a754e855f4d03b95bbd36f5b4a54c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e83a754e855f4d03b95bbd36f5b4a54c\u0022\u003EPITA PARAONE (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe. It is a privilege to speak to the Appropriation (2006/07 Estimates) Bill, particularly in terms of the bill asking that $156.990 million be appropriated for Vote M\u0101ori Affairs. I want to preface my contribution to this debate by making mention of former colleagues of mine in the Department of M\u0101ori Affairs, because this will provide the tenor of my contribution to this debate. In that regard I want to mention Jim Pou, Herep\u014D Harawira, Oti Te Rangi, Hilda Busby, Hei Rogers, Taku Trotman, Barbara Devonshire, Matar\u0113hua Wikiriwhi, John Dargaville, Moana Raureti, Boy T\u014Dmoana, Anne Delamere, and Bill Herewini, all former M\u0101ori welfare officers who I believe would be turning over in their graves if they could see the plight of M\u0101ori in the year 2006. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EA recent report entitled New Zealand Living Standards 2004, published by the centre for social research at the Ministry of Social Development, highlighted the plight of many New Zealanders, not least of all M\u0101ori. It makes for sobering reading, even though some in this Committee proffer the excuse that the report is somewhat dated, in that it covers only the period 2000-04. However, the events of recent weeks\u2014in fact, recent years\u2014with regard to the abuse and eventual death of young children suggest that the period of 2005 to the present is no better. Sadly, the situation is more pronounced among M\u0101ori. A cursory glance at the social indicator statistics confirms that M\u0101ori are still clustered at the bottom of the heap. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EI would like to reflect today on the sad reality of 21st century New Zealand and suggest some ways that those statistics might be turned around. M\u0101ori social statistics are an embarrassment to New Zealand, and until they improve we cannot, in all honesty, say that we live in an egalitarian society. Overall, it is a pretty grim picture. The reasons for this are complex and cannot be separated from the wider context of economic and social conditions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EEmployment tells a similar story. Recent employment figures show a disturbing disparity between ethnic groups. At the present time 2.5 percent are unemployed in the European-P\u0101keh\u0101 group while the unemployment figure for M\u0101ori is 7.6 percent. That, of course, is 7.6 percent too much. I remember some of the employment programmes during the 1970s and 1980s under the responsibility of the then Department of M\u0101ori Affairs that were successful in training young unemployed people and many young M\u0101ori in skills that employers were looking for. Such programmes, I believe, offered the salvation from long-term unemployment, and all the negative consequences of that. We need more of them. It is not good enough that, in times of high employment, significant numbers of people are missing out. The unemployed need to be encouraged into the Modern Apprenticeships programme, and more programmes need to be implemented to ensure that none of our young are left behind. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EThere has been much ado about the Minister of M\u0101ori Affairs not seeking extra funding in this year\u2019s Budget, and I ask myself why. For me, what was more important was the suggestion that this signals. Is it because his ministry underspent last year, or because there are no new programmes intended for this year, or is there a failure of the current projects that his ministry is responsible for? What happened to the programme Local Level Solutions? I understand that this is now being replaced with a new programme called Realising M\u0101ori Potential. What about those Local Level Solutions projects that were considered, commenced, and not yet completed? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EWhat has become of the findings and recommendation from that much-touted gathering here in Wellington that was to provide economic policy for this Government in terms of M\u0101ori development? I believe the Hui Taumata itself was a good thing. But what has come of it? It was a good thing for M\u0101ori to be able to participate and to express their views. Unfortunately, the results have meant a request for extra funding of just over $2.5 million to allow a group to travel around the country reporting to M\u0101ori the outcomes of Hui Taumata. I tell the Minister that there are more important issues confronting M\u0101ori than having a small and well-paid group repeat what was said at that Hui Taumata. While it may have seemed laudable for M\u0101ori to have this Hui Taumata, the fact is that people were asked to pay to go to that hui to give their advice, and so many months down the track we have yet to see the fruits of that hui. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EWhat needs to be considered is a return to the old programmes that were once the responsibility of the Department of M\u0101ori Affairs. Therein we had a programme called \u201Ccommunity services\u201D where experienced staff were allowed to go out amongst the community to make contact and deal with the issues that were confronting M\u0101oridom at that time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225627afa19f084d4f92a0c609c153069d\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Back to the old ways.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8e86540aec64b0682735db64ce35262\u0022\u003EPITA PARAONE\u003C/span\u003E: I heard the comment \u201Cthe old ways.\u201D Well, perhaps if we look at the old ways we will get the answers for the issues that are confronting M\u0101ori today. I want the Minister to seriously consider the programmes that once were the responsibility of the Department of M\u0101ori Affairs, to address the social and economic issues that are confronting our people today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EAs has been said in this Committee earlier today, any criticism of the social indices that affect M\u0101ori not only bears some weight on members of the Government but all M\u0101ori members of this Parliament. I am sick and tired of being tarred by that brush when, in fact, I know that the solutions facing our people can be well dealt with in a way that was once a successful and very profitable programme for our people. Serious consideration needs to be given to revisiting those programmes, but I believe there has to be a political will, and I ask the Minister to consider those programmes seriously. I am glad that the Minister also now has an Associate Minister to help him with the problems that are confronting the M\u0101ori people. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022 data-id=\u0022774ce3e43a5444a4aa9249f56b47e777\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022774ce3e43a5444a4aa9249f56b47e777\u0022\u003ESHANE JONES (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Chairperson. Obviously I stand to speak in favour of the recommendation in the appropriations in respect of Vote M\u0101ori Affairs. It is good to see that the Ng\u0101ti Hine health budget is working, because although there was some physical distance between my whanaunga from Ng\u0101puhi, and the Minister and I talking very quietly up here while he was on his feet, he heard part of what we said. However, the part of the Ng\u0101ti Hine health budget that deals with his sight needs improving, because he mistakenly referred to our other Ng\u0101puhi whanaunga, Mr Simich, by the wrong gender term. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EI follow on from Pita Paraone and his words about Te Puni K\u014Dkiri and this particular vote. Firstly, let us bear in mind that the M\u0101ori population is, comparatively speaking, a youthful population. As we wander forward as a country, never quite knowing where we will end up on race relations, we are being dragged to the side and dragged backwards by the Opposition, which has no clear sense of where it is taking the country. Unfortunately a large number of confused voters belonging to the Brethren church and other such obscure sects fell for the rhetoric.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226075440a25cd4daba75e32e777fb7879\u0022\u003EDr Wayne Mapp\u003C/span\u003E: They didn\u2019t vote.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e548a2947a3245099dfcfd72fdab7dd3\u0022\u003ESHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: They did not vote, but who did they fund? Did they waste their money funding a leader who today decided that because he cannot make any traction in here, he will go out and insult every democratically elected local government official? I will have more to say on that later. We have a very clear policy. The policy is in relation to the advancement of our people\u2014M\u0101ori voters; iwi\u2014who are going forward, economically speaking, and are major and welcome contributors in relation to identity. That is something we have never heard from Opposition members. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EWhere do they want M\u0101ori to fit, in relation to our overall identity? They want them in the outhouse. They do not want them to enjoy a position of pride or a position showing forward thinking\u2014no, they want them to the side and forgotten about. Fortunately, a vast number of voters saw that this was a backward, divisive, stigmatising, negative way to think about the future, which is why those members are in Opposition, and long they will be there. They sought to demonise the most vulnerable members of our modern society, of our modern economy, and they were tossed out. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EOpposition members have been unable to recover from that mortal blow. They have fallen upon themselves. Not only are they destroying the person who thought he could idly walk from the Reserve Bank into this House and claim the top prize, but also they have taken the toki to him. He is history, and now they have got the mere out\u2014no, the mere is for the high chief, and there are no high chiefs over there. They have taken a bit of four-by-two\u2014[Interruption] Yes, Pita Sharples gave them a m\u0101nuka stick, and our voters will have much to say about that in the future. They will regret the day they gave a sliver of support to Pita Sharples, who immediately raced over to that side of the House and signed an ill-fated document, of which we have a copy. They seek to deny it, but it will surface in good time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EBut let us go back to why this is a reasonable programme. Although it is attacked by Tau Henare and others, it shows that the officials, and the Minister in particular, were willing to get a better return for the same amount of money. That is excellent thinking that is reflective of a very prudential approach to using the available amount of money. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EWhile members opposite rail about wastefulness, the Minister has come with a programme that is a reprioritisation. The first one is rawa. Rawa means resources, but r\u0101wa also means to choke, and Opposition members are choking on it. The second thing is whakamana, which means to uplift and to ensure that people enjoy self-esteem and are held in a position of esteem, which is something that members opposite have failed to advance. Fortunately the result of the election demonstrates that they have much more heartache to come. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EM\u0101tauranga is the name of our vessel. It is the third point. M\u0101tauranga, knowledge, is the final reprioritisation. Who, with a sliver of intelligence, could argue against the Minister\u2019s fine reprioritisation in giving knowledge and education top billing? Not only is it education that will enrich the whole country but we must focus on young people. By and large they will be a hugely more important proportion of New Zealand\u2019s working population in the future. Knowledge will ensure that they are not trapped in the K\u0101hui end of town. Rather, they will enjoy the fruits of bilingualism, they will have enterprise and industriousness, and they will be supported. That is why the manaaki tauira reprioritisation was very clever thinking. Mr Ron Mark had a fantastic success for the Wairarapa landless natives, or whatever they are called in that part of the country. They have a fantastic scholarship scheme; they do not need to fall back on the taxpayers and get further money. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003ESo the manaaki tauira was reprioritised to deal with the third-formers, the fourth-formers, the fifth-formers, and the sixth-formers, because unless we prevent them from slipping through the cracks, there is no point in just growing the number of university students.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E So I say to all the people who unwisely, unfairly attacked the Minister over the reprioritisation of manaaki tauira that we are investing in the area of secondary school students, which is where, unfortunately, we have all inherited an enduring problem. Nigh on 30 percent of all M\u0101ori school leavers continue to leave without adequate qualifications. I say to our M\u0101ori and P\u0101keh\u0101 colleagues on the other side of the Chamber that such a statistic must not be used, as it was in the recent election, as a device to divide people. We should all join in common purpose to ensure that young Pacific Islanders and, in particular, young M\u0101ori men are not only adequately skilled but are endowed with the right education so they do not represent a social problem of the future but are a key economic ingredient. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EI think it is a very sad day whenever we proceed to talk about M\u0101ori affairs or race relations. The standard response from the Opposition is a very negative one. It is based on a rather devious and quite sinister agenda, which is to choose people who can be demonised and stigmatised, and make them, and the population, feel that they are responsible for a whole host of amorphous, ill-defined woes. I am happy to say that this approach\u2014not only through Te Puni K\u014Dkiri but at a wider level throughout the Government\u2014is challenging that and is going to stand against that. It was a bleak day when our political opponents chose a type of politics\u2014I understand that it is called wedge politics\u2014to drive a wedge between good, keen, hardworking Kiwis and tried to convince everyone that M\u0101ori are the authors of their own problems, that M\u0101ori have nothing constructive to contribute, and that the sooner that both the Treaty and M\u0101ori are moved by them to the margin, the sooner the country will be enriched. That failed; it always will fail. The Minister has brought a very clever reprioritisation forward. Admittedly, the budget is not as large as the M\u0101ori Party would like, but there are significant resources available through other Government departments to deal with the enduring problem of M\u0101ori under-achievement. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EVote M\u0101ori Affairs agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229453ef2d14f3425f943e024a0a13fbea\u0022\u003EVote Justice agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bf2f472aa0ab4af5b95260abac210040\u0022\u003EVote Local Government\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022 data-id=\u0022850c1b771b3948cd894098744b5f98f4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022850c1b771b3948cd894098744b5f98f4\u0022\u003EHon MARK BURTON (Minister of Local Government):\u003C/span\u003E The current leader of the National Party went along to the Local Government New Zealand conference on Tuesday this week. He suggested that there was a crisis of confidence in local government. He is right, in one respect. Immediately after Dr Brash\u2019s appalling performance, the description from one of the mayors present\u2014and I can tell the member that mayor was previously a member of the National Party\u2014was: \u201CHe treated us like a bunch of dicks. He told us we don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing.\u201D Frankly, if that is an example of the way the National Party believes it should engage with local government, then I think local government got the clear message as to where the future rests for it. I say to members that I am looking at sending my diary to Dr Brash, in order that he can attend every conference I am going to speak at and speak immediately before me, because anything will look good after Dr Brash\u2019s performance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003EIn every respect, Dr Brash gave a disastrous performance. I can only conclude that, given the factual inaccuracy of his speech, its appallingly poor delivery, and its content absolutely missing the target audience, he must have been heavily assisted in preparing the content of that speech. The only question is whether it was Bill, Gerry, or John who helped him to write it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d8ad0f797e6b4e76abad2582c32dcb03\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: My money\u2019s on Gerry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002221a68125414649dcad660ba3261bce90\u0022\u003EHon MARK BURTON\u003C/span\u003E: I think the member may be right; Mr Brownlee has a particular turn of phrase. However, the speech lacked any of the energy, in terms of content, that I think we have all come to expect from the deputy leader wannabe. The myths that were peddled at that conference by Dr Brash fell on stony ground, and it was a stony reception. I have never seen a National Party leader so dealt with by an audience. There was polite applause at the end of the speech. The only thing missing at the end of the speech was a plank for Dr Brash to exit the stage. I tell members a plank should have been there. He did not need the stairs; he should have had a plank to exit the stage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003EBut, in order to put the record a little straight here, I tell members that one of the suggestions Dr Brash made was that central government has abandoned local government\u2014left it with all the responsibility. The truth of the matter, of course, is that the level of direct support from central government to local government has gone up from about 8 percent to over 13 percent of total local government expenditure. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022790948a0df524eb1aaed58b64399ec9e\u0022\u003EDr Wayne Mapp\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s roads.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225dcd3748f73a4c92a4571f48574ee982\u0022\u003EHon MARK BURTON\u003C/span\u003E: I am very pleased that Dr Mapp brings up the question of roads, because I say to him that in addition to that $650 million or so, which constitutes over 13 percent of local government expenditure, there is the $1.3 billion of additional funding for roads over the next 4 years. The 13.3 percent does not include the money for roads or the $150 million over the next 5 years that has been put into water schemes and a myriad other things. If we add those in, then, frankly, I say to Dr Mapp that central government support would be a great deal more than 13.3 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E By any measure, it may be seen that the relationship between central government and local government is on a footing it has never been on before: one of mutual respect, cooperation, and collaboration. The difference now is\u2014[Interruption] Here we go! We have got a rise in rates of what percentage?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242199e958ed3417eb0c04d91c8bf5540\u0022\u003EDr Wayne Mapp\u003C/span\u003E: 10 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226449e680a6a44440ace69a834606d063\u0022\u003EHon MARK BURTON\u003C/span\u003E: Let us look at that. One of the member\u2019s own colleagues is a councillor with Environment Canterbury. I understand that councillor supported a 21 percent rates increase. I do not think that was bad. [Interruption] The member interjects about percentages. When one plays silly games with percentages, one loses track of the fact\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219c0385b05a04876afff0e0da6b71680\u0022\u003EDr Wayne Mapp\u003C/span\u003E: The Auckland Regional Council is getting it down to 5 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226975a801e1464ef586d97e6435f1bea5\u0022\u003EHon MARK BURTON\u003C/span\u003E: Does the member have any idea that that 21 percent represents $1.10 per week to an average ratepayer in that area? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b47dcb00477c4bf1acf2e761a9e042e3\u0022\u003EDr Wayne Mapp\u003C/span\u003E: The Auckland Regional Council has set its rates increase at 5 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022194f27b2ab414975af196aef312122ef\u0022\u003EHon MARK BURTON\u003C/span\u003E: Percentages mean nothing, unless one applies them to dollar terms. That increase represents $1.10 per week on average per ratepayer. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003EThe fact is that there is a fundamental difference between Labour and National. I was very pleased to sit and listen to the appalling contribution made by the Leader of the Opposition at the Local Government New Zealand conference. During Dr Brash\u2019s contribution the difference between Labour and National became very, very clear. This Government is committed to New Zealand\u2019s transformation into an inclusive and a growing, developing nation, whereas if National were in Government it would slash and burn at every turn. What did Dr Brash have to offer? He attacked the sorts of subsidy schemes that the Labour Government supports. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003EContrary to what the National Party seems to believe, New Zealanders will not tolerate Third World conditions. They expect First World water supplies. They expect First World general hygiene and food hygiene. They expect the quality of the services and facilities provided to them to be that of the First World. Of course, the sort of nonsense that we heard from Dr Brash is mirrored by the nonsensical member\u2019s bill we have seen from Mr Hide. It may be populist policy to talk about putting an inflation cap on rates, but that denies the facts that the population is growing and New Zealanders aspire to have a higher quality of life, and of services and facilities. Those improvements require financial investment, and they require cooperation and collaboration between central government and local government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003EOne of the highest achievements for the local government sector over the last 6 years has been the central government - local government forum. It provides an environment in which central government and local government can work together. That stands in stark contrast to the absolute shambles that would be visited on the local government sector by Dr Brash in the unlikely event that he were ever to become the Prime Minister. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222740887ebe0f4309ae23b64cd4d546ed\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: The sector knows that, too.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002273aaf672d3954e8995afe04474aada4b\u0022\u003EHon MARK BURTON\u003C/span\u003E: Does it ever! It saw Dr Brash\u2019s performance on Tuesday at the Local Government New Zealand conference. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003EThere was one thing that Dr Brash got right in his speech to Local Government New Zealand when addressing the mayors and councillors of this country who, by and large, do an outstanding job for the communities they serve. He was right when he said there was a crisis in confidence. I tell him that the crisis in confidence is in his National caucus, and in the incompetence of National\u2019s leader. The crisis in confidence among the good leaders of local government is in the National Party, which once had the pretence of supporting local government but now has abandoned even that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002283c0caa6fefe48f5827412d07a81bf4c\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That Vote Local Government be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 61\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 50; New Zealand First 7; United Future 3; Progressive 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 48\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 48.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAbstentions 6\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGreen Party 6.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EVote Local Government agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220ade76ece086496fb2f71c94e3e5803f\u0022\u003EVote Treaty Negotiations agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222151583dba7f4e038ea25b4372e97515\u0022\u003EVote ACC agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022871510a8a58348ad824c6d47af620903\u0022\u003EChild, Youth and Family Services agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223cfc9efc0a4447d8ba6aa75eec8d96dc\u0022\u003EVote Labour\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022 data-id=\u00221e2c7cdbc1744a07906f380e93e8dcd9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221e2c7cdbc1744a07906f380e93e8dcd9\u0022\u003EDr WAYNE MAPP (National\u2014North Shore):\u003C/span\u003E The core of the Government\u2019s approach in this area is to boost New Zealand\u2019s productivity. I guess we would all agree that that is a laudable goal. But the Government\u2019s approach is to have working parties, conferences, meetings, innovation strategies, and much talk about the transformation of the economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b32dc2772d44c428bf2ad156fea4541\u0022\u003EShane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: The OECD like it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a765ae574144817a34ec25bd5f22e73\u0022\u003EDr WAYNE MAPP\u003C/span\u003E: Talk, talk, talk is what the Government is doing, and, indeed, we have just heard Mr Jones exhibiting exactly that characteristic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003EI remind members opposite of this fundamental fact. Despite all their talk, New Zealand\u2019s productivity is lower than that of every other OECD country that is better off than we are. We might say that is logical\u2014if they are better off than we are, clearly they will have better productivity. But the real point is that we cannot progress New Zealand\u2019s fortunes up the OECD if every country ahead of us has better productivity. The only way we can do that is to have higher productivity than at least some of the countries in front of us. I know that Mr Shane Jones, the chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, would agree with that logic. It is clearly logical that in order to grow we have to have a higher productivity gain than the countries ahead of us. It is simple mathematics. The problem\u2014and the OECD has pointed this out\u2014is that New Zealand is not willing to take the critical steps that would make a difference.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003EIn the employment law area, the OECD said in 2004 and 2005 that the one critical missing element in New Zealand\u2019s employment laws was the lack of a proper probationary period. Every other developed country has probationary periods as a normal part of its workplace law. Britain, for instance, has a 12-month probationary period. Australia has a 6-month period for larger companies and a longer period for smaller ones. In Canada it is 3 months. Throughout all of Europe it is 3 to 12 months.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003EI say to the Government that there is a clear lesson in all of that. If we want to have competitive laws, if we want to reduce compliance costs, if the Government wants to deal with the serious problem of youth unemployment\u2014it is still at 12 percent\u2014and M\u0101ori youth unemployment, which is at 18 percent and rising, then we have to give employers an incentive to make the employment decision. We are, after all, a nation of small businesses\u2014perhaps more so than any other developed country. The strongest recommendation to the Government by its own Small Business Advisory Group is for a probationary period in employment law.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003EIn another week or so the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee will start to hear submissions on the bill that I promoted, which provides for a 3-month\u201490-day\u2014probationary period. It is a modest and reasonable measure. It is one-quarter of the length of the probationary period in Britain. The Government says there already is a probationary period under section 67 of the Employment Relations Act. But the problem is that in Britain, in Australia, in Canada, and in Europe that does not mean automatic recourse to the full personal grievance procedure. It means that employers can make a simple decision, in a costless way, as to whether a person is working out, and essentially say that the contract will terminate if the employment is not working out. In truth, of course, that does not normally happen. Employers want employees to succeed. They want to train them; they want to get a return on all that effort, and so does the person who has taken the job.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003EI tell the Government to stop listening to the rhetoric and the misinformation of its union mates, even though they provide nearly all of the Government\u2019s funding for its election campaigns\u2014that is, when it is not looting the public purse, as well. It is time for the Government to step back, act like a Government, and basically introduce laws that will make New Zealand competitive. That would be the most important thing Labour could do for the New Zealand economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u00224dcd1d59b4a94d3c991433289067f5b2\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That Vote Labour be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 61\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 50; New Zealand First 7; United Future 3; Progressive 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 48\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 48.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAbstentions 6\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGreen Party 6.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EVote Labour agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225acfc4d9722242e3b78b729a0d378cd2\u0022\u003EVote Senior Citizens agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a862ed81ca7140269ed8687bda114c3c\u0022\u003EVote Conservation agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002280c6befd71fd4523a21c432e0c535e4a\u0022\u003EVote Housing agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022542cb27c989244a794223914abefc53d\u0022\u003EVote Courts agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c38af8c96cfb4216999c53b69aabd1ae\u0022\u003EVote Emergency Management agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221dd4a99080274c4eabc45786ac03cae6\u0022\u003EVote Internal Affairs agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225e977bc4cba04b62b2671d5776bf36b0\u0022\u003EVote Veterans\u2019 Affairs agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b8c8ae9980d74e24ad5891aa4166c7b3\u0022\u003EVote Employment agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022aef8baa93d02426a96afd96be8c0e7dd\u0022\u003EVote Environment agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227be39a60562b47f88c102e4280edb8f7\u0022\u003EVote Social Development\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u00229278a99a5b6a4f19bae802d1f31f5c71\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229278a99a5b6a4f19bae802d1f31f5c71\u0022\u003EJUDITH COLLINS (National\u2014Clevedon):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Chairman\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228fbf37d148664842ac2fc4aec3e58632\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: The cover girl!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae6a18f3151c4d3499b37b5fdb2dc6f4\u0022\u003EJUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you very much. At least I am not part of a \u201Cplug and grow\u201D outfit like the member is. The other point, if the member opposite wishes to talk about my cover-girl day, is at least they did not have to airbrush me like they did a certain person from his party. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EOne of the points I want to make here today is that we have been waiting for the single core benefit from Labour since 1989\u2014that is 17 years. After 17 years Labour, which has been so good at promoting a single core benefit, says it wants to introduce it. Who wants it? Anybody who wants to hide what is happening with the invalids and sickness benefits.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EOne of the problems of the single core benefit is that a couple of different MPs are on the record speaking about it. The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has said there will be no losers under the single core benefit. She said that\u2014she said there will be no losers. Then David Benson-Pope said earlier this year that he could not actually confirm whether anyone would be worse off, that some people might be but that was still to be decided. David Benson-Pope said further, again earlier this year, that the Government would have the legislation in by the end of the year\u2014that is, the year 2006, for those who are interested. And, just recently, we have heard that maybe it will be introduced in another 18 months.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EThe fact is the Government is all in a pickle, and Steve Maharey has left David Benson-Pope trying to deal with the single core benefit. I would like to put on record that Steve Maharey is not all bad. Actually, he can be a bit of fun when it comes to stuff like this\u2014putting in place a massive bureaucratic change for no particular reason other than that it is a better way to hide the facts. And we know that this Government has been very good at hiding the facts. One of the facts the Government does not like coming out is that we now have about 123,000 working-age adults who are too sick to work. The Ministry of Social Development and its Minister, David Benson-Pope, make interesting statements like \u201CThe number has always been going up and has never come down.\u201D Well, it actually did. In the last couple of years of the National Government in the 1990s, the figures for sickness and invalids beneficiaries started to decrease, because a little bit of rigour was put around getting people on to those benefits.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EOne of the problems that Labour created when it came into Government in 1999 was that it instantly took off restrictions on the sickness and invalids benefit designations, which meant that numbers on those benefits suddenly went through the roof. Strangely\u2014lo and behold\u2014the unemployment numbers came down, and the number of sickness and invalids beneficiaries went up. Today someone is three times more likely to be on a sickness or invalids benefit than on an unemployment benefit. So, after all the money that, as we have heard this afternoon, has been poured into the so-called health budget\u2014the one that now has one bed per bureaucrat in the health system in this country\u2014people are now about three times more likely to be on a sickness or invalids benefit than on an unemployment benefit, and that is something the Minister has been a total failure at dealing with. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EWe have been told by the Minister that the growth percentage is not as high as it was last year. Well, what does that mean? Does it mean it has gone up slightly less? No, it does not mean that. It actually means that the core figure is now so high that only a couple of percent means a huge increase\u2014and every year it keeps going up under this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003ELabour has yet another new scheme to deal with it and, of course, like its other schemes, it is voluntary. So it will not be much use. We are told by the Minister that it is a new scheme that has never been used anywhere else in the world\u2014oh, except for the United Kingdom; oh, except for most countries, which have had something similar, but some of them have had a little bit of courage and done something and made the schemes compulsory. The Government was able to put the Working for Families project through the Ministry of Social Development, and it is quite right that the package should be in the area of social development or, in other words, social welfare. The reason for that is it is welfare; it is middle-class welfare. There are now families in this country earning $130,000, $140,000, or $150,000 a year who are beneficiaries of the taxpayers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022453a910088b947edac1561ccd79fe199\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: What?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ceda85842a7944cd84ec0d8d7fec84f8\u0022\u003EJUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, they are. Those people are supposed to line up with their little hands out, asking for a teeny-weeny little bit of their money back for being good people and voting Labour. Well, that is not going to work. One of the interesting facts we do not hear too much crowing about is the number of people taking up that brilliant opportunity to go and stand in line and ask for a little bit of their money back. The reason we do not hear about that is, basically, people who are earning reasonably good money want to get ahead. They do not want to be classed as beneficiaries, because being a beneficiary is a pretty tough time for many people. They do not want it said that they are part of the 300,000 working-age adults in this country who are on full-time benefits, which is the number we have at the moment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EOver the last few years some good things have happened in New Zealand. One of those things has been that we have had very good export prices for our exports. There has been a commodity shortage of the things we sell, and that has been fabulous, but it is not something we can simply rely on year in, year out. We are now seeing oil prices going up and petrol prices getting higher. Those of us who do our own grocery shopping for our own families\u2014and I am very proud to say I am one of those people\u2014know that the price of fruit and vegetables has gone up hugely.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c4d98ab307e64f708aa897155b35ce16\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: What a humanitarian contribution! You go to the grocer\u2019s yourself\u2014what a saint!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a480aaf3ca424384aa9403daa9a5cd3e\u0022\u003EJUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: I know that that is something the member for Waimakariri may not know much about. He knows about \u201Cplug and grow\u201D, but he does not know much about fruit and vegies. We know the price has gone up very high, and that has made it very difficult for families to cope. Those families who have trouble coping do not want to have to turn up to the Working for Families people of the Inland Revenue Department and say: \u201CGive me some money back.\u201D, because it is actually tough out there. It is all very well for a party like Labour, which does not have a family-friendly focus as we do in the National Party\u2014we understand what it takes to look after children\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226f6e1ae1-8aa5-4f71-8e73-30bb378026c4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219555704e0534afb961af3b50203eaa5\u0022\u003EGeorgina Beyer\u003C/span\u003E: Get up, the families!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cedad2b33f03441594f238ff70f45e18\u0022\u003EJUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: It is no good Georgina Beyer calling out about this matter. It is just no good at all, because, frankly, it does not help families to be told to go and line up like everyone else and ask for money back. This country needs more people working better, but, at the same time, it also needs to have people earning decent wages and keeping enough of their money so that they do not have to go, cap in hand, asking for a benefit. That is what this country needs. Why has that side of the Chamber suddenly gone so quiet? Well, those members have gone so quiet because they know that that is a bit of common sense, which is something they are not very good at connecting with. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EWe are told by the Minister that we will have some new approaches. Well, we will have some new approaches, all right\u2014once National gets into power, which hopefully will not be too far away. We will certainly have some new approaches. The Minister has told us, for instance, that Pacific people have been doing really well. We have been told that there is a strong focus on reducing the number of M\u0101ori and Pacific people who are unemployed. That is just great! They happen to be on the sickness benefit instead. We also happen to know that real poverty in this country has increased under the Labour Government, particularly amongst Pacific New Zealanders and M\u0101ori New Zealanders. We know that because the ministry\u2019s own hardship survey showed exactly that. The Labour Government\u2019s answer to that problem was the Working for Families package. Well, I am sorry, but the Working for Families package does nothing to get people into work, it does nothing to help the poorest people cope, it does nothing to help them learn to budget, and it does nothing to help the children of those people. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fada190d35804590bbbf3d941eadc5f7\u0022\u003EShane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: The member is looking backwards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223abd9b9dcd7f48a78841f03843ece7a0\u0022\u003EJUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: I know that it is all very well for those millionaire types over in the Labour Party, who are brought in to try to show that the party has a business background. Oh, Shane Jones is very keen on doing that, and, of course, so are the other millionaires in the Labour Party. They may not know about this but, unfortunately, it is\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225994e71de6b54051b5a22864e3c7eb49\u0022\u003EShane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: There\u2019ll be two sides to that sort of story.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224b1a0598ae524551b1ff3e7292415e3b\u0022\u003EJUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. I thought people were not supposed to be able to move from the back bench up to the front, as Mr Jones has, so they can shout out better. Is that not against the Standing Orders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ed9ad81-05c1-4171-80c6-24fa02cade42\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ae849b0c38843618af7c5c941edd989\u0022\u003EThe CHAIRPERSON (Hon Clem Simich)\u003C/span\u003E: No. I am certain he has not moved for that purpose, at all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b07e74e453440bf88bb8d84f89b6fba\u0022\u003EJUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: Has he not? All right. Thank you, Mr Chairperson. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022 data-id=\u00228453e3315dff434088fba0eea80f00e3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228453e3315dff434088fba0eea80f00e3\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for Social Development and Employment):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you for the opportunity to really paint a little of the wider picture of social change in New Zealand between 1995-97 and the current period. I am really pleased to say, as I did in the House 2 days ago, that the overwhelming improvement in the social indicators in this country should be something that all New Zealanders are only too happy about. I will deal with those in general terms, and then come back to the specifics, if I may, in a moment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EFirst of all, over that 10-year period there has been a marked improvement in the affordability of housing. That should be a great concern to all of us, of course, and it is still an issue for us in Government. One of the reasons for that issue, of course, was that our predecessors in Government sold in excess of 13,000 State houses, so we should not\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc0b4934fcdd483db2e0410f5436ffb9\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: What did they do with the money?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b54f3feb813748419eaab78b4c361aa0\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: They mostly gave it to their mates, or privatised for their mates\u2014just as they do with so many things, unfortunately. So we should not be surprised, as a community, that there are still issues around the affordability of housing in this country. But that is just one indicator. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EThe second of the half dozen I will read out concerns a massive reduction in the share of households with low incomes. That is really good news for all New Zealanders\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fff8048fb78642b49e1244a0abc01db7\u0022\u003EJudith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Let\u2019s talk about the vote.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aaaccbbecb8e49c9b2472a41135e35d8\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E:\u2014and I can come back to the specifics of the unemployment shift by ethnicity, if the member is really interested in the facts. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EThere has also been a most significant improvement in market income per person, with an increase in real gross national disposable income per capita from around $23,000 in the mid-1990s to around $29,000 in 2005. So that is a significant movement. It is rather ironic that as I came into the House today I heard, after the demonstration at lunchtime, of course, Dr Wayne Mapp giving, as his answer for the real issues we have about productivity in this community, a further attempt to force down the wages of New Zealanders. Like most New Zealanders, and certainly like members of the Government and its support parties, I am concerned it has taken as long as it has for the increases in real wages for people to flow through into our economy. It is so ironic that that is happening just as the Australians are finding that the kinds of policies that that degenerate party, National, applied in the 1990s are starting to bite, the Australian workforce is facing exactly the same quite corrosive policies that the National Party has historically introduced, and is trying again to introduce.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a593d840eae449c0bd5f9647e31ef947\u0022\u003EJudith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: What\u2019s this got to do with the vote?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb1023088c994ea7ada4bf92ed87aa62\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENSON-POPE\u003C/span\u003E: I am not going to take a point of order, but I say to the member that it would be better if she articulated better. I do not mind her trying to interject, because she just makes a rather sad fool of herself. I say further that that sort of behaviour will never get that member any respect with her constituents, or her photo on the front page of the New Zealand Woman\u2019s Weekly, or even of Investigate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EThe other indicator, among many that have improved, is an extraordinary improvement in employment participation. That has increased by over 5 percentage points to 68.5 percent in March this year, which for New Zealand is an all-time high. Let me dwell for a moment or two on the reduction in unemployment. Unemployment was over 6 percent in 1995, it rose to 7 percent in 1998, and now it is 3.9 percent\u2014the second lowest in the OECD after Korea, whom we were ahead of last time. The reality of unemployment\u2014all working-age unemployment\u2014is a nearly 30 percent reduction since the last time National was in power. So Mrs Collins can play whatever games she likes with her interpretation of the facts, but the reality of the figures is that if we take all working-age benefits, there has been a startling reduction in unemployment in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E I also say to the members of this Chamber that very few people\u2014only one in 11, I believe, is the figure\u2014move off the unemployment benefit and on to the sickness benefit. I also say, before I come back to the raw unemployment figures, that I do not apologise for being part of a Government that provides a benefit for people who get sick. One of the realities of the world that so few National members opposite realise is that sometimes people actually get sick and sometimes people are invalided. There are plenty of sick people\u2014for different reasons\u2014sitting on those benches. I am really proud to be part of a Government that makes no apologies and no bones about supporting people who need that support. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EHaving said that, the fact is that when this Government took power in 1999 there were 161,000 people on the unemployment benefit. That figure is now, for the first time in 24 years, less than 40,000. That is a remarkable achievement. The sorts of policies that this Government is espousing and driving will make sure that that sort of support for working New Zealanders will continue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EThere has also been a really welcome improvement in tertiary education. Around 11 percent of the population aged 15 years or over enrolled in tertiary education in 2005, compared with only 8 percent in the mid-1990s. There has been an increase in the share of school-leavers with higher qualifications, with over 70 percent of school-leavers having greater than level 1 National Certificate of Educational Achievement in 2004, compared with around 65 percent in 1996. Most important, if we are genuinely interested in the future of our country, we should be delighted at the huge increase in expenditure on early childhood education\u2014from 91 percent in 2000 to 94 percent in 2005. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EThe prime focus of this Government has been twofold. It has been, firstly on getting people into work, and doing things like expanding youth transitions services, and so on\u2014I have talked about those numbers\u2014and, secondly, on supporting people in work and incentivising work. I want to talk in some detail about the Working for Families tax relief extension. Because we are so committed to ensuring that families have every opportunity to give their children the best start they deserve, we are continuing to roll out the Working for Families package. That package is delivering $1.6 billion of targeted tax relief and social assistance through Working for Families. Eighty-five thousand more families get additional tax relief through family assistance. By 2007-08, 350,000 families will be getting support from the Working for Families package. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EThe Working for Families OECD data confirms that for a single-earner family with two children on average earnings, Working for Families tax credits have taken New Zealand from having the eighth-lowest tax take to having the fifth-lowest tax take in the OECD. Under Working for Families, a family with two children on an average income gets a further $90 a week\u2014further to the original instalments they received\u2014which makes them, in total, roughly $116 a week better off since 1 April 2005. The new in-work payment is worth up to $60 a week for families with up to three children, plus an additional $15 for each subsequent child. Under the Working for Families package, paid work offers families the greatest opportunities to improve their financial circumstances. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EI say to colleagues that one of the somewhat unexpected but welcome facets of the Working for Families introduction has been the choices that people are making. This Government has been criticised, unfairly and inappropriately, for forcing people into work. The reality is quite the opposite. The childcare assistance and the support for working mums and dads who want to do that have been extended enormously. Fascinatingly, since the last instalment of the Working for Families package, a number people have written to us saying that this is a fantastic social initiative, that they can now make do on one salary, and that they can look after their children. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003ESo the support that this Government is putting into the community is the sort of support that empowers people, empowers families and communities, and assists them in making the best choices for them and their conditions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022 data-id=\u002214ee99190b3a401fbdfcba0d235cbe6c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002214ee99190b3a401fbdfcba0d235cbe6c\u0022\u003EJUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader\u2014United Future):\u003C/span\u003E I rise to speak to Vote Social Development. This is the vote that represents 27 percent of total appropriations across all votes and has enjoyed a 5.8 percent increase in this financial year. It lists four key priorities. It refers to the work of Work and Income and Child, Youth and Family Services, and to work around aging issues. What really interests me, and what I have a bit of a question mark over, is the fact that one of the four priorities for this immense vote is \u201Cstrengthening social development leadership\u201D. I find that a bit nebulous, and I would like the Minister, David Benson-Pope, to refer to what that is all about. Eighty percent of proposed departmental expenditure is dedicated, however, to two major areas. One is the benefit area, and the second is divided between students and seniors. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003EOne of the things that concerns me\u2014and I have not heard anybody mention it so far\u2014is the merging of the two entities of the Ministry of Social Development and the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services. This is something that happened for reasons that none of us have ever had clearly explained to us. In fact, when we talked to the Ministers about this, they said it was done \u201Cbecause the stars were in alignment\u201D. They then referred to the competency and skills of the chief executive of the Ministry of Social Development, Peter Hughes, which I accept. He is a very competent person, and nobody is doubting that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003EBut I think we have to be honest about the fact that this has all come about because of the departure of Paula Tyler back to Canada. This was a huge disappointment to myself. She was employed because she had previous experience in the differential intake that Child, Youth and Family Services were implementing. That idea was shared with the Minister by United Future in the last Parliament, and we were pleased to see some uptake on it. We are a little concerned. We were assured that it has not stalled, but to my understanding there are currently two pilots running.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003E I want to talk about this, because this differential intake is the opportunity for the very, very competent non-governmental organisation sector to contract to the Government to do the medium to low risk cases that Child, Youth and Family Services is drowning under. Notifications to that department go up 15 percent a year. They went up 30 percent after the death of Coral Burrows. A great way to relieve the pressure on the department and to allow it to focus on the very good statutory empowerment work that needs to be done in the high-risk cases, would be to give the medium to low risk work to the competent agencies in the community. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003EIf we read some of the comments made by COmVOices which is an organisation comprising groups such Philanthropy New Zealand and Volunteering New Zealand, we will see its calculation that for every dollar value of social services those organisations provide in the community, it would cost the Government between $3 and $5 to replicate that work. We have a huge capacity of social services in the community right now that United Future would like to see the Ministry of Social Development take a much stronger interest in. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003EOne of the problems community groups have is that when they take on Government contracts they sometimes feel that the obligations that come with the contracts kind of rip the soul out of their organisations. We are not against the ministry requiring accountability from those organisations for how they spend the money, for the services they deliver, and for the outcomes they get\u2014of course they must be accountable for those\u2014but sometimes the ways and means the organisations have of being effective can become undermined when they have to take on a Government contract. So I encourage the Government to consider seriously, firstly, looking at better utilising those groups in the community and voluntary sector that are already delivering cost-effective and fantastic services. If they were allowed to build capacity and get some good Government contracts, then they could deliver even more substantial outcomes to New Zealand society than they are currently. Secondly, I would like to think that the Government would consider looking very carefully at the kinds of demands it puts on those contracts\u2014demands that could actually destroy the ethos and effectiveness of the organisations that are getting them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003EAn example I had recently was of a provider in Christchurch that provides employment and accommodation for people coming out of prison. That provider has a phenomenal success rate, but it is scared to take on a Government contract because it knows that the Government would then require it to take on anybody the Government asked it to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003EProgress reported.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003EReport adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 5.56 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id2006072055d48b46eaa54d4b950c81bf8ff9f460000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220d9640b0-d861-43d8-b321-e7ba56dbe362\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"