"\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=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b8c5e5418f7c48eba8b3e23acd639eb0\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2016\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226dd42e39d08145d08c5bb9ddb4557091\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2016\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000002\u0022\u003EMr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000004\u0022\u003EPrayers.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022968fd642a99b48b69937a0183effe558\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022309558e80f8d49908a3990a6d743b344\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002293809e29960e43a2961884b48840fe46\u0022\u003ETax System\u2014Overseas Ownership of New Zealand Properties\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022 data-id=\u00222a64b7f87f8e4a86b725d83cef0a79cd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222a64b7f87f8e4a86b725d83cef0a79cd\u0022\u003EFLETCHER TABUTEAU (NZ First)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Revenue: Is he satisfied with all legislation regarding tax on property sales to foreigners?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022 data-id=\u0022c6e16ef564bb4731b1e99fe34fb224b7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c6e16ef564bb4731b1e99fe34fb224b7\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister of Revenue):\u003C/span\u003E Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002297db903d376c49ffac9f1662388de61c\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: Given that satisfaction, with the recent array of tax legislation, why are so many foreign buyers speculating in the Auckland housing market yet again?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022114f8d7a59de49aa9a484d86e142b3de\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE\u003C/span\u003E: I would be very interested in the information the member uses to frame that question. I do not believe there has been any material change in that. In fact, if there has been, it has been a slight damping on the interest of overseas buyers in Auckland.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc4e59394b914c4dbec03d0b95347cb0\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minister not concede that foreign speculators have seen through the puffery, have dismissed the ineffectual tax legislation, and are now already back in force, with evidence\u20143,000 foreigners a month being issued Inland Revenue Department (IRD) numbers for the purpose of buying and selling property?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ab3a9794c554343a01099b2681d17ec\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE\u003C/span\u003E: No, I would not. There are many reasons why people from overseas require an IRD number, and, if anything, the process has become more challenging in order to fulfil our obligations under anti-money-laundering legislation and the brightline test that the previous Minister brought in last year. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226117910395134224855d2a6369625678\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Can I just ask that when the question has been asked and the answer has been given, could I have a little less interjection, particularly from New Zealand First members?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221d4e1462d67948fa8957bcac7e68e0c0\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: Will he at least acknowledge that he will need other, more substantive measures to clamp down on this problem, as Auckland has had a high rate of properties being flicked for quick financial gain and, actually, money-laundering purposes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a990c0ae9f7942f08cd7e984d433ecae\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE\u003C/span\u003E: What that demonstrates is that an irrational rant from a New Zealand First member does not a fact make. There is absolutely no substance\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229334a528987d49bd9c05cd03e83c0113\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I simply take offence at the statement from the Minister. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220bdc3dd30ab7400cad332b789fff44b4\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The question was asked with quite a lot of\u2014the question was asked in a way where I am not surprised with the answer being given, put it that way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002202f6ec25c323417a90b7bf3d52c62836\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: Why has he rejected the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders, who want a ban on foreign buyers, given that his tax rules already, in the words of Colleen Milne of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, seem to be having limited effect and the effect is transitory, and in the words of Jonno Ingerson of Quotable Value, saying that foreign buyers are back in the market?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022357f239ed9ea44a9b8f130af4e7b52db\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE\u003C/span\u003E: There are three threads to that question. I will start with the middle one first. There is no evidence yet that the policies that have been put in place, which have just commenced, are going to do the things the member claims. The chief executive of Quotable Value did not say what the member has just claimed. To the first part of the question, this party\u2014this Government\u2014appreciates foreign investment. It does not reject people with Chinese-sounding surnames, and it has very balanced policies on investment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223d3a7c75151d43e0b0aba07352cf9d01\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: In light of the scandalous influxes, why will the Minister not cut the crap and build a wall?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b29e4bd9cf9d4b3089b3fb61bbbe01e2\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE\u003C/span\u003E: To the question of scandalous influxes, I remind the member that the number of residencies gained in New Zealand last year was about 15 percent lower than when the New Zealand First leader was the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I see no reason to build a wall.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a85b4cb56a594bc290f74f418a6d9107\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of all New Zealanders, whether they were here last year or\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b62f23a0542d4aa7b3647c9295ddd933\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member knows the rules. Simply ask a supplementary question. I am quite happy to move on if the member wants us to. Ask the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002292e708d62ebc4a69802620b6f7646902\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: What measures does the Minister have in place to clamp down on money-laundering, given that financial transactions suspected of being linked to terrorism have almost doubled in the past 2 years, with the Auckland property market expected to go haywire yet again?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224afbb3aa48a24f48bf778f40ca1db6f7\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE\u003C/span\u003E: That goes well beyond the primary question. It is a question best asked of the Minister of Police, I would suggest. But I am satisfied that she has very good policies in place with New Zealand First to deter, detect, and prosecute money-laundering.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002279c1c718b6db4ca298de89216496ee09\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: What specific legislation does the Minister have in mind to keep dairy land in New Zealand hands, given that the New Zealand Government cannot act to prohibit sales under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), accepting\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a3532ff9835472faf4489c73c43f56e\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! This is a question to the Minister of Revenue. The question must, therefore, relate to the portfolio of revenue. I give the opportunity for the member to rephrase his question to include something of relevance to the revenue portfolio.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a486c00df59945f7ae0db5fdca71eab4\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: May I speak to your ruling?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f9a5c7329484687a284b8d67f25c575\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, you cannot; you can ask your question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc53a57e46f14810861edd066f8f78f8\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: I asked the Minister of Revenue to outline what legislation\u2014revenue legislation\u2014he has in mind, considering we cannot prohibit\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a0e5e84f3b14cdfa96a8b8ffd5d1c5a\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I have given the member a chance to rephrase his question. He has rephrased it now, asking about revenue legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eae0e772ab934c758ecbbd49f9e05c6a\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE\u003C/span\u003E: I am satisfied that tax policies and tax administration legislation are fit for purpose. I am also aware, although it is not within my area of responsibility, that the Overseas Investment Act provides very strong criteria and hurdles to be met before sensitive land, such as dairy farms, is purchased.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229608e7a5491148dab7d328c4fd1a9a4d\u0022\u003EFletcher Tabuteau\u003C/span\u003E: Has his Government abandoned farmers to the whims of Fonterra management, thus exposing all New Zealanders, but especially our farmers, to the foreign buy-up of high-quality New Zealand land?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f0a5061e846048f798a333c072124481\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, there is absolutely no revenue responsibility in that question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022df21771deab24710a859c3e8a5d117ee\u0022\u003EDairy Industry\u2014Milk Price\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u0022eca3955c31f840558e4c13730efa7b19\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eca3955c31f840558e4c13730efa7b19\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour\u2014Wellington Central)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022 data-id=\u0022127219cc209541978b9be89abba3d8df\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022127219cc209541978b9be89abba3d8df\u0022\u003ERt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262a18c5fb3574489a04b3859d8a78886\u0022\u003EGrant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: How did he get it so wrong in November 2014 when he advised farmers not to worry about the dairy price and that it would bottom out soon, given that he had been told in July that year that there was a 5-year global milk glut?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222455655328944e5781d78165e92da572\u0022\u003ERt Hon JOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: How did the member get it so wrong when he thought he would be the leader twice and lost?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258048f1fb4424aefa8f6a0a78e911810\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022305a63de45bd4254acd21e0581f88cd2\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! I will hear from Chris Hipkins.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ea75fbbdeb1f49fcadd03070dd0405db\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: The Prime Minister has to at least make some attempt to get vaguely close to the question that was asked. That answer came\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa42cbe270a540ef862f32c1da6749aa\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I remind members that this is a point of order. It will be heard in silence. Could the member please continue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225ef8593eb9e84ff3b357aeb8ccbf21fc\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: The point that I was making is that the Prime Minister has to at least get somewhere near the question that was asked by the member. He did not even come close even to addressing the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f4d9f98926c4226849193539abed3fd\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I will hear from the Hon Gerry Brownlee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2cc6e6f00494ad7bc8e2dc484ace707\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: The Prime Minister responded to some very direct remarks made by Mr Robertson, and it simply serves to point out the vagaries of prediction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ddf11dceae5c42f4b68f2bd465e9c027\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I think on this occasion\u2014[Interruption] Order! On this occasion there must be some attempt to answer the question. I am going to invite the member to repeat the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022524253fcfe4342dea0687ace0b925882\u0022\u003EGrant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: How did he get it so wrong in November 2014 when he advised farmers not to worry about the dairy price and that it would bottom out soon, given that he had been told in July that year that there was a 5-year global milk glut?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223338d9f5a5f34bf0b99e5a659d7223fb\u0022\u003ERt Hon JOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: I remain of the view, as I did back then, that the long-term and medium-term outlook for dairy is very strong. But as we always know, it is always possible to not be able to count and to get your numbers wrong from time to time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226f2a4153fdb04e6b80f40d4e88f0adf4\u0022\u003EGrant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: Does he not think farmers are owed a response from him to serious questions that is better than juvenile politicking when they are facing 44 percent of them defaulting on their loans and farm prices dropping by 40 percent by 2018?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b3646095b4e43b6a250f40701ec2b5f\u0022\u003ERt Hon JOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: Offering a serious view about what I think are the long-term prospects for dairy, it remains that you have got a global opportunity out there emerging in Asia, and the changing markets are very relevant. But if the member now wants to say that he is supporting the dairy farmers of New Zealand, here are a few suggestions: vote for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, because by far the largest beneficiary is dairy; reform the Resource Management Act, because that affects those farmers; take a constructive view to a range of different issues around tax; and do not whack a massive emissions trading scheme on farmers. Coming into this House and claiming that he is the friend of the farmer when he does everything he can to put them out of business is not going to fool anyone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f84d2facce4e4e60b966fd1990d2cf6b\u0022\u003EGrant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary question\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ff4d3e23e1504f29aefeaa9eb496ea35\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I am just waiting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd676c9213ec4222a05d62cd31d06a0e\u0022\u003EGrant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: Does he accept the Reserve Bank\u2019s severe scenario for a payout of $4\u201410 cents above the current forecast\u2014which would mean 44 percent of farmers defaulting on loans and farm prices dropping by 40 percent in 2018?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227a9b448d89a14a969e4cfa5edd181557\u0022\u003ERt Hon JOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: The member is actually misrepresenting the Reserve Bank. He says that if that was the payout\u2014under $4, and I would point out that, actually, the total payout is still predicted to be above that, at $4.35\u2014those loans would be non-performing. That is quite a lot different from defaulting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022faab133877ce403a80b0e76ff29fa59b\u0022\u003EGrant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: Does he think that farmer shareholders should be satisfied with the performance of the Fonterra chief executive officer?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a288877815941659885b20b958e9a9e\u0022\u003ERt Hon JOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: I do not have any responsibility for the performance of Theo Spierings, any more than he has any responsibility for the performance of Andrew Little.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f48bc9b94fd34d34abe912555b4e2060\u0022\u003EHon Damien O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister still stand by his previous publicly stated position of supporting the opening up of Fonterra to share trading on the NZX as a way of bringing outside equity into the company?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225f1bf299039a4303a82c1a80e907d616\u0022\u003ERt Hon JOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: Those comments were made a long time ago, but what I did support was trading amongst farmers, and I think, from what I can see, it has worked pretty well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d1b5c6832d114dc58488f370b44d4a1f\u0022\u003EGrant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: Does he not think he should offer a view to farmers about the performance of the chief executive officer of Fonterra, given Fonterra is having a debt to equity gearing ratio of 49 percent, demanding 90-day terms from its suppliers so that it has actually got some working capital, and changing its payout forecast three times in 7 weeks? Does he not think he owes it to farmers to say what he thinks about that performance?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a03b9387286f407ab17f898b40d674aa\u0022\u003ERt Hon JOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it is not my responsibility whether Theo Spierings does a good job or not. I do not have that responsibility, any more than I have the responsibility for whether a bank chief executive is doing a good job, or the chief executive of Telecom is doing a good job.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220e6bb6aa76574c84ba1d5e2b10af40ee\u0022\u003EEconomy\u2014Stability and Growth\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022 data-id=\u0022dfe9d94887314628b30cd23138ccebb5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dfe9d94887314628b30cd23138ccebb5\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What steps is the Government taking to support resilience and growth in the New Zealand economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022 data-id=\u0022dfc078887fae437d8adb4746f5c3defd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dfc078887fae437d8adb4746f5c3defd\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E A range of steps. We can have some confidence in the economy\u2019s ability to manage through future uncertainty. For instance, the Government is supporting directly innovation through investment in research such as the $170 million Primary Growth Partnership, where primary production industry contributes, and we work together to create new products and increase on-farm activity. Despite the fall in dairy prices, the outlook for the economy is for continuing moderate growth of 2 percent to 2.5 percent, which compares well with most other countries.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a111e8d7950d4cc08c228156d7197e20\u0022\u003EDr Parmjeet Parmar\u003C/span\u003E: How is the ongoing expansion in manufacturing helping to support economic growth?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022373e142649404f8d9eb12b188e07f9a9\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: Earlier this week Statistics New Zealand released its survey of manufacturing for the December 2015 quarter. It shows manufacturing volumes up by 1.3 percent in the quarter and up by 5.1 percent in the year to December. The value of manufacturing was flat over the same period, reflecting in part the fall in dairy prices. This is consistent with the performance of manufacturing index, which has now been expanding for 40 consecutive quarters. Recent indicators also show increasing manufacturing employment. Overall, this suggests that despite difficulties in the dairy sector, the economy is continuing to grow moderately and is rebalancing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223eebe44571c64324b1f31053fb8e3b57\u0022\u003EDr Parmjeet Parmar\u003C/span\u003E: What are some of the consequences for the wider economy from the downturn in dairy prices?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022df4a258d0c5744baa9fddc706f2f2c8c\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: In the first place, there are consequences for the farming operators and farming families themselves because some of them certainly will come under considerable pressure if they have a combination of high debt and high production costs, or, in some cases, investors who are not as committed as they were before. There is no doubt, though, that the industry is capable of adjusting and that it will work constructively with the banks, which continue to be supportive. The Government has long-term confidence in the outlook for the dairy industry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8d495e5997f4bdab96b725445d9fd52\u0022\u003EDr Parmjeet Parmar\u003C/span\u003E: How will increased access to international markets, alongside new initiatives by the Government, support the dairy industry as well as build resilience and diversity in the economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293c7a9cfa1f34218a86acb2274018219\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: This next period is going to be one where the dairy industry will be looking for support where the Government can provide it. We will certainly be supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), because one of the principal\u2014in fact, the biggest beneficiary of the TPP\u2014is the dairy industry. We would expect the support of the whole Parliament because it is the single biggest thing this Parliament can do to support, particularly, those regions that will be hardest hit by the downturn in dairy prices.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002206760215f2cf4f588208505132b1ea63\u0022\u003EPayments to Small Businesses, Timeliness\u2014Fonterra and Government Departments\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u002272a663222d574495aa6a8591950d9958\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002272a663222d574495aa6a8591950d9958\u0022\u003EJACINDA ARDERN (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Small Business: Does he agree with the statement made by Hon Bill English in the House yesterday regarding Fonterra\u2019s policy of paying small businesses up to an additional 61 days late, that \u201Cthese are freely transacting people doing business. Any party to the transaction is able to choose whether the terms are suitable for them, or not\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022 data-id=\u0022691c5e19c2e14d958c411f402d72d594\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022691c5e19c2e14d958c411f402d72d594\u0022\u003EHon CRAIG FOSS (Minister for Small Business):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. I also agree with the Minister\u2019s statement in the House yesterday that it would be unacceptable if it was outside the current legislative requirements. But I note for the House that although Fonterra may be meeting its legislative and contractual commitments, it is my expectation that Fonterra and all New Zealand\u2019s large businesses deal reasonably and fairly with New Zealand small businesses.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f81189dd0fb84370b6a6147dd345258b\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: Does he believe, as Bill English does, that small businesses currently contracted by Fonterra are genuinely in a position to choose the terms that are suitable for them, without risking losing the work that they have? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d8e8c7be64124cd598de2fe08d026951\u0022\u003EHon CRAIG FOSS\u003C/span\u003E: I am not sure whether that member correctly understood what Mr English was saying yesterday, but I do note that companies in New Zealand\u2014Kiwi businesses, large companies\u2014I am sure, value their reputation as fair and reasonable Kiwi businesses. The court of public opinion will, I am sure, judge those businesses on their behaviour in the market. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f24814f2360407aa7337c15987f7858\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: Would it be acceptable for a Government department to pay a small business 61 days after receiving an invoice, when in 2009 the then State services Minister, Tony Ryall, directed departments to pay their bills on time or earlier?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d0532a9657d346188ecf533527cbef5d\u0022\u003EHon CRAIG FOSS\u003C/span\u003E: I am sure that that would be the exception, because, across Government, post the 2009 commitment from Mr Ryall, by and large the payments from the Crown to small businesses have improved markedly over that period.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b46a0c39ffa64963b0fc0dbae09c70b5\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: What action, then, will he take against the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment\u2014his own department\u2014responsible for small business, which in 2014-15 paid a whopping 24 percent, or 11,158 of the invoices it received, late?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e65f3aef58b4fb294d56229b9469953\u0022\u003EHon CRAIG FOSS\u003C/span\u003E: The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is not my department, but I understand the member\u2019s question. What is actually more important for New Zealand businesses is the cost of the cash flow that they fund. If the ministry is, in fact, paying some invoices late, it should address that; it should look at that. I am sure that the Minister responsible will be quite interested in that. But what is most important is that the cost of funding cash flows for New Zealand small businesses is probably half of what it was just in 2008, when that member\u2019s party was in Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245f8ac570eda48bc8ddb87b0cb023ab1\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Did the Leader of the Opposition set a good example\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5cf4f0fb7324761a6148c3694ad1ec9\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! The question is not in order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a5e144419ed74c77a03a91b4d4e3278d\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: What specific action will he take as the Minister for Small Business against the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, ACC, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which have all had significant records in late payment, including the State Services Commission, which issued a letter to all chief executives instructing them to pay on time and model prompt payment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002236e109fb8de24b7287cadda35ed5a25c\u0022\u003EHon CRAIG FOSS\u003C/span\u003E: As a Minister, as a taxpayer, and as an advocate for small business I would encourage all participants\u2014Government, ministries, agencies, State-owned enterprises\u2014to pay in a reasonable and fair time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002239971ba76d514a239a26e812b6711eb5\u0022\u003EDairy Industry\u2014Outlook and Debt\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022 data-id=\u0022a02a11666ceb466492c811e6bfa14904\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a02a11666ceb466492c811e6bfa14904\u0022\u003EMETIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader\u2014Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Ka t\u016B a ia i runga i te mana o t\u0101na tau\u0101k\u012B m\u014D te ahu miraka kau, \u201Cis an industry that\u2019s going to be under pressure\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E[Does he stand by his statement that dairy \u201Cis an industry that\u2019s going to be under pressure\u201D?]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002278b6a3eb73964053b787a6a5ae59bac8\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: I don\u2019t think that\u2019s right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252f30f74753c40a2a1e7cc63132d7613\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I listened to the translation. It was as recorded. Would the Minister of Finance like to answer?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022 data-id=\u0022b77c45b23a484e3d8962acba4477b992\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b77c45b23a484e3d8962acba4477b992\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. Clearly, many farmers are doing it tough and there is a lot of uncertainty about the future of milk prices. Farms with high levels of debt and high production costs will come under real pressure. Whereas 6 months ago they may have thought that they could hold on until prices had bounced back up, that looks much less likely now. So it is appropriate that the dairy industry is thinking about reducing production costs, adapting to capital scarcity, rather than waiting for prices to rise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022932e2ff61f0b45dcbe1e21329494b135\u0022\u003EMetiria Turei\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister take any responsibility for the enormous pressure dairy farming families are under, given that his Government has encouraged them to convert to dairy, to take on more debt, and to intensify their farms, and now 5,000 families could lose their farms because of it? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225f1c275b7d4e406186e8d8454a5a4d09\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: I would be very surprised, if the member spoke with any of those families, if their business decisions were made by what they read from press releases from the Government. These people are capable, competent people who weigh up the business risks and decide what risks they take. Some of them might have overextended themselves, and I would be surprised if they blamed anyone else for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3d49050b9d84ee99d28ed024e8292af\u0022\u003EMetiria Turei\u003C/span\u003E: Does he accept that the Government\u2019s goal of doubling food exports by 2025 and subsidising irrigation was an encouragement to farming families to increase their debt and intensify their farms?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022863843ae43ba4ec582f5d34d0adb75a1\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: No. One would only have to look at the range of debt across farms in the dairy industry, or any other industry, and you would find that some of them have no debt, some of them have moderate debt, and a few\u2014probably a very few\u2014have levels of debt that are now turning out to be higher than is comfortable. The Government has made no apology for supporting primary production through its investment in science and innovation, its investment in biosecurity, and getting alongside them in the development of large-scale irrigation schemes into which we have actually put only quite small amounts of money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229dc203b3-21b0-4d4a-a530-746504e05f20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022016fa3b941834b029357d59d99ad7ab2\u0022\u003ERichard Prosser\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minster\u2019s Government support New Zealand First\u2019s Receiverships (Agricultural Debt Mediation) Amendment Bill, which will provide our dairy farmers with a similar level of regulated debt mediation support to that enjoyed by farmers in Australia and Canada; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223f6175ec0594c78a5a4ae065c448111\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: No, we will not, because we believe that the parties involved in that debt are capable of working their way through it. The large banks have lent money to the industry in full knowledge of all the risks and with a deep understanding and history in the industry. We believe they are committed to the long-term future of the industry\u2014that it is in their interests that, for instance, the land price is maintained at reasonable levels and does not drop rapidly, and therefore they and the farmers will be able to work through whatever stress there is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ebb0ceb058f74b5d8f7181860a6c77eb\u0022\u003EMetiria Turei\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister received any advice on how many families in the wider rural communities, not just farm owners but farm labourers and contractors as well, will have financial problems because of his Government\u2019s failed dairy strategy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f0c45c7a3f74b3f97b4ba706780694a\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: No. It is a bit galling to hear from the Greens concern for people whom they have branded for the last decade as reckless capitalist polluters\u2014suddenly they are very worried about them. I find it a wee bit hard to find that the Greens are serious.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229dc203b3-21b0-4d4a-a530-746504e05f20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b84bf904a0c4c91ad20bb272b924f14\u0022\u003ERichard Prosser\u003C/span\u003E: Given his previous answer, what contingency plan does his Government have, in the likely event of widespread farm foreclosures, to support unsecured creditors and their staff and families in the heartland communities who support the dairy industry and rely on it\u2014feed suppliers, fencers, silage and hay contractors\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f2cac43d8354e00918bbb030bc244c4\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Bring the question to a conclusion. [Interruption] Order! The question is too long.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ebd5dd549c3345e59500f910d9682d10\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: There is no evidence\u2014no good reason\u2014to believe that there will be widespread farm foreclosures. The Government believes that the industry is resilient and the financial services sectors that support it have an interest in its ongoing success. If that member wants to do what farmers would regard as showing strong support for them, then he and his party would vote for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and vote for Resource Management Act reforms\u2014and I am sure if they went around the regions saying that, they would be welcomed with open arms. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c9f70a28a1064b4da2f25077d912bdf7\u0022\u003EMetiria Turei\u003C/span\u003E: What will the Minister do to prevent more of our productive land being sold off to overseas buyers when farming families are suffering huge debt burdens and are forced to sell their farms?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c0a2015de33f42a5992f51cd17fbd18d\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: Any offshore buyer who wants to buy the farms has to go through the Overseas Investment Act process, which includes, I think, 15 separate tests. It has been subject to court action in recent years that has raised the thresholds, and the Government has every intention of leaving that in place. The member needs to keep in mind that those families who do have higher levels of debt probably incurred that from paying fairly large amounts for the farm that they have moved into recently. I think the industry would expect that they have the opportunity to work through their stressful situation with the banks. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a06ada03c0c64bbaad1314e94a0777bb\u0022\u003EMetiria Turei\u003C/span\u003E: Given that the Minister has no advice on how many farming families will suffer as a result of this, does he think he ought to go and get that advice, and does he intend to act on any advice he is given about projects or initiatives to support those farming families who will be\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e7fdbed8de244f558bc3381c30938794\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Bring the question to a\u2014[Interruption] Order! It is question time, not speech time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c479e1d7e9494d63b61b5f98a325bf9d\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: You do not need to get advice to know that there will be a significant number of farming families distressed. This is not a new kind of phenomenon in farming communities. I myself recall a number of years, actually, of fairly intensive stress in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the sheep and beef industry over the same sorts of issues. We have a lot of confidence in this farming community to be able to adapt to difficult circumstances and to get through those on the basis that the outlook for the dairy industry is quite strong in the light of ongoing global demand for protein. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223fb108cd1394442b961b3726e02e1e9c\u0022\u003ERt Hon John Key\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister believe that actions speak louder than words, and, if that is the case, would the farmers of New Zealand expect political parties that claim to be standing up for them to vote for the TPP that would reduce hundreds of millions of dollars of tariffs against them, or will they see through all of this\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286607b416ed54bc6adc891989ed34a3b\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Again, the question was too long. The first part can be addressed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022980a7a8ca55f46bb815b878bc4934d57\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I thought you would probably rule the question out of order. The Minister of Finance has no responsibilities for how other parties vote in the Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b758f860a104837a5b5ba453f78fd1f\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! No. The first part of the question, in my mind, was in order, in that it simply asked for\u2014it did not talk about Opposition parties; \u201Cother political parties\u2019 support: wouldn\u2019t that be the best thing for farmers?\u201D. I think, in view of the circumstances of where the discussion has been, that the question is in order. It can be addressed by the Minister. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222ddbf045dd9344d9853fe8ea669432a9\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: I am sure that distressed farming families would take some notice of the outpouring of sympathy they are getting from Opposition parties, but, knowing farming people, I think they would regard actions as more telling. They will be surprised to know that those expressing the strongest sympathy today have said they will vote against Resource Management Act reforms that will assist that industry and vote against the most recent free-trade agreement, of which the dairy industry is the biggest beneficiary. They might be surprised, having heard the words today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c14cccc3797b402e8e9d13c5cebc9b25\u0022\u003EMetiria Turei\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement promise of a tariff reduction of just 1.3 percent by 2030 is not going to help the 5,000 farming families who are facing the loss of their farms today, because of his Government\u2019s failed dairy strategies?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222816601fd0fe416886dfceaf598ec6c7\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: No, I disagree with that. The dairy industry, I am sure, would be pleased to see any expression of real economic support from this Parliament and, secondly, that agreement includes significant benefits for other members of their communities\u2014people in the beef industry and in the horticulture industry. Actually, dairy farmers care about those people and they care about their communities. They would expect the Greens to change their mind and vote for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275494646dccd46dfaf5a9e14ff8b1eec\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree with the following quote from the valedictory speech of outgoing Green MP Russel Norman: \u201CLet\u2019s just say it\u2014we have too many cows.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022678bbf455cc14202a114b46962476787\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I do not think there is any need for that question. I am going to rule it is out of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226722e7fea7a749afa5246ae7b07b4613\u0022\u003ERheumatic Fever\u2014Rates\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022 data-id=\u00225000a682bfd348a8968ff015373d9a1c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225000a682bfd348a8968ff015373d9a1c\u0022\u003ESIMON O\u2019CONNOR (National\u2014T\u0101maki)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Can he confirm that rheumatic fever rates have dropped 45 percent since 2012?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022 data-id=\u0022ab42f4c53dee4dd4b348efe2910ebb43\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ab42f4c53dee4dd4b348efe2910ebb43\u0022\u003EHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, and it is encouraging to see this latest significant drop in the rates, which continues progress towards the Better Public Services target of reducing rheumatic fever rates by two-thirds by the end of June 2017. This shows that the Government\u2019s $65 million investment to prevent rheumatic fever is making a real difference to the children, families, and communities most at risk.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ee0391b7a954355aa8b53d3871d5d65\u0022\u003ESimon O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: What progress has been made in reducing rheumatic fever rates in M\u0101ori and Pasifika communities?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285e997227c774741b47c54fa7c65c209\u0022\u003EHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN\u003C/span\u003E: Rates for M\u0101ori have more than halved since 2012, down 54 percent. There has also been a drop of 27 percent for Pacific people. More than half the national reduction was in the Northland District Health Board and the Counties Manukau District Health Board. Part of the success can be attributed to the Pacific engagement service, which has engaged with more than 39,000 Auckland and Wellington Pacific families, through home visits and community events, to raise awareness of rheumatic fever and what can be done to prevent it. However, there is still much left to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228b00632e77940448686a3ad1eff9830\u0022\u003ESimon O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: What initiatives has the Government put in place to tackle rheumatic fever?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022299bc17e32274648ac4db6602bfa03a5\u0022\u003EHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN\u003C/span\u003E: Healthy homes initiatives in all high-incidence areas are offering packages of housing-related interventions to more than 3,000 families each year. There are over 300 drop-in clinics, and more than 40,000 high-risk young people have accessed these sore throat drop-in services. Children are also being assessed and treated for sore throats through school-based services in 200 North Island schools. There is also a national rheumatic fever awareness campaign aimed at young people, as well as the parents and caregivers of children and young people most at risk.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002254c59a33fa324d94910b90bdfe40e144\u0022\u003ENational Certificate of Educational Achievement\u2014Literacy and Numeracy Requirements\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022fc053a9dbd304640a24e16d66c2a84e6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fc053a9dbd304640a24e16d66c2a84e6\u0022\u003ECHRIS HIPKINS (Labour\u2014Rimutaka)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: Is she satisfied that students completing NCEA qualifications have the basic functional literacy and numeracy skills they will require for further study or employment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022 data-id=\u002266b3201999824bd0a95c59cefb89eb21\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002266b3201999824bd0a95c59cefb89eb21\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002291dfde194e4047969e1af6e9516fb2bd\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Was the recent Tertiary Education Commission report, which found that up to half the students meeting National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) literacy and numeracy requirements are not functionally literate or numerate, based on a student sample who had predominantly attained the literacy and numeracy requirements for NCEA, under the new rules?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec5aaca7900f4b3aab8a3def2312dc29\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA\u003C/span\u003E: My understanding is no, because the new rules were implemented in 2012 and therefore the results of those new rules were not taken into account by the Tertiary Education Commission report, which was based prior to the introduction of those. So when you say \u201Crecent\u201D, although it was published in December last year, it used data from 2012.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225ea59ed223d74b5fa55eab9cf0b2a84b\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: In light of that answer, why does the report specifically state that the vast majority of students within the sample completed their NCEA literacy and numeracy requirement under the new rules?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bc4f8833e1e5408ebaa186757f8e51b0\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA\u003C/span\u003E: I cannot speak to that, because I am not at the Tertiary Education Commission and I did not write the report, but given that the strengthening of the literacy and numeracy requirements and the increasing of the credits from eight to 10 became compulsorily implemented from 2013, it is by definition impossible for a 2012 report to use those results.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb5a4682ffdc4662bb0e487a76e6641d\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Was the report wrong when it stated that under the new rules it is possible to obtain the 10 achievement standard credits required to meet the literacy requirement for NCEA by completing standards where \u201Cthe focus \u2026 is varied and there is not necessarily any direct assessment of students\u2019 literacy and numeracy skills\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002298d46d36e81144729fd5e04270d6b10a\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA\u003C/span\u003E: No, the report is not wrong in that literacy can be assessed in subjects other than English, and that the quality assurance of those assessments is overseen by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. I stand by its process, as opposed to an incidental report from the Tertiary Education Commission.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207bb45f2098d460a8e6ba89d5184152f\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: So how can parents, employers, and anybody else be confident that students who obtain NCEA have basic functional literacy and numeracy, when it is possible to meet the literacy and numeracy requirements without ever having their literacy and numeracy actually assessed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288f9ec37436a4187b56b1301ae4a8de4\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA\u003C/span\u003E: That is not what I said. Literacy is assessed, but it is not assessed only in English. It is assessed in a range of subjects, whether it is physical education, whether it is science, or whether it is maths. Literacy is required across all of those subjects, and assessments occur in all of those subjects. As to the second part of your question, which is how parents and employers can have confidence, they can have confidence because a number of reports have been published on the quality of NCEA. They include the 2012 report by the Auditor-General, the 2013 report by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, and the 2014 report by an independent panel of academics, principals, and the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. I am happy to table, for the member\u2019s ease of reference, references to all of those reports, which are publicly available.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc1dbbd386da44bfb6a38972d84456cc\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Can a student meet all of the literacy requirements for NCEA solely from studying physical education?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022755a406925d74e389b8be50815b18c5c\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA\u003C/span\u003E: I am not absolutely sure about that, but I can\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d174ad1eb1c648dd8af419c20bbc5f2e\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. The answer is yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229623be1aba62481c810fd125396b7b1e\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014get that report. Well, the member is asking questions that are redundant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002294c99eec6d3046a898468adb222c011a\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: When employers are saying that students with NCEA do not necessarily have the literacy and numeracy skills they need, when Business New Zealand is saying it, when universities and polytechnics are saying it, and when even school principals are saying it, why will she not take action to review the system to ensure those getting NCEA actually have functional literacy and numeracy, or is she worried that doing so means the Government will not hit its 85 percent target?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ebf732e38c9d4269b597a1af2d286f78\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA\u003C/span\u003E: I can point to specific reports that are in the public domain that attest to the robustness of our NCEA. The member using general references to general people who may or may not have a view does not stack up against the robustness\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231ccead38fc346c2a2e2b9354a746c7e\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Pretty specific study. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226e1ead03-bf7f-496a-a02f-ce52859c58c1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265c5206268104deb8b8811db3be468e2\u0022\u003EHon HEKIA PARATA\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, the member is referring to one principal, and there are a few, but what the New Zealand Council for Educational Research said in its report of 2013 was that 95 percent of all principals are confident in the NCEA. It would be helpful if the member actually shared that confidence in our national qualification system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002202b95c6904034382b7c5cd21c918e7f5\u0022\u003ERheumatic Fever\u2014Housing Conditions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022 data-id=\u0022fefdbfb555c74f9b9ef5090f81e380f4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fefdbfb555c74f9b9ef5090f81e380f4\u0022\u003EMARAMA FOX (Co-Leader\u2014M\u0101ori Party)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Following the recent release of the rheumatic fever statistics, what steps is he taking to address the rate of rheumatic fever amongst whanau living in overcrowded housing conditions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022 data-id=\u002241aedf5a4b024ac48da069e7dc29e32c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002241aedf5a4b024ac48da069e7dc29e32c\u0022\u003EHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E This Government, with support from the M\u0101ori Party, has invested $65 million in the Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme over the last 6 years. A feature of the programme is Healthy Homes services, working in all 11 high-incidence district health board regions, and it is making good progress delivering a range of different interventions to families. We are now seeing real results, with rheumatic fever rates for M\u0101ori down 54 percent since 2012. I would like to acknowledge the work and support of the M\u0101ori Party in championing this cause.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec76dd71ceff4d5e88d1a9e3404d3a65\u0022\u003EMarama Fox\u003C/span\u003E: Given the prevalence of rheumatic fever amongst wh\u0101nau living in overcrowded, substandard homes, what is the Minister doing with his colleague the Minister for Building and Housing to build larger, warmer, safer homes to further reduce the rates of rheumatic fever?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225526100061d545beb88ccbb274ba7f02\u0022\u003EHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN\u003C/span\u003E: Ministers are working together on these important issues, including the housing Ministers, and they are best placed to answer questions relating directly to the building of houses. The Healthy Homes services have a number of initiatives to reduce overcrowding and make houses warmer and safer. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da5d4dbf635b41db961d3440c4bd3900\u0022\u003EMarama Fox\u003C/span\u003E: What further specific measures will the Minister take to ensure the 75 percent reduction by 2017, identified in the M\u0101ori Party initiative in 2013, is achieved?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf6ad706ab2b4190a3b175b40b5e71c6\u0022\u003EHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN\u003C/span\u003E: We will continue with the initiatives that are delivering success: the 300 drop-in clinics, the 200 school-based services, and the national awareness campaigns, to name but three of them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002256a7e061c84b4724b4928a069a5c80cb\u0022\u003EMarine Protected Areas\u2014Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022 data-id=\u0022582fe7bd1c2e476695c34c481df2eee0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022582fe7bd1c2e476695c34c481df2eee0\u0022\u003ESCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for the Environment: What new details of the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary have been announced and how will these help protect the 620,000 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean covered by this initiative?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u00220fe569c663274da8bbfcd03926544506\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220fe569c663274da8bbfcd03926544506\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment):\u003C/span\u003E Yesterday the Government announced the details of the bill to create the sanctuary that was announced by the Prime Minister at the United Nations in September. The bill provides for a new conservation board with responsibility for the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, as well as the existing Kermadec Marine Reserve and the nature reserves on the five Kermadec Islands. This integrated approach makes good sense, and given the size of this area being twice that of New Zealand\u2019s land, it makes sense, with its unique challenges for management, to have a dedicated board. The second change is that we have tightened the dumping prohibitions and adjusted the scientific research provisions to maximise the protection, while also making sure that it is compliant with New Zealand international law of the sea.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e379deb5a164f2bb8ad056cc580f160\u0022\u003EScott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: What feedback has he had, both domestically and internationally, to the new Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022538d2b43a26c4eb4aa1415e9c24abde2\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: The sanctuary has been widely welcomed, and the Prime Minister\u2019s announcement was noted very positively in both the European and the North American media, partly because of the sheer scale of it being an area larger than the land area of France. The Pew Charitable Trusts, which has advocated for ocean sanctuaries globally, has noted that New Zealand has set the gold standard with the Kermadecs and it is a powerful international example. I have also welcomed the support of key organisations like Forest and Bird and World Wide Fund for Nature. They have acknowledged that it is a very significant global initiative and an extraordinary achievement for nature. The sanctuary increases New Zealand\u2019s area protected from 0.4 percent of our ocean space to 15.4 percent\u2014i.e., this single sanctuary is 35 times larger than the existing 44 marine reserves that we have.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002238e77bf831ed469c8de2931460886676\u0022\u003EScott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: What particular species and special features will benefit from the protection of this new ocean sanctuary?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289c6477f8c464a5b94c92fe5d153da34\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: The sanctuary is home to 6 million seabirds of 37 different species; 35 species of whales and dolphins; three species of sea turtle\u2014it is the only area where sea turtles are found in New Zealand waters, all of which are endangered\u2014as well as 150 species of fish. The extraordinary nature of the area is due to it being deeper than Mount Everest is tall, and having the longest chain of underwater volcanoes anywhere in the world. The combination of the undersea volcanic activity and the extreme depths means that there are life forms and ecosystems found nowhere else on the planet, but that will be protected in perpetuity by this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002282d28af6318b4637a447040dbaa93d07\u0022\u003EClayton Mitchell\u003C/span\u003E: How does the Government plan to feasibly protect the 620,000 square kilometres of proposed Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary effectively when there is only one frigate and three Orions, which, at best, could fly over once a week, not to mention the one lonely Department of Conservation worker working on Raoul Island?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3fadd44235d43a6924da2e53b610622\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Firstly, the member is incorrect about the number of Department of Conservation staff who are on Raoul Island and in the Kermadecs. Secondly, this is a Government that has actually, under Gerry Brownlee\u2019s leadership, invested in the sort of defence capability that enables New Zealand to be able to secure an area of protection like the Kermadecs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222297fb237a1a4ea4bff426dc294c47bd\u0022\u003EMarama Fox\u003C/span\u003E: What consultation has there been with the two iwi with a statutory acknowledgment over their interests on the Kermadecs, and what changes have been made to the proposals as a consequence?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002250d7819b2bac4928840773f2ed5adf55\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: I have had extensive discussions with both Ng\u0101ti Kur\u012B and Te Aup\u014Duri, who have for many years supported the establishment of the sanctuary. Both with their input and the input of the M\u0101ori Party, we have provided for both those iwi having direct representation on the conservation board. I have also had representations that there are other iwi in New Zealand who have an interest in the Kermadecs, and so, with the work of the member\u2019s colleague Te Ururoa Flavell, we are providing for him to be able to also appoint someone to ensure that that broader and very deep historic interest that M\u0101ori have with the Kermadecs is also provided for in the way in which we are putting this unique area into permanent protection. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229944a9dc011b4be290bf514efd87b42e\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: By what quantity will this announcement change the total allowable catch under New Zealand\u2019s quota management system?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281e941fcc188496288a11ff1a48250f4\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: I am advised that there are about 20 tonnes of fish per year that are taken in the Kermadecs area. Obviously, that will be banned from the time\u2014it will be an area of full protection from all forms of fishing. Secondly, there was an application for deep-sea mining in the area, and the Government\u2019s view has been that the area will also be fully protected from mining activities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225a9b8de0c20c4d5397ab7562f9c44f11\u0022\u003EBusiness, Innovation and Employment, Ministry\u2014Payroll\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u0022ed8876b30ce24c5f82e61f247d9ee542\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ed8876b30ce24c5f82e61f247d9ee542\u0022\u003EDr DAVID CLARK (Labour\u2014Dunedin North):\u003C/span\u003E My question is to the Minister: on what date did he first become aware of payroll problems at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and what action did he take?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022 data-id=\u00221b142904f427458389ceec9fb877b337\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221b142904f427458389ceec9fb877b337\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I did not hear the first part\u2014was it addressed to the Minister concerned?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a6ff4d0af6474dea89b9f4b7d4216bfd\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: He didn\u2019t address it to anyone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022111ca480cd8c48a98a11f92c794c2722\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, would the member just do the question again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u002297a0053517b1415da7dc71aa581b1bd0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002297a0053517b1415da7dc71aa581b1bd0\u0022\u003EDr DAVID CLARK (Labour\u2014Dunedin North):\u003C/span\u003E To the Minister of Business, Innovation and Employment\u2014[Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002299c183768ef6442a9b3131cce0f120ac\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! Sorry, I am just making sure the member is given due consideration. He can start again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002244e700634c524e0c93e13e23050568e9\u0022\u003EDr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: To the Minister of Business, Innovation and Employment\u2014[Interruption] Would you like me to go again, Mr Speaker?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022 data-id=\u00225e6485364c6945239f9651890be9ae55\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225e6485364c6945239f9651890be9ae55\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u002234172095b17146eba5ab8468cda47724\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002234172095b17146eba5ab8468cda47724\u0022\u003EDr DAVID CLARK (Labour\u2014Dunedin North)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Economic Development: On what date did he first become aware of payroll problems at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and what action did he take?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022 data-id=\u0022f71329557cef4b1c955406645d1826ee\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f71329557cef4b1c955406645d1826ee\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development):\u003C/span\u003E Firstly, I have been updated a number of times on payroll as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has been brought together, particularly with the four payrolls being brought into one. With particular regard to the issues that have been publicly discussed in recent days, I was first advised on 5 October last year that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment was establishing a payroll team to identify and address non-compliance and historical issues associated with entitlements to holiday pay. I supported the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment\u2019s actions at the time, and I have asked to be kept fully updated on its progress, along with expressing the expectation to the chief executive that this issue be resolved as quickly as possible. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022686b6458ff47493eb6c2476929302e7a\u0022\u003EDr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that the issues that he first became aware of in October last year around the Holidays Act and payroll compliance were known to his Government in 2010?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227190e1ec3c774ee7bbb1a796603be893\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: No, I cannot. In relation to this particular payroll the time line is as I described last year. The labour inspectorate has had broader concerns about public and private providers complying with the Holidays Act, going back some time, possibly back to 2010, but the issues in relation to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment were identified to me in 2015, in October last year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ed3c5569c1e4c7588f2c2838822e88e\u0022\u003EDr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: The Minister didn\u2019t know.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002284b13032e45d41f7a4cf10dee701ef4c\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: No, you are wrong.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c141c21e4414864abe0311ff646c624\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245f297f400234d9b8f79a1bf63b224dc\u0022\u003EDr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: During the 2012 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment merger, did his Government ensure the payroll system complied with the law?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223cf4cbd7a576482291a05881c2bab840\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: In the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment merger in 2012 a decision was taken to merge the four payrolls together, including the former Department of Labour payroll, which had been used right back, I believe, until around 2000. It was, of course, anticipated that that payroll, which had been in place for many years, would meet the requirements, particularly given that the Holidays Act had been passed with its changes in 2003. Unfortunately, from the period 2003 onwards there had been no attempt within the Government to ascertain that the payrolls were actually following the Holidays Act as it was laid down in 2003.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228bebebf5904843038800ef5c94fca8ad\u0022\u003EDr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: Is he confident that his department has been providing correct advice to the private sector, given that his department has failed to implement its own payroll system correctly?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002263c1ef7f96b94ca0bfb51c140aeaa5ac\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: For the member\u2019s benefit, the labour inspectorate operates at arm\u2019s length from the operation of the agency, particularly in relation to payroll matters, because the labour inspectorate has a responsibility to monitor the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment\u2019s payroll as well as other public and private sector payrolls. As I said to the member in answer to an earlier question, the inspectorate has had concerns for some time about payrolls generally, and that matter has been discussed with the State Services Commission. This particular issue, though, was raised in 2015.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220baaec35e38e4c7581905ed69a5ee3b8\u0022\u003EDr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: Why did he fail to follow the advice on his ministry\u2019s website about \u201Ccalculating annual holiday pay\u201D, which appears under the tab headed \u201CGet the basics right\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eaa681724f54442eb9a957038c5afbd5\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: That is a question that could be asked right back to 2003, I believe, because the holiday pay calculation is recognised as a complex calculation, because it requires providers to assess the greater of the average wages of the person and the regular-time wages of the person. Just because you are a bad Opposition MP who yells all the time does not mean you cannot just listen to the answer to the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222b3d67f8636e49f98365be9d99f35c96\u0022\u003ENational Science Challenges\u2014A Better Start\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022 data-id=\u002269e35b1a4c4b484084b0c0f6a8860e9a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002269e35b1a4c4b484084b0c0f6a8860e9a\u0022\u003EDr JIAN YANG (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Science and Innovation: How is the Government using science and research to help the development of children and young people?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022 data-id=\u00220c2de8a2d4ed4c648f9ab1b98cc55cf8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220c2de8a2d4ed4c648f9ab1b98cc55cf8\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Science and Innovation):\u003C/span\u003E Recently I launched the tenth in a series of National Science Challenges. A Better Start is a challenge using science to tackle some of the biggest issues facing New Zealand young people. A Better Start is receiving funding of up to $34.7 million over 10 years for research aimed at solving some of the complex problems that are faced by New Zealand children and young people as they start out in life. It focuses on predicting, preventing, and treating mental health issues and obesity in children, as well as improving how children learn. It will work to develop new methods for detecting and supporting young children with developmental and behavioural disorders. This work and other research taking place across the research sector will have a significant impact on young people\u2019s well-being, employment prospects, and of course, ultimately, on the New Zealand economy and society.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022941ffd3fa7c34474b59d1147efb1393b\u0022\u003EDr Jian Yang\u003C/span\u003E: What research projects will the A Better Start National Science Challenge be supporting?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259d89f74416e4dd2b5a3978e6cf818d7\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: The proposed initial research for the A Better Start National Science Challenge is about understanding biomedical conditions and social behaviour that influence how children grow up. The challenge will bring together medical researchers to work with educationalists on projects like investigating the way environmental factors and biology influence child obesity and what can be done to help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight, trialling interventions to help children at risk of literacy problems succeeding in their first year at school, and developing new tools to detect common mental health problems like depression and anxiety in teenagers. The A Better Start challenge is hosted by the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland, in collaboration with the universities of Otago, Canterbury, and Waikato, Auckland University of Technology, Massey University, Victoria University, and AgResearch.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002239f8a4d558d0470f922994c15901a475\u0022\u003EFreshwater Management\u2014Water Quality of Rivers and Lakes\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220ee528dc-7870-4553-95ed-5ec0cab60f07\u0022 data-id=\u0022e34f513852d54779a9ee14e05ba2071c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ee528dc-7870-4553-95ed-5ec0cab60f07\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e34f513852d54779a9ee14e05ba2071c\u0022\u003ECATHERINE DELAHUNTY (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for the Environment: Has he received any advice that New Zealanders would prefer to wade rather than swim in our lakes and rivers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u00229f5450577c1a45c5ba37fce37c8cd7d1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229f5450577c1a45c5ba37fce37c8cd7d1\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment):\u003C/span\u003E No, and it is Government policy for as many water bodies as practically possible to be swimmable. When we came into Government in 2008 there was no national freshwater policy or standards, and we have been systematically strengthening those. These requirements do not stipulate that every water body be swimmable all the time but they do require councils to maintain and improve water quality and to identify those rivers and lakes that should be swimmable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ee528dc-7870-4553-95ed-5ec0cab60f07\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221d3076dc52e5405e9bafa6c376fca63b\u0022\u003ECatherine Delahunty\u003C/span\u003E: Given that answer, will the Minister commit to the goal of making New Zealand lakes and rivers swimmable, with exceptions for issues that he has previously stated, including during high rainfall events, areas where birds colonise, rivers tainted by volcanic ash, and other natural phenomena that may prevent swimming?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da26ecca5f5a4a0f977f6024a483f308\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: We are doing a consultation at the moment, which I started last night, about improvements in the national policy statement. I am open-minded about strengthening the provisions around swimmability but it is my view that we need to ensure that they are practical and that in that process of setting the standards we do take into mind the issue of costs. I give the member a practical example in Auckland: Lucas Creek would cost $150 million to bring it up to a swimmable standard\u2014a cost that would translate to about $10,000 per household for a stream that nobody has ever wanted or tried to swim in. So, yes, we want more water bodies to be swimmable but we also want to make sure that the provisions are practical.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ee528dc-7870-4553-95ed-5ec0cab60f07\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229009d8e123fa4965983ec6f8bc37c1c9\u0022\u003ECatherine Delahunty\u003C/span\u003E: Given that Landcorp can cut the proposed Wair\u0101kei dairy conversions by 50 percent to protect the environment, will he include in his Next Steps for Fresh Water document a moratorium on dairy conversions in sensitive catchments?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e059d36a9a945689bcd3ed3a1d1cc06\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Indeed, that has taken place. So, for instance, in an area like Canterbury, where there were no limits on expansion of dairying, the commissioners have done a very good job of actually creating red zones and of setting limits on nutrients, and that is happening right throughout the country. What I would welcome from the Green Party is support for that national policy statement and the requirement to set limits. I would remind the member that prior to this Government coming to office there were no limits anywhere in New Zealand on nutrients.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ee528dc-7870-4553-95ed-5ec0cab60f07\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231d24e15850a4110bdf716874c8ba7b6\u0022\u003ECatherine Delahunty\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was specifically on whether the Minister would include in the Next Steps for Fresh Water a moratorium on dairy conversions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0d4707e00924616aad677c3de332cf7\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I invite the member to go back and rehear the answer. The Minister said they were achieving it in another way, and addressed the question for the benefit of the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ee528dc-7870-4553-95ed-5ec0cab60f07\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a064a9f3b1ed4f91a5bd903eb360ccbf\u0022\u003ECatherine Delahunty\u003C/span\u003E: What rivers has the Minister waded in recently and did he enjoy it as much as actually putting his head under the water?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022151d9512cc2e42028044cfd25b390b06\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: I regularly swim\u2014only at the weekend, I was swimming with my family in the Maitai River. But I would point out to the member that, actually, contrary to the Green Party view that this is all farmers\u2019 problems, if you take the Maitai River, the key swimmability challenge there is actually the standard of our town sewerage scheme in Nelson. Like in many urban areas of New Zealand, some of those pipes are old and need upgrading and there is a significant cost for ratepayers in upgrading those systems, and that needs to be taken into account.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022cdab55bb53f54231a7fef172bb76e876\u0022\u003EVoting\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c1f593a973324731aa04f05ef530b93c\u0022\u003ECorrection\u2014Appropriation (2014/15 Confirmation and Validation) Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022 data-id=\u00221d83c305b4fb413581951f2afedd2240\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221d83c305b4fb413581951f2afedd2240\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: On 3 March when the House was considering the Appropriation (2014/15 Confirmation and Validation) Bill, the result of the vote on the question that the bill be now read a first time was incorrectly recorded as Ayes 63, Noes 57. The correct result is Ayes 63, Noes 58.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b288aaac9c334ac493093d845184b59b\u0022\u003EAmended Answers to Oral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002255cb2236a3274ec4ae7033870c4a44ee\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3 to Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022 data-id=\u002295054a1b847642c8990069af2ea7d2d5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002295054a1b847642c8990069af2ea7d2d5\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E I just want to correct an answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b89daf36d8494ece8bd306304b0b9473\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You need to seek leave to do so, then.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022689c6215d4884327afc35f508f505c87\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to correct an answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b9ca1dfd0b6e42a595fe1757c0d49aee\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226ae663abe9b34587b655c16e58c8b6c4\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: In answer to a supplementary question on question No. 3, I said that the performance of manufacturing index had been positive for 40 consecutive quarters. It was actually 40 consecutive months.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022 data-id=\u002201100624de1047028b0605fe4f935728\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002201100624de1047028b0605fe4f935728\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I thank the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00225436c6ec997d43fea66aba0def4e5022\u0022\u003EDebate on Budget Policy Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002266333afc70074c48bb394cc3c353911f\u0022\u003EDebate on Budget Policy Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022 data-id=\u0022152a79c150db4aea839c31b1e802b4e2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022152a79c150db4aea839c31b1e802b4e2\u0022\u003EDAVID BENNETT (Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the House take note of the report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Budget Policy Statement 2016. It is great to be able to talk about the Budget Policy Statement, a document that shows the future of New Zealand going forward into 2016 and beyond. It draws on Treasury forecasts in the half-yearly update, it looks at how we are managing public finances to responsibly deliver a surplus to New Zealanders and reduce debt, it makes sure that we get a productive and strong economy, it delivers better value for public services, and it supports the rebuild of Christchurch. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIt is a Budget that shows prudent economic management in the most difficult of international times. It shows that this Government can deliver the best environment for New Zealand businesses to succeed and prosper. We are delivering the stable conditions for economic prosperity in New Zealand. The Government made a surplus of $414 million in the 2014-15 year. We made this surplus after the most severe economic recession since the Great Depression and rebuilding our second-biggest city. With a debt of an $18.4 billion deficit in 2010-11, we have now turned that into a surplus of $414 million. That is a great achievement for any country, and especially the small country that the New Zealand economy represents. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EThere is a weaker outlook going forward due to lower commodity prices and the international situation, and I will come back to that later. But let us have a look at some of those statistics. Real GDP growth was 3.2 percent in 2015, and it is forecast to be 2.1 percent in 2016. We are running slightly higher now, at 2.5 percent. That is great news for New Zealand. The unemployment rate\u2014the actual rate in 2015 was 5.8 percent and the forecast in 2016 is 6.5 percent. We are running below last year\u2019s actual rate, at 5.3 percent. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIf you look at the Consumers Price Index and the inflation rate, 0.3 percent was the actual rate for 2015, and it is forecast to be at 1.4 percent. Low inflation means low interest rates for New Zealanders, and we have record low inflation in New Zealand. Wage growth is going up. It has gone up by 2.1 percent in 2015, and is forecast to go up by 2.6 percent in 2016. The current account balance is at negative 3.5 percent, and is scheduled to go up to minus 4.8 percent. That may sound bad, but when you consider the current account deficit under Labour of 7.9 percent, that is an improvement for the New Zealand economy. The total Crown operating balance before gains and losses, at 0.2 percent, is forecast to go to a negative 0.2 percent. And net Crown debt, at 25.2 percent, is forecast to go to 26.9 percent\u2014still keeping New Zealand\u2019s debt at reasonable levels for this country, going forward. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EWe need to compare this with the country that we inherited\u2014a country in recession, a country that had interest rates at around 11 percent, a country with a current account deficit of 7.9 percent, and a country that had permanent deficits and debt rising to over 60 percent of GDP under the figures that Labour would have delivered for New Zealand. The Opposition members over there will talk endlessly today about agriculture in their speeches in this debate. They will say that they care about farmers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ESpeaking as a farmer, it hurts us to see the Opposition members actually come into this Parliament and say that they care about farmers. Not once have they ever supported anything for farmers in this Parliament in the last term, and they have no intention of supporting anything in the future. To all those New Zealand farmers who are listening today\u2014do not believe what you will hear from the other side. Do not believe those members\u2019 rhetoric about how they suddenly care about farmers and they are there for farmers in their time of need, because, believe me, Labour never has been, never will be, and never can be there for anybody who is in the rural sector or in any economy that is based around the rural sector. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ELet us have a look. There are lower payouts coming to dairy farmers this year\u2014nobody is denying that. It will be extremely tough times for New Zealand dairy farmers\u2014they will be extremely tough\u2014and New Zealanders will face greater impacts from this as it flows through into our economy. But, as the Minister of Finance said today, similar things happened in the sheep and beef industry in the late 1980s. Every industry will go through ups and downs, and they have to be able to reconcile that with their debt, their income, and their ability to service that debt, going forward. All businesses do face challenges, and this is a time of immense challenge for the New Zealand dairy industry. Let us not forget that at all. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIt is not just a Fonterra issue. A lot of people will blame Fonterra and say that this is a Fonterra issue\u2014it is a problem of having a structure around Fonterra. It is not a Fonterra issue. Open Country Dairy suppliers will have the same problem of lower payouts coming to them, as well. In fact, they have got a bigger problem than Fonterra shareholders because at least Fonterra shareholders have a shareholding in that company, which gives them a greater asset. Open Country Dairy farmers are probably the most at risk because their only asset is their land and their cows. They have no shareholding asset in the company and they do not have that buffer, should the banks be looking at their properties, and I think that that is something that we need to take into account. It is a whole dairy industry issue, not just a Fonterra issue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIn saying that, Fonterra is the biggest player and New Zealand dairy farmers do look to it for leadership, and this is a time when Fonterra can step up and show that leadership. It has done that earlier in the season by providing some extra funding through a capital mechanism for its shareholders and it is indicating that it will have another capital mechanism later in the year to help farmers as well, or some other mechanism through using its assets. So it is time for Fonterra to actually help and deliver to its farmers, but it is not just solely a Fonterra issue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ENew Zealanders need a Government and a Parliament that understand and support farmers, not a Parliament that tries to take advantage in their time of weakness and their time of difficulty to make political capital, but that is what is happening on the other side of the House. I ask the members of this House, and I ask the public who are watching here today: when was the last time that the Opposition parties supported the Government\u2019s actions on water reform? When was the last time the Opposition parties supported our reforms of the Resource Management Act? When was the last time the Opposition parties supported the free-trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement? And when was the last time that the Opposition parties actually supported New Zealand dairy farmers by voting for them in this Parliament, rather than saying one thing and doing another? Farmers do not want that. They do not want Opposition parties saying one thing and doing another, because they can see through that and see the reality of the situation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ELet us look at what would happen if the Opposition parties were in power. There would be no free-trade agreements. There would be no trading with the TPP agreement\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b210aa851e504941a1b42d863452fca1\u0022\u003EClayton Mitchell\u003C/span\u003E: There would be three trade agreements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293d6bf6994d545cca7e7b545adb6e555\u0022\u003EDAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, no. The New Zealand First Party wants to do trade with Russia in dairy products, but it does not want to do a TPP agreement. So let me understand that one. The Resource Management Act reforms would be off the table. There would be no chance of having Resource Management Act reforms from the Opposition. The Opposition parties would not support the Government on Resource Management Act reforms. The Opposition parties would have higher taxes on farmers. They would be taxing farmers to a higher level to pay for unrealistic election promises that they have already made around payments to students, for example, and there will be more to come during the election campaign. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EThat unrealistic spending would mean higher interest rates for New Zealand farmers. The biggest problem coming out of this room that New Zealand dairy farmers would face would be if there was an incompetent Government here delivering a poor economic situation and a poor Budget, which would lead to higher interest rates. That is exactly what the Opposition would deliver. New Zealand farmers are smart, they are hard-working, and they will deliver for this country, as they have in the past. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EWe do not need a patronising Opposition that does not care about farmers to come into this Parliament and suddenly show that it has some ambitions. The Opposition members over there will yell and scream all they like, and in the next speeches you will only hear from the Opposition members about how, under Labour, there would have been a diversified economy, and how, under Labour, there would have been none of these problems. Well, I say to you\u2014and I say to the members of this House\u2014New Zealand farmers would have been worse off with those guys. New Zealand farmers deliver, and will deliver in the future, and we do not need the patronising attitude from the Opposition at this time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u00222af2e761fc5e49eba91ecee081856956\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222af2e761fc5e49eba91ecee081856956\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour\u2014Wellington Central):\u003C/span\u003E I congratulate the member David Bennett, who has just resumed his seat, on his ability to retain some numbers in his head\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220add80ffa0d140e4852022e0ac3b460e\u0022\u003EHon Damien O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: No, he read it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1d0f04ed4364875885debe46262392a\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, he did read; that is true. He had a number of numbers in his speech. Let us start by talking about that, and perhaps raising some of the other numbers that the Budget Policy Statement draws out for us. For instance, in the last year, per capita GDP: nothing. No growth, zero, flat\u2014absolutely flat. How about debt\u2014because we know that the Government, in the past, has been very proud of its record around debt.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dfa851f0-ef7b-4834-bc41-1b3b645a3495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a425ed41e4384682a897a3a79c3477c5\u0022\u003EDavid Shearer\u003C/span\u003E: Surely that has come down?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222c7e99950ea941eba450ccdd134285d3\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, no, you would think so, would you not? Net debt in 2008 was $10 billion. In 2015 it was $62 billion\u2014an additional $52 billion. There is another number for David Bennett\u2014$52 billion. In the spirit of my colleague Dr David Clark, the Government has borrowed more than Muldoon; that is what it has done. But it is all right, because we had a promise from the Government. We had a promise from the Government that exports as a percentage of GDP would be up at 40 percent\u2014that was the promise. I will admit that this is not going to happen in a day; it is the kind of thing you need to take step by step to improve exports. So they were 32 percent of GDP when the Government came into office\u2014it will take steps forward and they will reach 40 percent by 2020.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dfa851f0-ef7b-4834-bc41-1b3b645a3495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f87f91acfd0a4580b6bd24c52010bf94\u0022\u003EDavid Shearer\u003C/span\u003E: What is it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002213b622a180ae43d2ac2ae95e856d8c0e\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: So you would think now they would probably be in the mid-thirties somewhere?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dfa851f0-ef7b-4834-bc41-1b3b645a3495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d24f1a5bea2449399c42afb3e445738f\u0022\u003EDavid Shearer\u003C/span\u003E: On the way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002244ede96fc64c4dc183599b7d5d673c96\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, on the way\u201428.4 percent\u2014going backwards. Exports as a percentage of GDP are going backwards. But what about the stuff that really matters\u2014the numbers that really matter to working New Zealanders, like whether or not they got a pay rise? That is an important thing covered here in the Budget Policy Statement\u2014New Zealanders working hard, adding to the productivity of their companies, hoping for a pay rise. What number would David Bennett want us to have there? In 2015, 46 percent of New Zealanders did not get a pay rise\u201446 percent of New Zealanders. So there is a number for the Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cced1c944cd64ca58c5d4328c5538657\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: You are getting the wrong stats, Grant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231b3a4f5f9704a4cbcabd76567e289c0\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: What we also know is that the labour force participation rate\u2014something that the Government has wanted to crow about and say that is why we have to be careful about the unemployment numbers\u2014is actually coming down. It is actually coming down. People are giving up on the labour market, Mr Bishop. They are giving up, because the jobs are not there for them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3aba311ed95484995371338a1fec6e0\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: It is the third-highest in the developed world.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266e0b33379ff4101bdbb8efc038612d9\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I would have thought Chris Bishop would get it\u2014the trend matters, Chris. It is the trend that matters. It is going the wrong way. They are the numbers that perhaps David Bennett might have wanted to focus on when he was looking at the Budget Policy Statement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EBut what I think is really missing from the Budget Policy Statement is the vision of the Government to create the economy of our future. What this Budget Policy Statement is really about is a Government that is stuck. It is a Government that does not really have any new ideas about what a new economy might look like, about how we can\u2014as David Bennett said\u2014support and invest in diversification of the economy. The Government was very keen, Mr Bennett, to crow about dairy prices when they were high, to take the credit, to have the Prime Minister charging his glass with Theo Spierings, to say \u201CIt\u2019s all on.\u201D, to make the best of his trip to China to start a new export line in there\u2014so, credit was being taken. But now, on the downturn\u2014we have farmers who are facing, potentially, what they themselves are calling a catastrophic situation. This is not the Opposition saying this; this is the farmers themselves. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EThere was the performance by the Prime Minister today, who decided that it was more important to throw political insults than to actually recognise what farmers are calling a catastrophic situation\u2014the possibility that there would be a drop in land value of more than 40 percent\u2014the fact that, potentially, we could have 40 percent of farmers in a position where they are not meeting the terms of their loans. This is tough stuff. Those communities are having a tough time. It is not right for the Government to suddenly say it does not matter anymore, because we have got tourism now. It is not actually a diversification strategy to let one industry collapse in the hope that that means another one looks better. The only reason tourism is now larger is that dairy has gone down. That is not diversification. That is not a Government in the 21st century being a partner in the economy\u2014being a partner in the economy\u2014and that is what regional New Zealand is calling out for. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EI absolutely accept that farmers are not looking to be bailed out by the Government; they do not want that. What they are looking for is a Government that will be a partner, that will get into those communities and work with local Government, work with businesses, and help to establish the kinds of industries, the kind of economy that can ride out the waves in the commodity cycle. Because in the end, that is what this Government is leaving us with\u2014an economy and economic growth that has been built on an over-inflated dairy price, the Christchurch rebuild, and the Auckland housing bubble. You could not get a less secure basis going forward from here, for the New Zealand economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EThis Budget Policy Statement misses the trick of planning an economy for the future. When we discussed this in the Finance and Expenditure Committee, it was quite clear when the Minister of Finance came in that his vision for the spending allowance for the future, which is here in the Budget Policy Statement, was to look at tax cuts. That was the only plan\u2014not to invest, not to create opportunity for future generations, but to squirrel that money away for 2017 and the election, and for tax cuts. We know, from what happened in 2010, where the National Party\u2019s focus for tax cuts will go. It goes to the top earners\u2014the top 10 percent getting 40 percent of the value of tax cuts. That is the focus for National and that is what it wants to do with the money that is here in new spending allowances. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EWell, I can tell you is that on this side of the House we are proud to say that what we want to do with Budgets of the future is use them to create opportunity for New Zealanders. That is why Labour has proposed, as a direct alternative to National\u2019s tax cuts, our Working Futures Plan, which says \u201CLet\u2019s use that money to earn\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3c8b8628d7f45fc929d737ff30c9d1a\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226585cf5b84784142ad809b4a4ef7e376\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Chris Bishop laughs. He does not care. He does not care whether or not when people leave secondary school they have got the ability to go on and get the qualifications that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246a05e76d96d44d7b9cab356ef97448d\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: I do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3e06fabf6f74c8e917c57361505cb57\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014that they need to add to the skill base that they need. \u201CI do\u201D\u2014I hear a high-pitched squeal from across the aisle. What we need is a policy like the Working Futures Plan that actually means that every single New Zealander will go on and get more qualifications, will be the skilled workforce that employers tell us time and time again they need, but there is no sign of that in this Budget Policy Statement. The Government thinks it can get away with 20th century approaches in the 21st century. That is not how we are going to grow the economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EWhat we want to see in the future is the Budget Policy Statement being used to define the kinds of measures that would make for a good society. By all means, we keep measuring GDP. Of course it is a very good way of measuring activity in the economy. But let us start measuring some other things in the Budget Policy Statement. Let us start measuring how we are doing in creating jobs, in lowering unemployment. Let us set as a goal that wherever you live in this country you should be able to get a decent job. That should be a goal of any Budget. Let us make it a goal to have targets in the Budget to reduce child poverty. Let us hear about them. The Government is so scared of that that it will not even set a target for child poverty, let alone use the Budget to actually measure it. Let us use the Budget to actually be honest about expenditure in health, because we heard David Bennett tell us that health expenditure as a percentage of GDP has gone up. It has not; it has gone down\u2014it has gone down. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EWe need to have a Budget that says we will set up the building blocks of society strongly: education, health, decent work, and getting kids out of poverty. That is what the Budget Policy Statement should be saying today\u2014a vision for how we will create opportunity and how we will create an economy that is based on diversification and on giving people an opportunity for decent work in the future. We are facing huge change in the workplace\u2014technological disruption, globalisation\u2014and we have got a flat-footed Government looking in the rear-view mirror. What is needed is a Budget Policy Statement that says today: \u201CWe will work with business, with local government, and with the community to create the jobs of the future, to give every New Zealander the dignity of a decent job backed up by a decent home, good education, and good health\u2014not allowing one child to grow up in poverty.\u201D That should be in the Budget Policy Statement. That would be in a Budget Policy Statement from a Labour Government. It is, sadly, missing today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022 data-id=\u00226842c1f34bf842b3a7897a0f094dfb29\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226842c1f34bf842b3a7897a0f094dfb29\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP (National):\u003C/span\u003E I do not know what planet Grant Robertson has been living on for the last few years, because just at the tail end of his speech we heard from him that the Budget Policy Statement should do other things than talk about GDP\u2014that we need to measure things like jobs and we need to measure things like wages. Well, we do measure those things, and the good news for Grant and the good news for the House\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002215a5453b61a14d509d08a770af3aa66c\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220329fd487f7141749696630f7327e988\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014is that jobs are up by 175,000 over the last few years, unemployment is down to its lowest level in 7 years, at 5.3 percent, real wages are up over the last 7 years, and just in the last year they are up 3.1 percent compared with inflation of 0.1 percent. We do measure those things, and those measures are heading in the right direction for this economy and, more important, for New Zealand families.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EWhat else did he say? He said: \u201CWe should have targets. Let\u2019s set some social targets.\u201D Well, again, we do do that. In 2012 we established the Better Public Services results programme, which sets the Public Service to measure itself against targets to reduce recidivism, to increase the number of kids getting National Certificate of Education Achievement level 2, and to reduce youth crime across a whole range of measures. Again, the good news for Grant and the good news for the House is that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f09413b00ab444529f2790194825608b\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! It is not acceptable for a member to continue to refer to another member by just a Christian name. If it happens again, I will stop the member\u2019s speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3419c09397147bbb6bd67f4e9073abe\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: I apologise, Mr Speaker. The good news for Mr Robertson is that those numbers are heading in the right direction. I want to talk, in my contribution today, about three things that are reflected in the Budget and reflected in the response from the Opposition. The first is fiscal strategy, the second is about our attitude to the outside world, and the third is about the tertiary policy, labelled the Working Futures Plan, of the Labour Opposition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI want to start with fiscal strategy, and I want to take members back to late 2008 when National inherited the Treasury benches. Members opposite often turn up in the House and they often skite about the fact that the Labour Government from 1999 to 2008 ran 9 years of surpluses, and that is false. The 2008-09 accounts, when they were produced, produced a $3.9 billion deficit. When we came to office, Treasury was forecasting never-ending Budget deficits and debt to blow out to 60 percent of GDP. These are not National\u2019s numbers; this was the fiscal reality we inherited from a profligate Opposition. Michael Cullen was gleeful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002255eed4d1ccdd43c0ad2928aac722b33c\u0022\u003EHon Annette King\u003C/span\u003E: Was it a reality or a prediction?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295cd3b749f01409782ad1eb1ea632ddb\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Mrs King\u2019s best mate, Michael Cullen, was gleeful. He went around Parliament saying: \u201CI\u2019ve spent the lot. The money\u2019s gone; I\u2019ve spent the lot.\u201D He used to crow about that\u2014about how there was no money left for anyone to spend. Government spending between 2003 and 2008 increased 50 percent in 5 years. It was simply unsustainable, and we had to spend 7 years getting the books back in order. That is reflected in the Budget Policy Statement presented before the House, and it will be reflected in Budget 2016. So this Budget Policy Statement reflects the considered fiscal discipline of the Government. New operating allowances for Budget 2016\u2014there is just $1 billion. There is $2.5 billion for 2017, and it is lower again in 2018 and 2019. These are well below the massive new operating allowances under the Labour Government. Labour used to say that we would never get the books back into the black. In fact, Andrew Little said that it was the biggest political con he had ever seen. It was pretty embarrassing for him when the 2014-15 Budget accounts showed a small\u2014albeit small\u2014but very definite surplus.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003ESo what is Labour\u2019s latest strategy? Labour\u2019s latest strategy is to turn up here and complain about debt. We have David Clark over there, and every day without fail\u2014you can set your watch by it\u2014he turns up here and says that we have borrowed more money than Muldoon did. Well, I put it to the House that that is a little hypocritical, because Labour spent 2009 and 2010 saying \u201CYou\u2019ve got to go on a massive deficit spending. You\u2019ve got to go on a debt-fuelled, Keynesian stimulus package to get the economy going.\u201D\u2014all of which involves borrowing. Then it left the Government a fiscal mess, it called for more borrowing, and then it had the temerity to turn round and criticise the very borrowing that is maintaining social entitlements and the social welfare safety net. That is, of course, without considering Labour\u2019s current fiscal plans, which is a massive spending blowout on wasteful and ineffective programmes such as subsidised macram\u00E9 classes and Moroccan cooking.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003ESecondly, I want to talk about what this Budget Policy Statement demonstrates about our attitude towards the outside world, because that is now a major fault line in New Zealand politics. Budget 2015, which is reflected in the policy statement that we considered in the Finance and Expenditure Committee, contains support for a range of measures to support an outward-facing, confident New Zealand competing hard in a rapidly globalising and changing world. Our prosperity depends on increasing our global competitiveness, expanding our markets overseas, and building on those international connections. But, sadly for New Zealand, Labour has spent these past 7 years becoming more and more hostile to free trade, foreign investment, and now even migration to New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI do want to talk about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, because this is the apex of foreign and trade policy of New Zealand for the last 30 years, and it is truly sad that the Labour Party that started the TPP programme\u2014the Labour Government that started it\u2014will not back it now. Phil Goff knows it is good for New Zealand. Helen Clark knows it is good for New Zealand. The Labour members\u2019 heads are down; they do not want to engage with this point. Helen Clark knows it is good for New Zealand. She says it is unthinkable that we would not be a part of it. David Shearer knows it is good for New Zealand; he is just not allowed to say so publicly, because he is not running for the Auckland mayoralty. Phil Goff knows it is good for New Zealand. Mike Moore knows it is good. In fact, there is barely a Labour leader still alive who does not think it is a good deal for New Zealand, other than Andrew Little. So the reality is that it is unthinkable, as Helen Clark says, that we would not be a part of it. Their arguments on this are hopeless.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI will tell you what happened today. The Government ratified a thing called the Maritime Labour Convention. Do you know what this convention does? It is an international agreement, and it commits the New Zealand Government to introducing measures to address the health, safety, and welfare of seafarers on commercial vessels. It is an international agreement, it is binding international law, it commits the New Zealand Government to doing various things under international law, and it means that we have to bring our domestic law into compliance with it. It is the Maritime Labour Convention. Have we heard a word from the Labour Party about this \u201Cterrible international agreement that affects our sovereignty\u201D? No. It wants to focus only on the TPP agreement, which is exactly the same in principle as the Maritime Labour Convention: it is an international agreement, it commits New Zealand to doing things on the world stage, and it means that we have to change our laws. So the Labour Party\u2019s major argument about the TPP is that it affects our sovereignty. Well, so does the Maritime Labour Convention, so I am looking forward to the outraged press releases, the questions in Parliament, and the roadshows up and down the country about this \u201Coutrageous, flagrant breach of our sovereignty\u201D, which is an international agreement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EThe reality is that the Labour Party is giving into its worst instincts. It is backsliding to a 1970s Fortress New Zealand, nostalgic view of New Zealand, and the sad reality is that half the caucus actually knows it, but they are just so frightened of the hard-core left of the political spectrum losing support for them. We know the Greens can never be relied upon for free trade; Labour used to be able to be relied upon, but not anymore. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003ELastly, quickly, just on tertiary policy, this Budget Policy Statement continues this Government\u2019s strong support for tertiary education. We just heard Grant Robertson skite about Labour\u2019s Working Futures Plan. Labour is desperate for a big-bang start to the year. It is desperate to grab the public\u2019s attention. So what did it do? It went right back to its student union roots\u2014the Labour Party leadership went right back to the things it knows best. What does it know best? What do Grant Robertson, Andrew Little, and Chris Hipkins know best? They know all about spending on tertiary education. Is it not indicative of their political priorities? After carping for 5 years about child poverty, they materialise\u2014they magic up\u2014$1.2 billion to spend. What do they spend it on\u2014child poverty? No. Social housing? No. They spend it on the things that they know best: money for students. Now, I am the first to defend support for students, but not the policy that the Labour Party is promoting. It would be ineffective\u2014it is ineffective\u2014it would be inequitable, and it is regressive. The Labour Party, which started the student loan scheme, should be defending it as one of the most progressive and successful public policy achievements of any party, of any Government\u2014it should not be trying to destroy it. This was a great Budget, and it is reflective of a country that is ambitious and confident and heading in the right direction, led by an ambitious and confident Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u0022d6f41e724a0d4d368119cd925995387e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d6f41e724a0d4d368119cd925995387e\u0022\u003EDr DAVID CLARK (Labour\u2014Dunedin North):\u003C/span\u003E Chris Bishop, the last member of Parliament who spoke, is spouting the same lines that we have heard from this Government for 8 years. We are hearing the mantra, but no one believes the mantra any more because it cannot back it up with evidence. This Government has borrowed more than Muldoon\u2014the member referred to that, and it is true\u2014and that is because it has not managed the economy well. Sadly, it has not done what is best for New Zealanders. It has not taken the opportunity to diversify the economy. It inherited zero net debt, and now it is up to around $86 billion\u2014$86 billion in debt. That is thousands of dollars for each and every New Zealander that the Government has borrowed. That is debt that will hang round the necks of future generations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EThe last Labour Government grew the economy. I was not there, so I cannot claim credit for this, but it grew the economy by 25 percent\u201425 percent\u2014and that is by two different measures. I have done the analysis myself\u201425 percent\u2014and that is a quarter bigger than it was before that Labour Government came in. It is possible to support health and social spending when you are growing the economy at that rate. Unfortunately, this Government has had the worst economic record of any Government at all in the last 50 years. Inequalities are growing\u2014inequalities are growing. The homeownership rate in New Zealand is the lowest it has been since 1951. Since 1951 the homeownership rate has not been so low in this country, and it is little wonder that the OECD just over a year ago came out with a study that said that the New Zealand economy has been held back by 15 percent\u2014a whole 15 percent\u2014because of growing inequalities in this country over recent decades. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EMembers opposite know very well what contemporary economists are saying\u2014that, indeed, if you have all of your citizens contributing to the economy, it grows. It is not rocket science. If you have kids going to school hungry, they do not then turn up and learn at school. In fact, they are more likely to end up in the justice system because they are antisocial, because they believe society is against them. Well, actually, it probably is\u2014it probably is\u2014if they go to school hungry. Their opportunity to learn and contribute is inhibited by growing inequalities. We know, also, that when there are great inequalities, people make choices that are about maximising their own lot rather than about contributing to society because they are worried about the prosperity and well-being of those around them. So they do not necessarily make the choice to follow career paths that are best for the wider society, and that is disappointing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EWe also know, on top of that, that infrastructure spending gets neglected by Governments that are growing inequalities, because the wealthy can afford the infrastructure they need through the private sector. And hang their heads they might\u2014those members have all got their heads down. I can understand that, because they know it is true. They know that inequalities are growing under this Government. We can look around the regions. Almost every region in New Zealand has an infrastructure for broadband below the national average. All of the regions have New Zealand Transport Agency spending below the national average. That Government is focused on building holiday highways in wealthy areas, and it is not focused on what will actually grow the economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EThe OECD\u2014the West\u2019s economic thinktank\u2014says that investing in the regions is the way to grow the economy. That is where the big gains lie because you have got underutilised infrastructure. I bet that the member opposite for Waitaki appreciates that investment in her electorate would be a good thing but, instead, her Government is neglecting investment in the regions. It is cutting funding to hospitals. Her own local hospital is under threat for its funding, and that is a shame, in my view. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EThe opportunity lies in the regions. Investment in the infrastructure in the regions has a more productive and larger return for less cost, and still most of New Zealand live in the regions. We cannot afford a two-speed economy. Ask Aucklanders whether they want more people to move in there, and most of them will say no.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dfa851f0-ef7b-4834-bc41-1b3b645a3495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b112581a44fc4cf2853ffb6b54f0f97a\u0022\u003EDavid Shearer\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002251da7022a4a645499977ea6b863d6e53\u0022\u003EDr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: Actually, there is one right behind me backing me up on that. That is because of overcapacity. The infrastructure is there in the regions and it is good for the whole economy if we invest in the regions, and yet the Government continues to neglect them. This Government continues to neglect those regions. It ignores the OECD and ignores contemporary economists, and instead it is focused on an ideological centralisation campaign that is straight out of a 1980s textbook and proven not to work. It is off-track, and that will result, of course\u2014as we have seen\u2014in increased borrowing, in a sluggish economy, and in a managed decline. Sadly, that is what this Government is going to be known for when history reviews its progress. It started with such aspiration and promise, and New Zealanders are now disappointed when they see Budgets that are focused on managed decline. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EThe next Labour Government will restore the Kiwi Dream. It will enable ordinary Kiwis to get ahead. We will make sure that ordinary Kiwis can earn decent wages again. We will be focused on diversifying the economy, on generating higher incomes, and on generating jobs. We are the party that is looking at the future of work because we are forward-looking. We are an intergenerational party. We are not interested in short-term returns. We are interested in what is good for New Zealand in the longer term. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EThose people opposite are more interested, it seems, in getting re-elected. They borrow. They borrow for pet projects like holiday highways and they neglect the basic infrastructure that we need as a country\u2014the broadband implementation, and so on\u2014to get ahead. They are behind the eight ball, and history will find that to be true. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EWe back an economy that works for all of us, but those members are distracted as well\u2014I guess that is the other point I would like to make. We have seen it in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment today. Minister Joyce confessed that he had known about payroll issues that have been specifically brought up since last October, and when asked about the 2010 review, he fudged an answer. These issues that the ministry has with its payroll have been known about for a very long time. The private sector knows about it. There are payroll companies that advertise, as their point of difference, that they are compliant with the law. There are payroll companies that advertise, as their point of difference, that they are compliant with the law and the Holidays Act. This Government has known about the issue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EIn fact, most Government departments have been compliant on Holidays Act payments. Only Mr Joyce\u2019s agency, which is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Holidays Act, has failed, and also the police. The police have already addressed their issue. Mr Joyce is dragging his toes again, and that sends an obvious signal to the wider public sector that it should not have to fix up its problems either. But this is of Mr Joyce\u2019s making, because this should have been fixed early. National has been in Government for 8 years, and yet it is dealing with the distraction of payrolls within Government departments that do not even pay their employees what they deserve. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EThis is going to be an issue that is worth tens of millions of dollars\u2014and is likely to be hundreds of millions of dollars\u2014to New Zealanders. They have been denied the correct back-pay for Holidays Act entitlements. That is the kind of issue the Government ends up dealing with because it is not focused on what matters to ordinary New Zealanders. It ends up fixing problems, and not looking to the future and looking to how it can grow the economy like the last Labour Government did. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003ELabour has forward-looking policies. We will back the Kiwi Dream. We will back New Zealanders who want to get opportunities through the tertiary education sector. We will provide fees-free post-secondary education for 3 years. A plan has been laid out to achieve that. It is an affordable one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd825aa969074333bc573f15949d46b9\u0022\u003EAlastair Scott\u003C/span\u003E: Tax and borrow\u2014that\u2019s the way. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e303c17dd50f4d4e82c6a418c80a1317\u0022\u003EDr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: The member opposite brings up tax. His Government has borrowed\u2014has borrowed\u2014$86 billion, as I said earlier. I find it deeply ironic. It borrowed $86 billion to fund the 2010 tax package, which gave a huge tax break to the top 1 percent, while ordinary Kiwis got a smaller tax break, which was more than swallowed up in a GST increase of 15 percent. That was a broken promise from Mr Key. Those members are focused on making sure the 1 percent are looked after and again and again and again the rest of New Zealand is neglected, and that, unfortunately, is also those in the middle. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EThis Government is distracted. We know it is focused on hair straighteners, barbecue sundecks, and Christmas parties with blow-up sheep. It is focused on doing deals with Skycity that the Auditor-General called neither transparent nor even-handed. It is distracted by all of these issues and not focused on the future. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EResearch and development tax credits\u2014around the world they are the gold standard for encouraging innovation. What is the Government doing about that? Absolutely nothing. There is silence from the other side. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EWhat is the Government doing about curbing property speculation? Well, we have just seen with the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that the Government did not even ask for non-resident foreign buyers to be banned from buying houses, as a right for future Governments to legislate about. Singapore, Australia, Viet Nam, and plenty of other countries asked to look after their own economic interests. This lot were asleep at the wheel. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003ESo it is blatantly obvious that those members are focused on sorting out the problems that they have. They have got some trouble within their own ranks and some disagreements. They are starting to position because they know that Mr Key\u2019s popularity is fading, and they are not a Government focused on the future. A Labour Government will ensure that the Kiwi Dream is restored, that people can own their own homes once more, and that New Zealand preserves its sovereign right and acts in the interests of ordinary New Zealanders, not just the 1 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022 data-id=\u0022bca4e01677b4497a85e661879b97d570\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bca4e01677b4497a85e661879b97d570\u0022\u003EJACQUI DEAN (National\u2014Waitaki):\u003C/span\u003E It is a little dispiriting, listening to Labour members\u2019 contribution after contribution, because they clearly have not learnt the lessons of the previous Labour Government. The big elephant in the room, which Labour never, ever refers to, is the entrenched level of Government spending that was on an upward track, which was going to for ever\u2014for ever\u2014saddle New Zealanders with unproductive debt. They never want to talk about that, but that was the prime legacy Labour left New Zealand when it went out of Government. Through all those 9 years of good economic times, what did Labour do? It entrenched Government spending. What did Bill English do when he took the Treasury benches? What did this National Government do? It determined to turn that round. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EI am so pleased to be speaking in this Budget Policy Statement debate because the fiscal projections show that this National Government has tackled that issue over successful Budgets, and once again promises to do that in Budget 2016. I just want to go briefly through the Government\u2019s fiscal strategy. What New Zealanders have appreciated about this National Government is that it has had a constant message to New Zealanders, and that is about managing the economy. We have turned round that entrenched Government expenditure that Labour so lavishly\u2014tax and spend; that is Labour. Labour has not learnt the message. It has taken us 7 years to achieve a surplus, but we have done it. It is so dispiriting to hear Labour members. They just do not understand economics, and they keep peddling the same story\u2014more subsidies for students, as if that is going to fix the economy. They are simplistic, and their arguments certainly do not stack up. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EI want, for a moment, to go through the fiscal priorities: No. 1 is maintaining an operating surplus \u201Cover the forecast period\u201D, which is the period under question, \u201Cso that cash surpluses are generated and net government debt begins to reduce in dollar terms\u201D\u2014tackling Government debt. No. 2 is \u201Creducing net government debt to around 20 per cent of GDP in 2020 and, in the medium term, reducing net debt to within a range of 0 per cent to 20 per cent of GDP\u201D\u2014reducing net Government debt. No. 3 is \u201Cimplementing a new funding policy for the Accident Compensation Corporation\u201D, and that follows previous levy reductions. New Zealanders have benefited from significant and substantial ACC levy reductions. I know that in my part of New Zealand, people certainly appreciate that. No. 4 is \u201Cif economic and fiscal conditions allow, beginning to reduce income taxes from Budget 2017\u201D, and that is income tax reductions for all New Zealanders. No. 5 is \u201Cusing any further fiscal headroom\u2014including from positive revenue surprises\u2014to reduce net debt faster.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003ESo that is the constant message, the constant economic direction, that this Government has shown. Our priorities for this Budget are the same as they have been the whole time we have been in Government, except maybe for the last one. \u201CResponsibly managing the Government\u2019s finances\u201D\u2014we have done that. Bill English has returned a Government surplus. \u201CBuilding a more productive and competitive economy\u201D\u2014it will give me great pleasure, in a minute or two, to talk about my part of New Zealand and how the economy is doing in regional New Zealand, in the South Island. No. 3 \u201Cdelivering better public services within tight financial constraints\u201D\u2014that is something Labour simply does not understand. To Labour, all you need to do to fix something is throw more money at it. That is a recipe for economic disaster, and the last Labour Government certainly showed us that. \u201CRebuilding Christchurch\u201D\u2014it is so easy to forget Christchurch. I believe Labour has forgotten Christchurch. I believe Labour has forgotten the extraordinary economic impact that the Christchurch earthquakes have had, not just on the country\u2019s economy but also on individuals. It is so heartening to see our own members of Parliament supporting Christchurch people through the last 3 terrible years that they have experienced with the rebuild. It is so good to see\u2014it is so good to see\u2014that this Government still has as a major priority the rebuild of Christchurch. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EHave we heard that from Labour today? Have we ever heard that from the Greens? No, this House has not heard that as a priority, because those parties have simply forgotten Christchurch. It is so important to New Zealanders, it is so important to people in my constituency, that we do not talk ourselves down, and what do we hear from the other side of the House? A constant talking-down of New Zealand. I do not believe that that does New Zealanders or our economy or the way we are viewed in the world\u2014we are a trading nation\u2014any good. I do not believe that that benefits us at all. Luckily, this Government understands well and truly its place in the world, and we will be unrelentingly positive. We will be unrelentingly optimistic for the future of the New Zealand economy and for the future of New Zealanders. That is why we are focused on issues that matter to New Zealanders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EThis Government continues to keep a tight rein on spending. It is so important that we deliver those Better Public Services, health, education, welfare, and law and order, of course, and we are continuing to build businesses through the Business Growth Agenda. New Zealand is experiencing growth: 2.3 percent economic growth in 2015, and growth is expected to average more than 3 percent over 2016 and 2017. These are not rates of growth that are experienced by other countries that we trade with, and we should celebrate that rate of growth and support the strategies that support that growth. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EThe previous speaker for Labour decried the fact, in his view, that there was little investment in the regions, so I am just going to take a moment, with the indulgence of the Chair, to talk about my region, the beautiful electorate of Waitaki. Dairying is a very important activity in the Waitaki electorate. We are very fortunate that our farmers in Waitaki, particularly those who are involved in dairy, are resilient. Many of them have been through the fluctuations of commodity prices in the past. They understand farming through commodity price changes, and they are prepared for the lean years that are ahead, much assisted, I have to say, by the introduction in South Canterbury, North Otago, and Central Otago of irrigation. Whereas before, drought years\u2014and we have had many and they have been severe\u2014have had a bad economic impact on those areas of Waitaki, the direct investment by this Government in something as simple as irrigation has had a profound effect on our local economy. Wine exports are now worth $1.5 billion, and that is up by 14 percent in the last year. A portion of that can be attributed to Central Otago wine growers, which is an industry that, again, is contributing to our GDP. Tourism is a huge growth area in Waitaki. Growth is 10 percent year on year on year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EInvestment in our regional economies is very strong under this Government. We have Primary Growth Partnerships\u2014there are a number of initiatives in our region. Free-trade agreements\u2014of course, cherries through the Korea free-trade agreement. The Trans-Pacific Partnership\u2014dairy will benefit, beef will benefit, sheep meat will benefit, wine will benefit. It is hugely exciting to those people in South Canterbury, North Otago, and Central Otago. There is the regional investment attraction programme; there is more science and technology investment; there are regional growth studies\u2014that is going to point the way to future investment in our regions. We have ultra-fast and rural broadband. We are so connected\u2014we are one of the most connected regions in New Zealand. There is potential in our regions that is being realised by this Government. This is a good Budget in the making, and I am very pleased to have made a contribution to this debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u002281e5e3fb391946539253ae64baf335ea\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002281e5e3fb391946539253ae64baf335ea\u0022\u003EJULIE ANNE GENTER (Green):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e Te Whare. I rise to speak on the Budget Policy Statement. This document has a whole lot of areas that I would like to speak to, but I want to start by focusing on the second Budget priority of this Government, which is called \u201CBuilding a more productive and competitive economy\u201D. Who could disagree with this objective? It is like motherhood and apple pie.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThe Green Party does not take issue with a competitive or productive economy; we would just say National\u2019s policies are not actually going to deliver that, and even if they were going to deliver that, being competitive and productive is not sufficient to create good lives for New Zealanders. The Green Party would also like to prioritise a fairer and cleaner economy, because that is what is going to make us better off in the long run. An economy that protects our precious natural environment and makes all people in New Zealand able to live healthier, happier lives is one that we should all be aspiring to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EIn the eighth year of this National Government we are starting to see just how short-term and unsustainable National\u2019s approach to the economy is. Its approach has seemed to boil down to an oversimplified and incorrect assumption that more is always better\u2014in particular, doing more of what we have already been doing. We should keep doing more of that, according to National. Anyone watching at home probably knows that more is not always better. We like that piece of chocolate cake. It is delicious, right? So if one piece of chocolate cake is good for us, metaphorically more is even better. But each piece of chocolate cake we eat in a row will bring us diminishing pleasure, until eventually it makes us sick. So how does this play out in the economy? New Zealand had a successful dairy industry, and in the last decade we were making some decent money off it. Well, National thought: \u201CGreat. We\u2019ve got it. The best way to get richer is to convert more land to intensive dairy, make twice as much milk powder, and sell it overseas. So we are going to set a target of doubling primary exports and put in place a bunch of policies that favour increasing the volume of primary exports.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI heard finance Minister Bill English say today something to the effect of: \u201COh, it\u2019s got nothing to do with us. Individual farmers weighed up the costs and benefits themselves and made the decision to jump on the dairy bandwagon.\u201D But they did not make that decision in isolation from Government policy. Let us just look at the facts. National\u2019s Business Growth Agenda target is to double primary sector exports by 2025. It does not specifically mention dairy in the primary industries policy, but dairy contributes just over 40 percent of New Zealand\u2019s primary industries export revenue. Therefore, it would not be unreasonable to suggest that the policy aim is for the dairy sector to double by 2025.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI think it is fair to say that National has been encouraging farmers to go for volume rather than value. For example, it has provided a whole lot of subsidies for irrigation schemes, which encourage farmers to take on more debt to fund dairy intensification. The Government has allocated $120 million to Crown Irrigation Investments Ltd, out of a potential $400 million in funding. Total Government spending on irrigation to 2016 will be $160 million. Another policy that National had: Landcorp, the Government\u2019s farmer, was engaging in one of the biggest dairy conversions in the southern hemisphere. Of course, in the wake of the dairy price fall Landcorp has subsequently wound back this plan by half, and its chief executive officer was saying this week: \u201CThe days of New Zealand continuing to expand its dairy footprint are largely coming to a close.\u201D So there is some acknowledgment amongst people in the industry that more is not better, and it is not anti-farmer to say that there are costs and risks in expansion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EIn fact, it would have been better for the original farmers\u2014the existing farmers, especially the ones who are looking after the environment, trying to use water well\u2014if the National Government had put a price on the commercial use of water, had put in meaningful water quality standards to uphold the quality of our rivers, and had put a moratorium on dairy conversions. All of that would have protected existing farmers from having to compete with new farms for water and having to deal with increased pollution pressure on our waterways. And, of course, the lack of a meaningful price on carbon and the lack of the inclusion of agriculture in the emissions trading scheme meant that there was even more pressure or incentive to switch from forestry to dairy. This was under the National Government\u2019s watch.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EDebt soared during the dairy boom, when the payout in 2013 and 2014 jumped to over $8 a kilogram. People leapt on the bandwagon then to buy dairy farms at inflated prices or paid high prices to convert forest and other pastoral land to dairy. That would not have happened if we had had a different set of policies that were encouraging a more balanced approach to both farming and to economic development. So those conversions are actually a big part of the problem that we are facing today. They happened when we did not have a price on water or a meaningful carbon price, and that made forestry less economic than it would have otherwise been.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI will give the Government this: the National members have been masters of rhetoric over the past 8 years\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022150054b4bbeb4e518236b3f2ace06bbe\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237c353336cd04ed2ae0228b7c359fb0a\u0022\u003EJULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha! And that continues in the speeches from the Government members. Its MPs have been very disciplined and consistent in using their slogans to assert the values of strong economic management and to distract from any legitimate criticism or debate of its policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226478ea8ccf80451b8c40ee3a0ed3a3cf\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, you\u2019ve been very loud in your criticism.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ca14afb0ea0419ab118a5c80b8ae382\u0022\u003EJULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: No, National does not want to engage in a constructive debate about whether or not its policies are going to achieve the stated objectives, so its members always resort to the straw man argument. So when the Green Party has said there are costs and risks in dairy expansion, in the next conversion from forestry or pasture to intensive dairy, the National Party has said: \u201CThe Green Party hates farmers. The Green Party is anti-farming; they want to shoot all dairy cows.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EObviously, that is not what we are saying. We are saying that, probably, doubling the production of dairy is not the best way to protect existing farmers and ensure that they are doing well, nor is it the best way to develop our economy if we want to have a long-term, sustained prosperity that protects our environment and adds value to those goods that we are selling overseas. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EBut National says: \u201CIf you criticise our policies that are encouraging the expansion of dairy, then you are against all dairy.\u201D That is not what the Green Party has said, and it is certainly not what we are saying now. We see some things similar with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement\u2014if anyone raises criticisms or questions about the costs of the TPP agreement to the New Zealand taxpayer and the New Zealand economy in the medium term, the National Party asserts: \u201CWell, you must be anti-trade. The Green Party hates trade.\u201D That is what we hear from the National Party. That is a straw man argument, because National has failed to address the serious questions and concerns about the costs of the TPP agreement, as compared with the benefits. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EAnd if we say today that National\u2019s failed policies promoting the expansion of dairy has not served farmers, has not served our environment, and has not served our economy\u2014and we need to learn some lessons from that\u2014its response is \u201CWell, if you actually care about farmers, then, one, you won\u2019t support the protection of our waterways, you shouldn\u2019t.\u201D, but also, we should, therefore, sign up to all of the provisions in the TPP agreement, even those ones which we know are going to cost the New Zealand taxpayer and the New Zealand economy in the medium term.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003ELet us have a real debate about policy. The Green Party is not opposed to reducing tariffs, but I do not think it is anti-trade to acknowledge the fact that the gains for our economy as a whole, from the TPP agreement, are marginal at best. And for dairy, it is a reduction in costs of only $102 million, by the time it is fully implemented, on exports of $4.6 billion. So that is only a 2 percent gain. Is that going to make up for the big drop in global dairy prices? Certainly not. The Green Party is pro-trade, and we want trade agreements that level the playing field, just like we want meaningful environmental standards that level the playing field here in New Zealand so that those responsible farmers can thrive and the other farmers are forced to clean up their act. That is how we get a thriving economy. And we want the same thing on a global scale; we want trade agreements that level the playing field by protecting environments and people, not by protecting the ability of multinational corporates to maximise their profits at the expense of taxpayers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThe Green Party supports policy that will protect the things that matter most: our pristine natural environment, our most vulnerable people. By doing that first\u2014by putting people and the planet first\u2014that is how we can create an\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u002253b5fc282aff4cae9b694faccc9f76ee\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002253b5fc282aff4cae9b694faccc9f76ee\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022 data-id=\u00224b3fcbcbf6c74775b323b9030239d999\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224b3fcbcbf6c74775b323b9030239d999\u0022\u003EFLETCHER TABUTEAU (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E I do have to admit that I was listening to David Bennett when he first got up to contribute to the debate this afternoon\u2014and I regretted it as soon as I started doing it. I regretted it because, once again, the chairman of the Finance and Expenditure Committee had nothing to contribute to the debate. He simply added to the rhetoric and he added to the spin. He simply repeated what the rest of that party over there has been telling New Zealand for the last couple of years. I will give him the concession, at least, that he is in good company on that side of the House. So I stopped listening to Mr Bennett. I did stop listening.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003ENot that far through the debate\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224332052ca9cd452cbab3e11fae5f8957\u0022\u003EPita Paraone\u003C/span\u003E: Here was Mr Bishop.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a5d0f1ba8e540c7b0753aec7c803028\u0022\u003EFLETCHER TABUTEAU\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, that is exactly right. I thought: \u201CHere\u2019s Mr Bishop. This guy\u2014he\u2019s got some nous.\u201D But let me qualify that as soon as I say that. All he did was attack the Labour Party. All he did was talk about policy that is over a decade old. He talked about what the Labour Party had done, and he said nothing, contributed nothing, to what this Government has to contribute in terms of the Budget Policy Statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003EHe did allude to better trade; in fact, it seems to be a common theme. Mr Bishop did talk about the fact that we need more trade and better trade. New Zealand First and the caucus with me here this afternoon could not agree more with that sentiment. This country needs trade. We need better trade. But the reality is\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022475cbc189c0348a4b104f7937d85be31\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: Smart trade.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2b2ae14e7384313a76110a5a97fac5d\u0022\u003EFLETCHER TABUTEAU\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, smart trade. The reality is that that is not what Mr Bishop was talking about when he rose for his contribution this afternoon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003EAs rampant immigration grows, it places\u2014and it has placed\u2014a temporary band-aid on the GDP figures of the New Zealand economy at the moment. What that rampant immigration\u2014especially going into Auckland, which clearly cannot cope with it\u2014has done is increase the consumptive economy of New Zealand, thereby kind of hiding the reality that this Government has contributed nothing of substance, in terms of a Budget or in terms of policy statements; nothing substantive to grow this New Zealand economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First agrees that GDP has increased. But when I talk about a band-aid\u2014if you break the numbers down, what you see with the increase of new people in New Zealand is that, actually, when you look at it per person, GDP either, arguably, remains the same, or, some of the numbers suggest, it has actually gone backwards. GDP per capita is going in the wrong direction, and that is an indictment on the very real reality that that Government has done nothing meaningful to grow this economy. The only meaningful thing that it has contributed is to the media, in terms of spin and rhetoric\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a930968bc104dfdae9e7be0dc4a16f9\u0022\u003ETim Macindoe\u003C/span\u003E: \u201CRhet-oric\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f2fc96e451248c09e30e2139150d6d3\u0022\u003EFLETCHER TABUTEAU\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you for the qualification, Mr Macindoe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003EThis country is going backwards, so although the members opposite speak publicly of prudent and sensible fiscal management, the reality is that behind closed doors, Ministers are panicking. They should not blame Labour any more, but they did it this afternoon. They cannot blame the global financial crisis any more, but they actually did that this afternoon as well. They cannot blame Christchurch any more, but, what do you know, they did that this afternoon as well. But although they spin these numbers, the country goes backwards. All the while, as they talk about prudent financial and fiscal management, this country\u2019s debt has climbed from what some argue was zero but what I would suggest was $18 billion, which is negligible in the scheme of things, to\u2014let us put this in perspective\u2014$100 billion. There is $100 billion of debt under this Government\u2019s so-called prudential management.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003EThe people on our farms and the people in our regions are looking on, and they are looking at this Government confused and, I daresay, disappointed by the spin and rhetoric. Although Steven Joyce, the \u201CMinister for Everything\u201D and the Minister who can fix everything\u2014except a by-election\u2014creates regional strategies, which are dismissed by the very people who contributed to them and by the very people who wanted to contribute to them, the Government has lost an opportunity to actually grow our regional economies. \u201CMr Fix-it\u201D can say something is being done, but the people of our regions can see through the veneer, and, all too soon, the people at home will be able to see through it. They will be able to see through the spin themselves\u2014but it will be all too late, I suggest.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003ERecently, and perhaps not surprisingly, the Prime Minister has gone on an attack campaign, pre-empting any discussion on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). He has been saying to New Zealand that dairy farmers, in particular\u2014and his trade Minister has actually been including wood processing in this argument, for some bizarre reason\u2014will get better under the TPP. He keeps talking about those 800 million people, that customer base. He says it as if we are not exporting to them already; as if, somehow, if we do not sign this agreement we are going to miss out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003ELet us put that into perspective and let us get some facts straight, right at the moment. Prime Minister, there are no tariff reductions for dairy in the TPP. Let us be very clear: the world price will continue to be the world price, no matter whom you trade with\u2014$3.90 will continue to be $3.90. Let us not ignore that reality. Further, in terms of the TPP agreement itself, let us not ignore some of the detail. Let us acknowledge the fact that the US, for example, has a side letter with Japan that enables them to have preferential treatment in terms of US dairy exports into Japan\u2014it completely sidelines New Zealand. Where is the benefit in that for us? That is actually ignoring, also, the fact that Japan, Canada, and the US are the most heavily subsidised nations on earth when it comes to their farming and dairy industries. This is what John Key and Bill English say our farmers will be competing with? That is farcical. It will not happen, and our farmers will be losing out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003EAs for the 800 million people, the Prime Minister implies that we will miss out if we do not sign the agreement. I quote his trade Minister, who talks about wood processing: \u201CIndustry exports to TPP members already total a whopping $1.5 billion.\u201D We are already there, Prime Minister. We are not missing out. But then, to be fair, Mr McClay talks about those huge, gigantic tariff savings\u2014he is on record, it is in the media. He is quoted as saying \u201Cthese gigantic savings\u201D. He keeps talking about them. To the Minister of Trade: let me put that into perspective for you. The tariff reductions total $11 million in an already $1.5 billion industry. That is less than a 1 percent gain on those tariff reductions, and fluctuations in our currency will have an infinitely greater effect than this measly reduction could possibly hope to achieve.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003EIn fact, the reality is\u2014I have gone out to industries; I want to talk with them and engage. I have asked them: \u201CWhat does the TPP mean to you?\u201D. The wood processing industry in particular, for example, has said: \u201CIt means nothing to us. We haven\u2019t even processed what the Government is talking about.\u201D Do you know why? What they are worried about is the fact that all of our logs are being bought up by foreign companies and are being shipped directly offshore. Our local processors are finally in a position to make money out of logs in New Zealand; they have got the technology, they have leveraged themselves, they are there, and they are ready. But the logs are being shipped overseas, because clever foreign corporates have bought up our entire forestry. It does not make sense. Then you talk about \u201Cwood first\u201D policies, and the Government does not want to know about it. Encourage the development of wood industries in New Zealand, and the Government does not want to know.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e11a5f05-1940-41b2-8f1e-911dba7a43a5\u0022\u003EThis Budget Policy Statement needs to be talking about the future. Mr Bishop has a wonderful head for the history of this kind of thing, but nowhere in his contribution did he talk about how we move forward and what needs to be done for the people of New Zealand. New Zealand First cannot support any of this Budget Policy Statement; it is a spin document that holds no meaning for the people of New Zealand in our regions, in our farms, and in our homes. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022 data-id=\u002247f82d3840014d8897a5391521256157\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002247f82d3840014d8897a5391521256157\u0022\u003EHon CRAIG FOSS (Minister for Small Business):\u003C/span\u003E The previous speaker, Fletcher Tabuteau, was very interesting\u2014well, maybe for 30 seconds. I just note that the Finance and Expenditure Committee\u2019s report on the Budget Policy Statement, unless I find a minority report in here\u2014actually, I am sure that member sits on the Finance and Expenditure Committee, or one of his party members does\u2014is a unanimous report from the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Budget Policy Statement. So what the member has just said here\u2014I cannot quite see, perhaps I missed it. I welcome the member to point me to that bit where New Zealand First says it does not support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), where New Zealand First says it is not supporting Christchurch, where New Zealand First, essentially, says it is putting New Zealand last. I will come back to that in a minute. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThis is a very good report from the Finance and Expenditure Committee; it is almost as good as the glory days of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, 2008-11\u2014they were the days. They were the glory days, and I see the members are working hard to bring themselves up to that awesome, awesome level we had not too many years ago. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThe Budget Policy Statement is part of a series of documents, of papers, in and around the financial settings for the Government, the BPS that we have here\u2014not to be confused with the Better Public Services, of course, which is very strongly linked in here. The Budget itself, the half-year update, the full-year update\u2014of course, which is the Budget\u2014and, of course, the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update, which is also one of the very important series of documents in the transparency of the Government or taxpayers\u2019 accounts across the country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThe reason I raise the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update and the half-year update is that the member the Hon Annette King earlier seemed to be somehow dismissing the validity of some of the numbers that the National members were using in their speeches. There were examples such as endless debt, debt going to 60 percent of GDP, ongoing\u2014a peeking out of revenue, but an ongoing, almost exponential growth, in expenditure. Perhaps, some members are forgetting something from a few years ago or, perhaps, they are new\u2014just go have a look, members, at the pre-election update of October 2008. Have a look at that document, which actually makes the half-year update not long after that more sober reading. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThat was a document that described and noted that New Zealand had been in recession, as we all knew, for 1 year prior to the global financial crisis\u2014and, of course, the global financial crisis, the rampant inflation, and the rampant interest rates caused by prolific spending and out-of-control Ministers and ministries across Government resulted in a chaotic economy, which National did inherit. Admittedly, yes, that was a good few years ago now, but we are still dealing with the consequences of it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EWhen small businesses talk to me\u2014or even just households, New Zealanders talk about their mortgage. Many floating mortgages are now sub-5 percent. It does not take much to remind them of the cost to them, their family, their home, their business. A 10-plus percent mortgage was a devastating cost for their family, for their confidence, for their business. Just imagine, listeners and those watching, if your mortgage suddenly went to about 10 percent, because that is what it was not that long ago. The policy settings still favoured by the Opposition resulted in 10-plus percent mortgages for you and your family. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EAnother member was talking about GDP growth over the Labour term. I am not sure whether he was talking net, real\u2014I think he was talking gross, because when you have got 5 percent inflation, which we had under the Labour Government, and we are in recession or near recession for a good few years, I am not sure how we would get to the astronomical figures that he was describing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EOther members have talked about Christchurch, and Christchurch has been blamed, or something\u2014this Government does not blame Christchurch for one thing, one iota. This Government stands beside Christchurch; we continue to stand beside Christchurch, be it economically, morally, fiscally, and we are doing all that we can to rebuild that city. Members opposite seem to think: \u201CWell, because the earthquakes weren\u2019t last year, therefore, Christchurch\u2014it\u2019s all over.\u201D Actually, in these documents we are debating, in the Budget Policy Statement, page 6 has a table called \u201CNet earthquake expenses\u201D. Members may be interested in that. The total half-year update net earthquake expenses that this Government has stood beside Christchurch are $17 billion. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003ESo when members opposite are rattling off emotional debt numbers, etc.\u2014yes, much of that has been borrowed to fund that. That is absolutely right. Go down to Christchurch, members opposite, and tell them that no, if you were in Government, you would not have done the same. Go down and look at those people in Christchurch and tell them you would not have done the same. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThe half-year update in October 2008, which was the last time we could test the Opposition\u2019s policy settings, was not a pretty picture, nor was it good reading, at all. The National Party is the party for jobs. The National Party is the party for growth, with our partner parties in Government, helping drive better medium to long-term prospects for all New Zealanders, regardless of their circumstances. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EIt is for those reasons we are so supportive and so driving of free-trade agreements. It is for those reasons that we stand on the free-trade agreements negotiated by Governments before us and previous National Governments. It is for those reasons we proudly used to have bipartisan support in this House across the two major parties, National and Labour, for job-enhancing, growth-enhancing, and opportunity-enhancing agreements for New Zealand. It is so sad for this Parliament, and it is so sad for New Zealand\u2019s opportunities and prospects that the Labour Party has walked away from that. It does not stand any logical test. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EMy colleague Mr Bishop pointed out the agreement that we signed just the other day for international shipping. Labour\u2019s arguments do not stand any logical test. They do not stand any historic test against, say, the China free-trade agreement, which Labour so proudly\u2014and good on them\u2014initiated and signed, which was ratified under this Government. It does not stand any test in comparison with another agreement, because if we follow Labour members\u2019 logic through, we would tear up CER. Are they arguing that? Are they arguing that we should tear up other free-trade agreements? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThey seem to be supportive of the European free-trade agreement initiative, but not this one. Why? Why is Phil Goff the only Labour MP to be given a dispensation to come out publicly and say he is supportive of the TPP? Why have the members opposite, in the party that used to call itself the party for workers\u2014when 40 percent of the jobs are in export regions around the country; they depend directly on exports\u2014not been given dispensation to say they support their region, they support they families in their region, they support jobs in their region, and, therefore, they will be supporting the TPP, as they, inherently, know it is the right thing to do? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThose who were in Government with the Rt Hon Helen Clark know it is the right thing to do. Those who are true to their convictions and are true to what they say know, inherently, it is the right thing to do. I challenge them to come out and actually stand and say why they are unable to support job-enhancing, prospect-enhancing, opportunity-enhancing agreements that they once, along with most other parties in this Parliament, stood and supported. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThe Opposition has recently come out with this thing called the Future of Work Commission. I was very interested recently to see that someone else had done this quite a long time ago. Mr Bishop will help me here. Mr Bruce Beetham\u2014was it in 1981\u2014came out with the original \u201Cfuture of work\u201D. It makes interesting reading. I guess we are now in the future from 1981; not much of it has really turned out. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003ESo Mr Robertson and his colleagues are busy working out the future of work. Perhaps, one of their colleagues over there will do a copy and paste job again and just pick up what Mr Beetham forecast back then.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296bebe267af94146b7318ac3cbe65f58\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: It wasn\u2019t in digital format.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227ba61d96e0147faa85efc5b53260c45\u0022\u003EHon CRAIG FOSS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, it may be in a different format\u2014perhaps a typewriter. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003EThe TPP, political rhetoric from some members aside, protesters aside\u2014we all know and expect them to do their usual stuff; they are perfectly entitled to do that. But the moment they get in the way of other people\u2019s democratic process, the moment they try to shout down other people who are expressing their democratic desire and opinion, they have lost the debate\u2014and they have lost the debate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022659f6556-09a1-4ead-bc52-05cbdb4eaab8\u0022\u003ESo I go back again. I ask, I challenge, New Zealanders and all MPs across New Zealand, particularly those whose areas totally depend on the export prospects of this country, to stand up, to follow the lead of Phil Goff, and to get a dispensation to be able to say to their people that they truly support the jobs and, therefore, the free-trade agreement. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u002245ef14bb457e41049d005eb77ca4b59f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002245ef14bb457e41049d005eb77ca4b59f\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: The next call is a split call. Eugenie Sage\u20145 minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022 data-id=\u00223e4bd90beaac47f48e63ee7dcd9824e4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223e4bd90beaac47f48e63ee7dcd9824e4\u0022\u003EEUGENIE SAGE (Green):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. National\u2019s economic strategy is looking increasingly tattered, and this year\u2019s Budget will be against a very different backdrop from recent years. National can no longer crow about a brighter future for New Zealand, because even in its rural heartland things are looking increasingly grim. It is all because the National Government and Bill English have bet the farm on dairy expansion, and the problems with that apology for an economic strategy are becoming increasingly clear.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003EWe have had a goal, set by the Government, to double primary sector exports by 2025, and it certainly encouraged the dairy industry to be the major player there. That, of course, as the Green Party has been saying for some time, has had huge environmental impacts, in terms of water quality\u2014it is doing enormous harm to our rivers, lakes, and aquifers\u2014and major damage with greenhouse gas emissions increasing and the climate pollution that is associated with that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003EBut now we are seeing the economic and social consequences for farming and rural businesses of that failure to diversify, of that focus on the primary sector, and particularly dairying. Just recently, Fonterra\u2019s move to extend its payment date to 90 days, asking suppliers to slash their costs, and the crash in dairy payout prices shows the real strain that the sector is under. It is the Government\u2019s strategy of focusing on one product to one market\u2014milk\u2014and its failure to commit to sufficient investment in innovation to diversify our export base that is the major cause of the problems we are having today. The Government has sat on the sidelines while manufacturing has struggled with a high dollar, and it has just failed to invest in innovation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003EAnd now we have got heartbreak for a lot of farming families. It was distressing listening to Northland farmer Ben Smith on Radio New Zealand National this morning talking about selling his stock and half his land. I have met Ben Smith. He is an innovative farmer. He featured on Country Calendar for the way he was using surplus fruit and vegetables to feed his stock. He cares about the state of his local rivers, and now he is being forced into this position because National has led farmers like Ben up the garden path.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003EIt has pushed dairying as the route to economic success, both for individual farm businesses and for New Zealand Inc. It has focused on production, production, production\u2014increasing production rather than adding value, rather than diversifying, and rather than investing in innovation. It has not cared enough about the profitability for individual farmers, nor has it cared enough about the economic and environmental cost of that focus on dairy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003ESo now, when milk is no longer the white gold that National thought it was, when the payout prices have crashed, and there is no sign of a sharp pick-up any time soon, because of the glut in milk and because of the reduced demand from China and Russia, we would expect the Government to have a plan. Yet what did we hear from Bill English this morning? He hopes that farmers will \u201Cget through\u201D. And again, in question time today, he recognises that there will be a number of farming families that are distressed, but he just hopes that they will adapt and get through. There has been a total failure by the Government to recognise that we are not like the rest of the OECD. New Zealand invests roughly half of what other countries in the OECD do in research and development, and significantly less than other small advanced economies. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003ESo instead of investing more in innovation, we have had the Government tag $400 million for subsidised handouts to irrigation, and $120 million going to Crown Irrigation Investments. Those sorts of subsidies\u2014the Government\u2019s handouts to the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme, to Hawke\u2019s Bay Regional Investment Company, to Central Plains Water\u2014mean that farmers are encouraged to convert from dryland farming to dairy, to expand dairying on to lands that are inappropriate because they are drought prone, and to think that dairy farming can happen anywhere. Those sorts of handouts have encouraged farmers to intensify, to move to much more expensive, high-capital-cost models where we are importing feed and there are high costs for production. That means there is no buffer, no resilience when dairy payouts fall. So it is a spendthrift model that the Government is applying across the country. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022e59cfdf3eb2a44ae8f9ac81dfdf1a492\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e59cfdf3eb2a44ae8f9ac81dfdf1a492\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: I call David Seymour\u20145 minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u0022a44ba925f0674403a07dec4ecb7a63eb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a44ba925f0674403a07dec4ecb7a63eb\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E I have greatly enjoyed tracking the Green position on dairy throughout today, and, in fact, throughout this afternoon. First, we heard from Metiria Turei that the current levels of farming need to be steeped in and subsidised by the Government, then we heard from Catherine Delahunty, who, as it turns out, hates \u201COld McDonald\u201D after all and wants him to farm fewer cows. And now we come back to the member who has just resumed her seat, Eugenie Sage, who believes that the level of farming has been overly subsidised, which makes me wonder why Metiria Turei wanted to subsidise it to remain at that level in the first place. It has been a very confused afternoon for the Greens on dairy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EI want to direct my comments to a long-suffering, long-forgotten, and much-neglected group of people in the Budget Policy Statement, and that is the taxpayer. Without a taxpayer, we would not have a Budget, we would not have Government revenues, and there would not be much to debate about today. Have they not been neglected, because what we see in the Government\u2019s fiscal strategy is very clear: from $65 billion in taxes up to $85 billion in taxes in just 5 years. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EIs it not interesting to look at the new spending allowance\u2014that is, we are going to spend this much more money before we have identified a particular purpose. It is $1 billion in 2026; $2.5 billion in 2017, which just so happens to be an election year; $2 billion the year after that; and I think it was back to $1 billion for the mid-term of the electoral cycle the year after that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThis Budget Policy Statement says that the taxpayer is going to be neglected and is going to pay and pay and pay. I asked the Minister of Finance just a couple of days ago how big the surplus needs to be before he will start cutting taxes. He could not give an answer. National members like to say that they will cut taxes, but the truth is they have not really thought about it. They have not really committed to when they are prepared to start offering tax relief to New Zealanders who work, New Zealanders who have families, and New Zealanders who have businesses. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EIf the Government was to deliver some ambition for giving relief to the taxpayer, I could make a couple of minor suggestions. These really are quite modest, but let us just have one. Time after time, the Minister of Finance says that there is not enough revenue coming in because there has not been enough inflation to push people into progressively higher tax brackets. Well, since when did a centre-right Government support fiscal creep as a means of raising revenue? This Government should be indexing tax brackets to inflation, and there is no better time to do it than when inflation is low and fiscal creep is having a lower effect than usual.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EWhat indexation would do is ensure that this Government and future Governments, if they want to take more money, would have to be honest and go to the taxpayer and say: \u201CWe want to raise your taxes, not creepily allow them to drift into higher thresholds due to inflation.\u201D That is the first thing they could do and the cost to the household is real. The average household in New Zealand has paid $1,500 in additional tax over the past 5 years just because of fiscal creep\u2014just from being pushed into higher tax brackets by inflation. That is the average household; not even high-income households who have paid far, far, far more than that due to fiscal creep. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThe next thing that the Government could do, if it got really ambitious about looking after the taxpayer, is that it could examine the fact that we have one of the highest effective tax rates of capital in the OECD. It could actually make a conscious decision to reduce extra spending by just $120 million a year. When it is planning to increase spending by $1 billion to $2.5 billion a year, it could set aside $120 million of extra spending to knock a point off the company tax rate and make Kiwi businesses competitive with the rest of the OECD. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EFinally, if the Government is worried about debt, it has got $28 billion in the New Zealand Superannuation Fund that it could get rid of tomorrow, because I do not know anybody in New Zealand who would borrow money on their mortgage to play the global equity markets. That is what this Government is doing and for the taxpayers\u2019 benefit it should wind up the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, pay off debt, and, finally, reduce risk so we can start actually cutting taxes for the people who make this Budget Policy Statement possible. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u002235bd9379948a479aba9566877493dd2c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002235bd9379948a479aba9566877493dd2c\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: The next call is a split call. Melissa Lee\u20145 minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022 data-id=\u002242d01293255847ea8999d6d3d3f148be\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002242d01293255847ea8999d6d3d3f148be\u0022\u003EMELISSA LEE (National):\u003C/span\u003E It is a pleasure to rise to speak in the Budget Policy Statement debate, and I think it is important for this House to note what an amazing level of dedication and service our Minister of Finance, Bill English, has given to this country and our Government. New Zealand\u2019s books are back in the black for the first time since the global financial crisis. As of last week, the Government is running a $934 million operating balance before gains and losses, and that is an increase of $724 million\u2014higher than noted in the 2015 half-year update. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EThis is an excellent achievement by our Government\u2014a Government that is working hard to support our economy and promote better businesses and deliver key outcomes for all New Zealand. Unemployment is now sitting at 5.3 percent and wages are up by 3.1 percent in the past year. We on this side of the House are supporting the needs and aspirations of our country and we will do our very best to continue this fine work through 2016. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003ERegional growth, which our earlier speakers have talked about as well, is up as well. Our Government has been developing the economy all over New Zealand. Although I am based in Auckland it is clear that the entire country is actually benefiting from well-balanced management by this Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EEarlier, another member was talking about the tourism sector\u2014I think it was the my learned colleague from Waitaki, actually, who talked about the tourism sector\u2014and I have to say that tourism is booming. This Government in the last 7 years has spent $700 million promoting New Zealand tourism overseas and in the last year alone, in 2015, we had international visitors spending $9.7 billion. So that $9.7 billion spent in New Zealand is a humungous benefit, I would have thought, when you are spending $700 million over 7 years and gaining $9.7 billion. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EWhile members were speaking I had an opportunity to actually check Facebook\u2014often members do\u2014and I was checking the Facebook of the New Zealand Embassy based in Seoul, Korea. The embassy was actually celebrating tourism\u2014New Zealand tour operators are visiting Korea to promote more tourism from Korea. Tourism from Korea last year, in 2015, was up 21 percent year on year. With the free-trade agreement, which was signed by this Government and came into effect in December 2015, lamb and beef duties have actually gone down and now, apparently, restaurants are selling lamb. They are putting lamb on their menu because the import duty to Korea has actually dropped from 22.5 percent to 18 percent. Restaurants are celebrating New Zealand lamb and beef and they are putting it on their menus. What a fantastic thing that is. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EToday a 9.6 percent increase in retail spending was noted for February compared with the same period last year, as well as a 5.7 billion increase in the GDP for the Auckland region. This is coupled with a 3.7 percent increase nationwide, which shows what a great state our commercial sector is in. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EAlso, since I was talking about the free-trade agreement, I just want to commend the work of our former trade Minister and now ambassador Tim Groser. He should be fully commended by this House because he did a fantastic job for New Zealand not only for the Korea free-trade agreement but for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as the European Union trade negotiations, which the new Minister, Minister McClay, is currently at the helm of. The agreements will grow our economy and put more money in the pockets of ordinary New Zealanders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EI know that across the House there are some members who often talk about Auckland house prices and say that the reason why the situation happens is because of people with Chinese-sounding names\u2014and mine happens to sound like one. So I think we need to recognise the role that migrant New Zealanders actually have in this country. How long are migrants going to be called migrants in this country? I have spent three-quarters of my life in New Zealand and I think I deserve to be called a New Zealander. Over 30,000 Korean people have actually moved to this country and call this country home. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fbc0f0be136547f1b72aacf17ca78b77\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I want to hear what the member is saying, and this barracking across benches is unacceptable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002297c849945ac047b3941a8a2d3a207968\u0022\u003EMELISSA LEE\u003C/span\u003E: As I was saying, over 30,000 former Korean residents\u2014Korean-born people\u2014are now calling New Zealand home and are very proud New Zealanders. As part of our diverse commercial and economic practice, not just Korean people but 25 percent of all New Zealanders are born overseas\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u00226f5ae435e3b040aa9a28465cf13ccb1c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226f5ae435e3b040aa9a28465cf13ccb1c\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member. Her time has expired. I call Alistair Scott\u20145 minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022 data-id=\u00228d20caf91c734a20808757e945cf2943\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228d20caf91c734a20808757e945cf2943\u0022\u003EALASTAIR SCOTT (National\u2014Wairarapa):\u003C/span\u003E I am going to talk about two of the four pillars of our fiscal strategy. I am going to be talking about the tight rein on spending that we demonstrate and the way we look to return excess revenue to taxpayers, but before I do that I would like to comment on a couple of the sanctimonious comments that were made by the Green Party. To start with, Eugenie Sage said that the Government had led dairy farmers up the garden path. Well, dairy farmers are not stupid. They have their own sense of business and they have their own sense of ability\u2014these guys are smart. These guys run their family businesses to large corporates, and to say that they have been led up the garden path is offensive, quite frankly. There was no complaint from that party when grape prices halved, when cherry prices dropped, or when kiwifruit businesses had their difficulties. Those members talk only about dairy farmers being led up the garden path\u2014that is offensive and sanctimonious. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022\u003EI am going to talk about the pie. Julie Anne Genter talked about the Greens not wanting to eat chocolate pie. Well, she did not want a chocolate pie and she thought it was because it made her feel sick if she ate too much. This side of the House is interested in growing the pie and in making it chocolate, banana, fruit, nuts\u2014everything that is able to be jammed into that pie\u2014because we want a larger pie so that we can all share that pie to raise the standard of living for all New Zealanders. The pie that the Green Party wants would be sugar-free, wheat-free, chocolate-free, and butter-free. There would be no cake. There would be no economy. The economy would be destroyed. That party wants to go back to the horse and cart. That is just ludicrous and really is a thing of the past. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022\u003EI would like to turn my contribution to the tight rein on spending that we have in this Government. We will be heading to\u2014the target is 20 percent of GDP for net debt by 2020. That is a very good result, given the global economy and the global situation as well, of course, as our domestic situation here, particularly around Christchurch. Minister Foss talked about $17 billion going into Christchurch. That is a big number, and a number that is unavoidable, unless, of course, one was to ignore Christchurch, which would be totally unacceptable. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022\u003EMembers on the other side talk about supporting farmers and talk about supporting small businesses, but they are not willing to vote for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). They are not willing to get on board with Resource Management Act reforms. They are not willing to support our exclusion of agriculture from the emissions trading scheme. The Green Party wants to tax farmers up to the eyeballs so that\u2014to ensure, in fact\u2014they go out of business and so that they are uncompetitive with our international competitors, and, of course, without those people earning a living by exporting our products, there is no tax. There is no tax to be taken. There is no tax to spend on health and education and the police, for example. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022\u003EI am looking forward to the Opposition members voting for the TPP, but, of course, they are not going to. Instead, they are going to increase their handout policies by giving away free education. They are wanting to give, in fact, to the top 1 percent. They are going to give more money to those who are already earning more money than the average. The Opposition members say: \u201CWell, yes, that is fine. We want to give them more money because they are going to be paying more taxes when they get into the more highly paid jobs.\u201D People are willing to borrow to be educated in the tertiary sector, and to have a policy from the Opposition that simply gives more money to those who do not need it is just a waste of taxpayers\u2019 money. Those members are not concerned about the use of taxpayers\u2019 money. They forget who is going to be paying for that handout. It will be the person\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b31f6bd3f664ccbba70419b0c4ec476\u0022\u003ECarmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s not a handout; it\u2019s a hand up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a125689c0be4bb9b65e7ecd05ed0305\u0022\u003EALASTAIR SCOTT\u003C/span\u003E: It is a handout to people who do not need it, and they are going to be taking money\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u00229986ff1fc37d47669f4f520bb3d366e2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229986ff1fc37d47669f4f520bb3d366e2\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member\u2019s time has expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022 data-id=\u0022125fc8fc79d546d08ce59bf6ce648edd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022125fc8fc79d546d08ce59bf6ce648edd\u0022\u003ESTUART NASH (Labour\u2014Napier):\u003C/span\u003E First of all, I want to start on a serious note. I understand that there have been two police officers shot in the Bay of Plenty. I understand that they have not been shot dead, but news is still coming in. I hope like hell that they are fine, and we send them all our best wishes\u2014there is no doubt about that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EOne thing I must say is that I love it when Mr Scott paraphrases Marie Antoinette\u2014he said to the poor \u201CLet them eat pie.\u201D Mr Scott, that comment cost Marie Antoinette her head\u2014be careful. And, I must admit, David Seymour is always great for a laugh, is he not? He comes in here, and he is even dressed in character. He has got that woollen knit tie on and the pink shirt. He says \u201CSell the superannuation. Sell this. Do that. Do this.\u201D, and he wonders why there is only one MP from ACT and it is not even polling above 1 percent. Well, just look at the Hansard and you will find out why. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EI am here to speak about the Budget Policy Statement. What this does is set out the Government\u2019s broad plans and goals and fiscal strategy. First of all, I would like to say, let us see how this is going to play out between 2015 and 2017 according to the Government\u2019s numbers. First of all, real GDP drops by around a quarter\u2014this is between 2015 and 2017. Second, Consumers Price Index inflation increases from 0.3 percent to 2.1 percent. Third, employment growth is down by about 50 percent. Fourth, the unemployment rate increases to 6.1 percent. Fifth, wage growth drops to 1.8 percent. Sixth, the current account percent of GDP goes from 0.35 percent to negative 6 percent. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EAre those the figures of a Government with a plan, with an aspiration, and with a vision? Absolutely not at all, and these are the Government\u2019s figures. You know, I actually do not know what this Government stands for any more. I just have no idea what it stands for, because it seems that what it is doing is leading this country down the garden path when there is such a much more attractive, viable, 21st century option. There is an alternative. I have heard from every single National speaker that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the way forward. Those members are putting all the eggs in the TPP basket. That is their only plan for the future\u2014the TPP. I wonder who they would be voting for\u2014Trump or Clinton? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EWhen we read that the Government\u2019s focus is on improving public sector productivity\u2014which is one of the pillars that Mr Scott did not talk about\u2014this is its philosophy of \u201CLet\u2019s do more for less\u201D. Well, what are the outcomes? Let us have a look at one of my portfolios, the portfolio of police. Where are we at the moment? We have these really hard-working police officers on the front line, of whom 86 percent\u201486 percent\u2014believe that the front-line cops are under-resourced. We have burglaries at record highs. We have resolution rates below 10 percent. Is that more for less? Not at all. That is no way to run a law and order system. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EWe also have police budget underspend. In Auckland alone, in the three districts that make up the Greater Auckland region, where burglary resolution rates are below 7 percent, we find, in fact, that the police have underspent their budget by $14 million. There is a difference between fiscal prudence and mismanagement, and at this point in time, when we are saying that 93 percent of burglaries in this country go unsolved, I would have thought that more money and more resources would be put into resolution, because this is what our public wants to see. Doing more with less is not working in the police force. Do you know what? The Commissioner of Police says he has enough money to fight crime and solve crime. Well, 86 percent of his staff disagree with him. I think that what he perhaps needs to do is sit down and look at those results and figure out what is going on. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003ELet us have a look at another one of my portfolios: forestry. The main difference between Labour and National is that National believes that you just stand back and you let the market take control because the market knows best and the market will deliver optimal outcomes, whereas Labour believes that where we see behaviour that is not in the best interests of New Zealand society and our communities, the Government has a role to play there. Forestry is a classic case. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EI have four examples of cases where New Zealand sawmills cannot get the logs they want, and we are talking about sawmills that employ a whole lot of people in areas that are usually deprived. We are talking about Northland here, and we are talking about the East Coast, and these foreign log buyers are coming in and they are not providing our sawmillers with logs at export equivalent log prices. Our sawmillers are not asking for anything else. They are not asking for any sort of deal. All they are asking for is a fair go. They will pay the export equivalent log price, but they cannot get it. That is not right. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003ELet us have a look at something else\u2014Government debt. You know, when that Government took over the books\u2014when Mr English became the Minister of Finance\u2014it had a gross debt of $31 billion in 2008. It is now $86 billion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022588fd4a02cc44f98a36f708015e06d13\u0022\u003EPeeni Henare\u003C/span\u003E: How much?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd405d7b120c43a49e3d015b56f76bd5\u0022\u003ESTUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: It is $86 billion. The net debt was down to $10 billion. It sounds a lot\u2014but in the scheme of things $10 billion is what net debt was down to. It is now $62 billion. That is a substantial amount of money. What tends to get forgotten about in this is that that $62 billion has to be serviced. That is a significant amount of taxpayer money that is going to overseas institutions to service that substantial debt\u2014and it is expected to get a lot worse. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003ELet us have a look at another measure. We hear Government members say they are aspirational for New Zealand. They are going to grow\u2014what was it, Mr Scott? They are going to grow the pie. Well, let us have a look at a measure that I think determines how well we are doing\u2014exports as a percentage of GDP. In 2008 it was 32 percent. Now it is 28.4 percent\u201428.4 as a percentage of GDP. As we a trading nation, the Government should be incredibly concerned about that. As a person who was involved in trade for a number of years, I look at these figures and think \u201CGoodness me!\u201D. We have a whole lot of New Zealand companies here that should be doing a whole lot better, but the Government has not put in a regulatory or a legislative environment that has allowed that to happen. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EThere are three members sitting over there at the moment who were on the Finance and Expenditure Committee when we talked about research and development help for our companies. They all know\u2014because they are businessmen; they are shrewd guys\u2014that it was not the package needed by our small to medium sized businesses in order to really drive growth, to scale up and go international, which is what we need in this country. There is no doubt about that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003ELabour believes in governing for those who work hard. We believe in giving all Kiwis a fair go. We believe in First World early childhood education. This Government gutted what was acknowledged as one of the world\u2019s leading early childhood education systems. We believe in providing education all the way through. This Government cut night classes, and it gave the most pathetic excuses, but every single reason that people undertook a night class was the right reason. We will reinstall them, because we understand that community is at the heart of every single country. If you had wandered around my electorate you would have seen that Napier Boys\u2019 High, Tamatea High School, Taradale High School, and Napier Girls High were hives of activity after dark. Now the lights are out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bddfa7e922bc4390afc52b0d0385376f\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Back subsidised crochet classes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f94c4b1d9fc548e7a4071bde5a7955b1\u0022\u003ESTUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: It does not matter, Mr Bishop. If someone wanted to go to a night class and learn crochet, then they could gather with 12, 15, 20 other people and learn crochet, because, you know what, it was not necessarily about the crochet; it was about people interacting with those in their community. It is about community. It was about these people, who do not have many other interests, gathering for 1 or 2 hours a week\u2014that is all\u2014with those of a like mind. It is about building communities. What that Government did was to destroy the communities. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EThere is no vision with this Government, there is no plan, and it has lacked aspiration. It seems, yet again, that in 2017, it will take a Labour Government to restore the settings and restore and build communities, as it did in 1935, 1957, 1972, 1984, and 1999. Anyone who knows their political history will know that after a National Government it takes a Labour Government to come in and restore the settings and rebuild the Kiwi Dream.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022 data-id=\u00222891345df2bc41cdaa8f41471a6c9b4c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222891345df2bc41cdaa8f41471a6c9b4c\u0022\u003EANDREW BAYLY (National\u2014Hunua):\u003C/span\u003E Before I start, I just want to acknowledge the passing of Tahuna Minhinnick, who was a leader of Ng\u0101ti Te Ata in my electorate. He played a pivotal role in leading that iwi, and he has been cut down in his prime. I want to share my condolences and sympathy with not only the family but also the iwi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EIt was interesting listening to that speech by the previous speaker, Stuart Nash. Sometimes you must wonder whether we are actually in the same place. I just do not even know where some of those figures came from. I have been trying to find out where he even dragged up some of those figures from, which, I think, in some cases are totally wrong. What I am going to talk about today is that this Government has four key things that it is trying to achieve. One is returning\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254d22d414cc243038129c2bcb9ccbd98\u0022\u003EStuart Nash\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e218486fedb45178c00049a0079b478\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! There is a point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8b2f187e80a4c2f936bc74235ae0540\u0022\u003EStuart Nash\u003C/span\u003E: Page 4, Budget Policy Statement\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225da93ffccff04fc4be75d03a4d07ab2a\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! That is not a point of order; that is wasting the House\u2019s time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb653ce5b19743efa630d9afd347c830\u0022\u003EANDREW BAYLY\u003C/span\u003E: The second thing we are trying to do is make this economy much more productive and competitive. Thirdly, we want to deliver better value from the Public Service\u2014and, again, we are going to pick that point up\u2014and, fourthly, we do, and have, continued to support the efforts in Christchurch. I note that we have spent $17 billion over the last few years trying to get Christchurch back into shape. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EI will just deal with the first point: returning this country back to surplus. Well, guess what? We have already achieved that. We have taken this country from an $18 billion deficit in 2011 back to a surplus of $414 million. From here\u2014even with the Treasury forecast\u2014we are going to be around budget, but continuing to grow those surpluses over time. Mr Nash, I suggest you stay and learn something before you take off. Of course we just reported in the last 7 months to the end of January, Mr Nash, that we have achieved an even higher Budget surplus than we were projecting, which is close on a billion dollars. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003ESo what does this all mean? Every year this Government spends $6 billion on new infrastructure: roads, rail, transport, education, and new schools. What it does is it creates the opportunity for new spending. This year we have an extra billion to spend, and next year $2.5 billion. What that does is help to fund that continued building of an infrastructure network for this country to enable all New Zealanders to grow and prosper, whether they are working as employees or whether they are running a business. The second thing is that running a surplus means that we can reduce debt. Contrary to what Mr Nash said, the rate of debt to GDP is actually 25.4 percent. We have got a projection, an intention, to get it down to 20 percent by 2020. I have spoken previously in this House about how we compare with countries like Australia, which, in 5 years\u2019 time, is projected to have close to twice our level of debt\u2014i.e., just under 40 percent. England and Europe are projected to have four times our level of debt, and the US five times our debt levels. We have modest debt levels, and we want to see them come down. The only way to do that is to deliver surpluses. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EThe other thing that is leading to these surpluses is growth. Somehow, everyone from the Opposition has been very silent on this. It is 2.3 percent\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c7e1158875849698b912866b8c10f4c\u0022\u003ETodd Muller\u003C/span\u003E: How much?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002291c392451a954062899397887b8865db\u0022\u003EANDREW BAYLY\u003C/span\u003E: It is 2.3 percent in the year just gone, and it is projected to be averaging 2.7 percent over the next 3 years. Of course what does that all mean? It means that we can actually start to see wage growth, and see people getting paid more and families earning more. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e0c0763f35c45e88440795ba52da577\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: To pay your public services.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e448aa1a88214b8980807be9255ef0b6\u0022\u003EANDREW BAYLY\u003C/span\u003E: So it is interesting that when we look at the wage growth in 2015, it was 3.1 percent, Mr Cosgrove\u20143.1, compared with one of our lowest inflation rates of 0.1 percent. That means a 3 percent real increase for all the working people in New Zealand\u2014even for you, Mr Cosgrove. Also, what that means is that they are also continuing to benefit\u2014our households, our working people\u2014from low interest rates, because we have low inflation; also, fuel costs and all those other things. So we are starting to see some real benefits coming to our hard-working New Zealanders. Then, when you overlay that with those recent policy announcements around our social initiatives\u2014not only the free access to health care for under-13-year-olds, which was brought in last year, but also the recent Budget announcement of nearly $800 million that is going towards people who earn less than $36,500 getting a $25 increase per week. That is a real increase for those people. That is about sharing the gains with all New Zealanders. This is what this Government is about: sharing the gains and recognising that everyone has a part to play. Everyone should be participating in the upside. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EI now want to turn to the second one of our initiatives, which is about making our economy more productive and competitive. By running a good economy it means that we can start to help businesses in an even more meaningful way. We are limited, and this is where the Opposition, I find, starts to stray into saying that the Government should be doing these things and this and that. Often we do not have jurisdiction over them. We cannot influence what goes on in the business sector. What we can do is make sure we have got the right policy settings. So it is interesting, what we can do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EWhat have we done? ACC\u2014we have basically written off $2 billion of levies, reduced them by $2 billion, and I note in the last Budget that we cut them by $430 million. The Hon Nikki Kaye is doing a great job, seeing the levies reduce for employers, for the workers\u2019 account, and also for motor vehicles. Secondly, we continue to invest in research and development, and I note the previous speakers on this. We want to get research and development up to 1 percent of GDP, but we put $80 million in in the last Budget to further increase the level of investment in research and development, and we do agree that research and development is vital to our economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EThirdly, we are continuing to invest in skills training, and we have got a target of getting to 60 percent of all people aged between 25 and 34 into skills training. People seem to have glossed over it. We have opened up 21 new trades academies. I note in the February 2016 report that there are over 40,000 people now doing apprenticeship schemes in New Zealand, or the equivalent\u201440,000 people working. And I hear it all the time that we do not put people into apprenticeship schemes. That is very meaningful. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EThen what else can we do? The main thing we can do for businesses is to create a marketplace. From a Government perspective that is about free-trade agreements. We have already done the Korean one. We have done the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and, of course, there is a lot of debate about it, but what cannot be debated is that even on today\u2019s figures, there is a $102 million benefit for the dairy industry. I heard it all during question time about what we are doing in the dairy industry: there is a $102 million immediate benefit once that agreement comes into force. So those are really important things. We are also going back over the China free-trade agreement. We were the first to get that, but we are going back now that the Australians are doing one, seeing whether we can leverage that position and to further improve our trade links. I think that is great. It is a meaningful thing when you take $200 million - odd and give it to businesses in the form of reduced penalties that they have to pay at the border. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EThen there are other initiatives\u2014for instance, with iwi. I think the passage of the Te Ture Whenua M\u0101ori Bill, which enables iwi to better use their lands, is a very important economic step in terms of helping them drive their own investments much more productively. Then there is the roll-out of broadband. I do not want to labour that point, but everyone is well aware of that\u2014what a significant investment it is, just on $2 billion. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EBut I just want to say that with the better value for services that we have been trying to drive out of the Public Service, we have reduced the extent of the investment that we have made in public services from 34 percent to 30 percent of GDP. That is, effectively, $9 billion of savings. That is $9 billion of savings that can be applied to new schools and new investments in road and in transport. I think that during that time what we have also done is we have made sure that our Public Service is working much more effectively and getting better value for money. So it is not just necessarily about cutting back the number of people involved in those activities; it is about getting better results. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EThe other thing that I think is most important about the way this Government is operating is it is setting clear targets\u2014sometimes even uncomfortable targets to try to achieve, whether it is social policy, whether it is in the environmental sector\u2014and trying to measure ourselves against those, as opposed to just simply spending money, which is always the way that Governments are operated. So this approach towards a real outcome focus, I think, is a most important factor towards driving better Government. I think all those things around social developments, around our environmental policies, around our economic management are all about rebuilding the Kiwi Dream.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002205f2dd5fee67400c95a871df25f1b674\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 the House take note of the report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Budget Policy Statement 2016.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 63\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 59; M\u0101ori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 58\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 32; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 12.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a5e58e6dd8e646d4a44015e048340f07\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Business Number Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022cac8f6f0eb1d42028e64592e9ce01dad\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000428\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 3 March.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022 data-id=\u0022293d4b9ff604468196e29fa8df9ed01c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022293d4b9ff604468196e29fa8df9ed01c\u0022\u003EBRETT HUDSON (National):\u003C/span\u003E It is a great pleasure to rise to speak on this New Zealand Business Number Bill in this reading. I had the fortune to serve on the Commerce Committee, which looked at this bill. We returned it with some small amount of changes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EI have listened to the debate in this reading and I would just like to cover a couple of points, first, about what the bill is meant to achieve, and then I would like to address a couple of the concerns that were raised. The bill supports the Business Growth Agenda of this Government, helping to make small and medium sized businesses more efficient and helping to reduce the cost of compliance, particularly the cost of doing business with the Government. We have this odd situation, of course, where for ever businesses have had to have separate representational credentials with every Government agency they have to do business with. So a change of address, a change of any matter of detail, a change of phone number, and that business has to take a great deal of effort to update any number of agencies it may do business with individually and repetitively over the course of its business lifetime. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EThe New Zealand Business Number Bill will provide a central way of maintaining some basic company information\u2014the information that is already public\u2014but will do so in a way where a business will have to give that information only once, and every Government agency, over time, that it does business with will be able to draw from that source of information. It will also mean that not only is it easy for the business to do its business with those agencies, but if it should need to change something\u2014an address detail, a phone number detail, some small amount of material change\u2014the business will need to make the change in only one location. It will be with the agency of its choice and that information will, effectively, filter through to all the other agencies. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EThis, of course, means that the small or medium sized business can spend more time focusing on what it does, which is providing products or services to its customers, and spend less time actually dealing with New Zealand Government agencies, which is exactly the way things should be. I think it is a very commendable objective and I am very confident that, if enacted, this legislation will achieve that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EThere are a couple of concerns that were raised that I just want to touch upon. One of them was the pace with which agencies may adopt the business number. The reality is that in order to participate, the agencies will have to adjust their IT systems and applications to be able to make reference to this new 13-digit New Zealand Business Number. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EWe could just have every agency immediately drop what they are doing and immediately undertake a project\u2014in some cases quite a small one; in many cases quite a comprehensive one\u2014to ensure that their systems can interface with this New Zealand Business Number. That is as simple as having a call centre application, with a human being on the phone being able to draw upon that business number to identify a business that has called into them, or a web application being able to call upon it, or any other agent or employee within that agency being able to look up and verify and use that business number information. We could have just demanded that they all do it at once and they all drop other priorities, things that are more pressing on their programmes of work, and spend a great deal of money to do something right now. So it appears to me a very sensible approach that there will be a small number of agencies\u2014about seven, I think, in total\u2014that will come on quite rapidly, but others will join this as they go through making system updates over time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EThe second point was around why we cannot just use a number that already exists today\u2014like your IRD number, for instance, because virtually everyone has got one. It sounds good at face value, but if we think about the reality of this, if an agency surrendered its ID number as the number for all other agencies to use, that would actually constrain the way, on its internal systems\u2014not the ones that are actually the source or the look-up point for this business number information, but its own internal systems\u2014that it could then use that number, adapt it over time, and how its applications could call upon that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EBy using a new and separate number, it gives the agencies the freedom to do what they need to do inside their own activities with their existing identifiers and for them to all then call upon this new number so that the customer can continue to benefit from a range of services that will be developed over time but to do so in a way where they can all still benefit and make use of the New Zealand Business Number Bill. So I think it would be a major mistake to have picked a single agency, to have taken its unique identifier, and to have used that as the identifier across every agency. It would create more problems in the future than it would solve right now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EIn concluding, I would say that this is a very pragmatic, sensible bill. It will help to reduce expense, time, and effort for New Zealand small and medium sized businesses and, over time, for all businesses across New Zealand, and I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022 data-id=\u00221372ff7bee4848a2add6ce41feddaa28\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221372ff7bee4848a2add6ce41feddaa28\u0022\u003ECLARE CURRAN (Labour\u2014Dunedin South):\u003C/span\u003E In my colleague David Clark\u2019s contribution in the second reading of this bill he made it clear that Labour would be supporting this bill but with some quite strong reservations. Although we support\u2014and have supported right from the very beginning\u2014the intent of this bill, and continue to support the intent of this bill, along with pretty much all of the submitters who came before the Commerce Committee, our reservations have only really got stronger, particularly as each day goes on, about this Government\u2019s capability to introduce a new system in a way that is not going to end up turning into a bungle and creating a whole lot more cost when it was set up to save money. I will certainly be speaking to those remarks throughout my contribution. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EWe thought that this was a relatively uncontroversial bill. We thought that there were probably some things that needed to be teased out in the select committee, and they certainly were. But as we went through the select committee process and listened to what some of the submitters were saying, we became more and more concerned. We remain supporting this bill, as I have said, with quite strong reservations, because ultimately we support the intent. We support the intent of having a number system for business, whether that is in the private sector or across the public sector, to enable there to be more efficiencies and efficient, easier interactions for business in New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EIn his remarks in the second reading the Minister said that this would enable easy and more efficient interactions and it would do so by allocating a unique number to corporate and public entities and to unincorporated entities that are in business such as sole traders, partnerships, and trustees of trusts. Well, that sounds great, but, in practice, particularly in the short to medium term, that is just not going to be the case, because the Government is not ready. The Government did not do its work. The Government agencies\u2014there is a very small number of Government agencies that will actually be prepared for this new system when it comes in; the rest of them are not. As we went through the select committee process, more and more submitters became concerned. They became concerned about this and they became concerned that there was not a requirement for Government agencies to get their act together. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EThis has the hallmark of what we are seeing as a pattern of half measures, a halfway house, and possibly a shambles of a new system that is being introduced. I think that what we are looking at through this bill\u2014if it gets pushed through its third reading\u2014in the short term is the making of another major and another embarrassing IT blunder by this Government in terms of its implementation of something that is not a bad idea. As I have said, we support the intent of it, but there is no plan and there is no indication of the resources that are going to be needed to make this actually work as a system across Government. There were too many red flags starting to be raised during the select committee process that we have some real concerns about. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EOf course, as we know, this Government has a track record of making these shambolic, embarrassing IT blunders. We have seen one in just the last couple of days with the payroll scandal within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which is affecting a huge number of employees, which is, essentially, exposing the Government\u2019s mismanagement. It is exposing the Government\u2019s mismanagement and the incompetence of having a merger of departments\u2014a great big merger creating a great big ministry that needed to create a payroll system right across that. What did the Government do? It created a system and we are now starting to see the real problems emerge around that. Not only that, but we have also heard today that it has been revealed that the ministry is paying a quarter of its invoices late\u2014it was my colleague Jacinda Ardern who revealed this today\u2014and that over 11,000 bills have not been paid on time. It is a breach of the payment rules that it publishes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EThe relevance to this legislation going through the House is quite clear. This is actually about a Government that makes these decisions, decides to think big, merges a whole lot of departments, comes up with an idea, puts a system in place\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de2e40a57fe24b05a90e3f6a08a9a9f1\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: Stuffs it up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3ee500590704f2cab2d5580cc677476\u0022\u003ECLARE CURRAN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and then stuffs it up\u2014quite right. It is struggling with the payment system. So if it is struggling with the payment systems\u2014and let us remember Novopay and let us remember the $40 million - plus\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022969da83428af40289963e3bc7187e27f\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: That was Steven Joyce.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eeb6da0669d149dfa6747d4f6fd401c9\u0022\u003ECLARE CURRAN\u003C/span\u003E: That was a Steven Joyce special. Let us remember just exactly the impact of that, which is still being felt in schools. I was in a school just on Monday where I was being told of the continuing issues. Of course, our schools are run by competent people, who have adapted to this shambolic system, and, because they are committed to what they are doing, they are managing to get on with the job. But it has taken massive amounts of time and energy, and wasted time and energy, within each of the 2,500\u2014is that right\u2014schools throughout New Zealand to actually adapt to the shambles that the Government hoisted upon us with the Novopay debacle. And that is not all in terms of mismanagement. We have also seen another major piece of mismanagement this week within the Ministry of Health with a refurbishment cost of $24 million from reserves that did not even exist, with the Minister of Health describing it as a forecasting error and diminishing its importance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EWhat this points to is a pattern. It is a pattern of making decisions, putting forward legislation\u2014and it is not always a bad idea that the Government comes up with. The idea of having a New Zealand Business Number is not a bad idea, but has the work been done? Has the work been done to work out, before the legislation came to the House, how it is going to be implemented and what the impact of that is going to be? To display to the House that it is not just Labour saying this, in its submission to the Commerce Committee, the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand\u2014an eminently sensible organisation\u2014noted that it was in favour of the bill and its intent but felt that the New Zealand Business Number \u201Cwould need prompt and broad integration by government agencies in order to capitalise on these so-called benefits to businesses.\u201D It said its \u201Cviews in this regard have not changed \u2026\u201D throughout its process of being associated with the bill. It said: \u201CWe are, therefore, disappointed to note that the current Bill no longer mandates government agency recognition of the NZBN, as it did in section 34 of the initial Bill.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EIn clause 34 of the initial bill that came to this House, which was tabled in this House at the beginning of this process, there was a mandate for Government agencies to be a part of this process. During the process, as the Government realised that it did not have all these agencies ready to go through the processes that they needed to, it withdrew that mandate. The Government withdrew it, and as a result we are left with a bill that, if it is passed, will be piecemeal. There is likely to be a shambolic approach by Government agencies that are not prepared for a New Zealand Business Number. It will, in the end, create a more complicated system. It will not deliver the efficiencies, certainly in the short to medium term. This Government has brought a bill to the House that it is just not prepared for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022 data-id=\u00225e7cfd9197304b0598d541d9a31d3734\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225e7cfd9197304b0598d541d9a31d3734\u0022\u003EMATT DOOCEY (National\u2014Waimakariri):\u003C/span\u003E It is a pleasure and an honour to rise in support of the New Zealand Business Number Bill in its second reading. You can tell that this is a very good bill because after its first reading it got referred through to the select committee. It has been kicked around a bit. It got only 14 submissions and five of them were heard orally. We know that when you get very few submissions\u2014look at the social housing reform legislation, which got only eight submissions; this bill, with 14 submissions\u2014you can tell that people are generally happy with it. There have not been any major changes\u2014very small changes\u2014so we know it is a good bill. It is getting the support of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EWhen you look at the detail of it, not only it is effective but it is efficient and it is economic. We know, around the effectiveness of it, that businesses will get a unique number. It will go on a register. Ultimately, that will enable business to engage with New Zealand Government agencies a lot easier. That is what this bill is about\u2014making things easy. It is also efficient because what we will have is, instead of businesses dealing with multiple numbers with Government agencies, they will have this one unique New Zealand Business Number. I think that needs to be supported. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EBut, most of all, this bill is economic. It is saving around $60 million a year for New Zealand businesses. I think that is fantastic, on a day when regional GDP rates have been published. Look at Canterbury. There is great GDP growth. In fact, my electorate of Waimakariri is going really well, with small and big business. On this side of the House we know that tools like this legislation support business, ultimately, to provide jobs and good incomes and improve the well-being of the people. Thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002233dfea7a9cd24c41b4544530f728af2d\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 the New Zealand Business Number Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 108\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 59; New Zealand Labour 32; Green Party 13; M\u0101ori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 12\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First 12.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022745c5cb12d0f4230be21424091122628\u0022\u003EM\u0101ori Language (Te Reo M\u0101ori) Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bf898a8d74594b56a9f2214f420a133d\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022 data-id=\u0022aef8c4d8ec274280aff9166d65c595c0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022aef8c4d8ec274280aff9166d65c595c0\u0022\u003EHon TE URUROA FLAVELL (Minister for M\u0101ori Development):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, e Te Kaik\u014Drero o Te Whare. E m\u014Dtini ana ahau, Kia p\u0101nuitia Te Pire m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori m\u014D te w\u0101 tuarua. Hai t\u012Bmatanga k\u014Drero m\u0101ku me p\u0113nei te k\u012B, \u201CTuia i runga, tuia i raro, tuia i waho, tuia i roto, tuia i te here tangata ka rongo te p\u014D, ka rongo te ao. Tuia i te muka tangata i takea mai i Hawaiki nui, i Hawaiki roa, i Hawaiki p\u0101mamao. Te hono i wairua ki te whai ao, ki te ao m\u0101rama. Koia r\u0101 e rongo, whakairia ki runga t\u016Bturu o whiti whakamaua kia tin\u0101! Tin\u0101! Hui-e i t\u0101iki e!\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI a t\u0101tau e k\u014Drero nei m\u014D te mana o Te Reo M\u0101ori, me whai w\u0101hi au ki te tuku k\u014Drero ki te hunga kua ngaro atu i te tirohanga kanohi i ng\u0101 r\u0101 tata kua hipa ake. K\u014D t\u0101kuta Ranginui Walker t\u0113r\u0101, ko T\u0101huna Mihinnick t\u0113r\u0101, ko Roger Aranui t\u0113r\u0101, ar\u0101 noa atu w\u0113tahi. \u0112ngari, me whai w\u0101hi au an\u014D hoki ki a \u0112rima, Te Toih\u014Du o Te Taura Whiri i te w\u0101 i a ia. Haere koutou ki tua o Paerau whakangaro atu r\u0101! Ki a t\u0101tau te hunga ora t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, kia ora t\u0101tau katoa!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI roto i t\u0101na kauhau ki Te Whare P\u0101remata, n\u014D te marama o H\u014Dngongoi te tau 2014, i te w\u0101 i m\u014Dtinihia ai te p\u0101nui tuatahi i te pire, n\u0101 taku rangatira, n\u0101 H\u014Dnore T\u0101 Pita Sharples, ar\u0101, ko Te Minita Whakawhanaketanga M\u0101ori i taua w\u0101, te k\u014Drero m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori me tana k\u012B ake: \u201Che taonga m\u0101 ng\u0101 iwi, m\u0101 ng\u0101i M\u0101ori hoki, he \u0101huatanga whakahirahira o te ahurea o Niu T\u012Breni\u201D. I k\u014Drero ia m\u014D te heke haere o te ora o Te Reo rau tau rua tekau. M\u014D te tau 1900, he tata ki te 100 \u014Drau te tokomaha o ng\u0101i M\u0101ori i k\u014Drero i t\u014D r\u0101tau ake Reo. Hoi an\u014D, i ng\u0101 tau 70 ka whai i muri mai i tino heke iho t\u0113nei ki te \u0101hua 20 \u014Drau. I taua w\u0101, he kaum\u0101tua te nuinga o te hunga k\u014Drero M\u0101ori, \u0101, i te t\u0101matemate haere r\u0101tau. I whakapaetia, ka mate Te Reo M\u0101ori. I ohorere a ng\u0101i M\u0101ori. \u0112hara m\u014D te \u0101hua mamate o t\u014D r\u0101tou Reo anake \u0113ngari, m\u014D t\u014D r\u0101tou \u0101hua an\u014D hoki, me k\u012B, ko t\u014D r\u0101tau t\u016Branga, ko r\u0101tau n\u014Dhanga, t\u014D r\u0101tou mana hoki, i runga tonu i t\u014D r\u0101tou ake whenua. Ar\u0101 hoki te \u0101hua o te mimiti haere, \u0101, haere ake nei, m\u0101na ka mahia \u0113tahi panonitanga nui, whakaharara.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EKo te pu\u0101waitanga M\u0101ori te urupare i t\u012Bmata ai i taua w\u0101, \u0101, ko p\u0113r\u0101 tonu tae noa mai ki n\u0101ianei. Ko te whakaora me te whakarauora i Te Reo M\u0101ori t\u0113tahi w\u0101hanga whakahirahira o t\u0113nei pu\u0101waitanga, n\u0101 Te M\u0101ori Language Act 1987, i whakamanatia ai e Te Karauna Te Reo M\u0101ori hei taonga m\u0101 ng\u0101 iwi, m\u0101 ng\u0101i M\u0101ori hoki, i whaka\u016B ai hoki Te Reo M\u0101ori hai Reo whaimana \u0101-ture m\u014D Niu T\u012Breni. Kua kitea e t\u0101tau te whakat\u016Bnga, te tipu hoki o ng\u0101 K\u014Dhanga Reo, o ng\u0101 Kura Kaupapa M\u0101ori, o ng\u0101 Whare Kura, i n\u0101ianei hoki o ng\u0101 w\u0101nanga kei te taumata m\u0101tauranga matua. Kua w\u0101tea ake te ako i Te Reo M\u0101ori i roto i \u014D t\u0101tau kura auraki, i \u014D t\u0101tau whare w\u0101nanga me ng\u0101 kura m\u0101tauranga matua k\u0113 atu. Ar\u0101 hoki ng\u0101 reo irirangi \u0101-iwi, ng\u0101 reo irirangi M\u0101ori hoki, ko Te Pouaka Whakaata M\u0101ori i whakat\u016Bria hei whakarato, hei whakap\u0101ho h\u014Dtaka i Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EHoi an\u014D ahakoa w\u0101 t\u0101tou karawhiunga hei whakarauora ake i Te Reo, he \u0101hua tokoiti tonu te hunga e uru ana ki roto i \u0113nei kaupapa. He urupare te whakapuakitanga o t\u0113nei pire i te tau 2014, ki te whakaaro, he mea whakat\u012Bna Te M\u0101ori Language Act 1987 hei tautoko i te whakarauoratanga o Te Reo. Ko te aronga o te pire, i whakapuakina atu ai, he whaka\u016B i te mana o Te Reo hai taonga m\u0101 ng\u0101 iwi, m\u0101 ng\u0101i M\u0101ori hoki hai Reo whaimana \u0101-ture m\u014D Niu T\u012Breni. Ka whakat\u016B t\u0113nei i a Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, hei hinonga \u0101-ture motuhake kia t\u016B hai kai\u0101rahi m\u0101 ng\u0101 iwi, m\u0101 ng\u0101i M\u0101ori hoki i roto i t\u0101 r\u0101tou mahi hai kaitiaki m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI n\u0101inanei ka huri au ki te pire i whakahokia p\u016Brongotia ai e Te Komiti Take M\u0101ori. He p\u0113nei te k\u012B k\u0101ore i tere m\u0101rika te rerenga o te pire m\u0101 te tukunga komiti k\u014Dwhiri \u0113ngari, ar\u0101 noa \u0113tahi tino take i p\u0113nei ai. Tuatahi, n\u014D te marama o H\u014Dngongoi tau 2014 i whakapuakina, i tukuna atu hoki t\u0113nei ki te komiti, n\u014D mua tata mai i te p\u014Dtitanga \u0101-motu i te tau 2014. N\u014D muri mai i te p\u014Dtitanga, n\u014D muri hoki i taku whai haepapatanga m\u014D te pire, i p\u012Brangi au kia m\u0101rakerake an\u014D taku titiro ki te pire. N\u0101 t\u0113nei i whakat\u016B ai au i t\u0113tahi R\u014Dp\u016B Tohutohu Reo M\u0101ori ki te whakaaroaro mehemea, me whakapai ake, me p\u0113hea r\u0101nei te whakapai ake i te pire. Kai konei w\u0113tahi e noho nei ki runga ake nei. N\u0101 te t\u0101paetanga i tukuna mai m\u0101 te tukanga komiti k\u014Dwhiri r\u0101tau i whai p\u0101nga ai i roto i taua mahi. In\u0101 r\u0101 i p\u012Brangi au kia t\u016Bturu te kitea o te haepapatanga o Te Karauna ki te whakamarumaru ki te toko ake hoki i te whakarauoratanga o Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI tuku p\u016Brongo mai te r\u014Dp\u016B tohutohu ki a au i te marama o Pipiri i t\u0113r\u0101 tau, \u0101, i m\u0101rohitia ai t\u0113tahi tauira hou. I takea mai i t\u0113tahi ng\u0101tahitanga \u0101-mahi i waenganui i Te Karauna me Te Iwi M\u0101ori. I t\u0113nei w\u0101, me whai w\u0101hi au ki te mihi ki taua r\u014Dp\u016B, otir\u0101, ki ng\u0101 kaimahi o Te Puni K\u014Dkiri, \u0101, hei te p\u0101nuitanga tuatoru pea au, whakawh\u0101nui atu i taku mihi ki a koutou. Kei aku rangatira koinei te mihi o te ng\u0101kau koinei te mihi o te ng\u0101kau ki a koutou katoa, m\u014D te papai o ng\u0101 mahi kua oti nei i a koutou, i a t\u0101tau. I t\u016Btohu tana p\u016Brongo, t\u0101 taku komiti t\u0101ku e k\u014Drero nei kia \u0101ta whakam\u0101ramatia ng\u0101 mahi motuhake a Te Karauna, a Te Iwi M\u0101ori hoki, kia wh\u0101ia ng\u0101tahitia ai he putanga pai ake m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori. N\u014D te marama o Whiringa-a-nuku i whakaaetia e Te R\u016Bnanga K\u0101wanatanga ng\u0101 whakahounga i takea mai i t\u0113nei p\u016Brongo ki te pire, i whakaurua \u0113nei hei t\u016Btohutanga ki Te Komiti Take M\u0101ori. Kai te harikoa ahau ki te k\u012B atu kua taunakitia e Te Komiti Take M\u0101ori ng\u0101 panonitanga ki te pire, \u0101, he ng\u0101kau tapatahi t\u0101 r\u0101tau m\u014D te whakauru i ng\u0101 whakahounga katoa. Ka mihi ki a koutou ka tika e hoa m\u0101! Ki ng\u0101 mema o Te Komiti T\u0101ke M\u0101ori m\u014D t\u0101 r\u0101tau mahi, t\u0101 koutou mahi i te roanga o te tau kua taha ake nei. E hoa m\u0101, ka nui te mihi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EKo te hua o t\u0113nei, kua whakakahangia te pire i whakahokia p\u016Brongotia atu ai. Ka whakatau t\u0113nei i te t\u0101paetanga, me te \u016B tonu o Te Karauna ki Te Reo M\u0101ori. M\u0101 t\u0113nei Te Karauna, ng\u0101 iwi, a ng\u0101i M\u0101ori hoki e herea ai ki te mahi ng\u0101tahi. He haepapatanga hoki t\u0101 t\u0113n\u0101, t\u0101 t\u0113n\u0101 m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori. Hei tuatahitanga whaiwhai h\u012Btori, kua whakahokia p\u016Brongotia atu te pire nei hai pire reorua. Koinei te pire tuatahi ka whakamanatia i roto i Te Reo M\u0101ori, i te reo P\u0101keh\u0101 hoki, \u0101, ki te ara he tohe, he raruraru r\u0101nei i waenganui i ng\u0101 whakaputanga e rua, ko te whakaputanga M\u0101ori t\u0113r\u0101 ka tino wh\u0101ia! He mahi tika, ko Te Pire m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori te pire tuatahi o t\u014Dna momo, kia kawea p\u0113nei i roto i t\u0113nei Whare, tae atu ki t\u014Dna whakaturetanga!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EKa paku k\u014Drero m\u014D ng\u0101 whakapanonitanga. Tuatahi, ka t\u016B a Te M\u0101t\u0101wai hei rangat\u014Dp\u016B \u0101-ture motuhake, e mahi ana m\u0101 ng\u0101 iwi, m\u0101 ng\u0101i M\u0101ori hoki, kia t\u016B hai kai\u0101rahi i roto i te mahi toko ake i te ora Te Reo, me te mauri o Te Reo M\u0101ori m\u014D ng\u0101 iwi, m\u014D ng\u0101i M\u0101ori, m\u014D ng\u0101 hapori hoki. Hoian\u014D, m\u0101 te rerenga aronga kai roto i te pire e tohu kaha i t\u014Dna hononga ki Te Karauna. E tutuki ai t\u0113nei m\u0101 te \u0101ta tohu ki ng\u0101 aronga hoki o Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, he tautoko, he whakam\u014Dhio atu, he whakaaweawe hoki i ng\u0101 kaupapa Karauna, hei whakamarumaru, hei toko ake, hei whakarauora ake i Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EKa whakamana \u0101-ture te pire i \u0113tahi rautaki Reo M\u0101ori h\u014Du e rua. N\u014D Te Karauna te haepapatanga m\u014D t\u0113tahi, ar\u0101, ko te Maihi Karauna, e h\u0101ngai atu ai ki ng\u0101 t\u0101ke \u0101-motu. N\u014D ng\u0101 iwi, n\u014D ng\u0101i M\u0101ori hoki te haepapatanga m\u0101 Te M\u0101t\u0101wai m\u014D t\u0113r\u0101 atu, ar\u0101, ko Te Maihi M\u0101ori. Ka h\u0101ngai t\u0113r\u0101 ki ng\u0101 wh\u0101inga, ki ng\u0101 kaupapa here whai p\u0101nga ki ng\u0101 iwi, ki ng\u0101 hap\u016B, ki ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau, ki ng\u0101 hapori hoki. Ka t\u016B tonu Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo M\u0101ori me Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho hei hinonga Karauna \u0113ngari, tokotoru ng\u0101 mema o ng\u0101 mema poari, tokorima o ia hinonga ka t\u012Bkina mai i ng\u0101 tautapanga a Te M\u0101t\u0101wai.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EKei te hari koa au e p\u0101 ana ki te pire i whakahokia p\u016Brongotia ai. Kua whakaritea hoki t\u0113tahi pepa \u014Cta t\u0101piri m\u0101 Te Komiti o Te Whare katoa. Ko te wh\u0101inga o t\u0113r\u0101, ko te whakatika i \u0113tahi \u0101huatanga rerek\u0113 i roto i ia whakaputanga reo o te ture. He take iti nei \u0113ngari, he whakah\u014Dunga, he take m\u0101tanga hoki te \u0101hua o aua whakah\u014Dunga. Hei whakak\u014Dpani i taku k\u014Drero e Te Kaik\u014Drero o Te Whare, ka t\u0101pae atu au i t\u0113nei pire ki Te Whare P\u0101remata hai wetewete me te mihi an\u014D r\u0101 ki t\u0113n\u0101, ki t\u0113n\u0101 o t\u0101tau i t\u0113nei r\u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, kia ora t\u0101tau katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E[Greetings, Mr Assistant Speaker. I move, That the M\u0101ori Language Bill be now read a second time. I preface my contribution with a traditional proverb: \u201CFasten above, fasten below, unify and bind, join the connections of people departed and living. Weave together the threads of humanity woven over vast distance and time from ancient homelands. Bind us into this world of light, let peace prevail, let us be steadfast and resolute!\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EAs we are discussing the value of M\u0101ori language, it is appropriate that I begin with acknowledging the recently departed, who leave with us cherished memories: in particular, Dr Ranginui Walker, as well as T\u0101huna Minhinnick, Roger Aranui, and many others. Special mention should also be made to \u0112rima, former chair of the M\u0101ori Language Commission. May you all join those who have already gathered beyond the distant horizon. And to us, the living, warm greetings, one and all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EIn his speech to the House in July 2014, when moving the first reading of this bill, my predecessor, the Hon Sir Pita Sharples, then Minister of M\u0101ori Affairs, declared: \u201Cit is a treasure of both traditional tribes and M\u0101oridom; it is an integral part of the cultural fabric of New Zealand.\u201D He referred to the decline in the health of the M\u0101ori language over the past 120 years. In 1900 M\u0101ori was spoken by practically 100 percent of the M\u0101ori population. Within 70 years this had rapidly declined to approximately 20 percent, most of whom were elderly, themselves a declining population. It was predicted that the M\u0101ori language would die out, which caused alarm among M\u0101ori, not just for the loss of the language, but also at their own general situation, including their position, social status, and authority within their own country. Such was the state of decline that it would continue without significant, auspicious change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe response was the M\u0101ori renaissance, which continues to this day. M\u0101ori language survival and revitalisation is a fundamental component of this renaissance. The Crown officially recognised the M\u0101ori language as a treasure of both traditional tribes and M\u0101oridom through the M\u0101ori Language Act 1987, which also declared M\u0101ori a national language of New Zealand. We have seen the establishment and development of M\u0101ori language immersion preschools, primary schools, high schools, and now tertiary level institutions. Study of M\u0101ori language is now available in mainstream schools, in universities, and in other tertiary settings. We now have tribal-based radio stations, pan-tribal radio stations, and M\u0101ori Television\u2014all services established to broadcast programming in the M\u0101ori language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EDespite our efforts for M\u0101ori language revitalisation, there remains a low uptake of people entering these domains. The introduction of this bill in 2014 was a response to the view that the M\u0101ori Language Act 1987 had become less effective in fulfilling aspirations for M\u0101ori language revitalisation. The purpose of the bill as introduced was to affirm the status of the M\u0101ori language as a treasure of both traditional tribes and M\u0101oridom, and as an official language of New Zealand. Accordingly Te M\u0101t\u0101wai would be established as an independent statutory entity to provide leadership for both traditional tribal groupings and M\u0101oridom in their role as custodians of the M\u0101ori language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI now turn to the bill as reported back from the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee. It can be said that the bill has not had a swift passage through the select committee process. However, this is due to a number of important factors. First, it was introduced in August 2014 and sent to the select committee just before the 2014 general election. After the election, having taken on responsibility for the bill, I wanted to take a fresh look at it. Accordingly, I established an independent M\u0101ori Language Advisory Group to consider whether the bill could be improved and, if so, how. Some of them are present here in the gallery. They benefited from the submissions received through the select committee process. I also wanted to emphasise the role and responsibility of the Crown to protect and support the revitalisation of the M\u0101ori language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe advisory group reported to me in June last year, and proposed a new model based on a working partnership between the Crown and M\u0101ori. It is appropriate for me to acknowledge that group now, as well as the Te Puni K\u014Dkiri staff, and perhaps at the third reading I will have the opportunity to expand on some of these acknowledgments. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to each of you for the substantial contributions; indeed, from each and every one of us. The advisory group report recommended clarifying the distinctive roles of the Crown and of M\u0101ori to collectively pursue improved M\u0101ori language outcomes. In October Cabinet approved amendments to the bill based on this report, and these were included as recommendations for the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee. I am pleased to announce the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee has endorsed the changes to the bill and members have unanimously adopted all the amendments. It is only right that I acknowledge and thank the members of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee for the significant undertaking throughout this past year. Members, thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe result is that the bill as reported back has been strengthened. It recognises the contribution and ongoing commitment of the Crown to the M\u0101ori language. It requires both the Crown and M\u0101ori to work in partnership, each with roles and responsibilities for the M\u0101ori language. For the first time in history a bill has been reported back as a dual language bill. This is the first bill to be enacted in both Te Reo M\u0101ori and English, with the M\u0101ori text taking precedence in any inconsistency between the two versions. It is only appropriate that the M\u0101ori Language Bill is the first of this kind to proceed through the House to enactment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EA few brief comments regarding the amendments. First, Te M\u0101t\u0101wai will be an independent statutory entity, acting on behalf of both traditional tribes and M\u0101oridom to provide leadership in promoting the health and well-being of the M\u0101ori language at tribal, at M\u0101ori, and at community levels. However, the purpose clause within the bill still strongly emphasises its relationship with the Crown, which will be achieved through the focus of Te M\u0101t\u0101wai to support, inform, and enhance Crown initiatives to protect, to promote, and to revitalise the M\u0101ori language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EThe bill makes official two new M\u0101ori language strategies. The Crown has responsibility for one\u2014namely, the Maihi Karauna, focusing on national level issues. The other\u2014namely, the Maihi M\u0101ori\u2014is the responsibility of both traditional tribes and M\u0101oridom, represented through Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. It will focus on objectives and policies and related matters at tribal, sub-tribal, family, and community levels. The M\u0101ori Language Commission and Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho will remain Crown entities; however, three of the five board members of each entity will be Te M\u0101t\u0101wai nominations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI am pleased with the bill as reported back. A Supplementary Order Paper has also been prepared for the Committee of the whole House that seeks to address any drafting inconsistencies in the respective language versions of the bill. The amendments are minor and technical in nature. In concluding, I commend this bill to the House, and wish to thank once again everyone on this occasion. Greetings, greetings, one and all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022c3a133556d304e5698c8b32ea5e7fce0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c3a133556d304e5698c8b32ea5e7fce0\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Ko te p\u0101tai kia whakaaetia te m\u014Dtini. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E[The question is that the motion be agreed to.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022 data-id=\u0022957dfc94a7a1417c8623000a15ac2618\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022957dfc94a7a1417c8623000a15ac2618\u0022\u003EPEENI HENARE (Labour\u2014T\u0101maki Makaurau):\u003C/span\u003E Tuku mauri ora ki te wheiao ki te ao m\u0101rama, tihei w\u0101 mauri ora! Ka wehi tonu ahau ki t\u014D t\u0101tou Kaihanga, n\u0101na Te Reo M\u0101ori i h\u014Dmai, n\u0101na Te Reo M\u0101ori e kaha tiaki ki roto i ng\u0101 tau, n\u0101na an\u014D hoki Te Reo M\u0101ori ka h\u0101pai ki roto i ng\u0101 tau katoa kei mua i a t\u0101tau. Ka tautoko ahau i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero me ng\u0101 tangi poroporoaki atu ki te hunga mate, ng\u0101 mate kua wahaina mai e Te Minita ki roto i tana k\u014Drero.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EI a au e rangahau ana i t\u0113nei kaupapa Te Pire m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori, ka p\u0101nui ahau i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero totohe o t\u0113nei Whare i ng\u0101 tau waru tekau i whakat\u016B, i whakamana te Pire Tuatahi m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori. Mehemea e whakaae ana e Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare, ka p\u0101nui ahau i t\u0113tahi paku k\u014Drero ka kitea ki roto i ng\u0101 totohe o aua waru tekau tau. E ai ki te mema e k\u012Bia nei ko t\u014Dna ingoa ko Mervyn Wellington: \u201C\u2026 I suspect merely respond to the demands of the radical intellectuals, having identified the fact that it is the young university trained radicals coming out of the hands of Ranginui Walker.\u201D K\u0101ti, ka tangi atu ahau ki t\u0113r\u0101 tupu ao \u014D t\u0101tou kua ngaro atu ki te p\u014D, r\u0101tau ki a r\u0101tau, e Te Minita, kua k\u014Drero mai n\u0101 e koe i te ng\u0101kau o P\u0101p\u0101, k\u0101ti, e tangi tonu ana ahau, otir\u0101, te k\u0101inga o Te Tai Tokerau, koutou te hunga wairua ki a koutou, e moe, e moe, okioki!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EE tautoko ana ahau i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero o te motu wh\u0101nui, e mihi atu ana ki Te Minita me tana ng\u0101kau nui ki t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori. I h\u0101pai ake i t\u0113nei Pire Reo M\u0101ori, i mahue mai nei e Te T\u0101kuta T\u0101 Pita Sharples ki roto i tana k\u014Dnae mahi. N\u014D reira, e mihi atu ana au ki a ia, ki \u014Dna \u0101piha katoa i whakapau werawera m\u014D Te Reo te take. Ka mihi atu ahau ki Te R\u014Dp\u016B Whiriwhiri i ng\u0101 Take M\u0101ori, an\u0101 ko Te Heamana kai roto i Te Whare i t\u0113nei w\u0101, e T\u016Btehounuku, e mihi atu ana au ki a koe, me ng\u0101 mema katoa o Te R\u014Dp\u016B Whiriwhiri. E tautoko ana ahau ki ng\u0101 r\u014Dp\u016B i awhi i t\u0113nei kaupapa, mai i te p\u0101nuitanga tuatahi, tae noa mai ki t\u0113nei w\u0101. Kua k\u014Drero mai Te Minita m\u014D Te R\u014Dp\u016B Tohutohu Reo M\u0101ori. Ko tana k\u014Drero e k\u012B ana, ko \u0113tahi kai roto i Te Whare i t\u0113nei w\u0101, e mihi atu ana.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EE mihi atu ana ki t\u0113tahi atu r\u014Dp\u016B e tautoko ana i t\u0113nei kaupapa, ar\u0101, ko Te Paepae Motuhake m\u014D ng\u0101 mahi katoa, m\u014D \u014D r\u0101tou ki te hui ng\u0101tahi me te iwi M\u0101ori. Ko wai hoki, ko te motu wh\u0101nui. E mihi atu ana au ki a r\u0101tou. E mihi atu ana ahau ki t\u0113r\u0101 k\u014Drero a Te Minita e mea ana, ko te k\u0101kano o t\u0113nei pire n\u0101 t\u0113r\u0101 rangatira o t\u0101tou, ar\u0101, ko T\u0101 Pita Sharples. I manakohia ai kia whakahoki atu te mauri me te mana o t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori ki ng\u0101 iwi, ki ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau, ki ng\u0101 otaota o te marae. Ki roto i te roanga ake o ng\u0101 totohe e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei pire, ka whakam\u0101tautau t\u0101tau mehemea ka tutuki taua hiahia. Ka whakam\u0101tautau tonu t\u0101tau mehemea kai roto i te roanga ake o t\u0113nei pire me \u014Dna wh\u0101inga katoa, ka tutuki i taua hiahia a Te Minita, a T\u0101 Pita Sharples. K\u0101ti, ka mihi atu ahau ki a ia me te whakaaro nui.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EKua roa rawa Te R\u014Dp\u016B Reipa e tautoko ana i Te Reo M\u0101ori. Kua k\u014Drero ahau m\u014D taku mahi rangahau i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero me ng\u0101 totohe o ng\u0101 tau waru tekau kua pahure ake nei. Ka whakaaro ake ahau ki t\u0113r\u0101 tupu \u014D t\u0101tau a Te Honore Koro W\u0113tere, me tana kaha ki te kawe ake i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori ki roto i t\u0113nei Whare. Ka whakaaro ake ahau e Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare, m\u014D te t\u016Bnga o Te Taura Whiri i taua t\u0101ima, me te whakamana i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori ki roto i ng\u0101 ture, ki runga hoki i te mata o te whenua. N\u014D reira kai konei m\u0101tau e tautoko ana, kai konei m\u0101tou Te R\u014Dp\u016B Reipa e tautoko ana.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EKi roto i te roanga ake o taku k\u014Drero me ng\u0101 k\u014Drero o \u014Dku hoa mahi, ka rongo i w\u0113tahi p\u0101tai kai roto tonu i a t\u0101tou, ka rongo i w\u0113tahi nawe, w\u0113tahi \u0101wangawanga, \u0113hara i te mea he maunga ka kore e taea t\u0101tau te eke, k\u0101hore! \u0112ngari, ka mea atu ki a koe e Te Minita, otir\u0101, ki a t\u0101tou e Te Whare, koinei hoki ko ng\u0101 k\u014Drero a te iwi M\u0101ori ka hoki mai ki a au, otir\u0101, ki a m\u0101tau ki roto i w\u0101 m\u0101tau mahi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira, k\u0101ti; ka huri atu ahau ki te pire. Ka huri atu ahau ki t\u0113nei pire e mihi atu ana ki te whakaaro nui, ka whakamanahia t\u0113nei pire ki roto i Te Reo M\u0101ori me te reo P\u0101keh\u0101. \u0100e m\u0101rika, ka mihi atu ahau ki te hunga whakam\u0101ori; i whakam\u0101ori i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero P\u0101keh\u0101. K\u0101tahi au ka p\u0101nui i te pire ki roto i Te Reo M\u0101ori me taku papakupu hei whai atu i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero katoa kai roto, k\u0101tahi r\u0101 te \u0101taahua \u014D t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori. E mihi atu ana au ki Te Minita me tana kaha ki te whakarongo ki te iwi, ki ng\u0101 pahupahu o t\u0113nei ki roto i ng\u0101 tau kua pahure ake nei. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EKua roa rawa au e mea ana, kai hea Te Reo m\u014D te hunga noho t\u0101one? Kai hea Te Reo m\u014D te m\u0101tatorutanga o Te Iwi M\u0101ori ka noho ki roto i t\u014Dku w\u0101hi p\u014Dti o Tamaki-makau-rau? N\u0101, kua rongo i Te Minita, e hari koa ana. E hari koa ana ahau, ka whai t\u016Branga te hunga noho t\u0101one ki runga i Te Poari o Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. N\u014D reira, ka mihi atu ahau ki t\u0113r\u0101 \u0101huatanga. Ka mihi atu an\u014D hoki t\u0113nei ki te whakaaro nui o t\u014Dku p\u0101p\u0101, me t\u014Dku tuakana a Pita Paraone e noho mai nei. Ka pupuri tonu t\u0101tau Te Iwi M\u0101ori, otir\u0101, te motu wh\u0101nui o Aotearoa i Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo M\u0101ori. Kia kaua e motuhia i aua taura, kia tuku pai, kia tiaki pai i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori me \u014Dna nekehanga katoa, n\u014D reira, ka mihi atu ahau ki t\u0113r\u0101 whakaaro nui e Te Minita.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EKo \u0113tahi o ng\u0101 take ka puta mai ki roto i w\u0101 m\u0101tou whiriwhiri i te take nei ko t\u0113tahi, kua roa rawa m\u0101tau e mea atu ana, he aha te take o te k\u0101kahu P\u0101keh\u0101 ki runga i te taonga M\u0101ori? He aha te take kia whakat\u016Bngia i \u0113tahi atu peka o te K\u0101wanatanga hai whakahaere i t\u014D T\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori? Ko te hiahia me te wh\u0101inga matua o T\u0101 Pita Sharples, i a ia e k\u014Dkiri ana i t\u0113nei take, kia whakahokia atu te mana ki ng\u0101 iwi, ki ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau, ki ng\u0101 hap\u016B. Ko reira te oranga o te iwi M\u0101ori. N\u014D reira, he aha te take o t\u0113tahi atu peka hei arataki, hei tiaki i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori? Ko t\u0113n\u0101 te k\u014Drero, ko te k\u0101kahu P\u0101keh\u0101 ki runga i te taonga M\u0101ori. Ko t\u0113tahi atu, ka p\u0101tai atu m\u0101tau i te \u0101huatanga o Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, e k\u012Bia nei, \u0101, ka tukuna m\u0101 te tokoiti hei whakahaere, hei kawe ake i Te Reo o te tokomaha.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EI a m\u0101tou o Te R\u014Dp\u016B Whiriwhiri i ng\u0101 Take M\u0101ori e noho ana ki te whakarongo ki ng\u0101 k\u014Drero e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei pire, i puta mai t\u0113tahi k\u014Drero \u0101taahua rawa atu, \u0101, e ki atu ana ki a t\u0101tau, n\u014D Ng\u0101ti Hine t\u0113nei k\u014Drero, ko w\u0101 r\u0101tau, an\u0101, n\u0101 Te Waihoroi. Hei t\u0101na, e m\u014Dhio ana t\u0101tau katoa ki ng\u0101 kau kai roto i te p\u0101mu o Te Reo M\u0101ori, i t\u0113nei w\u0101 tonu. E m\u014Dhio ana t\u0101tau, he aha ng\u0101 kau kai roto i te p\u0101mu. Ko te hiahia, \u0101, kai hea ng\u0101 kau e hiahia ana kia uru mai ki roto i te p\u0101mu hai wh\u0101ngai i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori, hei kawe ake ki roto i ng\u0101 tau kai mua i a t\u0101tau. An\u0101, ko ng\u0101 ingoa o aua kau, ko Te T\u0101huhu o Te M\u0101tauranga. An\u0101, ko te ingoa o aua kau ko ng\u0101 tari K\u0101wanatanga kua roa rawa e aukati, kua roa rawa e p\u0113hi ana i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori ki raro. K\u0101ti, he k\u014Drero t\u0113n\u0101 i kohia e m\u0101tou ki roto i w\u0101 m\u0101tou mahi whiriwhiri k\u014Drero m\u014D te take o Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EKo t\u0113tahi atu take, he aha nei te wh\u0101inga matua? E m\u014Dhio ana t\u0101tau i te hiahia o Te Minita tawhito, a T\u0101 Pita Sharples, m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori \u0113ngari, ki roto i te pire, e ka waihona atu m\u0101 t\u0101tau an\u014D ng\u0101 wh\u0101inga matua e tohutohu, e kimi, horekau he raru m\u014D t\u0113n\u0101. \u0112ngari, e m\u014Dhio ana t\u0101tau katoa ki roto i ng\u0101 whakatipuranga e toru t\u0101tau ka kite he aha nei ng\u0101 hua. N\u014D reira, ka whakaaro ake, me kimi tonu t\u0101tau he aha nei te wh\u0101inga matua m\u0101 t\u0101tau hai kawe ake ki roto i ng\u0101 tau kei mua i a t\u0101tau. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EKo t\u0113tahi atu, e p\u0101 ana ki te w\u0101hanga tuatahi o te pire, e mea ana ko te mahi arotake i te pire nei. Ka tukuna atu m\u0101 te toru tau, \u0101, ka mutu te toru tau ka arotakengia e t\u0101tau te mahi o Te M\u0101t\u0101wai me ng\u0101 hua katoa o t\u0113nei pire. Kai konei m\u0101tau, e aro haehae ana i ng\u0101 nekehanga o t\u0113nei K\u0101wanatanga mehemea, ka tutuki pai ng\u0101 moemoe\u0101 me ng\u0101 hiahia o Te Iwi M\u0101ori m\u014D Te Reo te take.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EHai whakakapi ake, ka hoki atu ahau ki t\u0113r\u0101 k\u014Drero m\u014D ng\u0101 wh\u0101inga matua o t\u0113nei pire. Ka whakaaro ake ahau ki ng\u0101 whare tupuna ka t\u016B ki runga i ng\u0101 marae puta noa, ko reira ng\u0101 maihi o ng\u0101 whare. N\u0101, kua k\u014Drero mai te pire nei, ko te maihi M\u0101ori, ko te maihi K\u0101wanatanga, i a au e m\u0101takitaki atu ana ki ng\u0101 whare e noho wahang\u016B ki runga i te motu wh\u0101nui, ka whakaaro ake ka p\u0113hea w\u0113nei maihi e k\u014Drero? M\u0101 te tangata ng\u0101 maihi e k\u014Drero, k\u0101ti, ka waiho anake t\u0113n\u0101 whakaaro hei whakaaroaro m\u0101 t\u0101tau katoa ki roto i te roanga o t\u014D m\u0101tau totohe i te p\u014D nei. Ka rongo koe i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero a \u014Dku hoa mahi, k\u0101ti, huri tua atu ki a t\u0101tou katoa, e Te Minita, e Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare; t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, kia ora t\u0101tau katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E[Let the breath of life come from the dawn to the world of the light; behold the breath of life. I pay homage to our creator, who gave us the M\u0101ori language; he carefully nurtured the language over the years and he will assist in its maintenance in the years to come. I support the words and lamentations expressed for the deceased, including those deceased mentioned in the Minister for M\u0101ori Development\u2019s speech. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EWhile I was researching this matter, the M\u0101ori Language Bill, I read the various debates that occurred in the House in the 1980s, when the first M\u0101ori Language Act was enacted. If the Assistant Speaker approves, I want to read a little excerpt that I found in those debates of the 1980s. According to a member called Mervyn Wellington: \u201C\u2026 I suspect merely respond to the demands of the radical intellectuals, having identified the fact that it is the young university trained radicals coming out of the hands of Ranginui Walker.\u201D Enough, I grieve for that genius of ours who has vanished into the night. Minister, you mentioned my father and his inclinations; alas, I still grieve for him, and, indeed, so do the people of Northland. May all the deceased abide with the deceased; sleep and rest in peace.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EI support the acknowledgments from all around the country directed to the Minister for his passion for our Maori language. He continued with the M\u0101ori Language Bill left by Sir Pita Sharples in his portfolio. So I want to thank him and all of his officials, who expended a lot of effort for the language. I want to thank the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee and the chairman who is in the House at this moment. I salute you, T\u016Btehounuku, and all the members of the select committee. I support all the parties who embraced this matter from the time of the first reading until now. The Minister has spoken of the M\u0101ori Language Advisory Group. He mentioned in his contribution that some were present in the House; I acknowledge them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EI want to pay tribute to another group that supports this matter, and that is the Paepae Motuhake, for its great efforts in meeting with the M\u0101ori people; indeed, with people from all around the country. I congratulate it. I want to acknowledge the words of the Minister when he said that the seeds of this bill were planted by that esteemed leader of ours, Sir Pita Sharples. It was his desire to return the responsibility for the life force and authority of the language to the tribes, to the families, and back to the arena of the marae. For the duration of this debate, we will be examining if indeed this will come about. We will still examine throughout the duration of this bill and its aims the question of whether the will of the previous Minister, Sir Peter Sharples, will be realised. So I thank him for his great idea.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EThe Labour Party has supported the M\u0101ori language for a long time now. I have talked about my research on the discussions and debates that took place in the 1980s. I am reminded of that other genius of ours, the Hon Koro W\u0113tere, and his perseverance in bringing the M\u0101ori language to the attention of this House. I am also reminded of the establishment of Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori at that time, and the enactment of legislation that made our language the official language of this country. Therefore, we are supporting this bill. The Labour Party supports this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EThroughout the period of my speech and from the comments of my work colleagues, you would have realised that we have questions. You would have heard some concerns and some complaints. It is not as though it is an insurmountable mountain for us; indeed not. However, I would say to you, Minister, and to us in the House, that these are the thoughts of the M\u0101ori people that I hear; indeed, what we all hear in our work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003ETherefore, I return to the bill. I turn to this bill and acknowledge an important aspect, which is that this bill will be given effect to in the M\u0101ori language and the English language. Yes, indeed, I want to thank the M\u0101ori translators who translated the English version. When I read the M\u0101ori version of the bill, I needed to have my dictionary alongside me. What a beautiful language we have. I want to acknowledge the Minister and his tenacity in listening to the people, and their commentary on this matter over the years past.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EI have for some time now wondered, where does the language feature in terms of those who live in the cities? Where is the language for the majority of M\u0101ori who live in my electorate of Auckland? The Minister has heard, and I am pleased. I am satisfied that the urban dwellers will have a position on the board of Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. So I acknowledge that point. I want to also acknowledge the great thought of my father and my elder cousin, Pita Paraone, who is present here. We, the M\u0101ori people, indeed the whole country, retain the M\u0101ori Language Commission, so that we do not sever those connections that deliver and care for our M\u0101ori language and all related aspects. So I acknowledge that very important gesture, Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EOther points that came out of our discussions on this matter, and we have been saying this for some time now\u2014why throw a P\u0101keh\u0101 cloak over a M\u0101ori treasure to run it? The desire and primary goal of Sir Pita Sharples during his research was to return the mandate to the tribes, families, and sub-tribes. Its well-being is there! Therefore, why have another branch to lead and look after our M\u0101ori language? That is what \u201Ca P\u0101keh\u0101 cloak over a M\u0101ori treasure\u201D is on about. Furthermore, we question the situation concerning Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, which states that this minority group will administer and be responsible for the language of the multitude.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EWhen the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee was convened to listen to the submissions in regard to the bill, there was a poignant remark made\u2014and I must say it emanated from Ng\u0101ti Hine. It was made by Te Waihoroi, and he said that we all know about the cows that are on the M\u0101ori language farm at this very moment, and we know why those cows are on the farm. Is there a need for more? Where are the cows that are willing to enter the farm and impart our M\u0101ori language, and take it into the future? Well! One of the names of those cows is the Ministry of Education, and those cows are all Government departments that have been suppressing our language for a long time now. Anyway this was a contribution that was taken on board in our deliberation on the issues of the M\u0101ori language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EAnother point that we are all aware of is what is the main goal? We know what the previous Minister, Sir Pita Sharples, desired for the M\u0101ori language, but in the bill it is left for us to take advice on and to seek. There is no problem with that. We all know there will be three generations before we will see what the benefits are. Therefore, I think that we are still trying to ascertain what the main aim is for us in taking our language into the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EOn another matter regarding Part 1 of the bill, where it mentions the review of this bill: at the end of 3 years the work of Te M\u0101t\u0101wai will be reviewed, along with all the other outcomes of this bill. We empathise with the undertakings of this Government and hope that the wishes of the M\u0101ori people in regard to the language are realised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EIn conclusion, I go back to that comment about the main goals of this bill. I think of all the ancestral houses that stand on all the marae around the country. That is where you will find the maihi of the ancestral houses. Now this bill makes reference to the Maihi M\u0101ori and the Maihi Government, and I reflect on all the ancestral houses that are sitting in silence around the country. I wonder how these maihi will speak; humans are required to make them talk. Anyway, I will leave that thought for all of us to consider over the course of further debate this afternoon, when you will hear from my colleagues; so enough from me. I turn now to face us all, Minister and Mr Assistant Speaker; greetings, salutations, and acknowledgments to you and to us all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022 data-id=\u00222e2115cebdfc4731aa29a4b40ae5f229\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222e2115cebdfc4731aa29a4b40ae5f229\u0022\u003ENUK KORAKO (National):\u003C/span\u003E E mihi atu ki koe e Te Mana Whakaw\u0101, \u0101, t\u0113nei te mihi o te mema o Te Whare Paremata, e huri noa i Te Whare me mihi atu ki a koutou katoa. He h\u014Dnore t\u0113nei m\u014Dk\u016B ki te t\u016B ki konei hei Heamana o Te Komiti m\u014D ng\u0101 Take M\u0101ori, he t\u016Braka kua noho au ina tekau m\u0101 ono m\u0101rama kua hipa. I roto i te w\u0101 kua w\u0101naka t\u0101 m\u0101tou komiti i \u0113tahi pire, he nui tonu. Ki a m\u0101tou, he mea nui r\u0101wa atu ng\u0101 pire whakatau ker\u0113me, Tiriti. He whakatikatika i ng\u0101 mahi o mua, hei awhina ki te whakatipu i te \u014Dhaka o Te Iwi M\u0101ori. E whakapono ai au ko t\u0113nei te pire nui rawa atu kua w\u0101naka m\u0101tou. M\u0101 t\u0113nei hanganga ture ka rerek\u0113 ng\u0101 kawenga m\u014D te ora o Te Reo M\u0101ori. Kia tae ki te p\u0101nui tuatoru o te pire, ka k\u014Drero wh\u0101nui au m\u014D ng\u0101 painga, hoia, i te r\u0101 nei, ko taku hiahia kia k\u014Drero m\u014D ng\u0101 \u0101huataka o te pire, me te huarahi i wh\u0101ia kia tae ai t\u0101tou ki t\u0113nei p\u0101nuitaka tuarua.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EKo t\u0113tahi tirohaka o te pire nei, he mea auaha i te w\u0101 o T\u0101 Pita Sharples. N\u0101na hoki i mau mai ki Te Whare i te r\u0101 i puta tana kauhau mutuka. I taku kuhunga mai ki Te P\u0101remata, ka eke hei heamana o Te Komiti m\u014D ng\u0101 Take M\u0101ori, kite tonu au i te nui o te mahi nei me te mea kia tika tonu. Kua rongo ki ng\u0101 tohetohe nei m\u0113n\u0101 ko te pire nei te huarahi tika, k\u0101ore r\u0101nei. Ahakoa he aha te kaupapa, ka tohea tonutia te huarahi tika hei wh\u0101ingahia, ko te mea ki ahau kia wh\u0101nui, kia h\u014Dhonu ng\u0101 whiriwhiringa i te pire nei.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EI te hui tuatahi ake o Te Komiti m\u014D Ng\u0101 Take M\u0101ori o t\u0113nei Te P\u0101remata e rima tekau m\u0101 tahi, ka puta t\u0101 m\u0101tou p\u0101nui kia tukua mai he k\u014Drero t\u0101paetaka. Ka tono \u0101whina m\u0101tou i Te Puni K\u014Dkiri m\u014D ng\u0101 tono i whiwhi r\u0101tou me ng\u0101 whitiwhitinga k\u014Drero i t\u016B. Waihoki, ka hoki Te Minita m\u014D ng\u0101 Take M\u0101ori ki te titiro an\u014D i te pire nei. I te m\u0101rama o T\u012Bhema i t\u0113r\u0101 tau ka whakat\u016B e ia Te R\u014Dp\u016B Whiriwhiri i Te Reo M\u0101ori. Ko te mahi a t\u0113nei r\u014Dp\u016B he whakatakoto whakaaro motuhake m\u014D te pire, me ng\u0101 rerek\u0113taka ka taka mai. I noho motuhake Te R\u014Dp\u016B Whiriwhiri i Te Reo M\u0101ori i ng\u0101 mahi a te komiti. Hoia, i puritia e m\u0101tou \u0101 m\u0101tou whiriwhiringa m\u014D te pire kia mutu r\u0101 an\u014D ng\u0101 mahi a Te R\u014Dp\u016B Whiriwhiri. N\u014D te m\u0101rama o Hune i t\u0113r\u0101 tau, ka tae mai te p\u016Brongo a Te R\u014Dp\u016B Whiriwhiri ki te aroaro o Te Minita, \u0101, n\u014D te m\u0101rama o Oketopa ka whakaaetia ng\u0101 panonitaka e Te R\u016Bnanga K\u0101wanataka. I w\u0101naka, i tautoko te komiti i \u0113nei panonitaka.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EE whai iho nei ko ng\u0101 whakarerek\u0113taka matua: tuatahi, kua takoto ki te pire he k\u014Drero i Te Reo M\u0101ori o ng\u0101 k\u014Drero Ingarihi. He mea tino nui rawa atu t\u0113nei, kotahi anake te pire kua takoto katoa ng\u0101 k\u014Drero i Te Reo M\u0101ori me Te Reo Ingarihi, hoia, ko t\u0113nei te w\u0101 tuatahi me te pire tuatahi, ka noho rite te kaha o t\u0113n\u0101 reo, me t\u0113n\u0101 reo. Ki te tohea te tikanga o waenganui i te tuhinga \u0101-Reo M\u0101ori me te tuhinga \u0101-reo Ingarihi, ka arongia ko te tuhinga Reo M\u0101ori. Tuarua, t\u0113r\u0101 t\u0113tahi atu whakarerek\u0113taki nui, ko te whiti e mea ai he taoka Te Reo M\u0101ori o ng\u0101 iwi me Te M\u0101ori, ko te reo taketake ia o Aotearoa, he mea nui rawa ki t\u0113nei whenua. Tuatoru, i te tuhinga tuatahitaka o Te Ture, e mea ana kia tangohia Te Taura Whiri me Te Mangai P\u0101ho t\u0101 r\u0101ua t\u016Braka hei hinonga Karauna, kia noho mai hei hinonga \u0101-ture noa iho. Ka t\u016Btohu m\u0101tou kia kuhuna he panonitaka ki te pupuri i te t\u016Braka o \u0113nei hinonga, hei hinonga Karauna. M\u0101 t\u0113nei ka noho tonu r\u0101ua i raro i Te Ture m\u014D Ng\u0101 P\u016Btea T\u016Bmatanui. Ko ng\u0101 mahi me ng\u0101 whakapaunga putea, ka noho tonu i raro i Te P\u0101remata.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003ETuawh\u0101, ko t\u0113tahi atu mea kua t\u016Btohu m\u0101tou kia panonitia, ki ahau, he mea nui t\u0113nei, ko te whakat\u016B kia rua ng\u0101 rautaki m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori. Ka noho a Maihi Karauna ki raro i ng\u0101 kawenga o Te Karauna, ko t\u0101na he titiro ki ng\u0101 kaupapa \u0101-motu. He k\u014Drero nui t\u0113nei kei roto i te pire. E ai ki \u0113tahi, m\u0101 t\u0113nei e whakakapi te wh\u0101wh\u0101rua i te tuhinga tuatahi o te pire, ar\u0101, kei Te Karauna te kawenga kia whakatairangatia, kia tiakina Te Reo M\u0101ori. Ko t\u0113r\u0101 atu o ng\u0101 rautaki k\u012Bia ai ko Maihi M\u0101ori. Kei Te M\u0101t\u0101wai \u014Dna kawenga m\u014D ng\u0101 iwi M\u0101ori me Te Maori. Ka noho \u0113nei rautaki e rua hei whakaatu atu, he mea nui kia rite, kia tika te pire ki ng\u0101 taha katoa. Ka whakahokia e te pire te t\u016Braka o Te M\u0101ori hei kaitiaki o te taoka kamehameha.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EH\u0101unga t\u0113r\u0101, he mea nui tonu kia kaua te pire e unu i te kawenga o Te Karauna n\u0101na nei Te Tiriti i waitohu, ki te tiaki me te h\u0101pai i Te Reo. Whakapono au n\u0101 runga i ng\u0101 whakahounga, ka noho te pire ki te w\u0101hi tika e rite ai \u0113nei whainga nui e rua. Kei te whakap\u016Bmautia te kawenga o Te Karauna m\u0101 t\u0113tahi whakahounga ki te kaupapa a Te M\u0101t\u0101wai te w\u0101hi e mea ai, \u201CTe Minita m\u014D ng\u0101 Take M\u0101ori\u201D ka hurihia ki \u201CNg\u0101 Minita o Te Karauna.\u201D M\u0101 t\u0113nei e whakaatu atu, \u0113hara i te mea, ka noho ng\u0101 kawenga o Te Karauna ki runga i ng\u0101 pakihiwi o Te Minita kotahi \u0113ngari, kei runga i Te K\u0101wanatanga katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003ET\u0113r\u0101 an\u014D whakahounga kei p\u014Dh\u0113h\u0113 \u0113tahi he mea iti noa, hoia, ki ahau he mea nui te kake ake i te tokomaha kei runga i Te M\u0101t\u0101wai atu i te tekau m\u0101 rua ki te tekau m\u0101 toru. N\u0101 te tapiritanga o t\u0113tahi m\u0101ngai m\u014D te hunga M\u0101ori i ng\u0101 t\u0101one, ka piki te rahi ki te tekau m\u0101 toru. Ahakoa te nuinga o ng\u0101 t\u0101kata o Te M\u0101t\u0101wai kei reira hei kanohi m\u014D ng\u0101 iwi, me aro tonu t\u0101tou ki te nui o t\u0101tou tae rawa ki te hunga rakatahi, kei te noho ki ng\u0101 t\u0101one. He nui r\u0101tou kei te noho tawhiti i \u014D r\u0101tou iwi kua motu r\u0101nei te here ki te iwi. Ahakoa t\u0113r\u0101, kia whai w\u0101hi tonu r\u0101tou hei kaitiaki o Te Reo M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EMe k\u012B, ko ng\u0101 reo o te rakatahi nui rawa atu i roto i t\u0113nei mahi. E kore pea, e nui ng\u0101 rerek\u0113taka i roto i te w\u0101 poto. \u0112ngari, ki te tika t\u0113nei mahi, ko \u0101 t\u0101tou tamariki ka whiwhi i t\u0113tahi reo ora, reo kaha, reo k\u014Drerotia. E mihi atu ana ki a koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003E[This member of the House acknowledges you, Mr Assistant Speaker, and all of you throughout the House. It is an honour for me to stand here as chairman of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, a position I have held for the past 16 months, during which time our committee has considered some very important bills. Treaty of Waitangi settlement bills are of great importance to us, as they address past grievances and assist the economic growth of M\u0101oridom. I believe this to be perhaps the most significant bill we have considered. This new legislation will alter responsibilities in regard to M\u0101ori language revitalisation. When it reaches its third reading, I will elaborate on the benefits. Suffice to say, today I will simply discuss aspects of the bill and the process we followed to bring it to second reading stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EOne perspective is that the bill was created during the time Sir Pita Sharples was here, and he introduced it on the day he gave his valedictory speech. When I entered Parliament and was elected as chairman of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, it was obvious to me that this was a big piece of work and we had to get it right. There was already dissent about whether the approach was right or not. Regardless of what approach would be followed it would be debated, so it was apparent to me the consultation on this bill would have to be wide and comprehensive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EAt the very first meeting of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee of the 51st Parliament we called for submissions. We sought advice from Te Puni K\u014Dkiri on the submissions it had received and the consultation it had undertaken. In addition, the Minister for M\u0101ori Development decided to take another look at this bill. In December that year he established the M\u0101ori Language Advisory Group. The purpose of this group was to provide independent advice on the bill and on any changes that emerged. The M\u0101ori Language Advisory Group work was independent of the work carried out by the committee. However, we did put our consideration of the bill on hold until the advisory group had completed its activities. In June 2015 the advisory group reported back to the Minister, and in October the changes were approved by Cabinet. After careful consideration the committee also supported the changes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EThe key changes are as follows. Firstly, a Te Reo translation of the English has been inserted in the bill. This is very significant, as there has been only one other bill where the text is in both M\u0101ori and English; however, this is the first bill where both languages are of equal validity. If the meaning between the M\u0101ori and English is contested, it is the M\u0101ori version that will take precedence. Secondly, another significant change is the line that refers to the M\u0101ori language as being a treasure of M\u0101ori tribes and of Maoridom; it is the indigenous language of New Zealand and valued by the nation. Thirdly, in the first draft of the bill it stated that the M\u0101ori Language Commission and the M\u0101ori Broadcasting Funding Agency would lose their status as Crown entities to become statutory entities only. We recommended that the entities retain their status as Crown entities and, in so doing, remain under the Public Finance Act, where their activities and expenditure would remain under the Crown.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EFourthly, another thing we recommended, and which I believe is significant, was the establishment of two Te Reo M\u0101ori strategies. The Maihi Karauna\u2014Crown Strategy\u2014will remain the responsibility of the Crown and focus on national-level issues. This is prominent in the bill, and some say it covers the gaps in the first draft of the bill in terms of the Crown being responsible for promoting and protecting the M\u0101ori language. The other strategy is referred to as the Maihi M\u0101ori, which will be the responsibility of Te M\u0101t\u0101wai on behalf of M\u0101ori tribes and M\u0101oridom. These dual strategies represent the important balancing act that is required in this bill. The bill reiterates the role of M\u0101ori as guardian of the great treasure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EThat aside, it is important that the bill does not allow the Crown to relinquish its responsibility as one who signed the Treaty to protect and promote the M\u0101ori language. The responsibility of the Crown is reinforced in an amendment to the purpose of Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, where \u201Cthe Minister of M\u0101ori Affairs\u201D is replaced by \u201CMinisters of the Crown\u201D. This ensures that the Crown responsibilities are not left on the shoulders of one Minister alone, but on all of the Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EOne further amendment, which some may consider minor, but to me is quite significant, is to bump up the membership of Te M\u0101t\u0101wai from 12 to 13. This change results from the addition of a representative for urban M\u0101ori. Although most of Te M\u0101t\u0101wai membership will represent traditional tribal groupings, credence still needs to be afforded to the broader urban and youth population, many of whom are displaced from traditional tribal regions and populations. Despite this, they still have a stake as guardians of the M\u0101ori language.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003EIt could be said that the voice of the youth is perhaps the most important throughout this process. Dramatic changes are not expected overnight; however, if done correctly, our children will inherit a thriving, strong, spoken language. I acknowledge you all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022e19fb46d5aed45698c870541cbf65415\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e19fb46d5aed45698c870541cbf65415\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Ko te w\u0101 kai t\u0113nei; ka hoki mai \u0101 te 7.30 p.m. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E[This is the dinner break; we will come back at 7.30 p.m.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003ESitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a506c270b08f4f12bac6835aabae8582\u0022\u003ENUK KORAKO\u003C/span\u003E: He roa te w\u0101 kia hoki mai te pire nei ki Te Whare, heoi, ka whakapono au ka hoki mai he pire pakari, ko te mutuka iho ka hua an\u014D, he rua pakari. Ka whaiwhaitia e au t\u0113nei pire ki te aroaro o Te Whare. N\u014D reira, e koutou m\u0101, he mihi, he mihi, he mihi atu ki a koutou. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003E[This bill has taken a long time to come back to the House, but I believe it comes back a robust one and, at the end of it all, a fruitful one too and sturdier twice-over. I will follow this bill that is before the House. So to you at large, I acknowledge, commend, and applaud you collectively. Thank you.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022 data-id=\u00221c03000affdc4759ad317b6c2c341d44\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221c03000affdc4759ad317b6c2c341d44\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour\u2014Hauraki-Waikato):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa, tuatahi e t\u0101piri ana i aku whakaaro ki a r\u0101tou kua whet\u016Brangitia, r\u0101tou n\u014D te k\u0101inga, t\u0113nei ka tukuna aku mihi maioha: ki a p\u0101p\u0101 Matua Dick R\u0101kena n\u014D Ng\u0101ti Tamater\u0101, ki t\u0113r\u0101 rangatira rongonui o Te Whakat\u014Dhea, a Ranginui Walker. T\u0113r\u0101 kuia o t\u014D m\u0101tou nei rangatira n\u014D Waikato a Vivien Tapa, n\u014D Ng\u0101ti Korok\u012B, ar\u0101, ki a koe T\u0101huna, ko koe t\u0113tehi o ng\u0101 m\u0101ia hoki, ng\u0101 toa kei waenganui i a Ng\u0101ti K\u012Bato, e moe, e moe!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EE t\u016B ana ki te whakatakoto i \u0113tehi o ng\u0101 whakaaro e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei pire, ki t\u0113nei w\u0101hanga o te pire. E tika ana, e tautoko ana a Reipa i t\u0113nei w\u0101hanga me ng\u0101 momo k\u014Drero kua puta mai i mua i te aroaro o Te Komiti Whiriwhiri. M\u0113n\u0101 ka whakar\u0101popotohia \u0113tehi o ng\u0101 whakaaro, ka penei te whakaputa atu. Ka nui te mihi atu ki a koe Minita. I wh\u0101ia e koe te rori pikopiko, nau i whakatinanahia t\u0113r\u0101 rotarota, a Robert Frost. Ka nui te mihi atu ki a koe n\u0101 te mea, i te t\u012Bmatatanga o t\u0113nei w\u0101hanga, ka whakaaro ake te komiti me waiho. I tukuna te pire tuatahi kia mutu taua w\u0101hanga, \u0101, t\u012Bmata an\u014D koe \u0113ngari, n\u0101 runga i t\u014D hiahia ki te whakap\u016Bmau, ki te whaka\u016B ki t\u0113r\u0101 hiahia o t\u014D rangatira a T\u0101 Pita, ka haere tonu t\u0113nei mahi, ahakoa ng\u0101 piki me ng\u0101 heke, ahakoa te roa rawa o ng\u0101 \u0101huatanga ki t\u0113nei pire. Heoi an\u014D, he w\u0101hanga an\u014D m\u014D te komiti hei \u0101ta w\u0101nanga i ng\u0101 nawe i puta mai i mua i t\u014D m\u0101tou aroaro, me te waw\u0101hi i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero kia \u0101ta whakaarohia, ka p\u0113whea, ka p\u0113whea, an\u0101, kua kite koe i \u0113tehi o ng\u0101 whakaaro o te komiti. Kua kite m\u0101tou \u0113tehi o ng\u0101 whakaaro kua whakahokia mai e t\u014D komiti motuhake ki waenganui i a m\u0101tou, \u0101, ka pai! Kua titiro ake ki te painga o t\u0113r\u0101 mahi, ka nui te mihi atu ki a koe. Ko \u0113nei take, k\u0101re ano i tutuki pai i t\u0101 m\u0101tou komiti.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI whakaaro m\u0101tou, n\u0101 runga i te ng\u0101kau nui ki Te Reo M\u0101ori, me kuhu t\u0113tehi w\u0101hanga hei whakap\u0101ha atu a Te Karauna ki Te Iwi M\u0101ori m\u014D \u0101 r\u0101tou ture patu i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori. Ahakoa i w\u0101nangahia t\u0113r\u0101, k\u0101re i whai w\u0101hi ki te whakatinana i t\u0113r\u0101 o ng\u0101 hiahia. N\u014D reira, k\u0101re i uru mai t\u0113tehi whakap\u0101ha m\u014D t\u0113r\u0101 t\u016B\u0101huatanga. Ko t\u0113tehi an\u014D e p\u0101 ana ki ng\u0101 mahi a Te Taura Whiri me Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho. Kua tae mai \u0113tehi me \u014D r\u0101tou nei whakaaro me t\u016B motuhake tonu aua tari, me \u0101 r\u0101tou nei mahi hei noho whakaruruhau ki te h\u0101pai i ng\u0101 \u0101huatanga o Te Rautaki Reo M\u0101ori. Kei te pai, kua kite i t\u0113r\u0101!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EE p\u0101 ana ki ng\u0101 maihi. Kua whai whakaaro m\u0101tou ki t\u0113nei t\u016B\u0101huatanga m\u0113n\u0101 ka t\u016B Te Maihi Karauna me Te Maihi M\u0101ori ki te taha, me k\u012B, ki te whakaat\u016B atu ki Te Karauna me ng\u0101 iwi, anei ng\u0101 pou o Te Whare, ka p\u0113whea te whakatinanahia? Kei roto i t\u0113nei pire \u0113tehi o ng\u0101 w\u0101hanga hei tuitui i \u0113nei rautaki kia whakat\u012Bnanahia t\u0113nei t\u016B\u0101huatanga m\u014D Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. \u016A, kua tae mai \u0113tehi o ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata n\u014D te t\u0101one me \u014D r\u0101tou nei hiahia, me whakaw\u0101w\u0101hitia t\u0113t\u0113hi t\u016Branga m\u014D r\u0101tou, n\u0101, kua tutuki t\u0113r\u0101 w\u0101hanga. Koin\u0101 \u0113tehi o ng\u0101 whakar\u0101popoto m\u014D ng\u0101 t\u012Bnihanga hei whakamanatia, me k\u012B, ng\u0101 nawe i haria mai i mua i te aroaro o te komiti. Ka tika, me k\u014Drero atu ki t\u0113r\u0101!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EKi roto i a au, m\u0113n\u0101, kei roto i t\u014D whatumanawa Te Reo o \u014D m\u0101tua t\u016Bpuna, kei reira te t\u012Bmatanga o t\u014D t\u0101tou nei Reo M\u0101ori kia ora ai. Ahakoa ka whakaturengia t\u0113nei pire, ko te tino whakatinanahia o t\u0113nei wawata o \u014D t\u0101tou nei m\u0101tua t\u016Bpuna, kei waenganui i te wh\u0101nau, kei waenganui i t\u014D iwi hei h\u0101pai i t\u0113r\u0101 t\u016B\u0101huatanga m\u014D ng\u0101 whakatupuranga. N\u014D reira, i t\u0113nei w\u0101 ka nui te mihi atu ki \u0113r\u0101 momo, a Te Rangihau, ar\u0101, a Heik\u014Dk\u014D Mataira, a Ng\u0101hina Teuira, me M\u012Bria Simpson \u0113r\u0101 tangata e kaha ana i \u014D r\u0101tou w\u0101 i waenganui i ng\u0101 whare w\u0101nanga, ki te kawe i ng\u0101 kaupapa p\u0113nei ki mua i te aroaro o ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata ahakoa ko wai, ahakoa n\u014D whea. Kia kore ai au e noho tonu ki roto i Te Reo M\u0101ori ki te whakawh\u0101nui ake i \u0113nei k\u014Drero ki te nuinga, ka huri au ki te reo P\u0101keh\u0101.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E[Greetings, everyone, but first of all I add my thoughts and tributes to those from back home who have departed: to the father figure Uncle Dick R\u0101kena of Ng\u0101ti Tamater\u0101, and that widely acclaimed academic from Te Whakat\u014Dhea, Ranginui Walker. To this matriarch of ours from Waikato Vivien Tapa of Ng\u0101ti Korok\u012B, and indeed to you, T\u0101huna, one of the capable and bold ones amongst Ng\u0101ti K\u012Bato, rest, sleep.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI rise to express some views that relate to this bill. It is fitting that Labour endorse this part and the various thoughts that have been put before the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, which considered this bill. If these views were summarised, this is how they would be expressed. I commend you highly, the Minister for M\u0101ori Development. You chose a path that meandered this way and that but, in doing so, brought the world of Robert Frost to life. I really commend you because at the start of this process the committee had considered abandoning it, but because of your commitment to ensure that the goal set by your former leader, Sir Pita, was fulfilled, this process continued despite the ups and downs, and regardless of the lengthy delays in regard to circumstances that concerned this bill. Nevertheless, there was a part that came before the committee that had to be considered, analysed, and examined by the committee until a way forward was found. You have seen some of the conclusions the committee arrived at. We have seen some of the views expressed by your advisory group that it sent back for our consideration, and that is fine. We have looked at the positives that came out of that collaboration and acknowledge your high input into those benefits, Minister. Some of these issues have yet to be resolved by our committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EBecause of the enthusiastic attitude towards the M\u0101ori language, we considered that an apology from the Crown to M\u0101oridom should be inserted because of the detrimental effect that its laws had on our M\u0101ori language. Despite the debate over it, that one of our wishes was not implemented. Another issue concerned the roles of the M\u0101ori Language Commission and the M\u0101ori Broadcasting Funding Agency. Some came with their views that the independent roles of these agencies should remain so that they can continue to foster and support aspects of the M\u0101ori Language Strategy. That is fine; we have seen that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003ENow, in terms of the maihi. We have considered this situation: if the Crown and M\u0101oridom maihi are placed on the side, let us say to demonstrate to the Crown and M\u0101oridom that here are the pillars of the house, how will it be implemented? Contained in this bill are some sections that can be drawn together to manifest these strategies as far as Te M\u0101t\u0101wai is concerned. And so some people representing the interests of urban-based groups have arrived with their hopes that a position be brokered for them. This has been done. These are some of the summarised modifications, shall we say, to be mandated in terms of the grievances that were brought before the committee, and which rightfully need to be addressed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EIn my personal view, if you have the language of your ancestors in your heart, that is where the revitalisation of our language will begin from. Even if this bill is mandated, the manifestation of these aspirations of our ancestors is really within the family and the support of the tribe for future generations. Appropriately, at this time, I too would like to acknowledge the likes of Te Rangihau, Heik\u014Dk\u014D Mataira, Ng\u0101hina Teuira, and M\u012Bria Simpson, who worked tirelessly in the universities to bring policies like these to the attention of all people, regardless of who they were and where they were from. In order that I do not remain speaking only in M\u0101ori, I do wish to elaborate on these statements to the wider audience in English.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EThis M\u0101ori Language (Te Reo M\u0101ori) Bill is an opportunity for us to, I think, ensure that its aims and intents reflect the highest aspirations of what we would like to see for this country, and that is that Te Reo M\u0101ori is the flourishing language for every New Zealander. It is by no coincidence that just this morning we had two young women come before our M\u0101ori Affairs Committee with their aspiration to have a national day of significance\u2014M\u0101ori and P\u0101keh\u0101 coming together. We asked the question: in 20 years\u2019 time, if we were to have a day such as this commemorated, what would New Zealand look like? Two words\u2014proud, united. As well, Te Reo M\u0101ori is one of those types of issues that can ensure that every New Zealander is proud about where we come from and the place of our language in this country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EMany changes were made to the bill. As I said previously, we did try to encourage the Minister to actually dismiss the bill and start again\u2014to give himself free rein, so to speak. But the Minister was absolutely sure that notwithstanding the challenges of the imperfect bill that was tabled in this House, he wanted to maintain the essence of what was trying to be achieved, which is a new way forward for upholding our ambition to see Te Reo M\u0101ori as a language that all New Zealanders can draw from, draw strength from, and draw identity from but also uphold in a way that reflects the type of country that we are. It was not easy. It was not easy because there were a number of craggy issues, and I have outlined some of them. In the Committee stage, we will probably highlight in more detail some of those aspects, but can I say that in terms of the substance of the changes, they give us, as the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, enough confidence to believe it is a starting place. It is by no means a finishing place. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EMy colleague Peeni Henare identified that the review will be very significant because this is a new way forward. It is the first significant piece of legislation that will be written in Te Reo M\u0101ori, and the status of Te Reo M\u0101ori within our legislative system will be elevated. It will be an opportunity for the Crown to think in a very uniform way about how it upholds its obligations to have targets and achieve some more uniform ways to embrace Te Reo M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EMore fundamentally than that, it is an opportunity for New Zealand to consider its ongoing commitment to the indigenous language of this country. With that, I still regret that the committee was not in a position to be able to come up with the type of apology that the Crown could make on Parliament\u2019s behalf for the systemic destruction of our identity through the loss of language, through the institutionalisation of the Native Schools Act, and through English being the only language heard. All of us can tell a story about our grandparents being beaten for speaking M\u0101ori, but I tell you what, it did not beat it out of their hearts that they had to uphold their language. It is with regret that we could not do that as a very important gesture to show that we have moved on, that this country is moving on, and that Te Reo M\u0101ori should be a language that is normalised in the lexicon of every New Zealander, no matter where they come from to stay here. This is a language that belongs to everybody. N\u014D reira, ki a t\u0101tou katoa, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou. [And so, thank you to us all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022 data-id=\u00221289aed2ce5e458db108da2e8a9fbe6e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221289aed2ce5e458db108da2e8a9fbe6e\u0022\u003EJOANNE HAYES (National):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora. I stand proud to take a short call on the M\u0101ori Language (Te Reo M\u0101ori) Bill, in its second reading, sponsored by the Minister for M\u0101ori Development, the Hon Te Ururoa Flavell. I want to acknowledge, before I start my contribution, the late rangatira and M\u0101ori Language Commissioner \u0112rima H\u0113nare for his leadership and his contribution to the health and growth of the M\u0101ori language in our country. Moe mai, moe mai, e te rangatira [rest and sleep, esteemed one.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EI also want to acknowledge the former Minister for M\u0101ori Affairs T\u0101 Dr Pita Sharples for the work that he began and for leaving so much of the hard yakka, really, to our Minister for M\u0101ori Development, the Hon Te Ururoa Flavell, who has done, I think, a fabulous job and a challenging job. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EI want to take a brief walk down memory lane a little bit, mainly because we must not forget the hard work that has taken place to get us here today. I want to talk a little bit about my father, because my father was a fluent Te Reo M\u0101ori speaker. He hailed from Te Araroa on the East Coast and, as the Hon Nanaia Mahuta explained towards the end of her contribution, he was one of those kids in the 1930s and 1940s who got whacked for speaking M\u0101ori at school. He brought us up in a little place called Rangiw\u0101hia and did not encourage us, his children, to speak Te Reo M\u0101ori at all. At times when we went to our school, which was predominantly P\u0101keh\u0101, the only M\u0101ori that we got was M\u0101ori Day, where we got to sing a few M\u0101ori songs. So as we grew up as adults he was not surprised that his children pursued the learning of Te Reo M\u0101ori. There are four of us in our family. Two speak M\u0101ori fluently and two do not. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EI want to note some dates in my contribution. As I was preparing myself for this very important contribution tonight, I took a little bit of a look down at whereabouts we have come from. I started with 1980 when Television New Zealand opened up, for the first time in broadcasting history, a M\u0101ori production unit. It was a very good start, and 2 years later, in 1982, the first k\u014Dhanga reo was set up, and now we have over 450 k\u014Dhanga reo. But that came because in 1930, 90 percent of our M\u0101ori children\u2014tamariki\u2014spoke M\u0101ori, but by 1975 it was only 9 percent who spoke M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EAt that time, there was a strong view that perhaps our Reo was dying. We all know that the power behind indigenous peoples is our Reo. It is the basis of where we come from. It is our heart. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EThen, following on from the k\u014Dhanga reo movement, was the first kura kaupapa M\u0101ori, at Hoani Waititi Marae. It was interesting that our former Minister Dr Pita Sharples was the one who set that up, and from then many kura have blossomed. By 1987 Te Reo M\u0101ori had become an official language of New Zealand, and then, 3 years after that, we had the very first M\u0101ori radio station, which was established in P\u014Dneke here, called Te Upoko o Te Ika. That was run by Piripi Walker and Tama Te Huki. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EI am saying all these things because I think that in order for us to go forward and in order for New Zealand to go forward in acknowledging Te Reo M\u0101ori and participating in our language, we have to know where we have come from. We have to know where we have come from before we know where we are going to. In 1989 we saw the emergence of Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho through the Broadcasting Act, and in 2004 M\u0101ori Television went to air.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a87d6690160c43eaacf51638652f943b\u0022\u003ECarmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: All these good things under Labour. Kia ora, Labour.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f461b75374c045398c3080b66f8c8a87\u0022\u003EJOANNE HAYES\u003C/span\u003E: They are good things. It does not matter who did them\u2014they are good things. In 2006 a survey of the health of Te Reo M\u0101ori was conducted, and we realised that more needed to be done. We might have moved from the 9 percent, but we had not moved far enough. By 2013, 19 percent of New Zealanders spoke Te Reo M\u0101ori, so it is no wonder that action is needed today, and action needs to be taken fairly quickly to be able to reverse that percentage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EMy speech is a short speech. It has focused on the past and on my personal perspective. There is a lot of progress that has been made and there is a lot more to go. This bill repeals the M\u0101ori Language Act and also repeals Part 4 of the Broadcasting Act. Importantly, it establishes the entity Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, which has had a lot of discussion out amongst iwi in terms of how it is going to move forward. But the bill also gives to iwi and M\u0101ori organisations a pivotal role in shaping the revitalisation of Te Reo M\u0101ori in this country, and it is right that iwi and M\u0101ori should be at the centre of this and not the Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EI believe that it is not how fluent one is in Te Reo M\u0101ori but how often we speak it, whether it is in total immersion or intermittently with English, because as confidence grows, the more you speak it\u2014and that is exactly my story. In closing, I commend the bill to the House. I strongly encourage all people of Aotearoa, where possible, to have a go. We should be speaking it, singing it, praying it, and playing it because that is the only way. We can have every bill this side of the black stump, but unless we actually do it, we will get nowhere and it will go. I know that from this bill and forward, it will happen. E Te Mana Whakaw\u0101, ka mutu t\u0101ku k\u014Drero. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003E[My address ends, Mr Deputy Speaker, and thank you.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022 data-id=\u0022cd606eaa1396445d812565d7a6fb570d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cd606eaa1396445d812565d7a6fb570d\u0022\u003EMARAMA DAVIDSON (Green):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, e Te M\u0101ngai, huri noa i Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. Tuatahi, rawe te whakarongo atu, rawe te kite atu i a m\u0101tou ng\u0101 kait\u014Drangap\u016B ahakoa te p\u0101t\u012B, e k\u014Drero ana i t\u0113nei Whare, e aroha ana i t\u014D t\u0101tou nei Reo. Kik\u012B ana te ng\u0101kau me te aroha mai \u014D t\u0101tou katoa o t\u0113nei Whare P\u0101remata, me t\u014D t\u0101tou aroha m\u014D t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori ahakoa n\u014D wai, ahakoa n\u014D hea. N\u014D reira, tuatahi e Te M\u0101ngai, pirangi au ki te k\u014Drero e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei. \u0100na te h\u014Dnore nui m\u0101ku ki te t\u016B ki roto i t\u0113nei Whare, tautoko ai i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo Rangatira.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EKa p\u014Dti whakaae ana Te R\u014Dp\u016B K\u0101k\u0101riki i Te Pire m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori, ahakoa ki a m\u0101tou he mea paku raru tonu ki roto i te pire; ka p\u014Dti whakaae ana m\u0101tou. [Interruption] \u0100e, \u0101e. Ka haere tonu te k\u014Drero me te mahi ki te whakakaha i te pire nei, ki te pupuri ki ng\u0101 moemoe\u0101 m\u014D Te Reo. He r\u0101 whakahirahira t\u0113nei m\u014D t\u0101tou Te Iwi M\u0101ori, m\u014D Te Reo hoki, n\u014D reira, ahakoa taku wiriwiri, taku werawera kua maringihia, ka t\u016B au ki te k\u014Drero i roto i Te Reo m\u014D te katoa o t\u014Dku k\u014Drero m\u014D t\u0113nei p\u014D, hei m\u0101ngai m\u014D te Rop\u016B Kak\u0101riki i roto i t\u0113nei, te p\u0101nuitanga tuarua o te pire nei. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EM\u0101rama te kite atu i te wero Reo kei mua i a t\u0101tou katoa. Te maha hoki o ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata p\u0113nei ki a au, ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata ihu h\u016Bp\u0113 tonu ki ng\u0101 take Reo M\u0101ori. K\u0101ore ano m\u0101tou kia tino whiwhi. He wero t\u0101ku, t\u0101 m\u0101tou ki te patu i t\u0113r\u0101 whakam\u0101. N\u014D reira, t\u0113n\u0101 hoki koutou katoa ng\u0101 tohunga Reo m\u014D te awhi mai. Ko t\u0113r\u0101 te tino kaupapa o Te Pire m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori nei. He pire t\u0113nei ki te tautoko i ng\u0101 wawata o t\u0101tou Te M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EE tika ana ka mau Te K\u0101wanatanga ki \u0113tahi o te mahi whakakaha i Te Reo i te mea, n\u0101 Te Karauna te h\u0113 tuatahi. Heoi, he tika hoki te whakahirahiratanga o t\u0101tou Te Iwi M\u0101ori e \u0101rahi ana i t\u0113nei mahi. Me noho rangap\u016B ana Te Karauna ki Te Iwi M\u0101ori hei whakamana i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo me Te Tiriti o Waitangi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EHoki aku mahara ki ng\u0101 k\u014Drero n\u014D t\u014Dku kuia. N\u014D Te Rarawa ia. Ko Patricia Broughton, n\u00E9e Hansey, t\u014Dna ingoa. N\u0101 te patu o Te Kura M\u0101ori, ar\u0101, ng\u0101 native schools, t\u014Dna whakam\u0101 ki te k\u014Drero i Te Reo ki \u0101na tamariki. P\u0113n\u0101 t\u0113r\u0101 ki a m\u0101tou, n\u0113? N\u0101 r\u0101tou ng\u0101 kura, t\u014Dna mana i t\u016Bkino, n\u0101 ng\u0101 ture kino i takahi t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo Rangatira, n\u014D reira, kua ngaro Te Reo i aku m\u0101tua, i t\u0113r\u0101 whakatupuranga katoa. \u0100na, e tika ana m\u0101 Te Karauna e tautoko te whakatikatika.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EKi a m\u0101tou nei, he mea p\u016B raruraru i roto i te pire \u0113ngari, he maha hoki ng\u0101 whakarerek\u0113 an\u014D i te p\u0101nuitanga tuatahi kua whakakaha i te pire. He pai te k\u0101kune o te pire nei kia whakatika ai i ng\u0101 mana whakahaere o ng\u0101 rautaki whakaora i Te Reo me te whakawhiti i \u0113tahi o ng\u0101 mana whakahaere ki a ng\u0101i M\u0101ori me ng\u0101 hapori. [Interruption] \u0100e.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI muri i te panuitanga tuatahi, i whakat\u016Bria Te R\u014Dp\u016B Tohutohu Reo M\u0101ori e Te Minita. T\u0113n\u0101 koe, e Te Minita. Kua k\u014Dwhiri \u0113tahi tohunga Reo o Te Motu m\u014D t\u0113r\u0101 r\u014Dp\u016B, ar\u0101, a Ahorangi R\u0101winia Higgins, r\u0101tou ko T\u0101kuta Ruakere Hond, ko T\u0101kuta Wharehuia Milroy, ko Charisma Rangihuna, ko Charlie Te Pana hoki. E whai kupu ana r\u0101tou i \u0113tahi rerek\u0113tanga nuinga kia whakakaha ai i te pire. E whakaae ana m\u0101tou Te Komiti Whiriwhiri Take M\u0101ori, no reira, i uru atu \u0113r\u0101 rerek\u0113tanga ki roto i te pire, t\u0113n\u0101 hoki r\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EKo t\u0113tahi o ng\u0101 tino rerek\u0113tanga, ka whakat\u016B te pire i ng\u0101 rautaki Reo M\u0101ori e rua, ko Te Maihi Karauna me Te Maihi M\u0101ori. Ko te hiahia o Te Maihi Karauna, kia noho haepapa ai m\u014D Te Karauna me te whakah\u0101ngai i t\u014Dna arotahi ki ng\u0101 take \u0101-motu. \u0100, ko te hiahia o Te Maihi M\u0101ori, ka noho nei te haepapa ki Te M\u0101t\u0101wai m\u014D te taha ki te iwi, m\u014D ng\u0101i M\u0101ori ki te whakah\u0101ngai i t\u014Dna arotahi ki runga i ng\u0101 take iwi, take h\u0101pori hoki. Ki a m\u0101tou nei, he pai hoki kia noho tonu a Te Taura Whiri i te Reo M\u0101ori me Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho hei r\u014Dp\u016B motuhake o Te Karauna. He tino pai \u0113nei \u0101huatanga e rua ki ahau, kia whakat\u016Bturu ai me kore Te K\u0101wanatanga e whakataka ana i a r\u0101tou takohanga ki Te Reo hei taonga o te whenua. He take Te Tiriti o Waitangi t\u0113r\u0101.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EKo t\u0113tahi o ng\u0101 t\u016Braruraru i roto tonu i te pire, ko te mahi ng\u0101tahi o Te M\u0101t\u0101wai ki ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau, ng\u0101 hap\u016B me ng\u0101 iwi p\u012Bp\u012B. N\u014D reira, me arotake t\u0101tou i ng\u0101 piki me ng\u0101 heke o Te M\u0101t\u0101wai e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei \u0101huatanga. Ko \u0113tahi atu mea, ko te putea moni m\u014D Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, me te mahi k\u014Dwhiri i ng\u0101 mema m\u014D Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. Me arotake t\u0101tou i \u0113r\u0101 mea hoki. Ko t\u014Dku nei hiahia, kia mahi ng\u0101tahi ai ng\u0101 mema o t\u0113nei Whare \u0101 ng\u0101 p\u0101nuitanga kei te haere mai, kia whakakaha an\u014D te pire, p\u0113r\u0101 i te tuhi i t\u0113tahi r\u0101rangi arotake.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EK\u0101re t\u0113nei pire i te tino whakataunga m\u014D te whakaoratanga o t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo M\u0101ori\u2014e m\u014Dhio ana t\u0101tou katoa i t\u0113r\u0101, \u0101e. Ka mate, ka ora Te Reo i roto i te k\u0101inga, ar\u0101, ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau me ng\u0101 hapori o Te Motu. E tika ana te k\u014Drero a t\u0101 Royal Tangaere, ko te k\u0101inga te \u016Bkaip\u014D o Te Reo, \u0101e, ko te k\u0101inga te \u016Bkaip\u014D o Te Reo. N\u014D reira, me tino tautoko t\u0101tou i ng\u0101 mahi hapori, me whakaako ng\u0101 kura katoa i Te Reo, ki \u014D r\u0101tou tauira, \u0101e. \u0112ngari, ko te tino painga o t\u0113nei pire, ka whakat\u016B i te anga whakatakoto i te ara, kia whai ai i \u0113nei mea whakahirahira. N\u014D reira, ahakoa ng\u0101 \u0101wangawanga e p\u0101 ana ki \u0113tahi \u0101huatanga o te pire nei, kua k\u014Drerohia e au, \u0101, e \u0113tahi hoa mahi hoki, ka tautoko t\u0101 m\u0101tou o Te R\u014Dp\u016B K\u0101k\u0101riki m\u014D te p\u0101nuitanga tuarua nei. [Interruption] Kia ora. N\u014D reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, huri noa i Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and acknowledgments to you all throughout the House. In the first instance, it is great to listen and to hear us politicians, regardless of party, speaking in this House with passion about our language. The heart is filled with benevolence from all of us in this House of Parliament for our passion for our M\u0101ori language, regardless of who it belongs to or where it comes from. So the first thing for me is that I want to speak about this. It is a huge honour for me to stand in this House and endorse our esteemed language. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EThe Green Party votes in favour of the M\u0101ori Language Bill. Even though there is still a minor flaw in the bill, we will vote in favour. [Interruption] Yes, yes indeed. Discussions and work to strengthen this bill will continue to hold on to the dreams about the language. This is a wonderful day for us in M\u0101oridom and for the M\u0101ori language as well, therefore despite my nervousness and the perspiration oozing out of me, I stand to deliver my entire address this afternoon in the M\u0101ori language as spokesperson for the Green Party in this, the second reading of the bill. Greetings.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EThe challenge before us all in terms of the language is clear to see. There are a significant number of people also who are like me, and really inexperienced when it comes to M\u0101ori language matters. We have not fully grasped it yet. My challenge, our challenge, is to overcome that embarrassment. Therefore, I also commend all the language exponents for embracing us. That is, after all, the real purpose of this M\u0101ori Language Bill: to support our M\u0101ori aspirations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EIt is appropriate that the Government has a role in strengthening the language, because it was the Crown\u2019s fault in the first place. Accordingly, it is apt as well that we as M\u0101ori have a prominent role in guiding this work. The Crown must work in partnership with M\u0101oridom to give effect to our language and the Treaty of Waitangi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EMy thoughts go back to the conversations of my grandmother. She was from Te Rarawa. Patricia Broughton, n\u00E9e Hansey, was her name. Her embarrassment to speak M\u0101ori to her children was the outcome of corporal punishment at State native schools. That is what happened to us, did it not? Schools violated her dignity\u2014they did. Harmful laws walked all over our esteemed language and, as a consequence, my parents and all that generation lost the language. Accordingly, it is only appropriate that the Crown support any restorative action.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003ETo us, specifically, precisely this is a problematic area in the bill but there have also been many changes since the first reading to strengthen it. The intention of this bill is to amend formal responsibilities in regard to revitalisation strategies for the language, and transferring some of those to M\u0101oridom and communities is meritorious. [Interruption] Yes, indeed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EFollowing the first reading, the Minister for M\u0101ori Development established an independent M\u0101ori Language Advisory Group. Thank you, Minister. Language experts Professor R\u0101winia Higgins, Dr Ruakere Hond, Dr Wharehuia Milroy, Charisma Rangipunga, and Charlie Te Pana make up that group. They made some crucial changes to strengthen the bill. We, the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, concurred and those modifications were inserted into the bill, and for this I acknowledge the contribution of that advisory group as well. One of the significant changes made to the bill was the establishment of two M\u0101ori language strategies, one for the Crown, and one for M\u0101oridom: Te Maihi Karauna\u2014Crown strategy\u2014and Te Maihi M\u0101ori\u2014M\u0101ori strategy. The intention of the Crown strategy is for the Crown to have responsibility for, and focus on, national-level issues. The intention of the strategy for M\u0101ori is for the Te M\u0101t\u0101wai entity to have responsibility on behalf of M\u0101ori and to focus on issues at both tribal and community levels. We consider the retention of the M\u0101ori Language Commission and Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho as being a good one. These two entities in my view are very good in that they ensure the Government will not deviate from its responsibilities in regard to the language being a treasure, a possession. That is a Treaty of Waitangi matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EA problematic area in the bill relates to Te M\u0101t\u0101wai working in unison with families, subtribes, and smaller tribes. Therefore we must review the ups and downs that Te M\u0101t\u0101wai might experience in regard to this. Other concerning matters include Te M\u0101t\u0101wai funding and membership selection. We need to review those things as well. My desire is that members of this House work in unison on future readings to strengthen the bill, such as writing up a review agenda.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EWe are well aware that this bill will not be the panacea for all M\u0101ori language restoration\u2014yes, we know that for sure. The language lives or dies in the home: in other words, within families and communities of the nation. Royal Tangaere is right in saying that the real source of sustenance of the language is the home. Indeed, the home is where the language is nurtured. So we must support what communities are doing; all schools must teach Te Reo M\u0101ori to their students\u2014yes. But the real plus for this bill is that it establishes an infrastructure which sets down a pathway to these inspirational things. Therefore, notwithstanding the concerns relating to some aspects of this bill that I and some of my colleagues have alluded to, we the Green Party support this second reading. [Interruption] Good luck. Therefore, greetings and acknowledgments to each of you and to all of us throughout the House. Thank you.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022 data-id=\u0022a05ff1002437485f992cdc7a1acc5a05\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a05ff1002437485f992cdc7a1acc5a05\u0022\u003EPITA PARAONE (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, e Te Kaiwhakaw\u0101 Matua o Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou ng\u0101 mema e noho nei i runga ake i te putanga mai o ng\u0101 k\u014Drero e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei pire. \u0100, ki te korero: \u201CTiwha, tiwha i te p\u014D, ka rararau i te p\u014D. I a au i te p\u014D tangotango ka haratautia, takawiri ng\u0101 papa o M\u0101ui, ka puta te here tangata ki te whei ao, ki te ao m\u0101rama; \u0101, tihei w\u0101 mauri ora!\u201D E tika ana kia mihi hoki ki t\u0113n\u0101 o ng\u0101 mate maha kei waenganui i a t\u0101tou, o ng\u0101 hunga i ngaro atu ki te tirohanga kanohi i t\u0113r\u0101 atu wiki, tae noa ki te r\u0101 nei, n\u0101, i whakahuangia ng\u0101 ingoa, ko Ranginui Walker t\u0113n\u0101, ko T\u0101huna Minhinnick t\u0113n\u0101, \u0101, me Roger Aranui. N\u0101 reira, e tika ana kia mihi kau ki a r\u0101tou, e ngaro atu ki te tirohanga kanohi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EAhakoa ko r\u0101tou tata ake nei i hinga atu \u0113ngari ka hoki ng\u0101 mahara ki t\u0113n\u0101 o ng\u0101 tino kaikawe o te kaupapa nei kia kite mai te rere o t\u0101 t\u0101tou nei Reo Rangatira i runga i te motu nei. N\u0101, ka hoki atu ng\u0101 whakaaro ki t\u0113n\u0101 a Te Aniwaniwa (Hone) Rangihau, me te tupuna a T\u0101 H\u0113mi H\u0113nare, tae atu ki tana tamaiti, toku matua a \u0112rima, a waihotia ng\u0101 k\u014Drero ki a ia \u0113ngari, me te whaea a Heik\u014Dk\u014D Mataira me \u0113tahi atu, mai i Te R\u014Dp\u016B \u0101 Sid Jackson m\u0101, i kawe atu t\u0113nei kaupapa kia whai i te tautoko o Te Karauna kia whakamana i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo Rangatira, \u0101, e rere nei. N\u0101 reira e tika ana kia mihi kau ana ki \u0101 r\u0101tou. Ka hoki mai ki a t\u0101tou i te r\u0101 nei, n\u0101 reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EE t\u016B ake t\u0113nei m\u014D Te R\u014Dp\u016B Aotearoa Tuatahi, ahakoa i runga ake i te w\u0101 e noho tonu Te Komiti whakawhiriwhiri o ng\u0101 Take M\u0101ori, ahakoa k\u0101re kau k\u0113 i puta mai t\u014D m\u0101tou whakah\u0113 \u0113ngari, i muri mai i t\u014D m\u0101tou hui i nanahi, ka k\u012B mai t\u014D m\u0101tou r\u014Dp\u016B ki a au: \u201CE Pita, haere ki roto i Te Whare kia whakah\u0113ngia \u0113ngari, ka whakah\u0113ngia t\u0113nei w\u0101hanga.\u201D Kia mahara i a t\u0101tou, i muri mai i t\u0113nei w\u0101hanga ko te w\u0101hanga tuatoru, n\u0101 reira, ko w\u0113n\u0101 te w\u0101hanga te mea nui, m\u0113n\u0101 e whakah\u0113, kia ahatia? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E\u0112ngari, ko tetahi o ng\u0101 mea e \u0101wangawanga i \u0101 m\u0101tou, e aha ana te take kia waihotia ki ng\u0101 iwi katoa o te motu kia tohutohu mai ko wai ng\u0101 tokowhitu e kawe atu i te kaupapa m\u014D Te M\u0101t\u0101wai? Ahakoa kei a r\u0101tou Te Reo \u0113ngari, he aha te take kia tukuna atu ki a r\u0101tou kia tohetohe kei waenganui i a r\u0101tou? Ko w\u0113n\u0101 t\u0113tahi o ng\u0101 kaupapa k\u0101ore m\u0101tou i whakaae. Ko te mea tuarua, i te w\u0101 tuatahi i puta mai te pire, \u0113, ko te kaupapa kia whakak\u0101hore Te R\u014Dp\u016B Te Taura Whiri. Ahakoa i roto i t\u0113nei pire kei te t\u016B hoki te mana o Te Taura Whiri, n\u0101 reira ka mihi hoki ki a koe, Te Minita. \u0112ngari, t\u0101 m\u0101tou \u0101wangawanga, te \u0101hua nei kua tangohia te nuinga o ng\u0101 p\u016Btea mai Te Taura Whiri kia tukuna atu ki Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. Ki a au nei, ki a m\u0101tou hoki o Aotearoa Tuatahi, e tika ana kia whai p\u016Btea hou m\u014D Te R\u014Dp\u016B Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, kaua e tangohia ng\u0101 p\u016Btea a Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo. Koina te tino take i whakah\u0113 nei i a m\u0101tou i t\u0113nei w\u0101!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E[Interruption] Kia aha tia? Kia aha tia? \u0112ngari kia m\u014Dhio mai koe e Te Minita, i te w\u0101 e noho ana koe ki t\u0113r\u0101 taha, kei a koe te mana! \u0112ngari, \u0101 te tau e t\u016B mai, \u0101, ka whakawhiti mai koe ki t\u0113nei taha, ki a au nei te mana. Kia aha tia? He k\u014Drero noa iho t\u0113n\u0101! \u0112ngari i te mutunga o te r\u0101, ahakoa te nuinga o ng\u0101 k\u014Drero i roto i te pire nei \u0113ngari, koin\u0101 te take k\u0101re m\u0101tou o Aotearoa i whakaae i t\u0113nei w\u0101. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EKei te tautoko ng\u0101 whakaaro e p\u0101 ana ki te rua o ng\u0101 mahi: ko t\u0113tahi kia riro ki Te Karauna kia whakahaerengia, t\u0113tahi an\u014D kia riro ki te ao M\u0101ori \u0113ngari t\u0101 m\u0101tou tino maharahara, me p\u0113hea ng\u0101 iwi M\u0101ori e tohu ko wai t\u0101 r\u0101tou kaik\u014Drero? Ahakoa \u0101 te wiki e t\u016B mai nei kei te t\u016B te hui i roto i Te Tai Tokerau kia whai k\u014Drero, e aha ana te kaupapa kia rapu t\u0101 r\u0101tou tangata, wahine r\u0101nei hei kaik\u014Drero i runga i te kaupapa o Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. [Interruption] \u0100e, tika ana, tika ana t\u0113n\u0101! \u0112ngari, mena e m\u014Dhio ana koe te \u0101huatanga i a m\u0101tou o te hau k\u0101inga, kia pau k\u0113 ng\u0101 hoariri ki waho, ka huri ng\u0101 p\u016B kei roto. N\u0101 reira, ko w\u0113n\u0101 te take i k\u014Drero mai i a m\u0101tou i roto i a Aotearoa Tuatahi, \u0113hara i a m\u0101tou e hiahia ana kia kite atu i t\u014D t\u0101tou iwi e haere p\u0113n\u0101 ana. [Interruption] \u0100e, t\u0113n\u0101 pea, t\u0113n\u0101 pea! \u0112ngari i roto i te pire nei, \u0101, koina te \u0101huatanga.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E\u0112ngari, kei te mihi hoki ki Te Minita m\u014D te kaupapa, kia whakauru mai t\u0113nei pire ki roto i Te Reo M\u0101ori. \u0100, tino hari ana au m\u014D t\u0113n\u0101. Tua atu i t\u0113n\u0101, n\u0101 Te Reo M\u0101ori tana mana kei runga i Te Reo P\u0101keh\u0101, n\u0101 reira kei te tautoko i t\u0113n\u0101! \u0112ngari, kia aha tia? Kia ahatia? E mihi hoki ki a t\u0101tou ng\u0101 mema o Te Komiti whakawhiriwhiri M\u0101ori me t\u0113nei t\u0101ke, ahakoa \u0113tahi atu k\u0101ore i a m\u0101tou katoa i tautoko, \u0113ngari i te mutunga o te r\u0101, ka puta mai te \u0101huatanga o t\u0101tou Te M\u0101ori. Ahakoa ng\u0101 piki me ng\u0101 heke e p\u0101 ana ki ng\u0101 mahi t\u014Drangap\u016B i te mutunga o te r\u0101, he M\u0101ori t\u0101tou. [Interruption] K\u0101o, k\u0101o, ko au te kaik\u014Drero i t\u0113nei w\u0101. Koin\u0101 te mea pai, te maha o m\u0101tou ng\u0101 mema o Aotearoa, ng\u0101 mema o Aotearoa Tuatahi ki a k\u014Drua o Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori. Kia ahatia? \u0112ngari, ahakoa i tautokona e au nei te \u0101huatanga o t\u0113nei pire \u0113ngari te t\u016B o Aotearoa Tuatahi, kai te whakah\u0113 ki t\u0113nei w\u0101hanga m\u014D t\u0113nei w\u0101, n\u0101 reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou kia ora mai an\u014D t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E[Greetings to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and to us members seated here in regard to the speeches emerging on this bill. And so to the saying: \u201CThe conspicuous night, the auspicious night that settles down, the intense dark night from whence I emerge as M\u0101ui braces, twists, writhes, and trembles, and behold, the strands of humanity emerge into the natural and enlightened world; it is the breath of life.\u201D It is appropriate, indeed, to acknowledge those many deaths in our midst and lost from sight last week to this day. Names like Ranginui Walker, T\u0101huna Minhinnick, and Roger Aranui were mentioned today; it is timely, therefore, that a tribute is accorded to those, the recently departed, who are no longer seen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EBut we reflect on those earlier ones who advocated that our chiefly language be heard and spoken throughout the nation: those such as Te Aniwaniwa (Hone) Rangihau; elder Sir H\u0113mi H\u0113nare, including his son and my uncle, \u0112rima; tributes to him I put to one side as I pay tribute to Heik\u014Dk\u014D Mataira, the matriarch, and others from Sid Jackson\u2019s group. All of those people picked up this matter and relentlessly lobbied the Crown to officially recognise our chiefly language that flourishes today. So it is fitting that we recognise them. I come back to us today to acknowledge, commend, and applaud you collectively.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EI rise on behalf of New Zealand First. Despite the fact that we did not oppose anything during the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee debate, following our caucus meeting yesterday I was told: \u201CPita, go into the House and oppose it, but only this part.\u201D We must not forget that after this reading, the third one will follow, so that is the vital one. Therefore, what must be done to avoid it being opposed? What?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EOne thing that concerns us is why leave it to all the tribes throughout the country to say who the seven should be to carry out the functions of the Te M\u0101t\u0101wai entity? Even though they have the ability to speak M\u0101ori, why leave it to them to debate and argue the issue among themselves? That is one matter that we oppose. The second one refers to the first time the bill was introduced and, in particular, the proposal that the M\u0101ori Language Commission be disestablished. However, we note in this bill that the status of the M\u0101ori Language Commission has been restored and confirmed, so we acknowledge you for that, the Minister for M\u0101ori Development. But our concern is that it seems that most of the funding for the M\u0101ori Language Commission has been taken and transferred to Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. To me and to us of New Zealand First, the new entity Te M\u0101t\u0101wai should be funded as of right, and not have funding taken from the M\u0101ori Language Commission. That is the reason why we oppose it at this point in time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003E[Interruption] So what can you do about it? What exactly? But you must understand, Minister, at this moment you are sitting on that side and have the mandate. But next year you might cross over to this side, and the mandate will be with me. So what will be done about it? However, that is just pure postulation. At the end of the day and despite the majority of what is in this bill, that is the reason why we of New Zealand First oppose it at this time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EWe do, however, support the idea of having a dual strategic approach: one for the Crown to be responsible for and the other by M\u0101oridom, but our main criticism is about how M\u0101ori tribes are to appoint a representative for them. Despite the fact that there is a consultation meeting next week in Northland for tribes, what is the selection criteria when choosing a male or female representative to meet the requirements of Te M\u0101t\u0101wai? [Interruption] Yes, indeed, quite true. But if you understand our situation back home\u2014until all the opponents have been ejected from within, then the guns will be turned inwards. That is the issue we discussed amongst ourselves in New Zealand First; we do not want our people going down that track. [Interruption] Yes, I agree; I totally agree with that. But that seems to be the situation in this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cba965bb-864f-4e06-99dc-6fcdfd007ad5\u0022\u003EHowever, I acknowledge the Minister with regard to the M\u0101ori language being included in this bill. I am really pleased about that, and, furthermore, that the M\u0101ori version has precedence over the English. I really endorse that. But so what? What indeed? I also applaud us members of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee in regard to this matter, despite the fact that we were not unanimous. At the end of the day, we resolved this as our M\u0101ori side came to the fore; despite the political ups and downs, at the end of the day we are M\u0101ori. [Interruption] Not all, not at all. I am the representative at this point in time. The great thing is that there are many of us in the New Zealand First Party, as opposed to you two in the M\u0101ori Party. So what about that? Even though I support what this bill is about, the New Zealand First Party opposes this part at this point in time. And so I acknowledge and commend you collectively, and thank us all once again.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022 data-id=\u00220317c8788d7049b7add29d6223537df7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220317c8788d7049b7add29d6223537df7\u0022\u003EMARAMA FOX (Co-Leader\u2014M\u0101ori Party):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Mr Deputy Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EKei hea taku reo karanga ki \u014Dku tipuna?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EHoki mai hoki mai e taku reo rangatira. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EKo wai r\u0101 hei arahia t\u0101tou e \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003ENg\u0101 kohikohinga, ng\u0101 uri o te motu e?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E\u0100, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou. Harer\u016Bia, harer\u016Bia! Kua tae te pire ki Te Whare. T\u0113nei rangi whakahirahira, kua tae t\u0113nei pire ki mua i te aroaro o t\u0113nei whare, Te Whare M\u012Bere. He rangi whakahirahira t\u0113nei. He aha ai? \u0100, i roto i te h\u012Btori o t\u0113nei whenua, k\u0101re an\u014D kua t\u016B t\u0113tahi pire p\u0113nei, m\u0101 Te Reo M\u0101ori te mana, Te Reo M\u0101ori whaimana kei roto i te pire, kei roto i te ture o te whenua, n\u0101 reira, harer\u016Bia, harer\u016Bia, n\u0101ku e mihi kau atu ki t\u0113nei pire, ki t\u0113nei rangi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EAn\u014D n\u0101 ka t\u0101pirihia ng\u0101 mihi ki a r\u0101tou kua mene atu ki te p\u014D, te hunga wairua. I t\u0113nei wiki, ko Roger Aranui t\u0113n\u0101, i t\u0113r\u0101 wiki ko Ranginui Walker t\u0113n\u0101. E hika! Maha k\u0113 atu ng\u0101 kaum\u0101tua ng\u0101 mate kei runga i a t\u0101tou i t\u0113nei tau. E tika ka mihi ki a r\u0101tou. Engari, ka huri an\u014D ki a t\u0101tou te hunga ora, ko t\u0101tou te hunga t\u016Btuki i \u014D r\u0101tou nei wawata; n\u0101 reira, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou, kia ora mai t\u0101tou Te Whare. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003ENg\u0101 kupu kei roto i taua waiata e whakararu nei i ahau, engari n\u0101 Whirimako taua waiata. E whakanuia te \u0101huatanga \u014D t\u014D t\u0101tou reo. Kei roto i te ng\u0101kau o te tangata. Koia nei te reo, te wairua o t\u0113nei reo i t\u0113nei pire. N\u0101 reira, kei te t\u016B whakah\u012Bh\u012B au ki te whakaaetia ki t\u0113nei pire; t\u0113nei rangi kua whaimana t\u014D t\u0101tou reo. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003ETuatahi, me huri ano ng\u0101 whakaaro ki ng\u0101 tau kua pahure ake. I aua tau r\u0101, ae, kei te hinga haere t\u014D t\u0101ua reo i runga i te whenua. I patupatu haere Te Reo M\u0101ori, te reo tauiwi, me ng\u0101 k\u014Drero taupatupatu i runga i te whenua. Heoi an\u014D r\u0101, he maha k\u0113 atu ng\u0101 take e tautokohia t\u0113nei pire. I roto i t\u014D t\u0101tou k\u014Dti, ko ng\u0101 ti\u0101ti t\u0113n\u0101 i ng\u0101 tau kei te heke mai. Mehemea he raru ki t\u0101 te pire nei, ko r\u0101tou t\u0113n\u0101 me whakaw\u0101 me p\u0113hea te huarahi whakatikahia engari ko Te Reo M\u0101ori te reo whakahaere i \u014D r\u0101tou na whakaaro. N\u0101 reira, kei te tautoko ai i te k\u014Drero o t\u0113r\u0101 o ng\u0101 tuahine a M\u0101mari Stevens, ki t\u0101 te reo tauiwi i k\u012B nei: \u201CM\u0101ori has been reduced to a language of describing Western law,\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E[Where is my language that calls to my ancestors?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EReturn to me my chiefly language. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EWho will guide us, \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EThe assembled, the descendants of this land?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EGreetings to each and every one. Hallelujah; rejoice! The bill is before Parliament. It is indeed an auspicious day, the presentation of this bill to the House. Why is today so auspicious? This is an historic occasion for our nation with the first bill of its kind where the status of the M\u0101ori language is enhanced, and the M\u0101ori language is officially incorporated into the bill and the legislative process. Hallelujah, hallelujah; I commend this bill here today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EI also join in acknowledging the recently departed, and indeed all those gone before us. I would like to make special mention of Roger Aranui, who passed away this week, and also Ranginui Walker, who passed away last week. Alas, too many elders and loved ones have left us this year alone. It is only appropriate we acknowledge them, and in so doing we also acknowledge the living\u2014we the living are now left behind to continue the legacy and fulfil the aspirations of those before us; therefore to each and every one, greetings and warm wishes throughout the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EThe words in that song tripped me up while singing them, due mainly to the fact that it was composed by Whirimako. It celebrates the phenomenon of our language; that is, the heart of the person. This indeed is the voice, the spirit of this language in this bill. So I stand proud to authorise this bill; our language has a right to be validated. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EFirst of all, we must cast our minds back to the years that have gone by. In those times, yes, our language was slipping back across the land, and the English language continued to overcome the M\u0101ori language, plus it was being called into question and being debated across the nation. Be that as it may, there are many, many other reasons for this bill being endorsed. In our courts, according to this, if there is an issue in terms of this bill, the judges will make a ruling, and they will do this in the M\u0101ori language. So I endorse the statement by the sister M\u0101mari Stevens, who said in English: \u201CM\u0101ori has been reduced to a language of describing Western law,\u201D.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EShe goes on to say, not only Western law\u2014we have been reduced to commenting on it, protesting on it, and we express suffering under it. But this bill takes a significant step forward, so that in our lifetime\u2014rather than Te Reo M\u0101ori really being a language of making law within our general legal system, it shows that it has the capacity to be a fully functional legal language in the legal system of our country. N\u014D reira e, te tuahine M\u0101mari, mena kai te whakarongo koe, kei te tautoko pai nei au i t\u014D k\u014Drero, he rangi whakahirahira t\u0113nei m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori i roto i te ture. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E\u0100, ka huri an\u014D ki t\u0113r\u0101 o ng\u0101 tangata rongonui, a T\u0101 Pita Sharples. Ko ia t\u0113n\u0101 i te 2014, i whakatau i t\u0113nei pire ki runga i Te Whare, kai mua i te aroaro o t\u0101tou. \u0100 koia t\u0113n\u0101 i hiahia kia whakahokia t\u014D t\u0101ua Reo ki roto i te ringa o te mana whenua, ki roto i te ringa o Te Iwi. N\u0101 reira, e tika me mihi atu ki a ia me te wairua o taua whakaaro. \u0112ngari, k\u0101re t\u0113nei pire i te utu m\u014D ng\u0101 take katoa o te ao, \u0113ngari he t\u012Bmatanga. Tika r\u0101 te k\u014Drero a Nanaia e k\u012B nei, he t\u012Bmatanga t\u0113nei, hei whakatikahia te whatu, te wepu o t\u014D t\u0101ua Reo i roto i ng\u0101 kura, n\u0101 Te Karauna t\u0113n\u0101 i whakarite i \u014D r\u0101tou pire, native schools i te tau 1867. Ko taku whaea t\u0113tahi, kua wepuatia nei e t\u014Dna kaiako i a ia e k\u014Drero M\u0101ori ki ng\u0101 hoa i roto i tana kura. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EN\u0101 reira, ka huri ano ki t\u0113nei w\u0101, t\u0113nei w\u0101 kai te mihi atu ki ng\u0101 iwi e hiahia nei te whakahouhia t\u014D t\u0101tou reo: \u0101, ko Ng\u0101ti Raukawa t\u0113n\u0101, Taranaki, Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu, T\u016Bhoe, Ng\u0101i Tahu, \u0101, i t\u0113nei wiki kua pahore ake nei, ko Tainui an\u014D t\u0113tahi whakarite nei i t\u014D r\u0101tou rautaki Reo M\u0101ori. N\u0101 reira, e tika me mihi atu ki a r\u0101tou. \u0100, kai te hiahia r\u0101tou kia t\u014D mai Te Reo ki roto i te ng\u0101kau o te tamaiti, te mokopuna o te motu. \u0100, ko Ng\u0101ti Raukawa t\u0113n\u0101 atu i \u014D r\u0101tou ake uri, ka purua Te Reo, ka whakat\u014D Te Reo ki roto i te ng\u0101kau o te tini me te mano e tae atu ki Te W\u0101nanga o Raukawa. N\u0101 reira, kai te mihi, kai te mihi atu ki a r\u0101tou. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E\u0100, \u0113tahi e taupatupatu nei i te ao t\u014Drangap\u016B nei m\u014D te pire. M\u0101ku e k\u012B atu ki a r\u0101tau, \u0101, kua tau ki Te Whare waiho te ao t\u014Drangap\u016B ki te ao t\u014Drangap\u016B, \u0113ngari an\u014D kia hoki atu ki Ng\u0101ti Hine, ki Ng\u0101puhi, ki ng\u0101 iwi\u2014[Interruption]\u2014kia ora\u2014o te motu. Hai aha te whakat\u014Drangap\u016B i te k\u014Drero i waenganui i a r\u0101tou, kia rapua t\u0113tahi M\u0101ngai m\u014D Te Reo kia uru atu ki Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. \u0100, koir\u0101 te k\u014Drero o Ruakere i ng\u0101 rangi kua pahore ake nei i te hui whakanui i Te \u0100t\u0101rangi i te wikene nei. Toru tekau tau r\u0101tou i whakahoutia t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo ki roto i Te Wairoa, \u0101, Te \u0100t\u0101rangi t\u0113n\u0101, Te K\u014Dhanga Reo t\u0113n\u0101, Te Kura Kaupapa M\u0101ori t\u0113n\u0101 e tautoko pai nei i t\u014D t\u0101tou Reo, hoi an\u014D me mihi, me mihi ki a r\u0101tou. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E\u0100, kai roto i te pire, kai te p\u012Brangi au ki te mihi atu ki te r\u014Dp\u016B whakahou nei i t\u014D t\u0101ua Reo, n\u0101 te whakaaro nui o Te Minita nei me t\u014Dna kaha, me t\u014Dna whakaaro nui, \u0101, me t\u014Dna tirohanga whakamua, i hoki an\u014D ki te mana o \u0113nei e whakapau kaha ki te whakatikatika i t\u0113nei pire. \u0100, ko Te Reo Tukutuku t\u0113tahi o ng\u0101 w\u0101hanga e r\u0101rangi nei i ng\u0101 r\u014Dp\u016B M\u0101ori, hai rapu i \u0113tahi m\u0101ngai m\u014D Te M\u0101t\u0101wai, tautoko i ng\u0101 mahi o Te Iwi. \u0100, kai roto i Te Whare o Te Reo Mauriora ka kite m\u0101tau i te tirohanga whakamua. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EN\u0101 reira, kai te p\u012Brangi au ki te mihi atu ki \u0113r\u0101 kua whakapau kaha. I ng\u0101 tau kua pahore ake, i tae mai ki Te P\u0101remata nei me t\u0101 r\u0101tau petihana a Tamatoa, a Koro Dewes, Cathy Dewes, Hannah Te H\u0113mara, R\u0101wiri Paratene, Lee Smith, Sid Jackson, Joe Te Rito me R\u0101wiri Rangitauira, e tika me mihi atu ki a r\u0101tou. I t\u0113nei w\u0101, ka hoki an\u014D t\u014D t\u0101ua Reo ki roto i te ringa o te r\u014Dp\u016B o Te Minita nei, a R\u0101winia Higgins t\u0113n\u0101, ka mihi ki Ruakere Hond, Te Wharehuia Milroy, Charisma Rangiponga, Charlie Tepana i whakapau kaha ki te tutuki i ng\u0101 hiahia o t\u0101tau katoa, kia whakahouhia t\u014D t\u0101tau Reo. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EN\u0101, ko taku k\u014Drero whakamutunga nei, mai i t\u0113r\u0101 o ng\u0101 koroua a Te Wharehuia: \u201CThe M\u0101ori language is seriously threatened, and at danger of being lost. When I say that a language becomes endangered, I am actually referring to when the speakers\u2019 conditions around them have altered. \u2026 Wh\u0101nau, hap\u016B and iwi play a critical role in ensuring that young ones are exposed and engaged regularly with the language so that it is relevant and a living language. But this cannot be done in isolation. We also need to have some material and moral support from the Crown in order for some of these things to take place. This forms the basis of the proposed Te Whare o Te Reo Mauriora\u201D ki roto i tana p\u016Brongo, \u0101, ko taku mihi whakamutunga ki roto i ng\u0101 kupu o Te Kooti: \u201C\u0100e, e hoa m\u0101, ka pai t\u014D koutou whare, oti an\u014D te raruraru, e titiro ake nei ahau kai te whawhai t\u0113tahi o ng\u0101 pakitara ki t\u0113tahi o ng\u0101 pakitara, te whatitoka ki te tuarongo, te teina ki te tuakana, te tamaiti ki te matua, \u0101, titiro ake hoki ahau ki ng\u0101 kai o te whare nei, he k\u014Dhatu, he kirikiri, he t\u0101taramoa \u0113ngari, te one matua!\u201D N\u0101 reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, ten\u0101 koutou! Tautokohia nei t\u0113nei rangi, harer\u016Bia, harer\u016Bia, ng\u0101 mihi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003E[If you are listening, sister M\u0101mari, I truly endorse your statement. This is a great day for the M\u0101ori language in law. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EI turn now to one of those prominent people, to Sir Pita Sharples, who placed this bill before the House in 2014. It was his specific desire that our language be returned into the hands of mandated tribes and M\u0101oridom. As a consequence, it is apt that he and the spirit of that gesture be acknowledged. But this bill is not the solution for all worldly matters; it is but a beginning. The statement by Nanaia is right; she said this is the start to addressing the harm and hidings incurred in schools since the Crown introduced the Native Schools Act 1867. My mother received corporal punishment from her teacher for speaking in M\u0101ori to her friends at school. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003ESo I come back to the present. I acknowledge the tribes today wanting to revitalise our language: Ng\u0101ti Raukawa, Taranaki, Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu, T\u016Bhoe, Ng\u0101i Tahu, and Tainui, who have just considered their M\u0101ori language strategy in the week just past. It is only appropriate that I acknowledge them. Their desire is to draw out the language from within the heart of the child and grandchild of the nation. Ng\u0101ti Raukawa is an example of one who does that with their own kin in terms of revitalising and drawing out the language. They do that with the vast numbers that attend Te W\u0101nanga o Raukawa. And so I commend and acknowledge them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EIn regard to some engaged in any political dissension over this bill, I say to them that the bill has landed in Parliament, so leave those political dissensions to be addressed there. But I do want to go back to Ng\u0101ti Hine, Ng\u0101puhi, and the tribes\u2014[Interruption] thank you\u2014of the country. Do not politicise the discussions amongst you when seeking a representative on Te M\u0101t\u0101wai. That is what Ruakere said in the past days at a weekend conference to celebrate Te \u0100taarangi. They have been revitalising their M\u0101ori language for 30 years in Te Wairoa, and Te \u0100taarangi, K\u014Dhanga Reo, and M\u0101ori-medium schools in the area have supported our language. I cannot thank them enough.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EIn regard to the bill, I want to acknowledge the language advisory group brought together through the foresight, tenacity, and vision of the Minister here. He went back to the integrity of these ones in this group who were working hard on modifications to this bill. Te Reo Tukutuku was a cluster going through M\u0101ori organisations to seek out representatives for Te M\u0101t\u0101wai who are to support the work of M\u0101oridom. We saw the vision going forward in the House of Te Reo Mauriora framework. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EI would also like to acknowledge those who worked hard over the years and arrived finally at Parliament with their Tamatoa: Koro Dewes, Cathy Dewes, Hannah Te H\u0113mara, R\u0101wiri Paratene, Lee Smith, Sid Jackson, Joe Te Rito, and R\u0101wiri Rangitauira. It is apt that they be acknowledged. At this point, our language is in the hands of this Minister\u2019s advisory group: R\u0101winia Higgins, Ruakere Hond, Te Wharehuia Milroy, Charisma Rangiponga, and Charlie Tepana, who worked tirelessly to meet all our aspirations to revitalise our language. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3d9fd88-4715-419d-be08-e1c4eda7d09e\u0022\u003EMy concluding statement comes from that one of our esteemed elders, Te Wharehuia: \u201CThe M\u0101ori language is seriously threatened, and at danger of being lost. When I say that a language becomes endangered, I am actually referring to when the speakers\u2019 conditions around them have altered. \u2026 Wh\u0101nau, hap\u016B and iwi play a critical role in ensuring that young ones are exposed and engaged regularly with the language so that it is relevant and a living language. But this cannot be done in isolation. We also need to have some material and moral support from the Crown in order for some of these things to take place. This forms the basis of the proposed Te Whare o Te Reo Mauriora\u201D in his report. My absolute final comment is contained in Te Kooti\u2019s words: \u201CYes, friends, what a beautiful house you have, but the only problem as I look up at it is that one wall is fighting against another wall, the door is fighting the back wall, the junior is fighting the senior sibling, and the child the parent. And so I look at what is inside and see stones, sand, brambles, and, primarily, earth.\u201D Therefore greetings, acknowledgments, and salutations. I endorse this day; hallelujah, glory, and glad tidings.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225f1453f8-c44e-4ce6-b699-64d600322276\u0022 data-id=\u0022978ef03ef1ef4e8888dc88bad3b51e35\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225f1453f8-c44e-4ce6-b699-64d600322276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022978ef03ef1ef4e8888dc88bad3b51e35\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: A 5-minute call on behalf of the Green Party\u2014Denise Roche.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022 data-id=\u0022cf1df6356fe644f78425ba0ceb26ee44\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cf1df6356fe644f78425ba0ceb26ee44\u0022\u003EDENISE ROCHE (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Kia tau te rangim\u0101rie o Te Rangi ki runga i t\u0113nei a Papatu\u0101nuku e takoto nei me te taiao e awhi nei i runga i a t\u0101tou; t\u012Bhei mauri ora! E Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koe, huri noa ki a koutou katoa i Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou. He h\u014Dnore nui m\u014Dku ki te k\u014Drero i te p\u0101nuitanga tuarua o Te Pire Reo M\u0101ori m\u014D ng\u0101 K\u0101k\u0101riki, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003E[May the peace of the Sky Father alight upon Mother Earth lying here, and upon the environment that embraces us; behold the breath of life. I acknowledge you, Mr Deputy Speaker; and to you all throughout the House, greetings. It is a great honour for me to speak in the second reading of the M\u0101ori Language Bill on behalf of the Greens; my appreciation to you all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003EIt is an honour, indeed, to speak on this, the second reading of the bill. It was my honour to speak for the Greens in the first reading, but the lead on that has now been taken by our M\u0101ori affairs spokesperson, Marama Davidson. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003EWe initially voted against the bill, and our objections, to some extent, have been addressed through the select committee process, but I want to just go through what they were because they have been raised by others in this House. They were concerns about the limited scope of the consultation before the bill was introduced\u2014and there were particular concerns from hap\u016B up north\u2014concerns about loss of the independent Crown entity status for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo M\u0101ori and Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho, and concerns about methods of funding and how it is not tied to need or based on what the research suggests, but based on negotiation. We were very concerned about that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003EThe reason, though, that we are changing our position and will be voting for the bill in the second reading is that there has been a more robust consultation that the Minister for M\u0101ori Development has undertaken, it is being led by experts in the field, and there is more willingness on the behalf of the Minister to work with the community, and that has also been the result of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee pressuring for that. We are now aware that there will be two revitalisation strategies, one led by the Government and the other led by Te M\u0101t\u0101wai on behalf of M\u0101ori. This is, of course, in addition to the work that iwi katoa are already doing. Te Taura Whiri and Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho will no longer lose independent Crown entity status and will remain autonomous, and that was of major concern. These changes help ensure that the Crown does not abdicate its responsibilities to protect Te Reo as a taonga. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003ETe M\u0101t\u0101wai\u2019s representation has also been changed slightly to include one extra Te Reo Tukutuku member to represent urban M\u0101ori, and this was a direct result of the select committee submissions that came from that group. We do remain concerned about the sidelining of some hap\u016B and iwi voices due to Te M\u0101t\u0101wai\u2019s iwi representation consisting of only one member from each of the seven geographical areas, but we know that what they have come up with so far does sort of reflect the different dialects. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003EThis is the second dual language bill in modern politics. Te Reo M\u0101ori and English texts will hold equal status, and if there is an issue, then it is the Te Reo version that will take precedence. And we all know what happens when you get stuck with translations\u2014it happened in 1840. The revitalisation of the language is essential to improve the health and well-being and the standing and the mana of M\u0101ori in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the strategies are crucial to this. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge, like others before me, the passing of the many kaum\u0101tua who have gone beyond the veil. I am particularly thinking about Dr Ranginui Walker, whose tangihanga I was at on Friday. I took my daughter to that, and the reason I took her to that was not only to honour this wonderful man and his amazing achievements but also so she could hear her Reo around her. My daughter is the only student in year 13 at her high school learning Te Reo M\u0101ori\u2014the only senior student.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002292cf00ec9c034372943985c61eea2a70\u0022\u003EHon Te Ururoa Flavell\u003C/span\u003E: Which school?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002284cffb234bc74f01bbcc0a733657a520\u0022\u003EDENISE ROCHE\u003C/span\u003E: At Waiheke High School. She has 1 hour of face-to-face contact per week. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000627\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003EI also want to acknowledge that Metiria Turei spoke for the second time in Te Reo in public in a speech, and I was so proud of her. She said the words \u201CToo many of us have grown up, and still live in, the crack\u2014the crack between Te Ao M\u0101ori and Te Ao P\u0101hek\u0101. It is hard and it is confusing, never quite being anything enough in a racist society\u201D, and she thanked Dr Ranginui Walker for giving M\u0101ori the language to speak truth to power. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000628\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003EI want to finish with a whakatauk\u012B: \u201CKo taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku m\u0101pihi maurea.\u201D T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000629\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222df33ee5-23d6-441c-a9ba-6495aa69f9fd\u0022\u003E[\u201CMy language is my awakening; my language is the object of my affection.\u201D Greetings, salutations, and acknowledgments to you all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225f1453f8-c44e-4ce6-b699-64d600322276\u0022 data-id=\u0022c1cdcae4f9a04dda9f1a9dea8870f873\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225f1453f8-c44e-4ce6-b699-64d600322276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c1cdcae4f9a04dda9f1a9dea8870f873\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: A 5-minute call on behalf of the Labour Party.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022c6d57c7ad9c141989d28a6d6e8e77d66\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000631\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c6d57c7ad9c141989d28a6d6e8e77d66\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Deputy Speaker, \u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou ng\u0101 mema o Te Whare P\u0101remata. E t\u016B taukoto ana ahau i t\u0113nei pire m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori, kia whakahouhia ake te kaupapa m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori. \u201C\u0100piti hono, t\u0101tai hono, r\u0101tou te hunga mate ki a r\u0101tou, \u0101piti hono, t\u0101tai hono, t\u0101tou te hunga ora ki a t\u0101tou\u201D, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, \u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000632\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and acknowledgments to you, members of the House of Parliament. I stand in support of this M\u0101ori language and the renewal of the policy relating to the M\u0101ori language. \u201CThe lines are joined, they the dead to the dead, and we the living to ourselves.\u201D, so greetings, salutations, and acknowledgments to you collectively, and to us all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000633\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI am delighted to be able to speak in support of this very landmark piece of legislation that is having its second reading right now. We have heard in the House tonight \u201CE Te M\u0101ngai\u201D [Mr Speaker] and I have heard \u201Charer\u016Bia, harer\u016Bia\u201D [hallelujah, hallelujah], and I thought I was in a whakamoemiti R\u0101tana Church service. But certainly it is worth celebrating thus far that we have come to this point to have the second reading of this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000634\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIt has had a long passage. There has been a lot of work that has gone into getting it to this stage. I have only got a short call, but I do want to acknowledge the Minister and the ministerial advisory group, the members of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, and in particular my whanaunga from the lofty southern mountain Aoraki there, T\u016Btehounuku Karako, who led our committee. I was on the committee but only intermittently, so I was able to sit in and hear certain aspects as this bill progressed, but I know the good work that was put in by the committee as well to ensure the passage of this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000635\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ECan I also acknowledge the specialist translators who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to give a full Te Reo M\u0101ori translation to this bill. It is of extra significance, as has been mentioned, that this is a dual language piece of legislation. If there ever is any raru or doubt or conflict between what translation will prevail, Te Reo M\u0101ori will prevail. That is very significant. It is only the second piece of legislation in the history of Aotearoa Niu T\u012Breni that we have had a Te Reo M\u0101ori piece of legislation. I support this bill because I support our Reo M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000636\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ESure, there are aspects that were of concern when we did the first reading, and I could go into the details but, ultimately, I think, a big issue was around the nexus between the Crown\u2019s relationship\u2014it is the Crown\u2019s obligation to protect our taonga and to promote the Crown\u2019s obligations versus empowering te iwi M\u0101ori to champion and to foster and to grow our Reo M\u0101ori me \u014Dna tikanga [M\u0101ori language and its conventions].\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000637\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ESo I think that the changes that have been made have improved and clarified that relationship. We have got certain new bodies and strategies that have been set up. I think, ultimately, this legislation, like any new creation, takes time to bed in. I think we will ultimately see the hua\u2014the fruits\u2014of this legislation by giving it time. We need to give it time. We need to let Te M\u0101t\u0101wai assemble, the old guard and the new, for all of them to come together to do their important mahi. We need to let the Crown strategies and all of the aspects of its role, and who will be doing that\u2014we need all of that to be teased out. But, ultimately, we do support this bill, and it lays a very good foundation for the next chapter of the fostering of our Reo M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000638\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EUltimately, that is what it is all about. We want this legislation to really be a huge boost to the amount of M\u0101ori that is spoken among M\u0101ori wh\u0101nau and right across our whole country. So I do tautoko this piece of legislation, I do acknowledge all of the work that has gone into it before, and I am looking forward to progressing it through the further stages that we have left in the House. I commend it to the House. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022 data-id=\u00229c4bff99b3fb49eb8efd9c73fdbdafa8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000639\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229c4bff99b3fb49eb8efd9c73fdbdafa8\u0022\u003EDAVID BENNETT (National\u2014Hamilton East): \u003C/span\u003EE Te Mana Whakaw\u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 koe, e ng\u0101 mema o Te P\u0101remata, ka mihi ki a koutou, e te iwi noa, e Te Whare nei, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000640\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and acknowledgments to you, to members of Parliament, to the tribes in general, to this House, and to us all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000641\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EYou will have to forgive the accent. I am not on the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, but it gives me great pleasure to speak on behalf of the Government in regard to the M\u0101ori Language (Te Reo M\u0101ori) Bill and to acknowledge our coalition partners who have done such fine work, especially the Minister for M\u0101ori Development, in making this bill happen. Over many years the M\u0101ori Party has delivered for the M\u0101ori communities of our country and for our wider community as well, and I think that is shown through the practical things that have come through in legislation like this today\u2014I am getting a photo! I would like to congratulate and thank all members of this House. I think that the way everybody has spoken has been a credit to this Parliament and to the traditions of this House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000642\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EAs a European, I never learnt M\u0101ori. In the 1970s and 1980s we were never taught it at school, and I think that is a great disservice to our people of all backgrounds. We do not feel as comfortable as we should in the M\u0101ori communities because we do not know the language. We should know the language a lot more. Every New Zealander, M\u0101ori or European or Asian or Pasifika, should know more M\u0101ori than they do know. That is something that this Parliament should do something about, because our generation missed out. Hopefully, future generations do not have that problem and they will actually grow up in a community where they can actually partake in it as full members of the community, understanding the language, because language is so vital to any community. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000643\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EThe stories of the past, I think, are tragic and should never have happened. That shows ignorance and misunderstanding, and I am sure all members of this House are very sorry for anything that has happened to the language in the past. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000644\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EBut I want to take a step forward, looking forward to the language in, say, 100 years\u2019 time. If you look in this House in 100 years\u2019 time it will not be the same people in here necessarily representing the same demographics. You will have a much bigger population from an Asian base. You will have a much bigger population of mixed European and M\u0101ori heritage who maybe do not have the opportunity, or have not had the opportunity, to learn the language that they should have. I think we need to look at the M\u0101ori language in the future, because in 100 years\u2019 time we will look back at the M\u0101ori language as one of the defining parts of being a New Zealander. If we do not have that in all aspects of our society, then we will be a lot poorer as a country and will lose the language\u2014in essence, preventing it being what it should be, which is a treasure for all people, not just a treasure for M\u0101oridom. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000645\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EI think this bill is a great step in that process. I wish all the best to those who will be involved in making the language a reality. It is something that is important not only for M\u0101ori but also for all parts of our community to make sure the M\u0101ori language is treasured and also enhanced, so that we have a better understanding going forward. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022 data-id=\u00223da197f1202a483899ea52fe7dc9b7f4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000646\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223da197f1202a483899ea52fe7dc9b7f4\u0022\u003EKELVIN DAVIS (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tokerau):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, e Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare. E tautokongia ana ahau i ng\u0101 mihi kua mihia ki a r\u0101tou kua whet\u016Brangitia, ng\u0101 tini mate o te wiki kua pahore i te m\u0101rama. R\u0101tou ki a r\u0101tou, te hunga wairua, ko t\u0101tou ng\u0101 kanohi ora, t\u0101tou ki a t\u0101tou an\u014D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003ETuatahi, m\u0101ku e mea atu ki a koe, M\u0101rama, horekau an\u014D ahau kia harir\u016Bia i a \u0101e m\u014D t\u0113nei pire i te mea, ka taihoa ake ahau kia kite ai i ng\u0101 hua te whakatutukitanga o ng\u0101 moemoe\u0101, ng\u0101 wawata o t\u0113nei pire, hei mua i taku harer\u016Biatanga o t\u0113nei pire. Mehemea ka kite ahau i te tutukitanga o aua hua, ko ahau te mea ka arataki i a t\u0101tou katoa, ka piki ake i ng\u0101 puke, ng\u0101 hiwi, ng\u0101 maunga, kia harer\u016Bia i a ia! N\u0101 reira, taihoa ake r\u0101 m\u014D taua w\u0101 i te mea i n\u0101ianei, he kupu noa iho kei roto i w\u0113nei pepa o t\u0113nei pire, he kupu noa iho!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000648\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I endorse the tributes accorded to those who have been immortalised as a star; the many of the week in the month just past. Let the dead remain there with themselves, the dead; and we, the living, among ourselves as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000649\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EFirstly, I say to you, M\u0101rama, that I will not sing a hallelujah for this bill yet, because I want to wait and see if the outcomes fulfil the aspirations and dreams of this bill before I rejoice in it. If those outcomes are achieved, then I will lead us all and climb the knolls, hills, and mountains and hallelujah it. Therefore, let us wait up a bit for that moment, because this bill is just mere words on paper\u2014nothing but words.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000650\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EI just said that I will wait until I sing hallelujah in regard to this bill\u2014the reason being that, at the moment, these are just words in a bill. But when the dreams and aspirations that are inside this bill are actually realised, I will be the first person to lead anybody up the nearest hill, the nearest mountain, and sing hallelujah.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EThis bill is very important. Labour will support it. We did have reservations, but we will support it. The reason I will support it is that I love Te Reo M\u0101ori. I grew up in a monolingual house. We spoke only English. David Bennett said that he did not learn Te Reo M\u0101ori at school\u2014he did not have those opportunities. Imagine what it is for a M\u0101ori child to grow up and not have those opportunities to speak Te Reo M\u0101ori\u2014to go on to your marae and know absolutely nothing about what is going on on that marae, feeling totally inadequate, and seeing your father feeling totally inadequate as well. Imagine the shame that we felt. That is one of the reasons why, when I hit the third form, I took Te Reo M\u0101ori. I was lucky to have a fantastic teacher by the name of Charles Berryman, who started me on the path. For some reason, his method of teaching clicked with me. Going from somebody who at the age of 13 was entering high school and barely able to say kia ora to getting only one Bursary subject and that was M\u0101ori, 5 years later, is a testament to the fact that it can happen\u2014that we can go from being monolingual to bilingual.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000652\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EWe do want to see Te Reo M\u0101ori thrive and prosper. Te Reo M\u0101ori is as unique to New Zealand as the kiwi, as T\u0101ne M\u0101huta, as Prince Tui Teka, and as green p\u0101ua. We want to see this taonga of ours grow and thrive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EI came late to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee. I was brought on to it right at the very end of the deliberations on this bill. The first thing I noticed was that there was not an apology. I believe that is something we need to change in the Committee stage. There needs to be an apology for the fact that our aunties, uncles, and grandparents were caned and beaten for speaking Te Reo M\u0101ori. I have to say that my father, to my knowledge, was never caned for speaking Te Reo M\u0101ori because he just could not speak it. It was especially tragic because both of his parents were fluent M\u0101ori speakers. In fact, I am told that my grandmother\u2019s M\u0101ori was better than her English, and yet their five sons, my father being the youngest\u2014not one of them could throw a sentence together in Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000654\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EAnother criticism I had, coming into the select committee, was the purpose of the bill. I looked at it and I thought: \u201CThe purpose of this bill must be that we are going to increase the number of Te Reo M\u0101ori speakers and increase their fluency. That must be front and centre.\u201D, and it was not. The purpose of this bill was mainly, may I say, administrative. It was about structures like Te Taura Whiri i te Reo M\u0101ori and Te M\u0101ngai P\u0101ho\u2014all those Government structures. I thought, yes, when the Minister for M\u0101ori Development goes to review this bill in 3 years\u2019 time he can tick things off\u2014\u201CYep, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo M\u0101ori has had whatever happened to it.\u201D\u2014and everything else. But, really, I want to know: are there more M\u0101ori speakers in New Zealand, and has their fluency increased? That is what I want to know.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000655\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EThe other thing I want to know is whether M\u0101ori is being spoken in more contexts throughout New Zealand communities than it is now. At the moment Te Reo M\u0101ori is spoken mainly on the marae and on ceremonial occasions. We are lucky up north that we get a number of people who still speak M\u0101ori in the street, and it is beautiful to hear. But non-M\u0101ori speakers take for granted the fact that they can walk into any shop, any supermarket, any dairy, or any post office and they can conduct their business in the English language. They take it for granted. But has anyone ever thought that, as a M\u0101ori speaker, I cannot walk into Pak \u2019N Save, the Caltex station, or the post office and conduct my business in Te Reo M\u0101ori?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000656\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EI believe that that is a Treaty right, and until we hear our language spoken everywhere, in all contexts, our Treaty right is not being lived up to. We cannot legislate for Pak \u2019N Save to go and employ somebody on the counter so that, if I choose to, I can go up and do my transaction in Te Reo M\u0101ori. But, certainly, the Maihi Karauna strategy or the Maihi M\u0101ori strategy could work with businesses and encourage them to have M\u0101ori speakers. We need to not just to be able to speak our language; we need to be able to hear our language, we need to be able to see our language, we need to be able to read our language, and we need to be able to write our language. We need to have our communities immersed in the language if we are actually going to make a difference to Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000657\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EUp until now we have relied on traditional methods of language transfer: the marae, talking to our kaum\u0101tua and kuia, and school, I guess. Just while I remember, Denise Roche\u2019s daughter is the only student studying M\u0101ori in her class. Will this bill change that? That is something we really, really have to ask ourselves. We need to be able to read, write, and see our language all around our communities. We cannot rely on the traditional methods of language transfer any more. We actually have to look at non-traditional methods, and it is going to seem really strange. It is going to feel really awkward at times. On my marae the time we mainly hear Te Reo M\u0101ori is when we welcome manuhiri on to our marae. We are going to have to look at things such as holding a Trivial Pursuit night in Te Reo M\u0101ori, where we conjure up these contexts where we can have a lot of fun and games, speaking in Te Reo M\u0101ori. We need to hope that every newspaper, maybe once a week, has all the news stories on one page dedicated to Te Reo M\u0101ori, and magazines such as Woman\u2019s Day, Woman\u2019s Weekly, the Listener, or whatever\u2014just one page a week. These are the things that we need to see and we need to ask for in order for our language to actually just become normal again. Let us remember that the word \u201CM\u0101ori\u201D actually means normal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000658\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e19a820fb57c4a86950d54904f83575f\u0022\u003ELouisa Wall\u003C/span\u003E: Ordinary.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000659\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226acedbda1036480d80f312a1ddb96b1d\u0022\u003EKELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: Ordinary. So we just need to make our language ordinary and normal. Actually, we should be careful about making it tapu, because then it scares people. It should just be so natural and normal that we do not blink when we hear it or when we see it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000660\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EWe support this bill. We believe it can be improved, but, at the end of the day, if it lives up to the promise that is in it, then, as David Bennett said, this country is going to benefit. It is just going to be the greatest thing for all of New Zealand and all New Zealanders. So we support it. We want to improve it. We want to make it live up to all the potential that is in it, so that it is not just a bill, words on a sheet of paper; it is actually the future, here, for Te Reo M\u0101ori. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022 data-id=\u0022295950c15337422bad1b3d78922a8d66\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000661\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022295950c15337422bad1b3d78922a8d66\u0022\u003EJONO NAYLOR (National): \u003C/span\u003ET\u0113n\u0101 koe, e Te Mana Whakaw\u0101, \u0101, huri noa i Te Whare nei, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000662\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and acknowledgments to us all throughout this House.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000663\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022\u003EI just purposefully asked my colleague to step aside for a second because I just came down to the House to find somebody, realised that this was the conversation that was going on, and wanted to participate. I think this is a vitally important bill for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Reo M\u0101ori has been in the back seat for too long, being ignored by many people\u2014and, I guess, too many people\u2014for such a long time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000664\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022\u003EMy journey with Te Reo M\u0101ori started when I was at intermediate school. It did not start at primary school, because no one ever spoke it, but at Hiona Intermediate School in Masterton I was one of the two skinny white boys who were a part of what was known as the M\u0101ori Club, because that is what it was called back in 1978. We learnt a few tunes and a few dances and a few whatevers, and it was kind of a fun thing to be a part of.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000665\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022\u003EBut, actually, as I grew older, I realised that this language was an important thing, so I disciplined myself along the way by practising looking at road signs as I went past, and practising and teaching myself with the \u201CAEIOU\u201D, wondering how this word would be pronounced in order for me to be able to at least pronounce Te Reo M\u0101ori as well as I possibly could\u2014because I felt that was the least that I could do. Then when I was doing my social work degree I had the opportunity to study Te Reo M\u0101ori for 1 year. The frustrating thing about that is that I do not remember everything I learnt, and so there are a lot of things to go back and relearn.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000666\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022\u003EA couple of years ago my wife came home one day and said: \u201CYou know what? I think I\u2019d like to learn some Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u201D She said this to my daughter, who had been going out with someone who is now her husband. She had been going out with him for about a month or so. My wife said \u201CYou know, I\u2019m thinking of learning Te Reo M\u0101ori.\u201D, and my daughter turned around and said to her \u201CWell, you\u2019d better, Mum, because your mokos are going to speak it.\u201D, which was a little bit frightening. But it is OK. She married him, and I have no doubt that my mokos\u2014my grandchildren\u2014will grow up to be bilingual because that is important to their father and, actually, it is going to be important to their mother and it is going to be important to me. Not that there is any hurry, if you are listening, guys! They have been married for only a year. But it is going to be important, and suddenly this language is going to be a part of our family. So I think it is beholden on many of us to be able to do that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000667\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022\u003EI guess what I want to say is that this bill is really important. It is really important for what is contained in it, but it is really important for the message that it sends to everybody in Aotearoa New Zealand: that Te Reo M\u0101ori is an important part of who we are as a nation. It is a treasure for us to make sure that we continue with, going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000668\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225634618f-04f4-4f2c-a4bb-6ec0edeb2bf5\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge the Minister for M\u0101ori Development for the great work that he has done with this bill, and I want to acknowledge the work of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee for bringing it to this House. This is an important thing. It is an important thing for all of Aotearoa New Zealand, and I consider it a great privilege to be a part of this Parliament in bringing it forward. I look forward to seeing it progress through further stages in the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022109f02ab2f1648b9acffa0521bbc465b\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 the M\u0101ori Language (Te Reo M\u0101ori) Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 109\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 59; New Zealand Labour 32; Green Party 14; M\u0101ori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 12\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First 12.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000669\u0022\u003EName changed to Te Pire m\u014D Te Reo M\u0101ori / M\u0101ori Language Bill. \u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000670\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ca593984933b419da4a32cbcb648f967\u0022\u003EWeathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000671\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ee011d2b3a214102b26c1440db05da11\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022 data-id=\u00229723e90d33584134aae47431f8efaf19\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000672\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229723e90d33584134aae47431f8efaf19\u0022\u003EHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health) \u003C/span\u003Eon behalf of the Minister for Building and Housing: I move, That the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill be now read a third time. This bill amends the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2006 to make sure that the options available to homeowners under the Act, and in particular the Financial Assistance Package, keep operating effectively. In 2011 this Government amended the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act to set up the Financial Assistance Package. This is an important part of the help that the Government has been providing to owners of leaky homes. Instead of money being spent on litigation, the Financial Assistance Package focuses on getting on with the repair of leaky homes by offering funding from the Government towards the repair costs. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000673\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003EAs at 31 January 2016 there were 1,198 claims, representing 4,177 homes that had been assessed as qualifying for the Government contribution of 25 percent towards the repair costs. The estimated future cost to the Government in the financial assistance contribution is estimated at about $105 million. That is expected to generate an estimated $420 million of repairs via this assistance package. As well as the Financial Assistance Package, the Act provides other alternatives to court action, such as mediation or adjudication by the Weathertight Homes Tribunal, for eligible owners of leaky homes. All of these measures are aimed at providing alternative routes for homeowners, in suitable cases, to costly and lengthy court litigation. The bill does not change any of the substantial provisions of the Act. It simply refines some aspects of the Act to provide clarity to claimants and remove doubt and uncertainty. It does this by amending the Act in three important areas so that the options available to owners of leaky homes under the Act continue to operate validly and effectively. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000674\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003EFirst, the bill removes the possibility of a legal challenge to the validity of some criteria for the Financial Assistance Package for leaky homes. This risk concerns two of the contribution criteria that homeowners have to meet before they can be eligible for the Financial Assistance Package. The bill lifts those criteria out of a Gazette notice and places them into the Act. The bill does not change the wording or the meaning of the criteria in any way, but puts the validity of the criteria beyond any doubt by relocating them into the Act and amending the Gazette notice accordingly. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000675\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003ESecond, the bill addresses the consequences on a small group of claimants of the 2014 decision of the Supreme Court in Osborne v Auckland Council. In that decision the Supreme Court interpreted the term \u201Cbuilt\u201D differently to the way that it had been interpreted by the lower courts. The built date of a house is important because, under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Act, claimants must make their claim within 10 years of their house being built. The Supreme Court decision meant that approximately 70 claimants may have missed out, because the old interpretation calculated the 10 years starting from the date that the physical construction of the house was actually completed. Under the Osborne decision, the relevant date is the date that the code compliance certificate was issued, which is usually later. The bill brings those approximately 70 affected claimants back into the system, so long as they have not sold their house. The claimants will still need to meet the other eligibility requirements to be able to proceed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003EFinally, the bill deals with claimants who are actively progressing claims through the Financial Assistance Package. The process to get approved for funding under the Financial Assistance Package involves a number of steps, such as getting an assessment of the damage to the house and getting quotes for repairing the damage, before a homeowner can formally issue a notice to proceed. The Financial Assistance Package is a time-bound measure that is due to end on 23 July 2016, and, under the Act, claimants would need to have issued a notice to proceed by that date. The bill provides that claimants who are actively progressing their claims will not be shut out of the Financial Assistance Package, even if they have not quite reached the stage of issuing a notice to proceed by 23 July 2016.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000677\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003ETaken together, this package of three areas of change will ensure that the Financial Assistance Package will continue to be available to eligible claimants. I would like to conclude by thanking all members of the Local Government and Environment Committee for their careful consideration of the bill and the enhancements made to the bill during the select committee process. I would also like to thank the submitters who contributed to the development of the bill by providing their views to the committee. This bill is about providing more certainty and clarity to leaky home owners, and making sure that no one is arbitrarily excluded from the remedies available under the Act. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u00225e032d39518340b3baf05eb0a5743c2f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000678\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225e032d39518340b3baf05eb0a5743c2f\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call a member, I just want to draw the Minister\u2019s attention, and the attention of the Government whips, to Speaker\u2019s ruling 53/4, which involves the Review of Standing Orders: Report of the Standing Orders Committee as to the reading of speeches. There is normally a dispensation given to Ministers in the early stages of bills, and especially where there are technical matters in bills. I realise the Minister is not the Minister in whose name the bill is, but I think it is incumbent on the Government to have a Minister at least familiar enough with the material they are presenting to the House that they can make a speech without just reading it out. Otherwise, it becomes a pro forma exercise, and, I think, it does not show due respect to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000679\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f75d1ac76073484281cea9e21a305a25\u0022\u003EHon Dr Jonathan Coleman\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000680\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b6d96e784da14e7a9d024858adc8ec9c\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it was not really a point of order, but the member might like to make one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022 data-id=\u0022098800dc78b247779b52d4b305918097\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000681\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022603ae58e-47c4-46f9-bfc8-8355a48988ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022098800dc78b247779b52d4b305918097\u0022\u003EHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I will take that up with our whips. I noticed the Clerk handing you a note there to that effect, so I do wonder where that direction did come from. But I take your point. I think it is a valid one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022a7bd7916159d44398e871178ada38af4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000682\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a7bd7916159d44398e871178ada38af4\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Well, actually, one, of course, never refers to the Clerk when one is referring to a ruling. And, I will say\u2014and I probably should not respond to the member in that\u2014the Clerk handed me no note.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022 data-id=\u0022c7af3c74681f455e8b686cc7604dbde0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000683\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c7af3c74681f455e8b686cc7604dbde0\u0022\u003EPHIL TWYFORD (Labour\u2014Te Atat\u016B):\u003C/span\u003E I was just listening to the Minister Jonathan Coleman read his speech earlier, and it struck me that the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill is a rather poignant\u2014I was going to say postscript, but it is not really a postscript, because, as we all know, the leaky homes catastrophe is not over; it continues on. But it is poignant nevertheless. This bill, the problem that it seeks to address, and the story of this bill\u2019s development through the House really says a lot about major intractable problems in one of our country\u2019s most important industries, and, I believe, the failure and neglect of this National-led Government to take those problems seriously and do anything about them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000684\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EThe construction industry is one of the most important industries in our country. It is responsible for one in 12 jobs. It generates 8 percent of our national wealth, and it comprises 10 percent of all businesses in New Zealand. It is a huge employer; it is a huge generator of wealth. And, more important than that, it creates the built environment; it creates the very places where we live and work and play. And, as anybody who has followed the horrendous saga of the leaky homes disaster knows, the poor quality of building in this country has been a blight on the lives of so many people, and it is a drag on our country\u2019s prosperity. The construction industry is incredibly important for the reasons I spelt out, but it is beset by low productivity, and it is wracked by a boom-and-bust cycle, which regularly cleans out the skilled workers who are so important in that industry. And those are some of the core factors behind the leaky homes crisis, which this bill seeks to address. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000685\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EThis Government\u2014and, in fact, successive Governments\u2014has struggled to get the regulatory framework right in the building and construction industry and find the right balance between protecting consumers and holding accountable the construction companies and all the other construction trades and professions. And, worst of all, the industry has subjected New Zealanders to a problem that PricewaterhouseCoopers estimated has cost the country in the region of $22 billion, and that is the leaky homes catastrophe. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000686\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EWe support this bill, and we have supported it all the way through. I will talk a little bit more about the three key measures of the bill. But the main point that I want to make is that this bill is symptomatic of so much that this Government does. This Government has made tinkering into an art form. When there are so many pressing problems and challenges that the Government should be addressing\u2014and I will talk about some of those\u2014it seems to focus its attention and the resources of this House on small measures that barely scratch the surface of the problems that the Government should be looking at. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EWhat does this bill do? Only a few months out from the expiry of the Act\u2014only a few months out\u2014this bill basically gives some clarity and seeks to refine some of the provisions of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act. And it will have the effect of extending the provisions of the Financial Assistance Package, which is a scheme that gives homeowners who are affected by weathertightness problems access to the funding provisions that would see the Government and councils stump up with 25 percent each of the repair bill. So it gives them an alternative to going through expensive litigation. But the effect of this bill is to extend that benefit to approximately, according to the Government officials, 70 homeowners\u201470 homeowners. And, yet, what we know from PricewaterhouseCoopers is that there are about 42,000 homes in New Zealand affected by weathertightness problems. Approximately 80,000 New Zealanders are affected. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000688\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EThis is in stark contrast to Maurice Williamson, when he was the Minister for Building and Construction, who, with great fanfare, announced what he said was a billion-dollar funding initiative\u2014a billion-dollar initiative. Well, actually, what we do know is that, up until a year ago, which I think are the most recent figures that are publicly available, there have been only 1,147 claims made under this package, and yet there are more than 42,000 homes affected by weathertightness problems. So this is tinkering at the margins, and it is so typical of this Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000689\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EThere are three key things that I think we need to mention. The first is that the bill aims to remove doubt regarding the validity of a couple of clauses in the Gazette notice published pursuant to the main Act. These clauses cover claimants who had applied for adjudication under the Act, or have applied for or are involved in other civil proceedings. Basically, it brings those provisions that were included in the Gazette into the Act for the purposes of removing any uncertainty. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000690\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EThe second thing that the bill does is that it responds to the Osborne v Auckland Council case, which went to the Supreme Court. It is all about the use of the term \u201Cbuilt\u201D and the definition of \u201Cbuilt\u201D in regard to the 10-year limitation that is built into this Act: 10 years after, as the Act said, the house was built, and that was interpreted as\u2014well, it was unclear as to what it meant. But the courts had until then interpreted it as\u2014what the Osborne case did was it ruled that the definition of \u201Cbuilt\u201D was when the code of compliance certificate was issued, and that ruling allowed a significant number of other claimants to come under the Act. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000691\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EThe third thing is about widening the definition of \u201Cqualifying claimant\u201D, which, again, is about claimants who are actively progressing claims but have not yet become eligible to be covered by the funding assistance package. This, basically, just creates a clearer line and a clearer definition about their coverage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000692\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EAs I said, this bill will extend the benefits of this legislation to another 70 claimants. It is tinkering at the margins of this problem, and it is so typical of a Government that has neglected and ignored a number of problems in this vital industry that have, basically, I think, caused a drag on the country\u2019s growth and prosperity, and have created a situation where ordinary Kiwis are paying the price for this and are being ripped off. The leaky homes problem is the most well-known example, but we still see an epidemic of shoddy building: the Auckland Council recently said that it was failing between 25 and 40 percent of building consent applications because of shoddy building. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000693\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003EThe reason for that is that this Government has failed to invest in skills in the building and construction industry. It has imported large numbers of migrant tradespeople to fill the skills gaps. Those skills gaps are endemic to this industry and they are one of the core factors behind the leaky buildings and weathertightness problems. Yet they continue today, and Paula Bennett, who was the then Minister of Local Government, with her loopy Rules Reduction Taskforce\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000694\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cfc4403d7b754723913731c03c38e75d\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: OK, I am now going to interrupt the member to remind him that we are doing a third reading debate, which is a debate on the bill as it has emerged from the Local Government and Environment Committee. It is relatively tight, there are plenty of rulings on it\u2014around pages 136 and 137 of Speakers\u2019 Rulings\u2014and, although the member has, generally, been quite good, having been fairly tight on the Minister I am now reminding the senior Opposition member that he should stay within the rules. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000695\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224556ca265b0548e8baf982d2f166d893\u0022\u003EPHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: The argument that I was trying to make is that this bill is a small bit of tinkering right at the end of this Act\u2019s lifespan\u2014we are only 3 or 4 months away from the expiry of this Act. A lot of time has been spent debating this bill, taking it through the House. It is going to have an effect that will, obviously, have significant value for the people who will get the direct benefit of being covered by this bill, but we are talking about 70 claimants when there are some 42,000 homeowners around New Zealand who have been affected by this, at a time when this Government has ignored massive other problems with the building and construction industry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000696\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002276c2cc0aca5f458bb61c91e34f17febe\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000697\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f835886532fb4c249ccf81f203270bdf\u0022\u003EPHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Instead of this kind of superficial tinkering that does not even scratch the surface, we need a Government that takes the issues and this vital industry much more seriously. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022 data-id=\u0022ab1393b93dff4436a46cc670b3d455d2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000698\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ab1393b93dff4436a46cc670b3d455d2\u0022\u003ESCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel):\u003C/span\u003E As chairman of the Local Government and Environment Committee, which has considered and guided this bill through the select committee process, it is a pleasure and a privilege to speak in this third reading debate, particularly following Phil Twyford, who has come to this third reading debate ill-prepared, ill-informed, and trying to fluff and fill 10 minutes on a range of subjects to do with all sorts of things other than the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000699\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThis is a small bill, but it is an important bill, and to discount with such arrogance, really, the impact that this bill has on the people affected is to discount their situation in a way that I find appalling and shameful. I would have expected better from that member. This is a bill that will amend the principal Act, the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act, in a way that gives certainty resulting from a court case that created some uncertainty, and will also help those people who have already spent too much time and too much energy on long and expensive litigation to try to get their leaky home situation fixed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000700\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThis is a bill that provides an alternative to a litigation pathway, and I think that is a good thing. I think there have been far too many lawyers involved in expensive litigation in many leaky home matters. This is a Government that has decided that enough is enough, and it was this Government that decided to take action on the whole leaky homes issue in a way that the previous Government sought not to do. Given that a major commitment to the Financial Assistance Package was made by this Government during a time of incredibly tight economic hardship, it is an indication of this Government\u2019s commitment to supporting those people who are confronting leaky home issues around the countryside. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000701\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThis bill, admittedly, as Mr Twyford said, may impact on only a relatively small number of homeowners, but it is important to them and it is important that this House duly considers their situation, because we would like to take a pragmatic and sensible approach to solving those people\u2019s issues and providing them with some certainty. This bill amends the principal Act to remove doubt and to sort out the validity of two criteria that determine eligibility for the Financial Assistance Package, and I think that is a very good thing. This bill does not actually change anything about the Financial Assistance Package itself as set out in the principal legislation; it simply removes doubt and provides claimants with access, for those who want to take recourse to the Financial Assistance Package and use that methodology to advance a resolution of their leaky home situations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000702\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EClause 2 of the bill relates to the commencement, and it has been amended so that only the amendments made by clause 7 are brought into force on 23 February 2015\u2014that is the date on which the bill was introduced to the House. That is important because the rest of the bill will now come into force on the day after it receives the Royal assent. There was a further amendment made during the select committee consideration, and that involved clause 7, which amended the bill to remove those provisions in the clause relating to the insertion of new subpart 9 of Part 2 into the principal Act. Those amendments are now moved to a new clause 8. This was necessary to avoid new subpart 9 coming into force on the date on which the bill was introduced. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000703\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThis may sound all a bit technical and a bit pointy-headed, but it is actually quite important, because the courts are sometimes inclined to interpret the legislation that gets passed in this House in a narrow way. Indeed, it was that matter in the case of Osborne v Auckland Council that led to a significant issue in the Supreme Court where they interpreted the word \u201Cbuilt\u201D differently to the way that that word and that term had been interpreted previously by High Court and Court of Appeal decisions. The meaning removed from the point of final council inspection to the point at which a code of compliance certificate was to be issued. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000704\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThat is why in this bill we are moving to clarify that definition. The new meaning of \u201Cbuilt\u201D can be applied not only to future decisions on eligibility but also to make sure that the position for these people is found to be based on a past interpretation in other courts. This bill clarifies the position for past claimants and is a further indication that we are a pragmatic, sensible, and good Government in terms of tidying up these matters. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000705\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThis is a good piece of legislation. It is a small piece of legislation, but it is important, and this is a Government that takes these matters seriously. I commend it to the House, and I want to thank the committee members for their work in guiding it through to this third reading stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022 data-id=\u00226bf42b1a422a475eb973e7cb5a9b3f6f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000706\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226bf42b1a422a475eb973e7cb5a9b3f6f\u0022\u003ESu\u2019a WILLIAM SIO (Labour\u2014M\u0101ngere):\u003C/span\u003E Can I preface my remarks tonight by saying that having a home that one can call one\u2019s own is a significant part of the Kiwi Dream\u2014it has been for many, many years. It also shows one\u2019s commitment to the community they live in. It is a sign to the rest of us that they are prepared to be responsible in our community. I say those things at the outset of this debate because this was supposed to be a very simple act of just tidying up the Act and ensuring that those who were affected by the leaky homes syndrome, whose homes were affected, would be compensated\u2014that is really what it was. We on this side of the House said at the outset that we would support this bill right through its passage through this House, and we have done so. We said at the outset that we would support it in the hopes that this Government would take getting this problem fixed up seriously so that those people with their homes affected would be able to move on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000707\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EHaving a house that you can call your own, or having that \u201Ccastle\u201D, means so much to so many people. It has also become a tradition in the Kiwi psyche that this home becomes an investment for your children and for others in the family. But for those families who have been affected by the leaky homes syndrome, they are unable to move on. Those affected, those eligible for the financial aid package, have been waiting for this Government to get on with it. I do not know, for the life of me, why this Government has dragged its feet on signing this piece of legislation and getting it out of the House. We have held urgent sittings in this House on a number of occasions, and not one time has the Government attempted to try to ensure that this bill was passed as quickly as possible in this House. I feel sorry that the 70 families who have been waiting for the financial package that this bill will provide have not been able to move on, because of the way that this Government has dragged its feet on this particular bill. You see, the bill will expire in June of this year, and only now are we getting to it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000708\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EThe leaky homes saga, as many in this House will know, has been an ongoing issue since the 1990s. People in this House who have been around during that time will know that this started as a result of the National Government of the 1990s deregulating the market and, essentially, allowing the use of untreated timber in the framing of building structures during that period. As a result, many of those timber-framed structures became unsafe, unsound. That is what has happened. I am gutted that the families affected have had to continue waiting. Some of the homes became unhealthy when the damp timber framings picked up mould and spores. This was supposed to be a simple tidying up of the legislation, and that just has not happened.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000709\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EThe bill addresses three matters, and I just want to refer to the information that is here. First, \u201Cthe bill aims to remove doubt regarding the validity of clauses 1B and 1C of a Gazette notice published on 28 July 2011\u201D. Second, the bill \u201Cprovides that certain claims determined as ineligible on the basis of the meaning of the term \u201Cbuilt\u201D in Sections \u2026 are to be deemed to be \u2018eligible\u2019 claims\u201D. It simply extends the eligibility for claims. Third, \u201Cthe bill aims to widen the definition of \u2018qualifying claimant\u2019 \u201D as a result of the financial aid package that expired in July 2016. I do not know why it has taken the Government so long to get this out of the way but, as I said, the bill, essentially, was to tidy up the Act and ensure that those who deserve compensation get that compensation. Hopefully, once this Government can get this out of the way, those people will be able to do so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EClaimants have been fighting for many, many years simply to have their warm, dry homes, which are part of the Kiwi Dream that all of us have aspired to. It is an issue facing, as my colleague Phil Twyford said, 42,000 families who have been affected as a result of this, and this bill extends compensation to only 70 additional members. It is worthy to note that when the leaky homes syndrome was first raised, the former building Minister, Maurice Williamson, came out and championed it and said that the Government was going to get this fixed, and he promised that there would be a billion-dollar scheme that would be made available to fix this problem. You sort of wonder, as we are dealing with only 70 families, why they have dragged their feet on this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000711\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EThis is also an example of why the deregulation of the building market, or the deregulation of our economy and reliance on the market, is not a good thing. It is interesting that during the Committee of the whole House debate, here we were, raising an issue that has arisen because of deregulation in the 1990s but we had a Minister of this present Government who was also at the same time talking in the media about allowing the building industry to self-regulate. I do not believe\u2014I accept what you are saying, Mr Assistant Speaker\u2014that going back to the old ways is going to fix this problem, when it was the old ways that put us in the situation that we are in now. When you think about the fact that far too many families have lost their homes and their livelihoods as a result of the leaky homes saga, I just think it is crazy for any Minister of the Government to start talking about deregulating the building industry, when it was deregulation in the first place that has gotten us into the situation that we are now in here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000712\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EGiven that the legislation expires in June 2016, it just feels that this is a last-ditch attempt to get a fair outcome for those affected. Right from the very outset, we have said that we would support this because we wanted to see those families affected get the compensation that they are due. I started my remarks by saying it was most Kiwis; it was their dream that they wanted to own their own homes\u2014something that they can call a \u201Ccastle\u201D. This is an example where, again and again, New Zealanders are seeing that that dream seems to be slipping away, when people have had to put their lives on hold waiting around for this Government to get its act together. There have been other examples that have arisen this week to show that despite this Government trying to profile itself as if it was a master of the universal economy, despite its trying to do so, we have seen time and time again that it mismanages the economy, because it does not care about people\u2014it just does not; it just does not care. Because if the Government did care about the small number of people who will be compensated as a result of this bill, 70 people, it would have gotten this out of the way a long time ago, but it has not\u2014it has dragged its feet about it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000713\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EI have to say that you sort of wonder, given the debacle over the Ministry of Health funding, where there was $80 million missing, why it is the Government is dragging its feet on the compensation for these families affected here. I do not have the answer for that, but I suspect that the families who are waiting for the compensation would be happy once this Government gets its act together and gets the compensation that those families need.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022 data-id=\u0022e05e85b6f3f24186832596e5a33ded2f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000714\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e05e85b6f3f24186832596e5a33ded2f\u0022\u003ETODD MULLER (National\u2014Bay of Plenty):\u003C/span\u003E I rise to take a short call on the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill. As my colleague Scott Simpson has already informed the House, it is a good sensible bill that fixes up an anomaly that had been brought to our attention, and, as is typical of this Government, if there is a job to be done, we will get it done and make sure that we deliver for people who need our support. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000715\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EBut I do have to start, if I may, with a retort on the previous speaker, Su\u2019a William Sio, particularly on what appears to me is an immense amount of crocodile tears. I would just like to remind him, perhaps, of some of the history here. He talked about the 1990s and into the 2000s when we had a number of houses\u2014some in Tauranga and, obviously, many in Auckland\u2014that were impacted by the leaky home syndrome, and he talks about, in his view, the lack of speed with which our Government has responded. Well, I would like to remind him that it took 7 long years of the Labour Government before it put up a bill to get this sorted. Then, once it got the bill passed in 2007, it took the National Government to actually pass the Financial Assistance Package to start ensuring that people who needed some financial support got it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000716\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003ESo to stand here and cry crocodile tears about the fact that this Government does not care or does not know how to put a proper solution in place is nonsense and does not get borne out by the facts, Mr Sio. This Government was the Government that acted. This Government is the Government that stood beside the people of Auckland and Tauranga who needed financial assistance. And when the courts said that there were a couple of anomalies that needed to be fixed, it was this Government that put this bill up and has put it through the select committee process, and now, tonight, it has a piece of legislation that is actually going to deliver for those homeowners. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000717\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EThere are 70 homeowners who are going to benefit from this bill once it passes. What is interesting is that, under the Financial Assistance Package, since it has been in place, there have been 1,200 claims representing over 4,200 homes that have already been assessed as qualifying for the Financial Assistance Package. What I think this bill shows is that there were 70 homeowners who had some potential opportunity to miss out in that process and we have identified what those anomalies are, and this bill seeks to address those. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000718\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EWe have already heard tonight about the two\u2014I guess the two real key\u2014components that needed clarification through this piece of legislation. The first relates to the term \u201Cbuilt\u201D. I think that most people in this House would understand why the view of the various agencies and the initial view of the courts was that \u201Cbuilt\u201D would be classified as the point of final council inspection. That was largely intuitive, so you could understand why that was perceived to be the point of eligibility. But, of course, the court case that came through resulted in a different interpretation, which is that \u201Cbuilt\u201D now sits at when the code of compliance is issued, and it is appropriate, therefore, that we make this amendment. It might sound small, it might sound very technical, but it is an amendment that enables those particular 70 homes to now be included in this process, if, of course, they meet all the other eligibility criteria. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000719\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EI think it is appropriate that while we are having this conversation we look at the merits of extending the expiry date. It makes sense. Clearly, when this was first promulgated, 23 July 2016 sounded a fair way away. We are obviously pretty close to that now so it makes sense that we actually make that adjustment\u2014as we have done and will do so through this particular change in the expiry date clause. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000720\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EIt has been an interesting process. It has had a lot of support through the select committee. There were not a huge number of submissions but it had pretty strong support. It was very technical and, despite the rhetoric that we have already heard from a couple of the Opposition speakers, when you strip it all back they know that this is good law, and they know that this is law that their constituents in their electorates support. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EIt is what this Government is doing and continues to do. When sensible things need to be done we do them. If issues and anomalies need to be clarified we sort them, and the people of New Zealand benefit from such an approach. I thoroughly support this bill and commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022 data-id=\u00229b142da542374bb792f0ea1d1b8c3216\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000722\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229b142da542374bb792f0ea1d1b8c3216\u0022\u003EJAMI-LEE ROSS (Junior Whip\u2014National):\u003C/span\u003E I seek leave for the House to adjourn at the conclusion of this current bill in the event that we conclude the bill prior to 10 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022ef7fd78026854cc89696cbd900943a97\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ef7fd78026854cc89696cbd900943a97\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection to us finishing early if we finish this bill before 10 o\u2019clock? There appears to be none. Leave is granted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022 data-id=\u002243b810e4cdae4dd29cf58d591925f9f0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000724\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002243b810e4cdae4dd29cf58d591925f9f0\u0022\u003EJAN LOGIE (Green):\u003C/span\u003E I rise to take a call on this the third reading of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill. We have just heard from the previous speaker, Todd Muller, that if there is a job to be done then this Government will do it\u2014conveniently forgetting that the history of this, I think, is that when there is a mess to be made a National Government will create it, leave the market to fail and the people to suffer. Then there will be an inadequate response given by the Government\u2014which we will all agree to because at least it is something and the people will get something, and then the Government will realise it made a few mistakes in that bit of a fix-up that it put to the House\u2014and then it will bring the job to the House and, yes, this House will do it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000725\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EAnd this is the history of this. We have had an absolute crisis in this country from the removal of regulations around housing standards, and 42,000 homes in this country were affected\u201480,000 people. I have had friends who have been directly impacted by this, and I have seen the stress, the financial stress, the emotional stress, the physical stress as a result of having a house crumbling around them and threatening their lives and their children\u2019s lives. This is no small matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000726\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EHowever, this bill at the point we are debating now is, in itself, a small bill. It is a minor fix-up to provide clarity to those people who have claims in, as some clarity was removed due to a court ruling. So this is to ensure there is clarity for them, and it is also to ensure that those people who are working on putting in claims but have not got the process to the point that the legislation required by 23 July 2016 would still be able to have their claim considered. That will cover about 70 people, we understand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000727\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI think that there are just over 1,000 New Zealanders who have put in claims for financial assistance to this Government. Even though 42,000 have been affected, there are fewer than 2,000 altogether who will benefit from this financial assistance. This equates to the Government putting in 25 percent of the repair costs\u2014which, when you think that the costs of the repair and the damage was not those people\u2019s fault in the first place and was a failure of regulation, does seem slightly miserly. But the Greens are happy to support this legislation because it is fixing up mistakes that were made, ensuring clarity, and helping those few people to get through the process and get it happening quicker, and we wish them luck in that process. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022 data-id=\u00223abafaaa061d4ff59f14fc63eca47580\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000728\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223abafaaa061d4ff59f14fc63eca47580\u0022\u003ERON MARK (Deputy Leader\u2014NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Well, it is interesting. I am going to start by saying that I think the issues around this bill\u2014the backdrop to this bill\u2014have been very well canvassed. I have got to say, though, that sometimes one wonders whether we in this House are really in touch with the reality\u2014the effects at the coalface\u2014of the matters that we are discussing. I say that because a couple of the speeches I heard from the Government\u2019s side would have everyone believe: \u201COh, there was a little problem and there was a court case, and Auckland Council lost, and so we\u2019ve got the bill before us now, and we\u2019ve tidied it all up, and it\u2019s all better and it\u2019s all going to be fine, and we\u2019re all going to vote in favour of this\u2014so it\u2019s all sweet, it\u2019s all great, and there is not a problem.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000729\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EI think it is probably a good thing to touch on a couple of issues. I will talk about a property in Onehunga, which is a complex that has 25 owners. That property was built in 2000 and it was built at a time when the market was deregulated, when the building standards and the building codes changed under the Government of the day. We know the problems from the Local Government and Environment Committee, where eaves were not built and we had Mediterranean-type houses and complexes built; where the building code changed; and where the council responsible signed off on the work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000730\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EBut that problem has not gone away for those 25 owners today. Today, as I speak, there are some young couples listening to this debate right now, because they are still embroiled in the legal actions, trying to get the work started. I mean, 16 years later, they are now starting to work on this\u2014and this legislation will enable that work to go ahead.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000731\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b739c6b924de456797d5c48e82b1d00b\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I want to thank the member for the assurance at the end there. I got\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000732\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4ac8c9f28de449c8f0079fcca14cc9e\u0022\u003ERON MARK\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000733\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222190cae383e946f7b28e507d8afd1f73\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014the impression that he was talking about something not in the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000734\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226d0ccc6bd13149068f55ceb3c31affe1\u0022\u003ERON MARK\u003C/span\u003E: So this legislation is good in the sense that this work will go ahead, but we need to remind ourselves that this is not a simple matter. There are human lives involved here. There are people who have separated through the stress. While all of these court actions have taken place and this legislation has dragged on in getting to a select committee and dragged on in getting out and dragged on in getting to a third reading, couples have separated and couples have divorced\u2014and we need to remind ourselves that those matrimonial settlements have still not been settled because this legislation has not been completed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000735\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003ESo couples who might have separated 5 years ago or 2 years ago are still unable to settle for themselves in respect of the property that they jointly own because of this. This is not a small thing. People have left the country. Some of the people living in this particular block in Onehunga were actually scared\u2014and I am just getting some texts through on the matter right now\u2014into selling their properties for ridiculous money: $100,000. \u201CYou could be free of all the stress. You do not have to carry the mortgage\u2014quit it and sell now and be shot of it.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000736\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EOther couples have had to carry two mortgages over all of this time\u201416 years of carrying two mortgages. This is not a small thing, I would say to the National MPs who stood up and sort of said \u201COh, it\u2019s OK. We\u2019re passing the legislation.\u201D\u201416 years of carrying two mortgages and of the stress. For some it has caused marriage breakdowns; for some it has not been concluded because one of the partners has died in the process. People were not able to get on with their lives\u201416 years later, we are now doing this and passing this legislation in the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000737\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EThe whole issue of work being done and signed off by the council, of changing the requirements, and of owners doing work only to find that that work should not actually have been done and that, therefore, they cannot get the 25 percent\u2014they are not eligible for the 25 percent. People who cannot actually raise the first 25 percent\u2014and under the current rules in legislation, everyone in the body corporate has to sign off. Three people hold it up, which requires those remaining owners to go to the High Court for a section 74 scheme to actually get control of the situation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000738\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003ESo we pass this legislation, but that, ladies and gentlemen and members of the House, is not the end of the matter for some people out there. So any MP in Auckland right now, think of these people in this complex in Onehunga. Think that for them this journey is just going to start now. It is going to take 26 to 32 weeks, I am told, to complete the work in this complex, and in that time those people are going to have to move out, and they are going to have to fund all this themselves. We can sit here and pat ourselves on our backs and say: \u201COh, we\u2019ve done wonderful work. We\u2019ve passed legislation. It\u2019s all going to be better. Take a little pill\u2014it\u2019s all going to be fine.\u201D It is not fine.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000739\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EWe need to remember that when we pass legislation such as that which occurred in the deregulation in the market, which actually led to this situation, and which has resulted in this piece of legislation being before the House, there are downstream consequences for people. They are young couples, young couples with babies, and young couples who have struggled with the health issues of living in a mouldy home for 16 years whilst at the same time lawyers have argued and battled to get them the right to have the compensation that this House now says that they are entitled to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000740\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EI just want to send a little message to the Government: do not get so cocky and confident that everything that one is doing is fine and that there are no human consequences. None of us sitting here tonight will have any idea of the long-term consequences for the health of those children raised in those houses, and in this complex in particular; consequences of the last 16 years of living in a property in an apartment that was mouldy. None of us will understand that. But we will all pat ourselves on our backs and say: \u201COh, well, it\u2019s great. We\u2019ve got free health care for children under 13. They\u2019ll be right, mate. We\u2019re looking after them.\u201D Well, it ain\u2019t right. We have not been looking after them. Parliament has failed them. Successive Governments over the time have failed them. The only people who have actually done them a good service is the court, in the ruling handed down by the Supreme Court, and the select committee process in the last few months.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000741\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EWe would do well to remind ourselves that at the end of legislation are human beings\u2014people. It is not something to be laughed about\u2014Mr Jami-Lee Ross. It is serious\u2014human beings and children, and leaky homes full of mould. Young couples who struggle to pay the mortgage on a property that is devalued and on which they cannot get a loan because the value of the place has plummeted because it is a leaky home. Young couples who have to take on extra work because now they have had to move into another place, where they are able to bring up their children in a healthy environment, but they are still carrying the two mortgages: (1) at the leaky property, which, hopefully, will now get fixed; and (2) at the home that they are living in and raising their children in. Sixteen years, and this is the success? Sixteen years, and Parliament sits here and congratulates itself and pats itself on the back? Yeah, right!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000742\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EIt is good to finally see this legislation pass tonight, and if we get to rise early and all go home and feel comfortable about that, well, whoop-de-doo. But I just want this House to remember that in a complex in Onehunga, with 25 apartments, there are young people right now whose journey is only just beginning.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002207d42dbe-f05a-4a7a-8c23-0eecc14b72aa\u0022 data-id=\u00227f0743189a534b68bbc42c01b20e60d2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000743\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207d42dbe-f05a-4a7a-8c23-0eecc14b72aa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227f0743189a534b68bbc42c01b20e60d2\u0022\u003EPAUL FOSTER-BELL (National):\u003C/span\u003E I just want to respond to a couple of points made in the contribution by the previous speaker, Ron Mark, on the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill. I do not think this is an arrogant Government. I do not think this is a complacent Government, and I for one\u2014and I know all the other Government members of the Local Government and Environment Committee\u2014have the utmost concern for those who have been affected by living in a leaky home and who have had their dreams of homeownership impinged upon by some of the faulty building that has been done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000744\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207d42dbe-f05a-4a7a-8c23-0eecc14b72aa\u0022\u003EThis is a very narrow bill. It does not purport for a moment to resolve all those wide and varied issues suffered by the thousands of people who have had leaky homes. It deals specifically, and is in direct response to, a court case where we had a ruling from the Supreme Court that differed from previous definitions of the built date of a building, as given in Court of Appeal and High Court cases. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000745\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2cabc8cd7854648b9390dded4f9866c\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: How did it arise?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000746\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207d42dbe-f05a-4a7a-8c23-0eecc14b72aa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5d6dffd44ec468b98be4ac09ea61127\u0022\u003EPAUL FOSTER-BELL\u003C/span\u003E: So it responds specifically to that issue, Mr Mark, and not to the wider issues. That court case actually only dates back to 2014. It also deals with a technical issue raised in that court case around where the legislation sits, and it is right and proper that we clarify, in this House, that this is in the Act rather than sitting in the Gazette.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000747\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207d42dbe-f05a-4a7a-8c23-0eecc14b72aa\u0022\u003EThis is not a bill that solves everything for everybody, but it makes, I think, a practical change that will impact upon those 70 or so claimants in a favourable fashion. For that reason I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u0022acf5935d9c6f4c36afc6d5c08ad573a9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000748\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022acf5935d9c6f4c36afc6d5c08ad573a9\u0022\u003EJAMES SHAW (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E I rise in support of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill. I just wanted to pick up on one of the points that my colleague Jan Logie made about the scale of the problem: the notion that 42,000 homes were affected; that 80,000 people, in many cases, lost the entire value of their home; and that the cost to the country of this was something in the order of $12.4 billion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000749\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EAs the previous speaker, Paul Foster-Bell, said, this bill here is a pretty narrow bill that deals with just one aspect of the problem. But given that this problem really started in 1991, which is more than half my life ago, this just shows how the Government is easily able\u2014when it is attempting to do sensible things\u2014to do extremely insensible things and create colossal failures. That $12.4 billion was 2014 dollars as well, so I imagine it has inflated marginally since then.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000750\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EBy comparison, the Christchurch rebuild cost is something in the vicinity of $40 billion, which is one of the greatest challenges that this country has faced in recent times. The economic cost to the country\u2014direct cash costs to the country\u2014were more than a quarter of the entire Christchurch rebuild to date. So this is a colossal failure of Government. This is a Government-created problem, so I think, as my colleague Jan Logie said, we need to be very mindful that when Governments seek to do sensible things, occasionally they create colossal problems.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000751\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EI do commend this bill to the House. I think it is important that when the Government creates a problem like this, it seeks to clean that problem up, even if it takes 25 years to do so\u2014and we are dealing with the tail end of it now. But it does raise the question: what does it really take? New Zealand is actually starting to get a reputation for building quite poor houses, and we have got no excuse. We are not short of materials, there are not that many people here, and we have extremely talented builders and tradespeople and architects, and so on. I think, again, that it is just a sign that in our zeal for the free hand of the market and deregulation, what we end up creating is generations of very poor-quality housing. We are in danger of doing it again now, of course. Adam Smith, actually, in addition to referring to the \u201Cinvisible hand\u201D, did actually refer to a well-regulated market as well. And so the idea that the Government is a partner in the economy and can help prevent these problems\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000752\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226aa3fb4b7f004d12afb7aea190481204\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: I am now going to\u2014having waved the bill at the member\u2014draw his attention, as I have to previous members speaking on the bill, to the fact that the third reading is a very narrow debate. One thing I am sure of is that Adam Smith did not make a submission on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000753\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d5830ccee487451fb8b8ba138c332076\u0022\u003EJAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: He would have been welcome to, though, Mr Assistant Speaker, I am sure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000754\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ab15b1348db4be08c9c1e20cb135fd5\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: They had leaky homes back then, though.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000755\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b1b5196c79b448bbaac5c8a7a78420e\u0022\u003EJAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha! Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. In that case, I will conclude my comments by saying that the Green Party does support this bill, that we fully support the victims of this colossal failure, and that we hope that the Government learns from this kind of failure. I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u00222daa96a3c6c94fc2a2e4b34ddb461cc9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000756\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222daa96a3c6c94fc2a2e4b34ddb461cc9\u0022\u003EPOTO WILLIAMS (Labour\u2014Christchurch East):\u003C/span\u003E In this country we have an expectation about our homes. We do have an expectation that they will be warm and dry, but we also have an expectation that they will be built properly. We spend a lot of money, we invest a lot of money, in our homes. We expect them to be fit for purpose so that our children are well and that, you know, as an asset, homes grow in value.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000757\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EThe leaky homes saga, as my colleague Su\u2019a William Sio called it, really knocked our faith and that belief that our homes were our castles. It did, actually, cause us to stop and think about all of those processes that we put in place to ensure that things go as well as they can do\u2014the regulations, the legislation, the building codes, and the like. We were failed as a country when the market was deregulated in this case: when the treatment of timber was compromised, where construction methods were not fit for purpose, and where the inspections of those properties caused what became a massive failure. I am giving you some background to the bill, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000758\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf8e25d5e8a54e97aa5ca51f8d916a70\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: And the member does not need to give me background; she needs to address the bill. We are on the third reading.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000759\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b860dd750fb4e4aaace023f9c65aaf3\u0022\u003EPOTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: OK. When we find that, in fact, we have made a mistake, we need to put it right. Have we done so in a timely way for those people who have been impacted by the weathertightness of their homes? It has taken a long period of time for those people to feel as though they have had the remedy that is required, which this legislation actually provides. But it does not provide for all the people who are impacted by weathertightness issues in their homes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000760\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EThe bill has only three major components. Of course, the first is really around who will qualify for the Financial Assistance Package. Those 70 or so families who will qualify for the package only have until the end of June or the beginning of July to ensure that they get those applications in. The second component of this bill is around determining the time that the home was built, because knowing when your home was built and actually having that defined puts into play the period of time in which you can then apply for the financial assistance. The last component really deals with the claimants who will come under this bill, who may already be taking civil proceedings. They will no longer be able to take those proceedings because they will be covered under the Financial Assistance Package in this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000761\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EThis bill is a bit of a cautionary tale. There are aspects of it that resonate with residents in Christchurch around some of the rebuild and repair, and the different applications of codes that are occurring in Christchurch. I just want to make that note, because it is important that we do not come back to this House seeking to pass legislation that will then fix up what could be dodgy repairs in Canterbury. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022 data-id=\u0022c71e671b42a049ab9d5ca630699e102a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000762\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c71e671b42a049ab9d5ca630699e102a\u0022\u003EDr MEGAN WOODS (Labour\u2014Wigram):\u003C/span\u003E It is my intention to take a short call here. I think that much has already been said on what is an incredibly important but very small piece of legislation, and I would not like the not-so-invisible hand of the Assistant Speaker to intervene to keep me on track on this debate for traversing material that has already been traversed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000763\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e23d5a52a78f4c529d04e7af7985fc6e\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: The member is risking it already.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000764\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c86af844a5c145eb88e63628a71ca7bb\u0022\u003EDr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha! There are a couple of things that I would just like to draw the House\u2019s attention to. Some of these have been discussed. The first is the definition of \u201Cbuilt\u201D. The definition of \u201Cbuilt\u201D is incredibly important, because at the moment it is relying on the statutory definitions and the court cases that have come around that. I think that by enacting this legislation, and cleaning it up in this bill, what we are stopping is a great deal of litigation that would go through our courts, not only clogging up our court system but also imposing an immense cost on the homeowners.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000765\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EWhen there was the prospect of a class action by 500 potential claimants who were grouping together with the law firm Parker and Associates around the James Hardy Industries products that were used\u2014what this case did draw attention to was, actually, the paucity of law that we have in this country around group or class actions. I think that is something that we are finding, in a very similar way, in the case of Christchurch and group or class actions there. So it is good to see that cleared up in this legislation so that it is not going to need to be redressed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000766\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EThe other point that I would like to draw the House\u2019s attention to is the third change that this piece of legislation makes\u2014one of the three changes. That, of course, is aimed at removing any doubts about the validity of the eligibility criteria for compensation as they were published in the Gazette notice. Of course, these were criteria that were developed under regulation in the primary legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000767\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EI think this does serve as a cautionary tale to the House: that we have to be very, very careful when we are giving delegated regulatory powers to other bodies and tertiary instruments in a piece of legislation, because we may have to come back and do a fix-up. That is one of the changes that this piece of legislation is needing to make. It sounds very technical, the fact that you are coming back to fix the eligibility criteria, but, as other members have talked about, if you are one of those people who have a leaky home\u2014where your security and your investment and your future really has been eroded\u2014having the eligibility, your eligibility to compensation, and the ability to get that fixed is incredibly important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000768\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003ESo when we are enacting tertiary instruments, as parliamentarians we do have to think very carefully and examine very closely\u2014both in this Chamber and at the select committee deliberations\u2014the blowback and the unintended consequences that they can have. This is a saga that started in 1991, my last year of high school. So this is a saga that has been going on for quite some time in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000769\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EIt is a pleasure to be taking a call on this legislation tonight, and with Labour supporting this bill, because we do need to provide a remedy for the people who have been caught in this saga, and for their inability to get on with their lives. We know the kinds of strains that this puts on people\u2019s lives, and it is good to have this amendment bill and to clear up some of the ambiguities in this legislation. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000770\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EBill read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000771\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002270869e04bf7b4690b05cafa591c8328f\u0022\u003ESittings of the House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000773\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b4e834c7de624658acadd78f6febd263\u0022\u003ESittings of the House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002228ff25ea237c4c3e80c9ef8bccf2e601\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002228ff25ea237c4c3e80c9ef8bccf2e601\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard)\u003C/span\u003E: Pursuant to leave that was granted earlier in the evening, the House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201603098ad7ce1b6db34d8695c9cfc7a543012d000774\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 9.50 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"