"\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=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002217ffd2582e3545738d8d9331f9184085\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2018\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ef0a261c79d64c12af74ce433aa45aea\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2018\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000002\u0022\u003EThe Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000004\u0022\u003EPrayers.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00228504709628214c10821d4fb092d4565a\u0022\u003EVisitors\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e6848dd4d31647dc8d0c6bb002214653\u0022\u003EAustralia\u2014Queensland Legislative Assembly Ethics Committee, Delegation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002246a3d02a8da04ac29323d28b8954d1f0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002246a3d02a8da04ac29323d28b8954d1f0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sure that members would wish to welcome the Queensland Legislative Assembly Ethics Committee, led by Mr Joseph Kelly, who are present in the gallery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002239386bb07f5a4db48bfeadb9c358625c\u0022\u003EMotions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d616f95ee65a466ca50425aadc1c67ff\u0022\u003EWomen Voting in Aotearoa New Zealand\u2014125th Anniversary\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u0022df8e399a8c744ccf959fa86216e397d8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022df8e399a8c744ccf959fa86216e397d8\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Minister for Women):\u003C/span\u003E I seek leave to move a motion without notice and without debate to recognise the 125th anniversary of women voting in Aotearoa New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002282cabde3bfa64cb8b10364852253fbf4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002202b7376b2b064ecab9666c88ecde7fa7\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That this House celebrate the 125th anniversary of women in Aotearoa New Zealand voting for the first time and acknowledge the work of the suffragists to make our country a world leader on women\u2019s rights.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b391fb3434b04b05ad7ea73f0bb8e4fc\u0022\u003EPoints of Order\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002289ce44e4c36147c08bbc3728d97e3a48\u0022\u003EPublic Services\u2014Stoke KiwiBank Branch and PostShop\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u002211c49a58db844fbc95ad6f29065f999b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002211c49a58db844fbc95ad6f29065f999b\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek leave of the House for notice of motion No. 16, in my name, to be put without debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022f7c5fd29b088418bbb29d3dc6a17ed1a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f7c5fd29b088418bbb29d3dc6a17ed1a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is that something that has been discussed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u0022e1c073f3c3c14a96a6493c32e2e9bbeb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e1c073f3c3c14a96a6493c32e2e9bbeb\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022a12d0de91eb44d0ba40e911333c8d5d3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a12d0de91eb44d0ba40e911333c8d5d3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection to that course of action?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022666826a7695c4eb88b5a36982c7048d3\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2754cb937e04da3b6df03202039ba32\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Probably not a good time to make that interjection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002250da142154b64d6abf4d21c98be7b1eb\u0022\u003ESpeaker\u2019s Rulings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002222b26e021ac347edbc2dd25fc174520a\u0022\u003EWritten Questions\u2014Replies\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002222106ae83cca418a89396636008c788c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002222106ae83cca418a89396636008c788c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve received a series of complaints from members about replies for written questions relating to diary matters and briefings. In most cases, they were right to raise these issues with me, because the replies did not meet the required standards of accountability to the House. I\u2019m aware that there was a proposal for the proactive release of ministerial papers and diaries. That will reduce the need for written questions, and Ministers may be able to direct Ministers to the source of the information they\u2019re seeking. In any case, and certainly in the interim, Ministers are obliged to give informative replies to all the questions they are asked where it\u2019s consistent with the public interest to do so. Speakers\u2019 rulings 176/5 and 177/5 apply. I have been given too many examples where they have not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289ff161907c5419aac419f908a4d76e1\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: Most transparent ever.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220cf3b0a12e39431a8d96db67e80fec1d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: And I might say to the Hon Amy Adams, support from her in these circumstances does not do the cause of her colleagues who raise these matters any good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002232db2d76b0b2423faf69073b362a3feb\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002244b2966dd83b4da6bd2d1122ff246a7b\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226ef39cd8445e47508fc8772acfe65906\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022 data-id=\u00226141758329164bdea14d30967fc5f221\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226141758329164bdea14d30967fc5f221\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government\u2019s statements and actions, including her statement yesterday when asked about geometric mean growth she said \u201Cwhen taking into account spreading over that period of time, spreading over the increase is a much more accurate way of taking one month out of the year\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u0022719c374286a54559af8d99a74389193f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022719c374286a54559af8d99a74389193f\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes. The premise of the member\u2019s question is false and serves as proof of a poor understanding of basic facts. Her decision to try and explain that to a member needing numerical literacy was indeed a brave one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022807e1b45ecb14253b7c0f75ed771b6fa\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: What did she mean when she said the geometric mean takes one month out of the year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4dfc09d4690407d8b7061b9c4eac821\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: The use of the geometric mean measurement provides an estimate of what the typical or middle household is paying in rent. It\u2019s similar to the median in that regard, or the average in that regard. That\u2019s what that means.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e2f9e92a64e04250b5425571942379f0\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Why did she say yesterday that I had selectively chosen figures which showed the median rent has increased by $30 a week under her Government, compared to $12 a week under the previous Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227623dec5ccfa4ec49e83eb9305bd7c0e\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Because, unsurprisingly, the member came to this House with some false facts and thought to get them out in front of the public. Here are the real facts, though: if you go and look at, for example, 2017 rent increases, 4.8 percent; 2018, the first year of this Government, 4.8 percent; and way below the 5 percent when he was a Minister in 2015. That\u2019s what it means.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221702fe6335a84d6f83bf748b5e985483\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Well, wouldn\u2019t it in fact be selective to use anything other than the total rent increase under her Government with the total rent increase under the previous Government: $30 versus $13?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b1f2d378878546118042c6cc6b09c7f9\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: It would be well-known to anyone who is literate in both this issue, statistics, as well as the law or property that for many periods you have a long, flat period in rentals, then all of a sudden you have the spike. If you measure the spike and call it an average, you\u2019ll come up with the conclusion that member came up with in the House yesterday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225157a085d35d41acba9f978eacad51d5\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Isn\u2019t she simply overcomplicating matters with gobbledegook like \u201Cgeometric mean\u201D because she doesn\u2019t want to face the facts of very significant rent increases in the last year due to her policies?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222399ee4a82f46a096bf183770bcc159\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I do confess that I may have made a mistake yesterday in not referring that member, the leader of the National Party, to his spokesman on statistics in this country. Then he might have been better informed, rather than come down here, drag one month, call it 12, and come up with the cock-and-bull story in terms of stats he did yesterday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226bea0df05b2949c3baea4cfd4c1826c6\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she stand by her statement in relation to whether banning letting fees will see landlords increase rents to cover the cost, that she hopes that won\u2019t be the case?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223233b6177124134b493c8e42bb91356\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: The Prime Minister\u2019s statement\u2014and would be to this question as well\u2014refers to the fact that the National Party is using selective data which varies significantly month to month. Everybody in the real estate market knows it, everybody in the rent market knows it, and the tenants know it, as well as the landlords. The Prime Minister described in the previous answer the benefits of the geometric mean, stating \u201Carithmetic means are too sensitive to changes in the higher value.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228cce702793a84b27829bab12eb3449ba\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: This is getting worse for the Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226009817f3fb4ccf8cd7a56738a3d696\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I lost you a long time ago.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c98bb934da446d09bbe09bbbe3718a7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s sort of like even. Start again, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb8d2e3f41d44cf8aad0389fd277a3d1\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she still have hope her policy won\u2019t lead to higher rents when there are property companies emailing their clients telling them to increase rents by amounts such as $6 a week to recover the abolished letting fees?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226086bf46cac84bd79ca329b44a55b2f4\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Could I just say that the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Prime Minister\u2014on behalf of the Prime Minister; and as well as yours truly, but answering for the Prime Minister\u2014have said that there could be a temporary rise whilst we try and get on top of the massive shortage in supply of housing built up over the last nine years. Now, there used to be a time the National Party understood supply side economics, but they don\u2019t when it comes to housing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228153510dd038456a8d61cdf42c8510cb\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: How much will the temporary rise be, or does she not know because she\u2019s motivated by good intentions rather than any kind of evidence or good outcomes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223674c1f52c28488e845d5ab114e48b0a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: What I can say on behalf of the Prime Minister is that being motivated by ambitious intentions and positivism has seen a sizeable rise in the support of the coalition Government and its parties, heading towards 60 percent, and if you want to ask what one of their coalition parties\u2019 potential polling at the moment might be, well, it\u2019s fully 3 percent higher than it was at election day in 2017\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223798c3c0859d48afb82f8757790e7cfe\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: What\u2019s your polling? Tell us about yours.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d9285e962f64d70a3f9cbcf2296dd6f\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it\u2019s very positive, actually, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re going to Christmas with a present we didn\u2019t even ask for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227550cb6a936446058ffd441664ac9973\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: How long will this temporary rise last, and how much will it be?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5e6c7e53e7445ee98f53767e2b59031\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: The Government admitted when it saw the mess and the dysfunctionalism between supply and demand in housing in this country that we wouldn\u2019t be able to fix it up all in one year, or indeed two years, but because we were prepared to address a massive crisis in the housing situation of this country that there would be temporarily possibly a rise of an amount which we don\u2019t know, but then because we would be building 100,000-plus houses, we\u2019d get on top of this problem. Not like the previous Government, that denied there was a crisis until the day after the election, then they discovered one, in the same way Columbus discovered America\u2014purely by accident.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228c9d7bc4d1714342a38f67e51bd84ea5\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022 data-id=\u0022dfe9ae83b5a6410483d3cfb397de3634\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dfe9ae83b5a6410483d3cfb397de3634\u0022\u003EWILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u002232ea6af9f6ed47808bf86a96dbac03ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002232ea6af9f6ed47808bf86a96dbac03ed\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Today the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) released its December Quarterly Predictions showing that growth is expected to average about 3 percent per year over the next three years. The NZIER said that there are many favourable conditions supporting growth and that recent data points to solid activity, for example, in the retail, construction, and services sectors. They did warn about some risks to the New Zealand economy, including the international situation. However, the NZIER said they expect the effects of these risks on real activity to be muted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002210c9998935124786b846048c5b9e1593\u0022\u003EWillow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: What did the NZIER say about business activity?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209452389581246be9ea698b3fb5e0f6c\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: The December Quarterly Predictions said that activity indicators suggested demand was holding up, despite business confidence remaining in the doldrums. The NZIER went on to say: \u201CDespite weak business confidence, firms remain optimistic about increasing their headcount.\u201D They also said that wage growth is expected to pick up as firms invest to become more productive, leading to higher skilled jobs with higher wages for Kiwi workers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b8d869c15fc45b4880418c7f39f1796\u0022\u003EWillow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: What other reports has he seen on actual business investment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f38b8506982451d9c293cbec49d412f\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Yesterday Statistics New Zealand released the latest merchandise trade data for October 2018. Westpac economists said that the imports data reflected some positive trends in domestic activity and said that firmness in demand has encouraged increased investment spending by businesses, with imports of machinery up 7.5 percent over the past year and imports of transport equipment up 10 percent. This is the real data which reflects real investment decisions made by businesses. In other words, there\u2019s serious momentum in the economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022348c4520a54f4d359e5e6c9fa0c1b128\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022 data-id=\u0022b4f1d12ea2a3457f90a585cc97ddfd95\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b4f1d12ea2a3457f90a585cc97ddfd95\u0022\u003EHon AMY ADAMS (National\u2014Selwyn)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Does he consider it part of his role as Minister of Finance to ensure that the collection and use of tax revenue is undertaken carefully and in the best interests of all New Zealanders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u00226e163069eccf44a68c216c2cf5740a5a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226e163069eccf44a68c216c2cf5740a5a\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a4cef71642b4f4cbedcaea58eed1d95\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: As the Minister of Finance, does he accept that if the Government imposes higher taxes on the owners of residential rental properties, this will lead to higher rents for tenants?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022213adba88c5c4fec80cfe447997aa4cd\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: No, not necessarily. There is evidence on both sides of that argument internationally. What I do believe is that all New Zealanders should pay their fair share of tax.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224444ec19b430457889ffa6cbee162183\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: So is the Minister of Finance really saying he doesn\u2019t accept that higher costs on landlords are likely to lead to lower supply and higher rents for tenants?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e4ff8cd4fe144fa963380a9b5c827b0\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: What I said was that internationally there is conflicting evidence on this matter about whether or not those kinds of taxes lead to an increase in rentals, which is the question that the member asked. What I do know for sure is that if you have a Government that for nine years fails to address the supply of affordable housing in the economy, that really is going to put pressure on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef927cc6cf824cb5bf66c49e937677ee\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the Tax Working Group that a capital gains tax would likely lead to increases in rents?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022285f33e2b4f54043aa54e907c0e02381\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: The Tax Working Group\u2014I presume the member is referring to their interim report\u2014actually note exactly what I\u2019ve said: that there is conflicting evidence on that matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d5c58263135545a7b349797f6f2dc217\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: So does he expect that the $325 million additional revenue that Budget 2018 says that this Government will take from landlords through ring-fencing losses is going to mean higher rents for tenants?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022191f4db1e0fe45008caa513ccdc87dee\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve said there is conflicting evidence on the impact of those sorts of policies. What I do know is that the fundamental thing that will change the rental market in New Zealand is increasing the supply of housing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f23d593d97e9408a8e0d74d378385bfa\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: Why is it that we have a Prime Minister who can answer that she expects rents to rise, but the Minister of Finance doesn\u2019t seem aware that that\u2019s how the market works?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022517b0d0667384a18984d6c69ceebd470\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, inasmuch as the member has responsibility.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002264ff748c9a3e4a5f9e850b1dc28bddb1\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I can only refer to what the Rt Hon Winston Peters said on behalf of the Prime Minister, which is that there may be some temporary increases there\u2014the point being that the failure to create supply in the market over the last nine years will take a little bit of time to correct.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c1c413d24d69457388377a76f2170277\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u00222f2e422ab477447b8dccf644e3a93e06\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222f2e422ab477447b8dccf644e3a93e06\u0022\u003EDr SHANE RETI (National\u2014Whangarei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all his actions and policies around the Northland meningococcal outbreak and all Government-funded immunisations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u0022a8b2e236bff546ac9257cec9393667c4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a8b2e236bff546ac9257cec9393667c4\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, and in particular the swift response to the declaration on 8 November of a community outbreak of meningococcal W in Northland.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226758aa24d2404732b69abcd9fffd659d\u0022\u003EMatt King\u003C/span\u003E: When was the Minister first made aware of the meningitis outbreak in Northland?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002292fad97bc39b4b528c25f89a7945ce21\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: I have been made aware over time of concern around meningococcal W. The outbreak itself was first confirmed on 8 November of this year. I had the response brought to my attention last week. The fact that they had moved very, very quickly and secured what are very hard-to-get vaccinations very quickly for New Zealand, and will have the needles in the arms of children within weeks\u2014I congratulate the district health board (DHB), Pharmac, and the Ministry of Health for moving so quickly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222feb9cd05df64ca1a9ba337afd14cecd\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: When did the ministry first receive requests for a meningitis vaccination programme from Northland DHB, in light of the internal memo from the CEO on Monday saying, \u201CWe have been strongly encouraging the Ministry of Health for some months to approve this\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b9a77367ef44bfc93f2832ff4e04464\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: As the Minister who answered on my behalf said yesterday, there is a test for what constitutes a community outbreak. That was recognised on 8 November. But in answer to the member\u2019s question, the Government has acted swiftly on that expert advice. The conversations between Northland and the ministry have been ongoing for some time, as concerns were raised about isolated incidents of meningococcal W, and it is appropriate that they have been discussing these matters for some time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022677dc82d8c584bef8d83208dbc709095\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Why has the ministry missed a meningitis outbreak when their own nationwide public health surveillance data for meningitis shows four cases in January, 10 cases in February, more than 20 cases in March, nearly 30 cases in April, and nearly 40 cases in May, which by that time was already nearly double 2017?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dde4ff31ce9f4bdda158f37f5006e5a5\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: I reject the assertion at the beginning of the member\u2019s question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228033cb72771040c2950b07a0b0eb4e1d\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: When officials say selected schools will receive the meningitis vaccination, who will decide which students will have a chance of protection and which students will miss out?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e966bf5387b24a03a90fdc8f64e7b2c5\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: The programme is targeted at those aged from nine months to four years, because they are the ones most at risk\u2014inclusive. Also, a focus will be on students aged 13 to 19, because teenagers are those who carry and spread the disease. That\u2019s been identified as the best way to target and arrest the spread of meningococcal W, and that\u2019s the basis upon which the programme is based.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293369af9c2be431896f6cde171c82eff\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: How will the Minister and his officials reach senior students, particularly the 13- to 19-year-olds in the target group which he\u2019s just mentioned, who have already left school for the year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e840f437fd724f36a476cc7c0eed9a1c\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: Members of the community will certainly be encouraged to participate. These are the problems that have presented in previous meningococcal and other vaccination campaigns, and, fortunately, in Northland they are experienced in dealing with these things. I congratulate the staff for acting quickly, and I know they have the expertise to handle this in the best way possible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ecb5d379ef784e8cab8897c2db9c41ab\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Was the Minister made aware of the increasing monthly cases of meningitis in his own ministry\u2019s monthly notifiable disease surveillance reports?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220aa32cb23a8a4250958c405594235a9b\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: If the member wants to ask specific questions about when I was notified and on which particular outbreaks around the country\u2014he will know there\u2019s many; he\u2019s a clinician\u2014I would be happy to have those questions written down, and I will answer them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220ce8543a5a014558a9098066e5afff55\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022ca7b3e762d6f44afa024554d52ab9ae6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ca7b3e762d6f44afa024554d52ab9ae6\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about capital investment in hospitals?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u002245fd87b98cfd4f9bbbb566abc09e1d1e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002245fd87b98cfd4f9bbbb566abc09e1d1e\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E More good news: last Wednesday, I joined the Prime Minister at Middlemore Hospital to announce that the Government has set aside $80 million to fix longstanding building and infrastructure issues at Counties Manukau District Health Board (DHB). Earlier that week, I was on the West Coast to confirm a $20 million investment in the Buller Integrated Family Health Centre. Staff and patients in our public health service deserve high-quality facilities\u2014this Government is committed to delivering on them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002251b637ce55964ca3b764419cae2adae3\u0022\u003ERino Tirikatene\u003C/span\u003E: How will the $80 million investment at Counties Manukau DHB improve facilities?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c86cf228f8649638e97f9e3df618702\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the building issues at Middlemore, including rot and mould in the walls, will be well-known to members. The DHB can now plan with certainty for four important projects that will tackle those legacy issues and better position it to cope with a growing population with complex needs. Those projects are re-cladding the KidzFirst building, relocating the radiology department to a more modern and suitable building, establishing a radiology hub at the Manukau super-clinic site, and improving critical infrastructure at the super-clinic, including new plant room IT and medical gases. Further investment will be required at Counties Manukau in coming years, but these projects will make a real difference to staff and patients.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226d669a0f996b436ab1efb2a006f4cbe3\u0022\u003ERino Tirikatene\u003C/span\u003E: How much of the $750 million the Government invested in Budget 2018 for capital works in health has now been allocated or prioritised for specific projects?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219293fbe574440c3bdfce7ee7f7955f5\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: That is the biggest capital injection in about a decade into our health system, and in recent months we\u2019ve announced $275 million for critical infrastructure at Auckland DHB, $200 million for a new elective surgery unit at North Shore Hospital, $24 million for new endoscopy and cardiac care capacity at Whangarei Hospital, $7.1 million for Bay of Islands Hospital, $8.4 million for individualised units for people with severe mental health and intellectual disability needs, and $21.3 million additional to the new children\u2019s hospital in Wellington, and, of course, that\u2019s all additional to the $80 million for Counties Manukau that we\u2019ve just announced. So, in total, since Budget 2018, we\u2019ve announced investments in our hospitals of more than $600 million. More will be needed, but this is a sign that this Government is committed to our public system and to our public hospitals.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ca679d64d8a04ca28a3856739d456e83\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Housing and Urban Development\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u002232178320b16b4ce691ff68dc20c734a5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002232178320b16b4ce691ff68dc20c734a5\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (National\u2014Papakura)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development: Is he satisfied that the KiwiBuild programme will achieve good outcomes for communities?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022 data-id=\u0022a294892537014880b2ce92eb3ac659bf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a294892537014880b2ce92eb3ac659bf\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Housing and Urban Development):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. KiwiBuild has four primary aims. The first is to increase homeownership as we build more affordable homes that require a smaller upfront deposit for the estimated 162,000 renters who could service a KiwiBuild mortgage; the second is that we want to increase the supply of homes that if not bought by first-home buyers will provide much-needed affordable warm, dry rental homes; scale and pipeline that will enable investors to invest in innovative construction methods like offsite manufacturing; and, fourth, to incentivise the construction of higher-quality homes, including through the KiwiBuild design standard, which will mean homes are affordable to run and energy-efficient. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bbcfd8a1a5bb4c90b2d0fe6e5a9a0fcb\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Why is he supporting a KiwiBuild development in Marfell, New Plymouth, when a proposal had already been received by Housing New Zealand to build social housing on the site for around $100,000 less per house? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229136ccad09364bd09b3b0fea5bab7694\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Because our goal at Marfell is to regenerate and revitalise a neighbourhood that for the last decade was allowed to sit vacant. After neglected homes were demolished, that suburb was left isolated and vacant, full of social problems. Our Government is going to revitalise Marfell with warm, dry, affordable homes for young families, and we\u2019re building 29 extra State houses in New Plymouth. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f878a1c84e52498aaa7707148ad09c9f\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Is KiwiBuild offering a better product to the Marfell community than the alternative proposal received that would have included a rent-to-buy scheme targeted at low-income earners? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002278ef3ec154264557b313b1aeb5cd660b\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: So we are building warm, dry, modern homes for first-home buyers\u2014that\u2019s the superior option. We\u2019re revitalising a community that was left to languish for a decade under the former Government. We\u2019re also working with New Plymouth city council to build a road that will connect Banks Street to Cook Street, meaning it\u2019s no longer a cul-de-sac. It is a fine development and the superior option. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229062d74019e342798d48b2cb0b4e6a19\u0022\u003EJonathan Young\u003C/span\u003E: So will low-income earners in the Marfell community be better off now that three-bedroom houses are being sold for around $400,000 via a ballot, instead of in the low $300,000s, as proposed by a local rent-to-buy scheme? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226f71f9d8e453419789ce58e64e652522\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, there are very few low-income residents in the Marfell community because there are very few homes left in the Marfell community, because that Government left the land lying vacant for nine long years. Low-income families who want to have a crack at homeownership or public housing are going to get a better chance after nine years, because we\u2019re building KiwiBuild homes and State housing in New Plymouth, and that member should be grateful for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1435b5eece54dd1b69c531e76836648\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Why does the Minister not agree with a local rent-to-buy scheme at around $300,000 for people who are low-income, rather than a $400,000 KiwiBuild scheme?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220260c11a014f436ca36794b6ac27035e\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m very gratified to see that the member, after nine years of denying there was a housing crisis, has now become an advocate for housing for low-income families. Welcome to the real world. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224601362faa9e4703b94d282cfde4b28c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, you don\u2019t need the point of order. Answer the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e57b83f65df34209931f6ba923bc28be\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: A hypothetical scheme\u2014they never introduced anything.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a54f73bdea4c4a0388cfb92eb2473208\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: It is a hypothetical scheme. That Government never did anything for nine years. We\u2019re building KiwiBuild affordable homes and State housing in New Plymouth. That Government never built any State housing for nine long years. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229188275d6a374092b4afbcf331cc95db\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member did, in the very beginning, address the question\u2014very tangentially, I might say. But he did.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002213189f41d4fc48da937ca32b52a0c7bf\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Forestry\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u00224405dfa94c694cbea719b2c497fd062c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224405dfa94c694cbea719b2c497fd062c\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Forestry: Does he stand by all his statements and actions regarding the One Billion Trees Programme?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022 data-id=\u0022e205331a9dbe409e923ee0de1ed04c3d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e205331a9dbe409e923ee0de1ed04c3d\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (Minister of Forestry):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, within the context they were provided.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf443a1f48d24b08babf09bdb49a3d65\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Why did he tell the House in August that the $485 million injection into forestry from the Provincial Growth Fund would lead to \u201Cat least 2,000 jobs.\u201D, when his own department\u2019s estimate is less than half that, with 1,000 forestry jobs replacing the unknown number of jobs that the land is currently supporting?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022247247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002234b2c6c9cefa4e6ea48133cd2c79c8bc\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: Well, obviously, the member has taken a remarkably short period of time to focus upon given it takes 28 years for a pine forest to mature, 100 years for t\u014Dtara and kauri. So if he waits a bit longer, that figure will come true.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c9f321f7cf694f16b836981f444c3a7c\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Is it possible that once we account for the job losses in the pastoral sector, if land is converted from sheep and beef to forestry, that there will be fewer than 500 genuinely new jobs for our $485 million investment\u2014around $1 million a job?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293326dd101d648c69b29c023d3475a5b\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: The vision of the right tree, the right place, at the right time embraces both the desire to see further farming practices take place\u2014that in this case will include more trees. It is wrong to scaremonger that men and women are being driven off the land as a consequence of this visionary billion-tree strategy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3be28750d114e15a9be72e5f21bc913\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: When he told the National Business Review that we have to make sure that \u201CWe\u2019ve got enough nephs or if necessary a few Melanesians to help plant the trees.\u201D, what proportion of any new forestry jobs does he expect to be filled by Melanesians, presumably by the way of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0e59c4caaee496d947ba8ec79014418\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, well, from Melanesia we already draw a host of RSE workers and policy is being looked at, but the preference is to get the proverbial nephs off the couch. It is proving to be a challenge as a consequence of the last nine years of Kaikohe, Kait\u0101ia, Gisborne, Hastings, and a whole host of other places\u2014and I would remind the member that $50 million was put aside by his Government and not a single neph got off any couch, because they never spent any of that money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c5b353ed8fc40299f5c8b9767749b81\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question was what proportion and he made no reference to anything like that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb2e130c5c304c199c813fddcb82b9a4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Right, I think the Minister can have another go.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc1736b5401744b4889694d4e5a895ca\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: In terms of proportions between workers that may or may not come from Melanesia and the nephs, such a policy is under active consideration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229779ce0c443b4757b5bb4673a7e437ce\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that the fame of this visionary policy has been so far-reaching that countries in the Pacific and Pacific Islands are now mustering their workforce to assist the member in the implementation of his plan?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a5ab6e25a5c34ddf87205878867e00cb\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Come off it. What a load of rubbish.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e7e90685ca745e2b5b215aebcf95baf\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I know you are.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bea3c1b5228c4584bb3e49fdb899ba05\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! Come on. That\u2019s not how I like to be described.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e9de7829e4034e91990063a9732d05ce\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s well known that under the last regime the RSE scheme could have been expanded but it was thwarted, and there is considerable scope to expand the RSE as a part of our Pacific reset, and\u2014who knows?\u2014a significant portion of them would be very convenient in terms of the leaders\u2019 aspirations of the Pacific to see a friend like New Zealand absorb some of their people whilst training our own indigenous people. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262084c8f77b4454ca2e78fb65edeb047\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Why does he think it\u2019s a priority to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to provide work opportunities for itinerant overseas workers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec1d2cc645a54f66a9a3251a7a660b65\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: More of this Epsom-based scaremongering. The policy associated with the billion-tree strategy has a clear focus. Along with my well-known social crusader colleague Mr Willie Jackson, and where necessary, as the industry seeks additional workers, if it\u2019s appropriate we will find a way to blend both an indigenous workforce and a Melanesian workforce, but that policy is under active consideration\u2014something that was sadly absent from the last nine years of Pacific RSE development.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200624c860bfe49cdb340f656dd619fb7\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Can he give the House an assurance that the 400,000 seedlings mulched after they couldn\u2019t be planted on the Ng\u0101ti Hine site are the only ones purchased with Government money that haven\u2019t been mulched or wasted?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b17b605822b45dcaa3ce06e56b9d978\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: This reference to the 400,000 seedlings is best described as a hiatus. By and large, the majority of such seedlings were planted and it\u2019s a sad consequence for the Crown\u2019s partner Ng\u0101ti Hine that as a consequence of their enthusiasm they are going to bear a substantial portion of the cost of that $160,000, and it\u2019s my expectation going forward we will not be applying Masport mowers to seedlings in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222982a32e076d4158b88173e7f6f73cbc\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. He didn\u2019t answer that question at all. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d979dc328a3941749fa928e7daca312b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I think he did actually.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022617639d7123c4f17b53db6e790ac3c7a\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Really? OK, all right. If he is still worried about getting the nephs off the couch\u2014returning to the couch\u2014in Northland, why is he supporting his Government\u2019s proposal to remove or weaken sanctions against beneficiaries who are not prepared to work?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d00120e1a5fc48e982e0775b85d111ed\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! That\u2019s not the responsibility of the Minister of Forestry. Further question?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262f6432832ac474bbf4f205ddec9d4fc\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Could I reword it or not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0fa054526ee40c5a26ad1f7851ae871\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, have a go. I\u2019m generous today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d8c0a18f08f64d9eafd8b857e77ed5a4\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll reword it quite substantially. How does he think the jobs created by the $1 million Lake Ellesmere restoration project, for example, will be filled when up the road in Ashburton there are currently 500 job vacancies that employers are struggling to fill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1c2d995a2284f8a9d029b100a2dd6b7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That was more than a fine-tuning.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8dc7869b98b47089ecb66ea3ab66d8a\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: In terms of Ashburton, I can only comment on the fact that his information obviously is coming from the member of that area, so I\u2019m not confident that it\u2019s fully accurate. Secondly, the Lake Ellesmere, Waihora kaupapa is well and truly supported by the community, the tangata whenua, and already great steps are being taken.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228d9454c0b92d4ead95280c2bab9004ad\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Justice\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00221cb82ddaa3fe42fea14dda38e671bd77\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221cb82ddaa3fe42fea14dda38e671bd77\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National\u2014Ilam):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I know, from our dealings with you as we lodge questions each day, that you are somewhat of a stickler for the grammar that goes into questions, so I wonder if you can give us some clarification about the meaning of this particular question? Is it a case where \u201Cfor\u201D should perhaps be \u201Cby\u201D, or does it simply mean a ban on New Zealanders voting for prisoners?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225f2f82d17a5a490580ae5cc2121d362d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: In this particular case I take full responsibility for the grammar in the question, which is about a quarter of the length of the one which was lodged.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220a7359104b8d489abfa0ee9ddb202f2f\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it doesn\u2019t help us. What\u2019s the question?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022550fde69b61340169e9197cd532701b5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, well, it should be \u201Cby\u201D, and it\u2019s my fault because I took about three-quarters of the wording out of the question that was lodged. All right? I apologise to the member for embarrassing her in front of the House by rewording her question in a way which was not up to my normal standards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022070cdb581d3d427a908739cb8622bda7\u0022\u003EHon Christopher Finlayson\u003C/span\u003E: Write it out a hundred times.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229195d330260a41d589086ce331ecdd26\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Finlayson, you can include that in your valedictory if you want to be in the House on the 18th.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022 data-id=\u0022c96bea3e0926406fb7638b63cf781131\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c96bea3e0926406fb7638b63cf781131\u0022\u003EGOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Justice: Will he commit to overturning the ban on voting for people in prison?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022 data-id=\u0022b904b8bf08f84ddf8ae495dc2440fc02\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b904b8bf08f84ddf8ae495dc2440fc02\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH (Minister of Police)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Justice: On behalf of the Minister of Justice, the Supreme Court decision was that the 2010 ban on prisoner voting is inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The first efforts of the Government to consider the Supreme Court ruling have regard to declarations of inconsistency. Every now and again, Parliament does pass a law that isn\u2019t consistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Earlier this year, Cabinet agreed in principle that the senior court should have the power to declare legislation inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and to provide a mechanism for the Government and Parliament to respond. We are continuing this work. On prisoner voting rights, while we understand the issue, the Government is yet to consider it, and it is not a priority for the time being. The Government is committed to reforming the criminal justice system, and this takes priority for now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022474ce9741b364dcd9338757c9011bcb2\u0022\u003EGolriz Ghahraman\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree with a 2014 statement from then New Zealand First justice spokesperson Denis O\u2019Rourke, who said, \u201CPrisoners should have the right to vote. When people are sentenced to prison, their punishment is imprisonment; it\u2019s not the loss of human rights or democratic rights.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d83aef86ff7649b0b2a8ef2b68c00a0b\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister, Denis O\u2019Rourke is a good man, and I do agree with him, but, as mentioned, this issue is not our number one priority at this stage\u2014reforming the criminal justice system is, and we look forward to working with the Green Party in really making a difference in this space.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002272cc0b2703f045babff4febc98e32f35\u0022\u003EGolriz Ghahraman\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree with his own 2014 statement on people in prison voting, \u201CThe current law, in our view is wrong, and it needs to be changed, and we will change it.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221cb262c80f404b02b30ab9539eef47cc\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister, as an MP, of course I agree with statements I have made; however, speaking as a Minister, this Government has not had a discussion around this issue and therefore does not have a position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022773849aedc68486ea5a8997d4380452b\u0022\u003EGolriz Ghahraman\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree with National Party MP Harete Hipango, who said, during a 25 October public hearing of the Justice Committee, that she supported people in prisons voting, because the current law was an impediment to M\u0101ori engagement in the electoral system?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab7bde303ce3434686d84f0962b04cc9\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister, the decision in 2010 to ban all prisoners from voting was led by the National Government and the National Party. Therefore, I can only assume that the member is very disappointed in her own party. The legislation was passed despite no doubt very wise and considered counsel from the former Attorney-General but ignored, which is very disappointing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022147e984dfdd44006a0487987f4b72e50\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Private member\u2019s bill!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dccaceee3efa4ceba25ccfc6191480e4\u0022\u003EGolriz Ghahraman\u003C/span\u003E: Given support from across the political spectrum\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022daf4a1480bc94cd2aef92d8e2c916fae\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re the Government now; you can change it!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d6573e474c1c4d32bdc4d02584e72271\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Both of you\u2014two senior members. Start again, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002225a01c2493a94d87a1bc44b4908abfce\u0022\u003EGolriz Ghahraman\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given support from across the political spectrum and the New Zealand Supreme Court\u2019s unprecedented declaration that banning people in prisons from voting is a breach of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, will the Government introduce a bill to reinstate people\u2019s right to vote?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260a750e506974ce1a87ef27e29224e17\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister, as the Government has not had that discussion yet, it would be inappropriate for me to express a view on behalf of the coalition, but as stated, this Government is committed to broader criminal justice reform, which will have a positive impact\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224526470a580f4e459b65553812cdd351\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! We\u2019ve had that before, and the member has answered the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228b1f9c5751f94715aad2ba150ac15790\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022 data-id=\u00228882e387001b44dd8f74b95a6e5a6dca\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228882e387001b44dd8f74b95a6e5a6dca\u0022\u003EHon MAGGIE BARRY (National\u2014North Shore)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Health: Is she aware of the recent international study that highlighted non-existent or sub-standard testing on surgical mesh products; if so, can she guarantee those unsafe products are not being used currently in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u002219b1019e84f844d0bcc531a2b19e80af\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002219b1019e84f844d0bcc531a2b19e80af\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am aware of a recent report highlighting concerns with surgical mesh and faulty medical devices, which, sadly, are not unique to New Zealand. Concerns about the safety of some surgical mesh products and particular procedures that affect women have led to this issue being a high priority for this Government and particularly for my work as Associate Minister of Health with responsibility for women\u2019s health. That is why within two months of this Government coming to power, we took stronger action than the previous Government took in nine years. New Zealand is now one of only two countries in the world to have taken regulatory action, restricting the availability of some surgical mesh products which are deemed to be unsafe. We are establishing provider-led registries to increase oversight more quickly. We have established a credentialing standard to ensure surgeons are properly qualified. Thirteen district health boards are no longer undertaking the procedures due to the actions taken by this Government, and we are progressing rigorous informed consent processes for patients. I note that New Zealand is a small part of a large global market and that we will always have limits on our technical regulatory capacity, but I can assure the member that this Government is very engaged on the surgical mesh issue. We are progressing significant work that the previous Government neglected to undertake. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b508f6d61524b73873f6153512da433\u0022\u003EHon Maggie Barry\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minister commit today, as a matter of urgency, to establish a retrospective register for surgical mesh use, as National has committed to do, and as Labour and the Greens promised to do in the lead-up to the election?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ccfc5d99d355411e9b84273f55c502e1\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d like to congratulate that member and her party for finally recognising the need for action on this issue. It\u2019s a shame they didn\u2019t take action sooner. But when it comes to a registry, what this Government did undertake immediately was a cost-benefit analysis and an assessment of what was required to set up a registry. [Interruption] Perhaps the members aren\u2019t interested in hearing the response?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228edb41c894c5450d8369fcbe8c1026ce\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: In fact, I agree with the member. That\u2019s enough. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e10a8e32dcc4c6db83d2d8adaf2de27\u0022\u003EHon Maggie Barry\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minister follow the lead of Australia, the UK, and the EU, and direct that surgical mesh should not be used as the first surgical option, and go even further and apply Scotland\u2019s approach and have surgical mesh offered only as the last available option?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002234bff84c6cf246ccbd5fdb63d41e0e46\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not convinced that that member is exactly correct in her interpretation of what other jurisdictions have directed. Our understanding is that the United Kingdom has only put a temporary pause on the use of surgical mesh. I will reiterate that New Zealand is now one of only two countries in the world, with Australia, to take regulatory action on surgical mesh products, and we have progressed a work programme, writing to district health boards, requiring and setting up a credentialing of surgeons. We are doing everything we can to guarantee women are protected from unsafe products.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe8d966f35eb44f0abeee379f2c35b9e\u0022\u003EHon Maggie Barry\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I don\u2019t believe that the Minister responded to the question, and perhaps she misunderstood what the question was alluding to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c84ddc3d10c410b8325f84041050e35\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think right at the beginning\u2014I probably should have stopped the Minister because she continued on for too long. Right at the beginning, she certainly did address the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a526f2300cb44a2ea8e3561317978d5e\u0022\u003EHon Maggie Barry\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree with the statement \u201CI can\u2019t understand why there hasn\u2019t been a surgical mesh registry formed, and if there is a good reason, I haven\u2019t heard it\u201D\u2014from Labour\u2019s health spokesperson David Clark, in October last year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b35ac1a072dd43d696a2adb2c685c199\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Ah\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b22dbba518d7470c8649c8cf449abfbd\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, do you agree with it? No responsibility, but do you agree? So the member can answer it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe59def666d84386a6a5a56ba29d3971\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Now, I don\u2019t think I\u2019m responsible for that. That\u2019s not my ministerial responsibility. But, Mr Speaker, if you would allow me to, perhaps I could give the member some indication as to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2346abb40ae4b3ab1d7452f4acbe69a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m only going to allow you if it relates to something that Dr Clark said. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dbc9c704fcd643c1b4b315f8e4f946db\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: I would like to let the member know what we are progressing, in terms of a registry. No? OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002268be6fc82c8b406a93c67f505b1bbe10\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Question number 10\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002249fc2e3f03ff4f0abe37d90fabd3879e\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223eb1a79b217a4ae48a4647d6c98f50b3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: A point of order, the Rt Hon Winston Peters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242d5b90e798e4bbfac1ecb47b6aa2b9f\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: No, I want to ask the member a supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb3ad9b98dd84380b6d7a32fdfe83a51\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I\u2019ve called question 10. We can\u2019t go backwards. [Chris Penk gestures to member to sit down] Now, that member, if he does that, will be out. Sit down. Now, when I call the subsequent question, we don\u2019t go backwards. Question number 10, Chris Penk\u2014and the member is on a warning that only one of us is going to chair the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002261b2415183324833abedd6f2c0cdc891\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Courts\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u0022c6c0c0eee9a8422bb49c63b672190bd3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c6c0c0eee9a8422bb49c63b672190bd3\u0022\u003ECHRIS PENK (National\u2014Helensville)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Courts: Does he have confidence in the Ministry of Justice\u2019s response to lightning strikes by court staff?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022 data-id=\u00222ffb63ee13ae4f8380b000447fc14861\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222ffb63ee13ae4f8380b000447fc14861\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH (Minister of Police)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister for Courts: On behalf of the Minister, yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e49136d281ce427aaba4dd5e7b24dcd9\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the comment of the Chief District Court Judge that as a result of lightning strikes \u201Cthere may very well be a miscarriage of justice arising out of undue delay.\u201D, and if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d85ae01831f544a5844176bb41d2ecc1\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: That is the fine judge\u2019s opinion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219848e9dcd624742b5ec062d7d2740a4\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Put away the ring binder, Stu.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3e4f48311b64d92989248c6e9ee3265\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will stand, withdraw, and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022754910ec6f6f49f3882c6c5089d984a1\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226ae14fb0ca9f49ea88717194d5226491\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the Secretary for Justice that ongoing strike action undertaken by court staff is \u201Cirresponsible\u201D and \u201Cunsafe\u201D, and if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e4db98fb5f0a442a9383eff7de80f53a\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not going to enter into any debate about negotiations that are under way at present.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cbe511c9bbc84935ad0c73ad71a67cae\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: Has he seen the statement by the Law Society that a particular alleged assault that took place in a courtroom would not have happened but for the strike action undertaken by court staff, and if so, is he concerned for the safety of those in courtrooms as a result of ongoing strike action?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c9569fad8dcd4f3393dbace329eafe98\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: I haven\u2019t seen that statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022281bc9e8553e451bba78283ebd72121f\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014Pacific Peoples\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022 data-id=\u0022af61e033c332432da1d3e093834e8db7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022af61e033c332432da1d3e093834e8db7\u0022\u003EANAHILA KANONGATA\u2019A-SUISUIKI (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: What recent reports has he seen on the Pacific economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022 data-id=\u0022de59083d23fe42c8a71985f244c234fc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022de59083d23fe42c8a71985f244c234fc\u0022\u003EHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Pacific Peoples):\u003C/span\u003E At the Pacific Aotearoa Summit held on 13 November, the Minister of Finance, the Hon Grant Robertson, launched the Treasury report The New Zealand Pacific Economy, which highlights the significant contribution Pacific New Zealanders make to the economy. The report is the first of its kind, provides us with a rich source of information in understanding the actual scope and range of areas where Pacific New Zealanders make their contribution. The report is useful for Government ministries and agencies at both national and regional levels, including local government, to better engage with Pacific peoples.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f76b20dce84644859a18f659f3394163\u0022\u003EAnahila Kanongata\u2019a-Suisuiki\u003C/span\u003E: What are some of the findings of the report?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220046e84e6f154c29ba4653e05741f57a\u0022\u003EHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO\u003C/span\u003E: Some key findings show Pacific peoples contribute $8 billion towards New Zealand\u2019s GDP, that there are approximately 1,500 Pacific business employers and 500 not-for-profit organisations, with assets totalling $8.3 billion. The report confirms that Pacific peoples are active in almost every area of the New Zealand economy. The report also recognises the significant contribution Pacific New Zealanders are making to our cultural and community well-being. Pacific people spend at least 27,000 hours per week on voluntary unpaid activities that directly contribute to community stability, cohesion, and well-being.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af1b690d86c042329ecca2dc12809059\u0022\u003EAnahila Kanongata\u2019a-Suisuiki\u003C/span\u003E: What is the significance of this report?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c93c7516db284929be2f241fa8526a62\u0022\u003EHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO\u003C/span\u003E: It highlights that despite the inequalities that Pacific people face in areas such as health, housing, education, and employment, they still make a valuable contribution to the economy. This report challenges us to consider how much more Pacific peoples could achieve for themselves and for our country if we were to work together to reduce the inequities and barriers they face. There is more to the monetary aspect of this report, as Pacific people define wealth more broadly in terms of family, faith, language, culture, and knowledge, and these broader aspects will be taken into account as the Government develops the well-being budget.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228b622742cba64e3c9fc5878f04fa022f\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u2014Statistics\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022 data-id=\u00223c0597c1a83245af86bd3acb395befd6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223c0597c1a83245af86bd3acb395befd6\u0022\u003EDr JIAN YANG (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Statistics: Does he have confidence in Statistics New Zealand\u2019s handling of Census 2018 and does he stand by all his statements regarding Census 2018?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u0022849cc93d42ae496cb1ab42e8d5633b11\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022849cc93d42ae496cb1ab42e8d5633b11\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Minister of Statistics):\u003C/span\u003E In response to the first part of the question, yes; and in response to the second part of the question, yes, in the context in which they were made.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f80cde79df5b4649b5a14c20cdc4611d\u0022\u003EDr Jian Yang\u003C/span\u003E: Does he still stand by his statement that \u201Cthis census looks to be more successful than previous censuses\u201D, when the release of census data will now be delayed for at least a second time?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227404c18c5fb24b31b045b1260a2bff9b\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: In the context that I made that statement, I was referring to the response rates to the online census, which were substantially above the response rates that they were projecting\u2014[Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a53bbf2dc7748d5bba9852460b70675\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Can the member just resume his seat. I\u2019d like the member to make that answer again without the support from his right\u2014my left\u2014which is coming through his mike and meaning that people at this end can\u2019t hear.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e1a25d07ac844798bd3f207b24fbf4e4\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: I just assumed they weren\u2019t interested in the answer. So the context that I made that statement was in response to a question about the online response rate, which was substantially higher than projections.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225058ebf19c324e8b8257c34f9dbe3425\u0022\u003EDr Jian Yang\u003C/span\u003E: What does he say to the Ministry of Education, district health boards, and others who rely on this data to budget for much-needed services?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022efde687db014425abe4d6132dd43bf8b\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019ve had a delay in the census before. For the last census, there was a seven-year delay\u2014sorry. It was seven years; a two-year delay, because of the earthquake, and all of the agencies were able to cope with the information that they had at the time. Statistics New Zealand are currently working with key stakeholders including iwi and other public agencies to make sure that any delay to the census data doesn\u2019t affect their operations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224decd970c3bd45f99e5bd5c6410fc06b\u0022\u003EDr Jian Yang\u003C/span\u003E: Well, does he now agree with former Labour Party president Mike Williams when he said the census was an \u201Cindustrial strength fiasco\u201D and the census should be \u201Cdone again properly\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226bae9f0dc02940e29deeb9e6561a8761\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: No, I don\u2019t, but I\u2019d like to point out that the former John Key - led National Government received a quantitative risk assessment in 2014 that highlighted that the costs of the census would increase over the coming five-year period. Despite this, the John Key - led National Government cut the budget by 5 percent. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd58188a23f04c188ebc86e65252e1a5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! Enough from both sides. We will hear the balance of this supplementary answer in silence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002206dc6d3c358640ea99d6eba76554cda7\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: At the same time, the former John Key - led National Government signed off on a complete change in the census methodology, from a primarily paper-based exercise to a primarily online exercise, and, at the same time, they chewed through five Ministers in four years, which would have meant poor oversight by Cabinet. It also shows that they didn\u2019t see the stats portfolio as a priority. So you had a Cabinet that completely changed the census methodology\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2b04211a2f9440687e4563de3ed2752\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Five.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223190dd1bc5d849e59440a588b15366a7\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014cut the budget despite knowing what the risks were, and weren\u2019t paying attention in a governance capacity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca6c22c6625b4b75a3080df6f72dd51b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Right. There were four different members who interjected when they were told to be silent, all from my left, including one member who did it twice. Any further supplementaries now\u2014they\u2019ll come off tomorrow.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002201c61e4a4bba4f82975d26cbaf624548\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Amended Answer\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022 data-id=\u0022c2c7995a75c4412da1a678f81f641a01\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c2c7995a75c4412da1a678f81f641a01\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH (Minister of Police)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister for Courts: I seek leave to correct an answer given on behalf of the Minister of Justice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e0ac40b50ba41ad92a55896a9a39c7d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member seeks leave to correct an answer he gave on behalf of the Minister of Justice. Is there any objection to that? There appears to be none.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022326424f23bd945458dbad1836f5d4c60\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: I can confirm that the Minister of Justice has seen the statement from the Law Society which Mr Penk referred to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u0022d3afdec4b97c4887b69cc578603cc7f1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d3afdec4b97c4887b69cc578603cc7f1\u0022\u003ECHRIS PENK (National\u2014Helensville):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was to the Minister for Courts rather than the Minister of Justice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f69c12b31b7477f9cf0428de6df69a6\u0022\u003EHon Stuart Nash\u003C/span\u003E: Can I\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u00220a8ddad9beeb4f9fb490e68591396d8d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220a8ddad9beeb4f9fb490e68591396d8d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That Minister saw it too. OK? Can we accept that? Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d2a4645f7a014f789c4e7a9dd2f0bed3\u0022\u003EPoint of Order\u2014Penalties for Interjections\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022203dea4bf4b54b9d900838f2dd266c83\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022203dea4bf4b54b9d900838f2dd266c83\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National\u2014Ilam):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. You just, I think, have indicated that we\u2019re losing four supplementary questions\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c95ec857a29b49cf9141050a1126968a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Five.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e78dfa97c1ad486da5d522d1027c8258\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Five\u2014five tomorrow. Well, of course, that, sir, would be because of your lack of acceptance of the outrage expressed by people on this side of the House at the very provocative answers given to questions by the Minister of Statistics. The reality is that it is his responsibility, and he had plenty of time to be able to ensure for himself that the census would go appropriately. It hasn\u2019t, and he has to be responsible. For him to try and sheet that home to a previous Government is completely unacceptable, and for us to lose the opportunity to question Ministers simply because we expressed some degree of surprise that a Minister would be so audacious as to try and obfuscate his own responsibilities by pushing them off on the previous Government like this I think is extremely unfair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231f90473b82c4ab48348bb360e17a3f1\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b4e4fd5fee3a43a1a5c7a100dba4abcf\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u002221e46eaf50f3494087b87ac423a1b52d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002221e46eaf50f3494087b87ac423a1b52d\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E The fact of the matter is that laying out the chronology of events with respect to the decision making is surely not provocative. It was a plain statement of fact, and if the member can\u2019t handle that, then he should find a new profession.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022833d0d437b3046dfa85081f994fb765a\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: With all due respect, Mr Speaker\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022a1241fe3294f49b18937a916b11c426d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a1241fe3294f49b18937a916b11c426d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, does James Shaw have anything positive to add?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u0022a42f7c0c0f0e4368b05b37493154078a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a42f7c0c0f0e4368b05b37493154078a\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Minister of Statistics):\u003C/span\u003E I just wanted to point out that I have actually referred to the member Mr Brownlee before for using points of order to try and make debating points, and if he wants to have a general debate slot on the census, he\u2019s welcome to do so, or if he wants to try and call an urgent debate\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002261a7ff5d0b6b493f95efa29f14b6caa9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002261a7ff5d0b6b493f95efa29f14b6caa9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think that member\u2019s just compounding the problem. Now, the issue that I have is that in the initial part of the last supplementary answer that the Minister was giving, both sides of the House erupted, clearly with contrary points of view on whether a few months was a reasonable amount of time to correct what are alleged errors in the preparation of the census. There were different points of view, and members were expressing that quite loudly from both sides, to the extent where I was having trouble hearing the Minister. I then required members to be quiet, to be silent, other than the Minister in replying. That was understood by all members, up to a point where one very loud member, on a couple of occasions, and three other members made interjections absolutely contrary to what my instructions were. I\u2019m at a loss what to do. Should I toss them all out? I mean, there might be a problem for a subsequent debate if I did. Or do we keep going on the basis that I did previously?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EMaybe, seeing as it\u2019s Wednesday, I\u2019ll be a little bit reasonable and revoke my decision, but I do want to say to members that when I require silence\u2014but I will also say to the Minister, when he is answering under that sort of requirement, he does have an obligation to cut down the politics and just stick with the facts a bit more.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002292e56ac58d0a4e2bb100618725d64f03\u0022\u003EUrgent Debates\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229bbdeff73eb645d884d012a26a41a1ec\u0022\u003EImmigration, Minister\u2014Decision on Karel Sroubek Residency\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022b62995b7a4474c3fbb7c5d3bde964057\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b62995b7a4474c3fbb7c5d3bde964057\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I have received a letter from the Hon Mark Mitchell seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the decision by the Minister of Immigration to revoke his residency decision in respect of Karel Sroubek. This is a particular case of recent occurrence\u2014the Minister\u2019s decision was announced at 1.03 p.m. today. The normal deadline for applications for urgent debate is one hour before the House is due to sit. However, where a matter occurs after the time but before the House sits, the Speaker may allow the application: Standing Order 389(1) and Speaker\u2019s ruling 189/6 apply. This matter is clearly one that involves ministerial responsibility. The immigration status of Mr Sroubek has been a matter of considerable parliamentary and public interest. I judge it to be a matter that requires the immediate attention of the House, therefore I have decided to allow the debate to be held today. I call on the Hon Mark Mitchell to move that the House take note of an urgent matter of public importance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022 data-id=\u0022ddf7244eeb514f6cb883543239c035fb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ddf7244eeb514f6cb883543239c035fb\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL (National\u2014Rodney):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the House take note of a matter of urgent public importance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EThank you very much for granting us this urgent debate. You\u2019ve highlighted why it\u2019s so important to a country that has watched the Government over the last two months make a decision that the Opposition clearly knew\u2014back on 28 October when the Sunday Star-Times reported for the first time the case of Karel Sroubek and the decision by the Minister to grant him residency.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EOn 28 October, the Opposition came to this House, after consultation with my colleague the Hon Michael Woodhouse, who had been Minister of Immigration whilst we were in Government, and we asked the Minister about the decision that he\u2019d taken in granting Karel Sroubek a pathway to New Zealand residency. We were very direct in those questions, and we highlighted the fact that, at that point, one day in, we knew that it was the wrong decision. In fact, just about the whole country knew that it was the wrong decision.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003ESo what was the Minister\u2019s response to that? What did he do? Did he come back to this House on 30 October and say, \u201CI\u2019ve gone away. I\u2019ve had two days to review the case. I\u2019ve had two days to speak to my officials. I\u2019ve had two days to go out and use all the resources of Government to gather all the information.\u201D\u2014that he needed to recheck and go back and have a look at his decision. Did he do that? He came to this House\u2014and I\u2019d ask everyone to go back and actually pull up the Hansard or pull up the audiovisual file on that, and have a look at what the Minister said.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EHe came into this House and it looked like he came in with some humility, and he said to the House this. He said, \u201CI\u2019ve gone away and I\u2019ve taken the time to review the file, I\u2019ve taken the time to review it again, I\u2019ve taken the time to speak to my officials, and I stand by my decision.\u201D He said, \u201CI stand by my decision.\u201D So Mr Iain Lees-Galloway, after the Opposition had highlighted what a poor decision you had made around granting a pathway to residency for Mr Karel Sroubek, you had two full days\u2014you had two full days on notice\u2014to go away and seek the information and have a look at that, the information that the Opposition were able to get, in that same time frame, and come back here and tell the House \u201CActually, on the face of it, it looks like this could have been a poor decision and I need to review it.\u201D You didn\u2019t.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220de1fb2fcc704f44a487ec97bf0f4bec\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f767c3ac1fc54cbdbf61d40cf4eea1bd\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, the member didn\u2019t. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The member chose not to do that. He chose to come back to the House\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228e387bbfcb524115b04020b39f622085\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: Because the member\u2019s arrogant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f04b406ab5e243129e4fc92c14c67fd5\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014well, that\u2019s right. The only thing you can call it is arrogance and hubris\u2014that he came back to this House and stood up and he restated and he stood by his decision. Mr Iain Lees-Galloway\u2014the member should not continue as the Minister of Immigration. I can tell you now. The country has lost faith and has lost confidence in you and your decision making. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EBut it gets worse, because what happened when it was brought up and the Prime Minister became aware of it? You would think that the Prime Minister would go back with all her resources of the office and say, \u201CI\u2019m concerned about this decision. On the face of it, it appears to be a very poor decision.\u201D You\u2019d think that she would go back as a responsible leader of the country and she\u2019d want to actually have that information before she came to this House. So the leader of the country\u2014I don\u2019t know if this has happened anywhere. We should go and check if this has happened at any Parliament anywhere in the world. She came back to this House, and she stood over there, and she said, \u201CThe country needs to read between the lines.\u201D The leader of the country comes into this House and says, \u201CThe country has to read between the lines.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EWell, I can tell you right now, the country had already read between the lines. But it gets worse\u2014it gets worse. And this bit really surprised me. We had the Deputy Prime Minister\u2014a Deputy Prime Minister that normally would lead the charge against this sort of decision. He would be completely incensed with a decision like this. New Zealand First, they would never put up with this. The Deputy Prime Minister came to this House and he stood, and what did he say? He said, \u201CI\u2019ve read the file and I stand by the decision.\u201D He stands by the decision. We\u2019ve had the Prime Minister, we\u2019ve had the Deputy Prime Minister, and we\u2019ve had a Minister all come to this House and all tell the country that this was a good decision.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228458655765f54430be420dbc8004b1de\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: If he told the truth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002236a04cd0d35e49c496275f724deba01e\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: The reason why\u2014well, you\u2019ll get a chance. You\u2019ll get a chance, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, to stand and respond and lay out exactly what did happen, because this House and the country are actually very interested to hear that. We want to hear what the explanation is, don\u2019t we?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003ESo let me very quickly put on the record this guy\u2019s history. And when I go through this history, I just want to say\u2014and I\u2019ll come to it in a moment\u2014the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway offered to give me a briefing. He offered to give me a briefing when this process and this investigation were over and he\u2019d reported on them. So I\u2019m looking forward to taking up that offer, and I\u2019m looking forward to sitting down\u2014or I hope that, actually, my colleague the Hon Michael Woodhouse, who isn\u2019t here at the moment but is extremely experienced at making these decisions\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022009acb0b2aa84b36a804b6cd623779bb\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You can\u2019t say that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002224177c21e0494a2d86d8e7dbf5bc14de\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014is able to\u2014sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker. You\u2019re right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022362b44f4f4ab448ca7ba7addb3d7bdd4\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I say that it is totally inappropriate, no matter how long or how recent a member\u2019s been in this House, to refer to the absence of another one. And it\u2019s even worse when it\u2019s one of their colleagues. So would you bring the member back to acting within Standing Orders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d2403aba08a487f9a2a9d0425c40d0e\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, thank you, but it is\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f93124ad42254a4da12d50f9865b3dfb\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022657468c33c5245349ef99b27f62ce2bc\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I don\u2019t need any help, thank you. [Interruption] I don\u2019t need any help. It is also against the order of the House to take a point of order in order to interrupt a speech. I had already called the member to order over that matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec66f27ec5534188b44841403f094929\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Really?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223fc81d361504414f82b427f3f40b2aa7\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c3f081ea8e4e48dc9c257239bc4ff551\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I didn\u2019t hear it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e933d1e6792469a830e7979b4d65b92\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, because you were already standing up and looking elsewhere in the House. I call the Hon Mark Mitchell.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e921f2e789949ec9befa4286678c14a\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It\u2019s interesting isn\u2019t it? It\u2019s interesting that every single Kiwi this person has gone up in front of\u2014whether it be the juries in the two trials; whether it be the Parole Board; whether it be the second judge\u2014every single Kiwi, every single\u2014oh, so he\u2019s going to come back to the first judge, poor old Judge Roy Wade, that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to hear. Every other Kiwi that this guy has gone up in front of has thought what? They haven\u2019t believed him. They haven\u2019t believed one thing that he\u2019s said and they\u2019ve said, \u201CHe\u2019s to go. He doesn\u2019t deserve a residency. He shouldn\u2019t be in New Zealand. He should be back in the Czech Republic.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EThere was a huge mistake made. And if I was the Czech Republic, I\u2019d be highly offended, because that is a country that is a NATO country, an OECD country, it\u2019s part of the EU, and it\u2019s got world-class policing and justice systems. They acted like they couldn\u2019t send someone back because the State was going to hurt or kill him. What a ridiculous proposition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285c5f316dd244c8a9635a998b46ed897\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Read between the lines.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022282d1b51cf22451caadb7298ba1cd687\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Read between the lines. You\u2019re absolutely right, the Hon Gerry Brownlee. Let me very quickly run through exactly what this character\u2019s been up to since he arrived in New Zealand. In 2003 he flees the Czech Republic as a witness to a murder, enters New Zealand with a false passport in the name of Jan Antolik. He later gains residency and represents his new country as a kickboxer. Both entry to New Zealand and granting of residency were by the former Labour Government. And I want to highlight something here\u2014I want to highlight something. The first time this case came in front of a Minister for a ministerial decision was Mr Iain Lees-Galloway. He was the first Minister to have a decision, and a ministerial decision, around the status of Karel Sroubek.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EIn 2009 Sroubek bought a house for $490,000 using mainly cash deposits made into his bank accounts, together with a mortgage. He funded the mortgage instalments through cash payments. How do you do that? How do you fund a mortgage through cash payments? Were they declared? No, they weren\u2019t. No income was declared on Sroubek\u2019s tax return.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221cac12fe6e3b42928bb062dc3fd25578\u0022\u003EHon Nathan Guy\u003C/span\u003E: Read between the lines.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237ddd9fa90a341cab30ab1ad689c680a\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Read between the lines, that\u2019s right, when you consider what he was charged with and what he\u2019s currently in jail serving a sentence for\u2014that\u2019s the importation of class A drugs and significant quantities of class A drugs. In 2010 he was arrested with two Hell\u2019s Angels gang members on aggravated robbery and blackmail charges; acquitted on all charges on a technicality. Charges meant an entire family were placed in the witness protection programme. He was arrested as part of Operation Ark\u2014a covert investigation into ecstasy-like pills. You haven\u2019t heard the end of Operation Ark. Sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker. We want to know more about Operation Ark, because I am completely confused as to why a Minister who says we should trust his judgment made such a blatantly poor decision.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EWhy? Was there lobbying going on? I don\u2019t know, but we\u2019re going to find out. Make no mistake; we\u2019re going to find out. Sroubek was found guilty of supplying false information to immigration\u2014false information to immigration. I\u2019ve had two cases this year that were valid cases, good people doing good things for this country, that had their residency declined because they\u2019d made mistakes on their application form. That on its own is enough to have cancelled and sent him home if you\u2019re going to have a level playing field and you\u2019re going to be a fair and compassionate Government. It\u2019s extremely dodgy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EIn 2011, Sroubek was charged with being party to the manufacture of class C controlled drugs. He was convicted, but that conviction was quashed and a retrial never went ahead. You can see a pattern that\u2019s starting to emerge here. An arrest warrant was issued for Sroubek in 2013 for outstanding criminal proceedings in the Czech Republic. So not only had he decided to become involved in organised crime, associate with gang members, import class A drugs, and be involved in aggravated robberies and kidnapping people; he had been doing it back in the Czech Republic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022618e0d6755114c7882041ffe21883b2a\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: We should read between the lines, right?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab1db670482c4d73ab131fd2b70c99f9\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: We should read between the lines. We were told to read between the lines.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EI don\u2019t believe or accept for one minute\u2014not for one minute\u2014that he is in danger at all back in the Czech Republic, other than maybe a couple of his own criminal mates that he might have done over. You know what? Just be a big boy and go back to the Czech Republic and sort that out yourself. But to think that you\u2019re going to hide here in New Zealand\u2014it\u2019s not going to happen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EI\u2019m going to bring us back to the fact that I was asked in this House\u2014Iain Lees-Galloway got one of the new backbenchers to stand in this House, in a very smug way, and ask him why he hadn\u2019t received a letter from me for a briefing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220b8245d1fb01490faf8602de3e536c8b\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: Arrogant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d0c4738935644cbfbc98d1608cd532fd\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: In a smug and arrogant way, he asked, \u201CWhy have I not received an official request?\u201D So I sent an official request. It simply said this, and it was sent on 7 November 2018: \u201CDear Minister. This letter relates to the decision taken by you to grant permanent residency to Karel Sroubek. I believe that the briefing documents provided to you would have clearly shown that you should never have granted a residency pathway to Mr Sroubek.\u201D\u2014and I\u2019m very interested, Mr Iain Lees-Galloway, to have a look at that file and to actually see why you made that decision, because I believe that there\u2019s going to be everything in that original file to show that you made a shocking decision. \u201CI can make myself available for a meeting with you in this case, but must make it very clear it will be an unconstrained meeting, and although I will respect confidentiality regarding specifics and individuals I reserve the right to be able to speak publicly and indicate after the briefing whether my position has changed at all.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EI was goaded on the Mike Hosking show by the Minister of Police, the Hon Stuart Nash. He said, \u201CHey, Mitchell hasn\u2019t sent the letter.\u201D And Hosking said, \u201CIs that true?\u201D And I said, \u201CWell, yeah, it is, actually.\u201D He said, \u201CWell, go and send the letter.\u201D I said, \u201COK, I\u2019ll go and send the letter.\u201D So I sent the letter and I come back, and what do I get? I get, \u201CThank you for your letter dated 7 November advising you\u2019re available to discuss the Karel Sroubek case. I note your intention to speak publicly and indicate after the briefing whether your position has changed at all. As there is an investigation under way into this matter, confidentiality is paramount. It is important not to prejudice the investigation or possible further action as a result. I have been advised that given the current status of the investigation, it would not be appropriate to provide a briefing at this point.\u201D But it doesn\u2019t matter, because he said here, \u201CHowever, I would be happy to brief you following the completion of the investigation and related matters in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation as outlined.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003ESo, Mr Iain Lees-Galloway, I am looking forward to coming to your office and having that briefing and having a look at the file.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e55505424ae443b9878d7dd630f0eb9\u0022\u003EHon Nathan Guy\u003C/span\u003E: Will it be longer than 45 minutes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222923ce75f78644eca419d78444fb9943\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that\u2019s a very good question. Fundamentally, let me sum it up this way, Mr Iain Lees-Galloway. This is what the Parole Board said\u2014and he came in front of the Parole Board just recently, in the last few months. This is what they said about his character: \u201CHis responses were self-exculpatory, evasive, long-winded and ultimately in our view in many respects manifestly untruthful when measured against the facts set out in the Judge\u2019s sentencing notes and other documentation.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EThe fact of the matter is this\u2014and the reason why I became involved at the start is that I\u2019m proud to hold the justice portfolio. In the justice portfolio, your primary consideration and responsibility is public safety. That\u2019s number one: public safety. The decision that you made, Mr Iain Lees-Galloway, did not take public safety into account\u2014not once through the process. I want to see where you measured the interests of Kiwis and public safety against the decision that you took to grant residency\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022517c3a67708c4ca29a98d9df0becbdaf\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Not me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b009b30999724151bb88f44e20f893f5\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014to someone that\u2014sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker\u2014the decision that the member took in balancing public safety against giving residency to someone that had been involved in organised crime and criminal gang activity. It wasn\u2019t just in the Czech Republic; he decided to export it to New Zealand as well and carry on a lifestyle of organised crime and importation of class A drugs. Please explain, Mr Iain Lees-Galloway.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022 data-id=\u00220299492e8cca4218a66b9e378d5cabd5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220299492e8cca4218a66b9e378d5cabd5\u0022\u003EHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister of Immigration):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. In the days following the publication of my decision to cancel Karel Sroubek\u2019s deportation liability, information entered the public domain that appeared to contradict information that I relied upon in making that decision. As a result, I instructed Immigration New Zealand to review the veracity of that information. As a result of that review, Immigration New Zealand determined that Mr Sroubek may be liable for deportation on grounds that I had not previously considered. Immigration New Zealand sought Mr Sroubek\u2019s response and prepared a case file for me to consider, detailing the potential liability, Mr Sroubek\u2019s response, and other information material to the decision I was required to make. Some of that information was not available to me when I made the original decision\u2014that included new information from Interpol confirming details of his convictions, the fact that he was present in court when found guilty, and that he appealed this verdict to the highest court in the Czech Republic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EParliament, in passing the Immigration Act 2009 and its predecessor, the Immigration Act 1987, set a minimum statutory bar on who is entitled to come to New Zealand, including certain criminal convictions. Mr Sroubek\u2019s visas, both temporary and permanent residency, were granted when his Czech convictions rendered him a person not able to meet that bar. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) did not know this because Mr Sroubek was using a false identity. This founds a new ground for liability under the Immigration Act 2009. I\u2019ve therefore determined that Mr Sroubek is liable now for deportation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EI was clear with Mr Sroubek in my original decision that that decision did not affect his potential liability for deportation on other grounds. The effect of this new liability is that Mr Sroubek would have to leave New Zealand upon his release from custody and would be unable to return. Mr Sroubek has the right to appeal to the independent Immigration and Protection Tribunal on the basis of facts and on humanitarian grounds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EWhilst I\u2019ve previously declined to go into the detail of my original decision, as I\u2019ve said earlier today, it is now in the public interest that I do so. The case was presented to me in the usual way. An immigration official provided an oral briefing and I read the 12-page summary of the case. I then discussed the case with the official, who directed me to the relevant parts of the 398 pages of appendices to assist my consideration of the case. There were several matters that I had to consider. Mr Sroubek was liable for deportation, having been found guilty of importing methylene dioxy-methyl amphetamine into New Zealand and because he held a resident visa under a false identity. The Immigration Act allows the Minister to intervene in cases where they believe that deportation may not be appropriate. I had to consider if there was any reason why Mr Sroubek ought not to be deported.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EMr Sroubek and his legal representative provided extensive material making the case that his personal safety would be in jeopardy if he was required to return to the Czech Republic. He claimed that he was in danger from both the person who committed a murder that Mr Sroubek witnessed and, allegedly, from corrupt police officials. I considered the likelihood that these claims were misleading, or at least embellished, despite the considerable supporting material provided. However, there was one fact that I simply could not overlook, which was that Judge Roy Wade had accepted that Mr Sroubek\u2019s life would be in danger if he returned to the Czech Republic. It is difficult to dismiss such a decision from our judiciary out of hand. Judge Wade had had the opportunity to hear arguments for and against the claim that Mr Sroubek\u2019s life would be put at risk if he had convicted him, and he had determined that it would. Further, there were statements in that determination and in others that the Crown did not dispute Mr Sroubek\u2019s claims.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EClearly, however, any suggestion that Mr Sroubek had returned to the Czech Republic would have severely undermined his claims. It is apparent in the file that he travelled in and out of New Zealand several times between 2003 and 2009. The file does not state where he ultimately travelled to. I asked if it was possible to determine where he had travelled to, but I was told that this was not information that INZ was able to access. Mr Sroubek\u2019s return has, of course, subsequently become public.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EINZ did not provide me with information relating to charges which did not result in a conviction or proceed to trial. That information was not relevant to my decision and would have been unfairly prejudicial against him. The standard of information for ministerial consideration is stringent, and this is a point that I want to make to the House and to members opposite. Ministers cannot go charging around googling irrelevant information, hearsay, and unsubstantiated claims and use those in making these types of decisions. To do so would put those decisions at risk and create a significant risk of judicial review and of having the decisions overturned. It is essential that Ministers rely on fact-based evidence provided to them by Immigration New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EEvidence that he did return to the Czech Republic was contained in those court documents that I was not given, and it was not accessed by Immigration New Zealand, nor was it easily accessible by Immigration New Zealand. This is one of the areas that will need to be considered in terms of future next steps. In the absence of that information, and given the weight accorded to Judge Wade\u2019s determination, I found that I had to consider that there was a significant risk.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EAgainst that, I of course had to weigh the potential risk that Mr Sroubek posed to public safety in New Zealand. He had been convicted of importing a class B drug. Although it appears to have been a one-off, according to the evidence available, it was a large quantity. He had also been involved in violent offences. There was clearly cause for concern. However, the file contained several points in his favour. In official documents, he was described as having no history of violence in New Zealand, having no gang associations, and as presenting a low risk of reoffending.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EIn addition, he had secured several letters of support. I gave weight to one in particular, that from his wife, who spoke highly of him and stated that even though they had separated, she was still supporting him financially and mentally. I have seen media reports that his wife may have concerns about him being released from prison. His wife has declined to participate in the investigation of that material. He also had job offers and had taken the opportunity to upskill while in prison to improve his chances of employment upon release.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EThe picture presented to me was that his violent offending appeared to be in the past and that his risk of reoffending was low. I did accept that there was some risk, however, and that meant that there would have to be conditions in the event that I did allow him to stay in New Zealand. In the end, I did make that determination that there was a potential risk to his safety should he be deported and that the risk he posed to public safety in New Zealand was low. However, I reached those conclusions relying on the information that was presented to me at the time. I am concerned that the case file prepared by Immigration New Zealand may not have provided a complete picture. More information on Mr Sroubek\u2019s travel history and criminal past would have assisted in my decision making.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EI followed a process established by my predecessors, but, ultimately the responsibility for the decision is mine. I spoke to the Prime Minister last night to explain the circumstances and convey my apology. She has accepted my apology and my assurances that I will work to fix the process. I am not going to run away from this; I am going to sort it out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EMy top priority now is to restore public trust and confidence in the process for dealing with these cases. All parts of the immigration system must have integrity, and I am acutely aware that trust and confidence has been damaged by this episode. This case has exposed potential limitations in my approach to casework, the material that is prepared for me, and the overall policy for cases where ministerial discretion is applied. I will immediately change my approach to casework. I will now receive the file in advance of meeting with officials and take as long as I need to scrutinise the file before that meeting takes place. This will undoubtedly slow the process, but it is important that the proper time is taken to get these decisions right every time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EImmigration New Zealand is conducting a review of the process immigration officials follow in preparing the case files. That is expected to be completed in March. I have also instructed the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to begin a process to determine if the current decision-making processes are appropriate and to recommend any changes that may be necessary. That will be a longer piece of work, and I expect initial advice in the near future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EI want to address one matter that Mr Mitchell raised, and that is the question of political interference or some outside interference in this matter. I have seen some of the scurrilous scuttlebutt that has been put out about this, and I want to put on record today there was no outside influence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223be6df0956374e6e85431b31d620ec24\u0022\u003EHon Mark Mitchell\u003C/span\u003E: Address it. Address it then. Address the scuttlebutt. Tell us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281d7274816274e3392c70463e58db335\u0022\u003EHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY\u003C/span\u003E: I am addressing it right now, Mr Mitchell. There was no political pressure. There was no pressure. So, let me make this absolutely clear: no person\u2014Mitchell, shush and listen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228317efc6f34f4796a4b11626410bc357\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Now, the member knows\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b9b604ae1bbd470fa26a8e6b90cb2dd4\u0022\u003EHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY\u003C/span\u003E: Yep. Mark Mitchell, listen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227a99ab53fe8d4b8fa5ce2426de8d1886\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, the Hon Mark Mitchell. His full title he\u2019s entitled to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022efacb2ee043b407d82f7ff977bb8ba91\u0022\u003EHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY\u003C/span\u003E: The Hon Mark Mitchell might want to listen to this. I received no verbal communication\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221d155033df554673a912ea922585e2f5\u0022\u003EHon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, if you\u2019re going to apply that rule, you need to apply it consistently. Mark Mitchell all the way through his speech referred to Mr Iain Lees-Galloway. If that ruling is to be applied, he should have been referred to as the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway all the way through his speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022580c91972f9b4a138557da28b5bfbf4d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It is a correct point of order; however, I heard Minister Iain Lees-Galloway on several occasions. So if I missed that, I\u2019m sorry. But in fairness, the Minister on his feet began in a manner that was not parliamentary, with not even a first name.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022841b28df30c148c2afdd36bb65874b2e\u0022\u003EHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY\u003C/span\u003E: So I received no verbal communication from anybody on this matter. Nobody approach me on this matter. In the written material that was in the case file not one of the letters came from a person who was known to me or that I am aware has any political connections, certainly not with the Labour Party anyway. I want to make that point absolutely clear. I used, appropriately, the information that was provided to me in that file by Immigration New Zealand. I do accept that public trust and confidence has been damaged. As Minister, I take responsibility for that. I also take responsibility for fixing this process, restoring that trust, and that is exactly what I\u2019m going to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u00226c5a687977d64347994d19d46fd5e676\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226c5a687977d64347994d19d46fd5e676\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I just say that what\u2019s astonishing about this debate today is two things. First, the National Party will not tell us who its informant is, or should we tell the country now? That\u2019s number one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224af2f55f75e84c179642698c5ec804cc\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I\u2019m not quite sure that that is to the subject that is on the floor at the moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229c092694ecb14919890b0709302732ea\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I know what the subject is. The subject is\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c80b0bf4f756458ca8a94f911606e8c0\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The subject\u2014the matter of public urgent debate\u2014is the Minister\u2019s decision.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229400f47843a045629359d4df30938707\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s right\u2014about Mr Sroubek being allowed to stay and now having that order reversed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d756627408cf4f96bf2a243676e93cf0\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002215028efdc39643b1a31a6562d60954fa\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I am positive what I\u2019m talking about, and I\u2019ve only opened my mouth for the first sentence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd6d69baccdd411199c19c8044eb0d6e\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I would like you to address the issue of public importance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022160221a730e64a20b9529d3f09ca3eed\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, you will, Madam Deputy Speaker, in the fullness of time. But I will not be browbeaten into conducting the debate the way you want it. Now\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b31a4da26a2b40ab8edc3f2a5bf39f12\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, actually, you will, because I\u2019m the Speaker. And I am asking\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2db4589df3e424e8b8996db82f8a939\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019ve got to have a reason.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8641e320acf47f194ea4cfe1c9719e6\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s exactly right. I\u2019ve explained that to you. If you would like to elaborate, then do so. But relate it to the matter of public importance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8d7a57937d84e209b12b01ac9b5b12a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll elaborate because I need time to do that. I can\u2019t get it out in the one sentence. What\u2019s interesting about this debate is two-fold, two things. One is: who is the informant behind the information that\u2019s coming out in the debate today, which is a perfectly reasonable question; and the second one is: was there any evidence ever given to the Minister of Immigration of the person in the case before him having travelled back to the Czech Republic? And the answer to that is no. At no point did he get the critical piece of information.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EAnd here\u2019s the other thing\u2014here\u2019s the other thing. This man lied from the time he first came to New Zealand, because had he confessed of that application in its honesty and not come in under an assumed name, then he wouldn\u2019t have ever been here in the first place. What we\u2019ve got here, of course, though, is a fascinating argument by the National Party, whose Minister, after 2014, never made one of those decisions by himself. He left it to the bureaucracy. And guess what the Minister on this side of the House inherited? The very bureaucracy that saw a number of people get into this country, who had the following aspects about their behaviour. What\u2019s astonishing about this here is that you had all sorts of people coming to this country, left here by, for example, the then Minister, Mr Woodhouse, and they had these following features: sex offenders; rapists; serial sex offenders, again; a woman who killed her husband; a man who killed\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022219fd32865954be8acc18a081879386a\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I would ask the member to come to the point of the urgent debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002291c6db317b8a4bfd8c3e9ea2c495c10e\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: My point is to lay out the background of the decision-making process, which the Minister today has said is unsatisfactory and he\u2019s going to fix it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef239056fb1c49d8b9d3a982ca18568d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I accept that, but that is a minor point. Would the member come to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0de02529af44cf18a8c1cc2e2206ab9\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it might be in your\u2014look, if you\u2019re not a lawyer you might think that, but you\u2019re not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c68331d456464932a94a029ef5b9164e\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member will resume his seat.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022056dea34f8c244d9b06b5a04a8d28abf\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: The cheek of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf1c1ad986de44719fcbeb6ada313639\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I do have the cheek, because I am in the Speaker\u2019s chair. Now, I am being very tolerant, and I am asking the member to come and debate here\u2014I\u2019ve stopped the clock\u2014the matter of public urgent debate, which is the Minister\u2019s decision. Now, you can refer to the process\u2014I accept that\u2014but that is a minor part of the debate on the floor.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de0cacb92f5b46d889c09b3a22de7764\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. This is a 10-minute response from this side of the House. That means one has the full 10 minutes to go at the various aspects of this case which led to this decision which has now been reviewed\u2014over those full 10 minutes. For you to say it\u2019s a minor matter\u2014with the greatest respect, what are your qualifications, or, more importantly, the Standing Orders or Speakers\u2019 rulings which give you evidence to say that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228126d2dd691492783ffa45f58ec089f\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member is really testing the role of the Speaker in this case. I have stopped the clock. I informed the member of that. In this debate the Minister has the right of response to layout the case as he has done. I\u2019m merely asking you, sir, to stick to the debate on the floor.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0f873f1d4474f2188791bf65d4148ef\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f13133d73c9544a38a397d9c4775ac63\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019ve just ruled on that point of order. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae0a3249491443509fc32ac1b0994bb6\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I know.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022176f6ca9de5c478c88934a821d51c468\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Are you challenging it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225bf5c1407558495181525ecc1a6c4c32\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: But I want\u2014point of clarification. I\u2019m not challenging you. I\u2019m asking you now to lay out what would be the areas that one could cover in a debate of this kind, because this debate is about the propriety of a Minister\u2019s decision and that Minister\u2019s been asked to resign. I\u2019m putting up a defence, and over the next 10 minutes I intend to lay it out as to how we got there in the first place. What matters to me, of course, is how did this man get to New Zealand in\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022002ab21357754a8e94f5fb23e31af8fd\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that\u2019s no longer part of the point of order. Is your point of order finished?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e03d23afd7bb42afb4098b14d9020d31\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: No, no\u2014I want you to lay it out. If you\u2019re going to give that judgment, you describe\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc6b7921ddff4221b25302112bb3b690\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sit down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224cf28a6a406347a5b61e59baff2bd9e3\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014what the criteria might be.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228246b7abe6da49d28764a918d65882e5\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sit down. I don\u2019t have to. I don\u2019t have to. I have ruled. You now have seven minutes and if you wish to take advantage of that I would suggest you get on with it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5771a2f131d4650bfe722595c51522b\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I have got on with it, and I\u2019m getting on with it, and I\u2019ll carry on getting on with it. For example, if you\u2019ve got\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae081bd7afc940e196c7b188612f895d\u0022\u003EHon Maggie Barry\u003C/span\u003E: Make sense, then. Try and make sense.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cda9783485e541fc82bd5da74c856fc2\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, no one could make sense to you, because you haven\u2019t got the intelligence or the background.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022312f6a91385248a68ad9503971bdc87a\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, don\u2019t bring me into it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b1f1af923a5454597fa5e7d3fc0292a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019ve had a grandfather killed in a road rage attack and several rapists, and Mr Woodhouse from 2014 never handled one case. So here you\u2019ve got the preparation of a case going before the Minister. It\u2019s part of how the decision was made and how it was erroneously made at the Minister\u2019s own confession. The reality of the matter is that he never ever saw any evidence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ebebb8a508648058fd51c8357e936a2\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: He never read the file.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f7c3f20a0b594f27a02d8f33ac55fb94\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Look, the file did not have it on it. That\u2019s what the Minister just said. [Interruption] No, the Minister said that nothing in the ministerial file had any reference with respect to going back to the Czech Republic. He did say it was a part of the court documentation which had not been prepared by the ministry officials. Those are the facts, so here comes the Minister\u2014and look, I was the Acting Prime Minister at the time who said that the Minister had rightly put caveats on his decision. He had put caveats on his decision, but the biggest caveat on this decision has always been that if you lie to New Zealand\u2019s officialdom in a passport or a residency case, then your long-term permission to be here is always open to question. The moment a discovery like that is made, the original decision to allow someone to stay can be rescinded. That\u2019s in our law. That\u2019s the betting matter that I want to put in front of the House today, and we are not going to be browbeaten out of putting the facts out there just because it doesn\u2019t suit somebody\u2019s ill-formed narrative.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223680190fcf054dd59d4af0107173ebc7\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: What about\u2014maybe he filled out the forms wrong like you do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f6e5b75db1ba4b1a81a1aacf09dbcd44\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Can I just say to that member that there is a court case coming up in November next year and we\u2019ll find out who\u2019s right or wrong. Mr Penk, you know so little about these matters. The best thing that member could do would be to hold his mouth shut, breathe through his nose for at least three more terms, and he might do something. Here and now, nobody knows what he\u2019s doing in the first place here. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003ENow back to my point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u0022acb986219d7e4f0c9437bfa6f35b9384\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022acb986219d7e4f0c9437bfa6f35b9384\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s it. I\u2019m sorry. The member\u2019s time has expired. Now, I have given plenty of warnings, but that is nothing to do with the topic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u00227e5cae313fff4320aac937a542fa1c6d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227e5cae313fff4320aac937a542fa1c6d\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I just say that you made a ruling at the beginning. You were asked to give some clarity as to how you were making it. You regard the parts of the debate which go to the very core of this decision-making as being irrelevant. I think that\u2019s a darned disgrace.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u00223d8ae877201144abbd508752d80c899d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223d8ae877201144abbd508752d80c899d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: And on that note, I\u2019ll ask the member to leave the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters withdrew from the Chamber. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022c2c6318f7d0a4c9b84a505f9a31d8822\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c2c6318f7d0a4c9b84a505f9a31d8822\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. A member speaking is entitled to respond to interjections. There have been a lot of interjections during this debate. In fact, the Minister was incredibly restrained in his contribution when he was faced with not just interjection but a barrage of abuse through his contribution, which was clearly a well-set-out and well-considered contribution to the debate. I think the Deputy Prime Minister was responding to interjections that were irrelevant, but the fact that the interjections were irrelevant\u2014he\u2019s still entitled to respond to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u00226688dc27455542af9835386c90e7dd91\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226688dc27455542af9835386c90e7dd91\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I accept that, and if he had merely just responded to them and moved on and if we hadn\u2019t had all that beforehand I would have been very tolerant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022 data-id=\u00227de07b84d1fa44cf9b442331e973fe8c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227de07b84d1fa44cf9b442331e973fe8c\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader\u2014National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I stand up and I don\u2019t do this lightly\u2014in fact, it\u2019s after some consideration\u2014but the Minister is not fit to be in his job due to the decision that has been made. I\u2019m sorry, but we have not seen the right judgment made, right from the very beginning. The fact is that the Minister had a file that came before him and had someone who had drug-dealt in New Zealand\u2014so had been drug dealing\u2014was currently in jail, and had proven fraudulent lies that they had told repeatedly at the most serious level, and this did not raise his radar even big enough for him to read the file.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247fd1766247244d7bd5348721c7fdd1a\u0022\u003EBrett Hudson\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, you wouldn\u2019t read it, would you!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dad9e799bd754f59ae879dd77450c4cc\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s actually deadly serious. So his judgment was such that with that file sitting in front of him, with a man currently in jail known for lying and fraudulent behaviour, and even the Parole Board had not actually given him parole because they were still so concerned that he was not ready to be released into the public\u2014the Minister\u2019s judgment at that point was to not even read the file. Within 45 minutes, that man\u2014that man being the Minister of Immigration\u2014had decided that this convict was good enough to get residency. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003ESo the decision itself, quite frankly, I\u2019m appalled at, and even he quite quickly then came to the conclusion that he\u2019d made the wrong call\u2014there\u2019s no two ways about it. But the fact that his judgment was so poor to not even read the file means, I\u2019m sorry, that he cannot stay in the role. It means that the public will not and do not trust the decisions that he is making in their best interests, and that is deadly serious and that is something that, actually, the public deserve more respect on. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003EWe saw an arrogance today, quite frankly, from the Minister of Immigration after barely nine months in the office that we usually expect from someone after nine years. And we see an arrogance that actually shushes another member down when they\u2019re a Minister standing in front of the Chair. And there is\u2014there is more expected from a Minister than there is from other members of Parliament. That\u2019s why, actually, Ministers are paid twice as much. It\u2019s why they\u2019re given so much responsibility. The fact that his judgment was so poor to not even read the file is absolutely incredible to us all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003EThe Prime Minister herself said we shouldn\u2019t judge the Government on how it\u2019s handled the affair so far; rather, how it fixes up the mess\u2014yeah? So the Prime Minister said we should not judge the Government on how it\u2019s handled this affair so far; rather how it fixes up the mess. There are no signs of this mess being fixed up. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003ESo what we have is a Minister who is standing here now subtly throwing the officials under the bus. So it\u2019s now more of the subtle throwing under\u2014that he\u2019s going to fix the system. The only system that was broken was that Minister\u2019s decision originally to grant residency to a fraudulent, lying, criminal drug dealer who was still in jail and did not even get parole. He should stand in this House and offer his resignation for having such poor judgment, or at least have the courage of his convictions to actually stand there and admit it. Instead, what we got was excuses, him going to \u201Cfix up\u201D the system. It\u2019s not the system that\u2019s broken, Minister; it is the Minister\u2019s judgment himself on allowing this person residency in this country. And quite frankly, we in the Opposition\u2014and I stand on behalf of so many of the public who cannot believe the decision that the Minister has made and that he was able to actually justify it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003ESo the Prime Minister\u2014remember in the early days\u2014told us to \u201Cread between the lines\u201D. Yeah, we were told to read between the lines. The most open and transparent Government didn\u2019t actually have the courage of their convictions of making these decisions\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002239439d139bb44b5698fea04cbaabb339\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I just remind the member to be careful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da88a5f224ae447caeb1c2276fcdbc83\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, yeah\u2014and I do mean it around the convictions. So he did not have the wherewithal to actually give the public the right information. But it\u2019s OK to now\u2014yeah, perfectly acceptable to read through the file and give bits of the file out now. That\u2019s OK! That\u2019s all right because it suits their narrative. However it did not suit their narrative a month or so ago when the decision was made, but it\u2019s perfectly acceptable now. Privacy doesn\u2019t matter. They can just put everything that they like out there about the file and read parts of it, even. A shame they didn\u2019t actually read it four weeks ago, but he\u2019s reading parts of the file out to us. I do find it ironic from the member who has spoken before me, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, that, actually, in his role at first he said he could not pass judgement on whether or not the right decision was made, then openly and publicly said he had read the file and he stood by the Minister\u2019s decision. Yay\u2014someone finally read the file! That\u2019s the good news about that. Again, we have a poor judgment as to whether or not residency actually should have been given, but we had the then Acting Prime Minister, Winston Peters, able to stand there and say that he had read the file and that he was very happy with the decision that had been made.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003ESo we see absolutely poor, ill-thought-out, and, actually, dangerous judgment, originally from the Minister, in allowing this person residency to potentially go out there and hurt our children again, and the Minister cannot stand in this House and say that he believed that he was of good character and good enough to get residency, when the Parole Board, just a matter of weeks earlier, had said that he was not actually of a character and standard to be allowed to be released back into the public. At least one group of people were obviously able to make the right decision\u2014a Minister was not able to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003EI\u2019m sorry, but I am going back to my original point: I find it absolutely incredible that a Minister could get a file in front of him that says \u201CHere is a fraudulent, drug-dealing person that\u2019s currently in jail.\u201D, and not think they had to read the file, and think it was acceptable to actually give them residency. So at the very least he has then grappled around nervously looking for a reason to correct the decision that he actually should have made originally\u2014to actually find a reason to deport him, to find a reason to not give him residency\u2014and he has scrambled, and those officials have scrambled, and in the end they\u2019ve done a good enough job, because everyone knew more than he did and everyone knew more than those officials did, it seems. I mean, others knew that he\u2019d been back to the Czech Republic, others knew that he was a risk, others were able to just kind of see that there was absolute danger and hear the cries of an ex-partner who sounded, from what I could hear in the media, extremely scared of him\u2014others knew all of that, but the people that were making the decisions, evidently, didn\u2019t feel that. And I find that appalling.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019m sorry, but to the Minister: your judgment has shown that the public can no longer have trust in the decisions that you\u2019re making. To the Minister I say that this is probably one of the most serious issues that I\u2019ve seen. The right thing to do is to step aside\u2014at the very least from that portfolio. I think it means that, actually, it\u2019s a standard that means you\u2019re not ready to actually be in Cabinet. It doesn\u2019t mean there\u2019s not a path back. You know, this place can do this, but this is about public safety, this is about a Minister\u2019s judgment that has been shown, at the very least, to be negligent and poor\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221dd812b9799a4e83b6c343342e574c7f\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Taup\u014D truck stop!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228b00f5e50e5245dd865a3215a04c1bb0\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014but is very, very dangerous when it comes to people\u2019s actual\u2014you can throw out your little personal insults to try and throw me off, Mr O\u2019Connor, but that won\u2019t do it. This is a Minister who has actually put public safety as a second thought, did not have the judgment, or his radar did not go off well enough, to read a file in its totality, has given residency to a man who never should have got it, has scrambled around, because the Prime Minister probably told him to, to find a reason to deport him. Officials have finally come up with one. We\u2019ve seen a decision that should have been made four weeks ago. We now have the real risk of going through the courts and more expense for the taxpayer when we need not be in this place. The right decision could have and should have been done and made weeks ago.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u00221fab49c522684efeb014b2df0c852c02\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221fab49c522684efeb014b2df0c852c02\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Just to go off the point that was just made: the Minister just stood in this House and took responsibility. He responded to new information and acted swiftly to rectify the situation. It has been acknowledged and accepted that public confidence has been shaken by these events, and there has been a commitment to being upfront and fixing this situation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u0022caf7dc3ec34d48ac960a1c608e47d096\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022caf7dc3ec34d48ac960a1c608e47d096\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E That 30-second contribution from the Greens shows the level of the rot, the level of incompetence, and the level of arrogance that exists in the coalition Government over this Sroubek matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s start by giving context. Just a year ago, parties opposite were saying that New Zealand needed to cut its immigration numbers\u2014the numbers that were given residency\u2014by 30,000 people, in respect of the Labour Party, and by the New Zealand First Party, by 60,000. They were going to be really tough on immigration. And let\u2019s be clear: the decision to grant someone residency of this country is a privilege, and it is one of the most important decisions that Ministers and Governments hold. Our issue is the incompetence of the Minister of Immigration, that dismissed the very real danger and the very integrity of our immigration system in granting New Zealand residency to Karel Sroubek.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI have served this country for a couple of years as immigration Minister. I have dealt with hundreds of cases. I acknowledge that Ministers sometimes have difficult cases to weigh up\u2014humanitarian considerations, family considerations\u2014but I don\u2019t think any member of this House would, with even just a scant review of this file, consider this anything other than a very straightforward case. I see children in the gallery. I think any child in New Zealand could have reflected very simply on this file and said, \u201CThis is a no-brainer. This is a no.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s just review Mr Sroubek\u2019s file. This is a man that lied when he came into New Zealand in 2003. This is a man who, in 2009, with Hell\u2019s Angels associates, was arrested for kidnapping and aggravated robbery. Does he sound like the sort of nice guy that we want to give the privilege of being a New Zealander? Then, in 2011, he is convicted for providing false information\u2014so the courts have decided that this man is dishonest. And then, in 2016, Mr Sroubek is convicted for importing 4.9 kilograms of ecstasy\u20144.9 kilograms is a very serious drug dealer. Did the Minister give, for a moment, consideration to the misery that that nearly five kilograms of drugs in the New Zealand market would have caused to hundreds and, potentially, thousands of families? The court considered it to be so serious that they sentenced him to five years and nine months of imprisonment, and that information was known to the Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ESo I say again: does this sound like the sort of nice person that we would like to grant New Zealand residency? And, just for the record, let\u2019s note that before he left for New Zealand, he had convictions in the Czech Republic for which he had been sentenced to more than four years of prison in that country. So I say I am yet to hear any explanation from the Minister or from the Government as to what planet Minister Lees-Galloway was on when he decided to grant this dishonest gang-affiliated drug dealer residency in our country. The only signal that that has sent is that this is a Government that is soft on crime, that is soft on drug dealers, and that is soft on maintaining the integrity of our immigration system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EBut it\u2019s worse than that. Let\u2019s just remind ourselves of the events that transpired. I remember picking up the Sunday Star-Times on 28 October and reading about this case. Actually, I immediately got on the phone to my colleagues Mark Mitchell and Michael Woodhouse and said, \u201CThis cannot be for real.\u201D And then, on the Tuesday, when my colleague Michael Woodhouse asked the question of the Minister, the Minister said these words: \u201CI have reviewed the file thoroughly.\u201D And do you know what I said to myself? Do you know what I said to myself? Thank goodness he\u2019s going to stand up in the House and state the bleeding obvious: \u201CI made a mistake and I\u2019m going to fix it.\u201D What did he say? He doubled down\u2014he had got this absolutely right. So when he stands in the House this afternoon in contrition, I\u2019d say what\u2019s changed over the four weeks when he stood in this House and not only defended the decision but attacked my colleagues who dared question whether, in fact, he had exercised proper judgment? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EBut it got worse than that. The part when I nearly choked on my Kornies was when I heard Winston Peters on the radio, defending granting residency to a convicted drug dealer who\u2019s locked up. Winston Peters for 30 years has characterised his career on being \u201CMr Tough on Immigration\u201D. Well, if \u201CMr Tough on Immigration\u201D, Winston Peters, thinks it\u2019s OK for convicted drug dealers, dishonest drug associates, and gang members to be granted residency, I know there will be\u2014and I know it\u2019s a diminishing number\u2014New Zealand First supporters around this country saying that the Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand has truly lost the plot. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThen we had Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The line that I enjoyed from the Prime Minister when this case blew publicly was, \u201COf course the Minister had got it right\u201D. Here we had every member of this House dropping their jaws at the decision, you had seen media all over the country saying that this decision was a doozy, but we had the Prime Minister giving appalling political judgment, as well as judgment for New Zealand, in defending this dumb and stupid decision from the Minister of Immigration. But here are the words from the Prime Minister that I enjoyed: \u201CNo, New Zealanders; no, Parliament\u2014you can\u2019t have the file. Read between the lines.\u201D Hang on a moment. This is the Prime Minister that has said this is going to be the most open, transparent Government ever. So when it\u2019s the most open, transparent Government ever, why can\u2019t it answer and why has it not answered, even to this day, the basic question as to why in the good Lord\u2019s name did Minister Iain Lees-Galloway ever sign residence for Mr Karel Sroubek?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThen we\u2019ve seen the ducking and diving. The first ducking and diving was attacking colleagues\u2014Mark Mitchell and Michael Woodhouse. How dare they ask questions about why this drug dealer had been granted New Zealand residence. Then the next stage was, \u201CLet\u2019s throw the immigration officials under the bus. It\u2019s all their fault.\u201D But hang on a moment. The Minister had not even read the file that was provided by the New Zealand Immigration Service, and, secondly, the file made it absolutely plain that this was a bad bugger which this House and this country would not want a bar of. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI want to join with colleagues and say that Iain Lees-Galloway must go. The reality is that him staying in the portfolio completely blows New Zealanders\u2019 confidence in our immigration system. All of us MPs deal with hundreds of cases of good people that want to come to this country, and his management of this file has completely damaged not just his reputation but the reputation of the Immigration Service and the reputation of this increasingly incompetent Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022 data-id=\u002267b5faf9e29a4bbea87d4420508ce813\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002267b5faf9e29a4bbea87d4420508ce813\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI (Associate Minister of Immigration):\u003C/span\u003E There is just one comment that the Hon Dick\u2014Nick Smith, sorry; apologies\u2014Nick Smith made at the beginning of his speech that I will agree with, and that is: if you have ever had the responsibility of the ministerial discretion for the immigration portfolio, you are tasked with some very difficult decisions. This, obviously, is one of them. That is all I agree with in the former Minister of Immigration\u2019s speech in total, because I do want to stand in support of my colleague and friend Iain Lees-Galloway for the change and the review in process which we must have as a result of this case, to ensure that the information that is in front of those who have ministerial discretion in the immigration sphere is right. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll tell you one thing, and the former Minister will agree with this too: you only make decisions on the information in front of you. I will agree with some of their comments that Iain Lees-Galloway said: if the Opposition want us to be making the foundation of making our ministerial discretions on Google and the front page of the Sunday Star-Times\u2014they would be up in arms. That is exactly what they are saying to us today. There has to be a process, and I think that it is the right thing that there is a review of the process that comes together to give us the information that we need to make sure we are making good decisions and informed decisions in and around immigration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI look around this House today, and I look at the members of Parliament in this House, and I can pretty much guarantee that nearly every one of them has asked me to make a decision of ministerial discretion. Every time they ask, their requests go through the same process that the Minister had to deal with for the Sroubek case, and Immigration New Zealand assesses those files and finds out information to the best of their ability. It\u2019s clear in this case that the process here did not give the Minister the information that he needed to make the decision that he has come to today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI would just hazard caution to the members across the Chamber, because their Ministers were in exactly the same position. I would like to reinforce the position and the point that the Deputy Prime Minister made before he departed the Chamber, and that is that at least we\u2019re taking responsibility for the hard decisions that are put before us. A former immigration Minister on that side of the House delegated nearly all of the very difficult cases in and around immigration with high-level crime to decision makers. The Minister did not even make them himself. So look at how the former Government dealt with these cases, washing their hands of the ministerial discretion responsibility. We are actually making the decisions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s an issue in the decision-making process, and that is with the information that is put in front of us. We can\u2019t make decisions based on incomplete information, and I would like to congratulate the Minister in noticing that point and making sure that there is a review in and around the information processes for those case notes. That process will change for every ministerial discretion request that comes from MPs in this House, and anyone else that asks for ministerial discretion outside of this House as well. So the process is going to change for each and every one of you now to make sure we\u2019ve got complete information. I think that is a good thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI\u2019d just like to go back to the very beginning. They are hard decisions, but we can only make wise and good decisions if the information in front of us is complete. As a result of this decision and this case, things are going to be reviewed to ensure those files are complete. That is the right thing to do. The process that is in place at the moment has not changed for over a decade. If we want to make sure that there is integrity in the system, as the Minister has said, we obviously need to have a review of the system to make sure the information that we have in front of us is complete so we can make solid decisions. I want to congratulate the Minister for doing that, because this has obviously been a test case for the process and the information gathering of Immigration New Zealand to make sure those who have ministerial discretion, like myself, can make good decisions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u0022fab6cc0548054269841c026be1227f74\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fab6cc0548054269841c026be1227f74\u0022\u003ENICOLA WILLIS (National):\u003C/span\u003E Today, we are told that the Minister of Immigration has apologised to the Prime Minister. He has apologised to the Prime Minister for the terrible decision of giving residency to a convicted drug smuggler. Well, he should apologise to New Zealand. He should apologise to New Zealand for his failure of judgment and care. He should apologise to New Zealand for putting their safety at risk, and he should apologise to New Zealand for likely costing us millions of dollars in legal fees down the line. But has he done that? Has the Minister of Immigration apologised to New Zealanders for this debacle? Has he even considered resigning? No, he has not. In fact, we have had the indignity of members opposite\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d444340f07b144298a938a39d442695d\u0022\u003EHon Kris Faafoi\u003C/span\u003E: Deputy to Mitchell\u2014Mark\u2019s deputy!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e113ff53fcbf4b7ea4de924943169eaf\u0022\u003ENICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014congratulating him\u2014congratulating him\u2014for his performance on this case, Minister Faafoi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EInstead, we have seen a disgraceful blame game being played: blame the process, blame the officials, blame the judge. Minister Iain Lees-Galloway made the decision. The failure is his. This is his responsibility. When Ministers are appointed, they are appointed to exercise the utmost care in making decisions on behalf of New Zealanders. They are appointed to positions of great responsibility because we trust them to exercise discretion and judgment on our behalf. So let us consider the judgment that was applied in this case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EWe have the case of a convicted criminal coming to New Zealand on a false passport. He engages in criminal activity. He is convicted and sentenced for five years for importing illegal drugs. His case ends him up in prison, and then it comes to Minister Lees-Galloway to consider his deportation. And what does Mr Lees-Galloway do when the case comes before him? Does he say \u201CThis one smells a bit off. This guy doesn\u2019t really seem like the kind of guy that New Zealanders would like amongst them.\u201D? No, no, no. What he does is he intervenes to overturn the deportation order and grants residency. He does it, he says, with careful consideration, in the words of the Prime Minister. Well, let me tell you what the Prime Minister thinks counts as careful consideration. He gave it 45 minutes. He did not read the file. He did not ask the right questions. He did not ask for more information. He said \u201CThis is a simple one\u201445 minutes. I\u2019ll get the letter out by 5 o\u2019clock tonight. Time for a drink.\u201D Well\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bc3397d6c2b243a7a493675b0e1dd250\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! No, it\u2019s inappropriate for the member to say that the honourable Minister is about to have a drink. OK?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226547cb3d50904983a2c5579cb66b7d3b\u0022\u003ENICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Assistant Speaker, I\u2019m sure it was a cup of tea, and I would not infer otherwise. Now, what he did was he leapt to judgment\u2014that\u2019s the challenge that I have\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265815a0e0c584582a8a1b33fc9290676\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: No. [Interruption] Order! I made a ruling. The member does not make a comment about it. She can carry on if she wants to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222977bde6d11d4b8aada0b3a7d7f898d0\u0022\u003ENICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: What he did was he leapt to judgment. He didn\u2019t have the judgment to see that this was a case that required more than 45 minutes\u2019 consideration. This was a case that required thorough examination on behalf of New Zealanders, and he did not do it. He had to weigh up the rights of a convicted criminal against the danger to the New Zealand public, and in weighing up those rights, who came up trumps? The convicted drug dealer came up trumps. That\u2019s who came up trumps with this Minister of Immigration. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EToday, we had the great revelation from the Minister that in future he\u2019ll take more time, he\u2019ll change his approach, he\u2019ll do it a little differently. Well, it is too little, too late. Trust and confidence in New Zealand\u2019s immigration system have been damaged. The reputation of good officials here in Wellington has been damaged. New Zealand\u2019s residency standards have been compromised. It took him 45 minutes to make the decision. It\u2019s taken a month to review. It will take years and years to undo the damage. And what are we told today in this House? We are told that it\u2019s simply a matter of fixing the process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EWell, you can\u2019t fix a Minister\u2019s judgment, and that is what is actually at fault today, because it does not matter how tight the process is, it does not matter how many steps there are in it, if a Minister can\u2019t smell a dog when one\u2019s right in front of him, then New Zealanders should not have to expect him to have a warrant. This is the Minister\u2019s failure. The Prime Minister should hold him accountable. Members opposite should be disgraced. New Zealand has been let down once again by the Labour-led Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022 data-id=\u0022d936e67a7d4f4878a9cbdbf78d48a3ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d936e67a7d4f4878a9cbdbf78d48a3ed\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E At 1 p.m. today, the Minister came to a decision and made that determination and made that announcement to the media and to the New Zealand public. At 3 p.m. today in this Chamber, the Minister walked through his considerations both at the time when he made his determination, the information that was available to him, and every single subsequent action that he took since he became aware that there was perhaps further information that he needed to turn his mind to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EI want to take up the comments that the deputy leader of the National Party made earlier. She focused on the fact that we have said that one of the benchmarks that we will hold ourselves to is not necessarily the errors but how we fix up the mess. Now, as the Minister said today in this Chamber, he accepts that there has been a dent in public confidence as a consequence of this determination. He acknowledged that. He accepted that. What he did was front, and he said in this House \u201CI will not run away from my responsibilities and my obligation.\u201D That there is a Minister who has worked hard to ensure that the safety and the best interests of New Zealanders are maintained. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ESo I think our colleague rose in this House during what has been, no doubt, a time of tribulation and took responsibility for the decisions that have been made, and he has made every single action since that time to ensure that the trust and confidence of the New Zealand public will be restored as a consequence. So he\u2019s committed to fixing the process\u2014fixing his processes and ensuring that that determination is the right one from this point on. So we conclude this debate\u2014what do I say at the end of an urgent debate? That\u2019s it\u2014thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EThe debate having concluded, the motion lapsed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00225071f96a1c80400b86af50bff81f296b\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d7be5821751a4f20864305c90ef519f2\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u00228af5cd0944bd4395b479ec085e309cd3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228af5cd0944bd4395b479ec085e309cd3\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (National\u2014Papakura):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the House take note of miscellaneous business. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EThank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. It\u2019s always a pleasure to rise in this general debate. Well, my goodness! What an interesting afternoon we\u2019ve had. We\u2019ve had a Minister come to the House and tell us all that he takes full responsibility for reading a file about a convicted drug dealer who was refused parole and who was associated with the Hell\u2019s Angels gangs\u2014he is someone who is clearly quite a dangerous person\u2014and he has taken full responsibility for not spending any more than 45 minutes reading the file and coming to a conclusion that he has now overturned.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EWell, 45 minutes. Gee, we\u2019ve spent more time on the debate than what that Minister spent on that file\u2014more time. We\u2019ve spent over an hour, and he now tells us he spent less than 45 minutes. Could have been 15, could have been 10\u2014who\u2019s to know? What we do know is that for some reason he granted Mr Sroubek, or whatever other name he\u2019s using these days, permanent residency, even though he hadn\u2019t even asked for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EAs an electorate MP, I, like many others, am constantly putting in requests for residency for people who are genuine but who have at some stage overstayed, or there\u2019s some other particular reason\u2014because of their age or whatever\u2014that they\u2019re not wanted by the Department of Immigration. These genuine people look askance and they ask us, \u201CWhat do we have to do?\u201D The best advice, obviously, is to become an international drug dealer, to be connected to the Hell\u2019s Angels, to get yourself imprisoned, and to find a soft touch like Iain Lees-Galloway. That\u2019s pretty much it, really, and I say that with all cynicism, because, frankly, that\u2019s pretty much it. I am appalled by that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EHaving said that, I\u2019m also appalled by the nonsense that is KiwiBuild\u2014the ridiculous situation where, in the Marfell suburb of New Plymouth, a community housing group wants to build houses and make them available at just over $300,000 to people on pretty low incomes so that they have a rent-to-buy scheme to help people to become homeowners themselves. I would have thought that\u2019s something we would all want to see. I\u2019ve seen these schemes operating elsewhere, and they do work. They take quite a lot of management. They take quite a lot of wraparound service, but they do work. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EInstead, what we\u2019re told is Housing New Zealand\u2019s rejected all of that. Instead, they want to have houses built for over $400,000 to sell them to middle-income earners or quite high-income earners for over $400,000. What has gone wrong here when a Government that says\u2014and it should be\u2014it\u2019s for the people, full of kindness and everything, rejects an opportunity for community housing to come in to help people to get their little stake of New Zealand that is theirs and that they can leave to their children? What is wrong?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EThen we have what\u2019s happening up North with the meningococcal outbreak\u2014and I say that because it\u2019s very hard to say, I have to say. Particularly even after just a glass of water, it\u2019s very hard to say. But what we do know: one of the things I can say that the National-led Government, in the last nine years, did really well was focusing on immunisations. I particularly remember the work that was done in the Counties Manukau district around immunisations, particularly for populations that were under-represented in immunisations at that stage. I well remember that we refused to have different target rates for different people. We decided that every population group should be treated the same and every population group should have the same target, which was around 100 percent. Then we published those targets and we published those results, and we ended up with almost all children\u2014some of the highest immunisation rates were with M\u0101ori and Pasifika children, who had previously been at the lowest end.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s what we need in Northland. We need a National-led Government again. We need to acknowledge the great work, for Dr Shane Reti, that he has been doing in bringing this issue to the House, and the total lack of commitment from the Government to those young people, those children and families, when they knew about this situation for months and they\u2019ve only now told the families what\u2019s happening and they\u2019re only now getting the vaccines in. We can give $10 million to Papua New Guinea for vaccinations\u2014and I do support that\u2014but how about we start at home? Northland would be a great place to start with vaccinations. And, by the way, let\u2019s tell people what\u2019s going on in their community. Instead of just telling the health professionals, tell the people who likely or possibly will become infected. Let\u2019s look after them first.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u0022eadc114a8dc1410b8f07ed0e3ef0e141\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eadc114a8dc1410b8f07ed0e3ef0e141\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E It is a good day to be in Government. Today is a very good day to be in Government. This is a Government focused firmly on fixing the mess that we have inherited around this country\u2019s longer-term problems: the housing crisis and the under-investment in our social sector and in health and education.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EI want to canvass a few things that I\u2019ve seen over the recess in the media, just to see what people out there are saying about the progress of the Government and what we have ahead of us. It is good news. I\u2019ve had a wonderful recess, with the opportunity to announce some of the Government\u2019s cornerstone investments in our health system\u2014in the buildings in our health system. Good news\u2014to repair, after a decade of under-investment in our health services.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll return to that during my speech, but first I want to dwell for a second on comments I read in a transcript from an economic commentator who said, \u201CI think we can all agree\u201D\u2014and this was this week\u2014\u201Cthere\u2019s serious momentum there\u201D\u2014there is serious, serious momentum there. This commentator was commenting on the New Zealand economy: \u201Cwhether it\u2019s the high employment, the low unemployment, the GDP\u201D\u2014it was serious momentum. That comment was repeated later in that interview. Then the commentator went on to say, \u201CFrankly, we\u2019re in a situation where almost anyone who wants a job today can get [one]\u201D. That praise for this economy, of course, was coming from that commentator that we all know in this House, Simon Bridges. On this side of the House we\u2019re all hoping, of course, that he can keep up some serious momentum himself so that he can lead that Opposition into the next election and the one after. That commentator singing the praises of the economy\u2014well, we agree with him on that. This is an economy with serious momentum. Simon Bridges is absolutely right on this point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EBut it\u2019s not just the economy where we\u2019ve got serious momentum. We\u2019re making huge progress in housing, in education, and in health. We\u2019re making a real difference to people\u2019s lives. We\u2019ve lifted the incomes of over 350,000 families with the Families Package, provided Best Start support in a child\u2019s early years, provided the winter energy payments for those on benefits or super, and increased the minimum wage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve got a strong focus on the economy because we want to see a shared prosperity. We want the economy to grow so we can share the benefits of the growth in our economy with all New Zealanders. We\u2019ll keep that focus, because we believe in the value of a strong economy and we have a plan for growing that strong economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EThat strong economic growth allows us to do things like fund the meningococcal W vaccine we announced this week\u201410,000 doses. This is a news announcement. No press release has been put out. It\u2019s delightful, in a general debate speech, to be able to make this kind of announcement: 10,000 doses are already in New Zealand. It\u2019s less than a month since it was decided that we actually had an outbreak in New Zealand by the expert panel. We\u2019ve got the doses in New Zealand, and, within a month, we will have injections in children\u2019s arms to immunise against this, in a situation where around the world there\u2019s a competition for this vaccine. The district health board (DHB), Pharmac, and the Ministry of Health have worked together to quickly bring this in to make sure we have a ready response, and we can afford to do that because we had serious momentum in our economy. We can move when we need to move. Simon Bridges is right: that serious momentum\u2019s there, and we are going to make sure New Zealanders get the healthcare they need.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EOn top of that, of course, in the past week I\u2019ve been able to announce more spending for Counties Manukau\u2014$80 million dollars\u2014to address the rot and mould in the walls that we inherited as a Government as a legacy of under-investment in maintenance in the DHBs. We\u2019ve also announced previously that we put $275 million into the Auckland DHB to address significant infrastructure challenges. We\u2019ve put money into the North Shore Hospital\u2014$200 million\u2014for elective surgery capacity. I could go on. We\u2019ve made loads of investments in our capital assets, and we can do that because of the serious momentum in the economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003EFinally, I want to cover off the fact that we saw an industrial settlement announced this week that will lift the wages of some of our lowest-paid workers. It is a real pleasure to see the new multi-employer collective agreement agreed between DHBs and E t\u016B will see many public hospital service workers get pay rises of up to 40 percent over the next three years. These are those who are paid the least but do some of the most important jobs in our hospitals. As Sam Jones from the E t\u016B put it, \u201CThis is a fantastic outcome for members who have struggled with costs rising faster than their low wages,\u201D and, \u201CIt\u2019ll be easier for people to pay the bills and feed their families properly [so] they\u2019re healthier and happier.\u201D Serious momentum in our economy\u2014it\u2019s a good day to be in Government. We\u2019re investing in New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u00229df752c04f6c488fbb97372535ed92a2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229df752c04f6c488fbb97372535ed92a2\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s an absolute pleasure and, actually, slightly unexpectedly that I rise to speak on behalf of New Zealand First. What a contrast we have seen in the two contributions to date. We saw, leading off for the Opposition, the Hon Judith Collins\u2014normally their strongest debater, their most enthusiastic, spirited advocate. What did we hear? Virtually nothing\u2014a dispirited, flat contribution in contrast to Dr Clark\u2019s enthusiasm and the message that he had to bring.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EIt all comes from the top, of course. Simon Bridges, as leader, is struggling. After $100,000, going around on the taxpayer dime introducing himself to New Zealanders, they just do not like him. They\u2019ve had another six months, and in every poll that comes out they like him less and less. The National Party are struggling badly. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EIn fact, in the latest Hamish Rutherford piece\u2014no ideas. No new taxes, I think, was the promise, but we\u2019ve heard that before, haven\u2019t we? We heard that from John Key, but, of course, then he went and raised GST\u2014a particularly regressive tax. He looked after the big end of town and threw the little guys under the bus. There were rises in tobacco taxes on a regular basis, as there was on the fuel excise taxes. There was a brightline test, which sounds suspiciously like a capital gains tax, but, apparently, it\u2019s not. But that was the extent of their imagination, and that\u2019s the extent of the new ideas that are coming forward from the National Party: that they won\u2019t raise any taxes. But we\u2019ve heard it all before in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThey also did things like stop the super fund contributions. That cost us something like about $20 billion in opportunity cost. Then they had the temerity to claim that they are good economic managers. They flogged off many of our State assets, often at fire-sale prices\u2014short-term thinking for long-term pain. They\u2019ve starved our public services. Our hospitals\u2014Dr Clark at Middlemore during the week, having to\u2014mould and sewerage in the walls. Absolutely third-world stuff. That is what under-investment did. The nurses, the teachers, and the police\u2014they\u2019re all lining up now because they know that they\u2019ve got a Government that will appreciate them and won\u2019t be screwing them into the ground, and we are looking to get fair and equitable outcomes for those valued public servants. The running down of our rail system and that core infrastructure\u2014we\u2019re out there at the moment, Matua Shane in the Manawat\u016B last week, investing again in our rail service. And we can, because we\u2019ve got a $5.5 billion record surplus that we\u2019ve just delivered, 3.9 percent unemployment, and an economy that grew at 1 per cent of GDP in the last quarter. So we have got this economy absolutely flowing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI see the Minister of Agriculture come in here, and what a great story we\u2019ve got to tell in agriculture at the minute as our exports are going gangbusters. And, of course, we\u2019ve got 17-year-low interest rates as well, so it\u2019s a great time to invest, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re seeing: businesses out there investing. We heard today that equipment sales are up nearly 8 percent, and that is businesses out there investing. That is real money. These are businesses investing in themselves, as opposed to the confidence surveys that the Opposition likes to throw up\u2014but all the real data points to this Government performing strongly in this economy, going very well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, we\u2019re back in the regions, and while Dr Clark is still here, kudos for the investment in the Buller hospital: $20 million. That was a facility that was in serious decline. Matua Shane and the Prime Minister will be on the West Coast tomorrow announcing a significant contribution from the Provincial Growth Fund to that West Coast region that, like so many other regions\u2014like Kiritapu\u2019s region on the East Coast\u2014have been neglected by successive Governments. In this Government, we\u2019re back out there in those regions with significant funds, investing alongside the local citizens, businesses, and civic leaders. So this Government has an absolutely fantastic story to tell. We look forward, I would say, judging by the polls, to telling it for a very long time into the future, and New Zealand First looks forward to being an absolutely core part of that team. And what a good team it\u2019s been.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EWe saw that Opposition was looking for us to fall apart over the employment relations stuff, and look how we pulled that together. We talked, took our differences, brought them together, and we came out of it with a great package, indicative of a great MMP Government. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u00227fd3536a5e1b4421a5926d1e4cc55c50\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227fd3536a5e1b4421a5926d1e4cc55c50\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: Before I take the next call, can I just remind the speakers to use members\u2019 full names. And, for the record, I\u2019m pretty sure \u201CMatua Shane\u201D means the Hon Shane Jones that the member was speaking of, just for the record. I call\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u0022a2e3280ffbc748338a5416f6482e34ae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a2e3280ffbc748338a5416f6482e34ae\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260240b47612044469ce0d9a7f8e9afbb\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: A point of order, Mark Patterson. I hope you\u2019re not going to relitigate my ruling.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bfb3cec9c0764d0dab8ba2fcbdf5b595\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I probably was. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022 data-id=\u0022a5c015df2fca4723a8c505264832adaa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a5c015df2fca4723a8c505264832adaa\u0022\u003EJAN LOGIE (Green):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te Mana Whakaw\u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou e Te Whare. Today is 125 years since the women of Aotearoa voted for the first time. In my contribution this afternoon, I\u2019d like to talk a little bit about that event and some of our history that I\u2019ve been learning over the last few years, and particularly this year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI grew up having this idea of a linear sense of history, moving forward towards more and more rights for women. But it\u2019s been over the last few years that, actually, I\u2019ve been learning that\u2019s not exactly true and that the history of suffrage in this country and women gaining the vote is not exactly a simple story, particularly for M\u0101ori women. So that\u2019s what I want to share in this contribution today, because I think it\u2019s important that we understand our history, and I want to acknowledge, for me as a P\u0101keh\u0101 woman, that I actually haven\u2019t understood our history properly in this area, and I think it\u2019s something worth sharing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI recently visited my local art gallery, P\u0101taka\u2014I live in Porirua\u2014and in there there\u2019s an amazing suffrage exhibition that I\u2019d encourage anyone in this area to go and visit. In the exhibition, the first three stories are of local women that were really active in the 1700s and the early 1800s, who were powerful M\u0101ori women leaders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI just want to share the story briefly of Waitohi, Te Rauparaha\u2019s sister, to put the suffrage debate into context today. So she was an important rangatira and trusted strategist and peacemaker of this area, invaluable to Ng\u0101ti Toa rangatira in those early 1800s. When a Waikato war party was seen on its way to attack Ng\u0101ti Toa, Waitohi recognised some of her relatives and pleaded with them for peace. Her words were heeded and the attackers returned. Waitohi journeyed south to Porirua with her brother Te Rauparaha to settle on K\u0101piti Island. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EIt was Waitohi who persuaded Ng\u0101ti Raukawa and other iwi kin to join Ng\u0101ti Toa there, settling on K\u0101piti. The leaders of those iwi noted that they came because Waitohi invited them; that if Te Rauparaha had called, they would not have come. This woman, she used her diplomacy and intelligence to apportion the land to these iwi who had arrived from the north. Such was her power that this was not about a vote that then invested power in other men to make decisions; this was a supreme leader over multiple peoples and countries, in effect, who was a M\u0101ori woman in power in the early 1800s. So for M\u0101ori women, gaining the vote in the late 1800s must really be put in the perspective of what had been taken from them in those intervening years, that the right to invest a man with the power to make decisions for all the people in this country was a pretty sad recompense, actually, for what was taken away.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI also want to finally acknowledge that today, while we celebrate that first vote for what it was, it was for mostly non-M\u0101ori women who cast their vote on this day, and most M\u0101ori women first got to cast their vote on 20 December, though it was split and it was decided that half-castes could vote on the general role on this day, but M\u0101ori who had no other lineage had to wait until 20 December. That was for M\u0101ori seats, and those votes weren\u2019t even private. They were in both languages, and this history\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022a2e773193c424cbcb056ff8f4ee9a0a4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a2e773193c424cbcb056ff8f4ee9a0a4\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\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=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u00223ecf12dc8167422d97452ce9a8ac033f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223ecf12dc8167422d97452ce9a8ac033f\u0022\u003EDr SHANE RETI (National\u2014Whangarei):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. Today, I\u2019m sad and angry for the meningitis outbreak in Northland. I\u2019ll be able to salve that sadness by doing everything I can and, hopefully, joining others from around the House to work with Northland District Health Board (DHB) to get a good outcome. Here and now I\u2019ll salve my anger by holding this Government to account.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EI want to start that by setting the framework of incompetence that feeds through, that is symptomatic of the management of this outbreak, with what we just heard from the Minister. He said, \u201CToday, Northlanders will be pleased that they will get meningitis vaccines in their arms.\u201D He also said the same in oral questions: \u201CVery shortly, Northlanders will be able to see the meningitis vaccine in their arms.\u201D Here\u2019s the problem: you don\u2019t give it in the arm for young children; you put it in the thigh. If the Minister had bothered to know his own immunisation schedule and read his own immunisation handbook, he would know that, in young children, you don\u2019t put it in the arm\u2014vastus lateralis. So, please, Minister, don\u2019t encourage vaccination for young children in the arms of Northlanders; you will make them more ill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003ENow, there\u2019s two parts I want to talk about. I want to talk about the missed response, and then I want to talk about the poor response. I contend that this outbreak was actually known many months ago\u2014at least 6 months ago, right back through to May\u2014and I\u2019d make that case on several grounds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EFirstly, looking at the ministry\u2019s own public health surveillance information shows us several things. First of all, in January this year, there were four cases of meningitis. That doubled a month later\u2014in February, 10 cases. It doubled again a month later\u2014in March 2018, 22 cases; in fact, two died in that month. In April, another 10 cases\u2014up to 29. And in May\u2014which is when I stopped looking, because that\u2019s when I believe the ministry knew\u2014there were 39 cases of meningitis on the ministry\u2019s own site; their information.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003ENow, initially, at the beginning of the year, it was general strains of meningitis. We\u2019re interested in meningococcal W. Well, in April the ministry was first flagging that 50 percent of their cases in April were actually meningococcal W, and the following month it was 100 percent. So way back in May, the Minister and the ministry knew that there was an outbreak for meningitis in Northland and in New Zealand. In fact, the first two deaths occurred at least as early as March.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EWe shouldn\u2019t be surprised then that the microbiologists from Northland DHB in May\u2014about the time, I believe, the ministry knew there was an outbreak\u2014also said to his staff, be it right or wrong, \u201CI\u2019m concerned. I suggest you vaccinate.\u201D Back in May, the Minister and the ministry knew\u2014or they didn\u2019t know, which is their fault\u2014there was information that there was an outbreak of meningitis in Northland. The Prime Minister agrees, from her statement yesterday when the question was raised, \u201CIf the microbiologist was advising staff, do you think the ministry should have done something?\u201D She said this: \u201Con the face of it, it should be a trigger to speak to the ministry about a public message.\u201D So there were others also saying the red flags were clear and something should have been done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EI think really the icing on the cake is the CEO from Northland DHB writing to his board members on Monday saying, \u201CWe have been strongly encouraging the Ministry of Health for some months\u201D\u2014not some weeks or a few hours; I picked up the phone yesterday\u2014\u201Cto approve this campaign as it\u2019s the only truly effective preventative measure for our population,\u201D. This ministry and this Minister had the information as far back in May that there was a meningococcal outbreak in Northland, that it was meningococcal W. They also know\u2014which is what we\u2019re not hearing\u2014the other areas that have some involvement. For example, we should have concerns for our neighbouring DHBs to Northland, particularly the South Auckland DHBs. I know how many of you per month developed meningitis in Counties Manukau, Waitemat\u0101, and Canterbury have also had cases. None of that is being discussed here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003ESo there are several things with the proposed solution. Minister, not all schools are going to get the vaccine. Which ones are going to be selected? Who\u2019s going to make it? Who\u2019s not going to make it? And what are we going to do for our people at risk\u2014particularly M\u0101ori and Pasifika\u2014in South Auckland? Do something, Minister. This needs to be a wider response.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u00222aec09c43b564c028f1020916d2110a9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222aec09c43b564c028f1020916d2110a9\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture):\u003C/span\u003E If ever there was a speech in this House that characterises the hypocrisy that this Government has had to sort out, it\u2019s that from a pious GP from the Opposition standing up and preaching to us about healthcare, when he sat on his hands and said nothing while his mates ran down the health system, took away houses from poor, young New Zealanders, from the infants, and ran down the system so that now, the Minister of Health is not only having to come in and fix up hospitals, but actually lay out some basic healthcare services.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s a great time for us to be in Government. We\u2019re prepared to take on the challenges left to us by the previous Government and the people that sat on their hands while they ran down the health system, the education system, the housing stock in this country, and even across the primary sectors.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s a survey been put out recently that said 68 per cent of sheep and beef farmers are very, very positive about the future for their sector. This is not a sector that\u2019s traditionally Labour, so they\u2019re not saying that because they support the Government. They have some concerns. In fact, 32 percent of them, obviously, have a serious problem. They think things are negative. Well, I\u2019d suggest that\u2019s about the right number, and the same number that end up going to National Party meetings in the rural sector. So if they stopped going to the National Party meetings, they might feel a little more cheery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EIn fact, as I go around the country\u2014and I had last week in Southland and I\u2019ve just been up to the Waikato\u2014I have to say that farmers are generally in a very positive frame of mind. Next year they will, hopefully, collectively produce about $43.8 billion of export revenue for this country. Thank you each and every one of you for that as farmers. We appreciate that. But there are some challenges\u2014and they\u2019ve said there\u2019s some uncertainty. Yes, there is. We live in a world of uncertainty, but what we have attempted to do as a Government is to give them some certainty. They don\u2019t like all of it. It\u2019s a new phenomenon for some. And we said, \u201CYes, we want clean water. We want clean rivers. We have an international obligation to meet our emissions target, and we\u2019re going to get on and do that, and we will help you with that.\u201D, unlike the previous Government that simply put its head in the sand and tried to kid its mates in agriculture that there was no need to change anything.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe reality is that our customers\u2014who appreciate the high-quality produce that most companies produce in this country\u2014want to know that we\u2019ve got the best systems in the world, and indeed, for the most part, we have. But, actually, we\u2019ve got to ensure that we\u2019re not dragged down by the lowest common denominator. The 25 farmers supplying Mataura Valley Milk are doing so on the basis that they don\u2019t supply palm kernel expeller to their cows, and that nutrition will go into the top end of the China market and others. The $100 million development at Darfield that Fonterra\u2019s put in to create cream cheese to go into the high-value markets in China\u2014they too have assurance systems that say \u201CWe\u2019ve got to produce this in the way that protects the environment, the way that looks after the animals, and the way that pays our staff properly.\u201D That\u2019s a new paradigm, and one that the National Government failed to implement and encourage and support their farmers to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EI have to say that yesterday at the KPMG - BNZ forum in Karapiro, farmers were asking about certainty, about where we\u2019re heading, and they were told that, actually, our customers demand the high standards, and they want to know what Government\u2019s doing. Well, we are doing a lot. We\u2019re going to roll out an extension system within the Ministry of Primary Industries. We\u2019re going to assist them with a planning process that means they can have a template and get on and do the things that they need to do to be able to continue to farm. The previous National Government let down their rural constituency. They misled them, and it\u2019s up to us, in an honest and upfront and forthright way, to say \u201CThis is what we need to do to continue to survive and make a profit, and we will get in there and help you.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EIn the rural sector, with the thanks to my colleagues across the three parties, we\u2019re getting out there in an honest way and helping them to a better future\u2014one that\u2019s more profitable; one that encourages more young people into agriculture, because under the previous National Government, we saw a rapid decline in the number of Kiwis interested in agriculture. That\u2019s not sustainable. It\u2019s not good for our country. We\u2019re going to change that, and we\u2019re getting out to work with farmers and the rural communities to make a better life for each and every one of them. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022 data-id=\u002281dbc4a08f144f41ba6a48bc2c282ef0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002281dbc4a08f144f41ba6a48bc2c282ef0\u0022\u003EJO HAYES (National):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m angry, I\u2019m gutted, I\u2019m in complete disbelief over the latest statistics around the meningococcal W outbreak in Northland\u201424 cases nationwide, or so they would like us to believe, but it\u2019s more than that, as my colleague Dr Shane Reti has outlined in his speech today. There have been six deaths, half of those in Northland\u2014and one in particular, our youngest, 7-year-old Alexis Albert\u2014so why didn\u2019t the Northland District Health Board (DHB) tell the rest of the Northland population about this outbreak when it sent an internal memo to its staff? Why didn\u2019t they say something? Why does it take the death of people, of a gorgeous little girl like Alexis Albert, to actually bring this disease to the head of everything that this Government is not doing for M\u0101ori?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EAlexis Albert had her whole life ahead of her. She had a beautiful life ahead of her. She was one of the lead people and won a number of athletic competition prizes. She had a beautiful life ahead of her, and it was cut short. It was cut short because those that have the knowledge, those that have the power, those that have access to the resources to have helped this little girl did not come forward early enough with the vaccination treatment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EIt is because of this\u2014and, I might add, for M\u0101ori health and also for Pasifika health under this Government\u2014we find M\u0101ori are always last on the list. We\u2019re at the bottom of cancer treatment, we\u2019re at the bottom of vaccinations; you name it, we\u2019re right at the bottom. And it takes a big-mouth, steely person like myself to actually stand up to such horrible and misinformed information that comes out of our DHBs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EWhen the Labour Government was last in power, my mother needed to have a hip operation. I went to the district health board and asked the district health board why she wasn\u2019t higher up on their list. Did you know, all the M\u0101ori patients that were supposed to have hip operations at this district health board weren\u2019t even on the list? So I had to fight to get her on the list to get that operation, and a number of her kaum\u0101tua friends missed out until she got it and then they came on the list. That was under the previous Labour-led Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EWhat is up with Dr Lance O\u2019Sullivan? Why is he so concerned? Why is he calling for a Minister for M\u0101ori Health? Why is he making moves to iwi, asking them for $5 million a head to set up the M\u0101ori unit? It\u2019s because he is so disillusioned with the way this Government is treating M\u0101ori families in this country. Education and health\u2014they are really key to our survival, and those are the two main areas in which this Government is letting M\u0101ori down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EI can tell you now, for each M\u0101ori life lost goes the richness of Aotearoa and the culture that we have here\u2014every M\u0101ori life that is lost because of the inability of this Government to actually service them. We have lost that culture. If international communities actually recognise and support M\u0101ori culture, then why doesn\u2019t this Government? Why doesn\u2019t it recognise the beauty and the richness that M\u0101ori bring?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003ENorthland has the largest M\u0101ori population in this country. The next one is the East Coast of the North Island, and third is Lakes District. So why hasn\u2019t there been more investment of health dollars from this Government in those areas to combat these diseases? Today might be the first day that women were able to vote in Aotearoa New Zealand, and yet our babies are dying. They are dying from diseases that if they had access to those medications they would be alive today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EAre M\u0101ori lives not worth saving? This is the question that I ask this Government. This is the question that I ask this Minister. This is the question that I lay on the floor in this House for everybody within the Government to respond to. Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022 data-id=\u0022164bad4aaeae428b8a97e129a4edbfef\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022164bad4aaeae428b8a97e129a4edbfef\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Well, the Opposition is having a hard day over there. They\u2019re having a hard time, and they are angry, and they are sad. They are trying to put it on this side of the House for being woeful and neglectful for X, Y, and Z, but I have to say that it is because of their own incompetence for nine long years of having absolute disregard for the people of communities like mine, Tai R\u0101whiti, where that fine member that just spoke prior, Jo Hayes, says she is proudly from. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EWell, Te Tai R\u0101whiti is the first place in the world to see the sun, but the sun didn\u2019t shine while the previous Government was in. But you know what they\u2019re saying out there on the streets in Gisborne? They are saying that they feel like there is a real sense of partnership. I heard that from a paid-up Tory party member. He came to me and he said, \u201CI had no idea that this is what true partnership\u201D\u2014and he\u2019s a real community leader up there in Gisborne\u2014\u201Cand absolute partnership feels like when a Government hears you and when they work alongside you.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EAs we can demonstrate, the $153 million announcement\u2014that came as a consequence of what we refer to as the \u201Ccoalition Bible\u201D, our coalition agreement. In that coalition agreement, what does it say? What did it do? It said that we will prioritise the regions through 3 billion bucks. The \u201CFirst Citizen of the Province\u201D, the Hon Shane Jones\u2014not to be known as \u201CMatua Shane\u201D but as the Hon Shane Jones\u2014is going out there and listening to people along this side of the House and that side of the House. The leaders in our communities\u2014they\u2019re feeling heard and they\u2019re feeling seen. So that takes us to our next point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s a real momentum. There\u2019s a momentum out there, guys. There\u2019s a momentum. You know how we know that? It\u2019s because it\u2019s not just our own that are saying that\u2014it ain\u2019t just our own; it\u2019s your fullas\u2019 guys. It\u2019s the old hashtag\u2014the right honourable Simon Bridges. Save Simon; he\u2019s a fantastic leader. I couldn\u2019t applaud him more, because his analysis is spot on. There is a real momentum that is coming from this side of the House and our Government\u2014kudos to him. So where is that momentum? That momentum, as I\u2019ve said, is being felt out there in the regions. When we came in, there was a -2.9 percent of the proportion of the total economic output for the regions. Right now, like I said, 3 billion bucks is being invested all throughout those places that didn\u2019t feel the sunshine. But where else is it being felt?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ENow, the member opposite me right now, she\u2019s a fantastic woman, Barbara Kuriger. She will know this, because she is a leader within her community out there in the regions. Now, she will know that in the primary sector, there is a real warmth and there is a momentum for what this side of the House is doing in the primary industries. Now, there was a commitment when we came in, and that was right in quite a tumultuous time. It was the seeds of an outbreak, a biosecurity outbreak, the causes of which we don\u2019t need to go into. But what there was was that for many families up and down this country, they were enduring an outbreak of M. bovis, and what did this side of the House have to do? Very, very quickly, it had to sit down alongside a lot of folks who didn\u2019t really believe that we were going to walk alongside them as communities, and we did just that\u2014leaders within the industries; we walked alongside families out there in the streets. You had the Prime Minister and you had Ministers out there meeting with families to ensure that we could come up with a regime that would ensure that we got through that M. bovis outbreak, and that was one of the most tumultuous things that we could\u2019ve come into straight away.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EWhat else have we been doing out there in the primary industries? Well, we\u2019ve launched the Sustainable Food \u0026amp; Fibre Futures programme. That has been received exceptionally well across both sides of the House, and I know that the member across the pathway, Barbara Kuriger, knows that as well. I mean, it\u2019s got to be said: probably the biggest achievement that we can say on this side of the House, when we\u2019re looking at economic growth in this year, when we\u2019re looking at a 3.7 percent unemployment rate, and we look at the kids that are going into new industries like forestry because we\u2019re planting 1 billion trees over the next decade\u2014and I think we\u2019re up to about 70 million or something like that. The tree-counter is on. The sun is shining and there is momentum on the streets. Hear, hear!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022 data-id=\u0022e8fec13294bd4c6c90de793e5f0a33b1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e8fec13294bd4c6c90de793e5f0a33b1\u0022\u003EMATT KING (National\u2014Northland):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I\u2019ll change it down a couple of pegs from the previous speaker, Kiritapu Allan.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EAs the Northland MP, I read in the news about the meningitis outbreak in Northland before the Government actually told us so. Actually, just out of interest, I had a survivor of meningitis in my office today\u2014this morning, actually: Horowhenua District councillor Victoria Kaye-Simmons. Now, she was lucky enough to be diagnosed early and receive treatment, but nationwide this year, we started off in January with four, then it went up to 10 in February, 22 in March, and we had two deaths. It got up to 29 in April and 39 in May. This is serious stuff.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EWe have children in Northland dying from preventable diseases, and the Northland District Health Board (DHB) asked the Ministry of Health about a vaccination programme. They pleaded with them months ago, and the Government only launched an urgent programme on Monday of this week, and they only ordered the vaccines two weeks ago, give or take. It\u2019s just not good enough\u2014not enough vaccines and only selected schools.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003ESo who wins and who loses in this process? We have three dead Northland kids. Take the teenage boy from Kerikeri\u2014I won\u2019t say his name, but he\u2019s widely known and loved in our community. He goes to the same school as my daughter, and he is the same age as my daughter, and he died a little over a month ago from this deadly disease. Now, this Government says it responded swiftly to this outbreak, but I don\u2019t think so. Sorry, but they haven\u2019t. I know that the DHB chief, Dr Nick Chamberlain said\u2014and I quote\u2014\u201CWe have been strongly encouraging the Ministry of Health for some months to approve this campaign as it\u2019s the only truly preventative measure for our population.\u201D The Ministry of Health apparently have been discussing with him for some months now. They only came up with a plan in late October, and only now are the wheels in motion. What does it take to get some action on this? This delay is totally unacceptable when we\u2019re talking about our children. It\u2019s going to cost our DHB close to a million dollars. Our budget is stretched in Northland; this needs to come directly from Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EThe Northland DHB have been warning since May, and you would think this would have stirred this Government into action. The DHB advised their own colleagues to get their children vaccinated. Surely\u2014surely\u2014this information should\u2019ve been made public, but the Government only warned us in Northland on 6 November. This is not OK. This Government claims to be the people\u2019s saviour. They claim to be the messiah from heaven, but they can\u2019t even get the basics right. They made big promises to the public prior to the election: 100,000 houses\u2014that ain\u2019t going to happen. One billion trees\u2014I hear that all the time. That\u2019s a laugh. Every child out of poverty\u2014well, let\u2019s start by saving their lives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EBut what about Northland\u2014what about Northland? We are at the bottom of the pile. Our stats are the poorest in the country, and if you don\u2019t believe me, come north and speak to our people. I do every day, and I hear it endlessly. Our children are paying the price. When our people call, this Government needs to answer our SOS. This Government talked a big game. They have talked a big game, and they continue to talk a big game, this Government. For every child\u2019s sake, they should deliver on what they promised. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u0022f6632ab8e6d4447db1a9e22e8db6722d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f6632ab8e6d4447db1a9e22e8db6722d\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR (Labour\u2014\u014Ch\u0101riu):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s a terrible thing when you wake in the morning and hope that everything\u2019s gone wrong because it\u2019s the only hope you have in your life. I heard a commentator, and I understood how close he is\u2014I\u2019m talking about Mr Michael Hosking\u2014to the National Party, because the Hon Mark Mitchell, in the previous debate, talked about speaking with him on air. He told him to do something, and he said in this House that he went and did it. That\u2019s how close he is. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EActually, Mr Hosking was speaking to a commentator, and he said that the headline had been \u201CStocks are down\u201D and there was some quite bad economic news, and the glee in his voice was\u2014\u201CThe rubber\u2019s hitting the road\u201D was the expression he used. This was good because it was bad news, but, unfortunately, the correspondent he had on said, \u201CActually, no. That\u2019s overseas news. The New Zealand news is good.\u201D, and he went through the corresponding bond prices, the stock prices, etc., for New Zealand. The gloom that entered Mr Hosking\u2019s voice by the end of the interview\u2014he\u2019d moved on. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EI had a conversation with a very rabid National Party supporter later that day, who actually said the same thing: \u201CI\u2019m waiting for everything to go bad just so I can prove how bad you are.\u201D This is what permeates, so it\u2019s a terrible thing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003ESo those opposite\u2014there are some good people over there, intelligent people, but it\u2019s a terrible place to be where you\u2019re hoping and you\u2019re looking and you say, \u201CAh! Petrol prices\u2014ha, ha! We\u2019ve got you there\u2014whoops! I think I paid $2.02 for a litre of petrol last week.\u201D, because what we do in New Zealand, that\u2019s nothing to do with it. Petrol prices are coming down, and that\u2019s taken away a lot of their debate. Oh, that\u2019s stymied. \u201COh, hold on, we\u2019ll move on to crime figures. They\u2019ll get\u2014oh no! Victimisation figures are down. We\u2019ll move on. There\u2019ll be something\u2014there\u2019ll be something we can find.\u201D, and then it goes through the doom and the gloom. The news just gets worse over there, because economic growth\u2014\u201COh, we\u2019ll get them on that. Oh no, economic growth figures are good: 3 percent, 3.5 percent. They\u2019re coming through. Interest rates stable.\u201D That\u2019s the Hon Amy Adams over there, every day. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EBut she\u2019s got one\u2014she\u2019s got one. Every day, it\u2019s \u201CBusiness confidence\u2014we\u2019ll get \u2019em on this.\u201D, and I see it over there. I\u2019m sitting quite high up the back, and I can look down on them. They say, \u201CBusiness confidence\u201D, because there\u2019s nothing else. There used to be other things written on the bit of paper, but all she\u2019s got \u201CBusiness confidence\u201D\u2014that\u2019s the only thing they\u2019ve got. Sad news\u2014sad news\u2014because the businessmen I know, now, are getting it. They\u2019re starting to understand that we\u2019re in good, and so even that one\u2014the last hope that they had over there\u2014is actually being taken away from them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EBut then there are always farmers. The old farmers\u2014farmers. They\u2019ll be gloomy. They hate Labour. They hate anything\u2014well, in most of those rural electorates, you could put an old goat up with a blue ribbon around it and they\u2019d vote for it. They\u2019ll be right. Bad news\u2014bad news for the Opposition, sorry. Business confidence: 68 percent of sheep and beef farmers said that they were confident about business in the future\u2014sorry. So that light at the end of the tunnel\u2014they thought the light at the end of the tunnel was going to be farmers and the rural sector, who were going to be on their side. No, the light at the end of the tunnel\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3c1cf6d894b49399852b7f29c3d6d8f\u0022\u003EMatt King\u003C/span\u003E: Stuart Nash, put us out of our misery, please! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022722496b88a13432a987bb20dd0e77810\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014sorry, Mr Matt King\u2014it\u2019s the train coming the other way. You haven\u2019t even got that one. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EBut, all levity aside, can I just start to have a look at\u2014when you just remember, many of the other side do represent electorates. But all this hope you have, all this dream you have, all this negativity, going around meetings, saying how bad and how terrible things are\u2014actually, you\u2019re talking about real people in your own electorates. They should get just a little more positive, because the things that we are doing\u2014KiwiBuild and all those things\u2014are going to be things that are going to be good for those in your electorates. So don\u2019t just listen to those few, those ones who pay for your elections, the ones who put in $14,999 and you get it back\u2014don\u2019t listen to them. Listen to the people actually out there who are benefiting from this, and the people that are benefiting from this are going to be in your electorate, as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003ESo don\u2019t wake up tomorrow morning gleefully hoping there\u2019s some bad news that we can throw here. Actually, think about your own people. Think about the people you actually represent out there, the vast majority of whom are actually doing very well under this coalition Government, like it or not. So just get on with it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EI mean, I know that it\u2019s lovely to wake up and think that everything\u2019s crashed, but it isn\u2019t going to happen, because what you\u2019ve got on this side of the House are people who are determined, firstly, to make sure we have a good economy. We understand that you need a good economy and we understand you need business on board, but we understand too that there is no such thing as trickle-down. Trickle-down is simply\u2014as I think someone a lot smarter than me said\u2014those with money urinating on those without money, and so we can\u2019t actually have it that way. It\u2019s only good Government policy that will allow many of yours and ours in our electorates to actually\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u002204d9b395e8614452a4ac6d9b485d02a4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002204d9b395e8614452a4ac6d9b485d02a4\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe)\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=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u0022fadb8bc306a34c2093ffebe109e027da\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fadb8bc306a34c2093ffebe109e027da\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E Well, with a contribution like that from the member for \u014Ch\u0101riu, it is clear that he is auditioning for a career in the drama world, because that was an appalling speech by the member for \u014Ch\u0101riu. But I\u2019m here because school is clearly out and it seems like everybody is on strike.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWe have had rolling strikes from people in the primary school industry. The secondary school teachers have announced that they\u2019re going to be going on strike later on next year. We\u2019ve had nurses go on strike, bus drivers, train workers, junior doctors, Ministry of Justice workers, St John Ambulance workers, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and IRD workers, anaesthetic technician workers, midwives. The police have wanted to strike but they can\u2019t, and now a court strike\u2014court staff want to strike. Have I missed anybody? I\u2019m sure I have, because under this Government, we\u2019ve got a lot more strikes than under the previous nine years of the National Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ENow, the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Iain Lees-Galloway, won\u2019t be up front on how many people have striked under this Government, but our estimates put it at anywhere up above 65,000, with far more to come under this Government and under the changes that they are proposing in the Employment Relations Amendment Bill. This bill is payback for Labour\u2019s union mates. It aims to grow union membership and strengthen union power\u2014everything for unions in this bill, but nothing for the workers of New Zealand. This bill does everything for the 17 percent of New Zealand workers that are part of a union, but nothing for the 83 percent of New Zealand workers that are not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First will sit here and say, \u201CWell, hang on a minute. We got some concessions from this bill and some concessions that are going to make this far better for businesses in New Zealand.\u201D The truth is they got diddly-squat. Let me run you through the changes that they got as part of the bill. Firstly, they\u2019ve got a small delay in the introduction, and they got a delay in the way union reps can access the workplace, and those changes just favour the unions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWhat else can I just run you through? We\u2019ve got some things that the New Zealand First Party has trumpeted\u2014for example, stuff that\u2019s around giving access to unions in the workplace for those on collective agreements, but we know that if you\u2019re on a collective agreement and if your employer is under a collective agreement, then of course the multi-employer collective agreement still applies to you and you cannot opt out of that. You\u2019ve got a lot of other cosmetic changes in this bill and, in summary, the New Zealand First Party got diddly-squat from their employment relations changes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWe fundamentally oppose the purpose of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill. We rank fifth in the world, according to the World Economic Forum, for labour market efficiency. We rank sixth in the world for the cooperation between labour and employment relations. Why mess with a good labour market system which has already produced fantastic results and results that this Government is trumpeting: 3.9 percent unemployment and high labour-force participation rates. Strengthening the aggressive, combative unions is not the answer. Unions do not represent the workers of New Zealand, with less than 17 percent signed up to unions, and that\u2019s down from 34 percent in 1991.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThese changes are going to hurt New Zealand businesses, they\u2019re going to destroy jobs, and they\u2019re going to harm our economy. We here in the National Party want a future where our labour market is flexible, where we give Kiwis the opportunity to work where they want, when they want, and how they want. We want an employment framework that is simple and worker-centric, not union-centric. We oppose the employment relations changes. Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022 data-id=\u0022ce438747604b4eb1ad0499d758d0af5f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ce438747604b4eb1ad0499d758d0af5f\u0022\u003EJO LUXTON (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. Well, I think, after that depressing speech, it\u2019s time for a bit of cheer. It is my pleasure to take a call in this general debate this afternoon for a number of reasons, but at the top of my list of reasons is the fact that this has been a tremendous year of relentless positivity, relentless compassion and kindness, and relentless hard work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EWhile we\u2019re a couple of days shy of 1 December, I thought this may be my only opportunity to talk more broadly in the spirit of Christmas. My contribution this afternoon I\u2019ve named \u201CTwelve Achievements of Christmas: The Auspicious Government Remix\u201D. So here goes. I\u2019ll try to get through as many days as I can in the time that I\u2019ve got, and I\u2019m really sorry to disappoint you, but I won\u2019t be singing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EOn the first day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis the first 18 KiwiBuild homes and a cute little citrus tree.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EOn the second day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis an extension of paid parental leave, 18 KiwiBuild homes, and a commitment to give children the best start in life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EOn the third day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis the guarantee of a healthy home, an extension of paid parental leave, the first KiwiBuild homes, and a commitment to making sure all rentals are warm, dry, and affordable. Why? Because every New Zealander deserves a healthy home to live in at Christmastime, let alone all year round.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EOn the fourth day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis first-year fees-free post-secondary school study, the guarantee of a healthy home, an extension of paid parental leave, the first KiwiBuild homes, and a commitment to making education more affordable and accessible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2f74a14dcce4ed9b8279ac29379744a\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: What happened on the fifth day?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225ec9cb4a8e124a9290fd40787b77db41\u0022\u003EJO LUXTON\u003C/span\u003E: But wait there\u2019s more, Mr Bishop. On the fifth day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis $3 billion of investment in the regions through the Provincial Growth Fund, first-year free study, the guarantee of a healthy home, an extension of paid parental leave, the first KiwiBuild homes, and a commitment to grow and support productivity in our regions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EOn the sixth day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis a restart of super fund contributions, a $3 billion investment in our regions from the Provincial Growth Fund, a year\u2019s fees-free study, the guarantee of a healthy home, an extension of paid parental leave, the first KiwiBuild homes, and a commitment to investing responsibly to enhance the long-term well-being of Kiwis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002291873a53ddb540c387de09d0ae1b4ac4\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: What happened on the seventh day?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cc61f9884de241229760b06da6aaf10c\u0022\u003EJO LUXTON\u003C/span\u003E: On the seventh day, Mr Bishop, our Government gave to Kiwis $1.5 billion to regenerate and revitalise Porirua, restart super fund contributions, $3 billion investment in the regions through the Provincial Growth Fund, first-year free study, the guarantee of a healthy home, an extension of paid parental leave, the first KiwiBuild homes, and a commitment to working alongside iwi and community to support healthier, safer, and connected communities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EOn the eighth day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis 3.9 percent unemployment, $1.5 billion to regenerate and revitalise Porirua, restarted super fund contributions, a $3 billion investment in the regions through the Provincial Growth Fund, first-year fees-free study, the guarantee of a healthy home, an extension of paid parental leave, the first KiwiBuild homes, and a commitment to supporting young people into education, employment, or training, particularly through programmes like our Mana in Mahi initiative.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EOn the ninth day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis an $80 million investment to fix one of our major hospitals, 3.9 percent unemployment, $1.5 billion to regenerate and revitalise Porirua, restarted super fund contributions, $3 billion investment into the regions through the Provincial Growth Fund, first-year free study, a guarantee of a healthy home, an extension of paid parental leave, the first KiwiBuild homes, and a commitment to improving access to high-quality health services and providing world-class facilities in our hospital.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EI think I\u2019m going to run out of days, unfortunately, because my time is just about up. I know you\u2019re really, really disappointed, but, you know, I can send it to you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EOn the twelfth day of Christmas, our Government gave to Kiwis a renewed sense of hope, aspiration, ambition, and an opportunity for them to realise their worth and to live out their vision, supported by a Government that governs from a place of integrity, compassion, and kindness.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022032d246607ea4149acff871dee435988\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022032d246607ea4149acff871dee435988\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am going to remind members about disorderly behaviour and especially disorderly behaviour for people who call people by their first names.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EThe debate having concluded, the motion lapsed.\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=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225976789516024acfaf5d570c7701a8f4\u0022\u003ETasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c43853c41d9f452db26f8c5ca94d4b2e\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u002259002842190641e8945a1e80299fa990\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002259002842190641e8945a1e80299fa990\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI firstly want to acknowledge MP Brett Hudson and the other Labour and National members of the Governance and Administration Committee for their work in hearing submissions on this bill, carefully considering it, and unanimously recommending its passage. I wish to also thank the work of Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and Department of Conservation (DOC) officials and those of the Clerk\u2019s Office in helping the committee with its deliberations. The committee received 137 submissions on the bill, and it was good of the select committee to travel to Richmond to directly hear from the people affected, both in Nelson City and the Tasman District.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThis bill is about facilitating the construction of the Waimea Community Dam by enabling the Tasman District Council to purchase 1.4 hectares of LINZ riverbed and to obtain an easement over 9.7 hectares of public conservation land in the Mount Richmond Forest Park. The evidence that was heard by the committee was compelling on the significant water problems in the Waimea River over minimum flows and water quality, and that the dam was the best solution. The position was advanced in submissions by both the Tasman and Nelson councils and supported by technical advice from Tonkin and Taylor, the Cawthron Institute, Landcare Research scientist Andrew Fenemor, and former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Morgan Williams.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EIt was actually unusual to hear Fish \u0026amp; Game supporting a water storage dam. The fact that we did not hear from a single water-quality scientist or river ecologist who disputed that this scheme was necessary and beneficial for the river is very telling. The submissions were equally powerful on the economic benefits of this dam to the Nelson-Tasman region. Too few people realise that secure water supplies are needed for major industries like wood processing. Nelson Pine Industries is one of Nelson\u2019s largest businesses and largest employers, where it processes over a million tonnes a year of logs at the biggest medium-density fibreboard plant anywhere in the world. It processes products into laminated veneer and is dependent on that water. We should not put those sorts of jobs and industries at risk. So too for crucial businesses like Waimea Nurseries, which is New Zealand\u2019s largest commercial nursery, employing over 200 people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ESome people may be unaware that the boysenberry capital of the world is Nelson, where over 30 percent of global production and over 60 percent of New Zealand\u2019s production occurs on the Waimea Plains. So too for apple growers, vineyards, hop growers, and many others who generate millions in exports who are totally dependent on a secure supply of water. The committee did hear from opponents to the dam, which were primarily focused on its $100 million cost and how that might be shared between Government, council, and landowners. It is true that the cost is a stretch, but the problem with those submitters opposed is that there was no alternative, or credible alternative, that was presented for fixing these longstanding problems in the Waimea River and on the plains.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe bill has been amended by the select committee in response to submissions from Fish \u0026amp; Game, Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, and the Walking Access Commission. Their issue was that we needed to maximise the opportunity to improve public access. This has been achieved as far as it is possible within the constraints of the scope of the bill, which is only able to deal with the land that\u2019s covered in the legislation. But I would add that as a consequence of the committee\u2019s work, a letter was provided by the Tasman District Council assuring Parliament that they would go to every effort to further extend public access.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe other substantial amendment in the bill is with respect to the date that construction of the dam must begin. My original bill set that down for 1 January 2020, but the committee, in response to submissions, decided to give the project\u2019s advances a more relaxed timetable of 1 January 2025. There have also been technical amendments to the bill, which I would describe as belts and braces, to ensure that Treaty settlements\u2019 first rights of refusal are honoured, and that if the dam does not proceed or if it is ever decommissioned in future, the land reverts to its original purpose. Now, in the changes that have been made around the rights of first refusal by the select committee, there is a process of consultation with the eight iwi in the Nelson region, and it is my intention to work with officials and with Government members to ensure that those provisions meet the belts and braces definition. What we want to ensure is that those rights of first refusal are not in any way compromised by this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ENow, the rhetoric of some\u2014particularly the Green Party\u2014would have New Zealanders believe that all dams are bad. This is as simplistic and wrong as those that say all dams are good. Well-designed dams in the right place are part of the solution of New Zealand\u2019s freshwater challenges. We need reminding that New Zealand has an abundance of a freshwater resource, that we only extract 2 per cent of the resource, and that our problems with shortages are in quite distinct areas and at particular times of the year. Storing some of the huge water flows from winter and releasing it in summer in cases like Waimea is a smart way in which to improve the environment and secure our economic well-being.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe most contentious issue about the dam, as I noted, is the cost. Some critics claim that the way the $100 million cost is being shared between landowners, ratepayers, and the Government is unfair. I wish to make four points on this. Firstly, it makes far more sense for water projects to be done together, rather than the council for its town water supply, the irrigators for the water that they need for their horticulture, and for that which is required to lift the minimum flows in the river. If each did their own thing, it would cost everybody a lot more. A figure I found interesting in the select committee process is that if the size of the dam was halved to a 13 million cubic metre project, the costs would actually only drop by 15 percent, reinforcing the economies of scale that are so common with water projects.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ESecondly, I know of no council water project that has been as generously funded by central government. I have worked hard to maximise the contribution, and I particularly want to acknowledge Crown Irrigation for the way that they have come to the party with funding. Thirdly, it is entirely appropriate that the public purse contributes towards the portion of water stored for enhancing minimum flows and the public-good elements, like improving fishing. Finally, I\u2019d say it\u2019s too simplistic, when you\u2019re working out the cost of these projects, to simplistically say how much each party gets of the water, because with water, as for electricity, security is everything. The law states that domestic water suppliers must always take priority over others, and that is why it is appropriate for the ratepayers and those householders that enjoy that security to make a contribution.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe last issue I want to make is around use of public conservation land. This Parliament needs to be pragmatic. We need to realise that when DOC was formed, an assortment of land was allocated to them, as much because nobody else wanted it rather than necessarily that it was the highest-value conservation land. If such a dam was being proposed in the Abel Tasman National Park or Fiordland or some other piece of our premium conservation land, I would take a very different view. Parliament does need to take a pragmatic response if it\u2019s going to be able to deal with issues of infrastructure for tourism, and if it\u2019s going to be able to deal with issues of water and sometimes transport issues around how that land is used.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EFinally, this bill is on a tight timetable. There are very significant financial contracts for tens of millions of dollars. It is my ambition to try and have this bill passed by Christmas and seek other members\u2019 support. Finally, can I thank Labour and New Zealand First members for their support for this bill. This is the best opportunity in a generation for the people of both Nelson and Tasman to be able to address these longstanding water issues on the Waimea Plains. I commend the bill to the House, and, again, I thank the select committee for their deliberation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022 data-id=\u00220f545995059a416dbb29dadaa77427f1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220f545995059a416dbb29dadaa77427f1\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH (Minister of Police):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. This is a pragmatic piece of legislation and we do support it, but we support it with one caveat, and Dr Smith has alluded to this; we just need absolute clarification before we\u2019re going to take it all the way through. That is that it will depend on ensuring that there is documentary evidence to demonstrate that the eight iwi affected by this bill will have formally endorsed it. Under the Treaty settlement, these eight iwi have been given the first right of refusal, as Dr Smith alluded to, on land covered within this bill. Therefore, the expectation from Labour members is that the sponsoring member of this bill and the Tasman District Council will provide evidence that formal endorsement has been received from the eight iwi boards. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EThe House needs to be assured that it is not creating a new grievance or potential breach of a Treaty settlement by supporting this bill. I\u2019m assuming\u2014I\u2019m hoping\u2014that this will be very easy for the honourable member to obtain and that he will present it to this House, because the honourable member did outline the fact that this needs to pass before Christmas. That is obviously up to the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5929302190c4a749f1f14628326b250\u0022\u003ERino Tirikatene\u003C/span\u003E: Iwis up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220650d4fa52f24f7a8efe78e97fe732a7\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: Iwis up? OK, well, that sounds good. My colleague Rino Tirikatene has said that that has come through, but we just need to see documentation, that\u2019s all. Not that we don\u2019t trust you, at all, but we just need to ensure, as the honourable member will be well aware, that this is actually signed and sealed and we\u2019re not going to end up in a position we don\u2019t want to be. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EA lot of our places and a lot of the really beautiful, sunny places around our country\u2014the rural places like Hawke\u2019s Bay, like Tasman\u2014grow fantastic wine, have brilliant tourism, the highest sunshine hours in the country, but also because of those variables we have industries that require a whole lot of water. In these regions, there are, basically, three things that we have absolutely no control over. One of them is the climate, the second one is commodity prices, and the third thing is exchange rates. Again, Nelson\u2019s very much like Napier. If the climate is right\u2014i.e. you get the right amount of rain, there\u2019s no frost\u2014if exchange rates are favourable and commodity prices are high, then the regions absolutely boom, and it\u2019s fantastic. It\u2019s happened in Hawke\u2019s Bay in the last couple years and it looks like it\u2019s going to happen again. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EBut the problem is, if you get those variables, if there\u2019s no alignment or if even one of them is out of sync, then it can have quite a significant effect on the domestic economy of the particular region. Now, if we can mitigate the risks around climate, then what we can at least do is mitigate the risk of a regional slump, because what happens is horticulture, you know, can\u2019t\u2014you get a drought and basic things don\u2019t grow. That\u2019s the bottom line. This is mitigating that risk and that\u2019s why we support it. The Waimea Plains is one of New Zealand\u2019s major horticulture areas highly dependent upon irrigation and, currently, freshwater resources, I understand, in the Waimea Plains are approximately 64 percent over-allocated. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EIt doesn\u2019t matter whether you get one or two or three years of sufficient rain; that is just not sustainable. It is just not sustainable. So if we can do something that is economic\u2014you know, we can\u2019t create a millstone around the neck of ratepayers\u2014and environmentally friendly, because, again, we can\u2019t end up building something that destroys the environment or has an adverse impact on the environment, and also creates jobs, then we should be looking to do this. I think this is one of those schemes that have great potential to tick all of those boxes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EWithout the dam, based on the potential cuts to water allocations, the productive, irrigable\u2014sorry, irrigatable land, I apologise\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002249fddeaf3b184627bfcea257278dff2f\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: Irrigatable or irritigable?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022106224309fae406597bc2ce57bc1cf12\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, it depends if it\u2019s Dr Smith or it\u2019s\u2014yeah. It\u2019s estimated to possibly reduce from 3,800 hectares down to 705 in a worst-case scenario. So we\u2019re talking about business as usual down to a significant drought, and if we believe climate change is real, and I absolutely do, and obviously Dr Smith does\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285fb7071356347c693c9af65b547279f\u0022\u003EHon Nathan Guy\u003C/span\u003E: What about Ruataniwha?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226c6c6228538470baeed07066f3bbea7\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: Do you want to talk about Ruataniwha? Am I allowed to address that, Mr Speaker?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022762d8611f1cd4e419b11a5da93cb4630\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, there was an interjection, but as long as the member doesn\u2019t take too long over it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266ffc9d05178468189f6656cee87d804\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: The member makes a good point. The thing about Ruataniwha is that there was no economic business case that said that this was going to be sustainable. There was no economic business case. If there had been an economic business case that said \u201CYes, this is going to create value, it\u2019s going to create jobs, and it\u2019s going to be good for the environment.\u201D, then we would have supported it. I was asking for this for five years and no one could give me a simple business case that said \u201CIf this is not going to create a massive debt that the ratepayers of Hawke\u2019s Bay are going to have trouble\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cc26dbc9503547d4b99b0d7d6b183904\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: OK. Now back to the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229afeac0f81944a9e916d51788e60abaa\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: OK. Now back to the bill. Dr Smith alluded to this as well. The Hon Shane Jones, the first\u2014whatever he calls himself\u2014member of the regions or whatever\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223932a9e42b384f1b88944065ed7eb99b\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Matua Shane.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277cc62baa0d345519f767acf1a66a25d\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: Matua Shane. We were after forestry. One of the things we know about forestry\u2014and you just have to go down to the wharf here in Wellington, let alone any wharf around the country\u2014is that there\u2019s a whole lot of logs heading across without a cent of value being added. I have visited Nelson Pine Industries probably three or four times, and it is an exemplar of how to take raw logs and add significant value. They employ over 200 people, even though it\u2019s a state-of-the-art mill. It is a fantastic piece of regional infrastructure, and it shows that you can do things incredibly well in the regions\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c9bea188b776407a8d9a34c174e1564b\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: If you do it properly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a50ceb6e582c4adeb5ef372cd6424da6\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: If you do it properly\u2014good point, Ruth Dyson. What they have said is that without the dam\u2014and, again, we\u2019re talking worst-case scenarios, but in this era of climate change and, certainly, inconsistent climate\u2014they face up to 100 days a year with insufficient water to operate. You don\u2019t have to dig very far or have a vivid imagination to understand the impact that would have on the region\u2019s economy, let alone a major piece of regional infrastructure, let alone on wood processing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EI do think that perhaps Dr Smith glossed over a little bit of some of the significant criticism that the select committee heard on this\u2014because there was criticism, and let\u2019s be open and honest about this. The criticism came from the fact that there were people who believed that the council had not adequately consulted. It\u2019s my experience that it doesn\u2019t matter what councils do, if someone is against a project or there is a group that are against a project, it is a very easy charge to throw out there that the council hasn\u2019t consulted. What I do understand, though, is that the council has said that they held over 200 public meetings and, let\u2019s be honest, there has been about 17 years of consultation on this. So there\u2019s been a lot of consultation. It\u2019s been through the wringer more than once\u2014in fact, as we know, the council actually voted this down. I think, on 28 August this year, they voted it down. There was such a hue and cry that the council thought \u201CWe\u2019d better take another look at this.\u201D They came up with another funding model and then it snuck through with a whisper.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EThe fact that it wasn\u2019t unanimous on the council\u2014in fact, they lost the initial motion on 28 August by one vote, and I think they won it by one vote when they re-voted. So there are a number of councils who, you would argue and you would hope, are incredibly engaged in this, who have got all the information in front of them and who have gone through all the modelling. There were still a number of councillors who had reservations to the point where they did not vote for this bill, but what we do know is that the select committee said they accepted the fact that there had been enough robust consultation to satisfy, in their minds, that it didn\u2019t need to go back any further. So that was good to hear.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EThe Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society was opposed to the bill because of concern over the precedent around the use of conservation land\u2014obviously, they had a big win at Ruataniwha. This does set a precedent, but I\u2019m not uncomfortable with that. The reason I\u2019m not uncomfortable with that is that we need to, where practicable, take a pragmatic approach to this\u2014i.e. if the conservation land is of significant value, then we don\u2019t want to give that away. There is no doubt about that. But where it\u2019s conservation land and it can be supplemented with other land or swapped, or where there is a pragmatic solution, then we should always look to find that common ground, especially when we\u2019re talking about a scheme that is going to enhance economic productivity and growth in the provinces. Of that there is no doubt, but I understand Forest \u0026amp; Bird\u2019s stance. They came in and said \u201CWe\u2019re not against this\u201D\u2014which was good of them\u2014\u201Cbut there\u2019s the principle behind this.\u201D They are a very principles-based organisation. The committee heard their view. The council heard their view and decided that, OK, this needs to move forward from that perspective.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003EThere were others, of course\u2014Fish \u0026amp; Game New Zealand. Dr Smith said that Fish \u0026amp; Game were for this. They did have concerns about access to the land\u2014and, again, I know that at Ruataniwha it was one of the major concerns as well\u2014is the public going to have access to land that, perhaps, they had access to beforehand? [Speaker yawns] Sorry, I hope I\u2019m not keeping you up, Mr Speaker!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e1c9588ccf54dc88e37f4ae4a002abb\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I think it\u2019s fair to say that the member\u2019s not very exciting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022049cdc91d4314247804a5b63463e51a1\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve spoken for 10 minutes on this. All I would like to say is that we are supporting this bill. It is a pragmatic bit of legislation. As mentioned, my fellow member Rino Tirikatene said that condition had been sorted. That\u2019s all good. Let\u2019s get this through and let\u2019s get Nelson humming.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022 data-id=\u0022f27300c7d5ef4153a77a628f79442495\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f27300c7d5ef4153a77a628f79442495\u0022\u003EHon NATHAN GUY (National\u2014\u014Ctaki):\u003C/span\u003E I hope that my contribution will excite you! This is a very exciting bill; it\u2019s well worth a read. I just want to follow up on some of the comments that Stuart Nash has made. It\u2019s ironic that he\u2019s so positive about this scheme when, right now, in his region, they\u2019re crying out because of a shortage of water. We know, on this side of the House, that in New Zealand we only collect and store about 2 or 3 percent of the rain that falls in this country. So water storage has got to be a way forward, but the politics about this particular issue are that the coalition Government doesn\u2019t support projects outside of this one. The reason they support this one is that it was already pretty much contracted and they couldn\u2019t weasel their way out of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EImportantly, I want to acknowledge Dr Nick Smith for supporting this local bill on behalf of his council and his community. The Waimea project has been around for 18 years. I want to acknowledge Julian Raine, Murray King, and other leaders in the community who have stuck with this project, because water storage projects take an incredibly long time until the first drop of water comes out of the pipes. The significant point about this project is that it pretty much touches all of the important aspects of water storage. It is not well understood.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EThe first one is the economic considerations, and those are real. This area in the Waimea Plains and around Nelson is pretty much the fruit bowl of the South Island. They produce apples, hops, and other berries. They generate about $400 million. But, of course, what happens in the summer is that there are significant water restrictions placed on them. This project will generate an extra $100 million for that region. The other important aspect is social. So this water from the Waimea dam will support those communities\u2014i.e. drinking water. The other aspect is environmental, and what was really telling is that any water scientist in New Zealand could come and submit on this project. You would expect the critics in New Zealand about water quality to line up in their droves and submit against this project. Not one water-quality scientist submitted in a negative way towards this project\u2014i.e. they came in and said, \u201CThis ticks all the environmental boxes.\u201D So that is a huge positive for this project.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ETwo other very important points: I acknowledge Crown Irrigation Investments, who have worked tirelessly with the council and the community to get this project across the line. They\u2019ve moved their terms of the contract\u2014it\u2019s about $35 million\u2014to get it across the line. I acknowledge those leaders in the community for staying with it right through to this point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EThe final comment I want to leave you with is David Parker\u2019s contribution on the first reading of this very important bill\u2014actually, Stuart Nash touched on it right now, and that is the land swap to do with the Department of Conservation (DOC). The Minister David Parker acknowledged in his first reading speech that the Parliament is going to have a look at these issues one day. Well, actually, they need to have a look at them now because to get water storage projects across the line, often it requires a land swap deal with DOC, and that process needs to be better than it currently is. We\u2019ve just heard from Stuart Nash, who said that there needs to be a pragmatic solution found and it needs to be based on common sense.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ESo with those comments, I support the bill. I acknowledge Dr Nick Smith for bringing it through, and it\u2019s been a good, robust select committee process. I look forward to the debate this afternoon. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022 data-id=\u002294adff1f720b4081b21c78844590b7fd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002294adff1f720b4081b21c78844590b7fd\u0022\u003EGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important bill for Nelson and for the Waimea Plains. I was lucky enough to be one of the members of the Governance and Administration Committee who travelled to Richmond to hear submissions for one full day from the community in terms of those that were going to directly benefit from this scheme and also those who were opposed. So I\u2019m thankful for that opportunity and for those of the community who took their time to come forward and give their views. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EOn the day, it was interesting to hear the background of this piece of legislation and the fact that there have been low water flows for some time in that river catchment, which is well known as being the fruit bowl of one of the main areas of Nelson, and has sustained, through those aquifers, many agricultural industries over decades and decades within Zealand. It is those aquifers that are, we are advised, under threat as a result of water depletion, and that provides a threat not just to residential households having a security of supply of fresh water but also a lot of those agricultural businesses which people rely upon for jobs and much of the community relies upon strongly over a long period of time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo this bill enables the construction of a dam that would enable that water to be built up and to replenish those aquifers. In fact, 13.4 million cubic metres of reservoir are located behind the dam, and that can be, in fact, released in a controlled manner during periods of high water demand and of low and natural river flows. It\u2019s intended to be able to, I guess, replenish the Waimea Plains over that time. It has been noted already today that the expert advice we received indicated that this was beneficial for the long term of that security of freshwater supply in that area. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EIn the transfer of land, it\u2019s interesting to note\u2014and my colleague Stuart Nash has already mentioned\u2014that there is an impact on iwi that still requires final confirmation. So the iwi affected within Te Tau Ihu are Ng\u0101ti K\u014Data, Ng\u0101ti Apa ki te R\u0101 T\u014D, Ng\u0101ti Kuia, Rangit\u0101ne o Wairau, Ng\u0101ti Toa Rangatira, Ng\u0101ti R\u0101rua, Ng\u0101ti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu, and Te \u0100tiawa o Te Waka-a-M\u0101ui. Those eight iwi need to have full written consent provided back to the Government to make sure that when you transfer land, as this piece of legislation provides to do, from Crown ownership, which has a right of first refusal, that can be triggered. So that land is being transferred to the Tasman District Council, and the right of first refusal will be transferred along with it to local government. So we need to be reassured that those eight iwi are comfortable with that transfer, and that that does not provide any side issues or any other concerns around Treaty rights in that space. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EIt was really interesting to sit in in Richmond during that day and hear the full range of submissions, and I would like to say that it was a pretty charged-up day. There were some pretty fired-up people there\u2014and the Hon Dr Nick Smith\u2019s nodding, because he actually took on a few difficult people who were not so happy with the bill on that day. I was surprised he was still smiling at the end of the day; there was some pretty rigorous opposition to the construction of the dam in that area. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo the main argument made in support of this bill was the fact that it sustained the strong agricultural base that has been operating within this area for a long period of time and that that would be addressing critical water shortages. That was seen by submitters as the best solution to provide security over the next 100 years and more in that area. The economic cost to the region of not proceeding with this scheme was also highlighted by a range of submitters, and the concern that many of those businesses\u2014orchards, apples\u2014would not be able to continue to thrive without that security of water supply. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EAlso a clear point that was made was ensuring that the needs of stakeholders in improving water quality would be reassured\u2014that by having the dam in place and replenishing those aquifers, it would ensure that there was a high quality of water. Another point made by, I think, Fish \u0026amp; Game, if I remember correctly, was that while this legislation provides to transfer conservation land, the Crown land, it is relatively small and of limited conservation value. One of the changes that was recommended and has been carried out is to ensure that there is access to the public. That was raised by submitters on that day, and we\u2019ve made sure that all possible actions are taken to ensure public access to that land. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EIt was interesting to hear from farmers who had been third and fourth generations who had continued to make a living on that land, and to hear their concerns that they wanted to make sure that their businesses would continue to thrive in the future. There were views from those who had businesses that there was adequate consultation carried out by the Tasman District Council, but that, funnily enough, was the main protest point of those who did not want this bill to proceed. There were deep concerns that the consultation process undertaken by the Tasman District Council was insufficient, and 67 submissions, in fact, raised concerns about that consultation process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EThere was very strong opposition to the fact that people did not want this dam to proceed, and I acknowledge those who took the time and were really passionate about this for the area, not wanting to see it proceed. A key component of that concern of not wanting the dam to proceed was opposition to the financial impact of the dam. So submitters note that in recent years the estimated cost of building has surged from $26 million to $102 million, and they are concerned that that will be borne by ratepayers who won\u2019t directly benefit from the construction of this dam. In the words of some, it was seen that those farmers on the land were benefiting from the ratepayers\u2019 contribution to a dam that they would not see a direct benefit from. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EThe Waimea scheme is for the benefit of urban and commercial water supply and will have economic and environmental benefits for the local community, particularly within the Tasman District Council area but also in the Nelson City Council area as well. We take the view that if the Tasman District Council wishes to proceed with this, and this is a local issue which has been voted on, it is for the local community to determine the best way forward. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo the Waimea scheme has been controversial\u2014that\u2019s well noted, and I saw that up close and personal on the day, especially as to that cost. But Labour\u2019s position has been that the future of the scheme is in local hands, with it being over to the Tasman District Council and other local interests to decide whether the scheme proceeds or not. This has been resolved by the Tasman District Council vote, and I note that two votes were taken: on 28 August 2018, councillors voted by a narrow margin to abandon the project over the ballooning price, but on 6 September 2018, councillors voted 9:5 in favour for the dam to proceed in light of the new funding model that had been reached after working with investors.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo the Government\u2019s financial support for the scheme is subject to normal contractual conditions being met and to financial close, as has already been noted, being reached by 15 December, and details need to be reached to work through this. So it will be interesting to see whether we can continue to get all the paperwork completed in time and the final requirements for this bill done in the final members\u2019 day of this sitting session. So without further ado, I wish all of the people in Tasman and the Nelson area all the best for the future with this exciting proposition. I think it holds great promise for jobs, for industry, and for those that have farmed the land for a long time. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022 data-id=\u0022169654d3d19b49ecafb114de07d758de\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022169654d3d19b49ecafb114de07d758de\u0022\u003EBRETT HUDSON (National):\u003C/span\u003E I rise in support of this Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill in its second reading. Actually, I\u2019d like to thank and congratulate fellow members on the Governance and Administration Committee for their very ready agreement to travel to Richmond to hear directly from local people their views on the bill. Most people, we are aware, are supportive of the scheme, but it also gave an opportunity for those that are less favourable to it to have their voices heard as well. We chose, as we have done several times, to not only hear submissions in the provinces but also to do so on a non-sitting day, and I\u2019d just like, by way of quick reference, to thank the Business Committee for on another occasion recognising the work that our committee is doing and permitting us to attend a hearing in another part of New Zealand on a sitting day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EI think this approach we have been taking really does open democracy up to New Zealanders right across the country, and where we have visited other places\u2014Richmond being the case in point here, but also Thames, Coromandel, and also Gore recently\u2014we\u2019ve been warmly welcomed, and it\u2019s been very clear from those submitters that they appreciate Parliament travelling to give them a local voice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EThis scheme is a very pragmatic and sensible scheme for the area. It\u2019s one that will provide security of supply for urban water users as well as, principally, horticulturalists in the area. As other members have said, it\u2019s a way to address possible risks of nature by ensuring that in times of need there is still plenty of water not only to produce, obviously for the local economy, from the land but also to make sure that urban users have the supply they need. Along the way, and along with that, it will also help improve the quality of the river. So it\u2019s a situation where in almost every respect, one would argue that everyone wins.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EIn fact, on a small but still related piece to that, the commitment the council has made to working to get public access to land around the dam and, indeed, access to that, also goes some way, or a very good way, to making sure that those that wish to use the conservation land and area around the proposed dam have freedom of access to enjoy nature and to recreate the way that they wish to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003ESo the process itself was hugely beneficial and enjoyable for the committee members. I trust\u2014I hope\u2014that those members of the public that chose to submit in Richmond also got something useful from the process. I\u2019m absolutely convinced that residents of Nelson and Tasman will definitely benefit from this dam when it is implemented and in action, and I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u0022e1fe61d8f9c64a36b878d6a5c0b63a67\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e1fe61d8f9c64a36b878d6a5c0b63a67\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E It is a pleasure to rise on behalf of New Zealand First for this Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill. I\u2019m much more enthusiastic than I may have appeared just previously when I missed my call, because this is, actually, a really sensible and constructive bill. It does allow that transfer of 1.35 hectares of Crown-owned riverbed and the approximately 10 hectares of Crown conservation stewardship land to be utilised for this Waimea dam, which will have significant benefits for rural and urban people in the Tasman district and Nelson City itself, both economic and environmental.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, it seeks to irrigate some 1,200 hectares of horticultural land, mainly. I believe there are about two dairy farms in that particular area. So I think the widespread concern around irrigation, as has been mentioned by previous speakers\u2014much of it a little bit overblown, but in this case, certainly, there is no particular environmental danger. In fact, the benefit to the health of the river through having this water storage and being able to keep the flows going through the often dry summer months will far outweigh any environmental impact that the dam may have from nutrient loss. Of course, there are very strict regional council rules around that stuff anyway, so it really is a win-win scenario.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI note that all the consents are in process. It does have the combined support of the Nelson City Council, Department of Conservation, Fish \u0026amp; Game, and Forest \u0026amp; Bird. It\u2019s good to hear from our colleague over here, Rino Tirikatene, that iwi are now on board. There was some debate, a little bit, about that, and hopefully that\u2019s the case, because there was just a shadow of doubt there that that was confirmed. But the Tasman District Council, of course, who have led this and have brought this forward, deserve some credit for pulling all those entities together, I guess.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, it hasn\u2019t been an easy political process. It did get the speed wobbles there in the first vote, and I think it was voted down. But, of course, they reconfigured the costs and the way that the costs would be covered, and a few days later they did reverse that decision. I note there is another vote, a final vote, coming up next week, I believe. So the ball will be, hopefully, after this, firmly back in the court of the Tasman District Council.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThis has been, I think, close to 20 years in the making, and the Government has contributed pretty strongly here\u2014$35 million in a concessionary loan and $7 million from a pool of money set aside for grants. The $35 million\u2014I just want to emphasise that. It is a loan. Often in these schemes they are considered to be handouts or subsidies to farmers. They are, in fact, not. They are a loan. They\u2019re essentially bridging finance to make sure the scheme can be built so it\u2019s fit for purpose and futureproofed\u2014not nickel and dime. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003ESo it\u2019s actually really good value for taxpayer money to be extending this loan, and, of course, the farmers will pay it back over time, because this is a multi-generational decision\u2014to go into investing in irrigation. The farmers themselves are actually often the very last people to benefit, because they take on vast quantities of debt that they have to pay off, often over a generation. Many of these farmers, I\u2019m sure, as mentioned in Ginny Andersen\u2019s contribution, will be multi-generational farmers who will be doing this for the next generation, not themselves. But the communities themselves, they\u2019d benefit straight away. The earth movers and the builders and the towns, they benefit instantly from this injection\u2014and significant injection\u2014of capital.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, this is the perfect time to invest. I think the Government bond as of this morning was sitting at about 2.67 percent. In fact, interestingly, the US Government bond sits at over 3 percent. So for the first time\u2014and probably almost unprecedented recently, no doubt because of the competence of this Government\u2014we actually see the New Zealand Government being able to borrow money at less than the US Government, which is an absolutely extraordinary circumstance. It is a great credit to us as a nation, our fiscal responsibility. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003ESo this is a good time to be doing long-term infrastructure investments like we\u2019re doing now. The $103 million, it does seem like a lot of money, but in 10, 15 years\u2019 time it will seem like peanuts, and the benefits will be flowing\u2014both economic and environmental\u2014from day one. So New Zealand First is actually a really big supporter of water storage. We have been proactive in that space and have been encouraging the Government to meet its commitments that we made in the coalition agreement, and we have done that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI would like to commend Mayor Kempthorne. I actually had the pleasure, as a hard-working South Island - based list MP\u2014I was actually in Nelson and Tasman during a recess, meeting with business leaders, the chambers of commerce, and Mayor Kempthorne out at the ports of Nelson, and, to a person, they were enthusiastic about this project. They saw the necessity of it to futureproof not only their horticultural production but also their town water supplies. Of course, this is a fast-growing region with great prospects, so that infrastructure and that water that the infrastructure needed to deliver is going to be absolutely critical for the Nelson and Tasman region to fulfil its potential.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, being a good New Zealand First member of Parliament, I wasn\u2019t just talking to the big end of town. I went to the ratepayers association meeting that night, and I did hear the other side of that debate. That\u2019s something that we should not take for granted: that, especially for those on low and fixed incomes, particularly pensioners, whilst we might see a rates increase of approximately $150 a week\u2014I think for some; $129 for others. I\u2019m not quite sure how it\u2019s delineated. I think it depends if you\u2019re in Tasman or Nelson, and I learnt that Centennial Avenue is quite a significant road, because it\u2019s like Northern and Southern Ireland on either side of that. That $150 a week\u2014sorry, a year\u2014at the top end, is $3 a week, and I think, even though we\u2019ve got to be very mindful of those low-income, fixed-income people, that $3 a week for a significant piece of infrastructure to futureproof your community is a very modest outcome in the grand scheme of things. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI would encourage the Tasman council to be brave. It is hard when your ratepayers are, many of them, on fixed incomes, struggling, but I think you\u2019ve got to look sometimes to the bigger picture.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, it fits in with the coalition\u2019s aims to lift that value in our primary exports, and the horticultural sector is one that is going extremely well. I think we\u2019re nearly at $6.5 billion worth of horticultural exports now. I actually didn\u2019t know that the Waimea Plains was the boysenberry capital of the world\u201430 percent of the world\u2019s boysenberries, which is really, really impressive, and 60 percent of New Zealand\u2019s boysenberries. So it shows we\u2019re a major player in that market, and Waimea Plains is the epicentre of that. Of course, that contributes to that $932 million that the Northington report showed would be the economic benefit from this scheme. If you look at that over 25 years, my calculation is that that\u2019s somewhere around $37 million dollars a year. If you look at the $103 million that it costs to set up the capital cost, and you\u2019re getting $30 million - odd a year of economic gains from that, that\u2019s a pretty significant return on investment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI\u2019d just like to conclude by commending, actually, the member Dr Smith for shepherding this bill forward and all the members at the Governance and Administration Committee that, obviously, travelled down to Richmond and heard the submissions. I think it\u2019s great that the Parliament can be behind this bill with a degree of confidence. We haven\u2019t had all the parties speaking, of course. The Green Party, hopefully, will see some merit in this bill, but, if not, hopefully, as a Parliament we\u2019ve got the numbers to pass this very sensible piece of legislation. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221508a7774fb74d07876fd8580ce2ac0a\u0022\u003EPaul Eagle\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Deputy Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dbb7218194ee4b79b185d86ad5e7cd95\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: That was very well observed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022 data-id=\u0022ebfaf5e4f7324328aa643c7723ed1764\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ebfaf5e4f7324328aa643c7723ed1764\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE (Labour\u2014Rongotai):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Oh yes, ever observant\u2014the \u201Ceagle\u201D eye that I have, Chief Whip. I haven\u2019t used that line before\u2014ha ha ha! Look, it is the second reading. We\u2019ve heard that from every other speaker here this evening. I want to acknowledge the Governance and Administration Committee\u2014a hard-working committee if not, probably, the best select committee. No one\u2019s listening\u2014that was a test of who\u2019s listening.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223fdd77f7ea5c4007a13937eaf0bc36ae\u0022\u003EMarama Davidson\u003C/span\u003E: Come on, Mr Eagle!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a99dff2f86db49dea2a7eee6d592f9cd\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, there we are\u2014there we are.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve got the deputy chair in front of me, and she\u2019s fairly feisty, and she keeps all the members, including those from the Government benches, honest and hard-working. That\u2019s Ginny Andersen, the list MP based in Hutt South.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003ECan I thank the local member, the Hon Dr Nick Smith. A local bill is important. These are things that are generally not put forward lightly. With my council background, I certainly remember local bills going through. In fact, I can only remember one, and that was for the Wellington town belt. So these are important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI want to just acknowledge the members of the committee who went down to Nelson and listened to the locals, really. This is the big dynamic when it comes to building big infrastructure at a local level: that, often, locals get nervous. The deputy chair of the committee said that there were some hungry hippies who certainly weren\u2019t too happy with what was going on, but that is expected. I think one of the things you learn in local government\u2014and I can see three colleagues across the House there who have been leaders in local government\u2014is that you do have to make the calls around the big infrastructure. This is core infrastructure too: water. I\u2019m not going to divert into water and the issues with that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI can well imagine\u2014there was so much competition to travel to Nelson to listen to these submissions that I missed out, but never mind. I do want to say that I can just imagine what some of the conflicts would be from the locals. Those are valid concerns. I think too often we try and play a wee game where we pit the corporates or business versus locals, and I think one of the keys to a good local authority is the ability to strike a compromise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI note that in some of the progress around Tasman District Council making a decision, the margins of voting have been narrow\u2014they\u2019ve been tight\u2014but, certainly, in early September they were able to vote 9-5. Look, you never get a full vote on these projects. You can imagine that those councillors who are more intimate with their communities or who live in the communities where people have expressed concern about this won\u2019t vote for it. But 9-5 is a good, decent vote that gives the level of reassurance, I think, that, yes, there\u2019s been some conflict around what people want but, overall, that new funding model that was presented and was reached with investors showed confidence. That\u2019s different to the 8-6. Another local councillor obviously looked at the detail, and that\u2019s good, and got the project\u2014positively voted for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI just want to note the economic and environmental benefits for the community. Previous speakers have certainly spoken about it, but water supply\u2014I heard the member for Nelson talking about the need for big business. Certainly, I think it was called Nelson\u2014the people make medium-density fibreboard (MDF)\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295acf21c9b0e4db0bb55fbf5b46585d2\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Nelson Pine.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223ca8aff6d6e497aa110ffd208eb7213\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: Nelson Pine\u2014there we are. Thank you. The member spoke about their need to ensure that there\u2019s a constant water supply. Look, when you break that down into simple economics, that\u2019s jobs. That\u2019s ensuring that they\u2019ve got the water supply to make the MDF to make sure that the people who work for Nelson Pine have a job\u2014that they are not laid off or not put into a holding pattern while they sort out core infrastructure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI can imagine too\u2014look, Nelson is the playground of the Wellingtonian, like Coromandel is, or once used to be, for Aucklanders, and from the Waikato it still is. So I know that that council, Thames-Coromandel District Council, had the same issue with their water infrastructure: just, really, an increasing demand on that core infrastructure supply.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EThey\u2019ve listed some growing urban communities here: Richmond, Nelson, Brightwater, and M\u0101pua. The comment there is they want to avoid water shortage. You don\u2019t need to remember back far to 2001, when they had the \u201CBig Dry\u201D. Certainly, this will stop that. This will ensure that the water supply will be consistent. And, look, sometimes we forget that it is Tasman but there\u2019s also Nelson, and one of the things I notice on visits down there is that there\u2019s more collaboration between Nelson City and Tasman District, and I think that\u2019s good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022721bc07646534291ace3ab1f3a615acb\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry to interrupt the member, but the time has come for me to leave the Chair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003ESitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022624533a2dc5845498e01bdd495b4ced9\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. Look, it\u2019s always a privilege to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002248c80292e563412aa0e0e45f23f18e16\u0022\u003EHon Meka Whaitiri\u003C/span\u003E: Make it a brilliant three minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002211f44d4dafd24a7c911d40d35ecf9676\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely. Look, there\u2019s just still so much to talk about. I don\u2019t want to recap but what I do want to say is that the one thing I will recap on is that this is a major decision for a local authority. I said it was about being bold, and, therefore, it would offend and you will get that. We saw what the voting record was like: 9-6. Later in the year, after getting a better deal or a new funding model, that was 9-5. I think that\u2019s important. They are the elected members of the district. They are taking a risk, but it is core infrastructure, and it\u2019s certainly a risk worth taking. I didn\u2019t want to divert into water, and I won\u2019t, but I will come back to that at a later speech and talk about the importance of getting core infrastructure like water in place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EOften it is the smaller district councils\u2014I said that they had a great relationship with Nelson City. I\u2019d hate to think that I was going to suggest they should amalgamate but I won\u2019t. But there\u2019s no\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c87aae4b205f4833b8a6b93e1156b9d8\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: I will.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d9a020d252d4f65be3ce05453e3f5e8\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: The local member for Nelson maybe\u2014that\u2019s for another day too. We had a former chair of the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Fran Wilde\u2014she was an expert at amalgamation; you might want to talk to her. But I digress.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222c5e886830ee43d6b596c3d53ea49456\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: She\u2019s a goody.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e0ab03001f542908842c8669d181401\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely. I do just want to acknowledge or echo the words of my colleagues and others who have said \u201CLook we do need to keep with the concerns of iwi.\u201D\u2014keep in mind, sorry. All keen, all for it. As the select committee has gone through and made the changes, I think the real issue here is just making sure that the iwi groups and Te Tau Ihu are aware of what those changes are, what they mean, and they can come back to the table confident. At the end of the day, this is a confidence arrangement where people are saying, \u201CLook, we are partnering. We\u2019ve got a council-controlled organisation in there.\u201D It\u2019s a big deal for the people of the Tasman district.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EThe member for Napier talked about having documentary evidence\u2014something in writing, really\u2014that and doing the old-fashioned face-to-face and making sure this deal gets across the line. It has been many years. I\u2019m sure someone will remind me how long it\u2019s been to get from someone first saying \u201CWe have a problem here, Houston.\u201D to now, where the deal is on the cusp of going ahead.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI\u2019m proud that the Labour Party is supportive. We are a party that is keen on infrastructure. We could talk about housing and a whole lot of other key infrastructure, too\u2014transport, for example. It\u2019s my pleasure to commend this bill, the Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme)\u2014what a mouthful\u2014Bill to the House. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022 data-id=\u0022a1a998cb32ed4005b8701b307f6d1110\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a1a998cb32ed4005b8701b307f6d1110\u0022\u003EMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E On behalf of the Green Party, we will not be supporting the Waimea water augmentation scheme bill. I want to acknowledge the merits that have been raised by other members of this House. We simply are a voice for the many locals that have opposed this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI wanted to pick up firstly on the fact that this is its second reading, so I went through the report back from the Governance and Administration Committee. I agree with other ratepayers and citizens who highlighted that it was quite difficult to get an accurate number of exactly how many submissions were opposed and how many were in support. There were, apparently, 137 written submissions, and the report from the committee went through groups and names of organisations who were in support. But I wasn\u2019t able to get any clear understanding of the weight in terms of the locals\u2014and I know some were opposed; I\u2019ve already heard that through some of the members\u2014who were opposed to this. I\u2019m not part of that committee; I wasn\u2019t able to get a clearer sense than that. So I agree with those submitters who went back and also read the report back from the committee and were concerned that they also couldn\u2019t find that clarity. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003ESo there are a number of reasons why we cannot be convinced to give our support to this bill. Yes, there are longstanding water issues in that region, but for the Green Party, we will always ask, \u201CWhat is the cause of the cause of the cause of the cause of those water issues?\u201D We will always want to go back to looking actually at sustainable water supply, water storage, allocation issues, and, actually, the core economic infrastructure that has led to some of the dilapidation of aqua tables and water tables in the first place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI think that\u2019s part of the admirable position that I\u2019m really proud to be able to take today\u2014actually wanting to look at what is truly, truly behind some of those longstanding water issues. We feel strongly\u2014and, again, I acknowledge the different characteristics and dynamics of this particular dam. Of course, everyone knows that the Greens have been clearly vocal and have it, actually, in our confidence and supply agreement that we generally oppose large-scale irrigation plans. So this will be no surprise to any member in the House. However, we\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002208be01c5af13451caa7b567f17c6b7b3\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Mr Eagle, could you resume your seat. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a7eeeeb21e7d4b669ada8152586b98ed\u0022\u003EMARAMA DAVIDSON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m just giving a really, really brilliant speech here, Mr Eagle. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI do acknowledge that certain dynamics of this particular augmentation scheme have been put on the floor tonight, about different reasons why this is particularly different for a large-scale and commercial irrigation scheme. So I am not even going to pretend that I haven\u2019t heard those reasons. However, there are still a number of valid concerns that we hold and that I\u2019m happy to stand here and represent on today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI did want to pick up on\u2014actually, I will say that I am pleased to see from the Tasman District Council in its submission and in the workings of this bill that the council will make a biodiversity easement, and that the council will make, as part of its resource consent, a condition for the dam around protecting diversity rights. I did want to raise that as one of the wider and longer-term concerns that the Greens absolutely will have as part of this augmentation scheme. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EJust recently, we had the UN Convention on Biological Diversity\u2014I think just last week, actually\u2014held in Egypt. That convention and that meeting of parties wants to see ambitious global targets in the next two years to protect the organisms that are vital for global food production, clean water, and the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. I wanted to raise that because with schemes like these, we need to be absolutely clear, without any doubt, that we are not going to continue to contribute to the ongoing loss of plant and animal diversity on Earth. A fundamental worldwide extinction crisis is happening and has been happening. Actually, there\u2019s less awareness of this, I believe, generally, than there is of climate change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000627\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EComing back to the bill, this is what I wanted to raise as one of our reasons for opposing. This extinction crisis is deepening every year, and we are severely impacted by it. In New Zealand, of course\u2014and I acknowledge the council\u2019s biodiversity investment\u2014we\u2019re losing our indigenous biodiversity at an alarming rate. I saw that the council will make these investments, and we will want to keep a check on this. We all want to keep an ongoing monitor of the types of resource consent conditions that the council are proposing they will make\u2014for example, the salvage, propagation, and establishment of at least three new populations of the nationally rare New Zealand shovel mint. These are the sorts of precautions that the Green Party will be keeping an absolute monitor on, and it goes to the core of some of our concerns with this scheme. I know that not many of the other members in the House have picked up on, particularly, the concern for biodiversity. So that was one of the main points that I wanted to raise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000628\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI acknowledge\u2014and I believe it was one of the original reasons why at first there was a No vote from the council\u2014the concerns about the funding model, and I also understand that because of those very concerns, the funding model was changed, but still, even with that change of the funding model, some locals and people of that region and community are still concerned with the share, the equitability, and the distribution, and who will be picking up the tabs. I acknowledge that over the long scheme of things, we can say it may not seem like a huge, huge amount for individual ratepayers, but I think people are also concerned at the council and ratepayer overall investment. So I acknowledge those concerns as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000629\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EOf course, there is the situation of using conservation land for commercial purposes, and we absolutely want to remain cautious, and very principally so, on that as an issue. I understand that this has been picked up for two reasons as being viable to push through that conservation land: because it is of lesser conservation value, and also because it\u2019s being seen as a pragmatic solution. I just want to make sure that we actually get that balance right\u2014that we actually truly understand the transformation of the economic model that we have operated on all around the country to date and whether or not we have got that right in this augmentation scheme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003ESo those were some of the main rationales for the Green Party\u2019s opposition to this bill, which I am very proud to put on the floor in this House tonight, and I\u2019m particularly picking on the fact that there was not a clear mandate and consensus from all of the local community, and that there was actually clear local opposition to this bill, and I stand absolutely to acknowledge that opposition and the reason that they raised their opposition. We understand that this bill will make its passage through the House because it\u2019s got the numbers, but we will be keeping check on all of the valid concerns that we are raising, particularly into the future of this development, including the financial monitoring of this budget\u2014whether it blows out or not\u2014and who ends up bearing the impact on that. Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u0022eaeec4782adb41de8901ffb93bb95f7d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000631\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eaeec4782adb41de8901ffb93bb95f7d\u0022\u003EMAUREEN PUGH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Assistant Speaker. I have great pleasure tonight in standing up and speaking in support of the Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill in its second reading. I have a great affection for this scheme, and I also share a little bit of ownership with it, because half of the lake is going to be in the electorate of West Coast - Tasman, and it\u2019s going to serve the people of the Tasman area extremely well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000632\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EI acknowledge the Governance and Administration Committee for the unanimous support of this bill. I think that was a great partnership and a significant step in making sure that this bill actually reaches its desired conclusion. I\u2019d just like to take up a couple of points that the previous speaker, Marama Davidson, made around the cause of the cause of the cause of the cause, and the reality is that the reason that we need this water augmentation scheme bill is because it doesn\u2019t rain all day every day, it rains at the wrong times of the year, and we need to capture the water that falls at the times of the year when there are not as many demands on that water. So in the Tasman and Nelson region\u2014very hot, dry summers with a fantastic horticultural sector there that needs the guarantee and the surety going forward that they\u2019re going to have water.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000633\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003ESo the cause of the need for this is purely because we need to ensure that there is security of the water supply. I can assure the former speaker too that there are going to be no shortcuts taken in the monitoring of this development and that the people who are engaged by the Tasman District Council to monitor biodiversity are experts in their field\u2014they\u2019re are highly qualified and we can trust them to do an open and transparent job of the monitoring of this scheme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000634\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EThe big winner of this bill is the river\u2014the Waimea River. We know that the issues that we have with water quality are when the river flows are extremely low, and so we have the algae build-up, we have the fish dying. This scheme is a fantastic support to that biodiversity and to ensure the river health. I\u2019d just like to quote from a submitter to the process\u2014the former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan Williams, who said, \u201CYou don\u2019t keep a river alive unless the water is flowing through it. With a dam, it allows you to keep the river flowing, keep the river alive, keep it healthy. And also keep the aquifers topped up. Rivers by definition, if they are going to stay healthy, they need to keep flowing\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000635\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EThat is what this bill is about. It is about ensuring that we can maintain river flows, but it is also about maintaining the economic biodiversity and the economic viability of established businesses in the Nelson and the Tasman area, and ensuring that those workers who have committed to their roles there and who have moved there to support those industries have a viable future. I have great pleasure in commending this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022 data-id=\u0022364ffef011f34e94bb3e9729c5dcb9d9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000636\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022364ffef011f34e94bb3e9729c5dcb9d9\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Assistant Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to take a call on the Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill. I\u2019d also like to pass on my thanks to Brett Hudson, who is the chair of the Governance and Administration Committee on which I sit. As a recent member of the committee, unfortunately I couldn\u2019t travel to Nelson with the committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000637\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d34390fa26b64a34828154f47f173ea5\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: We missed you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000638\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222575f534d2214776a057b94f3df09980\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: But it\u2019s important\u2014yeah. I\u2019m certainly there enough as well, as the Hon Dr Nick Smith knows, whose house is overlooked by my parent\u2019s house, but we won\u2019t give away geographic locations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000639\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EBack to the bill. So the key point here is that I believe we can have a clean environment and a strong economy. So this Government is certainly focused on improving the infrastructure that we have, and it can be a challenge at times for councils around infrastructure. Water infrastructure is particularly important because water is the lifeblood of any region. The Nelson region\u2014as people in this House who live there know only too well\u2014can be prone to drought. In 2001, there was an extreme drought in that area, and having a dam like this will help to mitigate the risk of droughts like that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000640\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESo some of the key points here that I\u2019d just like to highlight, and then I\u2019d like to touch on a couple of the submissions\u2014so the Waimea scheme is for the benefit of urban and commercial water supply. We\u2019ve heard a bit about the urban. In terms of commercial, a key point highlighted there is around horticulture. A couple of submissions came through around this area of horticulture which is absolutely vital for our economy\u2014both the local economy in the Tasman area in which I was born and the New Zealand economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000641\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESo let\u2019s have a look at Boysenberries New Zealand. Boysenberries New Zealand submitted on this bill, and I think they made some really good points here. They said they \u201Csupport the Bill in its entirety as this enables the Waimea Dam to be constructed and operated. The dam will provide surety of essential water to the community for its ongoing urban, commercial and industrial needs.\u201D Now, Boysenberries New Zealand rely upon water to run their services. They were formed in 1989 as a grower-owned co-operative and they sell approximately 60 percent of New Zealand\u2019s boysenberry crop, and they\u2019ve said quite specifically that this dam is absolutely vital for them to continue to run the excellent business that they run.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000642\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EAnother submission along the same lines was from Nelson Pine Industries Ltd. They mentioned that they are currently dependent on the Tasman District Council water supply to run their plant and that having this dam will give them the surety of operation. Another one is around Fresh Fruit Company of Nelson, who pretty much said the same thing: that the importance of having a secure water supply to these businesses cannot be overestimated. So I\u2019m very pleased that this Government\u2019s partnering with the Tasman District Council in order to provide leadership and to provide that surety of water supply for both urban and commercial users.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000643\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThe committee has recommended a couple of changes to the bill. One of them is around improved public access, and I think this is important because when a piece of infrastructure is owned by the public, like this dam will be, it\u2019s important that the public have access to it. The committee received a number of submissions seeking improved public access provisions, so the committee recommended changes of wording to the easement provisions in the bill over the areas of conservation, and to reverse the presumption in favour of public access, except in the interests of public safety. The committee also amended the date, and there were a couple of technical changes there as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000644\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EWe heard a lot of submissions, and I think it was fantastic that the committee travelled to Nelson, and it\u2019s wonderful to see that committees are doing more and more of that, getting around the country. I think this committee also went to Gore recently, which I had the pleasure of being involved in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000645\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a1722652d9841fb800da646c2ba3fff\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: Say it properly!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000646\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002243a095f265ee44e08a9c07eb4c06d974\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: No, I thought I did! There were 137 written submissions and 26 submitted orally. There were a few who were opposed to this, but by and large people understand the importance of having security of water supply, because if we have another drought, there are going to be huge issues in that area, and the surety is obviously important for both residential and commercial users. So in terms of progress, we absolutely support this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022 data-id=\u0022ce433cca41c9461db2c25aeba63ad161\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ce433cca41c9461db2c25aeba63ad161\u0022\u003EIAN McKELVIE (National\u2014Rangit\u012Bkei):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I obviously haven\u2019t taken any part in this discussion to date, and I just want to congratulate the Hon Nick Smith on bringing a bill to the House that really will, I guess, last\u2014well, outlast him, for sure, but the result of it will shore that district up for many years to come. I think that\u2019s a pretty significant thing to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000648\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EI want to comment on one or two other things with respect to water storage and related to this bill. I had the opportunity to drive up the valley and through to the West Coast a few months ago and just sort of observe what goes on in that part of New Zealand, and it\u2019s amazing, the amount of opportunity there is not just for agriculture, interestingly, or for food production but for recreation, to shore up the values of that river and to create an amenity and an area that that community will benefit from for many years to come.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000649\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EI also want to make a comment on the conservation land and the issue we have of using conservation land for what some in the House term \u201Ccommercial purposes\u201D. In fact, when you use conservation land for a thing like a dam, it\u2019s actually using conservation land for conservation purposes. You could easily argue that, because I think that the value of these types of projects goes way beyond the value that perhaps commercial businesses might get out of it and extend into the recreation and into the amenities of the area and become of huge value to the people that live in those areas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000650\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003ESo I think that it\u2019s a great project. It\u2019s a project that we should be replicating throughout New Zealand, and I think it\u2019s a sad thing that we\u2019re not. It did occur to me, and I was thinking about water storage, and when you look at the greatest water storage we\u2019ve got in New Zealand\u2014you can probably call Lake Taup\u014D that\u2014Lake Taup\u014D, of course, didn\u2019t require a resource consent to build it; it just needed a slight explosion, and, actually, that\u2019s how we got our biggest source of water in New Zealand. So I don\u2019t think it\u2019s any mystery, the fact that we should be looking at every opportunity we can to put propositions like this in place, and I think it should be a much easier process than it is. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EWhen you think of the length of time that this has taken Mayor Kempthorne and his team to put in place, it\u2019s pretty extraordinary that they would persevere for so long, but the result of that perseverance will be significant. I just hope that we can get this type of project operating in many other parts of New Zealand, and perhaps without the kind of grief that we\u2019ve had, certainly, in one or two of the larger water storage proposals of the last year or two.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000652\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003ESo I don\u2019t want to add any more to the discussion, other than to congratulate the Governance and Administration Committee, the community, and certainly the member who brought this bill to the House. I look forward to it getting through by Christmas, and I also look forward to the next time I drive up that valley\u2014and I think someone said earlier that it was the biggest boysenberry-producing part of New Zealand. I look forward to going up that way sometime when there are a few boysenberries for sale on the side of the road. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022954a08093901493eaac6dcbe1f4bff77\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022954a08093901493eaac6dcbe1f4bff77\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Assistant Speaker. I am delighted to add my contribution in support of this bill, the Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill. Yes, this is a very welcome bill. Can I acknowledge the member who brought this bill to the House, the Hon Dr Nick Smith, and all the other local members: Maureen Pugh, the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor, and, of course, yours truly\u2014myself\u2014who are local members. In fact, I can proudly say that the entire water storage lake of the Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme is in Te Tai Tonga, my electorate, so I too am very proud to stand in support of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000654\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ECan I acknowledge also the Governance and Administration Committee for the thorough work that they\u2019ve done, with assistance of officials, in doing some fine-tuning of the bill at select committee stage, and also being able to hear from the many submitters that took a keen interest in this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000655\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThis, as we have heard, is a long time coming. This project has been desperately needed in the Waimea district for many, many years, and, in particular, to support and assist the vibrant horticultural sector that is there. I\u2019ve heard many contributions tonight talking about the boysenberries that are produced through the take from the Waimea, and I can attest that they are truly wonderful boysenberries. They are absolutely enormous. If you ever get the chance to go there, they are enormous boysenberries, and they make a pretty nice boysenberry schnapps as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000656\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThere are a lot of businesses\u2014whether it\u2019s in the forests, the wood product processing sector, dairy interests, farms, and also, obviously, the horticultural sector\u2014that will greatly benefit from this scheme. Likewise, the Nelson city, as well, will also benefit\u2014Richmond, and the other parts of the Nelson city. So it\u2019s a long time coming.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000657\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s a very welcome project. Sure, there has been a lot of opposition from certain parts, but when you think that there have been over 200 public meetings on this project\u2014I think 200 public meetings is a pretty good thrashing of the issue. I want to acknowledge the Tasman District Council, led by His Worship Richard Kempthorne and his team of councillors, for being bold and for moving on, making sure that we can pass this legislation so we can get this project under way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000658\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EAs the member for Te Tai Tonga, I represent and am very proud to represent all of the M\u0101ori that reside in the district concerned but also those members of the great tribes of what we call Te Tau Ihu o te Waka a M\u0101ui\u2014the prow of the canoe, the waka a M\u0101ui. So I\u2019m very, very proud to represent all of those wonderful tribes of the north and their descendants that are on Te Tai Tonga roll, and I want to just highlight the point that, actually, there is only one specific iwi that actually has land interests which are directly affected by this scheme, and that iwi is Ng\u0101ti K\u014Data.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000659\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI was talking to Ng\u0101ti K\u014Data today\u2014their board members. They are absolutely 100 percent supportive of this scheme, and what\u2019s good for iwi, what\u2019s good for M\u0101ori, is actually good for the region and good for the country. So they are 100 percent supportive of this scheme, and the other iwi in Te Tau Ihu, whilst they might not have actual land interests which are impacted by the scheme, they are supportive as well. They have been supportive prior to the bill\u2019s introduction, and I am sure they will be extra supportive once they are able to fully take in the extra belt and braces, as Dr Nick Smith has mentioned, which gives those iwi which have rights of first refusal under their settlements in Te Tau Ihu\u2014those rights are preserved on the occurrence of this scheme being decommissioned.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000660\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ESo with the preservation of those rights, I am certain that there will be wholehearted iwi support. In fact, it did come through at the last Te Wai Pounamu Te Tau Ihu iwi leaders\u2019 meeting, and I\u2019m sure that is just a mere formality which needs to be followed up prior to the final readings of this bill. So Ng\u0101ti K\u014Data are absolutely behind this 100 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000661\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EInterestingly, there isn\u2019t actually too much historical M\u0101ori land in the Waimea\u2014that\u2019s another story I won\u2019t go into\u2014as opposed to the Motueka-Nelson reserves and the likes. But there actually isn\u2019t what you would call historical or traditional M\u0101ori lands, present day, in that area apart from Ng\u0101ti K\u014Data and their lands, which were former Crown forest licensed lands which they acquired under their settlement. So as far as Ng\u0101ti K\u014Data are concerned, they wholeheartedly support this. They are leasing their lands into the scheme, and they also have a board seat on the company which will be operating the scheme. So they are very excited as to what the future will hold for them and the benefits that will accrue to the region as a result of this storage and the Waimea scheme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000662\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ESo this is good for M\u0101ori and this is good for the local iwi. It does have the support of the iwi, and there are eight in the top of the South, right over from Rangit\u0101ne and Te \u0100tiawa, Ng\u0101ti Kuia, Ng\u0101ti R\u0101rua\u2014there\u2019s a lot of iwi right across the top of the South, so it\u2019s important that we do ensure that those that have the rights of first refusal are given due regard for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000663\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EOne interesting point that\u2019s just come to mind is that as the chair of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, we deal with a lot of Treaty settlements, and these rights of first refusal, which are usually granted over commercial property, only last for 175-odd years. So, in this instance, those rights will be held in abeyance, I guess, until the future possibility, which might eventuate hundreds of years, maybe, down the track, whereby the water scheme is decommissioned, in which case those rights are preserved. So I do acknowledge the officials and the select committee for incorporating that into the bill, and I think it shows the honour of the Crown in making sure that they do honour those rights of first refusal arrangements. So I commend the inclusion of that in the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000664\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EJust to conclude, yes, this is a wonderful piece of legislation. This scheme will have huge benefits for the region, whether that\u2019s economically but also the ecology of the river. Mrs Pugh was correct: this is all about the river\u2014the mauri of the river. By ensuring that we have this water storage and that we can get consistent flows, it\u2019s good for the river, good for the district, and good for the country. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022 data-id=\u00229f885d3ebbf94a38b41f72bb4268bd6e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000665\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229f885d3ebbf94a38b41f72bb4268bd6e\u0022\u003EDr JIAN YANG (National):\u003C/span\u003E I rise to make a brief contribution. First of all, I thank my colleague the Hon Dr Nick Smith for his contribution but, most importantly, he\u2019s one of the most experienced MPs and also most committed to his electorate, and he also has a PhD in civil engineering. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000666\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EThe purpose of this bill is to authorise access to the Crown land to enable the Waimea Community Dam to proceed, so this, according to Dr Smith, is a no-brainer. I did some research online, and my conclusion is, indeed, that this is a no-brainer. This project has been under discussion for decades. In 1979, a study was commissioned, and then there were also proposals for other small dams in the area and in the region before 1993, but it was the severe drought in Tasman in the year 2000-01 that highlighted the magnitude of water shortage in the region. Ever since then, of course, there has been more discussion and debate, but eventually, the Waimea Community Dam was selected. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000667\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EThe dam has many benefits. First of all, it will improve the flow of the Waimea River, which means a healthy river ecology because of the normal flow of the river. It also means that this normal flow will ensure a steady supply of water for urban and rural needs. Economically, this dam is also very, very important, because horticulture is particularly important to New Zealand, and that region is really a base for horticulture in New Zealand. So it has national strategic importance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000668\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EIn terms of GDP, there is a figure here: the dam could increase the region\u2019s GDP by over $900 million over 25 years. So it is, indeed, a no-brainer. For that reason, I commend the bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u00220a970baf991e4ce18eec6bdc4b718dc3\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 Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 112\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 55; New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 8\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGreen Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.\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\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u0022e5268d4b5f144202a7744d436e322fa0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000669\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e5268d4b5f144202a7744d436e322fa0\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I just ask your indulgence for a moment around a practical issue associated with this bill. There are significant commercial contracts that expire on 15 December, and the House has only one members\u2019 day prior to the end of the year. My preference would be to seek leave for the committee stage and third reading to be set down for the next members\u2019 day, and so I seek leave to do so\u2014that is, to be clear, that the committee stage and third reading both be set down for the House\u2019s last members\u2019 sitting day on 12 December. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u0022cc26ac1a858b461eb157910d9d06528a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000670\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cc26ac1a858b461eb157910d9d06528a\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. We have that clear. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022 data-id=\u0022c0905488930b4eeb8861891e00ec4971\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000671\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c0905488930b4eeb8861891e00ec4971\u0022\u003EHon RUTH DYSON (Labour\u2014Port Hills):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019d just make a suggestion to Dr Smith that he put that through the Business Committee\u2014the normal practice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u0022be06eebd539c402cbb1d6c1c2d6f5dce\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000672\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022be06eebd539c402cbb1d6c1c2d6f5dce\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Assistant Speaker, I\u2019m happy to take that. I just did want to give members notice that we do have that practical difficulty, and if we could work together to find that solution that would be sincerely appreciated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000673\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022390ced5c55c34e92b48320b7eb6dbbf1\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: So can I clarify\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000674\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a404205a59849d89d26e79f2af6ba6f\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Can I clarify I will not put the leave today, but I\u2019ll give notice to the House that it would be my intention either to seek leave or seek approval of the Business Committee to be able to manage the issue in that way. Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u00223321901e1bd3498abd7ad0827292fc16\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000675\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223321901e1bd3498abd7ad0827292fc16\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s perfect. Thank you very much.\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=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227f9f56a0bc164e1daa967e071b7c7d8b\u0022\u003EConsumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000677\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00228e7f31699dba4938b606ffa445aaecbc\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022 data-id=\u0022e8daff5b7ea849d9aa4af50dd0bc69f4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000678\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e8daff5b7ea849d9aa4af50dd0bc69f4\u0022\u003EGARETH HUGHES (Green):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill be now read a third time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000679\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EKia ora, Madam Assistant Speaker. Ng\u0101 mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora. So I\u2019ve been a vegetarian my entire adult life, and this year I found myself in the odd situation of going through supermarket chillers, rifling through packs of bacon, looking at the labels. Looking at all of those labels, what I\u2019ve discovered is it\u2019s impossible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000680\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a26136dd69f4dac80c3c997d73d1b57\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, come back to our side. Come back to the good side.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000681\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e00941aba2ed49ffac0d82b57505e83f\u0022\u003EGARETH HUGHES\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s impossible. I\u2019m a committed vegetarian. No amount of bacon cooking will persuade me. But anyway, what I want for those people who do eat bacon is that when they look at the labels they can work out where that bacon comes from, because the fact is when you look at bacon or pork or a whole bunch of other products in New Zealand it says \u201CMade from local and imported ingredients.\u201D Given that 85 percent of New Zealand bacon is imported, 95 percent of that is from countries with terrible, much worse animal welfare standards, our consumers are none the wiser. And it\u2019s not just a problem with bacon; it\u2019s a problem with all of our foods. It\u2019s a problem with our food labelling laws, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re here to fix tonight. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000682\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, people care about where their food comes from for a variety of reasons. Maybe it\u2019s labour conditions; maybe it\u2019s for ethical reasons; maybe it\u2019s to avoid antibiotics, pesticides, or genetic engineering. No matter the reason, I believe consumers have the right to know where their food comes from. They don\u2019t even need a reason. Maybe they just want to know where their food comes from. The problem is you can\u2019t exercise your consumer power if you don\u2019t have the information provided. So 55 other countries around the world already have country-of-origin food labelling, including the US, the UK, and Canada. Australia has a comprehensive regime that even indicates the percentage of Australian-grown products within the food. Now, I would have preferred New Zealand to be the first country to introduce this, but we will be, hopefully, after tonight the 56th. We\u2019ve required country-of-origin labelling on footwear and clothing since 1992 but not for food. Opinion polls have shown Kiwi consumers overwhelmingly want to know where their food comes from. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000683\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, the Green Party\u2019s long been a champion for country-of-origin food labelling, and we have many of those champions in the House tonight. I want to acknowledge the longstanding advocacy of former Green MP Sue Kedgley and former Green MP Steffan Browning. These are two tireless champions for food safety, for food quality, for organics, for regenerative agriculture, and for animal welfare. It\u2019s taken 16 years, multiple MPs, two select committee hearings, a select committee inquiry, a massive petition of 36,000 people led by Sue Kedgley, but I guess you could say sometimes good things take time. I think you could also say Green Party members are sometimes out in front and we\u2019re ahead of the times. A lot of other groups have worked to get to this point, and I\u2019d like to really single out Consumer New Zealand, Horticulture New Zealand, New Zealand Pork, and many others. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000684\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EThe bill passed its first reading\u2014it was shepherded by Steffan Browning\u2014and it went to the Primary Production Committee. It then went through two tranches of submissions, and I\u2019d like to thank everyone. There were hundreds and hundreds of people and multiple groups who made a submission. I want to thank them. I want to thank the members of the select committee, including the chair, David Bennett, for their constructive engagement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000685\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EGoing through the submission and consideration process it was clear some amendment to the legislation was needed to make the bill more workable and to achieve cross-party support. For example, rather than the original stand-alone Act how it was drafted, it was amended so that food labelling could be achieved through the existing Fair Trading Act. This was to avoid the confusion of having multiple regimes and requirements spread across different Acts, but it also is quite useful in the sense that it gives an existing regime to include or exclude a penalties regime and a regulation-making regime. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000686\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, in the select committee we heard some legal red herrings raised by some large corporate submitters. They would say that the risk was that country-of-food origin labelling would somehow breach our international obligations, disregarding the fact that many of our international trading partners have this. Now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade came to the select committee and advised that it is possible to draft and propose the regime in such a way that it\u2019s consistent with our international obligations. At this point, can I thank the officials who advised the committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, personally, I think the trade concerns were less about the legality and more about a campaign from some food producers to try and persuade other countries to weaken their labelling laws. Can I respectfully suggest to Fonterra, Federated Farmers, and Beef and Lamb, a more profitable food future for New Zealand producers is embracing our New Zealandness, highlighting our national food story, because we\u2019ve got a fantastic story, rather than hoping to weaken other countries\u2019 labelling regimes to export bland commodities. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000688\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, the biggest question the committee faced was whether it would bring home the bacon and include bacon in the legislation after being disregarded. Given, as I said, 85 percent of our pork products come from overseas, 95 percent of that with terrible animal welfare standards, it\u2019s been odd for me as a vegetarian to be advocating for New Zealand Pork. It probably killed my vegetarian street-cred that New Zealand Pork put a press release out saying they thanked me for my advocacy. But I genuinely believe that if Kiwi consumers want to avoid poor animal welfare standards\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000689\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022814822d60b234fdca0659a197b1ba0f3\u0022\u003EHon Stuart Nash\u003C/span\u003E: Just try it, man. Just try it. It\u2019s fantastic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000690\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226aff4c1e29a14e7398eee24b638c08c7\u0022\u003EGARETH HUGHES\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014they should be able to have the information\u2014ha, ha! I\u2019m sure it\u2019s fantastic. I know it\u2019s fantastic. It\u2019s not the taste. I\u2019m not eating it. I\u2019m grateful that the committee did listen to the advocacy of groups such as New Zealand Pork and the overwhelming majority of submitters, and bacon was included. I thank the National Party in particular for that inclusion. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000691\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EThe original bill covered all single-component foods and was amended by the Primary Production Committee to only include \u201Csingle-ingredient minimally processed foods\u201D. The rationale for this was the committee wanted a scheme that was simple to implement, with the least cost, and to avoid confusion around definition. That\u2019s why they proposed it be for fresh, frozen, unprocessed, minimally processed\u2014for example, minced, cut or filleted. In some respects the bill was improved. But I believe by limiting the scope of foods covered it might disappoint some Kiwi consumers and confuse them about why some products are in and others aren\u2019t. For example, it means that dried, cured, and pickled foods are out; nuts, grains, and seeds are not explicitly in at this point. I think people out shopping will be wondering why tomatoes are in but canned tomatoes are out; fruits are in but nuts are out; a cucumber\u2019s in but a pickle\u2019s out. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000692\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EThe line had to be drawn somewhere and the committee drew it there, but I hope over time the list of foods can be expanded so we can get closer to the Australian comprehensive regime. But still this bill acts as a great first step, a flexible first step, and a foundation for which further foods can be added through regulations in the Fair Trading Act. The ball\u2019s now in the court of the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and he\u2019ll start the process of consulting on the regulations under section 27 of the Fair Trading Act to set an information disclosure standard for country of origin of food. I hope this can happen as soon as practicable, and the legislation directs that it has to happen within 18 months. I hope he can take an expansive as possible approach to which foods require labelling. I\u2019d like to also now take the opportunity to thank the Ministers Faafoi and O\u2019Connor for their very positive approach and engagement throughout this process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000693\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, the question for the country is what\u2019s next for food labelling? I hope we can take this as a first step and maybe start to have the conversation about palm oil, whether that should be labelled\u2014whether we should be modernising the dietary labelling information on labels. For fizzy drinks, why on earth don\u2019t we have the number of teaspoons of sugar which are in a bottle of fizzy drink? But that\u2019s for the future, and tonight this is about celebrating the passing of this legislation with the vast majority of support of Parliament\u2014fingers crossed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000694\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EThank you very much to everyone who\u2019s made this possible: Labour, New Zealand First, and National. Passing this bill is a very positive first step, and it does give consumers more information power. It aligns us with other countries. The cost is likely to be absolutely miniscule for consumers, given that labels are changed all the time. It\u2019s a great foundation for the Government to build on, and adding foods through the Fair Trading Act regulations means many more can be included. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000695\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EI want to make sure that when those Kiwi consumers\u2014if they\u2019re in the bacon chiller at the supermarket or anywhere looking at a label\u2014want to know where the food comes from, they\u2019ll be able to get that information. I want to make sure that Kiwis have consumer power. We\u2019ve got some of the best food in the world and such a great national story. We should be sharing it. Why on earth would we want to hide that away? Thank you very much to the parties for their support. Kia ora koutou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022 data-id=\u00220177a8bed3014cd7a5c90df3a22d274c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000696\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220177a8bed3014cd7a5c90df3a22d274c\u0022\u003EHon NATHAN GUY (National\u2014\u014Ctaki):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I want to acknowledge Gareth Hughes and his contribution in the House this evening. I also want to acknowledge Steffan Browning, who brought the bill in and got it past its first reading in\u2014when was that? That was way back in April 2017. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000697\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EFor us in the National Government at the time, that required quite a bit of soul-searching over whether we wanted to support the bill to the select committee. We did indeed vote for it in April to send it off to the select committee, and I remember at the time being briefed by Ian McKelvie, who was chair of the Primary Production Committee, and who was saying that this bill was pretty much a dog, the way it was originally drafted, and it needed a lot of resuscitation to get it to where it is today. About 400 people submitted on the original bill, and it wasn\u2019t until we got the officials in front of the select committee\u2014according to Mr McKelvie\u2014that they realised that this bill was indeed a problem because with the way it was designed, it was indeed towards a single Act. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000698\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ESo what happened then was the committee decided to, effectively, gut the bill, and that\u2019s covered in the bill. It talks about recommending that all provisions in the bill be deleted excluding the title, commencement, and purpose clauses. Indeed, the bill required a huge amount of panel beating, but\u2014to give some positivity to the debate this evening\u2014it was important that that did happen. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000699\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ESo then it got to the point of, effectively, being redrafted and put back out for further submissions, and we got almost another 400 submissions\u2014386. There were a lot of consumers concerned about it and wanting to know where their food does come from, and the focus on the bill that we are debating this evening\u2014and it looks likely that it will pass this evening\u2014is more on the Fair Trading Act. It gives the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs the ability to regulate to set these country-of-origin food regulations exactly under that Act. So the Minister, in time, could choose to set more food ingredients\u2014single ingredients\u2014through the regulations. At the moment, it is very focused on single ingredients that are fresh or frozen or, indeed, unprocessed, or minimally processed\u2014what I mean by that is cut, filleted, or minced. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000700\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ELike Gareth Hughes, I go to the supermarket and do quite a bit of shopping. Normally, I get given a list by my wife, and I spend a lot of time at the meat part of the supermarket\u2014unlike Gareth Hughes. Yes, I heard the comments of New Zealand Pork in the select committee, and I understand that, potentially, there\u2019s an advantage for New Zealand pork producers\u2014knowing that a huge amount of our pork comes from overseas countries\u2014so I get the fact that consumers want to know where their food comes from. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000701\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s a very important point: this bill is not about food safety; it\u2019s about the origin of food and where that particular food comes from around the world. We shouldn\u2019t cloud the fact that this bill is not focused on food safety, because New Zealand has world-leading food safety standards. They were strengthened when, indeed, we had the whey protein concentrate issue with Fonterra, which was a false alarm. So the food safety Act was strengthened as a result of that, and we should be proud of the fact that New Zealand produces premium food products that are exported to around 130 countries around the world. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000702\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ESo, in summary, we support the bill. It took a lot of work for the select committee to get comfort as to producing a bill that was simple and that was practical so that consumers know where their food comes from. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000703\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EThe final point that I want to make\u2014and Gareth Hughes touched on it\u2014is we were very focused on the fact that we didn\u2019t want this bill to be a non-tariff barrier\u2014in other words, a piece of regulation or law that could be used against us in international countries. We interrogated Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to give us some comfort that the regulations will be drafted in accordance with and that they meet our international obligations. So, with those particular comments, the National Party supports this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022 data-id=\u0022eddc0133d28b40219f7cd17ad5ce0eaf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000704\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eddc0133d28b40219f7cd17ad5ce0eaf\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Assistant Speaker. It\u2019s an absolute privilege and an honour to rise and stand in the House tonight to speak on this bill. It would be remiss if we didn\u2019t truly honour the whakapapa of this bill\u2014those stewards that have over many, many years advocated on behalf of consumers and on behalf of New Zealand produce for New Zealand\u2019s story to be told, so I pay my respects to and honour Sue Kedgley, who, I think, originally introduced this bill in 2007. It didn\u2019t get past the first post at that time, but then it was picked up again by the Green Party member Steffan Browning. Steffan Browning in the 51st Parliament got it a fair way along. It was intended as a stand-alone bill and then it was picked up by my good friend and fellow East Coastian\u2014it must be where all good things are from eh, Gareth, but the member\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000705\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc71172d909d493eaa2e6a0a989526ad\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000706\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b9fec6eb80f4d01bdd8bdf1e3e30f29\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014Gareth Hughes, the honourable member Gareth Hughes, from the mighty East Coast, Tai R\u0101whiti.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000707\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EBut to see the passion and the enthusiasm with which you picked up that task\u2014and it wasn\u2019t an easy task which you were required to do. Some say it might have been a little bit like herding cats to get to the end point. But I do want to acknowledge just the way that you respectively worked with all the various considerations and constituencies across this House to get this bill to land where it has. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000708\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EI want to also, too, acknowledge the advocacy of those in various industries: Eric Roy, New Zealand Pork. You know, it was at quite a late stage when cured meats came into the final product of this bill, and as we know\u2014actually, I didn\u2019t know at the time, until it was from strong advocacy from the likes of Eric and those within the industry that informed me that over 80 per cent of cured meats in New Zealand are imported. Now, I don\u2019t know if a whole heap of folk really know that. I know I personally didn\u2019t myself. So thank you for your advocacy on behalf of your industry to ensure that New Zealanders as consumers have the ability to identify and know where our good old Kiwi pork comes from.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000709\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EOne of the challenges, too, which we had substantive debate on over the course of this bill as it progressed through the various stages is that in New Zealand we have a very high expectation of our farmers and our agricultural sector with regards to our animal welfare standards, and we know that that contributes to \u201CBrand New Zealand\u201D and the way that we are portrayed and perceived around the world. Now, when those standards aren\u2019t required by competing countries and you\u2019re a New Zealand producer trying to produce a premium product but the consumer doesn\u2019t know that there are those competing tensions and wonders why there\u2019s one product that\u2019s a whole heap cheaper than the other, it\u2019s this bill that plays a significant role in ensuring that our farmers in New Zealand can maintain their competitive advantage at a domestic level. So to those within the industry, I commend you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EI also, too, want to acknowledge the likes of Mike Chapman from HortNZ. They too have been very vocal advocates on behalf of the horticultural industry. That\u2019s particularly for fruit and vegetables, but fruit and vegetables that are consumed that do have competitive tensions with imported produce. Again, they contributed very effectively over the passage of this bill as it has been through its various heads. I do want to acknowledge the comments of the Hon Nathan Guy\u2014the bill did require a little bit of panel beating, as I think he called it. Just to all the members on the Primary Production Committee over the period of that panel beating, but in particular to the officials who really came on board and, effectively, had to pull a bill out, completely amend it, and to the officials in the Hon Kris Faafoi\u2019s office, as well, where it was brought under the fair trading scheme\u2014I really just want to acknowledge the collaborative efforts of those various officials.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000711\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EWhen we turn to the substance of the bill, for the Labour Party, it\u2019s been our position for some time. It\u2019s been interesting talking to various constituents who have advocated for country-of-origin labelling for many years, and talking to some of my senior colleagues over the course of this bill as it\u2019s progressed through the House, understanding, again, the whakapapa, why things progressed and others didn\u2019t, at a particular time. I guess we have to acknowledge the competing interests across industry within the primary industries. I don\u2019t know if there\u2019s universal consensus for this type of labelling, but I do know that for some of the smaller industries where there is extreme competition with imported produce against domestic produce, this will have a very significant effect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000712\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EI want to pick up, too, on the comments made, probably across the House but in particular made well by the member Gareth Hughes, that, yes, cucumbers are in but pickles are out, and we had to draw the line at some point. I want to acknowledge, for example, frozen vegetables. I remember quite an interesting discussion in a select committee one day, and I don\u2019t think I\u2019d ever really turned my mind to the life length of frozen broccoli and the impact that it would have if we had a universal commencement date for all produce that this bill intended to collect. If you think about it, if you\u2019re a supermarket and you\u2019ve got a whole lot of, well, frozen broccoli or peas, it\u2019s going to take some time for that produce to sell. So there was, I guess, some sound reasoning as to why we extended out the time frames for the commencement date for frozen vegetables, for example, to come into the Act, and that\u2019s around about\u2014I think it\u2019s 18 months, off the top of my head.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000713\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EWe placed a significant emphasis, or recommended replacing\u2014[Bell rung] Oh, there we go. No, I\u2019m good. I thought I was getting sat down already. I was just getting into it. Sorry, where was I? When we were going through our discussions in the select committee, I guess one of the extant issues for us to really work through\u2014and I acknowledge again the advocacy of the various industry and the lobbyists that have discussed this point with us at some length\u2014for this bill to have full effect, there obviously needs to be the design of the regulatory system that goes around and supports giving effect to the substance of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000714\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EThe consumer information standard that would be created through the regulation is going to require the country or place of origin of a regulated food to be disclosed by referring to where it was grown, caught, or raised, rather than simply where it was packaged or processed. I think that that was a substantive point of discussion over the period of time. The regulations are also going to require that the commencement date be six months after the date of its notification\u2014that\u2019s for the fresh foods\u2014and 18 months after for the frozen foods.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000715\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ENow, the definition for regulated foods\u2014that caused a lot of discussion. I won\u2019t cover that off again; I think Gareth did that pretty well. But I think a really big concern for a lot of people was making sure that we could remain consistent with our international trade obligations. So the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade did advise us that this bill could be implemented without breaching any of our international trade obligations, and right now, given the current trading environment that we\u2019re operating in, and given the fact that we have things like the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which will have immeasurable impact\u2014anyway, it\u2019s been a pretty interesting journey\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u00227503693d34f045b1a351939613609a19\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000716\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227503693d34f045b1a351939613609a19\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: I apologise to the member, but your time has expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022 data-id=\u0022c0c7b4796cb74924bc30ea052061d605\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000717\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c0c7b4796cb74924bc30ea052061d605\u0022\u003EIAN McKELVIE (National\u2014Rangit\u012Bkei):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. If there\u2019s one sure thing in life, it\u2019s that you always get caught out in the end. I\u2019d spent a whole lot of time in the early days of this bill telling Steffan Browning what a wonderful bill he\u2019d designed and how great a job he\u2019d done of bringing it to the House, and I get stood up by the ex-Minister Nathan Guy and told it was a dog of a bill, and probably it was. Fortunately, the last speaker, Kiritapu Allan, backed me up to some extent, but I do apologise to Steffan for leading him astray if he\u2019s in the House, because it did take a little bit of getting into shape.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000718\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EI also want to acknowledge Gareth Hughes, who got this bill through the House after Steffan left. Like him, I have a bit of an interesting time with bacon too because, whilst I\u2019m not a vegetarian, I don\u2019t like shiny meat, and many will know the reasons for that: actually, shiny meat has got a whole lot of additives, so how can it be a pure product? It can\u2019t be. Anyway, that\u2019s a little beside the point as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000719\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EI just want to make a couple of comments on this, and one of them related, I think, to discussions that many people in this House have had in the course of the progress that we made with the geographical indicators bill, where this topic came up time after time. Interestingly, the chairman of New Zealand Pork is in the House as well tonight, and he would\u2019ve been part of that very same discussion\u2014so there\u2019s a lot of people in this House who have had a discussion on this issue. I think there was a will right throughout the House to try and make this sort of thing work, and so I want to congratulate the Primary Production Committee on getting to where they got to with it, really, because I think they\u2019ve done a great job of it. And I want to congratulate the House on getting to that point, too, during the discussion in the committee stage. So I think it\u2019s an excellently put together bill in the end.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000720\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EI also think that, when you look at the international market place, almost everywhere you go in the world now, you\u2019ll see country-of-origin labelling\u2014not used, as Nathan Guy said, to mean food safety or any better than anything else; but it\u2019s sold by country. You\u2019ll go to a supermarket in the United States, for example, and meat is sold by the country it comes from, not necessarily by how good or bad it is, but it\u2019s how it\u2019s labelled. And you see that in Singapore and right throughout Asia as well. So it\u2019s becoming very prevalent. And I also think that we\u2019re going to see this bill being the forerunner to many alterations to this in the future enhancing this type of labelling, and that\u2019s because consumers want to know about it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EThe last point I want to make, and it did relate to the geographical indicators bill, is that there was a lot of talk about the fact that this could be used as a trade barrier. There was never an intention for that to happen, and I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any danger of that happening, either. I think it\u2019s purely information, really. It gives people information about where their food comes from and that gives them comfort to continue down the path and use that. So that\u2019s pretty much all I want to contribute to the third reading of this bill. I congratulate all those who are associated with it. I think it\u2019s quite exciting that it\u2019s got through the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u0022eec87bbf169e465abfb9cdb2d8a00519\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000722\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eec87bbf169e465abfb9cdb2d8a00519\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. It\u2019s an absolute pleasure to rise on behalf of New Zealand First as we bring this Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill home in its third reading, and what a long time this gestation period has been.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI would like to acknowledge some of the early proponents of this bill\u2014Steffan Browning and Sue Kedgley and, of course, Gareth Hughes, who has done such a fine job shepherding it through this 52nd Parliament. Of course, New Zealand First have also been long-time proponents of this bill, and I think Richard Prosser spoke fairly decisively in favour of the bill at the first reading. It has been a longstanding position of New Zealand First. Of course, there\u2019s no point in being New Zealand First if you\u2019re not totally in favour of New Zealand products, so it\u2019s totally in our space. We like to see New Zealand products showcased to the absolute premium and maximum of their potential, and this is what this bill will allow consumers to know; New Zealand products are able to be showcased and consumers will know that they are getting the very best produce in the world.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000724\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s not only the quality of the food; it\u2019s the provenance of the food. And, of course, there are big drives on at the moment to lift our environmental standards and certainly our animal welfare standards. And, of course, we have the highest of food safety standards. I think those are the things that consumers actually really do want to know, and consumers in 55 other countries know this already. We normally pride ourselves on leading the world in this sort of thing, so it is a pity that it\u2019s taken as long to come through as it has. I am pleased that the National Party are supporting this, but it has been like pulling teeth over time. So we finally got them on board and are getting unanimous support for this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000725\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, as has been traversed, we did have to make some changes in terms of how we brought this bill forward. We\u2019ve had to create a consumer information standard under section 27 of the Fair Trading Act 1986, and it covers produce that is grown, caught, or raised in whatever country that it is\u2014it will have to be recorded, in terms of single-component foods, at point of sale. As supportive as we were as a caucus, the clear direction I got from the senior members of the caucus who had been through several iterations of this bill was to keep it as simple as possible in the first instance, because it does\u2014and as we discovered through the select committee process\u2014get very complicated very quickly. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000726\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003ESo this has very much got to be seen as foundation legislation. It\u2019s the framework which we can build upon, and I think we will probably build upon it quite quickly. I think the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, who will have the power of regulation to expand the bill as he sees fit, will do so in time because the traceability is just getting so much more advanced. Technologies like blockchain\u2014just massive amounts of information are able to be condensed down and processed incredibly quickly. So I think this is getting easier all the time, to do this traceability. As we\u2019ve seen through the consumer studies, actually, I think 78 percent of New Zealand consumers wanted this legislation coming through. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000727\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThere are also some teeth in this. There\u2019s a $10,000 fine for an individual or $50,000 for a company that transgresses this particular Act, so that\u2019s good. We need to have some back-up. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000728\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI would like to showcase the cured pork carve-out because that was one\u2014and I\u2019d also like to acknowledge the chairman of New Zealand Pork, Eric Roy, who\u2019s here tonight, and Francis Parker, who\u2019s been, actually, a stand-out advocate. I actually would like to say that the pork industry, out of all the primary industries in my short time at Parliament that have lobbied us, has probably done the best. They represent something like 93 farmers\u2014they\u2019re a very small industry in the grand scheme of things, but they actually do it really cleverly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000729\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ff9c70b1f28744d9adde234c9bdfb025\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: They bring home the bacon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000730\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022160fe562ae9c4e689cae0277c8b108d2\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON\u003C/span\u003E: They bring home the bacon\u2014well, they certainly have tonight. But I think they are actually an exemplar of how you don\u2019t have to have a big budget to engage constructively with Parliament. Of course, almost two-thirds of our pork products are imported and 85 percent of those come from countries that don\u2019t have animal welfare standards that would meet our own. Whilst we have to be very mindful of the non-tariff barriers and imposing those\u2014and that has been discussed earlier\u2014as an exporting country where we export 90 percent of our food, we cannot be placing non-tariff barriers, or being seen to, so we had to dance around that and make sure that we ticked those boxes very, very carefully, and we certainly did that. It has been to the detriment of the pork industry, the waves of cheap imports, but many of them do not have the same compliance regulations as our local products do. So I\u2019m sure all New Zealand consumers will be getting out there and supporting their New Zealand - raised pork. Well, perhaps not Mr Hughes, but he\u2019s probably earned his exemption from purchasing. Also, I think 20 percent of beef in the winter is imported from Australia, mainly, and I think that\u2019s something that consumers wouldn\u2019t necessarily know. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000731\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EJust going on to Mr McKelvie\u2019s statement before about how consumers around the world do have access to this information already, and it is a big showcase. I recently, over the recess, had the privilege of going to Taiwan with a couple of my parliamentary colleagues\u2014Kieran McAnulty and Priyanca Radhakrishnan, for those that are interested; it was not a junket, we were working hard\u2014and one of the things you do when you go on those trips is you go to the local produce markets to see what New Zealand produce you can find. We went to this particular delicatessen where we found some Zespri kiwifruit. All the product there was beautifully presented\u2014absolutely beautifully presented. We saw some beef steaks from Japan, wagyu beef that was selling for the equivalent of $190 for what looked like about a 300-gram steak\u2014just for a single steak. That\u2019s what you can do if you really showcase your product, if you\u2019ve got a premium product and you can really position it in the market. I think if we\u2019re doing this domestically, it\u2019s going to help us doing it overseas. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000732\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI back up the comments, I think, that were made by Kiritapu Allan earlier, that the New Zealand entities that probably showed some resistance to this in the select committee process, some of the bigger export lobbyists or lobby groups, are actually missing the point totally. It is a real opportunity for us to be really proud of what we export, and we shouldn\u2019t be at all concerned that that may be imposed on us overseas, and, in fact, it is already, of course, in 55 other countries. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000733\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003ESo, in conclusion, I think it has been, actually, a really good example of the Parliament working well. I have considered long and hard whether I\u2019m prepared to put this on the Hansard, but the Hon David Bennett actually did a pretty fair job of shepherding it through as the chairman of the Primary Production Committee. He\u2019s done some pretty woeful other things but on this particular occasion he was pretty competent. It shows when you\u2019ve got a will to get something through as a committee and as a Parliament that you can make anything happen, even some relatively complicated legislation like this. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000734\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI\u2019d also like to commend the officials. We did get really good support. It was quite a complicated process, and, again, the Parliament is well served by our officials, as we were in this case. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000735\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003ESo without further ado, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like, on behalf of New Zealand First, to once and for all commend this Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill to the House. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022 data-id=\u0022504e778c39f44ace903372719f235285\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000736\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022504e778c39f44ace903372719f235285\u0022\u003ETIM VAN DE MOLEN (National\u2014Waikato):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Well, it was clear to see the National Party heritage of that member, Mark Patterson, coming to the fore again as he commended\u2014the tone in his voice as he admired\u2014the Hon David Bennett. Fantastic work\u2014come on over, son. Come on over. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000737\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003ENow, look. Let\u2019s delay no more. The time is here. This bill can now progress. It can be released into the legislative wilderness to commence its merry journey. We\u2019ve heard from the other side of the House how it has taken some time to reach this point, and I encourage them to delay no more. Seize this opportunity. Shorten your calls and advance it forthwith. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000738\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003ESo, clearly, we\u2019ve heard, it gives the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs the right to include regulatory powers to capture some consumer information standards. Yep, those are appropriate on certain foods, and that\u2019s around single ingredients. That was one of the big complicating factors here: how do you assess a country of origin if there are multiple potential ingredients\u2014etc., etc. So we\u2019re talking fruit, vegetables, meat, and seafoods\u2014captured in fresh or frozen state\u2014able to be included under this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000739\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003ENow, one of the concerns we\u2019d had, and it was voiced by the Hon Nathan Guy initially, on this side was around the potential for this to become a non-trade barrier, and given trade is so important for New Zealand, that was a big concern for us. That\u2019s been alleviated, though, and so we\u2019re happy to support it at this stage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000740\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s important to touch on\u2014and I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve heard it, actually, in tonight\u2019s debate\u2014that this is for retail sale of food products. So where they\u2019re sold in supermarkets, for example, it would be required to have this country-of-origin labelling, but if food is sold in a presented state in a restaurant, for example, then that is not required\u2014also any food being sold at a fundraising event. So you can imagine a local community group going along to their local Bunnings Warehouse store, for example. They\u2019ve got enough to worry about with trying to determine whether onions should be on top or underneath sausages, without having to then worry about trying to include an origin for that particular product. So on that basis, this side of the House commends the bill and encourages the opposite side to get on with it. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022 data-id=\u00228ac623b8711f4a4999ea0bfec999560a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000741\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228ac623b8711f4a4999ea0bfec999560a\u0022\u003EHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour\u2014Ikaroa-R\u0101whiti):\u003C/span\u003E E Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Otir\u0101, ng\u0101 mema o Te Whare nei, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. I\u2019m proud to rise and contribute to the Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill. I\u2019m proud to rise in support of this, because I come from the beautiful Tai R\u0101whiti of the beautiful electorate of Ikaroa-R\u0101whiti where, of course, amongst other things we are the citrus capital of Aotearoa, where we sell 75 percent of all oranges. Not to say that we are also the chardonnay capital of Aotearoa, although some of our colleagues across the way will dispute that. But I\u2019m proud because this bill goes some way, from my perspective, to not only protecting but enhancing, and sharing the authentic Aotearoa New Zealand food story. This is what this bill enables.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000742\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EI too want to stand and congratulate the original ushers of this bill\u2014mentioning the former Green member Sue Kedgley and, of course, I want to acknowledge a friend that I shared membership of the Primary Production Committee with, Steffan Browning, who has also joined us here in the House, and, of course, a fellow Gisbornite Gareth Hughes who has ushered this bill through. It\u2019s exciting times.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000743\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003ELike the bill says\u2014the purpose is actually in the title\u2014it allows the consumers the right to know what\u2019s in their food. Of course we\u2019ve heard lots of contributions from various members in the first and second readings and committee stage of the bill about how the select committee decided to take an approach to get the bill through. I want to commend the vision and the collaborative way in which members of the select committee, obviously supported by the officials, ensured that we brought a bill to this House that we can unanimously agree will make a difference to, like I said earlier, protecting and enhancing the unique Aotearoa New Zealand food story.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000744\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EIn that regard, I just want to deviate slightly and acknowledge an ancestor of mine by the name of Hine H\u0101kirirangi, who travelled in the mighty waka migration. Her brother was Paoa, who was the captain of the Horouta waka, and comes from our region. She was renowned for bringing the k\u016Bmara plant to Aotearoa New Zealand. People will say, \u201CHow do you preserve a k\u016Bmara plant when you are travelling across the sea?\u201D Well, Hine H\u0101kirirangi actually strapped the plants under her breast line. Research says that she created an innovative boob tube to keep the plants dry and warm. And she planted them, when they landed here in T\u016Branga-nui-a-Kiwa on my maunga of Manawar\u016B. So we claim to be the first planters of the k\u016Bmara through our tipuna Hine H\u0101kirirangi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000745\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003ESo back to the bill, because this was about celebrating our unique New Zealand food story. This bill, although the debate has been on whether it goes deep and wide enough and what foods are in it and what foods are out, I think it\u2019s an absolute starting point to ensure that consumers when they go into the stores, like we in this House all do, and make informed choices about what foods we want to buy, then we want to be able to pick up those items and actually know where they\u2019ve come from. And why do we want to do that? We want to ensure that we are making those informed decisions that the foods we are purchasing are safe. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000746\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EBut we also want to flip it and say, \u201CActually, if we have a country of origin and we\u2019ve got good New Zealand Aotearoa unique stories about our food, then why can\u2019t we promote the provenance and competitive advantage that this bill can also enable to happen?\u201D So it is a thought, and I know it doesn\u2019t go far and not everyone\u2019s going to be happy on both sides of the debate, but actually, as a progressive nation protecting our unique competitive advantage, it is definitely a bill that we need to celebrate in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000747\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EOf course there\u2019s been mention around supermarkets versus community events in terms of you don\u2019t have to be subjected to this mandatory labelling. I just want to stand up in this House and acknowledge all the farmers markets, again throughout my electorate\u2014Hawke\u2019s Bay farmers market, Gisborne\u2019s farmers market\u2014because many of us frequent those farmers markets and they actually grow great local produce. Of course they will be relieved, I guess, knowing that this bill does not capture the food produce that they grow locally and sell in their own respective farmers market. Of course that\u2019s a phenomenon that\u2019s gone right throughout the country and it\u2019s uniquely New Zealand and it should be protected and celebrated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000748\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003ESo again, the bill that\u2019s been presented, debated, does go a long way to contribute, like I said earlier and what everybody has said, to ensuring that consumers are well informed when they purchase certain food groups. It is a starting point. We need to ensure, when we pass this bill in its third and final reading\u2014empowering the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs through the Fair Trading Act\u2014that this bill enables him to enhance the regulations if we want to expand the capture of the existing food groups that have been identified through this bill. That again sends a very serious signal to our traders, to our trading partners, how seriously we take and protect the Aotearoa New Zealand food story.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000749\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003ESo I want to again acknowledge the original folk that brought this bill into the House and, of course, the hard-working collegial work of the select committee and, without doubt, the patience of the officials. When you look at the bill and how pretty much parts have been deleted, it means that they have worked very hard to ensure that we are presenting a bill here that all sides of the House agree with.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000750\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019m pleased, like I said, to say that I come from one of the most beautifully producing regions throughout this country. This bill will go a long way to ensuring that we have at least consideration for discerning consumers that frequent supermarkets, as I do. I\u2019m not like Mr Hughes there, who goes and hunts out all the pork. You know, it depends on how you feel about any given day whether pork is on the menu or not, but I\u2019m glad that the select committee took the pork industry submission seriously and made the last adjustments to ensure that bacon was included in this bill. Like Mr Hughes, I have concerns around our pork industry and the importing of too much pork and not ensuring that our own local pork industry is allowed to grow and flourish. This bill isn\u2019t about addressing that, but it does say that we do listen to our pork industry producers and hence we have included that particular food product in this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000751\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EI don\u2019t have much more to add, but it was important that we got up on this side of the House to support this third and final reading. It\u2019s important that we are giving consumers informed decisions around food choices. The Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill is intending to do exactly that. It is a starting point; it\u2019s not an end point. And like we\u2019ve heard other members say in this House, giving the powers to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate to add more foods to the list, I think is the right way. I\u2019m assured that the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will ensure that the right checks and balances are applied before he adds to that list. That\u2019s an assurance I\u2019ve heard him give in this House. I commend this bill to the House and look forward to its speedy passage in its final reading. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022 data-id=\u0022c88aa9bfe3e848df8ba57dd5331c3780\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000752\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c88aa9bfe3e848df8ba57dd5331c3780\u0022\u003ESTUART SMITH (National\u2014Kaik\u014Dura):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Well, it is great to have this bill get to the third reading, and it\u2019s an opportunity to reflect on how it got here. I would like to congratulate the member Gareth Hughes for shepherding it through what was at times quite a difficult select committee stage, but we got it there and it\u2019s now here for the third reading. But my constituent, who, I hope, is in the\u2014oh, he is there. It\u2019s fantastic to have Steffan Browning here, who was the originator of the bill, and to have him in the gallery to enjoy this moment tonight is, I think, fantastic. It wasn\u2019t the last act that Steffan did in his time in this House, but it was pretty close to it. So it\u2019s fantastic to have him here to enjoy this moment. I think what drove Steffan was, of course, the right for people to know exactly where their food comes from and the country of origin that it comes from. He\u2019s a very great supporter of the farmers market in Blenheim, and I think that sort of speaks really to what drove him. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000753\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EComing from Marlborough, of course, which is New Zealand\u2019s largest wine-producing region, every bottle of wine actually has on it the country of origin. So it\u2019s a given in the wine industry and it has been for many, many years, and it is quite natural that people would expect to know where everything else that they consume comes from. You make your own choice whether you\u2019re going to drink a New Zealand wine or a Chilean wine, but you now also can make a choice whether you\u2019re going to eat a New Zealand potato or an Australian potato or an Irish potato. I think that we all actually understood that. The select committee was all behind it and, obviously, the House is all behind it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000754\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EThere were some sorts of difficulties with the legislation, as we thought there would be when we worked our way through. In the end, we found out that the Minister had the right, through regulation, to do it anyway. To be able to pass the various regulations is quite difficult legislatively, to put it all in legislation as to where a food type ends, or as to when does it become a New Zealand item or an Australian item, when you start to add other ingredients into a food item for sale, so I think it\u2019s fantastic that we got there in the end, and I\u2019d like to commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u002201bca2ef7e2946849683e96883bd1264\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000755\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002201bca2ef7e2946849683e96883bd1264\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This is a five-minute call. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u00222dc3a53c39374e8596ac2e9129667ccb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000756\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222dc3a53c39374e8596ac2e9129667ccb\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am delighted to speak at the third reading of this bill, the Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill. I too want to acknowledge Mr Gareth Hughes for bringing this bill to the House, but also the originator of this bill Mr Steffan Browning, from Marlborough\u2014mighty province\u2014for the work that he did. I know that this bill should be equally shared between Mr Hughes and Mr Browning.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000757\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIt has been a long passage for this bill, but it was actually a very rewarding exercise for us, as the Primary Production Committee, to actually work through all the issues here. As we\u2019ve heard, we started with a stand-alone bill. It had quite a lot of issues with it. We heard many submissions. We had excellent advice from our advisers, and I do want to acknowledge all of the officials and advisers that were constantly asked. We were testing them every step of the way to try and come up with new things or testing some ideas that we had.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000758\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIn the end result, I think we have a very fine piece of legislation. We\u2019re amending the Fair Trading Act to provide for these new consumer information standards. The actual details in terms of how the country of origin labelling will actually roll out will be set out in regulations, and it will be staggered so the industry will have time to adopt these new labelling requirements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000759\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI think we\u2019ve had all of the different interests in our minds in the crafting of what we\u2019ve got now with this bill. It\u2019s all about the consumer. It\u2019s all about giving the consumer the information about the origin\u2014where their food comes from. I believe that we have made a very bold step with this legislation in ensuring that that will now happen. It will happen. There will be labelling. Sure, we\u2019re not going to be covering every possible food item\u2014the many thousands that are on our shelves\u2014but it will apply to single-ingredient foods that are fresh or frozen and unprocessed or minimally processed. That was one of the big tasks of our committee: where do we draw the line? How large or how small? How many foods do we capture? But I think we actually struck a really good starting point by the single-ingredient foods\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000760\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI had a stroke of inspiration when we were in the select committee\u2014probably the one and only contribution I\u2019ve really made\u2014when I actually came up with: what about frozen foods? That opened up a whole new dimension of our discussions because prior to that it was all about fresh foods. So that sort of enlarged it to frozen single-ingredient foods. I like to think that my little \u201Cfrozo-contribution\u201D has helped improve the bill that we have here today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000761\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThis is a very welcome piece of legislation. I want to acknowledge all the contributions that have been made so far, especially Mr van de Molen, the new National Party thespian. I think he\u2019ll rival Andrew Bayly in terms of the presence that he has in the House. They\u2019ve been wonderful contributions. This is worthy of a celebration\u2014it\u2019s worthy of a celebration\u2014and, while Mr Hughes cannot enjoy pork, I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll be able to do a pot of New Zealand pork and p\u016Bh\u0101. I\u2019ll have the pork, and he can enjoy the greens. But it\u2019s worthy of a celebration because the consumers now across Aotearoa will, in time, know the country of origin of a fair amount of foods that they purchase every day\u2014where they will be coming from. Thank you. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022 data-id=\u00226a013595f03a4669b028589cae458362\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000762\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226a013595f03a4669b028589cae458362\u0022\u003EMATT KING (National\u2014Northland):\u003C/span\u003E Hey, I\u2019d like to acknowledge all the previous speakers. I\u2019ve had enough of Mark Patterson\u2019s puns in the House tonight\u2014I\u2019m not one to tell porkies! All the issues have been well traversed. The Nats support this bill. Parliament costs $300 a minute, so I\u2019m going to speak for one minute and save us $1,200. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022 data-id=\u002247542b012ed947f29c085bddc2b5ff0f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000763\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002247542b012ed947f29c085bddc2b5ff0f\u0022\u003EMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E I had to get up in a bit of a flash for that one. Thank you very much to the previous speaker. I\u2019m pretty pleased\u2014and proud as, actually\u2014to be able to stand here and support the dignified whakapapa of this legislation, the country-of-origin food labelling bill, and pretty impressed with my colleagues and our members who have brought this bill to this place and absolutely appreciative of the House and the wide support that the members have given to this bill. This is a long campaign of the Green Party in particular, and my colleague Gareth Hughes has been able to bring it to its final reading\u2014third reading\u2014tonight in the House. It\u2019s a massive moment for our country, actually, and for citizens to be able to know where their food comes from.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000764\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI have to be able to mention that Steffan Browning\u2014is Sue up there tonight?\u2014and former members are up in the gallery tonight, watching the passage of this final reading. Sue Kedgley, who brought the original bill in, I think, 2007, and, of course, Steffan, who brought it through the last Parliament. So much work also around, in 2007, the 39,000 signatures, I understand, that were presented in a petition in support of New Zealanders being able to know where their food comes from. So I\u2019m proud of the membership in the community-driven mandate to get this bill to where it is. It\u2019s a bit cute of my colleague Gareth Hughes, as someone who doesn\u2019t eat meat, with the economic benefit of this bill being equivalent to quite a bit of meat eating\u2014if we\u2019re talking about consumption benefit, at least. So, again, really proud.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000765\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI understand that 55 other countries already have these sorts of standards in place, so I\u2019m glad we\u2019re getting there. Actually, I was thinking. I am a little bewildered as to why it actually took this long. I think this is pretty common sense and a fantastic step for the people of our country to be able to know where their food comes from. I\u2019m glad we\u2019re finally doing it, and that\u2019s the leadership. The fact that 55 other countries have it, I understand, was perhaps some of the nervousness from some industry, as my colleague Gareth Hughes already alluded to in his speech tonight. There was perhaps some nervousness because of some industry wanting to not have the same standards put in place for them. But I say, back our New Zealand brand, back our New Zealand products, and see the added value and the economic benefits for our own New Zealand made products.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000766\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI\u2019m really pleased that we\u2019re putting this through. I had a look and my colleagues in the House tonight have covered what the actual bill includes, but I did want to at least mention that what is happening, under the Fair Trading Act, is there will be this \u201Cdisclosure of a regulated food\u2019s country or place of origin.\u201D It is interesting that those \u201Cregulated foods must include food that\u2014(a) is either\u2014(i) only 1 type of fruit, vegetable, meat, fish, or seafood that\u2014(A) is fresh \u2026 or frozen and is not, for example, dried, cured, or pickled; and (B) [that] is no more than minimally processed\u201D\u2014just to give members and people a little bit of further understanding. There\u2019s been lots of acknowledgment tonight of pork being put in. I think that\u2019s really good, considering that, I think, two-thirds of pork is imported, including from countries that may have weak or no animal welfare standards. Because this is really just about informed choice and people being able to make those informed choices with this labelling, at least informed of the country of origin.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000767\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI did actually appreciate my colleague Meka Whaitiri\u2019s discussion on country of origin as a wider issue. She talked about the whakapapa and the indigenous ingenuity of transporting and transferring foods. It made me think of heirloom seeds and the journey of the k\u016Bmara. Obviously, in this bill, it excludes, I guess, second on-sell, like if you\u2019re going to be selling food in cafes or restaurants, of course, the committee and the advisers have obviously found that it\u2019s perhaps not pragmatic and practical to have labelling in that instance but that we\u2019re particularly looking at origin, retail, and supply, so food labelling required for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000768\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI just also wanted to pick up on where to next, mainly because, as my colleague referred to, there were quite a lot of changes that this bill went through, through the committee, with good advice. We\u2019ve, perhaps, got a good starting point of what is included and how. It\u2019s really good to see that we\u2019ve got a bit of enforcement through offences for false or misleading labelling on packaged food, I understand, with fines of up to $10,000 for individuals and $50,000 for organisations, just to give it a little bit of teeth and to ensure that we mean what we say when we want New Zealanders to know where their food comes from. But it did go through some other sort of compromises and changes and a little bit of balancing-out of a pragmatic approach and being sure that we can also put in further regulations that are going to have a little bit more of the detail of how we do this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000769\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EIt does, then, leave the question of where to next, if this is a good starting point. I absolutely wanted to pick up on the possibility, for example, of plain language in ingredients. For example, I have to have help from my personal trainer to understand that one teaspoon of sugar equals four grams and that 800 milligrams of sodium should be our cut-off point. See, I can\u2019t get that understanding from the current way that I have a whole one second of supermarket time to look at and try and work this out. I do think there\u2019s possible areas of plain language to be looked at.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000770\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003ENew Zealanders, with this bill, will have the power to make their choices based on country of origin, and the reasons why New Zealanders, in surveys and petitions, are in clear support of this is because they want to make those ethical consumer choices. That will mean that there is still work to do, especially around things like palm oil production and really needing to know what products we are buying have that included.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000771\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003ESo, all in all, a celebration for our country tonight and my personal pride in my colleagues and the members of the party who have pushed this through, my appreciation for the colleagues across the House and their acknowledgment of this as a real positive step for our industry, for our market, and especially for our citizens.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI wondered if, perhaps, also we might even start to drill it down to town or region of origin in the future. Although, you could just be like Paeroa and actually just put the name of your town on the fizzy drink that they make, so that everyone\u2019s very clear. Sometimes you can work out the town of origin if it is New Zealand made. But this is a really good step and a really good sign. I congratulate Gareth Hughes, Steffan Browning, Sue Kedgley, and all the members, that we are able to put this through tonight. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022 data-id=\u00227d652701906f4e14979703c27a8b9a03\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000773\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227d652701906f4e14979703c27a8b9a03\u0022\u003ESIMEON BROWN (National\u2014Pakuranga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. It\u2019s a privilege to take a short call on the Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill, which is in the name of Gareth Hughes and is going through its third reading tonight. I just want to congratulate the member for all his hard work and mahi in bringing the bill this far, and the difference that it is going to make. I commend the bill to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u00222ee65de0990b4d7b80d2aeae13760370\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000774\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222ee65de0990b4d7b80d2aeae13760370\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Indeed, it is an honour and a pleasure to speak\u2014and I think I may be the last speaker\u2014on the Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill. Good things take time, and I can go back some years in this place and recall, I guess, early discussions. I\u2019d like to acknowledge Steffan Browning and I know Sue Kedgley is up there in the gallery, and there are a few new converts to this, with Eric Roy being one of them, given he\u2019s on the New Zealand Pork board now. He too sees the wisdom of this. Some have seen it for a long time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000775\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EBut it\u2019s kind of typical really, we do all the hard work\u2014us old blokes and lasses\u2014and some young whippersnapper comes along and claims all the credit for it. So I guess in acknowledging the member Gareth Hughes here, look, he\u2019s done a great job. Some of it\u2019s about timing and it\u2019s about having a bit of luck, but he\u2019s followed through on what has been started a long time ago. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000776\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe question is, you know, as a food-producing nation, why didn\u2019t we have this in place a long time ago? I can only speak for the good old days, and that\u2019s the last time we were in Government and this issue did come up. Sue Kedgley was one of the MPs, and I guess that at that time, the proposal was bound in with a lot of other initiatives from the Green Party that in the view of the coalition partner, the Labour Party, it was kind of one step too far, considering the trade implications in it. So, unfortunately, the country-of-origin labelling part of it got parked. I\u2019ve always personally been a staunch advocate for it and, indeed, it\u2019s been Labour Party policy for at least the last three elections, but, as I say, good things take time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000777\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ECan I say the fact that 55 other countries have this in place, or a similar system, does say that we\u2019re a bit slow in getting around to it. We talked about geographical indicators, and, in fact, we passed a piece of legislation in this House that actually protects the right of winegrowers to say where their wine comes from\u2014not just its country but, actually, the region of a country. So we\u2019ve accepted the wisdom and the value of that for wine. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000778\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u201CProvenance\u201D is a word that\u2019s kicked around a lot, so other regions in the world\u2014and Europe, in particular\u2014that have traded on this have appreciated that consumers want to know not only the country but the region that food comes from. I think that as we move forward to having more value and not just volume from everything we do in the primary sector, we\u2019re starting to appreciate and look for the potential for provenance to deliver better value for the farmers, for the growers, for the horticulturist, and, indeed, for the consumers, because people want to know that the food that they are consuming is good for them, has been produced in an ethical way, and, indeed, comes from a country that is proud to produce safe food\u2014that is, indeed, New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000779\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EI guess we could say that the member has also brought home the bacon, to some extent, and, obviously, there were some contentious issues that came up through this bill. I personally would have rather had a bill with a wider scope, and, as Minister for Food Safety, that was one of the discussions we had with the Green Party and with members of the select committee, but it was too hard. There are technical issues\u2014I appreciate that\u2014so in the end, we\u2019ve arrived at what I think is a fair balance to get a country-of-origin labelling system in place that we can build on as we learn and start to appreciate more, as I say, the issues of provenance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000780\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve got a dream that Golden Bay, in the top of my electorate, which is a geographically isolated area except for a good road in and out and wonderful sea links, and is an area proud of its produce\u2014if it gets on board and it gets some support from Fonterra, it will develop a provenance brand around Golden Bay that looks at seafood, that looks at dairy products, and that looks at meat products and horticulture. They will start to build value from everything that they do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000781\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ECan I say that in terms of the definition of \u201Ccountry of origin\u201D\u2014and it\u2019s probably been referred to by previous speakers\u2014it\u2019s that it\u2019s the country in which the food was grown, harvested, or raised, but not where it was packaged, manufactured, or processed. So it is, as I said, at an early stage of consumers\u2019 right to know. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000782\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ECan I say, regarding the questions of whether it is packaged, manufactured, or processed, that those things are becoming more important and the international food trade. Can I put on the record that in the area of m\u0101nuka honey, where we, as a Government, established a standard that says \u201CThis is scientifically proven m\u0101nuka honey.\u201D, and monofloral and multifloral\u2014there are issues around that. But we\u2019re proud to have established something that is getting for us in the market place some really, really crazy\u2014I\u2019d almost say\u2014prices for 500 grams of m\u0101nuka honey because there are some medicinal properties connected with that. I know that if it is used on open wounds, it can clear those up sometimes when other normal, conventional medicines won\u2019t do it\u2014the point being that we have a really valuable product. But there\u2019s an issue around the credibility of that in some markets, and so there\u2019s Miere, which is a group of M\u0101ori honey producers, and the bee-keepers and a number of others who have made an application for a trade mark application that would protect their right to claim the term \u201Cm\u0101nuka\u201D in the market place, and can I say that we support that as a Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000783\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002229c236aa-2283-4690-9a84-aa865404bb61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225836abd45c1b41f7be91012ee802c6c5\u0022\u003ENuk Korako\u003C/span\u003E: Really? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000784\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b2321550a4f400fa7c03c34abca4503\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: We do. They\u2019ve come to us for some money. But can I say that I\u2019ve been somewhat cautious because we do and, I think, we should go to the courts to ensure that we have a trade mark to protect \u201Cm\u0101nuka\u201D, but as long as there are people exporting m\u0101nuka honey in either big drums or in lesser containers that ends up not being pure m\u0101nuka honey, then our country\u2019s reputation is at risk. So I put on the record that we will support that application if the honey industry get their act together and bring some self-discipline off the back of a standard established by the Ministry for Primary Industries and an export process and packaging process that should ensure that what is on the label, or what is in the jar, is true to label. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000785\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019m happy to say that off the back of the initiative passed in this House tonight to identify country-of-origin labelling, it gives us value as a country and enables consumers to know where their food comes from. But in exporting products from our country\u2014particularly, if a trade mark is established\u2014we need to know that what we export is absolutely true to label and has integrity in every part of the production system behind that. So I look forward to us making progress on that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000786\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ECan I say that the wine industry, too, is a very proud wine industry. Producing Marlborough sauvignon blanc is, I guess, clearly the best international brand that we have, but a third of that is exported in bulk and bottled offshore, and for the most part, it is true to label. It\u2019s \u201CMarlborough sauvignon blanc\u201D when it\u2019s sold in the shops around the UK and EU and in other markets, but there is a lesser, if not a complete, inability to actually guarantee that what goes in a bottle is what has left our shores. So the packaging, manufacturing, and processing of food from New Zealand is, arguably, just as important\u2014particularly in the export markets\u2014as the production of this and the growing of it. The reality is that when we have food that is of value, then people want to copy that and use our labels, or use our reputation, to sell their own food. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000787\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ECan I say that there\u2019s another issue here, which was discussed, I\u2019m sure, by the select committee, and that is what types of food businesses will be required to label. At this point, the supermarkets, when they sell fruit and the single-ingredient products covered by the legislation, will be, but restaurants will not be required to. What I\u2019d say to you is that it should be New Zealand\u2019s long-term objective to have restaurants proudly displaying the food that they are selling and its country of origin, because in that way, the effort that New Zealand farmers and horticulturalists put into growing the finest-quality food\u2014and if it\u2019s purchased by a restaurant to sell on to customers, then they should be proud of saying \u201CWe bought this from the best country in the world.\u201D So, again, that is another evolution, I think, that will come from this very, very good piece of legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000788\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ECan I say that this is a wonderful piece of legislation. It\u2019s taken a long time to get here, but this will support the efforts of New Zealand producers\u2014get them more value\u2014because people will want to buy from the country that produces the finest food in the world. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000789\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EBill read a third 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=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000790\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002294266b23fd0643f8b6e6204d4fa81ee6\u0022\u003EPsychoactive Substances (Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000791\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00228c5079d1646d4adfa4d38bd0167e0340\u0022\u003EIn Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000792\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 31 October.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000793\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00228be685d715ca45d8b41540a83ba4450c\u0022\u003EClause 4  Section 70 amended (continued)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u00224614de1147f44f30adc07f7a8fc48e97\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000794\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224614de1147f44f30adc07f7a8fc48e97\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: Before we continue, I want to advise members that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 164 in the name of Dr Duncan Webb to clause 4, to replace \u201C8 years\u201D with \u201C1 year\u201D, is out of order as being contrary to the principles and objects of the bill as agreed at the second reading, and therefore this amendment will not be debated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022 data-id=\u0022461f6147dfa841b19d542e86e780c1ec\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000795\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022461f6147dfa841b19d542e86e780c1ec\u0022\u003EDARROCH BALL (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. I think going through in clauses is somewhat irrelevant because this whole entire bill is about clause 4, obviously, and in the original bill it\u2019s about changing the maximum penalty for suppliers and for manufacturers from two years, and what Simeon Brown is wanting to do is move it through to eight years. The reason for that\u2014and it\u2019s understood: the intent of why Simeon Brown wants to do that\u2014is because of a couple of reasons, but we\u2019ll get into the technicalities in a second.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000796\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003EIf you\u2019re looking at comparing psychoactive drugs\u2014and, in particular, the synthetic cannabis, which is the genesis of this bill and the reasoning behind what this bill is about and where it came from\u2014and what is currently in the Misuse of Drugs Act and what we currently classify as hazardous drugs for very good reasons, there really is no comparison. I think one interesting point to note on the maximum prison sentences is that during the speeches in this House on the Psychoactive Substances Bill there was very little, if any at all, discussion or debate on the maximum penalties for supplying, manufacturing, and peddling these kinds of drugs. And I think it\u2019s also important to note that this really isn\u2019t about the drugs themselves. I know that might be contrary to logic, but it\u2019s not actually about the drugs themselves, because the Psychoactive Substances Act is actually about the licensing of a product. And when something becomes illegal, it\u2019s because it\u2019s not legally licenced and gone through the loopholes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000797\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003EWhat we\u2019re dealing with and why it\u2019s such a complex answer is because it\u2019s not easily identifiable what those drugs are, and when a manufacturer comes up with a drug, they can change it in a heartbeat and then reapply to go through the licencing process. So it\u2019s not as easy as just willy-nilly putting something in and identifying it as a drug in the Misuse of Drugs Act like the rest of the illegal drugs are; it\u2019s about the process, and the process that the people who supply this drug and manufacture it have found a way around.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000798\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003EI think that we\u2019ve had enough discussion in this House in regards to the issues between the users\u2014those who are addicted\u2014and those who are manufacturing, supplying, and peddling this drug. I think that it\u2019s a very, very important clarification or difference between identifying a different approach that we need to take, that we haven\u2019t really been able to tackle over the years since we\u2019ve had this problem, in regards to how we address the problem with the users and those addicted and those who are peddling and manufacturing this drug.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000799\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to highlight a couple of the most important examples of why New Zealand First is supporting this bill. But not only that; we believe that the original eight years as a maximum sentence for supplying and manufacturing and dealing this drug doesn\u2019t go quite far enough. We need to increase that to 14 years, and that\u2019s not just a willy-nilly number; that is a realisation that this drug is not equivalent to class C drugs, which is what the eight years is comparing it to. It is actually closer to a more serious level of drug and class of drug: class B.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000800\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003EWhen we\u2019re talking about the maximum jail sentence, we need to understand\u2014and we\u2019ll hear it, I\u2019m sure, from members on this side of the Chamber especially\u2014that many of the problems arise from those who are addicted to the drug, and those who need to sell the drug to feed their own habit, and those who are in certain circumstances that can be judged by some as being sympathetic to their cause. The fact is that if you look at this bill in isolation, what it does\u2014because it\u2019s a very, very simple bill and a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) that New Zealand First is putting in\u2014is it gives the judge the tool to enforce a maximum sentence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000801\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003ENow, everybody in this committee knows that very, very rarely does a judge dish out a maximum sentence, for any crime, really, but especially with crimes around drugs and involving drugs. So when they do, and if they do, we have to understand that this bill is not talking about or affecting those who are addicted\u2014those who the judge and our system can see have issues that have perhaps led them to the situation that they\u2019re in. The judges still have discretion. So when you look at that for what it is and its facts, the only time that this bill and the SOP that New Zealand First is putting forward for the maximum sentence will actually be enacted will be for the worst of the offenders\u2014the worst of those people who care not about the number of people who die. They care not about the effects that this poison has on not only the individual but their families and society and the community as a whole. They don\u2019t care about that. These drug dealers and these manufacturers only care about themselves, and they want more people to be addicted. They don\u2019t care what kind of a poison they create. They don\u2019t care about the side effects.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000802\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003EThe judge has that discretion. If the judge decides that it is the worst-case scenario, that\u2019s when the maximum sentence will be applied, at the discretion of the judge. I\u2019d like to highlight what I mean. There are a couple of very recent news articles, and they identify the problem very clearly. This one was dated August of this year, and it states \u201CPolice arrest three men in ongoing synthetic cannabis investigation \u2026 Three men, including a patched Head Hunters gang member, have been arrested in West Auckland\u201D. This is not talking about those who are addicted to the poison, to synthetic cannabis. They\u2019re not talking about the users; they\u2019re talking about those who don\u2019t care: the gang members who are peddling this stuff.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000803\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003EHawke\u2019s Bay is another one. In September of this year: \u201CHawke\u2019s Bay police losing the battle to synthetic drug dealers \u2026 Area commander Inspector Dave Greig admits police are losing the battle against [these drugs and the dealers] as gangs ramp up recruitment and become more sophisticated. He says the Mongrel Mob is responsible for the supply of almost all of the synthetics.\u201D I want to repeat that: \u201CHe says the Mongrel Mob is responsible for the supply of almost all of the synthetics.\u201D Now, if anybody wants to stand up in this Chamber and say that this piece of legislation that directly covers what the title actually says, which is \u201C(Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution)\u201D\u2014that\u2019s what\u2019s in the title. It doesn\u2019t have \u201CUsers or Those Addicted\u201D; it says \u201C(Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution)\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000804\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002236c8c596-d890-4cca-9767-1eeb5c9ce710\u0022\u003EInspector Greig says \u201Caddiction is a health, not a justice, problem and he is focused on bringing down the big-time dealers.\u201D\u2014agreed. New Zealand First has always had the stance that for those who are users and who are addicted, this is a health issue, but what also needs to be understood is the context in which the dealers and manufacturers and suppliers of this drug are working, what environment they\u2019re working in within this legislation. When you compare the two years that it is now, versus the drugs that we\u2019ve got in just the class C maximum, which is eight years, it\u2019s little wonder why these drug dealers are manufacturing this and giving it to the people on the street.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u0022177446134d164b8cb1c91b4fac96f007\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000805\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022177446134d164b8cb1c91b4fac96f007\u0022\u003EDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. Just a point of clarification: you did rule a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) out of order, and I think it\u2019s numbered 164. Now, I didn\u2019t see an SOP by me tabled with the number 164, so I\u2019m just really seeking your clarification on that point, just so that we know what\u2019s debatable and what\u2019s not. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u0022625aadf709784cf8b6662d17aec1a758\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000806\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022625aadf709784cf8b6662d17aec1a758\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: So, at this stage, there is no\u2014I have been advised that it was tabled in the last session. We are just checking that. It is, obviously, not on the Table, so therefore there can be no debate if it doesn\u2019t exist. So we will overlook that at this stage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u0022730ff5cb661b41dcb1eb1aea5b993c0b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000807\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022730ff5cb661b41dcb1eb1aea5b993c0b\u0022\u003EDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. In that case then, I\u2019d like to speak to my tabled amendment that was tabled on 31 October at 9.45. It\u2019s an amendment which would replace clause 4 and do two things. It would replace \u201C8 years\u201D with \u201C2 years\u201D, but it would give\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000808\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f1551ef81de45d9a56c3ae7a95cc1e5\u0022\u003EMarja Lubeck\u003C/span\u003E: Very good. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000809\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209ccd6e32f0f40bc855e5fa8adce950a\u0022\u003EDr DUNCAN WEBB\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely right\u2014it would be a much more reasonable sentence. But, actually, much, much more important than the length of the sentence is the direction that must be given to the court, and that is a direction to impose rehabilitative and reintegrative sentences, because what we don\u2019t want to do is to send people to a training ground for criminal activity and simply teach them how to deal drugs better. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000810\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003ENow, what we know is that when young people, particularly, find their way into prison, the reoffending rate is extremely high\u2014sometimes up to 70 percent. There are two key reasons for that. One is because there are no resources focused on rehabilitation, on teaching these people the skills so that they can re-enter the community. But, more importantly\u2014and I think this is the greater gap\u2014is the reintegration. The fact is that prison is an isolating place. It does the opposite of teaching people how to have meaningful social relationships, having a relationship in a workplace, having a relationship with wh\u0101nau, and having an ordinary relationship with friends. So any court-imposed penalty should have a reintegrative element, and we know that if resources are put into reintegration, the costs of criminality fall because reoffending rates fall, and imprisonment costs fall, and what we see is that the whole cycle of criminality is improved. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000811\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s not pretend\u2014and I know Mr Darroch Ball gave an impassioned speech about the evil of these people, but the fact of the matter is that many of these offenders are themselves in the grips of addiction. They are themselves in a cycle of poverty, of misery, of addiction, and of mental health trauma, and what they need is those problems to be addressed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000812\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003ESimply throwing them into a cell doesn\u2019t address that, so my tabled amendment from the last session addresses that. It says that we should have rehabilitation as a focal point, and when I say \u201Crehabilitation\u201D, I would hope that the court would be very directive, that it\u2019s giving those people the kinds of life skills that will make sure that they can become useful members of the community, because one of the difficulties we have is that people find themselves supplying synthetic cannabis for want of a meaningful alternative. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000813\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003ESo we need to rehabilitate them so that when they come out, they know how to operate finances, they know how to find a job, and they have all of those skills that most of us take for granted and that most of us pass on to our children, but in some cases, it simply isn\u2019t done. That reintegration is the fact that that next step of the corrections process is taking that member and slowly placing them back into a community setting and saying \u201CHere is somewhere that you can belong. Here is someone who will support you. Here is a job.\u201D\u2014perhaps a supported job\u2014\u201CHere is building some work relationships.\u201D\u2014relationships of trust which, sadly, for some, are not very common in those communities they come from. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000814\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003ESo what this amendment does is it says, \u201CLook, we don\u2019t need to put people away for eight years.\u201D, and even if imprisonment is the answer, we need to have a humane prison environment. It\u2019s something that this party has been looking at for some time, and something that we\u2019ve seen in the new prison being built that will have a mental health facility attached. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000815\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003ESo in this tabled amendment, what we see is a change of direction. Rather than Mr Brown\u2019s sledgehammer, we see something entirely different. We see something where we accept the humanity in every person, and what we want to see happen is that out of that process comes not someone who feels punished and alienated, but someone who can move back into the community with a new sense of worth, with some healing done, and with new and better connections with family and community. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u0022f1788944764d4773a249ff250bfce23c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000816\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f1788944764d4773a249ff250bfce23c\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: Now, just before I give the next call, I can advise Dr Duncan Webb that in relation to Supplementary Order Paper 164, he has given it to the clerks but not released it, I understand. I\u2019m giving him an indication that it would be out of order\u2014so it\u2019s an indicative decision\u2014because it would be contrary to the principles and objects of the bill, which, of course, is about increasing penalty, and the House accepted that at the second reading. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000817\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274659e5421c145c5977e50bc6388534f\u0022\u003EDr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Chair. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000818\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f53a14ec61a40b0bd2a41df673479ef\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: So I\u2019m not going to argue it. It\u2019s\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000819\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b117bbf42d1a440898978c506981ba9f\u0022\u003EDr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: No, I\u2019m\u2014thank you for your direction. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000820\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254076d564ce7481989510af46ddae1be\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014been ruled\u2014well, it hasn\u2019t been ruled out. I\u2019m giving you\u2014because we haven\u2019t got it on the Table. But that would be my ruling. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022 data-id=\u0022d516e69439eb457da28b865e3a795ae6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000821\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d516e69439eb457da28b865e3a795ae6\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s an absolute\u2014well, here we are, we\u2019re debating a bill. Look, I guess there is a range of different questions and considerations that one could turn their mind to when we start to talk about the punitive implications of raising sentences without taking an overarching, holistic approach to sentencing and doing it in isolation through ad hoc bills, and in this instance, here we are with the Psychoactive Substances (Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000822\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ESection 70(3)(a) in clause 4 is amended to replace \u201C2 years\u201D with \u201C8 years\u201D, the intention of that being to get tough on the guys that are out there supplying some of the most vulnerable people within our communities. So I guess I want to start my remarks by saying that this isn\u2019t an issue we take lightly. I want to acknowledge the harm that psychoactive substances are having within our communities, and, in particular, where you and I are both from, we know because we see it day in and day out, the harm that psychoactive substances are causing within our communities. So the issue for debate and discussion from this side of the House isn\u2019t about the harm that is caused as a consequence of the psychoactive substances circulating within our communities, but the issue is the way in which we go about mitigating that harm.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000823\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ESo in my name this evening I\u2019ve tabled Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 162 that proposes: \u201C[Replacing] clause 4 \u2026 with 4 Section 70 [to be] amended (Offences relating to psychoactive substances that is a not approved product) [and] In section 70(3), [to] replace paragraph (a) with: (a) in the case of an individual,\u2014(i) to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 8 years; and (ii) when sentencing under subparagraph (i), where relevant, the court must take into account\u2014(A) kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face reconciliation between the offender and any affected person):\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000824\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EAs I alluded to prior, in communities like ours the victims and the perpetrators\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000825\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ece259db49c45b5937f7bbf11979fee\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry. Can I just interrupt the member. Is she speaking to an SOP?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000826\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5d302ce8869489f99440173e2b19f6c\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN\u003C/span\u003E: Number 162 that has been tabled and which I\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000827\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220db2e2a270d7477b8a46e50794aec437\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. No, no, you haven\u2019t actually released it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000828\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002241c65ee138b744068b4a02bb041f72dc\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s on the Table, and I just took it off the Table.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000829\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237cdccf4e3c64812834f14fbdbdac029\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s right. You haven\u2019t released it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000830\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a283b1eeeb794c8980a1f97dbb278d5c\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN\u003C/span\u003E: Well\u2014it\u2019s been tabled because the Clerk tabled it. And that\u2019s\u2014I\u2019ve been waiting for it to be tabled, which is why I\u2019m speaking to it, Madam Chair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000831\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce5267c33670460a90b9513dcbaa3dc8\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: Is it on the Table? It\u2019s on the Table? It\u2019s in order. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000832\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226fc937231c534862af22cd2c1bad6dff\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Chair. So in communities like ours in the East Coast and in Te Tai R\u0101whiti offenders and victims aren\u2019t mutually exclusive\u2014in fact, more often than not they are intimately known to each other. The proposal at subparagraph \u201C(A) [is that] kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face reconciliation between the offender and any affected person):\u201D is taken into consideration by the court in the sentencing process. At subparagraph (B), the proposal is at sentencing to take into consideration \u201Cwhakam\u0101 (appreciation and shame in respect of [the] wrongdoing and its impact)\u201D on the community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000833\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ENow, I\u2019ve just been reading sentencing notes from the District Courts in our region and, look, there\u2019s been a real array of approaches to the way that individuals, who have been charged with a criminal offence under this provision, have responded in terms of their own remorse and recognition of the harm that they are inflicting on the community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000834\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ESo the underpinning thesis here is that where a person understands the nature of that harm, they take it upon themselves, they understand that whakam\u0101 not only to themselves but to their family and the community\u2014that that is taken into consideration at that sentencing stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000835\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EAt subparagraph (C) \u201Cwhakahoki mauri (rehabilition):\u201D\u2014whether that person has engaged in any process to rehabilitate themselves as a consequence. It could be (a) in respect to the direct offending or (b) in respect of the circumstances that led them to that point in their life where they were\u2014again, as I said, I alluded to that I\u2019d been reading\u2014[Time expired]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022 data-id=\u0022f539d2212baf4e1c9ae9bbd0e0947175\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000836\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f539d2212baf4e1c9ae9bbd0e0947175\u0022\u003ESIMEON BROWN (National\u2014Pakuranga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for the opportunity to take a short call in response to some of the debate points which have been raised during this debate this afternoon on my bill in regards to increasing the penalties for supply and distribution of psychoactive substances.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000837\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003EFirstly, I\u2019d like to just say that there are a number of Supplementary Order Papers coming through very late and I would like to address the ones that I can at this stage address. But, firstly, I\u2019d like to acknowledge New Zealand First and their Supplementary Order Paper to increase the penalty to 14 years\u2014a Supplementary Order Paper which National will be supporting. We see the harm that these drugs are causing in our communities and I really wonder why some people in this committee want to filibuster and slow this debate down so that this bill does not get passed\u2014[Interruption]\u2014so the bill doesn\u2019t get passed. And I\u2019d like to even address the committee and quote the Prime Minister, who said, \u201CSupply is different for me and actually a health-based approach does say those who are supplying harmful drugs actually do need to be held to account.\u201D We should be going after those who are, I think, preying on the vulnerable, because we do see that there are vulnerable people who are using synthetics. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000838\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003EThere is a need in our community to address this issue. We\u2019ve seen over 50 deaths from these drugs in the past year. We have seen the number of hospitalisations which are being caused. We see our hospital system, our St John Ambulance system overloaded and there is a need\u2014there is a need\u2014to address the supply of these drugs. And I have all the way through this debate acknowledged the need for us to also ensure that there is an addressing of help for those who are suffering from addiction to these drugs. Members will remember back in March I brought a petition to this House calling for a select committee inquiry into addiction to these drugs and looking at ways in which this Parliament could address that, and the Justice Committee decided\u2014the Labour members decided\u2014not to progress that element. I find it an absolute shame that the members on this side of the House can talk about this issue all day and all night and how there is a need to do something, but they had an opportunity to do something in select committee and they absolutely failed to. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000839\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022921295c0775b4ce3a1e946af2d407001\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: Just calm down. I don\u2019t think that yelling is going to make any difference and the member has the right to be heard. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000840\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002239e70f2207974883acea4a23ffabed02\u0022\u003EKiritapu Allan\u003C/span\u003E: We can dispute some issues that he\u2019s raising, Madam Chair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000841\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226af08c55bcba4b8a8716e44c6dba4b62\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: And you interject at your own risk.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000842\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e54f473dced3417ab5a86dc2dfcf19f8\u0022\u003ESIMEON BROWN\u003C/span\u003E: I would like to address a number of the Supplementary Order Papers that I do have in front of me. There are three in the name of Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick. The first one, Supplementary Order Paper 159 removes the criminal offence of possession. That is not in the purpose. The purpose of the bill here is increasing the penalty for supply; the penalty for possession is a separate matter. And while we do believe\u2014and I echo the words again of Darroch Ball\u2014that for those who are suffering from addiction to these drugs, we do need to be treating it as a health issue, there must also be the deterrent effect for smaller penalties for possession retained, and that is in line with other legislation. There is a wider debate going on around that issue and that is something which this Parliament, I\u2019m sure, will be looking at, at some point, but that is not what this bill is doing. This bill is targeting suppliers of these drugs. That is what this bill is intending to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000843\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003ESupplementary Order Paper 160 intends to reduce to two years the term of imprisonment for anything except for manufacture and importation. There are separate penalties, and I think the member may be confused because sections 25 and 26 of the Psychoactive Substances Act do address illegal importation and manufacture of approved products and it\u2019s about not having licences to import, not having licences to manufacture. Those are separate matters, whereas the definition of sale or supply in the legislation as it stands is an incredibly broad definition and includes all manner of disposition for valuable consideration. So in section 8 of the Act \u201Csell includes every method of disposition for valuable consideration,\u201D whether that\u2019s \u201C(a) bartering: (b) offering or attempting to sell or having in possession for sale, or exposing, sending, or delivering \u2026 or causing or allowing to be sold, offered, or exposed for sale:\u201D. This is one of the very broadest definitions of \u201Csell\u201D and so this section already deals with that issue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000844\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s Supplementary Order Paper 161 introducing mitigating factors for sentencing. The Supplementary Order Paper seems confused. It talks about penalties for mitigation of offending for importing without a licence. That is the offence in sections 25 and 26 dealing with approved products. Section 70 deals with unapproved products, and I think that\u2019s a critical point which needs to be realised. Section 70 is about unapproved products. The rest of the Act is dealing with approved products.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000845\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s also Supplementary Order Paper 170 in the name of Duncan Webb, which seeks to put in place a mitigating factor. Again, the courts have the ability to take into account all of those mitigating factors when they\u2019re making their decisions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u00221330b117bb0d4a208af34a2973a9b455\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000846\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221330b117bb0d4a208af34a2973a9b455\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: Just before I call the next member, just remember that this is the committee of the whole House. Every member has four opportunities to make a five-minute speech. There\u2019s plenty of opportunity to debate. So let\u2019s have a good debate and get on with it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u0022af078a4f18e14630b2a2b0b44273d807\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000847\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022af078a4f18e14630b2a2b0b44273d807\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Chair, thank you. I just wanted to touch on the point that was raised by the member in the chair just previously with regard to how those who are in possession of these substances are not going to be captured by this. The clause that we\u2019re debating is clause 4, which amends section 70 to increase the penalty for \u201Cselling or supplying unapproved psychoactive substances.\u201D However\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u0022a2884e5c790e42ada85132b69ef036e6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000848\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a2884e5c790e42ada85132b69ef036e6\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley)\u003C/span\u003E: Having said that, I\u2019m very sorry to interrupt the member, but the time has come for me to report progress.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EHouse resumed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000850\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EProgress reported.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000851\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EReport adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000852\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 9.57 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20181128ce4db95df35c4e6a95ef40fa15e4d448000853\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"