"\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=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002258f9a217a589416098df50f80e1f5f6f\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 3 APRIL 2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022221030e2ce384101ba9c53f79cc6c360\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 3 APRIL 2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000002\u0022\u003EThe Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000004\u0022\u003EPrayers.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00229b1a397ef6a84c2ab0ce5ac347704991\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222400749d0da94b7f8475079a34206387\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c8b2eda14f05417f959f27bbf3b48da5\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=\u00226b18e5bdf2aa405093cb98512f72a816\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226b18e5bdf2aa405093cb98512f72a816\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government\u2019s statements, policies, and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u0022297c98ae42274295b9906e73042b941a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022297c98ae42274295b9906e73042b941a\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f357481948b84be58e5a17e91a69c5bc\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister accept that since her Government formed, the New Zealand economy has weakened?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220b2dc52dd38d4feb942642723c8e9ad5\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I think a broad, generalised statement like that, no, actually, I wouldn\u2019t accept. I keep in mind as well that the markers of success in an economy are things like unemployment levels\u2014and we\u2019ve had strong employment\u2014and, of course, also the kinds of gains that every day New Zealanders experience in terms of wage growth and also particularly what we\u2019re seeing in the Families Package. So I wouldn\u2019t agree with that member\u2019s statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220a4196df04a84e36a982c855bc0787f0\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Well, does she accept that from a Treasury forecast at the election of 3.7 percent growth in 2018, that growth slowed to 2.3 percent last year and was 0 percent per person in the last six months?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2cd516fb48041b0bbcde5c39f2469fe\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member isn\u2019t reflecting, of course, what\u2019s going on in the global economic environment. I have to say that, actually, relative to what\u2019s going on with some of our counterparts, in the last quarter the economy grew 0.6 percent\u2014faster than Australia, faster than Canada, faster than the UK, the euro area, and Japan, and faster than the OECD average rate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223176aea413f64622bc04c9aa096f723a\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept the Reserve Bank\u2019s assessment last week that the balance of risk to our economy and its outlook has now \u201Cshifted to the downside.\u201D and Westpac, ANZ, Business New Zealand, and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research have all put out significant surveys and forecasts which are all clearly negative and all clearly showing an economy\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd434102e05b418683bd52f1bace31de\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member had far too many legs to that question. The Prime Minister can answer any one of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4b7d9efffee473ca8ffaecdea4c693a\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I also note that there was reference also to the global economic environment that we are operating in. Again, I actually reference what the Minister of Finance has said, which was that we have strong economic fundamentals and sustainable economic growth that remains fundamental to New Zealand\u2019s success. But, of course, we do not operate in isolation. Relative to what\u2019s going on for other developed economies, we are performing well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8b76fab505d438b9cf6891428299638\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: In light of all the data, all the surveys, all the indicators, and what the Reserve Bank is saying, will she accept that the New Zealand economy is weakening at the moment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224173fc86ad1d4790b2ab5338e0f4082b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I\u2019m going to ask the member to ask the question again in order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266888e985a924ad9b88c09d5e9df41e2\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept, given the various facts I\u2019ve put to her, that the economy in New Zealand today is weakening from where it was at the election?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b02f134a58e44e8c917bb39a920c07ea\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: That is happening with every developed OECD nation, and that\u2019s my point\u2014that is my point. So, yes, there is a slow-down happening everywhere, but relative to what other economies are experiencing, ours is not at the degree that others are. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227955a7b304f945d4b26c51b53adcb30d\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Could I ask the Prime Minister as to whether it\u2019s a fact that the growth rate in New Zealand for the last quarter was 0.6 percent, whereas in Australia, one of our biggest trading partners and right next door, it was 0.2 percent?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd44b0d4a86647798f956788e98178a2\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252b1b4fa68b64a7ba4398bf707e4e377\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she and her Government take any responsibility for the New Zealand economy weakening?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022df228ead7eb24e02a225847aae494ce7\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: We of course take responsibility for economic management within New Zealand. However, we do not take responsibility for the fact that the IMF and the OECD have both downgraded their growth outlooks for 2019 and 2020. We do not operate in isolation, and I know the member knows that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281d22328d433432883d7dab4fed40979\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept that in addition to international factors which are clearly there, there are clearly also domestic factors that are part of the downward trajectory of our economy at this moment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227684034b09744c59bf0d57bb88dae10\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I would actually say that some of the domestic factors mean that perhaps that\u2019s some of the reasons we can differentiate ourselves from the likes of Australia, from the likes of Canada and from the likes of the UK and Japan.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a599f9f01964e7baf0afa75178a33eb\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept and agree that the Reserve Bank last week said that part of the reason for the more negative outlook were factors including softness in the housing market, weak business investment and sentiment, and a decline in domestic spending?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224318403c77a64a52802011c696c964ae\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Imagine, therefore, what would happen if we didn\u2019t have the stimulus of the Provincial Growth Fund; if we didn\u2019t have the stimulus of the Families Package, which has put, on average, $75 a week into those household incomes; and if we didn\u2019t have that increase in the accommodation supplement. Imagine where we would be without that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed0637f5017b44aa903833817c6ecb43\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Can I get this right\u2014is it the eight jobs created by the Provincial Growth Fund that\u2019s saving our economy at this time?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2a561531b3c4c8ebe248ca5226b3719\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I reject the premise of the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a689900831fb4f2daa77df386498b751\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Isn\u2019t it clear that domestic factors are at play in weakening our economy, including declining business confidence?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd7c1c6effa74b37a411eebdae148b6d\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I do not accept the member\u2019s argument. This is as good as the Government of the day claiming that the global financial crisis didn\u2019t have an impact on New Zealand\u2019s economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260ae1c68b4794cb1ac62d9cca374bbc2\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she think her Government\u2019s policies have had any effect on declining business confidence?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c984dea4ff4742779b9e6c699564b4e4\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I think our policies have had an impact\u2014that\u2019s why we\u2019ve got some of the lowest unemployment we\u2019ve had in a decade.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b1a295cba7b4861b614168958033b00\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she think the Cullen Tax Working Group\u2019s report on a capital gains tax is good for business confidence?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223368a9f74a7646d4997c3a3ed3be2407\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: This is a Government that is willing to address issues like, for instance, whether or not we have fairness in our tax system. I would ask the member to be patient for the final decisions that will be made by this Government. I know the business community, given that I\u2019ve been in audiences speaking with them over the past couple of months and have had very few questions on this issue\u2014I know they know that the decisions are still to be made.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221de202a88a7348b5a2b5a9ed4e81ab16\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she think that her so-called fair-pay policies, or indeed any of her Government\u2019s industrial law changes\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002267d9878b8b054de28f95ed8bf05e87be\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member will ask a straight question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002225160d4593c34f4ea32a50f611da06f5\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The policy by the Government is called fair pay. I simply don\u2019t accept that\u2019s accurate, and I think it\u2019s fair that I say \u201Cso-called fair-pay policies\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f6621b89b39412194a925a0e0ce2df0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the member might think that; I don\u2019t. Ask the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da204e0af0c24ae2a369f90671d2bf18\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she think her fair-pay policies, or indeed any of her Government\u2019s industrial law changes, are helping with business confidence?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002269ffef057bbe443ba530b22a5705197b\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d remind the member that business representatives were part of the Fair Pay Agreement Working Group\u2014in fact, a past National Party Prime Minister was, as well\u2014and with only one exception, they agreed with the recommendations that were made. This is a Government who\u2019s not afraid to look at the facts that we have not had the wage growth that New Zealanders would expect and that we\u2019re willing to address that, unlike the last Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224fa600776fb64a1e893ffc5e4e64ce1f\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: When the Prime Minister said a moment ago that she gets very few questions from the business community about the capital gains tax, did she mean to say that the New Zealand business community is not interested in or concerned about the introduction of a capital gains tax?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226017599d2c6747bbbd3fb2f64672f74d\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Quite to the contrary. The point I was trying to make is that the business community understands the Government is yet to make decisions on the recommendations of the Tax Working Group and are, obviously, waiting for those final decisions to be made. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219cbc596b1614140954e6a4ec6329837\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Why wouldn\u2019t they ask questions and be interested in the decision that the Government\u2019s about to make?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229bdcb38a41b245dca33f3bb0d5045d70\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Because the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec9959b129ba4bcab6556410ac3bf2da\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The Prime Minister will resume her seat. That question\u2019s clearly not the responsibility of the Prime Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221d0c9afaa9784216be540cc24535e01d\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Are her Government\u2019s petrol taxes, oil and gas ban, and foreign investment ban helping business confidence?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a209940f11e545b8b438c987dae4b378\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Certainly, when it comes to the decision around whether or not oil and gas in 30 years\u2019 time needs to transition, that is certainly helping the decisions around climate change, and that might well be an issue that the member on the other side of the House might like to think about what his transition plan is for the New Zealand economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2a0e4a7c2444a829dc98f05685dc75a\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: But isn\u2019t it quite clear that in addition to international factors, there are many policies of this Government that are seeing our growth go from nearly 4 percent to nearly 2 percent?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf181536beb94865b8c1d23599d7d0cc\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Again, one of the things that we\u2019ve made sure that I have certainly done since being in this position is, for instance, to increase the engagement I\u2019m having at the level with groups like the Business Advisory Council, and I can tell you that it is not petrol prices and it is not oil and gas that that group raises. It is what we\u2019re doing around skills training. It\u2019s what we\u2019re doing around making sure that we increase productivity. It\u2019s what we\u2019re doing to make sure small businesses have access to capital. Those are all things that have not been adequately addressed. They are long-term challenges, and they\u2019re things that this Government is working on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002212c8bd8964f5467bb08087bc5b6bb51f\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022 data-id=\u002240bf279b299a4f96a790e6d913b1f4de\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002240bf279b299a4f96a790e6d913b1f4de\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN (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=\u00223139654004374a0f84c2a0811d8a10b6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223139654004374a0f84c2a0811d8a10b6\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019ve seen a number of recent reports that highlight that the New Zealand economy continues to outperform international counterparts. Stats New Zealand\u2019s recently released GDP growth figures for the December 2018 quarter show that the New Zealand economy grew at 0.6 percent in the quarter\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022172392eb919a4fd78859a5ab1737de0b\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: How much?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af065ca64e2a4425a022fb7efe632c00\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: \u20140.6 percent\u2014faster than Australia, Canada, the euro area, Japan, and the OECD average. Likewise, the BNZ-Business New Zealand\u2019s performance of manufacturing and performance of services indices for February show both sectors continuing to expand at a solid rate. New Zealand\u2019s manufacturing sector expanded faster in February than the US, China, the UK, Japan, and the eurozone. The services sector expanded faster in New Zealand than Australia, China, the UK, Japan, and the eurozone. This data demonstrates the New Zealand economy continuing to outperform our international peers on the back of solid fundamentals.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bb36647bcad04788bcffaeefde1ce105\u0022\u003EKiritapu Allan\u003C/span\u003E: What reports has he seen on the impact of international factors on the New Zealand economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d07d3a2bd364b6fa96dbe172157aac5\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, in last week\u2019s official cash rate decision, the Reserve Bank Governor pointed to global headwinds as risks to New Zealand\u2019s economic outlook. He highlighted that growth is slowing amongst some of our key trading partners, including Australia, Europe, and China. This outlook was reinforced by the managing director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, in a speech yesterday, in which she said that \u201Cglobal growth has lost momentum amid rising trade tensions and tighter financial conditions,\u201D. She also signalled that the IMF is likely to cut its global growth forecast for 2019 again, following cuts to forecasts made back in January. Despite the more positive news out of New Zealand recently and our solid economic fundamentals, the global outlook does remain a risk to our future economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022804c0784d69e4bcc829c6e6737f40756\u0022\u003EKiritapu Allan\u003C/span\u003E: How is the Government responding to risks from the international economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002240f7159c3c124cc190525be418fcbfd6\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: This Government does have a plan to transition ourselves to a more modern economy that is based on being more productive, more sustainable, and more inclusive. A key part of that is lifting our research and development spending to 2 percent of GDP within 10 years of taking office, and our research and development tax incentive, which came into force on Monday, will help New Zealand businesses boost their investment in innovation, allowing more businesses to develop new products and create more high-wage jobs for Kiwis. In addition, the Government will continue to manage the books responsibly so we are in a position to respond to any potential shocks from external forces.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002203fca627fa534727811477a38fe4f7ea\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=\u0022705de77d3cdf47449c2799612395e014\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022705de77d3cdf47449c2799612395e014\u0022\u003EHon AMY ADAMS (National\u2014Selwyn)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What was the real GDP per capita growth rate in the final half of the 2018 calendar year, and does he still stand by his statement that \u201Cwe are building an economy that is more productive\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u00223d866f7902ba434c888e18c5ba6dd5fb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223d866f7902ba434c888e18c5ba6dd5fb\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E GDP in 2019 prices per capita was $12,691 in the September 2018 quarter and $12,708 in the December 2018 quarter, giving a total of $25,399 for the second half of the 2018 calendar year. That is up from $25,240 in the second half of the 2017 calendar year\u2014a growth rate of 0.6 percent. It is also up from $25,333 in the first half of 2018\u2014a growth rate of 0.3 percent. In answer to the second part of the question, yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e37e394d53fd4c36a722c62163cef6b4\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I listened very carefully, and there were certainly a lot of words in that answer. This is a question on notice. It is very specific and has an economically very precise meaning: the real, not nominal, growth rate\u2014not numbers\u2014in the final half of the year. We heard all sorts of information, including the first half of the last year and the annual amount and the nominal numbers. It is a very straight question, it is on notice, and I\u2019d expect the Minister of Finance to be able to answer it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd52b7f4789e4cdc975fac1b07f1be16\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, the question didn\u2019t give a comparator. I offered two different comparators for the growth rate\u2014one for the second half of the 2017 calendar year and one for the first half of 2018\u2014both of which I expressed in dollar terms and rates.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227231186dfd8a403681d8738374553d79\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226df198ba75134b69bdee7d3f3fe7d716\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no, I\u2019m still contemplating the answer. The question I\u2019ve got is whether, in fact, out of that, without considerable deduction, someone could get a real rate as opposed to a dollar rate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220cd4f5ef2ca34d70835e1431a1fa42d1\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I gave rates. I could do it again if you want me to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216055c4e783b4b5e9854950c818eeb2b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member did say \u201C0.6\u201D, and the member\u2019s telling me that was a per capita rate?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274abf9adc9304aed8b41abc1e630efba\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s a per capita rate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209793197505f42fbaa6bc2ae81621ac5\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister unaware that the Stats NZ website states\u2014and I quote\u2014\u201CGDP per capita increased 0.1 percent in the December 2018 quarter, following a drop of 0.1 percent in the September \u2026 quarter.\u201D, giving a total real GDP growth rate for the last half of last year of 0 percent? Is the Minister unaware, or is he embarrassed to answer?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ddd54f677af147b58ae41620803c684b\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: There are many ways of defining that. If the member had asked that in her primary question, that would have been the answer. What that exact same table from Statistics New Zealand shows is that when you compare the second half of 2018 to the second half of 2017, you see a growth rate of 0.6 percent. When you compare it to the first half, you see a growth rate of 0.3 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002269f0a26f054c4edd97ae47771b323f45\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: With growth per person confirmed by Stats NZ as being zero for the second half of last year, does he agree that it is \u201Cper person growth that matters the most for achieving higher material living standards\u201D, as stated\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022772c44efdde746a8ba4f5352c3481f6d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229283d28c9a7f412ab4c050894d791727\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014by Grant Robertson\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a200c5269c9422c92c90ac2a26089b4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022190a4c60857d4b249e0c903c086f91da\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014in 2016. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fab9a72e8d1647b9a1fb6a446967b697\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, when I call a member to order, she stops. She had actually done two legs to a question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c101b92733b46b9839278203aaab18b\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I do recall that statement. It is a very important part of what makes up a productive economy. I\u2019d also agree with the former Minister of Finance Bill English, when he said that it\u2019s output per worker that matters, and I can say that GDP per hour worked in the second half of 2018 was up 3 percent from the first half of 2018. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220528209a1a15492aaffdb8662e022c2c\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: So if it\u2019s growth per person that matters the most, according to him, how does he feel that growth per person has gone from 1.6 percent a year in the five years before he became the Minister of Finance to being flat-lining under his watch?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a21871ba59654b80a848dc1d87837e13\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: As I said, it all depends on the base that the member goes to. I look back to the time when her Government was in office, and we can see that in the second half of 2018, there was a 0.6 percent GDP per capita growth rate compared to the second half of that year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0d2b3aabfcd4478a43e16b7edc8b7dd\u0022\u003EHon Amy Adams\u003C/span\u003E: So with a wide range of commentators now saying that a capital gains tax will make us less productive and slow our economy even further, why won\u2019t he do the right thing and just rule it out?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216f1713f799e43d4a8c908242c533cb4\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Because we as a Government are considering our response to that, and because as a Government we\u2019re not prepared to sit back and let tough issues drift on, like the growth in inequality that we saw under the last Government. On this side of the House, we are actually prepared to face up to those issues while making the changes in our economy that mean that all New Zealanders will benefit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022521e812d22eb4c1b99fe44931953f785\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022 data-id=\u00229a3b2f8fc5b14cd785f964f6afc10710\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229a3b2f8fc5b14cd785f964f6afc10710\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader\u2014National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government\u2019s statements, policies, and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u00224a48e7236a6147aeb7d449a5847b085c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224a48e7236a6147aeb7d449a5847b085c\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4d1bfa68bc84fb99184cb3c61da0677\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: How will legalised marijuana for recreational use be regulated? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022820e34c217a44136bd6db6a49c885fb7\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: If the member is referring again to the question that we intend to put to the New Zealand public in the 2020 election, the Government is finalising decisions around how the question will be posed and what information, of course, will be provided in order to encourage debate. As I\u2019ve said many times before\u2014I know the member has a special interest in this area\u2014I encourage her to join Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick and other members of the cross-party group to support the work that\u2019s being done. Again, I point out for the benefit of members across the other side of the House, this is not a Government policy; it is a public referendum. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002255b20c1ea8c14ab9ad16f23ec76564de\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does she believe that a cross-party group of backbench MPs should be making the decision on what the question should be in an education campaign and what a regulated recreational marijuana use in New Zealand would be like? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022efdbba7441c34f80980476e7e5417ff2\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member misunderstands. I have pointed out in this House many times that the question itself and the referendum will be determined by Cabinet in the same way as when the last Government developed a referendum question on the flag. They had a position on the referendum question; they did not, I believe, as a Government, promote a particular position. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c397e8800a3406dabdf13c05ba0ee4c\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: When is Cabinet expecting a paper on, perhaps, proposed regulations and what that might look like, and will a bill come to this House that can be debated as to what a regulated recreational marijuana use would look like in New Zealand? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002267e540e2dcb1478b9f3ae23276303995\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Again, all of those decisions we are wanting to ensure happen in good time so that the New Zealand public have enough time to consider their individual positions. As soon as Cabinet has made its decisions, we\u2019re in a position to inform both Parliament and also the public. That work is being led by Minister Andrew Little.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226af93f67f71d4346aec3a3c2a6bbf4b1\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Can she indicate to the House perhaps a month that a paper might go to Cabinet to then be introduced to the House so that they can understand the time lines that we\u2019re up against? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022adbace07641d45bd86f00be833af88af\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: No, I won\u2019t put those confines around Cabinet\u2019s decision-making, but I can tell you that work is under way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228da01dcb5bfb45828151d69d05ac8516\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u2014Transport\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u002296760a718f0746a3956740ad7c22295a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002296760a718f0746a3956740ad7c22295a\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Transport: What progress, if any, has the Government made on reducing traffic congestion in Auckland?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022 data-id=\u0022a9ddfbf135764278b1ebd7c749085f19\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a9ddfbf135764278b1ebd7c749085f19\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. When we look at average travel speeds in Auckland, Ministry of Transport data shows that from 2017 to 2018, congestion slightly eased in Auckland. However, we know that congestion is an awful daily reality for most Aucklanders, and the progress that our Government has made is just the beginning. We are making the largest ever transport investment over the next 10 years, including roads, motorways, public transport, and walking and cycling.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a6dce4cda5d4fd2aa6e3adf94aeb76e\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: When he said yesterday \u201COur Government wants to see transport projects rolled out as quickly as possible\u201D, has he been on Auckland\u2019s Southern Motorway recently? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223152a4f421324b1e9b7ceb1c37656514\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I have and I\u2019ve observed the continuing progress in widening the motorway in South Auckland, and that\u2019s an important part of adding capacity to that stretch of the State highway.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef195f5cf4a447d78828f5ebfd89f5b7\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Why is it taking so long to get started on extending electric trains to Pukekohe? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac4635fae5f9499c89506d3da1232b16\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, unlike the last Government, we\u2019ve actually put electrification of the commuter rail service to Pukekohe in our Government policy statement, in the National Land Transport Programme. It is funded, the decisions are being made, and it\u2019s happening. As well as that, we are putting in place the building of the third main rail line\u2014a vital rail investment to unlock progress for both freight and commuter traffic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8ec15057e854c6295be3e27b20b3e0f\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Why is his priority for the largest and most expensive transport project in New Zealand\u2019s history light rail down Dominion Road, a route already well served by public transport, when there\u2019s congestion on the fringes of the city where most of the population growth is? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227bd03b54707742be876743aea7ebdfca\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, if the member would ask the other member sitting two seats along who was the transport Minister in the last Government, he would know that the former Government signed off light rail as the preferred mode from the central city to M\u0101ngere, that they accepted the expert advice from the Transport Agency and Auckland Transport that rapid transit is needed across the isthmus because bus congestion in the city is already so chronic that it\u2019s causing major problems, and that the overwhelming imperative is to build a rapid transit network that serves our country\u2019s biggest city. The member could just ask his colleague.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022db57d9a513ff4eef8cdf28af0a1ba179\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: In reference to rapid transport, does he agree with John Reeves of the Public Transport Users Association, who concludes, \u201Cbasically the tram is going to be a very slow, very costly project and \u2026 is seriously going to be a waste of taxpayers money.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002282e5cd753c894b0d9258e6af1e442ef0\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD\u003C/span\u003E: No, I disagree with that public statement, and Mr Reeves\u2014like the member asking the question\u2014makes some incorrect assumptions about the design of the proposed light rail line. I suggest that he waits to see exactly, when the procurement process moves to the next stage, what the design specifications are.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227611efefdb854185861ca91f0a4eb757\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022 data-id=\u0022969e5cb152e04a42b2288d6a4ecacaae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022969e5cb152e04a42b2288d6a4ecacaae\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement \u201CI\u2019m not intending to hold an inquiry into PHARMAC\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259528009641d49a79435bc72b51fb909\u0022\u003EHon Dr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242312e9bf36f4b459631c5bab4d86dad\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Hon Dr David Clark. No, after he\u2019s called properly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u002295505f7b629b4b5896dd1e9bf841ecf7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002295505f7b629b4b5896dd1e9bf841ecf7\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002243531c624dde4fccb9bbb98b19ffe97d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277eb174d43874cb292e3646490f27ec4\u0022\u003EHon Michael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: Has he seen reports of the Prime Minister, when asked by the same reporter whether she would block a select committee inquiry into Pharmac, responding \u201CAbsolutely not.\u201D and \u201CI hope that they would.\u201D, and how does he reconcile his position with hers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec41b87faafd4dce90cf30a25028a8be\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: As I indicated to Stuff back in October last year, the Health Committee is free to hold inquiries about any topic it wishes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002239c486b7aaa247f8b5adba0ae9623526\u0022\u003EHon Michael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: Has he spoken to the chair of the Health Committee about a select committee inquiry into Pharmac and has he instructed the chair to vote against any motion to hold a select committee inquiry?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d0135a26f1e47c98127d18e29700d1e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member is asking the Minister whether he has breached privilege, and that is not the way it is done. The member might want to rephrase the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de574103bc03468a844966a93b663d48\u0022\u003EHon Michael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: Has he spoken to the chair of the Health Committee about an inquiry into Pharmac and what was the nature of that discussion?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7bf6fd55dc3485dbebc4570e8b92833\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: The chair of the select committee, from time to time, tells me what\u2019s going on on that committee, of course, and I follow with interest what\u2019s going on on that committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d1c3e81f929e464aad991bf469c28b49\u0022\u003EHon Michael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: Has he spoken to the chair of Pharmac about the possibility of a select committee inquiry and what was the nature of that discussion?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e145fdddf0f49e096de89f7059033d7\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: To my recollection, not in any recent period, no.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b756108f6f884a07bcbb3ea070ac343f\u0022\u003EHon Michael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: Will he give the House an assurance that neither he nor any ministerial colleague will involve themselves in the consideration by the select committee of an inquiry into Pharmac?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002217fb5bb9409e4c5c9e0bddaa5bfb5aa3\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: I do not intend to break Standing Orders or privilege.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229a6333ef0b474580a563a71eee9ffa63\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Revenue\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u0022f315dfac9a4f4088bdb84fd477428545\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f315dfac9a4f4088bdb84fd477428545\u0022\u003EDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Revenue: What measures, if any, are in place to ensure individual taxpayers pay the correct amount of tax if they work two or more jobs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022 data-id=\u002294fc8cfc7d7a4069972ed7d9862b74b5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002294fc8cfc7d7a4069972ed7d9862b74b5\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH (Minister of Revenue):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m happy to inform the House that as of Monday, workers who were paying too much tax because of incorrect secondary tax codes are in line for relief.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242136fcf6b2843018a8a80cf198a98eb\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Hear, hear!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226a4eee7160754085882b9de81e5da5fc\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. Until now, the tax on a second job has often been too high. More regular pay day information from employers allows the Inland Revenue Department to provide taxpayers with a tailored tax code so they are not overtaxed and they have more money in their pockets each week, rather than waiting for a refund at the end of the tax year. These changes ensure wage and salary earners are only paying the tax they should. This Government promised to eliminate unnecessary secondary tax for workers with more than one job, and we are delivering on that promise. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8bac157943f4bd2907cd56fa600f710\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Can one Minister answer the question, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229798551542f44aa58e6e254d37de32ff\u0022\u003EDr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: How many taxpayers will be helped by the new, tailored tax codes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6e80df243fe44c9a93d52d3de7b9c82\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: Four hundred and fifty-eight thousand people used secondary tax codes during the 2016-17 income year. Inland revenue estimates that 256,000 people with a tax refund of more than $50, and 119,000 people with tax to pay of more than $50 could benefit from these changes. As my good mate and colleague Fletcher Tabuteau has noted, \u201CMost of these individuals [who pay secondary tax] are struggling to make ends meet and can\u2019t afford to wait for a refund at the end of the year.\u201D I am disappointed that the other side of the House didn\u2019t want to support half a million hard-working Kiwis\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002235169fbbafdc43009be9252218c3f1a4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002235079039dd6948a09ebd71375098611c\u0022\u003EDr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: What assurances has the Minister received from the Inland Revenue Department about its ability to ensure these measures are implemented?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8514051d2d64a82b6de05bc53cdfba4\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: As well as tailored tax codes, on 1 April, it also allowed for 750,000 New Zealanders to receive their tax refunds automatically. These changes are made possible because of the Inland Revenue Department\u2019s Business Transformation Programme. The Inland Revenue Department assures me that this programme is on time and under budget. This is the Government\u2019s largest IT and transformation project, and much has been learnt from the Novopay disaster under the previous Government. Even KPMG, who regularly review the programme, have said to me that this is the best transformational project they have reviewed from across the globe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b1bbbe3cd55148e484869eb8d69b7259\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Regional Economic Development\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022859f64a591554ff9b0e43c450619abed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022859f64a591554ff9b0e43c450619abed\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call question No. 8, I will indicate to the House that the member asking the question has written to me pursuant to Standing Order 115(2). \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u0022d828f0414c054cb6ab8d284d4071b732\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d828f0414c054cb6ab8d284d4071b732\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022 data-id=\u0022b9582f8e06dc4e128ee91dbc6117750f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b9582f8e06dc4e128ee91dbc6117750f\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development):\u003C/span\u003E Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022937be68013d045c087ec7e9021db319b\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: After he told the New Zealand Herald yesterday, \u201CConstitutionally, I must not comment on the High Court case.\u201D, referring to a case between the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and Semenoff Logging, why did he then proceed to comment on the case?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226348fda39e884e07ba0b78b9b5aea76e\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: Naturally, I won\u2019t comment further on the case. The principles of comity and privilege are important constitutional privileges that define our system, but there is no stone that should be put upon the tongue of the champion of the regions to talk about the implications of decisions that our Government may from time to time be held accountable for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222085052cb6cc4d6b8611acf336e58d82\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Has he discussed the case with any officials or ministerial colleagues; if so, who?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3cfc92855da4e65b155fe19e954931d\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: I have had absolutely nothing to do with the decision associated with the NZTA, and, indeed, that\u2019s why the court case exists, as people are entitled to test whether or not statutory authority has been exceeded. I have not raised this matter with my fellow transport Ministers, and I have had one discussion\u2014very brief\u2014with the CEO of the NZTA. His name eludes me\u2014he\u2019s a short-term traveller.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d498b6047b3c4507bc704b7e47b0af5c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member will withdraw that last reflection on a member outside of\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a4754cc6f684a87b11cd82a85c9a685\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022440524619d974b2b975468321e982604\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Is Stan Semenoff his mother\u2019s cousin, as he told the Otago Daily Times in 2009 when explaining a $2,000 donation from him?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262f838a5a0bc40bfbcb7806eb93893e6\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: During the 2008 election, I declared, in 2009, that I had received a $2,000 koha\u2014contribution. Stan Semenoff\u2019s great-great-grandmother is my mother\u2019s great-great-great-grandmother.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222eb4fd10e9af4a4e986096b4884130ac\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Child Poverty Reduction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022695678cf-542a-4616-9e0a-86990caec192\u0022 data-id=\u00221c975c3a3e7742489035711cc8b04764\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022695678cf-542a-4616-9e0a-86990caec192\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221c975c3a3e7742489035711cc8b04764\u0022\u003EHon ALFRED NGARO (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: Why is it that seven of nine indicators for child poverty increased between 2017 and 2018?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u0022909d9a0bae324d92bf60263f5333ceff\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022909d9a0bae324d92bf60263f5333ceff\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Minister for Child Poverty Reduction):\u003C/span\u003E The statistics the member is referring to have been prepared for the purposes of creating baselines for the Child Poverty Reduction Act. The data is being generated by Statistics New Zealand and draws on data from the 2017-18 household economic survey and supplemented with administrative income data. I note, again, that the period covered takes us through to mid-2018, so his question might be better directed to himself and his Government than this one. I would note, though, to be fair, that most of these are within margin of error in terms of changes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022695678cf-542a-4616-9e0a-86990caec192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e7f7bbc8325491180f08bd73cb5d55a\u0022\u003EHon Alfred Ngaro\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister concerned that the growing costs of living such as rents and petrol could be causing hardship to the increase of 8,000 more children living in material hardship?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022854b51f3d6424190aed2a980bcf3f56a\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I highlight again: these are statistics that have been prepared in order to set baseline targets for the Child Poverty Reduction Act. It\u2019s data that takes us through to mid-2018. That\u2019s a particularly important point because it does mean that it didn\u2019t take into account, for instance, the winter energy payment, which affected around a million New Zealanders. It didn\u2019t take into account the Families Package, which, once in full force, will affect 384,000 families. It didn\u2019t take into account free doctors visits for those up to 14 years of age or the accommodation supplement changes, I believe, for the most part, as well. So a significant amount has happened in that period of time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022695678cf-542a-4616-9e0a-86990caec192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022565243d843984bfb859a6eedfd54e2b1\u0022\u003EHon Alfred Ngaro\u003C/span\u003E: What time line will she commit to in order to reduce those seven indicators of child poverty, which increased between 2017 and 2018?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4a845d1803c44788f442ed0fc3733b3\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: As the member will know, we\u2019ve committed to two sets of targets. We have three-year targets, which these now form the baseline rate for and which include the before-housing cost measure; the after-housing cost measure, set at 50 percent; and material hardship. We\u2019ve done the same again for the 10-year rates, which, overall, aim to essentially halve our rates of poverty in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022695678cf-542a-4616-9e0a-86990caec192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cb24c0388c734ee385c3a509de3a3b9d\u0022\u003EHon Alfred Ngaro\u003C/span\u003E: Considering the previous Government delivered on the nine indicators of reducing child poverty, will she now adopt their policy and practice?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280cdf06f52c8441584f48c0f980e1a88\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Actually, I think probably what you would have found is the same disappointing reality that we\u2019ve found\u2014that the initiatives that the last Government attempted to put in to make a difference to material hardship were grossly overestimated in terms of impact. We had the same experience with the estimates Treasury produced over our Families Package. However, we\u2019re still being advised that the Families Package will lift between 42,000 and 73,000 children out of poverty, which is a marked increase on the last Government\u2019s last Budget package.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c4c211a33f0f4617a5f7c58e77609df4\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Civil Defence\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022198caf4d19d044c8a0bab21ac723b3cb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022198caf4d19d044c8a0bab21ac723b3cb\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Civil Defence: What reports has he seen on the impacts from the storm that hit the West Coast of the South Island last week?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247567cf3b05b44f5bce6ddd57b85b39c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call the Hon Kris Faafoi, I have been warned that these answers are slightly longer than normal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022 data-id=\u0022744ddc5982e548818036a99d4f0b9e7f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022744ddc5982e548818036a99d4f0b9e7f\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Civil Defence):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019ve seen a number of reports since a local state of emergency was declared on Tuesday of last week by the district mayor and lifted on Friday of last week. During this time, flooding impacted private and public land, transport and communication links, and a number of infrastructure assets in the region. The rainfall impacted 23 properties, prompting evacuations in the Waiatoto area and damaging local roads. Farms along the Waiho River were also impacted by flooding, and significant damage was caused to stopbanks in the region. Along with local MP Damien O\u2019Connor, I visited the region last week to see first-hand the consequences and the response to the flooding, and was heartened by the demonstration of strength in the community. The legacy landfill site at Fox River has been severely eroded by the river, which has cut through bush, causing rubbish to be taken downstream and north through the northern drift at sea. Litter has been observed along approximately 20 kilometres of the riverbed and from the Fox River mouth as far as north \u014Ck\u0101rito, and the regional council is leading the clean-up effort there. Unfortunately, one person has died as a result of this weather event, and on behalf of Parliament, we offer the family and friends of this person our condolences.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022589c015a16df482b94ed677e741ba716\u0022\u003ERino Tirikatene\u003C/span\u003E: What updates has he received on the Waiho Bridge?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a01f4266bfb4368b5c7e2a4db5673e6\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: As the House would know, the Waiho Bridge was washed away during this event, cutting State Highway 6 to the south of the town and phone and internet services to Fox Glacier. State Highway 6 between Franz Josef and Fox Glacier remains closed as a result of the Waiho Bridge being washed away. I have been advised that the New Zealand Transport Agency and the New Zealand Defence Force continue to work establishing a replacement bridge across the Waiho River and that this will temporarily be repaired in approximately 17 days. This is slightly longer than initially anticipated as the design has been reworked to allow class 1 vehicles, which include some heavier trucks\u2014not just cars and buses\u2014to use this bridge.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223184fe16bcf8450e99524ab4b37606f3\u0022\u003ERino Tirikatene\u003C/span\u003E: What are the next steps for the recovery phase for this event?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222900cbc18da34bc7a5b2378ba6f4600b\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: The Westland District Council is now able to undertake recovery and planning from this event. Emergency works are under way on the south bank of the Waiho River to cut off channels currently flooding the Franz Josef airstrip. Chorus has installed temporary communication cables across the Waiho River, and Vodafone has installed a temporary cellphone tower near Fox Glacier to restore communicational links with that township. I\u2019m also pleased to inform the House that electricity generation has now been stabilised in Haast, with the power station generating electricity. There will be a requirement for planned outages in the future, but these will be part of programmed maintenance and not emergency works. Detailed assessments of stopbanks along the Waiho River downstream of Franz Josef are now being undertaken to determine the full extent of the damage. Farms that were cut off have contingencies being worked on to ensure cows are milked and milk is handled and disposed of appropriately. The Ministry for Primary Industries is now undertaking a needs assessment with affected property owners. A further assessment of property damage is being undertaken in South Westland by urban search and rescue teams, and while most people have been able to return to their homes and tourists affected by road closures have now been able to be moved on, a limited number of people continue to be assisted with accommodation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022181adb8e16eb4365a8a2eb9fa81c22a9\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014Corrections\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022 data-id=\u0022a237c65708fc4ec883f98e577edacad2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a237c65708fc4ec883f98e577edacad2\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT (National\u2014Hamilton East)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Corrections: What new measures, if any, has this Government introduced to ensure the safety of corrections officers while carrying out their duties?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022f32ed854f0ca4d1eab0a4c9fde54d05e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f32ed854f0ca4d1eab0a4c9fde54d05e\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister of Corrections):\u003C/span\u003E The biggest measure introduced by this Government is a commitment to safely reducing the prison population, which has seen the number of people in prison drop below 10,000. We\u2019ve also increased the number of front-line corrections officers by over 300, and having more corrections officers and fewer prisoners creates a safer working environment inside our prisons. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221062ff5a8dcc48ad984b87127d30c008\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: What action will the Minister take for the statistics that show assaults on corrections officers are trending up and in some cases doubling, meaning New Zealand\u2019s prisons are becoming a more dangerous place to work? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022454cac879b364ffbb3884187aafdf301\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s interesting to note that as the prison population has risen since 2009, nine-tenths of that time has been under the previous Government. The number of assaults has indeed increased, and, as I\u2019ve just said in the answer to the primary question, the biggest thing we can do is to continue to safely reduce the prison population. Fewer prisoners means less stress and less anxiety, and more corrections officers means they\u2019re able to deal with incidents. It creates a safer environment in prisons. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f7c5ff2f26a54e84ab4cf59332cdffeb\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister believe that prisoners who breach the rules of a prison, including assaulting corrections officers and putting their safety at risk, should continue to access programmes to assist them in getting parole? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c61480b330304dc78656dd2ba26068e5\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, Mr Speaker, I missed the last part of the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225af4ebf9b8994da6b1deeebbb6ad88a0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The last part of the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002201b68088f3cc42ad933b546b4babb3bb\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Should continue to access programmes to assist them in getting parole? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022959bd310968e42999e4531273db36937\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, it\u2019s essential that we do all we can to assist prisoners to become better people upon their release from prison than they were when they went into prison. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002203cd663e479643e3a05d96e4616e9229\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister taken any action following an assault at Auckland women\u2019s prison yesterday\u2014that the prison director visited the assailant prisoner to give her a hug and never met the prison officer? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226651c18502c94d4c82519037c198ef15\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: Whenever there is an assault on a prison officer, I make every attempt personally to contact that person. I express my gratitude for the job that they\u2019re doing. I assure them that they\u2019re in a very difficult job and that we really appreciate their efforts. I also apologise for the fact that they\u2019ve been assaulted. The response that I get probably nine times out of ten is that they didn\u2019t expect a phone call and they\u2019re very grateful for having a corrections Minister that actually cares. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281383924cc304885b50620d222f43dcb\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Because there\u2019s no 12th question, that concludes oral questions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00224f55a4d276f0450796fff556497f63a1\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022cf059dbc114d4ff1938817c133db8538\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022 data-id=\u00220dc998686d8046029c1d727d073d3700\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220dc998686d8046029c1d727d073d3700\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the House take note of miscellaneous business. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EI want to talk about something that you won\u2019t hear any of the Government members in their speeches talk about, and that\u2019s the economy. It\u2019s the economy, and we appreciate that maths isn\u2019t their good suit because today, actually, if you look at question time, we\u2019ve had question Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8\u2014they don\u2019t do that stuff so well. But it\u2019s remarkable, actually, that they don\u2019t want to talk about our economy and its growth and what\u2019s happening, given it\u2019s so crucial and it\u2019s so important to New Zealanders and what happens. It\u2019s what provides our jobs\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228fd629e29b12480e90a02df3e8b8e930\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Speech training. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022424a02761ee64b82b8d12b9db7f0013a\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and our opportunities. Winston Peters\u2014I think if he actually sits there long enough in deep contemplation, he would understand that young New Zealanders who want to get into apprenticeships for hairdressing, plumbing, and all of these things, who want the opportunities in life\u2014they know what the economy means to them. Actually, older workers who are looking for a second chance and opportunity, who want to get in and re-enter the workforce\u2014and I\u2019m not thinking about you here, Mr Peters, again\u2014they understand what it means\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227bd39f0347474ab185e5eccd6b973741\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I know that member has not been here for a long time, but he should know that he cannot refer to you in the debate, and when he\u2019s referring to me, he should call me by my proper name.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022df07ed5c07d84760ad516bc5f8709088\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think the member realised that he\u2019d made a mistake and corrected himself pretty quickly, therefore I felt like I didn\u2019t need to intervene. And I will remind the right honourable gentleman that it\u2019s my role, not his, to sort that out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c802b13a2cb6430aafa56a432bbf7a08\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: The Government\u2014and we just saw it there\u2014doesn\u2019t want to speak about the economy and the opportunities that there are for New Zealanders from a strong one. We know that\u2019s actually what pays for their health, their education, the safety, and the justice that they need. So today I asked the Prime Minister just a few very basic questions. One of them was: \u201CIs the economy getting weaker?\u201D And then she ducked, she dived. She would not answer that basic question that we should know the answer to. We should have a sense of that. But the facts are clear. Actually, before the last election, Treasury said 3.7 percent growth was coming in 2018; now it\u2019s 2.3 percent\u2014zero GDP growth per capita, per person. In the last week, all of the indicators from the various banks\u2014down, and significantly. The Reserve Bank is making it quite clear that they also see things shifting significantly to the downside. This Government is slowing down New Zealand. We made the boat go faster. They\u2019ve dropped anchor, and the rope is getting tight.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EWhy is that\u2014why is that? Well, Grant Robertson and the Prime Minister say it\u2019s all international factors\u2014that\u2019s what\u2019s doing all of this. But, as the ANZ\u2019s chief economist said this week, \u201CSo far, negative implications of the evident global slowing still belong in the risk camp.\u201D\u2014that is, they haven\u2019t happened. Treasury said just very recently, \u201COur trading partners have average growth of 3 to 4 percent still coming.\u201D\u2014they\u2019re still strong. So what is it that is meaning we have less growth and, ultimately, we will have less opportunities in New Zealand? Well, it\u2019s because businesses\u2014that we get out, on this side, and speak to every day of the week; small through large\u2014don\u2019t feel confident, at this time, to take on additional people. They don\u2019t feel confident, at this time, to buy extra plant, to take the risks that are required to get ahead and to do well in this country. That is why business confidence in this country is at the lowest it\u2019s been in a long time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EI say to Mr Peters\u2014who props this Government up\u2014there is no other scenario than that it is his Government\u2019s policies that are turning New Zealand\u2019s economy downward. And don\u2019t believe me, Mr Peters\u2014don\u2019t believe me. Ask yourself this: will a capital gains tax be good for business confidence and growth? Will it be that a fair pay agreement, as it\u2019s called\u2014re-unionising the workforce\u2014will be good for New Zealand\u2019s business confidence and growth? Will petrol taxes? Will oil and gas bans? Will foreign investment bans be good for New Zealand\u2019s business confidence and growth? Of course they won\u2019t.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003ESo I say to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, if things keep going as they are, there will be fewer jobs, there\u2019ll be fewer opportunities for young New Zealanders trying to get their foot on the ladder and for older New Zealanders trying to get a second chance. Stop and reassess what you\u2019re doing. Implement pro-growth policies. Work with businesses so that New Zealanders have the opportunities they expect and deserve to stay in our great country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022 data-id=\u0022307edb60580b4ec88821e9f6a2cb0ac7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022307edb60580b4ec88821e9f6a2cb0ac7\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m going to start my debate speech by saying: \u201CPlease, National Party, keep Simon Bridges on as your leader.\u201D We heard from the leader of the National Party this afternoon. We heard his very narrow view of what success for this country is, and it\u2019s that narrow view that got us into trouble when they were leading this country for the previous nine years. Economic success so narrowly defined, as it has been in the House today by Simon Bridges, led to rocketing levels of New Zealanders living in homelessness. It saw the degradation of our health system and it saw the running down of our education system. Lack of investment in things that matter to New Zealand and New Zealanders\u2014and he\u2019s trying to scream that that was a success for the nine years that they were in Government. Well, it wasn\u2019t. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003EWe heard from Mr Bridges about an apparent lack of focus on employment and work in this country. Well actually, I\u2019ve been privy to information that cites very clearly that under their watch, agencies like the Ministry of Social Development had a significant but steady decline in things like work-focused case management while they were in Government; less of a focus on actually supporting New Zealanders in work. Part of that was because of the lack of investment in that space, but part of that was because of the fact that under their watch, hardship went up, housing demand went up, and therefore they had less resource to put into supporting New Zealanders into meaningful employment. So I don\u2019t want to hear from the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Bridges, about our apparent lack of focus on employment on this side of the House, because I know that we\u2019re doing it. He wanted to talk about things like apprenticeships. Well, our announcements around Mana in Mahi\u2014that responds to our apparent lack of focus on employment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re all about getting people into jobs on the side of the House and making sure that they\u2019re better off. But our focus is on making sure that that\u2019s sustainable, that they get into meaningful, long-term employment that is sustainable, and that, where necessary, they are supported with the upskilling and training that they need to be able to take on that meaningful employment\u2014a much more rounded, holistic focus than that side of the House ever did have when they were in Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003EI want to refer to some of the changes that came in on 1 April\u2014so on Monday this week. This side of the House is very proud of the fact that we have made one of the most significant shifts with regards to the minimum wage compared to any previous Government, shifting it to $17.70 an hour. As of 1 April, there will be 200,000 New Zealanders that benefit from that minimum wage increase, and we\u2019re not going to resile from the fact that that\u2019s a good thing. While we\u2019re on this side of the House trying to drive up wages and make sure that New Zealanders are well and truly better off, that side of the House is still driving towards trying to put those wages down, which makes absolutely no sense to us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003EI have to say it\u2019s not just the 200,000 New Zealanders that benefit directly from an increase in the minimum wage but New Zealanders across the country will benefit from that increase. I need to refer to one of those groups being our senior citizens who are on superannuation. We know that rises in superannuation are attached to rises in the median wage across this country, and we saw one of the most significant increases in our superannuation as of 1 April because of the significant increase in wages that we\u2019ve seen in this country. So our superannuitants will benefit from the increase in the minimum wage and wages overall by a 2.6 percent increase because of the fact that we have been able to drive wages up. So I\u2019m sure it\u2019s not just the 200,000 New Zealanders who benefit from a minimum wage increase directly that are out there celebrating but also the 780,000 New Zealanders who receive superannuation who benefited by the 2.6 percent increase on Monday. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003EWe on this side of the House know that New Zealand is heading in the right direction under this Government. This Government is demonstrating, under the leadership of our wonderful Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, a new kind of leadership, proving that it is possible, while not losing sight of issues pertaining to the economy, to be that kind, to be that compassionate Government that makes a difference\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=\u00228500a7e88e4d4cd78720e8efd4d7b152\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228500a7e88e4d4cd78720e8efd4d7b152\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member\u2019s time has expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022 data-id=\u00228d13f05878c34e29b494691f004adb39\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228d13f05878c34e29b494691f004adb39\u0022\u003EHon AMY ADAMS (National\u2014Selwyn):\u003C/span\u003E There is no doubt in the minds of any sensible economic commentator\u2014including the Reserve Bank, including Treasury, including the bank economists\u2014that the New Zealand economy is getting weaker. Everybody knows that; everyone can see it. It is patently clear, and yet both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance utterly failed today to accept and acknowledge the thing that is so clear to everyone, which is that our economy is getting slower. Much as they try and say \u201COh, everything\u2019s fine here, but the international stuff is a problem.\u201D, that simply doesn\u2019t bear scrutiny.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003EYou just look back at what Treasury themselves said in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update in December. They said that our trading partners\u2019 growth rate is expected to stay between 3 and 4 percent a year for the next five years. Now, we\u2019re a trading economy. We make our income selling to those countries, and the countries we sell to are doing extraordinarily well. Our commodity prices are up. Our trading partners are buying what we\u2019ve got to sell. So why have we lost a third of our economic growth rate in just a year\u2014a third in one year\u2014under the watch of Grant Robertson?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003EI can tell you how it happens. It happens when Ministers in the Government ignore the views of business. They say businesses opinion is junk\u2014they don\u2019t care. They say the advice of officials like the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Treasury know nothing. They don\u2019t take the advice on things like the oil and gas exploration ban, because apparently they know far better. They don\u2019t accept that minimum wage rates too far too fast put up prices and help hurt the very workers they\u2019re trying to help.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003EWell, I would just direct Ministers to have a look at what that New Zealand Institute of Economic Research said in their latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion just this week, where businesses are overwhelmingly saying they will be putting up prices. Now, that comes on the back of rents already having gone up $40 a week because of the policies of this Government. So those very workers they say they\u2019re all about are going to face higher prices, higher rents, higher taxes, and a slowing economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003ESo when Megan\u2014sorry, not Megan. I apologise\u2014you caught the corner of my eye. When Carmel Sepuloni stands here and says the economy doesn\u2019t matter, that right there is the problem of this Government. They don\u2019t understand the economy pays for healthcare. The economy is jobs to New Zealanders. The economy is what determines whether we can have cancer treatment drugs, how many nurses and doctors and midwives we can employ, and whether we can build roads. It determines whether New Zealanders have incomes that let them get ahead. So when you hear Government Ministers say \u201CWe know more than all of the economists, the Reserve Bank, Treasury, and MBIE\u2014almost any source of advice. We know more.\u201D and the economy is going backwards as a result, it is time for them to sit up and listen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003EWhen the economy has lost a third of its momentum in one year, the answer is not put up taxes. That is the only response we\u2019re hearing from the other side of the House: \u201CWe need more of New Zealanders\u2019 money to spend. We don\u2019t care that things are getting tougher out there for New Zealanders.\u201D In fact, per person we\u2019ve gone nowhere for six months. None of that matters to the Government. All they want to know is how they can get more money out of New Zealanders\u2019 pockets for them to spend. That is outrageous, it is poor management, it is negligent, and it is real New Zealanders who hurt because of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dc6c0f88-e781-476d-bca1-d1bf9b69302b\u0022\u003ESo I say to the Government this: if you pretend to care at all about real New Zealanders, their jobs, their houses, and their opportunities to get ahead, don\u2019t put more taxes in a slowing economy. You cannot tax this country into prosperity. You cannot legislate New Zealanders to have better opportunities. It only comes when we have a private sector made up of people who would take a risk, put their own money on the line, and create those jobs and those opportunities. They do it despite the Government, despite the taxes, and despite the red tape and compliance. Yet on the other side of the House we\u2019ve got a team of people who\u2019ve never done it a day in their life, don\u2019t know what it is to run a business, and don\u2019t fundamentally get what drives the economy. That\u2019s why in one year this country has lost a third of its success rate, at a time when the rest of the world that we sell to is doing well. That is a tragedy, and it is why on this side of the House we are not going to sit quietly and let Grant Robertson waffle on about well-being while the economy is going to the dogs under his watch. It is not good enough.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022 data-id=\u0022e12c2f0c21734641a493143034293d1e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e12c2f0c21734641a493143034293d1e\u0022\u003EHon PEENI HENARE (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare. Tuatahi m\u0101ku, e tangi m\u014Dteatea ana te iwi M\u0101ori; te kahurangi Lady June Mead kua ngaro atu ki te p\u014D. Ng\u0101 whakaaro nui ki a ia, \u0101, ko tana hoa, me te wh\u0101nau pani i t\u0113nei w\u0101. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Speaker. Firstly for me, the M\u0101ori people are grieving; the distinguished Lady June Mead has passed away. High regards to her, and to her husband, and the grieving family at this time.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EFirst off, I just wanted to pay our collective tribute to Lady June Mead, who passed away in recent days. Not only a backbone for her great husband and academic Sir Hirini Moko Mead, but also an educationalist in her own right\u2014a wahine toa who raised her family and, indeed, a community to stand up for what is right, to represent M\u0101oridom within the education system. I want to express our condolences to the family today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EIt was interesting when we heard the debate from across the other side of the House and we listened to the Leader of the Opposition, who talked about a boat. He said that this side of the House is slowing the boat down, and when they were in charge, the boat was going really fast. I\u2019m always reminded of the viral YouTube clip of seven individuals in a speedboat all of a sudden coming to a crashing halt. Now, if you haven\u2019t seen it, simply YouTube it and you will find it there, because it reminds me of what happened when they were in control. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EWhen that side of the House was in control of the Government purse strings, what happened? Sure, they celebrated what they termed a rock star economy. What we\u2019ve seen in our time in Government was that, actually, there was a festering social issue here in this country, and it certainly was more was pertinent to the inequities that are realised in our communities, the inequities that are realised in our society, and on this side of the House we want to address those first and foremost. For what is the point of a productive economy without a productive nation or a productive people? If we want to sit, with regarding issues to mental health and to many of the inequities in our community, then we would have continued to travel on the path that the National Government took us upon. But we\u2019ve picked up the challenge, one that deals with the serious issues\u2014the festering issues, as my colleague has mentioned\u2014that have been ignored for far too long. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EIn a more positive light\u2014in recent times, the lifting of the minimum wage. Now, as Minister for Youth, this is important. Why? Because our young people right up and down this country are looking for opportunities not just in education but in employment. They didn\u2019t feel valued in the work that they did. They felt that they were being taken advantage of. Now we have a pathway that actually says \u201CWe value the work that you do in your community and for yourself and for your family and for your future prosperity.\u201D We want to lift the minimum wage to make sure that those who are working are paid fairly. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003ENow, Mr Bridges, he mentioned that we don\u2019t believe in fair pay. Well, if ever there was a signal that we do believe in fair pay, it is that we have a plan to continue to lift the minimum wage in this country whereby people can live successful lives, can live lives of purpose and meaning, and I think that\u2019s only fair. As Minister for Youth, it is one of the biggest issues that continues to be raised with me as I travel up and down the country, as young people mention to me that they want to be valued in the community that they live in, and I believe lifting the minimum wage is a way to do that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EAnother thing they mention to me is around secondary tax. We know that young people, those at university, those in their senior years at college, often work numerous jobs\u2014numerous jobs. Not just one job at the local fish and chip shop, but numerous jobs, whether it be in the orchards, whether it be in supermarkets, whether it be in takeaways\u2014anywhere in the community, they work numerous jobs, and they\u2019ve always had an issue trying to understand what secondary tax means. We\u2019ve got the answer for them. In fact, on Monday just gone, we\u2019ve made that far clearer for them, and we have a plan to make sure that those who are working in secondary jobs can actually clearly understand their tax obligations and make sure that they aren\u2019t paying more than they need to. I\u2019m excited about that, because as Minister for Youth, I\u2019ve heard it up and down the country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EFinally, they talk about business confidence. I want to just remind the House that, actually, business and the self-employed will be better off through our reductions to the ACC levies, and that\u2019s an important one. In fact, around $100 million over the next two years will be of benefit to business and the positions that they have in caring for and employing New Zealanders right up and down this country. On this side of the House, our leader has shown that we can lead the country in a different direction and a positive one, and I want to commend her.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u0022c07ec762a75e4d47ad023cce7585f2ad\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c07ec762a75e4d47ad023cce7585f2ad\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I remember, in this chair about a year ago, standing and asking the economic development spokesperson for this Government, Mr Parker, what he thought about the falling business confidence levels in this country. It was plunging in the middle of last year down to levels not seen since the global financial crisis, which everybody thought was a bit strange, given the fact that the New Zealand economy had great momentum, was still growing strong, and yet business confidence was falling through the floor. And what did Mr Parker say? He said, \u201COh, business confidence surveys are junk\u2014they\u2019re junk, and they don\u2019t mean anything.\u201D Well, funnily enough, since that point\u2014since that point, when business confidence surveys were showing that confidence was falling through the floor\u2014the New Zealand economy has slowed down, and we\u2019ve seen clear evidence of that today and in the last few months. So we\u2019ve seen in the last half of last year New Zealand\u2019s real GDP per person has gone zero\u2014has not grown at all. So as a result of the falling level of business confidence, a result of people keeping their hands in their pockets and not investing in new businesses, not taking new chances, not starting new businesses and buying new plant and investing in growth, the New Zealand economy is slowing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ENow, people are taking a while to feel the effects of that because we\u2019ve had such a long period of great growth and the economy continues to have momentum. If you walk down through Auckland, where I live, there are cranes everywhere, and so people see activity. But make no mistake about it. At the last time of the election, it was predicted that the growth in 2018 would be 3.7 percent, and it turned out that it\u2019s been 2.3 percent. Now, this Government does not want to take responsibility for that, but they should, because the 200 working groups that they\u2019ve established on all sorts of topics, most of all on tax, have led to an incredible amount of uncertainty out there in the community. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EAgain, where do we get our jobs, our opportunities from, here in the public\u2014where do we get our opportunities to get a good income, get a good job, and provide for our families? Well, we get it from somebody somewhere making an investment and starting a business. Well, they\u2019re less likely to do that when they\u2019re not sure whether they have to pay a capital gains tax on that investment. We had the previous speaker saying, you know, \u201CWe\u2019ve reduced the ACC levies.\u201D Well, that\u2019s great, but it doesn\u2019t make up for proposing that you\u2019re going to put a 33 percent capital gains tax on every one of the 500,000 small businesses in this country. You spend your whole life building up a business, reinvesting your tax-paid profits in order to grow the business, and at the end of it, you\u2019ll get taxed again for any gain that you\u2019ve made, so why would people do that? So this Government needs to take responsibility for that\u2014for the uncertainty around tax, all the costs that they\u2019ve piled on to business. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve heard about the minimum wage. Yes, of course, everybody wants to have higher wages, but they have to be based on productivity, have to be based on producing something more. Otherwise, if you\u2019re an exporter from New Zealand and your cost is going up 27 percent in terms of labour over three years\u2014well, there\u2019s no magic about it. The people over in Germany or China or whatever who are buying the products can go somewhere else if our costs have gone up 27 percent. We\u2019ll just go out of business. So it has to be related to productivity. If you\u2019re running a cafe or a shop and you\u2019re selling people coffee and your costs are going up 27 percent\u2014well, that\u2019s discretionary spending. People can just stop buying their coffee. If the coffee costs $6, well, they won\u2019t buy it, and so those businesses will go out of business. So it has to be based on reality. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EFinally, I want to talk about Shane Jones. People are, obviously, worried about the $3 billion that\u2019s been spent by that particular Minister, who has shown himself to not understand the basic rules around how Ministers should act. He\u2019s been very loose around declaring perceived conflicts of interest in the past, and now, just today, we\u2019ve seen him interfering in an independent decision-making process that the NZTA\u2014the New Zealand Transport Agency\u2014is responsible for over local\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002256660afaade94d9ea4081430ebf7ff4e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022988f4e324ca34fc4a19bca70bcbd0644\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, he\u2019s made some public statements saying that this shouldn\u2019t happen. So most people would normally assume, well, why would you say a public thing about something that the NZTA has got a clear regulatory responsibility for? So I think he needs to be much, much more careful and disciplined in the way that he goes about making public statements as a Minister. He doesn\u2019t seem to have learnt that basic requirement to stick to his knitting. The ministry and the Government make the rules\u2014in the case of the transport agency, they are responsible for prosecutions and actually implementing the regulations\u2014and Ministers shouldn\u2019t be putting pressure on those organisations. So he has to learn that and he has to take responsibility for it. We\u2019ve heard today that he has a connection with the person that he\u2019s lobbying on behalf of. Again, he needs to think very, very carefully about how he acts in his\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=\u00220d0f576ff31646498d88562d2a687365\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220d0f576ff31646498d88562d2a687365\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member\u2019s time has concluded.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022 data-id=\u0022c4470d0aeac14034abe72decf45b5d51\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c4470d0aeac14034abe72decf45b5d51\u0022\u003EHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Pacific Peoples):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019ve never heard so much hogwash and poppycock coming from that side, claiming how bad the economy is. Let\u2019s just clear up the air here: the economy is moving steadily, it is stable, and it is outperforming many other economies in the international community. Our interest rates are low, the fixed rates for two years on a mortgage is less than 4 percent, the floating rate is less than 6 percent, and people are employed and they\u2019re feeling positive in the community. So I don\u2019t understand. The other side think just because they own a business, they know how to run a business; those are two different things. So I want them to understand that this Government is very different in the way that it approaches our economy today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EFirstly, I want to acknowledge the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, and the great leadership that she is providing. I want to acknowledge also the Rt Hon Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First and the Deputy Prime Minister, and the leadership that he is providing in working with the Prime Minister. I acknowledge also the leadership of the Green Party. You see, for the first time ever, New Zealanders are beginning to better understand what \u201Ccoalition Government\u201D means. This coalition Government is demonstrating\u2014for all of New Zealand to know\u2014a new kind of leadership, a new kind of leadership that is proving that you can be responsible stewards of the economy and also promote good values: values of compassion, values of kindness, values of aroha, and values of manaakitanga\u2014which makes New Zealand different from any other country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003ECompare that to the last nine years that that lot were in Government. They weren\u2019t governing for all of New Zealand; they were governing for a few. They got so fixated with tax cuts that the rest of New Zealand bought into that greed, and what was left was an economy that this Government is now having to fix, an economy where we\u2019re having to rebuild and restore the foundations of health, of education, of building more houses, and of lifting incomes for the workforce, because for the last nine years they kept denying it, because they weren\u2019t governing for all of New Zealand; they were governing for the few. That\u2019s not what this Government is about, and so we are governing for all of New Zealand. This Government is on track to deliver better outcomes for New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EEarlier this week, the Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson, announced that we were on track and that there is a lot of work that this Government will do. Our focus now is about ensuring that we\u2019re transforming this economy into more modern, more productive, more inclusive, and more higher-salary wages. We\u2019re focusing on ensuring that greater support is given to business, to workers, and to families. So this week we saw $1 billion in R \u0026amp; D tax incentives\u201415 percent tax credits for those businesses spending a minimum of $50,000. That\u2019s about generating more innovation and more creativity in our economy, increasing the ambition to be modern navigators of the technological world. There\u2019s a drop in ACC levies from 72 percent to 67 percent. Workers will now have better support around KiwiSaver contribution rates of 6 to 10 percent, and more workers will be able to sign up, with 65-year-olds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EThe one thing I want to really emphasise is the increase of the minimum wage to $16.70\u2014the greatest increase in history. Why is that important? Because by giving money to those who are the lowest paid of our economy, it\u2019s showing that we\u2019re sharing a bit of the pie here. Workers at the bottom generally put back that money into the economy through rent, through food, and through a host of other expenses. So there\u2019s a ripple effect in terms of when you\u2019re increasing incomes for low-income people through their contribution to the economy. There\u2019s a flow-on effect to that, which that lot there continues to fail to understand and recognise. So when they\u2019re harping on about how \u201CThis is going to harm business.\u201D\u2014that is wrong. Just because they think they own a business doesn\u2019t mean they know how to run a business, and, for the last nine years in Government, that reflects how bad they are at working and managing the economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022 data-id=\u002226f3f189baae48d28ec23191abb550f3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002226f3f189baae48d28ec23191abb550f3\u0022\u003EHon JACQUI DEAN (National\u2014Waitaki):\u003C/span\u003E The speech that has just been given to the House illustrates very perfectly just why this current Government is not trusted to run the economy of New Zealand. The speech we have just heard from the other side of the House illustrates very, very clearly and underlines just why the latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion has got, for the first time in six years, business confidence tanking to below the level of 2008. GDP has slowed under this Government. It has got nothing to do with international trading conditions. It\u2019s got nothing to do with international economies; those are only being signalled. There is only a watch on those external economies. That is just signalling a Government in denial.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EI want to go back to the contribution made by the Hon Peeni Henare, Minister for Youth, who talked about the impact of the sudden and significant 7 percent rise in the minimum wage and how good it is for young people. The flip side to that point of view is that it is those very same young people who are just starting out in work who will be the very first people to be let go by businesses who can\u2019t afford to sustain that sudden, dramatic 7 percent increase in their wage bill. If you think about small-business confidence and if you think about that 7 percent increase in the wage bill just on its own, let alone some of the other impacts that this Government is having on small business, it is that hiring intentions are going down. Who\u2019s going to miss out? It\u2019s going to be the young people who are the first to be let go, to have their hours cut at the supermarket. Yes, the supermarket and the fish and chip shop. We all started there or in the corner dairy\u2014in my case, in the fish and chip shop. But they will be the very first people who will find that their hours have been cut or that there is no work for them this weekend because, in a small business, what will happen, and what is happening now, is that the small-business owner will take those shifts themselves because they cannot sustain a 7 percent sudden rise in their costs without doing something.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EIt is well known\u2014and if only members of the Government actually talked to small-business people, they would find out for themselves\u2014that small-business owners pay everyone else first. They pay people they owe money to first, they pay their wages first, and if they don\u2019t have any money left over at the end of the month, well, they don\u2019t pay themselves, and they do that because the thought is that they invest everything\u2014everything\u2014into their small business because they anticipate, at the end, after they\u2019ve built this business up and they put it on the market, they will get a decent capital gain. There is the reward for the risk they\u2019ve taken, all the hard work they\u2019ve taken, all the shifts they\u2019ve done themselves on the weekend, weekend after weekend after weekend. They can then enjoy the fruits, literally, of their labours in capital gain. Well, not under this Government; under this Government, they will then lose a third\u2014a third\u2014of that, and I can tell you, I can tell the House, that I talk to small-business owners, my colleagues talk to small-business owners, and they are telling us one thing and one thing only: it\u2019s that the policies of this Government are firmly anti-business, and we are beginning to reap the rewards of those policies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s not just minimum wage. It\u2019s labour relations. It\u2019s access to good quality, skilled staff. I\u2019ve got a six-week backlog of work application appeals into the immigration department. Six weeks it is taking them to process immigration work visas. Well, that\u2019s the fruit season done and dusted. It is simply not good enough for this Government to see only one side of the equation. Of course we all support, and in Government did increase, the minimum wage, but it was done at a sustainable rate for small business. Unfortunately, this Government is surely killing the golden goose, and business confidence tanking is the proof of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002275dcab1eb93c46aab398355f840c224f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002275dcab1eb93c46aab398355f840c224f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\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=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u0022e1b040d4894742b0bf3d0e25a0afb9fe\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e1b040d4894742b0bf3d0e25a0afb9fe\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E What a miserable, cold-hearted speech that was, denying the very lowest-earning citizens in our country the right to a fair day\u2019s pay for a fair day\u2019s work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI want to take up Simon Bridges\u2019 challenge from before, because I want to talk about the economy. I am up for that. He talked about the need for the boat to go faster, but if the boat is going to go faster and we\u2019re going to build a strong First World economy, we need to own the damned boat. We are too busy in this country selling off the family silver, and I can tell you, lost in the events of the last few weeks, we have the proposed sale of Westland Milk Products\u2014a 125-year-old farmer-owned cooperative proudly built up by generations of farmers on the West Coast, and I understand the roots of that go back as far as 160 years. So we urge the shareholders of Westland Milk Products to think long and hard before they sell their family silver, particularly those at the most extreme ends of the coast. It is a very big geographical area, and you will end up, after that 10-year period, being price takers at the end of a supply chain dominated by a foreign multinational.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, this Government has not been a passive bystander. We have sought to get alongside Westland and offer some financing to allow them to progress their value-added strategy, but alas. Of course, the National Party don\u2019t care; they\u2019ve got previous on this\u2014Silver Fern Farms, our biggest meat exporter. They waved that goodbye without even a song or dance, without even a fight. They were prepared, as they always are, to sell us out to the highest bidder. I was involved in that deal, and I know that there was a consortium of New Zealand companies ready to step in, and they could have facilitated that and they did not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EForeign investment can, of course, be positive. It is not necessarily all bad. It can provide capital where it\u2019s needed and access to markets, but you can get too much of a good thing, and every year we get to repent as we send $5 billion a year away in dividends to our foreign-owned banks. Anyone in Bowen House or the Beehive, look out your window and see that pile of logs sitting on the port\u201470 percent ownership of our forestry industry. Our own timber mills cannot get access to the logs, because those foreign-owned logs are going offshore to create jobs for other countries and for other companies. So even Fran O\u2019Sullivan, that doyenne of neo-liberal economics, is now calling today on our Government to have a national strategy around these economically significant companies. Why is that important? Yesterday, it was Silver Fern Farms; today, it\u2019s Westland Milk. What happens if tomorrow they\u2019re coming for Alliance Group, the world\u2019s biggest exporter of sheep meat? What happens if they come for Zespri or, heaven forbid, if they come for Fonterra? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI am calling on Minister Parker to bring forward the second part of the Overseas Investment Act. He acted decisively in the case of housing, where we noted that it was not in the national interest to have foreign buyers bidding up houses, putting affordability of housing beyond our own people. He has acted decisively before and I know he believes in this stuff. He is, in many respects, more New Zealand First than New Zealand First, and I call upon him to act. If we don\u2019t, we will be, as John Key referenced\u2014pretty holey I might add, because he didn\u2019t do anything about it\u2014we will turn into peasants in our own land. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EWe must own those value chains. The reason we must do that is because the margins are much greater nearer the consumer end. If we don\u2019t own those value chains then we just risk being those price takers at the end of supply chains. As farmers, particularly, we\u2019re vulnerable; we are a collection of small businesses. If we don\u2019t have the protection of those significant\u2014particularly those cooperatives that are motivated to return the highest dividend to their farmers, then we are incredibly vulnerable. Our biggest industries, the ones that pay the bills, the ones that pay for the health, and the education, and the superannuation, they are our key industries and we need to make sure we have some control and we are protecting them. It is time for us to act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022 data-id=\u0022001e13a27ec147389a45cdada746bf64\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022001e13a27ec147389a45cdada746bf64\u0022\u003ETODD MULLER (National\u2014Bay of Plenty):\u003C/span\u003E This is the first time I\u2019ve had the opportunity to stand up since the events of 15 March, so I would like to acknowledge the appalling loss of life, the courage of our police officers, the commitment of our ambulance and hospital staff, and the love and care of not only Christchurch but of the wider community, including Tauranga, in the response that has occurred. There has been a remarkable response in this House too. Can I acknowledge, in my view, the exemplary response from the Prime Minister. Can I acknowledge the Christchurch MPs, who, yet again, when their community are confronted with an extraordinary amount of pain and loss, have led, collectively, a response which this House is proud of. They do themselves and this House proud.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EThis spirit of bipartisan response has continued on in the gun reform laws that we\u2019re reflecting this week. Can I acknowledge Simon Bridges and our caucus for playing a particular part in ensuring that we have a bipartisan approach to what is clearly a critical issue in this country. I think what it does is it brings into acute relief the fact that there are certain issues that, because of their scale, global complexity, and challenge, call out for a bipartisan approach, if at all possible, to the dealing of them and the managing of them. I\u2019m involved in one of those issues at the moment: climate change. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EI would like to say that we have been involved very closely in a process over the last few months in working with my opposite, James Shaw, to see if we can collectively design an institution, a climate change commission, that would stand above the day-to-day politics and advise successive Parliaments in terms of how you wrestle down the emissions. We are still in that conversation. We are certainly closer to the end than the beginning, and I remain confident that we will be able to land an outcome that meets the public\u2019s expectation of bipartisan approach to an issue of that substance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EBut I think the real test will be beyond the establishment of an institution in climate change, and as to whether there is any capacity for this House to have an alignment in respect to the policy responses that ultimately have to be considered when you reflect on climate change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll give you three examples. The first example is the application of science\u2014not just some science but all science\u2014to what is described as one of the great challenges of our generation. We have scientists now based in Palmerston North that are on the cusp of some fantastic innovations that can be applied in the medium term to be able to manage our response to this issue. I think the test, from a policy perspective, is: are we going to run to our particular corners around opposing aspects of science because they don\u2019t deliver against our historic political narrative or, actually, are we going to see the opportunity collectively to apply all of the science and innovation of tools that are at our disposal to actually manage this particular issue?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EThe second example is how we approach agricultural emissions. However you look at this, there is, ultimately, a judgment around sequence and pace. Firstly, you need to be able to measure effectively. Then you can manage if you have that clear picture, and then, if you have tools available to be able to mitigate, you can bring those two approaches together to make some difference. There is opportunity, potentially, for some alignment around how we do that, but that requires some consideration around what is the appropriate sequence and pace.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003EThe third example of an issue that I think needs to be relooked at is the oil and gas ban\u2014$27 billion worth of economic impact. I think many of us know in this House that that was predominantly a position that was driven by political rhetoric and optics. There is so much oil and gas contribution to the global economy that is expected to still be front of mind over the next 20, 30, and 40 years. So the question should be: do we collectively have the capacity to look at an issue like that and acknowledge that if you have made a political statement that will ultimately cost an economy a huge amount of money, do you have the capacity to revisit it under the framework that is being proposed, so that when we look at issues as material and significant as climate change, we bring the best of our thinking collectively to the issue of managing it in the future? Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022 data-id=\u00221553df429aef439dbcb6a3dbc3dfe76b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221553df429aef439dbcb6a3dbc3dfe76b\u0022\u003EPRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. Despite the doom and gloom that the Leader of the Opposition was trying to convince himself of, and the rest of New Zealand, the sad news for him and members opposite and the good news for the rest of us is that New Zealand\u2019s economy is doing well, particularly relative to many of our counterparts and especially given the current context, which is one of global volatility. We\u2019ve heard from the finance Minister that the books are in surplus, unemployment is low, and even if we\u2019re not immune to them, we are in a position to withstand economic headwinds. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EThat being said, what\u2019s even more exciting is what we\u2019re actually doing with that economic growth. As members before me have said, we know that as of Monday net superannuation and veterans pension rates went up 2.6 percent. We know that New Zealanders are living longer. We know that about 780,000 people are receiving either one of those benefits and must be able to lead fulfilling lives and to age positively. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EWe also know that the minimum wage increased by $1.20 to $17.70 on Monday, which was the biggest increase in dollar terms at one go. That translates to about $48 per week for those on the minimum wage who work a 40-hour week. Compare that to a total of $3.75 over nine years of the previous Government, according to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment data that we have. Now, why is it important? Why is it important that we actually work to increase the minimum wage? We know that the cost of living has gone up, but what does that actually mean? It\u2019s gone up steadily over the last decade. We know that food prices fluctuate because of different seasons, because of weather conditions, because, also, the previous Government increased GST from 12.5 percent to 15 percent to pay for income tax cuts. We also know that rent has increased faster than inflation, we\u2019re told by people like the New Zealand Property Investors Federation. We know that power has gone up drastically since 1990. Residential prices have gone up 79 percent when adjusted for inflation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EWhat does this mean for people, though? It reminds me of an elderly Indian woman I met last year, who told me she works for a company that I won\u2019t name, but it\u2019s a big company. She\u2019s worked with them for about 26 years, and for 26 years she\u2019s been on the minimum wage. So if Governments don\u2019t increase the minimum wage, what it really means, and we can stand here and argue ad nauseum about\u2014what was it, hiring costs or whatever\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002256746743f23847139867d507e4e8267a\u0022\u003EHon Jacqui Dean\u003C/span\u003E: Intentions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002206a3aceccba84797bf93f21d0c53b9af\u0022\u003EPRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014intentions, thank you, Jacqui Dean\u2014hiring intentions and things like that, but if we don\u2019t increase the minimum wage, it actually boils down to people not being able to eat. So for an average family of two adults and two children, after you take away the various costs of living, what I\u2019m told is that they have about $40 to live on, on average. If we don\u2019t increase the minimum wage, people cannot eat. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019m incredibly concerned and incredibly worried when I see, for example, a tweet by Henry Cooke, who\u2019s a senior political reporter for Stuff, who said yesterday, and I quote, \u201CSimon Bridges refused to rule out lowering the minimum wage if elected in 2020 when I asked him today,\u201D. That was yesterday. So an Opposition, a previous Government, that makes noises about how people should be cared for and that they care for those on the lowest wages and so on and so forth\u2014but their leader will not rule out cutting the minimum wage if they\u2019re elected. So I think of the 200,000-odd people who have benefited from this increased $48 that this Government has put in place for them, and I say that we should all be very afraid. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EWe should also be afraid when the Hon Amy Adams talks about the Minister of Finance \u201Cwaffling on about well-being\u201D, and I say to her: he aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. We need to walk the talk, and the well-being of the people that we\u2019re elected to serve in this House should be central to all that we do. We shouldn\u2019t just be talking the talk. We should actually put that into principles and make sure that everything we do here benefits the people we\u2019re elected to serve. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022 data-id=\u00225c0a6b507be1478aa59c2988b8726502\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225c0a6b507be1478aa59c2988b8726502\u0022\u003EJAN TINETTI (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s not often that in a general debate you get to stand up and talk after one of my own colleagues, and it\u2019s somewhat a wee bit limiting, because I have to say I absolutely totally tautoko and agree with what my colleague has said. So it\u2019s hard to get anything out of what the other side have said at that time. [Interruption] I know, Mr McAnulty. I, though, would like to go back to what some of the Opposition have said about confidence being low. Well, that\u2019s certainly not what I see when I\u2019ve been out working and talking to businesses. And having been a small business owner myself, that\u2019s not what I hear when I\u2019m around the traps.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EIn fact, talking with people last week on the journeys that I was doing and the discussions that I was having during our time back in our communities, one particular discussion that I want to talk about was a hap\u016B of Ngati Porou, actually, on the Coromandel. They talked about the conditions being right now for them to advance their rangatahi, their young people in their hap\u016B. They talked about initiatives. They talked about the confidence that they have with the climate that\u2019s around them at the moment and the climate of this Government wanting to move conditions forward, the economy to go forward\u2014that their young people can survive, and not just survive but thrive. And that\u2019s what it\u2019s about and that\u2019s what this Government\u2019s about. It\u2019s about giving opportunities. It\u2019s about moving our economy and moving our country forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EAt the beginning of this week, in a year of delivery we had a day of delivery: 1 April was a fantastic day for us here, when so many initiatives that had been announced came to light and came to fruition. It was wonderful to see the realisation of us wanting to see businesses innovate and grow and seeing our workers get a fair pay for a fair day\u2019s work. And, actually, I have to agree with my colleague Mark Patterson over here that some of the speeches have been quite mean about that, and even more mean when I hear that the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Simon Bridges, has refused to rule out the lowering of the minimum wage. I think that\u2019s a really mean aspect to that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022126f16493abf461d924c51fa3690f470\u0022\u003EHon Peeni Henare\u003C/span\u003E: And it would call it a hypocrite.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022180e427981104637b9e3f482227c3b18\u0022\u003EJAN TINETTI\u003C/span\u003E: I couldn\u2019t possibly say that word, Mr Henare, but yes. With the rising of the minimum wage to $17.70\u2014like my colleague here Priyanca Radhakrishnan, I too have known people who have worked long term in businesses and are still remaining on that minimum wage. The businesses have seen this as being the ceiling. People have seen the minimum wage as being the ceiling, and yet these people are still loyal to the businesses after 20 or 30 years\u2019 work, and over time it has actually become much harder with rising costs for those people to survive. We need to acknowledge those people. We need to support those people. And that\u2019s exactly what we have done in raising that minimum wage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve also, as I said, talked about backing our Kiwi businesses to innovate. So when we hear that we\u2019re not backing businesses, one of our major, major announcements that came to fruition on Monday was the backing of our Kiwi businesses to innovate. This is the biggest and largest ever investment in research and development ever. Over a billion dollars was announced in Budget 2018, and here it is. I\u2019m very proud that we on Monday saw that coming to fruition. This will incentivise work results in new knowledge, new or improved processes, services or goods. This will have spillover benefits to New Zealand, and we will see that happening time and time again. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EI just want to finish by saying here that we want to grow the economy and we want to improve the well-being of New Zealanders, and we are committed to actions to see this happen. The first of April was one day of delivery and 1 April continues the delivery of our plan as a Government to build a modern New Zealand that is sustainable, productive, inclusive, and fair for everyone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022 data-id=\u00220c8b438a61dd4bc69705dcc76c24cf23\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220c8b438a61dd4bc69705dcc76c24cf23\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to talk third in a trio, or a hat trick, of excellent speeches, so thank you for that opportunity. Look\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d0bcfc1b6aed4eeb87adad234cb50c44\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! I mean, if the member\u2019s saying that, he\u2019s probably finished. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022058db5eeefa146628eacd067bda86c1f\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, I will carry on, Mr Speaker. I would like to begin my speech talking about seniors. I\u2019d like to acknowledge everything that the seniors in our country\u2014those over the age of 65\u2014have given to our country over many, many years: building our country, paying taxes, building our infrastructure, supporting their children, their grandchildren. I\u2019d like to mention one in particular; a woman by the name of Janet Franks, who, unfortunately, just passed away in the past few days. She was the chair of the New Zealand Russian (Waikato) Friendship Society, and did a lot of work building relationships between those two countries.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThis Government is helping seniors in the following way: the first one, the winter energy payment. Now, this came in last year. Seniors receive four months\u2019 worth of the winter energy payment, and I received a lot of positive feedback about this. There are a number of seniors who, for whatever reason\u2014well, I mean, put it this way: there are a lot of seniors who are on fixed incomes, and it can often be challenging. A rise in that income certainly helps a lot, and the winter energy payment was one example of that. This year, the winter energy payment will be rolled out from May to October\u2014so six months\u2014which is $20 a week per person, or $30 per couple. A second thing we\u2019re doing for seniors is we\u2019re raising superannuation by 2.6 percent, and that was from 1 April. So a couple has gone up $15.82 per week, to a total of $632 per week. The third thing we\u2019re doing for our seniors is developing a new, improved SuperGold smart card.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThe second point I\u2019d like to touch on is the Provincial Growth Fund. I\u2019d like to acknowledge the leadership from our colleagues in the New Zealand First Party for their passion for the regions. As a coalition Government, we\u2019re working together with New Zealand First around our regions. One of the key things the Provincial Growth Fund has been doing\u2014and I\u2019ve seen it in my region, in the Waikato region\u2014is it\u2019s stimulating activity. So we have regions who have been struggling, sometimes for a number of years, and now they\u2019re getting together and they\u2019re starting to lift their heads up and they\u2019re starting to say, \u201CWhat could we do in our region? What could happen?\u201D Aspiration is growing. There is an opportunity for them to develop business cases, develop feasibility studies, work on projects, see projects develop\u2014projects that may have stalled for many years\u2014see progress in those.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EA couple of examples in the Waikato region: the Te Aroha area\u2014they\u2019ve received a million dollars from the Provincial Growth Fund around tourism. Now, this is an area where we have springs of water coming forward, and, from time to time, the odd person might go there, but they haven\u2019t had the capital to be able to expand this. Now, with the Provincial Growth Fund, they are doing just that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to touch on the well-being Budget, which is being talked about right across the world. It\u2019s something new for a country, and I\u2019d like to acknowledge the Minister of Finance, the Hon Grant Robertson, for the great work he\u2019s doing around the well-being Budget. One point I\u2019d like to pick up on is mental health\u2014mental health will be a priority in this Budget, as we\u2019ve heard. Now, mental health affects all of us, whether you\u2019re in business, education, whether\u2014you know, we see people who are homeless; sometimes there\u2019s issues there around mental health. It affects all of society; it affects security. Making some positive changes in mental health will benefit all of our society. As someone who used to work in education, I often worked with young people, and, unfortunately, we\u2019ve got some of the highest suicide rates in the OECD. This should not be the case, and I\u2019m proud that as a Government we are taking mental health seriously, and that it will be a priority for this upcoming Budget.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EIn my final few seconds, I\u2019d like to touch on the aspect of climate change. I\u2019d like to acknowledge all of those young people who took a stand and said, \u201CWe must do something about climate change.\u201D This Government is serious about climate change. We are passionate about having a clean, green economy. We\u2019ve already announced a number of policies in this area around doing our part. We will be a leader. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\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=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022babeed7474d24b93971539fdb2590710\u0022\u003EGore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022432be9ce74764258bb1fd7c6245f92a2\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u002245ad94c07420442f8406a5b41e87ea01\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002245ad94c07420442f8406a5b41e87ea01\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI\u2019m delighted to see the return of this bill to the Parliament. Just before I start, could I acknowledge the presence in the gallery today of Mr Tom Affleck, who is the chairman of the Otama Rural Water Supply Committee\u2014a major driver of this bill. He has been the chairman for 25 years and a foundation member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EMy delight in the bill coming back\u2014and, I\u2019m sure, Tom\u2019s delight\u2014isn\u2019t universally shared. There was some commentary, actually, in the Otago Daily Times by their political reporter Mike Houlahan, who noted with some trepidation that the Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill would result in a repeat of the first reading\u2019s very poor attempts to mimic the southern rolled \u201Cr\u201D. So just to recap on the reason for this bill coming before the House, the bill seeks to override section 130(2) of the Local Government Act 2002, which states that councils must not divest ownership of water schemes servicing more than 200 households. The Otama Rural Water Supply scheme services 223 households. There are 253 connections. There are two schools and a marae involved in this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThe reason for being here is there is a historical dispute over the ownership of this scheme. The Otama Rural Water Supply Committee quite properly believe that since its inception\u2014it was first mooted in 1969, I think I recounted in the first reading. A local farmer, Ian Robertson, at a Federated Farmers meeting mooted having a stock water scheme and the productivity gains that could be got out of that through having consistent, clean water supplies for their stock, and being able to subdivide up their paddocks more and get better grazing performance out of their farms, and, of course, having the benefits of being able to supply consistent, potable water for the houses. That early discussion resulted in stage one being completed in 1972, and it was actually paid for by the farmers themselves. Some of it was provisioned by a loan from the then Southland District Council, which was soon repaid. So the farmers had paid for it all, and they didn\u2019t only pay with money; they paid with their own toil. It speaks, of course, to a time past. They were each required to put in 90 hours of their own labour.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThe completion of stage two and stage three of the scheme went on through to about 1976, and it now, as it did then, currently covers about 73,000 hectares in the Otama area, which is an area just directly north-north-west of Gore. It has been, over that time, a very well-run scheme, and I just note that in the last 15 years alone, they\u2019ve replaced the entire mainline pipeline. The submissions to the subcommittee were overwhelming in that regard. All of them referenced the fine job that the scheme governors had done in running the scheme over that, well, nearly 50 years now, and how trusted that was. As one submitter\u2014I think Hamish Mackay\u2014noted, they\u2019re the ones with the most skin in the game. They\u2019re the users of this water, they\u2019re drinking it, and so if they didn\u2019t have confidence, then no one would. We also note through that that they have got significant support from the Hokonui R\u016Bnanga of Ng\u0101i Tahu.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThe Gore council, in its position, contended that it did own the scheme. It contended that it had assumed ownership of the scheme with the wash-up in the Local Government Amendment Act of 1989. So it was just a plain dispute. I note within the debate, within the departmental reports that have come back, that we\u2019re seeking to drag this into water quality, and looking at the situation around the review of the three waters, which I believe is coming into the Parliament in about June of this year, led by Minister Mahuta. This is actually a bill about local democracy. It\u2019s about local people making local decisions. The Gore District Council decided to put this dispute to a referendum, where they got 75 percent participation and 76 percent of the users of the scheme voted in favour of the Otama Rural Water Supply committee assuming the ownership and the governance, and they will in due course form Otama Rural Water Ltd to continue to supply the services that they have for nearly 50 years. So this bill is about local democracy. It does have behind it the rock-solid precedent of the South Taranaki District Council (Cold Creek Rural Water Supply) Act of 2013, in their identical Act. This scheme and this bill certainly draws on that precedent, so we believe we\u2019re on very firm ground.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EJust looking at the submissions and some of the issues raised, all of which are totally covered and accepted by the committee as it seeks to take rightful ownership of the scheme\u2014in clause 4, there has been a direction that we should just clarify that, with the term \u201Cwater treatment chlorination system\u201D to be added into clause 4 to make it compliant with the Health Act of 1956. I would say that the scheme governors have made it absolutely clear that they will comply with whatever requirements are placed on them to continue to provide safe water. While there had been some suggestion that we might delay the return of this bill to the House until that June date, it was felt that we needed to keep progressing this because, actually, the issues are going to be the issues no matter what the ownership of the scheme is. The farmers themselves are savvy enough to know that if there\u2019s a significant increase in cost through having to comply with new three waters regulations, it would be passed on to them anyway by the Gore council, so they know that whatever the outcome of that, they will have to comply with the new standards, and, as I say, they have a long history.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, there is also clause 5, the clarification around the referendum and the five-year period that that clarifies in, I think, subclause (1A) of that clause. There were a couple of other small technical matters: the fact that it was clarified that it would be zero rated for GST, etc.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI would note that the Otama Rural Water Supply scheme committee, in bringing this bill forward, and the Gore council, in bringing this forward, have\u2014as I referenced earlier, the Hokonui R\u016Bnanga have voiced their support. The Southern District Health Board have also given their blessing. The Medical Officer of Health, Dr Marion Poore, described this as being owned by the relevant users. So we got a very clear message of confidence in the competence of the current committee to run this scheme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EJust in conclusion, I think we have traversed most of it. It is quite a simple bill. As I say, this is not about trying to pre-empt public policy on water quality and where that might go. This is a very simple matter of respecting local democracy of where the true ownership of the Otama Rural Water Supply scheme should be, and respecting the democratic process that was lawfully undertaken by the Gore District Council to determine this outcome. New Zealand First and myself in particular have absolute pleasure in commending this bill back to the House in the second reading and look forward to the participation of the rest of the speakers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI would actually just like to circle back and thank the committee for going down to Gore to hear the submissions. I think that was a great acknowledgment and a great thing for the Parliament to do to make it more convenient for those farmers, and I know that they really appreciated that. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022 data-id=\u0022a1a79404d0394b9485e61464198e8684\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a1a79404d0394b9485e61464198e8684\u0022\u003EHon JACQUI DEAN (National\u2014Waitaki):\u003C/span\u003E Oh, thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. Seriously, I went into a state of deep contemplation during that intervention. Oh, gosh, it was thorough, wasn\u2019t it? Every second of the 10 minutes allotted was taken\u2014circled round and made the point several times. But here\u2019s what I want to say about the Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill: I want to actually thank Hamish Walker, Clutha-Southland MP, who attended each and every select committee meeting and stewarded the Governance and Administration Committee down to Gore to check it out. Can I just say, it\u2019s lovely that the country has come to town. Good\u2014good. Lovely to see that a bit of the South Island has come up to Wellington\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022326d96dc6d7e4493a173bcb9e30f6e16\u0022\u003EHamish Walker\u003C/span\u003E: Tom.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216ec890c28e246d48689a3669f23ac5c\u0022\u003EHon JACQUI DEAN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and we are discussing\u2014Tom\u2014legislation which impacts greatly on a rural community. Hamish Walker is the MP who has really worked with the committee, has worked with the local community, and really has his head around this bill, which is why I\u2019m not going to speak for terribly long, because I think Hamish Water\u2014Walker; water, see, get that? Yeah, that was awesome. That was really good. You see, it\u2019s that deep contemplation that I\u2019ve been practising while the member opposite, Mark Patterson, was on his feet.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EThe pertinent thing, I think, in this piece of legislation is the ownership changes to the local community\u2014with great community support, it\u2019s true. As part of that process, however, an issue with potential water quality was identified, and the committee, together with the council, are taking steps to remedy any potential water-quality issues. I call that responsible. That epitomises what a rural water scheme can and does do. Because there is a group of farmer owners in this scheme, or soon-to-be owners\u2014and they can\u2019t wait for the bill to pass\u2014decisions like chlorination and whatever else needs to be done to secure the potability of the water can be taken quickly and the decision can be implemented quickly. That is what a rural water scheme does very, very well: caters for the needs of its own community, whether it\u2019s for stock water, whether it\u2019s for drinking water, and whatever use that water might be put to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003ESo I congratulate Hamish Walker, local MP; the member in charge of the bill; but, most of all, the Otama Rural Water Supply committee and members for bringing this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022c316a817e1fa466b90c50c7bafd3e6a4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c316a817e1fa466b90c50c7bafd3e6a4\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. I too am standing in support of this bill at its second reading, the Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill\u2014got to add that \u201Cr\u201D! Can I too acknowledge the presence of the chair of the scheme in the House today. I don\u2019t intend to prolong this contribution. This bill is all about facilitating the transfer of the water scheme assets to the locals who built and established and have been benefiting from this scheme, who showed great foresight back in the 1970s by taking the initiative in building the scheme. Now we are transferring that asset to what will eventually, ultimately, go to Otama Rural Water Ltd. I\u2019m always supportive of transferring local assets back into local ownership.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI want to commend the Governance and Administration Committee for their helpful amendments that they have made to the bill. In particular, there is some clarity around the timing as to when the referendum will take place, or imposing a time limit so there is certainty around that\u2014I\u2019m sure it won\u2019t take five years, though, or I certainly hope it won\u2019t take five years, for a referendum to be carried out\u2014and there are all of the other helpful changes. We know that with ownership, there comes responsibilities. I know that Otama Rural Water Ltd, currently backed by the scheme, are well aware of their responsibilities, and it\u2019s great to hear that they are continuing to work closely with the Gore District Council around those safety issues as well, which will be very important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re only doing this bill because, unfortunately\u2014well, there are 223 users of this water scheme. Had it been 200, this bill would have been able to fly through under the local government legislation, but be that as it may, we are putting this legislation through now. I support it at its second reading, as do my whanaungas down at Te R\u016Bnanga o Hokonui, who are benefiting from this scheme. So, with that, I add my tautoko and commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022 data-id=\u00227d56c6e1f152402eaa56a2489b40f0b2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227d56c6e1f152402eaa56a2489b40f0b2\u0022\u003EHAMISH WALKER (National\u2014Clutha-Southland):\u003C/span\u003E New Zealand\u2019s wealth has been built up over the generations by farmers. They have contributed more than their fair share, and they\u2019ve done this because they are innovative, they are hard workers, they have common sense, and they get on with life, whatever hand they\u2019re given. That\u2019s why back in the 1970s, when a group of hard-working farmers and forward thinkers had a problem about rural water supply, they decided to get together and fix the problem. So they held a series of meetings across the \u014Ctama district with the intention of getting the rural water scheme off the ground. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to acknowledge some of these farmers: Stuart Baird, Kevin Kelly, Ian Robinson, and one of the last surviving members of that committee at the moment, Hughie Chittook. Some of the current committee members I\u2019d like to acknowledge are Hamish Mackay, Donald Johnston, David Smith, Gavin Cruickshank, Chris Affleck, John Kerse, and, last but not least, the chairman, Tom Affleck, who has made the trip up from Southland to be here in the gallery today. It\u2019s great to see you, Tom, and I was honoured that you joined me for lunch earlier today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EThe leadership of the committee and those farmers back in the day has been instrumental, and a huge amount of credit should be given to them for today\u2019s progress. They\u2019ve played a huge role not only in the local water scheme but their innovative and forward-thinking ways have actually paved the way for the future generations to come. I\u2019m going to note one of the submitters a bit later in my speech, but he mentioned that he\u2019s the third generation, and he put a lot of this credit back to the original farmers that set up the scheme. Don\u2019t underestimate the impact that, Tom, your committee, the original farmers, have done for the community and for the wider district. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EI\u2019d now like to acknowledge some of the people who took the time to submit and actually front up to the Governance and Administration Committee we held in Gore a few months back. It was the first time Parliament had been to Gore. I have resisted the urge to put forward a Supplementary Order Paper to possibly move Parliament permanently down to Gore, as I think it would be a great thing for the community and, judging by the reaction of the members that attended on the day\u2014people like Paul Eagle, Ginny Andersen, and the chair here, Brett Hudson\u2014they were blown away by the Southland hospitality in kind. I\u2019d just like to acknowledge the chair, Brett, when I first suggested to him, \u201CWhat are the chances of bringing the select committee to Gore?\u201D, and you made it happen. So thank you, Brett. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EJust talking about a couple of the submitters that took the time to come in, one was the vice-chair, John Kerse. In his submission, he noted that his father was one of the original farmers that got this off the ground. John himself, as a teenager, also helped in working bees by assisting with laying and joining pipes and filling in trenches, using a tractor, which resulted in huge cost savings. But the main benefit, he said, was the sense of ownership amongst scheme users. He said that this pride of ownership had continued on, despite the fact that many farms are now managed by third or fourth generations since. Another submitters, Neil Gardyne, noted the voluntary contributions of time and materials by farmers had been the glue that had made the scheme work over the years, and is the reason why the high standard of infrastructure has remained at an impeccable level. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EToday marks another step in the right direction. Tom, this has been probably rather frustrating for you over the years, but you\u2019re here today. Tom, your involvement started in 1972. I believe you were the secretary from 1978 to 1993, and you\u2019ve been chair since\u2014so well over, what, 25 years. So you\u2019ve been involved for just a wee while, Tom! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s be clear about this bill: this is a practical and fair solution. This is not a significant economic asset. The farmers who use it and who will be using it are the shareholders, and they are the only ones that are affected by and benefit from the scheme. This is not about water; this is about the pipes and concrete. This is the right decision for the community, and the costs involved in this scheme\u2014like they have been for the last 50 years\u2014are borne by the users and no one else. The scheme has always washed its face and will absorb all costs associated with the transfer. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EThis is a good bill, which means a lot to the local community. I fully support it and I thank all the hard-working farmers who have got this off the ground, and also to you, Tom, for fronting up today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022 data-id=\u00225f086a42489748b5a320b301ae58227d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225f086a42489748b5a320b301ae58227d\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE (Labour\u2014Rongotai):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. It\u2019s always a privilege to talk about anything to do with local government, so here I am, back in the House, talking about the Otama Rural Water Supply bill. Can I say\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225c246e36a9594e68ad8a4144daba4fff\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s not quite Wellington. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8383607ad35482f8fd3c869ee6ac738\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s not quite Wellington. We\u2019ve got our own issues with water, but we\u2019ll get to that on another bill one day. But I digress. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022424dd58a33464b4b9a338ddac5f1cbb7\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Do the buses first\u2014sort the buses first. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220473ec1877b74114a76e1bf509cc96b7\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: Water, buses, you name it\u2014there are problems. But I digress. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s talk about the wonderful world of Gore. Can I say it was another fantastic decision by the hard-working and probably the best select committee there is, the Governance and Administration Committee, led by Brett Hudson MP, and, of course, I\u2019m on it. It was some trek, though. It took days and days to get there, but we got there. The parking was free, the welcome was warm, and the food was great, so I\u2019m going back one day. That sort of set the scene, I think, for a decent conversation about something that means a lot to local people. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002211bd660ca7d34c398a059fab5276be78\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: How were the cheese rolls? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002264f772aaf4fb4ea8bdb213f34c5a3eb8\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: The cheese rolls, Mr \u201CMP for Hutt South\u201D, were absolutely outstanding\u2014all 10 of them\u2014and\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022600884cb78d1488991b06bcf3f016e38\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: What about the rest? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e39b09c3ac434736855a8fad0db86cae\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE\u003C/span\u003E: OK, 11. But can I just clarify one thing: we weren\u2019t there just for the food. We were there to talk about something that was deep and meaningful to them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EWhat I like most is that too often, you get these situations where there is some conflict with the local authority\u2014not in this case\u2014and councillors. A councillor who presented was on the scheme board, the mayor was there, and there was full support, and I thought, \u201CLook, this is great.\u201D I thought, \u201CThis is a good start.\u201D, and I have to wedge in that this Government is looking at the three waters, and so I was mindful of this. But it was nice to just park that up for a bit, hear what the local people had to say, and take seriously what they said. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003ESo I too want to acknowledge\u2014if he is still here\u2014Tom Affleck and all of those who submitted. We got some really good submissions, and the most memorable for me was his son Chris, who had recently returned from overseas, but what he did was have some maps produced and he was able to articulate the extent of the scheme, the hard work that had gone in from many people over many years, and, I guess, their confidence. It\u2019s not something that too many people do\u2014come to me and say, \u201CCan we keep our own water scheme?\u201D It\u2019s sort of like, \u201CReally? Do you really want to do that?\u201D So I was there with the need to be convinced that \u201CYes, you can do it.\u201D, and there they laid out a comprehensive plan like no other. I was probably lucky\u2014anyone would be lucky\u2014to get out alive if you disagreed with them on sight, but no, they did a fantastic job in saying that we just need a break here, because we\u2019ve got proven expertise in running this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003ESo I want to congratulate them. I want to offer them my full support. I know that the city has a few water issues, and they are looking at something similar\u2014not in terms of building their own water scheme, that\u2019s for sure. And we probably haven\u2019t got the same volunteer and local effort to go in to do such a thing. But I leave impressed, and so, therefore, I want to thank Mark Patterson, the local bill member and, of course, sorry, the local member himself, Hamish Walker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EIf only we\u2019d stayed on a bit longer, we could have nudged some red flavouring into that photo that was taken. I was thinking that if we stayed a couple of hours longer there could have been a real competition for Hamish from myself in that seat at the next general election or something like that. I felt some real love towards the red. It doesn\u2019t happen often, but Kieran McAnulty\u2019s leading the way in these sorts of seats, and I thought I\u2019d learnt a few things from him, and I felt I collected a few votes on the way out. So there we are. So there are lots of benefits to making a presence known in a place like Gore. I commend this bill to the House. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022 data-id=\u002239d12d2ff1b14923a65c235605515920\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002239d12d2ff1b14923a65c235605515920\u0022\u003EBRETT HUDSON (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. It\u2019s an absolute pleasure to rise in support of the Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill in this, its second reading. I too want to acknowledge Mr Tom Affleck, who has come up from Gore to witness this stage, at least, of the progression of the bill. I want to acknowledge the support that seems evident around the House for the bill today. I particularly do want to thank the members of the Governance and Administration Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve actually made a bit of a habit, in local bills, of travelling around New Zealand so that the people affected by those local bills can have every opportunity to make submissions. We have travelled to Thames, we have travelled to Richmond, and we also did travel to Gore. The members of the committee were very obliging. I will note too that the hospitality of the people of Gore is not simply legendary, it is, in reality, absolutely fantastic. Not only did we get an extremely warm welcome but the catering was just sublime. I made a point on our return of letting the Clerk of the House know that the bar has been lifted for catering of select committees. He watches these proceedings, and I take this opportunity to remind him that the Office of the Clerk is scrutinised by our committee, and, at the estimates and annual review hearings, he might see the judges hold up scorecards based on the quality of catering over the next few months in our select committee rooms. But I do definitely thank the people of Gore for welcoming us the way they did.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003ENow, it\u2019s a pretty simple decision to want to support this bill, if for no other reason than the scheme itself has always been the responsibility of the scheme users. They built the thing; they\u2019ve maintained it since they built it; they put in the capital expense and the work to upgrade it when it needed it; and they know, as do the residents of Gore, that if further work were required on it\u2014whether it be water standard - based or, indeed, physical infrastructure - based\u2014yet again it would be the scheme users that put their elbows to the grindstone, and their own money, and make that happen. So it\u2019s very easy to go to Gore and to stand here supporting the initiative to ensure that what they have built and maintained remains theirs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EIt was a quirk of history\u2014a nature of the entity structure of the scheme\u2014which meant that it couldn\u2019t be a legal owner of assets that saw those assets come under the legal ownership of the Gore District Council. It\u2019s a process which has left a number of scheme users feeling like their assets were expropriated from them\u2014not maliciously but simply by that quirk of legal circumstance that what they had built and thought they owned was no longer theirs. So it\u2019s very simple to want to help them to get that back. Now, we have absolute confidence that the law will demand that should the Three Waters Review result in some changes, such as water quality standards and the like, we know that the law will require the scheme users to comply with those, and we have every confidence that they\u2019ll ensure that they do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EI just want to take this moment to acknowledge the member from New Zealand First, Mark Patterson, who sponsored the bill, and also, particularly, the local MP, Hamish Walker, who not only came with us to Gore but made sure that he sat in on the committee proceedings as it went through our committee as well. I think it\u2019s good to see. I believe the local residents will appreciate the close support they\u2019re getting from representatives. I also want to take this moment to acknowledge the Government members, not just on the committee but what I anticipate is going to be their vote in a little while. They expressed concerns during the process that, with the Three Waters Review, they might have preferred that this bill be parked until it was complete. We took the chance to articulate some reasons why we didn\u2019t feel that was necessary, and the Government members supported the bill\u2019s progression through the select committee on that basis and, from what I can gather in the speeches to date, it looks like they\u2019re going to follow that up with their voting support today as well. So I acknowledge them for doing that. I\u2019m pleased to see that they agree with us; that is the right thing to do, and I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u00224365893c747f4a618a9a7fe98d97f184\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224365893c747f4a618a9a7fe98d97f184\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Green):\u003C/span\u003E E Te M\u0101ngai, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e Te Whare. I stand on behalf of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand this afternoon to commend this bill to the House through its second reading. It touches on two principles or two values which are kind of at the core of the Green Party kaupapa: those being local autonomy and water quality.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI just want to acknowledge all of the work that has been put into getting this bill to this place. It is no small feat to get a local bill in front of the House. So along with everybody else who has been acknowledging \u201CChairman Tom\u201D in the gallery today, I want to join in sharing those acknowledgements. So too I want to acknowledge the chair of the Governance and Administration Committee, Brett Hudson. I would note the Governance and Administration Committee is incredibly fantastic at travelling around the country and making sure that they are accessible to those submitters who are seeking to have their say on pieces of legislation, but also the Governance and Administration Committee oversaw my member\u2019s bill, the Election Access Fund Bill, and did their darnedest to make sure that that process was accessible to members of the disability community. So I want to commend that committee for all that they do to make sure that the democratic process is as accessible as it possibly can be.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI also want to acknowledge the grassroots community who have worked actively with Mark Patterson in bringing this bill before the House, and also the local member\u2014my mate, who I used to share the airwaves with, as two backbench MPs in Politics 101\u2014Hamish Walker for the work that he has done, alongside the chair of the select committee, in making sure that members of the Governance and Administration Committee got down there to sample those cheese rolls, and, of course, hear from the local community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI would say that the history has been well-canvassed\u2014as was stated by the speaker just before me, Brett Hudson. It was in the 1970s that this piece of infrastructure was built by the local community\u2014that capital, that time was invested, and it has been maintained by them subsequently. Therefore, we think that in dealing with the issues of water quality and the issues of local autonomy, it absolutely makes sense that there is that opportunity, through that referendum, for the community to have their say on their ability to continue that maintenance and that sense of control.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EThis bill appears to be a practical solution to an issue presented by the Local Government Act 2002, under which there is actually a provision for local councils to transfer small water services to another entity, but it seems to be\u2014I\u2019m not quite sure whether it is a meaningful threshold or somewhat, potentially, arbitrary because we had to hit a figure somewhere along the line in setting it, as we so often do in legislation. That small service is defined as servicing 200 or fewer persons. It so happens that the community that\u2019s being serviced here is 23 people over, at 223.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003ESo it is worth acknowledging that that may simply for virtue of this debate be somewhat of a technicality but, ultimately, we don\u2019t think that those issues of water quality or local autonomy are mutually exclusive. But we do think that it is important, as was raised by other Government members at the Governance and Administration Committee, that this work is undertaken alongside the Three Waters review because fundamentally, as has come to the forefront of mind for many New Zealanders over the past decade, the quality of our water is of integral importance. But bearing in mind all of the work that\u2019s been by the local Gore folks and those in \u014Ctama, I think that they definitely have demonstrated a huge amount of responsibility and pride, so I therefore commend this bill to the House on its second reading.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226dc89bbf-c2ef-45c9-89e4-d2b5952d8d16\u0022 data-id=\u0022ffe28237b05447d58a915150fd30473e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226dc89bbf-c2ef-45c9-89e4-d2b5952d8d16\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ffe28237b05447d58a915150fd30473e\u0022\u003EKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I would like to start with acknowledging the sponsor of this bill, Mark Patterson, but I would like to show that the real commitment to this bill was shown by Hamish Walker in participating in the select committee process. I had to make way for him to come and participate in Gore, and I could not be there to have the hospitality from the locals over there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226dc89bbf-c2ef-45c9-89e4-d2b5952d8d16\u0022\u003EThis bill was very important for the locals, and I acknowledge the chair, Brett Hudson, who has always, as the previous speaker mentioned, made sure that we go out and reach out to the people who want to participate in the parliamentary process. So I acknowledge the chair for his commitment and, obviously, the support from the committee members is always there whatever he commits to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226dc89bbf-c2ef-45c9-89e4-d2b5952d8d16\u0022\u003EWe received 26 submissions in total, out of which 14 were heard orally in Gore. There are numerous houses, two schools, and a marae which use this water, and it is very important for the local people to have this infrastructure available for them. So this bill will ensure that the people who really care about water, who committed themselves to build this infrastructure, continue to look after this. With these words I commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022bf7d09ff087e4fc6a49393df01bef91d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bf7d09ff087e4fc6a49393df01bef91d\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: This is a split call. I call Angie Warren-Clark\u2014five minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022 data-id=\u002294b5229b8fea4d7b8c0e3c5d30d4b947\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002294b5229b8fea4d7b8c0e3c5d30d4b947\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure but a surprise to rise and speak to this Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill. I, unlike many members here have not recently been to Gore\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e12623c640be47dfab0607fa308d0e84\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Oh!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a7ec2350937c4bf3a226f6201531d60d\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: I know, I know\u2014or had a cheese roll. But I am actually delighted to talk on this, because I think one of the things around water is that it\u2019s a really important issue at the moment. It is absolutely crucial. And, first of all, I\u2019d like to mention the name of Mark Patterson. Now I\u2019m going to say the name Mark Patterson three times: Mark Patterson, well done; Mark Patterson, well done. I\u2019m saying \u201CMark Patterson, well done\u201D for bringing this bill to the House and sponsoring it because actually that\u2019s a lot of hard work, so well done you, Mark Patterson. I\u2019d also like to commend Brett Hudson and Hamish Walker/\u201CWater\u201D for their work on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ELook, one of the things that I have been looking at in terms of the legislation\u2014and this is a common-sense response to something that is integral to the small community\u2014is the ownership transfer. Essentially, because we\u2019ve got 223 people we need to make a change of ownership. And so that is fine; there is a piece of legislation requiring us to do so. However, I sit on the Health Committee and currently we are looking at the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Bill. And of course everyone knows\u2014and as has been stated\u2014there is the Three Waters Review as well. So water is a really important issue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ESo one of the things that we know is that that work is coming up and it was really important when I read the legislation and thinking across other select committees I\u2019m in that, actually, safety is important around the water. Now, obviously, the farmers have managed to do this going forward, but I really appreciate what has happened in this legislation in that Otama Rural Water Ltd has to, essentially, say that it will have a water treatment chlorination system, it will need to provide a report which assesses to the satisfaction of the medical officer of health, and it, essentially, ensures that there is some safety around the drinking water, which I think probably, when we hear that there is a marae and two schools, is very important. We do not want another health incident. Of course it probably wouldn\u2019t be as large as Havelock North, but none of us would like to see that happen. And with that, my very short contribution, I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u00227791938d36b743eb8dcfba4e600ef5cb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227791938d36b743eb8dcfba4e600ef5cb\u0022\u003EMAUREEN PUGH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Assistant Speaker. I too will make a short contribution to the Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill today in its second reading. As we\u2019ve heard in the speeches across the House today, there\u2019s absolutely nothing contentious in this bill. We are going through the process to create this legislation to simply clarify the ownership of the assets of the \u014Ctama rural supply. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EThis is something that evolved 50 years ago when the scheme was set up, and in typical rural fashion and with the attitude of rural folk who just get on and get things done it was pulled together by local labour, some cash, a Government subsidy, and a loan that was raised by the then Southland County Council. But actually, over time, there\u2019s been a bit of confusion about who actually does own those assets, and thanks to the cooperation between the committee and the Gore District Council, led by my good friend and former colleague Mayor Tracy Hicks, they began the process of consulting with the community to decide on the options for the ownership of the scheme. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003ESeventy-five percent of eligible voters actually did cast their vote on their preference for this scheme, and, of those, 80 percent were in favour of the bill that we have in front of us today. So the community is clearly well supportive of where this bill is taking us. And we congratulate the council and the committee for their cooperation and perfect practical sense in getting it to this point. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EI am sure that the 223 dwellings and all of the stock that make use of this rural water scheme will be very pleased to have the ownership and the administration sorted out once and for all. And as such, I have great pleasure in commending it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022 data-id=\u0022cc14860f42264f54abf80b21d1d5e11a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cc14860f42264f54abf80b21d1d5e11a\u0022\u003EHon CLARE CURRAN (Labour\u2014Dunedin South):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. This is the Gore District Council (Otama Rural Water Supply) Bill. I want to congratulate Mark Patterson as the bringer of the local bill to the House\u2014\u014Ctama being about 20 kilometres west of Gore in the beautiful part of central Southland. It\u2019s deep in the heart of Southland, actually, which is the most beautiful rolling hill country, which is, you know, typical of the rural agricultural water supplies; on State Highway 94, and I think where the scheme is planned, or where it exists and is being transferred, is just on the north side of the Mataura River\u2014for any of the locals, I presume that\u2019s correct; and it\u2019s on the way to Balfour. And if people haven\u2019t been down there to visit, then they should, because it\u2019s one of the most beautiful parts of the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EThis is a bill which is really around providing some local democracy. I note that there was a referendum held on this particular matter for the 223 households and organisations involved and that it was pretty overwhelming in the vote in support of the ownership of the scheme. I also note, and other have mentioned, that if there\u2019d been a few less households, then we wouldn\u2019t have to be standing in the House passing legislation around it. But, because of that, we are. I also note that in the submissions that were provided there was submission from the Southern District Health Board and there\u2019s been a lot of care taken in making sure that we\u2019re handling this matter carefully and appropriately because of the importance of getting any scheme associated with water\u2014including drinking water\u2014right. And I think that everyone in this House would agree that that\u2019s pretty important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EThe submissions\u2014there were actually a number of submissions, and I\u2019m really pleased to see that the select committee went down to Gore to consider the submissions from the local area. I think that is a real show of the importance that this Parliament sees in local communities and rural communities and the importance of local democracy\u2014taking it really seriously. It\u2019s a fairly non-controversial outcome, in the sense that it\u2019s a scheme that\u2019s being managed well. I think that the people that are managing it and that will be managing it have taken that really seriously, and it\u2019s a matter of making sure that we get it right and that the Parliament treats it seriously. And I see that there have been precedents. The South Taranaki District Council (Cold Creek Rural Water Supply) Act is an example where a local Act of Parliament was used to authorise divestment of a water supply that didn\u2019t qualify for divestment under the Local Government Act, and this bill follows that approach used in the Cold Creek Act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003ESo it\u2019s not seriously out of the ordinary, but I think that the Parliament has treated it seriously because of how important it is that we get any matters to do with drinking water and the safety of local communities right. So I\u2019m pleased to commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022 data-id=\u002204667db71e5242a6a9c14777b84b3d33\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002204667db71e5242a6a9c14777b84b3d33\u0022\u003EDr JIAN YANG (National):\u003C/span\u003E This is a straightforward case to me. Now, basically, a water scheme was built in the 1970s. The contributors were mainly the farm users, and then a committee was set up and the members of the committee were, overwhelming, the users\u2014farm users or representatives of farm users, and then plus a local councillor. So while the council is involved in management of the scheme, the cost has been covered by the farm users. So that\u2019s basically the case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EWhat is more important is that there was a referendum and that the users overwhelmingly voted for the transfer of ownership from the council to the committee. And, of course, as I said, the committee is largely run by the users of the scheme. Now, this bill itself is largely to facilitate the transfer of that ownership from the council to the committee\u2014or we can say, actually, to the users.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003ESo we went to Gore and met representatives of the users. They warmly welcomed us, and the message was very, very clear. We could feel that kind of enthusiasm, and, of course, we expressed our support. And also, after the hearing, we went to visit the site along with Hamish Walker, the local MP, and the chair of the committee\u2014and guided by Mr Hamish Mackay and also the leader of the Otama Rural Water Supply Committee, Mr Tom Affleck. So I thank you very much for hosting us and also for actually giving us a very clear message and very well organised presentation. So, to me, it is a very straightforward case, and I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022 data-id=\u00221a81715d1ff64aa7a940d40f388f9dff\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221a81715d1ff64aa7a940d40f388f9dff\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s days like this that I enjoy being in this House, because it\u2019s when the House comes together, both sides: National, Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First\u2014don\u2019t think there\u2019s anyone else. They come together and they support a bill that makes sense.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EWe acknowledge those that have contributed towards it, although I do want to note that I was very disappointed in Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker for not actually acknowledging the contribution of the bill\u2019s sponsor, the locally based MP, New Zealand First\u2019s Mark Patterson. It takes a lot of work to sponsor a bill. It takes a lot of work to shepherd it through the House, to liaise with those that put it forward as a local bill, and to continue that talking across the House and getting the support for it. So I for one want to acknowledge the contribution of Mark Patterson, a man who does a lot of work around the country in rural areas but certainly down in Clutha-Southland, an area I know well because, whilst I might be a very proud Wairarapa man, I did play rugby for Waikaia and cricket for Riversdale, just up the road.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003ESo this is an area that I\u2019m fully aware of. Although, I must admit, before Mark Patterson introduced this bill on behalf of the Gore District Council, I was not aware of the water scheme. So I thoroughly enjoyed looking into this, and, just like every other speaker that has stood up to contribute to this debate, I am very pleased to lend my support to it. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any need to carry on this contribution, so, just like those before me, I acknowledge those that have contributed to this on the Governance and Administration Committee and those from the local region, and I\u2019m very pleased to see this pass through the House at this stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002294094a304def4ded96373ae422a140f8\u0022\u003ECanterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00227842a2da7d2740c8b0145c8789c1f115\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022bb4eecce55204fe2be61df001e969be5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bb4eecce55204fe2be61df001e969be5\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Governance and Administration Committee to consider the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ETuatahi, me mihi au ki \u014Dku rangatira, ng\u0101 tini whanaunga o Ng\u0101i Tahu wh\u0101nui, Te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha, nau mai whakatau mai, nau mai whakatau mai ki Te Whare Paremata e takat\u016B nei. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou i t\u0113nei kaupapa whakahirahira. E t\u016B ana au ki te tautoko i te haut\u016B t\u0113nei pire, Te Pire Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha, ng\u0101 m\u0101ngai o Ng\u0101i Tahu. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E[Firstly, I should acknowledge my leaders, the many relations from the wider Ng\u0101i Tahu tribe, and Environment Canterbury; welcome, welcome to Parliament House, which stands here. Greetings on this important matter. I stand to support the passing of this bill, the Environment Canterbury legislation, and the spokespeople of Ng\u0101i Tahu.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s an honour and a privilege to introduce the Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill. As the House will be aware, local bills enable local authorities to promote legislative change at a local level. This bill would have the effect of continuing permanently the mana whenua representation on the Canterbury Regional Council in the form of two Ng\u0101i Tahu councillors from the 2019 local body elections, an existing arrangement first put in place by the National Government in 2010, when it installed commissioners on the Canterbury Regional Council. The introduction of Ng\u0101i Tahu councillors has proved truly insightful, and I commend the National Party for its foresight in doing so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThis House will recall it was also the National Government who determined that post-quake Canterbury needed a strong presence in determining its own future, leading to the establishment of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA). And, while not without its critics, National further endorsed that approach post-CERA, establishing \u014Ct\u0101karo Ltd and Regenerate Christchurch, two Christchurch-based organisations which continue to progress post-quake recovery initiatives and ensure enhanced local engagement in local issues\u2014a concept also at the heart of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI commend too Environment Canterbury\u2019s councillors for recognising that value and seeking the continuation of a mana whenua voice in decision making. This local bill, as local bills are, is very much a local solution for local issues and would simply continue what is well-established and working exceptionally well. Continuing Ng\u0101i Tahu representation on the council is key in ensuring the values and concerns of mana whenua are given full expression in all aspects of the council\u2019s decision making. A significant amount has been achieved with a mana whenua voice in Environment Canterbury\u2019s decision making, from which the region has benefited, along with its ratepayers; hence the wish for it to continue. Indeed, it is the expiry of that National Government legislation, the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Act 2016, and the upcoming local body election in 2019 that has led to the promotion of this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EEnvironment Canterbury as the Canterbury Regional Council is responsible for not only environmental outcomes but also social, economic, and cultural outcomes in a 45,000 square kilometre area of the South Island. It is an area that includes many of New Zealand\u2019s iconic landscapes and majestic vistas, from north of Kaik\u014Dura to Waitaki in the south and inland as far as the Southern Alps, including the spectacular braided rivers and the mighty maunga Aoraki / Mount Cook. Ng\u0101i Tahu, of course, are the original people and kaitiaki of much of that area, having had an intimate connection with it since the ancient migrations of Waitaha, Ng\u0101ti M\u0101moe, and Ng\u0101i Tahu. Generations later, the sense of kaitiaki responsibility that Ng\u0101i Tahu has for the natural environment has not diminished. To the contrary, it remains vital and strong, and increasingly relevant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIn the 20 years since the Ng\u0101i Tahu Claims Settlement Act, particularly since the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, and again following the Kaik\u014Dura earthquake of 2016, Ng\u0101i Tahu has been increasingly recognised as a key partner in the Canterbury region. Many entities in the south, as Environment Canterbury clearly has, now recognise the value of strategic partnership with and Ng\u0101i Tahu representation at a governance level as well as a cultural narrative which remains very relevant today. Ng\u0101i Tahu again demonstrated the value of partnership, particularly in time of need, in its compassionate and responsive leadership again in Christchurch in the last few weeks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThis local bill is therefore supported by the mayoral forum of all 10 territorial local authorities and all 10 Papatipu R\u016Bnanga in the Canterbury Regional Council area. The council has recently undertaken a representation review which indicated the council\u2019s preference that two mana whenua seats should remain. Ten submitters addressed the subject. The council\u2019s intention was also referred to in long-term plan consultation documents, with three submitters commenting on the proposal. Consultation on the bill itself will, of course, be possible at the select committee stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EOpposition to this bill will likely include the apparent concern that it\u2019s not acceptable to give Ng\u0101i Tahu special treatment and that the pendulum has swung too far. Let me say to those people: this bill is not about special treatment. This bill is about enhanced representation in an age where a mana whenua voice is critical, which Ng\u0101i Tahu councillors have demonstrated in the value they have added to a range of Environment Canterbury\u2019s work over the last eight years. This bill is simply about effective regional governance continuing in a manner that has already proven to be effective.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ETo those who say that this bill will adversely impact on representation and democracy, I say this: this bill will ensure that more, not fewer, voices will be heard at the council table and, because of that, provide an enhanced additional level of representation informed by generations of knowledge and environmental awareness. It may be that those people don\u2019t appreciate, have forgotten, or for whatever reason willingly ignore that the mana whenua world view is one of fostering and sustaining the natural environment for the benefit of all peoples. There can only be advantage and value from such inclusiveness and mutual understanding that is a fundamental element of this bill. It should not be seen as special treatment. It should remind us that what is good for mana whenua is good for all of us. There is nothing to be scared of here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIn recent weeks, the nation\u2019s response to the tragic events in Christchurch has demonstrated globally the power of inclusiveness and the value of other cultures\u2019 beliefs and different ways of thinking, and our collective willingness to accept them. It is what we wish to become known for, and we have been widely praised for it. The passage of this bill will undoubtedly add to the conversation of what inclusiveness really means. This bill is an opportunity to stand with the mana whenua and accept and utilise their values, spiritual beliefs, and knowledge gained over generations for the good of all. Given recent events in Christchurch and the sense of inclusiveness that has arisen from it, it would be an unforgivable double standard not to trust and embrace the mana whenua.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThis nation, the nation of all of us, has come a long way, but our journey, of which this bill is now part, is far from complete. In Aotearoa New Zealand, in the modern progressive nation we wish to be, a Te Ao M\u0101ori world view is an essential part of decision making. Ng\u0101i Tahu representation on the regional council ensures a position of influence for mana whenua values, and it creates a governance structure that reflects the spirit and commitment to work together in true collaborative partnerships between mana whenua and the regional council and in the work it does. That collaborative partnership includes the sharing of knowledge and information, the creation of opportunities for increased participation in decision-making processes, effective engagement, and further enhancement of existing working relationships. It is what the Labour-led Government had in mind when it sought to enhance Crown-M\u0101ori relationships.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIn the nearly nine years since they were first introduced by the National Government, Ng\u0101i Tahu councillors have played a pivotal role in building the social capital and community ownership of solutions that underpin water and land management in Canterbury. The practical benefits are not least the greater efficiency in planning and consenting processes, reduced costs for both council and consent applicants, and the council\u2019s role in earthquake recovery. Such representation has contributed immeasurably to good outcomes in the region for the council, for its ratepayers, and even for those visiting the region. From a council perspective, Environment Canterbury very clearly understands that continued mana whenua representation at a governance level is the most effective way to give effect to key statutory obligations under the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Local Government Act 2002, and also as fellow New Zealanders wishing to contribute to a better and more inclusive New Zealand, both for us and our children after us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ENg\u0101i Tahu councillors have also provided confidence to Papatipu R\u016Bnanga and wider tribal members that their voices, their environmental and other concerns, are heard at the highest level. This bill will ensure that the values and intergenerational perspective are consistently heard at the council table and confer more representative and more effective local authority than without mana whenua representation. As we have already seen, there will be more balanced views on a range of issues, more partnered decision-making, and better outcomes for ratepayers and those who use our natural environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIn short, we know that what is in place now and has been for years, and what this local bill would continue, works. It should continue. In the words of Dame Margaret Bazley, a previous chair of the Environment Canterbury commissioners, \u201Chaving Ng\u0101i Tahu at the council decision-making table is simply just the right thing to do\u201D. As the local member for Te Tai Tonga and therefore the Canterbury region, I support this modest request and I commend this bill to the House. Kia ora t\u0101tou. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022 data-id=\u0022e25e28d8888b4c75a196527a77515ed0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e25e28d8888b4c75a196527a77515ed0\u0022\u003EHon JACQUI DEAN (National\u2014Waitaki):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. It is with great pleasure that I rise to speak to the Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill at its first reading. Can I acknowledge and congratulate the member in charge of the bill for bringing this to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EThe bill\u2014I guess the member has previously outlined it, but I will again. So under the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Act 2016, the regional council, Environment Canterbury (ECan), has included two members who were appointed by Ministers on the recommendation of Te R\u016Bnanga o Ng\u0101i Tahu\u2014and I acknowledge Ng\u0101i Tahu representatives in the gallery today. That arrangement was very successful. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EFrom my vantage point as a local Canterbury MP\u2014South Canterbury, North Otago, and Central Otago, but Canterbury MP for the purposes of this bill\u2014the complaints around the performance of Environment Canterbury, particularly with challenges in the Environment Court, dwindled away to virtually nothing. I can credit that with, first of all, the brave decision by the Hon Dr Nick Smith at the time to call in the ECan members and appoint commissioners. If I may very briefly just remind, perhaps, the House of the history of what has brought us to this today\u2014that was the non-performance of ECan and its elected members in bringing a viable operative water plan, and that was in an environment of a rapidly over-allocated catchment condition and a subsequent, perhaps, degradation\u2014or threat of degradation\u2014of water quality. It\u2019s sad to say the ECan elected members of the day had not grappled with that very serious responsibility that they had been elected to deal with. So the Hon Dr Nick Smith called them in and appointed commissioners.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003ESo it was with the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Act 2016, which was subsequently brought in, that included those two members of Ng\u0101i Tahu, which has proven to be very successful and very well-favoured by the other commissioners in ECan, and, as I have said, from my point of view as a local representative, has overseen a dwindling\u2014a very strong dwindling\u2014of complaints, particularly to the Environment Court but also those complaints that come into my office from constituents who find themselves butting against. So I congratulate the commissioners and all of those representatives, including the Ng\u0101i Tahu representatives around the table, who brought about that change in culture and that change in performance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EHowever, National will not support this bill at its first reading, and I will outline to the House why National cannot and will not support this bill. I want to take nothing away from the performance of Ng\u0101i Tahu, and I want to take nothing away from the performance of ECan under the current arrangements, but now is the time to move on and to move to a fully elected regime which we had before. I\u2019m also reminded, looking back in history, about how some of the then Opposition members in the House\u2014the Green Party, New Zealand First, and the Labour Party\u2014railed against appointed members on ECan and railed against the so-called loss of democracy in ECan\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229884e8e8-651f-4f48-a429-70b72d5e2821\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002290975b214d9743eab370b14334f4b2f7\u0022\u003ESarah Dowie\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, how times have changed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c35338fb743e476aa48809bf9e3dc60a\u0022\u003EHon JACQUI DEAN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014time after time after time. As my colleague has just noticed, oh, how times have changed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EBut we believe that times have changed. ECan is now on a solid footing, ECan now has a good culture, and ECan should now be in the same position as every other regional council in New Zealand, where free and hotly contested elections are held this triennium. And if this Government is true to its principles, so strongly put in the years when they were in Opposition and the two ECan bills and legislation were going through the House, they too will support a return to full democracy, because, if they don\u2019t, then what were those principles back in the day when they were opposing the measures brought into this House by the Hon Dr Nick Smith that brought about the sea change in the performance and culture of Environment Canterbury? So I challenge\u2014I challenge\u2014the Labour Party and New Zealand First and the Green Party, who now have the numbers in this House, to be consistent with their\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285492a3636584e8fb47e15aef025bed5\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e9a7650bad5432aba285e06caf30923\u0022\u003EHon JACQUI DEAN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014values of bringing ECan back to full democracy. Ruth Dyson laughs; it is not funny\u2014it is not funny. Full democracy they demanded\u2014full democracy\u2014and full democracy is what they can get. Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022 data-id=\u0022d4de2b690c4047b6b13e7810d169c89f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d4de2b690c4047b6b13e7810d169c89f\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, t\u0113nei ka t\u016B ake ki te tautoko i ng\u0101 mihi ki a koutou kua tae mai nei ki te whakarongo ki t\u0113nei o ng\u0101 whitiwhiti k\u014Drero, ng\u0101 taupatupatu, Ng\u0101i Tahu, ka nui te mihi atu.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E[Thank you, I stand to support the greetings to you who have come here to listen to this discussion, this debate; Ng\u0101i Tahu, many greetings to you.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI stand in support of the intent of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill sponsored by the local member, my colleague Rino Tirikatene, to seek the support of Ng\u0101i Tahu representation on the Canterbury Regional Council. Interesting were the comments made by the previous speaker, Jacqui Dean, but not surprising. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI too want to go over a bit of history. Around about 1996, Te R\u016Bnanga o Ng\u0101i Tahu, prior to their settlement, sought the recognition of their governance structure; and within that governance structure, moving from a trust board into preparation for the settlement at the time, mandating Papatipu R\u016Bnanga was a way of formalising the way in which Ng\u0101i Tahu saw itself moving forward into the future, prior to going down the settlement pathway. The reason why I cite that is because, when we consider the maturity with which\u2014over a long period of time; since 1996 until this time\u2014Ng\u0101i Tahu have manifested their aspirations of kaitiakitanga, we have seen across both the region, and certainly within the Canterbury area, a sophisticated tribal governance system that is able to articulate itself and make contributions in ways that have been to the benefit not only of the people of Ng\u0101i Tahu but certainly of the region of Ng\u0101i Tahu.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EWe have heard, through the recent experience of Environment Canterbury (ECan)\u2014and, actually, now their advocacy for Ng\u0101i Tahu representation on their regional council\u2014all the benefits that have emanated from that type of advocacy and, more importantly, that relationship, and the ability of Ng\u0101i Tahu themselves to exercise high-level principles about good stewardship for the region, for the benefit of all New Zealanders\u2014of all New Zealanders. So the things that we see happening down in Canterbury have been because of a level of maturity that has gotten people over some very superficial arguments that will emerge in this House today on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI remember a time when our previous colleague the Hon Mita Ririnui brought into the House a local bill for representation on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. That was a vociferous debate and it was toxic. But I can say now, in retrospect, that the Bay are actually in the same position of saying, with the representation of iwi in their area\u2014and there are far more iwi there to have to try and navigate through than in Ng\u0101i Tahu\u2014it is still a good thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EBut here\u2019s the thing: the Resource Management Act\u2014and the Hon Nick Smith knows this\u2014at its heart, in terms of principles for M\u0101ori, has kaitiakitanga right in there. If you\u2019re going to have an approach where iwi representation could be mandated with the level of impact that we could see for the benefit of the environment, it would be in the Canterbury area for a whole range of reasons. I can\u2019t see why the Opposition are not willing to support something that, in my mind certainly, and certainly in the sponsoring member\u2019s mind, is an idea whose time has come.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EWhen I first came into this role as Minister of Local Government, I was heartened by the early meetings that I had with the regional council, about all the examples of where the contribution of Ng\u0101i Tahu within the ECan decision-making was seen to be a huge positive contribution into the way that they were approaching things, right from the chairperson to members on the council, and, in fact, the Ng\u0101i Tahu members themselves who are participating. They\u2019ve remained quite humble on this front, because I think, notwithstanding the outcome on this bill, they are an enduring contribution to the way in which environmental issues in the Canterbury area will either progress or not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EBut here\u2019s, again, a point to be made: when you have iwi sitting at the table, and the opportunity is here now, then at the front end you\u2019re including iwi in a decision-making process that doesn\u2019t get frittered away from the priorities of environmental outcomes. In fact, you\u2019re going to get a consolidation of effort towards long-term sustainability objectives that are at the heart of the decision-making process for regional councils.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI\u2019m somewhat disappointed by the views coming across from the Opposition; not surprised. But this is certainly an idea whose time has come.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u0022f4e5020762f841bc9458b41a5f709e21\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f4e5020762f841bc9458b41a5f709e21\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E This bill is a radical change to the way in which our local government sector has been organised for more than 150 years. The basic principle of the election of our local councils, whether they be regional or local, is that they are elected by the general public. The deep irony from the Minister who\u2019s just introduced this bill is the history of Environment Canterbury, which I want to come to in a moment, and the views that Labour, New Zealand First, and the Greens took at that time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe first important question I want to put to the Minister of Local Government is this: if direct appointments on to the Canterbury Regional Council are so strongly imported by Nanaia Mahuta, is it Government policy that it will be provided or made available to other councils? I asked the Minister\u2014I\u2019ll ask her again\u2014is it now Government policy that direct iwi representation being appointed to councils will be supported by Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a685c41d72544c4885b94a37a1676798\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: This is a local bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ed8ef462b874f4996a41c3586f48e90\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: No, I\u2019m asking the member a question. It\u2019s actually an important question, because the lack of answer to that question really does expose the ad hoc nature of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve gone back to the Hansard from the time our previous Government decided to intervene in Environment Canterbury. It was a time when all 10 mayors in the Canterbury region made submissions to our Government that the issues in Environment Canterbury were so serious that they required our intervention. What is so interesting reading this Hansard is the level of opprobrium, the criticism, the passion that was expressed by Labour members, and can I quote directly what Labour said at the time: \u201CAnything less than 100 percent elected members is unsatisfactory to the Labour Party.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022410968155fce42aa8da61082f89ccdf3\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: And what happened? You sacked them all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275f1af44353140ec83d15682d3515106\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, my question is this: if the Labour Party had said at that time, \u201CHey, look, we support this bill and having temporary Ng\u0101i Tahu appointments to help Ng\u0101i Tahu through that transition.\u201D, then we might today find their position believable and consistent. But the truth is: do you know how far it went? Labour members accused me of behaving like the likes of Nazi Germany\u2014Nazi Germany\u2014when we made that intervention in the Canterbury Regional Council. That\u2019s what members like Megan Woods and others said of me. How dare they now come into the Parliament and pretend that somehow it\u2019s just a minor tinker, a local bill in which they now want to change the way in which the governance of Environment Canterbury operates, and not on a temporary basis, of which our intervention was in Environment Canterbury, but for ever more. It\u2019s very telling that the Minister of Local Government will not be straight with New Zealanders and say whether this is going to apply more generally to councils across New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s even more significant in terms of New Zealand First. They railed, up and down New Zealand, against our Government providing even a voice for iwi\u2014to say that if you were managing a river, you had to talk with your local iwi. New Zealand First pledged to repeal those provisions. It is New Zealand First policy that they will vigorously oppose any M\u0101ori representation on local councils, yet today they are going to vote for this bill\u2014a flip-flop on a grand scale. The existing Local Electoral Act does provide a process by which there can be M\u0101ori wards. Members opposite need to answer why they would not use that mechanism that exists already in the law and provide the opportunity for those persons to be elected rather than appointed. I stress again: this is a fundamental change\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=\u0022c7b2ce4193a84ecd82257f19676a6fa9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c7b2ce4193a84ecd82257f19676a6fa9\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Dr Smith. Your time has expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022 data-id=\u0022a1b836997a364b508deae011b204ad89\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a1b836997a364b508deae011b204ad89\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (Minister of Forestry):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora an\u014D t\u0101tau. New Zealand First will not support the Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill. That should not, however, be seen as a negative reflection on a dear colleague, the sitting member for the southern M\u0101ori seat, Te Wai Pounamu, widely respected by the members of our caucus, and indeed the grandson of the first of the Tirikatenes to come into this House in the days before the R\u0101tana members from the other four quarters made an appearance. Neither is it to cast any negative reflection upon the fantastic economic achievements and cultural revival achievements of the Ng\u0101i Tahu in the South Island or, indeed, wherever they find their members. This is a matter of principle that the caucus is unwilling to move away from.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EThe principle is quite simple: of all the M\u0101ori tribes in Aotearoa, without a doubt the most powerful of those tribes is the Ng\u0101i Tahu tribe. They had the foresight, firstly, to pass the Ng\u0101i Tahu bill, which was opposed by one of their own members, Sandra Lee. It was also opposed by the New Zealand M\u0101ori Council, and in those deliberations that council was represented by Maanu Paul. The gestation and the emergence of that bill was a hard-fought struggle as they moved on from the previous Ngaitahu Maori Trust Board, created, I should imagine, or administered, under the 1955 Act. So we are talking about the most well-endowed, most powerful of all the M\u0101ori tribes of Te Ao M\u0101ori. We salute them and continue to acknowledge the very deep economic furrow they are planting and the seeds that are growing and generating economic upside for the members of their tribe, but they do not need a culturally paved avenue into this statutory body. They have the power and they have the historical and mana whenua associations within their own territory to well and truly stand up for themselves.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EThe application of the law is not colour-blind. The application of the law is exercised via the provisions in the various statutes that this regional council will be responsible for delivering upon, and at the end of the day the governance oversight for those provisions down in the actual bureaucracy will be by those folk who have been elected via a universal franchise. That is the position that our caucus cleaves to, and it will not be dissuaded from that course of action on this particular bill. Matters pertaining to the future of the M\u0101ori seats\u2014those issues are yet to come before the Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003ENow, I want to comment a little on one of the areas that we see as a conundrum in this bill. We most certainly acknowledge that there is one tribe into Te Wai Pounamu, with the exception of the people at the prow of M\u0101ui\u2019s waka, in Te Tau Ihu, around the Golden Bay - Nelson - Blenheim area. Those are the small tribes of Tainui and Kurahaup\u014D waka\u2014eight of them\u2014but what we\u2019re more concerned about is that it\u2019s not feasible, we don\u2019t think it is defensible, for a group that has inordinately large resources of an economic character, that the ability to develop those resources will depend on the nature and the quality of statutory environmental resource management decisions. Those decisions must be separate from the people of the Ng\u0101i Tahu. This is the position of our caucus. That\u2019s not to say an individual Kai Tahu person should not one day want to go on that council, but in terms of being appointed to the council through the tribal route, up to a Minister, and the Minister accepting the nomination after whatever processes the bureaucracy might be required to attend to\u2014we cannot and we do not agree with that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003ESo, obviously, it is important that the people of this part of Aotearoa restore to themselves the ability to manage their affairs through universal franchise. Today, despite the disappointment that might be felt on the marae in the Ng\u0101i Tahu, we will not support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022 data-id=\u0022ac0f45c07cdc47e6b1a60088e75cbc72\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ac0f45c07cdc47e6b1a60088e75cbc72\u0022\u003EBRETT HUDSON (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I rise in opposition to the Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill. National has a long-term position that there\u2019s not a place for Government or Parliament to impose separate M\u0101ori representation in local government. These local government bodies or entities have the ability themselves to seek this representation through a process that includes proper consultation with their communities. We would advocate, suggest very strongly, that if Environment Canterbury (ECan) is supportive of such representation, it undertakes that legal process that already exists instead of seeking a separate and new piece of legislation from Parliament to somehow get around the consultation or other provisions that exist under current, existing legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EIt is also our view\u2014certainly, my personal view\u2014that Ng\u0101i Tahu is an incredibly strong and capable collection of people. They are able to stand very credible, very capable individuals in upcoming local body elections, including on ECan. I would suggest with their standing in their communities they would have every opportunity to be elected to that regional council, and they also do have the avenue of using existing legislative processes to establish M\u0101ori representation within ECan in a manner that does not require legislation such as this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EThe nature of this legislation is something we cannot and will not support.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022 data-id=\u0022c6e6bd644f8a45db94f438ea2c41c152\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c6e6bd644f8a45db94f438ea2c41c152\u0022\u003EMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E I rise to strongly support the Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill\u2014absolutely\u2014and we would call on other parties to do the same. It is an essential step forward in ensuring tangata whenua representation in local government and giving mana whenua a voice on issues that affect them in their own rohe. I do, therefore, want to mention that while the bill itself is explicit about Ng\u0101i Tahu representation, my understanding is that there is also work that happens alongside other iwi who reside on Ng\u0101i Tahu whenua and that there is an agreement and openness to be able to work with Ng\u0101i Tahu from other M\u0101ori representation to also be able to represent and present a cohesive M\u0101ori voice on that council. So the Green Party does not have concerns around ensuring that there is also wider M\u0101ori representation through having a Ng\u0101i Tahu voice. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI wanted specifically, in my short time, to look at the example of why M\u0101ori representation is absolutely to the benefit of everyone. My colleague, my tuakana Minister Nanaia Mahuta, also referred to this. I have my own examples. For example, currently around the country\u2014and particularly in Hokianga, where I\u2019m from\u2014people are railing to try and improve waste-water and sewerage systems, often alongside P\u0101keh\u0101 flax-roots communities, and fighting to uphold their responsibilities as caregivers of these living systems. This is also why this is in standing with the Green Party view that this is beneficial to ensure and guarantee mana whenua representation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EHap\u016B and iwi are concerned with the long-term well-being of rivers, lakes, and harbours, and that accountability is not just to those waters but to wh\u0101nau, because it requires hap\u016B to protect that resource as a taonga, a source of kai, and a spiritual nourishment. Often these decisions made\u2014certainly, at local and regional authorities\u2014have been of a cost-cutting, short-term nature, alongside a reluctance to share power with iwi and with mana whenua. This is a refusal to acknowledge the expertise that has been built up over centuries, honed and refined over generations, and has been held by local M\u0101ori over hundreds of years that is core to the particular living systems in their rohe. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EThere have been economic waste-water decisions\u2014as one small example\u2014that have ended up being quite costly and that have continued to ruin the ecosystem of that rohe, as well as exploding wider costs. So having proper M\u0101ori representation at local and regional authorities, in particular, who hold those levers to think about the plans for our infrastructure to care for our natural resources\u2014if we had done that, say, 30 years ago, even for my iwi in Hokianga, we may well have seen better decisions about water infrastructure and would certainly have saved some money. There has been expensive litigation, in fact, from some of those decisions that has led to both a denigration of the voice of mana whenua and a degradation of the environment. So I really wanted to take the time to give a clear outline, an example, of why the Greens have always stood for ensuring and guaranteeing mana whenua representation at the regional authority level. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI wanted to pick up some of the debate from the Opposition. The other side of the House have said that the way we, including the Greens\u2014and, yes, we railed against the anti-democratic decisions that were made by the Hon Dr Nick Smith. This decision to guarantee M\u0101ori representation is part of improving the democracy of those decisions. Rather than a trade-off, this is exactly how we can improve the democracy of those anti-democratic decisions that were made. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EOf course we understand that while Ng\u0101i Tahu is at the core of that whenua and while we are still minorities, it is not guaranteed that there will be mana whenua representation. So I don\u2019t at all buy the rather patronising argument that \u201COh, they\u2019re all right, they\u2019re pretty good\u2014they can do it themselves.\u201D This is not about that. It\u2019s about ensuring and guaranteeing that there is mana whenua representation and that mana whenua are able to make those democratic decisions for who will stand and be their voice. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI strongly support this bill. Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u002265b32221e666447a8ba6931803b9cb69\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002265b32221e666447a8ba6931803b9cb69\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National\u2014Ilam):\u003C/span\u003E I think before we even start, there\u2019s a big question that needs to be asked about why this bill has come to the House in this form. We were told earlier this year that bills that come as private bills cannot change primary legislation and, therefore, I can tell you, Madam Assistant Speaker, there was a bill introduced by one of our members that was knocked out by the Clerk\u2019s Office for that very reason. So I am very interested as to why this bill, particularly, has been allowed to progress like this. Why has this bill come as a private bill when the Government should have moved the bill themselves? Why would you have seven M\u0101ori seats in your caucus, and still rely on a private bill process to get something through?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b089b52f8b0d48d0974dfe3eaab22b9f\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s a local bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237a8d19a82f7489aa25fe9d41a0365c2\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Local bill, but, none the less, this local bill changes primary legislation. This is completely, in my opinion, an abuse of parliamentary process, and those who have promoted it should have found that out. I\u2019ve told that particular position to Mr Tirikatene, and to any others who bothered to ask for an opinion from me on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EI don\u2019t have any objection to the way in which an Electoral Act\u2014a primary Electoral Act\u2014determines who should sit where on any particular local body, or, for that matter, in this House. But I do have an objection to this House being used through this process to create an arrangement where, in fact, many of the people who are living in the Ng\u0101i Tahu rohe are disenfranchised, because one of the reasons for asking for this was because, apparently, no vote could be accurately conducted by Ng\u0101i Tahu to find out who their representatives were to be. That\u2019s a minor issue. The big issue is whether or not we should be changing electoral law in New Zealand through a bill like this, and my strong view is that we should not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EI think\u2014I would like to make it very clear\u2014that when we were in a position of having to disband Environment Canterbury (ECan), as it then was, and make appointments to commissioner positions, it was totally appropriate that the widest number of people in the community in Canterbury were represented in the appointments that were made. But the idea of an appointment process trumping an elected process is the wrong one. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003ENow, I\u2019m sorry to say this, but Ng\u0101i Tahu is a very big, well-organised grouping\u2014a very important grouping, one that is essential to the long-term success of the South Island, and I appreciate that very, very much\u2014but a grouping like that should be able to command enough electoral support to be able to achieve what\u2019s being sought today, without reference to preferential legislation. And I think the arguments that were just put in front of us by Marama Davidson tend to deny that Ng\u0101i Tahu themselves are very, very big players in the resource area, and very reliant, in many cases, on resource consents. To have the idea, as was advanced by Marama Davidson, that this could, in fact, save us a lot of money because there\u2019d be no objections from that group to a whole lot of resource consent applications is actually a huge disrespect to the organisation, in the first place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003ESo I don\u2019t need to take a lot of time. I just simply say that I think the way in which ECan itself has approached this bill has been totally inappropriate. The advice they\u2019ve been given by various people that has allowed it to get to this House has been selective and quite unreasonable. And the fact is that if there is going to be a change in legislation that is of a primary nature, then it should not be done through a local bill process. That has been the ruling from the Clerk\u2019s Office on at least one other occasion this year, so I\u2019d like to see a degree of consistency in that regard. And for that reason, more than any other, I can\u2019t support this bill and nor will the National Party.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022 data-id=\u0022551d803450b04dceaa1d72d214acf140\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022551d803450b04dceaa1d72d214acf140\u0022\u003EHon RUTH DYSON (Labour\u2014Port Hills):\u003C/span\u003E Rangatira m\u0101, t\u0113nei te mihi i runga i te kaupapa o te r\u0101. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E[Chiefs and others, I greet you with regard to today\u2019s matter. Greetings, greetings, greetings to all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003EIt gives me great pleasure to speak in support of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill. I want to acknowledge the sponsor of this local bill, my friend and colleague Rino Tirikatene, MP for Te Tai Tonga, and I acknowledge him for his work. It has been a longer process than was necessary, and we\u2019re about to see an outcome that he doesn\u2019t deserve to have, actually, on the vote of his bill. It should have been at least supported to a select committee and, in my view, supported all the way through. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge our regional council, Environment Canterbury (ECan), the staff, the elected representatives, and the appointed representatives, actually, because together they have worked incredibly constructively and gone well beyond the requirements for a local bill. They have engaged, they have listened, they\u2019ve considered, they\u2019ve gone back to people, and they\u2019ve given us a bill that they should be proud of, and I am really proud of the process that they undertook to get to this point. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003EI also want to acknowledge K\u0101i Tahu. It\u2019s our tribal authority; it\u2019s our mana whenua. It\u2019s unlike most iwi in regional councils, because we just have one, and that\u2019s behind the heart of this thinking. It\u2019s different than every other regional council. Brett Hudson was incorrect about having other avenues, because having constituency representatives does not guarantee mana whenua representation, which is the whole point of this bill. That\u2019s what it\u2019s seeking, and this is the only way it can be delivered. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003ENick Smith is wrong, but he is consistent. He\u2019s pretty well always wrong. All wards will have elected representation at the 2019 local body election. At last we have our democracy back. These representatives are in addition to the constituency representation, and I thought even the Hon Nick Smith would understand that, but clearly he doesn\u2019t. So this is in addition to the elected constituency representatives that we will vote for later this year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003ELast Friday, after the national memorial service in Christchurch, a group from Christchurch, from every r\u016Bnaka and from ECan, met. So the Te R\u014Dp\u016B Tuia hui was held to discuss this bill, and they had a proposal that they would ask Rino Tirikatene to progress it today. There\u2019s a wide range of political views around that ECan table. I\u2019m sorry to say, but I have a suspicion that some of the representatives are card-carrying members of the National Party. While that might not be true\u2014and I don\u2019t want to defame them, but that\u2019s what they\u2019ve told me\u2014every single person at that hui, every single person, agreed to the proposal. They wanted this bill to pass\u2014and it was across-the-board political representation\u2014because they know the difference that K\u0101i Tahu representation around the table has made in the understanding across the board of staff, of councillors, and of process, of the consideration of issues, and of a better outcome. How could anyone in this House not want better understanding, a better process, and a better outcome\u2014less litigation, less tension, and a higher quality of outcome on water issues, on air-quality issues, and on public transport issues, which they have yet to get right, but the process has been better than it would have otherwise. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003EWe have had improved regional council decision-making as a result of that representation. When Nick Smith started this process, I would not have thought that would have been the outcome, and I am pleased to say it has been. At least something good came out of the nonsense that Nick Smith instigated so many years ago. And we should preserve the one thing that has clearly been good for our region. That is why I support this legislation. I\u2019m very proud of Rino Tirikatene for\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=\u00225297da26e80849bc97de20bf79013800\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225297da26e80849bc97de20bf79013800\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! I apologise. Your time has expired. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022 data-id=\u00224a79f74853bc40c29f96bbf56df63aa9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224a79f74853bc40c29f96bbf56df63aa9\u0022\u003EDr JIAN YANG (National):\u003C/span\u003E I just visited the website of Environment Canterbury, for this particular bill, and I saw some comments about the commissioners appointed by the Government. It has this comment: \u201CThe Government selected experienced and capable commissioners with excellent service, governance, judicial, and business skills. This model has ensured a balance of agricultural, environmental, and electricity expertise to match the challenges facing Environment Canterbury.\u201D So this is a comment for the commissioners appointed by the Government. But remember, just a few years ago, how Labour railed against the National Government for making such appointments. They railed against this, calling this a lost democracy. But today they are trying to do what they used to be against.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EThis bill itself is trying to empower Ng\u0101i Tahu to appoint up to two members to Environment Canterbury after the 2019 local elections. Ng\u0101i Tahu is a very influential M\u0101ori iwi. As a matter of fact, if you ask me, \u201CWhat M\u0101ori iwi have you heard about?\u201D, I would say maybe Ng\u0101i Tahu, because really that\u2019s the name I have heard time and time again. It\u2019s very well organised, very well respected, very influential and they worked with Government very productively through the Canterbury earthquakes. So there is no problem with Ng\u0101i Tahu. We respect that. But the problem with this bill is\u2014as the previous speakers just mentioned, like the Hon Gerry Brownlee\u2014that this bill is trying to make revisions or challenge a very important Act, the Electoral Act. That is a major change, if this bill passed. This is a local bill, and it is not appropriate for a local bill to do this job. It should be a Government bill. Ng\u0101i Tahu should be confident that they would be able to back strong candidates to win local election seats. So there is a good chance for them to win, because they are so well respected, well supported. They should go through that process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EAlternatively, they could communicate or consult with communities and see whether there is a possibility to establish a M\u0101ori ward, and they can do this under the current Electoral Act, basically. So they could do this. They have channels. They have the proper channels to do this. So this bill, we believe, will not really serve the purpose of democracy. We believe we should go through the proper process, and therefore we oppose the bill. Thanks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u0022b6ba18ac642f4ffe99716ca9c6787584\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b6ba18ac642f4ffe99716ca9c6787584\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Rino Tirikatene\u2014five minutes in reply.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u00223eb05773934a48d1a715cfa596ca6aa2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223eb05773934a48d1a715cfa596ca6aa2\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. Well, I\u2019m very disappointed that the House has\u2014well, in the National Party and their decision today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0458ac290cd495198239e20c67a475c\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: What about New Zealand First?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220046ace2b8f54aaf89e8dedbaa02a496\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: And New Zealand First as well. I\u2019m disappointed. This is a disappointing day for our country, I believe, because this wasn\u2019t a political bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d5918e502b340e3ab9bb2b6f62930d3\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Blame your coalition, mate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0381eea731d42e3a5087a489135321b\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! Do not bring me into this debate, Dr Smith. Carry on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258fc276c768646d1acb07ef026cbd017\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: This wasn\u2019t a political bill. This was a local bill, and the National Party has decided to play politics with this bill. That\u2019s very disappointing. The irony is that they\u2019re railing now against Ng\u0101i Tahu appointments and voting down this bill, and yet they were the ones that installed Ng\u0101i Tahu councillors in the first place. Talk about confusion. They are absolutely confused. They appointed Ng\u0101i Tahu commissioners and now they\u2019ve tried to come up with every excuse under the sun to cancel their own decision. What Opposition party rails against what they did in Government? It\u2019s absolutely bizarre, but it just goes to show how confused the National Party is under this current leadership. It\u2019s really staggering and it\u2019s very sad.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EEnvironment Canterbury has laid out their case, with the support of Ng\u0101i Tahu, on this. Yes, it arose out of very controversial circumstances but it is an arrangement that has worked\u2014it\u2019s worked, it\u2019s been very successful, and it\u2019s widely supported by the people of Canterbury and from all of the territorial authorities, as I\u2019ve mentioned, right throughout papatipu r\u016Bnanga that are so intimately involved. This has been a wonderful relationship. The bonds that have been formed have now just been absolutely dashed by politics being played\u2014politics being played.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002264d61dc281574f688b46970b323b32fb\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s right\u2014by Labour.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246f91569926d46938ed729dc87efd055\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: We aren\u2019t playing the politics.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4f7b35ea4f4422a8f49ba078df80c8a\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: You bet you are. Why did you not support commissioners from Ng\u0101i Tahu when they were appointed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2556efa8db742c3889cc4381f613e0b\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Smith, if you check the Hansard, we never opposed Ng\u0101i Tahu representation. We supported Ng\u0101i Tahu representation, and I proudly\u2014[Interruption]\u2014you can look at the Hansard for me. I looked ahead to this very moment\u2014I looked ahead to this very moment and said we need to continue. It\u2019s great that we have Ng\u0101i Tahu commissioners, and I look forward to the point in time where we come at the expiry of the legislation, where we can\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229076d02d3a3142198412f88b3c130564\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s not what the Hansard says.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002208a2a3110e8143bcaa299fb2ea5631e6\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: It does. Check my speech out. Please do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022676cc82fbd084f3e9971dfad54504fd1\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Table it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225efb34a4c323456ab4fb5dabf627a3be\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: I will table that speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EBut this is just very disappointing. It\u2019s a disappointing day for our country. We talk about t\u0101tou t\u0101tou e. We talk about the beautiful inclusiveness and all those lovely power M\u0101ori words of aroha, kotahitanga, but really, when it comes down to it\u2014when it comes down to mana whenua trying to assert themselves\u2014they won\u2019t let us go there. They won\u2019t let us go there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EOur country is founded on binary roots of the Treaty, mana whenua, iwi, and the Crown, and\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f23045354efd48d5b22d7cd048982f68\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Why is there no Government bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f531e81844904732a67d2969afd350e7\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014the National Party can\u2019t help but try and hack away at our roots. But, I tell you, our roots run deep, Mr Brownlee\u2014our roots run deep. So we may not succeed this time around, but I can tell you: Ng\u0101i Tahu aren\u2019t going away\u2014Ng\u0101i Tahu isn\u2019t going away.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dee50299236e4835b5e9318e8ea70601\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Bring it back as a Government bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd0cc51cd224421da4894e02cb12e2b1\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: Who knows what will happen in the future, Mr Brownlee, but we want to work this to its conclusion, and it\u2019s very disappointing, as I\u2019ve said.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EJust to conclude, I want to acknowledge the manuhiri that have travelled all this way: Environment Canterbury, Steve Lowndes and all the wonderful team there, and all the work that they\u2019ve put into this bill. My whanaungas from Ng\u0101i Tahu, all our papatipu r\u016Bnanga: Te Hap\u016B o Ng\u0101ti Wheke, Te R\u016Bnanga o Arowhenua, Te R\u016Bnanga o Kaik\u014Dura, Te R\u016Bnanga o Koukour\u0101rata, Te R\u016Bnanga o Moeraki, Te R\u016Bnanga o Ng\u0101i T\u016B\u0101huriri, Te R\u016Bnanga o \u014Cnuku, Te R\u016Bnanga o Waihao, Te R\u016Bnanga o Wairewa, and Te Taumutu R\u016Bnanga. They were here. They\u2019ve witnessed what has taken place this afternoon. We won\u2019t forget\u2014we won\u2019t forget. But as we say in M\u0101ori, me p\u0113nei te k\u014Drero, ko Aoraki te maunga, ehara i te maunga nekeneke, engari ko Aoraki te maunga, t\u016B te ao, t\u016B te p\u014D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E[As we say in M\u0101ori, Aoraki is the ancestral mountain; it is not a mountain that moves. Aoraki is the ancestral mountain; it stands through light and dark.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EAoraki is the mountain that does not move. Aoraki stands night and day, and we will be here, and we will continue the fight for mana whenua representation. I am very disappointed, but I am proud to have stood up for my people to support this bill. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022ff3bd394bde14fbab0cccfdbf8478fab\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 Canterbury Regional Council (Ng\u0101i Tahu Representation) Bill be now read a first time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 54\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 46; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 66\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 55; 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\u003EMotion not agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b4e2308af42142a2a5c082ad4d452f00\u0022\u003EArbitration Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bba14666686642728df43bee981f21db\u0022\u003EIn Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002268b8cf6707544048bf7a941f771177a2\u0022\u003EClauses 1 to 6\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022 data-id=\u00221fe26e30f5a345fb8d277fc8fe1bd0c6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221fe26e30f5a345fb8d277fc8fe1bd0c6\u0022\u003ERAYMOND HUO (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. Arbitration Amendment Bill: clause 1, the title clause; clause 2 is commencement; clause 3, principal Act; and clause 4 proposes to insert new section 10A, with regard to validity of arbitration clauses in trust deeds. Clause 4 is a provision that warrants some attention and close examination. The difference between arbitration and litigation is that arbitration is based on consent of the parties and litigation is through the courts. The principal legislation\u2014the Arbitration Act 1996\u2014does two things: it governs New Zealand\u2019s arbitration laws and also implements international obligations found in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and the model law on international commercial arbitration 1985, known more commonly as the model law. Sorry for sounding terribly pedagogue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EThe model law is important to ensure arbitration proceedings conducted in New Zealand are practicable, consistent, and efficient. That\u2019s the logical starting point for the Justice Committee to have carefully worked through this member\u2019s bill under Mr Andrew Bayly\u2019s name. Having said that, I should acknowledge the justice Minister, the Hon Andrew Little. Driven by the Justice Committee, and largely through me in my capacity as the chair of the Justice Committee, we convinced Minister Little at one point to set aside the departmental report prepared by the officials and instead appoint an independent adviser, Mr Paul Heath QC, a retired High Court judge.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EWhat we did was extraordinary. We released the departmental report to the House, and through the House to the public, and invited the sector to submit again. Mr Heath QC then produced two reports, and the committee also received two letters from Chief Justice Sian Elias. That\u2019s where we were then, and that\u2019s where we are now. All I can say is that those subsequent discussions, the independent advisers\u2019 reports together with the Justice Committee\u2019s commentary, and the revision-tracked version all showed that the officials were correct in the first place. The points they raised in the department report were valid and correct. I thank the officials, and it\u2019s very important for me to acknowledge that. I thank the Minister, who helped the Justice Committee to go beyond the ordinary scope and to go those extra miles to achieve what we have achieved now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EThe bill in its current form is not perfect. Like any pieces of legislation, there is huge room for improvement, but I can say that the Justice Committee has delivered, although, in this case, instead of introducing many amendments or changes or deciding to do lots of things, we have instead decided not to do lots of things. That\u2019s the reason why lots of provisions proposed under this bill have been deleted from the bill. The bill, although a member\u2019s bill, deals with some important issues such as open justice, trusts, and, as Chief Justice Sian Elias pointed out in her letters to the Justice Committee, the role that a member\u2019s bill can play, especially in the area of providing a mechanism for legislation dealing directly with court function.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EThe committee recommends clause 4 be deleted from the bill. This provision sets out that arbitration clauses in trust deeds will be valid and binding on all trustees, guardians, and beneficiaries. The Trusts Bill, a Government bill, addresses the same broad concerns. It is better suited within the Trusts Bill to consider the form of protections for unascertained and legally incompetent beneficiaries and, therefore, avoids possible issues about access to justice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EClause 4 of the bill proposes new section 10A in the Arbitration Act, that would validate provisions in trust deeds requiring internal matters or disputes to be resolved by arbitration. As drafted, the clause would bind all beneficiaries, including unborn children, and the wider issues of the settlor plus incapacitated and unascertained beneficiaries. The clause would bind all of them and require them to resolve by arbitration any disputes that might arise at any time in the life of the trust. The effect of the clause would be to exclude beneficiaries\u2019 entitlement to refer the conduct of trustees to the court. Needless to say, the court would have always exercised supervisory jurisdiction over such matters. The Chief Justice called it a radical exclusion of beneficiaries\u2019 entitlements, and it is not warranted. There is a risk that the arbitration clause would simply add another layer to the dispute.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EWe all know that New Zealand is a rather interesting place where the notion of trusts, no matter whether in the family or business context, is well known. As a result, there has been a proliferation of trusts in family and business contexts. The concept is quite simple. We will only need to have a settlor, and normally two settlors, to establish a trust and then have a trustee or two trustees\u2014and nowadays a corporate trustee has become very popular\u2014with a number of beneficiaries. Deeds of family trusts and business trusts used to be drafted by lawyers, but it is no longer the case. Trust deeds in family or business contexts are often drafted by financial or taxation advisers rather than lawyers. With\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022559b14ed01dc4d0da083b5930c3a6559\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! I just apologise to the member. As I understand it, a lot of the work that was done on trust deeds has now actually been excluded from the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cafd785fafd14ad9b0283cfa3064a79b\u0022\u003ERAYMOND HUO\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, that\u2019s correct, and that\u2019s the reason why I want to explain why clause 4 should be deleted, because the Trusts Bill, a Government bill, should be the place where lots of protections or mechanisms in that regard should be dealt with.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dfd663c6817e4f5cbd274e260eeba5b9\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: And that\u2019s appropriate, but if I could ask the member to actually refer to the bill as it has been returned to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002202144a0c822c4c3cbb0b4b9f38cd3b84\u0022\u003ERAYMOND HUO\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. The reason why I mentioned the trusts and the trust deeds is simply because this clause is closely related to one concept with regard to the protection of beneficiaries. That\u2019s the reason why the Justice Committee recommends that clause 4 be deleted from this bill, simply because, back to the original point, the disputes have been exacerbated by inappropriate drafting provided to the settlor on a cut-and-paste basis, and that\u2019s one of the reasons why clause 4 is not warranted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EThe officials probably would appreciate more the reason why the Justice Committee has decided to appoint an independent adviser, simply because such kind of issues warrant close examination and scrutiny. Of course, I cannot emphasise more the importance of the collegiality at the Justice Committee level. I do miss the times when Christopher Finlayson QC and the Hon Amy Adams were in the room. They were both tough but fair and professional.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eea0ec43a235453181bb57b84f5b8e97\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u00221e3caafd1e7145b99b591d9312c236d8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221e3caafd1e7145b99b591d9312c236d8\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, right, OK, Andrew Bayly\u2014are you taking a point of order or are you taking a call?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022 data-id=\u0022f4d2f139fbac41aeba5ebedb1971f259\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f4d2f139fbac41aeba5ebedb1971f259\u0022\u003EANDREW BAYLY (National\u2014Hunua):\u003C/span\u003E Taking a call\u2014sorry. Thank you. I just want to acknowledge the chair of the Justice Committee for being very supportive in terms of progressing this bill through the House, and also the members of the Justice Committee. It\u2019s a very technical bill, as we\u2019ve started to hear from the chair, and I think we\u2019ve ended up\u2014obviously, we didn\u2019t get everything we needed, but we\u2019ve gone some way towards improving the Arbitration Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003ENo doubt we\u2019re going to talk about some of those aspects, but I just want to take this opportunity to talk about the Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) that\u2019s been introduced under my name, which is SOP 180. What this SOP does is it deals with an issue which is called the quick-draw procedure, where parties that are in arbitration have the opportunity to nominate the person who will be responsible for hearing the arbitration. Under the previous arrangements, what happened was that one party could nominate the person they wanted to hear the arbitration proceedings, and if the other party didn\u2019t respond within seven working days, the person who had nominated the arbitrator had their way and that person immediately became the person who was going to preside over the arbitration proceedings. Now, that concept is against the principle of arbitration, which is that things should be done through agreement, and therefore this SOP deals with it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003ETo get to this point, we had to work through the committee\u2014and I\u2019m very grateful for the committee in this case\u2014and actually go to the Business Committee to seek approval to introduce and actually deal with this issue in the committee, because it was outside the scope of the original bill. So we\u2019ve worked through the process with the Parliamentary Counsel Office helping with the drafting of it, and this is the result today, that SOP 180 deals with this quick-draw procedure. Just to summarise it, what the SOP does is it basically removes the quick-draw procedure, which is against the principle of arbitration, as I said before.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003EWe already have in the legislation, in a previous change made back in 2017, the right for the Arbitrators\u2019 and Mediators\u2019 Institute of New Zealand\u2014called AMINZ\u2014to appoint an arbitrator to hear a proceeding if the two parties to the arbitration proceedings can\u2019t agree. Basically, this SOP deals with that issue and also the resulting changes in the numbering of the clauses in the specific part\u2014in clause 1 of Schedule 2. So I just wanted to be clear about what the SOP is. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022 data-id=\u00220e63a3b428ca41439945d1a8e34e6385\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220e63a3b428ca41439945d1a8e34e6385\u0022\u003EHon MAGGIE BARRY (National\u2014North Shore):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak to the Arbitration Amendment Bill as the deputy chair of the Justice Committee, which heard this. I commend the chair, Raymond Huo\u2014who is here\u2014and other members of the committee and the officials, who worked very hard on a bill that I could probably describe, as a layperson, as inordinately complex. A very complicated bill, hence the separating out of the Trusts Bill and the amendment bill, in terms of its arbitration. As a layperson, when weaving our way through the complexities of international arbitration, it was apparent that we needed some additional advice, and I think that the system actually worked very well to provide the committee with the correct degree of intellectual rigour to bring to this process, because if people are legally trained and they understand how arbitration works, then you add in the layers of international arbitration, and we get into some enormous complexities. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EThis bill was originally in the name of Paul Foster-Bell, the Hon Chris Finlayson QC took a big interest in it, and Andrew Bayly has worked tirelessly, and I commend the member for negotiating a complicated bill through some very choppy waters indeed. It didn\u2019t quite work out in the way that was originally intended. The Government members did not support all the provisions in the bill that would have brought our arbitration laws\u2014this bill, in particular\u2014more in line with the international standards, and therein lay the rub. But for New Zealand, it is an opportunity to be able to have international arbitration carried out in this country, and that was really the thinking behind the bill when it was first conceived. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EThere are a number of countries in the world\u2014particularly in the Asian region\u2014where a lot of cross-border commercial activities and contracts and international treaties are taking place, so the whole area of international arbitration has grown exponentially. Indeed, the globalisation of world trade and investment has meant that the world has had to really concentrate on harmonising its arbitration measures and its practices, and that is across the world. There is a convention that was signed in New York by 159 of the world\u2019s States which allows for the enforcement of arbitral decisions, so these were really big, heavy, grunty decisions that were focused and that many countries have agreed to. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003ESo this bill is, in my view, a heroic attempt to try and position New Zealand well, but the issues around confidentiality were ones that were always going to be difficult to negotiate, because for people to seek arbitration\u2014to enter into that process\u2014they need to have absolute confidence that it\u2019s not going to become a public discussion, because of the commercial sensitivities and the privacy which underpins many of these big international agreements. So with many nations scrambling to establish themselves as arbitration hubs of one sort or another, this is why the Government\u2019s support\u2014particularly here in this Parliament\u2014has flowed on to the very successful arbitration centres in Hong Kong and Singapore. What I mean by that is that those hubs in Hong Kong and Singapore have attracted a lot of the business because many other countries are just not equipped to deal with the complexities and the nuances of it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003ESo we adopted one part of this\u2014the model law\u2014in 1996. Our pointy-headed lawyers could talk you through the various elements of what that Arbitration Act set out. It was originally the rules for the use of arbitration as an agreed method of resolving disputes, and that was consistent with international standards, but this bill has been an effort for us to move with the times. As I said, it was partially successful. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EWe support this bill, of course. I think it was important that we as a country, and this Parliament in particular, really needed to clarify our arbitration rules, and this bill and the length of time it has taken and the length of complexity has at least, I think, resolved\u2014at least in Parliament\u2019s mind\u2014some of these complex arbitration rules and where New Zealand sits within that. So it is with considerable pleasure, after a lot of hard work in the Justice Committee, by the committee members, and, in particular, by the member Andrew Bayly, that I commend this bill to the committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u00223ae16ee7081f4a5cb197a79f33b72262\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223ae16ee7081f4a5cb197a79f33b72262\u0022\u003EDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. Firstly, Mr Bayly, congratulations on your fine work in marshalling this bill through the Justice Committee, and also on your excellent explanation of your Supplementary Order Paper 180. I don\u2019t think I need to say anything more about that. Congratulations also to Raymond Huo, our excellent chair, on managing this and on managing some very technical work and using our expert adviser to great effect. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EThis has become much more of a tidy-up bill, if you like, but I wanted to make it clear that although it can be viewed as simply tidying up some technical aspects, those technical aspects can be of absolutely critical importance. As Mr Bayly has explained, with the quick-draw procedure, the appointment of a tame arbitrator has been known to occur. That won\u2019t be possible any more, and that would be a real breach. I mean, arbitration is special because it is, in a sense, private justice. It\u2019s justice which is undertaken away from the eye of the courts and Government in the way that we usually think of justice as being done, so we need to get these rules right. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EThe other thing about arbitration, as has been noted already, is that it is by agreement\u2014the parties have consented to that. Tucked away in this bill is the fact that if you wanted to challenge the agreement itself, you can\u2019t just sit on your hands. It may well be that you argue that the arbitration agreement or the arbitration clause in your contract doesn\u2019t apply to these circumstances or perhaps that the parties to it didn\u2019t consent appropriately, or any other contractual ground for setting aside that arbitration agreement. Now, historically, parties could play chicken, if you like, and do nothing to see who blinked first in terms of objecting to jurisdiction. So someone could go through an arbitral process, and it would only be when the thing got to the enforcement stage that someone says, \u201CFooled you\u2014I\u2019m not bound by that clause.\u201D Quite rightly, this bill has tidied that up. It says that if you\u2019re going to object to jurisdiction, you must do it in a timely way. That is a good step forward. It requires discipline and it requires, essentially, no more than fair dealing, in that you can\u2019t hold that jurisdictional ace up your sleeve until the end of the game. So well done, Mr Bayly, there. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EBut I must say that the suggestion that court hearings would be presumptively held confidentially was not accepted by the committee on similar principles\u2014principles of fair dealing and open justice. Whilst the arguments were made persuasively, it has to be said that for the international arbitration market for international harmonisation, the bill that we have before us makes what we have already much, much better, but it doesn\u2019t change in substance the way we do arbitration in New Zealand. It does recognise also the important role that the Arbitrators\u2019 and Mediators\u2019 Institute of New Zealand has, and it takes it just a tiny step further in formalising that relationship\u2014their place as an appointer of arbitrators\u2014as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003ESo congratulations to Mr Bayly. This bill is progressing further through the House, but, clearly, will make it the whole way. It\u2019s a good piece of work. It\u2019s made our law better, and it is great to see it happening in this House in this cooperative way. Thank you, Madam Chair. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u00227b046458f14743cd833bab165a6b4aee\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227b046458f14743cd833bab165a6b4aee\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR (Labour\u2014\u014Ch\u0101riu):\u003C/span\u003E I rise to take a very short call on this bill and, really, to reiterate many of the comments that have been made tonight. I do take note of what the Hon Maggie Barry talked about, being somewhat of a layperson in this regard, but through the fine explanation of the member Mr Bayly and through the very wise advice we received, it was something of an eye-opening experience. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EThe aspect around open justice was the one that probably opened my eyes a little more as to the world of arbitration. I come from an organisation that was the only one in New Zealand that had binding arbitration, so perhaps I didn\u2019t need to know quite as much about the intricacies of this, and it did surprise me as I saw this that there are jurisdictions in the world\u2014notably, Singapore and Hong Kong\u2014who have\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ab9480a264242e8925459331fdde150\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: I apologise to the member. The time has come for me to leave the Chair for the dinner hour. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003ESitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ff02cc9becc4487a44cefb1723187a8\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Before the dinner break, the House was in committee for the consideration of the Arbitration Amendment Bill. Greg O\u2019Connor had the call and he has three minutes and 48 seconds remaining, if he so wishes, and it looks as though he does. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4c574f97a8b430992432ed6c6a7b09f\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Chair. I would have felt that had I not taken up this call, my life would have been somewhat unfulfilled. Perhaps the other members in the House don\u2019t feel the same way. However, I did feel that such a bill has brought my somewhat amateur view and understanding of the arbitration process to a new level\u2014particularly around the level of confidentiality. This was where, really, the basis of this bill was. I mean there was always the opportunity that if we were to have changed the bill or changed the Act so that arbitrations could be conducted\u2014of course, arbitrations are conducted in private but, of course, when they are elevated to the courts, there was quite some considerable discussion. And that was the basis of the bill, that in those subsequent court proceedings, the presumption would be privacy. The real rationale around that is that it would then ensure that those who had been through what has been described previously as the \u201Cprivate justice system\u201D went to the open courts, they were more likely to go there because they would understand that by the very confidential nature, those issues wouldn\u2019t become subject to public discourse. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EQuite rightfully, however\u2014although there were submitters who certainly saw the opportunity that presented for an international arbitration industry, whereby there would be organisations from all around the world that would come, knowing that they could conduct their business here without that business ever seeing the light of day or the facts\u2014it was quite clear, as the discussion went on, that any advantages would accrue from that. The basis of justice being conducted in an open manner, there was no way that we could ever justify doing that. And I also was quite clear\u2014Madam Chair, perhaps one can hear, at this stage my voice appears to be going. While I\u2019m sure that the world would be a much better place for me continuing this presentation, I will, at this stage, take my seat and commend the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022 data-id=\u002239e57bfe54d24f4b95bb36535bfad691\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002239e57bfe54d24f4b95bb36535bfad691\u0022\u003ERAYMOND HUO (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I think it\u2019s fitting for me to take a call to rescue my comrade! I want to take a short call, given the member in the chair, Andrew Bayly, does not expect long calls. Supplementary Order Paper 180 in Mr Bayly\u2019s name seeks to insert new clause 7, which repeals clauses 1(4) and 1(5). He explained well in his earlier contributions relating to the issues around quick-draw procedure. The Law Commission recommended in 2003 that the procedure be deleted. That did not happen, simply because of the concerns that there were otherwise no alternative measures with regard to the procedure in relation to appointments. However, following an amendment effected by the Arbitration Amendment Act 2016, appointments can now be made by the Arbitrators\u2019 and Mediators\u2019 Institute of New Zealand. Therefore, a quick and independent means by which an arbitrator can be appointed now exists, removing the need for a quick-draw procedure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EI should note also that, apart from those extraordinary steps taken by the Justice Committee, as I listed in my earlier contribution, including the appointment of an independent adviser, and also releasing the departmental report earlier to the House and through the House to the public, therefore enabled new submissions to be made on the departmental report from the sector. Apart from those measures, the Justice Committee went all the way to the Business Committee, seeking the Business Committee\u2019s approval for the Justice Committee to delete clause 1(4), simply because the deletion of it is beyond the scope of the member\u2019s bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EHowever, at the last minute, members of the Arbitrators\u2019 and Mediators\u2019 Institute of New Zealand detected a technical issue where clause 1(5) would need to be deleted should clause 1(4) be removed. Without clause 1(4), clause 1(5) becomes meaningless and potentially confusing, as it goes on to provide that the proposal takes effect as if it were part of the agreement to arbitrate\u2014so, therefore, the Supplementary Order Paper in Mr Bayly\u2019s name.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EClause 1 agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EClause 2 agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EClause 3 agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EAmendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 180 in the name of Andrew Bayly to clause 6 agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EClause 6 as amended agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EAmendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 180 in the name of Andrew Bayly to insert new clause 7 agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EHouse resumed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EBill reported with amendment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EReport adopted.\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=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b98b961a6f384cc89c223ec92a4e2ead\u0022\u003EHealth and Safety at Work (Volunteer Associations) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00222714545c610e47e9a4932646b358ac41\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000503\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 6 March 2019.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022 data-id=\u002262c2892a46f648acb71aa27b68e97d2b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002262c2892a46f648acb71aa27b68e97d2b\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E This bill, the Health and Safety at Work (Volunteer Associations) Amendment Bill, calls to question a very important principle: should those who work as employees be protected, in terms of health and safety, through legislation? This side of the House says absolutely they should, and it should be a universal right for everyone that works, that they should be protected, that there should be rules and regulations and legislation in place that ensures that, to the best of the employer\u2019s ability, those who work for a living are protected while they are at their job. And so let\u2019s look at the general policy statement here in this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u201CVolunteer associations play an important part in New Zealand.\u201D We agree. \u201CThere are a range of volunteer associations which employ a limited number of employees, usually for very specific tasks.\u201D Again we agree. Then we get to the bit that we struggle with: \u201CThis bill amends the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to allow volunteer associations that employ a person or persons for not greater than 100 hours per week to be excluded from the definition of a person conducting a business or undertaking [otherwise known as] PCBU.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThe Labour Party opposes this bill because we believe that all workers in all organisations have a right to a safe and a healthy workplace. It\u2019s not too much to ask. Every worker that leaves their home to earn a living should be doing so in a safe environment. And just because they happen to work for a volunteer association should not exclude them from the right that the rest of us enjoy. The argument, of course, is that volunteer associations find it difficult to comply with health and safety standards. I understand that resources are limited for those that are voluntary organisations, but for something as fundamental as the health and safety of their staff, there is no way that this side of the House can agree that this\u2014of all the potential provisions that an organisation that employs people would wish to be excluded from\u2014above all should be one of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThere is little evidence that the bill will achieve its stated purpose of making it easier for voluntary associations to comply with the law. There is also very little that shows that it will make it easier for volunteer associations to attract staff. Now, I\u2019ve been involved in volunteer associations and I know how hard it is to attract staff. I know how hard it is to attract volunteers. But making the workplace that they are going to be part of\u2014[Interruption]\u2014is not going to make it easier.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThey make noises, as they often do on the other side of the House. But when you look at the organisation that I was most recently involved in, the New Zealand fire brigade, an organisation that is fully reliant on volunteers, it is, in many ways, potentially the most dangerous job that anyone could undertake, particularly from a volunteer basis. Now, an organisation like that, if it tried to avoid its responsibility to the people that they employ or the volunteers that participate in that activity, they would definitely have trouble attracting people into what is such a dangerous activity. Now, I know people might say that these sorts of organisations are not necessarily that dangerous, but in any working environment, if the provision of health and safety is not seen as a priority, that puts people\u2019s well-being and lives at risk.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EWe as a Parliament have a responsibility to ensure that the people of this country are safe in any activity that they undertake. All of us work for a living. All of us should do it in a safe environment. And while this Government has made much progress in terms of ensuring the health and safety of our workers in this country, New Zealand actually has to front up. Historically, we have an appalling record of health and safety for our workers, and excluding those that just happen to work for voluntary organisations is not the way to send the message that we prioritise them and we prioritise their well-being. This side of the House will be opposing this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022 data-id=\u00224b5e658621f6445784fdc27a1584704e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224b5e658621f6445784fdc27a1584704e\u0022\u003EDENISE LEE (National\u2014Maungakiekie):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te Mana Whakaw\u0101. Kei te k\u014Drero ki te kaupapa i te w\u0101. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003E[Greetings, Madam Assistant Speaker. I will speak to the current matter.] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EThat matter is the Health and Safety at Work (Volunteer Associations) Amendment Bill. I would like to refer to New Zealand First\u2019s contribution as we find ourselves here in the second reading. I was on the select committee and listened intently to the first reading of this bill and Clayton Mitchell\u2019s contribution, where not only were New Zealand First intending to support this, and so they did in the first reading, they were intending to add to the bill\u2014not just support it but add to the bill. So he talked about it in very detailed ways, even talking about safety equipment and surf life-saving and small salaries and all sorts. I\u2019m reading from Hansard here on how they were going to support the bill. But here we find ourselves very possibly\u2014we hope it\u2019s not the case but there is the very likely possibility that New Zealand First might not support this at the second reading passage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EIn the committee report, here\u2019s what New Zealand First says: \u201CNew Zealand First accept the principle of the bill\u201D\u2014interesting\u2014\u201Cand have only withdrawn support at this stage\u201D\u2014\u201Conly\u201D\u2014\u201Cdue to assurances from the Minister that these concerns will be addressed in a wider body of work.\u201D Well, New Zealand First, how is this clear for you? When are those assurances going to come along? Is it the Health and Safety at Work Act review in 2020? Where\u2019s your assurances? What form is it going to take? New Zealand First, have you heard anything so far? The only thing that we\u2019ve heard so far in workplace relations is the far reaching and business-stopping employment relations amendment legislation. We\u2019ve got the triangular bill next. That doesn\u2019t sound like the kinds of assurances that New Zealand First are going to be looking for and wanting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003ENow, meanwhile we\u2019ve got the other side of the House going on and on about how this would put a handbrake on voluntary associations. Did they actually sit on the select committee and listen to submitters? Because I and others of us\u2014my colleague next to me, Nicola Willis\u2014heard very clear, in person, from voluntary associations such as the chair of a cat welfare trust in the South Island dealing with feral cats, trapping\u2014doing a really important job for the community. She said, \u201CWe should be able to employ a low number of staff and not be captured by health and safety. If we get grants for work, we don\u2019t want to be put into the PCBU category, because we keep applying for grants but we\u2019re handbraked from doing that because we\u2019ll be captured by the legislation.\u201D Who is this lady? Here we go, a quote: \u201CI work for a union. I really believe in health and safety, don\u2019t get me wrong, but this is not the way to go. We have a handbrake on what we\u2019re doing as an organisation.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EOne more example: former All Black Matthew Cooper for Sport Waikato. He came in. Not only did he come in to submit, but he also has a petition going. So listen up, because the idea from the other side of the House that this was a one-sided argument and was not supported by voluntary organisations is complete rubbish. They were asking for it and you\u2019re just chucking the baby out with the bathwater. And New Zealand First is a big part of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022 data-id=\u0022055965bd9bf3461fa87d2b9e34e7a517\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022055965bd9bf3461fa87d2b9e34e7a517\u0022\u003EHon PEENI HENARE (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Assistant Speaker, and thank you for this opportunity. I rise to speak on the Health and Safety at Work (Volunteer Associations) Amendment Bill. And if I can, I want to acknowledge the sponsor of the bill, the member of Parliament Harete Hipango, because I truly believe her passion in this particular space shone through as she attempted to liaise and communicate with members right across the House to promote her bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003ENow, the speaker who has just finished her contribution to this debate, Denise Lee, talked about the number of submissions that were made on this particular bill. Now I have the honour and great privilege of being the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, and in my time up and down and across the country from the Far North to the deep South, I\u2019ve had the good fortune of meeting with many community organisations and discussing with them many of the challenges that they face whether they be a large organisation or a small organisation. And I can hand on heart say that this one doesn\u2019t appear on the radar. There are other significant issues that are currently confronting community and voluntary organisations up and down the country, and this one isn\u2019t in the realm of top priorities or, dare I say, even a blip on the radar. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EI think too that that is displayed in the number of submissions that were received on this bill\u201434, if I recall correctly, and the vast majority of them oppose this bill. Now, what I know about the community and voluntary sector is it\u2019s based on integrity\u2014integrity. In a voluntary or community organisation, the minute that the trust or integrity is broken between the particular organisation and the community at large, we\u2019ve got a problem. Why? Because what that means is our people, the communities of Aotearoa New Zealand, don\u2019t consider the organisation to be one of integrity. Therefore, as is the Kiwi way, we withdraw our support. So therefore, based on that premise with integrity being at the forefront, should a volunteer that actually spends their time in what we call sweat equity given to a particular kaupapa or particular charitable cause\u2014should that integrity be broken, we\u2019ve got a problem.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EAnd what we\u2019re talking about here is the right for that volunteer, or a worker in any work space, to actually go to work or go and volunteer with an organisation and come home safely. Let\u2019s be honest: in this particular country, Aotearoa New Zealand, health and safety in the workplace is a serious problem\u2014a serious problem. One only needs look at the forestry statistics of members of the public, those who work in that sector, who haven\u2019t gone home to their families\u2014who haven\u2019t made it home after a hard day\u2019s work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EThe fear too, in the wide-ranging scope of voluntary work in this country, is that that could be a possibility as well. \u201CNot on our watch.\u201D is what we\u2019re saying\u2014not on our watch. While we appreciate the intent of this bill, the hard-core reality is that when I travel up and down the country and meet with these organisations, they make it very clear that integrity is a key part.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EShould a member of a voluntary organisation all of a sudden find themselves injured seriously in their undertaking of their voluntary work and for some reason this House passed a bill that says \u201CWell, we\u2019ll waive or we\u2019ll turn a blind eye to a certain number of hours.\u201D, I\u2019d argue that challenges the integrity of the sector and makes it even harder for the likes of myself and communities far and wide to support the charitable efforts of many charities in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EThere are a number of other issues that have been canvassed with this particular bill, and I also\u2014if I can\u2014just touch on the words of my colleague Kieran McAnulty, who talked about the ability to go and undertake voluntary work and to return home safely to your families. That is ultimately what we want for our citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand: to make sure that when the thousands and thousands of volunteers in this country head out to make sure that they add value and they contribute to the well-being of their community or their particular kaupapa, they have the right to make it home safely to their families. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EAnd that point I hope isn\u2019t lost on this House in this entire debate. Like I said, we understand the intent from the member Harete Hipango in this bill. But I take it, having read the report and discussed with colleagues on the side of the House, that there is an undertaking to have a serious look at this and, more widely speaking, health and safety regulations that relate to paid employment and voluntary paid employment and volunteers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EJust in closing, can I say that, as I\u2019ve already mentioned, I have the honour and privilege of being the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, and we do appreciate all of the work that volunteers do across this country. That work is the sweat equity, the billions of dollars in productivity in this country. All hinge on the fact that the integrity of that sector is intact. Once we lose that integrity, I\u2019m afraid that the view that this country and the communities have of this particular sector and volunteers at large will be seriously affected, and that will have a negative consequence on our communities. I stand to oppose this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022 data-id=\u00229fa8807db17a426ea0b08f6de31f4f5b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229fa8807db17a426ea0b08f6de31f4f5b\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE (National\u2014Hamilton West):\u003C/span\u003E Kia orana, Madam Assistant Speaker. T\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa e Te Whare. Could I begin just by saying, for the benefit of those who may have been watching on television, that the speech of the Hon Peeni Henare was not speech 12 of 12\u2014or indeed, if it was, this is now speech 13 of 12. It is my understanding that I am the tail-end Charlie in this second reading debate, and sadly, as it would appear, I\u2019m actually the tail-end Charlie for the consideration of this\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b427f7d6f17d47cea372b06822ddd05b\u0022\u003EHamish Walker\u003C/span\u003E: Best saved till last.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f0939fd79024a42b401c5876fc65c3f\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Walker. What a perceptive young man you are. You will go far. But, sadly, this would appear to be the end of the debate altogether because it has become clear that New Zealand First has changed its position, and, while the numbers originally were for the bill to pass, that is no longer the case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003ESo let me start on a positive note by congratulating my excellent colleague Harete Hipango, the MP for Whanganui, for her success in having had her bill not only drawn from the ballot but getting through its first reading, being referred to a select committee, and returning to the House for a second reading. That\u2019s a very rare achievement for an Opposition member of Parliament. For her to have done that in just outside her first year is particularly remarkable. One of her colleagues who is now in his 11th year hasn\u2019t ever got anywhere near that and is feeling insanely jealous. But, anyway, I do share her disappointment at the change of heart of the New Zealand First Party, because it would appear that the bill is about to be stopped in its tracks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge Clayton Mitchell, who spoke around about four weeks ago, when we began the second reading debate. I think he made a reasonably valiant attempt to explain his party\u2019s flip-flop, but I came to the conclusion that even though he was trying to suggest it was from a point of principle, it really struck me that it was far more likely to be as a result of coalition discipline and that his party was being pulled into line. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EAs the Hon Alfred Ngaro, who is a former Minister for the voluntary sector, noted when he spoke at the start of the second reading debate, this was a bill that originated in the community sector. It would do well for the Hon Peeni Henare, who is now in that role, to reflect on that fact. Mr Ngaro was a fine and widely respected Minister for the voluntary sector, and it is extremely disappointing, therefore, given the origins of this bill, that it seems set to be defeated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI\u2019m not going to speak for a long time, because, clearly, the die is cast. But the Government\u2019s decision to vote down this bill is an attack on our voluntary sector. There is no question that volunteering is an essential element of our society. I\u2019m sure that all members of the House would acknowledge how utterly dependent we are on voluntary efforts in a whole range of organisations and provisions of services the length and breadth of this country. I acknowledge and thank every one of them for the fine job that they do. Probably most New Zealanders at some stage in their lives have had an opportunity to do some volunteering, and it\u2019s hugely rewarding. New Zealand has more than 97,000 non-profit organisations which contribute 2.6 percent to GDP, and that number increases to 4.9 percent\u2014virtually 5 percent\u2014of GDP, when you take into account the volunteer labour contribution, and is similar to the contribution of the entire construction industry. That\u2019s how significant it is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003ESo for the Government to be showing a lack of concern for those volunteers and suggesting that they will at some stage in the near future\u2014which seems to be drifting into the never-never\u2014undertake a review of their own which might or might not lead to something similar to protect those volunteers who are in organisations where they just work a limited number of hours\u2014and, after all, it\u2019s only a small group who are in this category\u2014shows that, actually, they don\u2019t really care. They pretend to care, but they don\u2019t really care about the sector. This was a bill that would have really enhanced and respected the work of those volunteers in our community sector. I am very disappointed it\u2019s being voted down. I urge New Zealand First maybe to have one more think in the 30 seconds before they vote. I won\u2019t hold my breath about that, but let\u2019s hope that one day this is a measure that will come back to the House and will be enacted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002295f526572ff443c59b917a68d37193b2\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 Health and Safety at Work (Volunteer Associations) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 57\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 63\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion not agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228118a33deba549faa58cbfb74e8b248a\u0022\u003EEmployment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00221e9437fea2b0448f88444d41bff54b40\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022 data-id=\u00224e83099ddfc340dfb648592eef08909e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224e83099ddfc340dfb648592eef08909e\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill be now read a second time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThis member\u2019s bill in my name seeks to amend the Employment Relations Act 2000 to protect the rights of people who are in a triangular employment arrangement. Triangular employment involves a person being employed by one employer but working under the control and direction of another business or organisation. Now, this bill has had quite the journey, for I did not draft this bill; it was originally drafted by former Labour MP Darien Fenton. I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge her and the work she has done not only in drafting and submitting this bill originally but her work as a staunch Labour activist and Labour MP, and I appreciate the guidance and support that she has given me through this process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003ENow, despite not having drafted this bill, it was submitted and pulled from the ballot in my name, and it is an issue that I feel deeply passionate about, because, ultimately, regardless of the type of employment arrangement that one person may have, they should have access to the basic, fundamental rights that the rest of us\u2014every other employee in this country\u2014have. In the form that this bill now takes after the select committee process, this seeks to include one simple provision and access to one very basic right: the right to a personal grievance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThose workers, those employees, that are in a triangular employment arrangement, often employed through a labour hire company or a recruitment agency, are technically and will remain an employee of that organisation. Where this becomes complex is that this employee is sent on assignment to another location and is under the control and direction of that organisation, and under the law as it currently stands, those workers do not have access to the right of a personal grievance. We say in the Labour Party, and I hope in our support parties and coalition parties in New Zealand First and the Greens, that that is fundamentally wrong\u2014that the right to a personal grievance, this provision that protects workers from mistreatment, should apply to these workers. It is not their fault that they happened to be employed in this particular arrangement. That was not foreseen when labour laws and the right to a personal grievance were put through legislation in this House many years ago. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EIn the process of working towards this bill being debated for its first reading, I met and spoke with many people, many individuals, and many organisations, both employers and employees within the labour hire and recruitment agency realm. It became very clear to me that labour hire companies maintain a legitimate role in this country. I think back to my own area of Wairarapa. There is a labour hire company there that performs a very legitimate role. There are employers in bakery and wood processing and, of course, in bacon and ham and other small goods like that. Now, all three of these are seasonal and are medium sized, and at any time they could get a contract which requires them to meet and, therefore, in doing so, to hire a large intake of employees for short-term employment. Now, these employers do not have access to those which might be based in the larger urban centres, like HR companies and things like that. The contract that they receive might not allow them the time to be able to screen employees or applicants themselves. So the labour hire company based out of Masterton performs a market role for them. It can provide these workers at short notice for a prescribed period of time. They are trained well and they are skilled employees. For some of them, it is their choice to work in such a casual arrangement; some of them work there because they can\u2019t find alternative employment. Nevertheless, this arrangement in this particular situation works as it should.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003ESo I repeat: labour hire companies do perform a legitimate role in our workplaces. However, what we have seen over recent times is that the proportion of permanent employees\u2014particularly in the larger urban centres, for large employers\u2014have reduced, and the proportion of labour hire company workers have increased. This increases the issue that when these workers are working in a place that would previously have employed permanent employees, these workers do not have access to the right of a personal grievance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EWhen I was speaking to both employers and employees, there was one particular case amongst those where it worked well, and those where it didn\u2019t. There was one particular case that stood out to me. There was a woman who had been hired by a labour hire company for seven years and throughout that entire tenure had been placed at the same placement of work the whole time. So despite working at the same place, she was never an employee of that organisation; she remained an employee of the labour hire company. At any point, for no reason, that employer could let them go and send them back to the labour hire company. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003ENow, I can see, and, in fact, I\u2019m very pleased to say, that in the vast majority of instances, there is no problem, but it only takes one for there to be a need for protection. The example that I was given was of this woman who had been working there for seven years, found out she was pregnant, and was dismissed the next day. That is an absolute disgrace. In this country, where any other worker under any other employment situation would have been protected, this worker was sent back to the labour hire company, who had no obligation to find her work and, ultimately, she found herself out of work. So here we are, at the time 2017, in New Zealand\u2014a woman was, essentially, dismissed for being pregnant. It is disgraceful, and it needs to be stopped.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThe feedback that we\u2019ve had is that the provisions within this bill, the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill, would have allowed that worker to have access to a personal grievance. If any employee in a triangular employment arrangement finds themselves dismissed unfairly, they could now, if it passes, take that secondary employer, the place where they are essentially employed on placement, under a personal grievance to outline to the court that they were unfairly dismissed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003ELike I say, in the vast majority of instances, the vast majority of workers can go through their entire working life and not face a situation where they need to take out a personal grievance, but it is there for the protection of people. I\u2019m sure that the National Party would not like to see the right to a personal grievance stripped off workers in this country\u2014I\u2019m certain of that. But what I want to know is why they do not support extending that provision to workers who would otherwise, in any other circumstance, have access to that right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThe thing is that this is a matter of fairness. In any instance where someone is employed or where someone is employing others, there is a relationship there that is based on trust, that is based on fairness. Just because the vast majority of people treat their workers right does not mean that we should not have adequate protections in place to ensure that people are to be treated fairly in the workplace, and if they are not, that they have provisions available to them that allows recourse against the unfair treatment\u2014an unfair treatment that can extend from the smallest to the most grave, which, of course, is the example that I gave. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EWe amended this bill through the select committee process as a result of the submissions, and many of those submitters that I have contacted subsequent to that have said that the amendments in this bill have made this much more acceptable to them as employers and employees within a triangular employment arrangement. I acknowledge the work of those on the Education and Workforce Committee. I thank them for working with me. I\u2019m very pleased with the way that this bill has worked out, and I stand here and hope that in passing this bill we can continue on this track of ensuring that all workers in this country are entitled to fair treatment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022 data-id=\u0022e14042a7959449ff9713fb638c764084\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e14042a7959449ff9713fb638c764084\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I rise to take a call in the second reading on the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill in the name of Kieran McAnulty: he\u2019s a list MP from somewhere around the country, and he\u2019s a new member. He had the misfortune\u2014as sometimes new members do when they come into this House\u2014of inheriting a bill from a long-distant, long-gone former colleague. In this case it was a trade union Labour member by the name of Darien Fenton, who has\u2014I notice, since she left Parliament\u2014gone back to her core work of being a trade union membership officer and is busy trying to trumpet-up trade union membership and finances for the trade union movement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EActually, therein lies, really, the purpose of this bill. It\u2019s part of a suite of legislative changes that have been presented to this Parliament\u2014and I suspect there will be more yet to come\u2014that are actually all designed to do little more than improve the membership, the financial structure, and the market share of the trade union movement in New Zealand. The simple reality is that nearly 90 percent of New Zealand employees in the private sector are not members of trade unions, and that\u2019s because the trade union movement doesn\u2019t offer them a significant value proposition that makes it worth their while, that means that a membership of a trade union is going to enhance their workplace opportunities or career opportunities or, actually, reflect their aspirations as employees in a modern, functioning, flexible, growing economy that is forward-looking and forward-facing to the world. These pieces of legislation\u2014and this is just one of them\u2014are part of a suite of legislative changes designed to take us back to the bad old days of the 1970s, when the trade union movement dominated the industrial landscape of the nation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ENow, because this member is a new member, and he inherited this bill from Darien Fenton, he didn\u2019t really know what he was inheriting when he signed the piece of paper that took it up. He came to the select committee almost apologetic. He knew in his heart, once he\u2019d actually read the piece of legislation, that it wasn\u2019t fit for purpose, that it wasn\u2019t part of a modern industrial regulatory or legislative framework, and that it was something that was going to take us back decades rather than take us forward. As we went through the select committee process, we heard submissions from a raft of trade unions, formulaic and pro forma in their submissions, all pretty much exactly the same, probably produced on the same word processor. It wasn\u2019t until we got the submissions that came from labour hire companies, from Business New Zealand, from a range of organisations such as the Employer and Manufacturers Association, organisations like Salt, like the New Zealand Port Company CEO Group, for instance, that the member realised this bill had some serious and fatal flaws.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ENow, the select committee did propose and make some changes. This bill is undoubtedly a better bill at second reading than it was at first reading; but it\u2019s still a bad bill, it\u2019s still an unnecessary bill, and it\u2019s still a bill that is a sledgehammer to crack a peanut\u2014a very small peanut at that. Now, the member in charge of the bill cited just one example. For many, many New Zealanders, the opportunity to be employed and have the flexibility and the opportunity to work for and in a number of different places, workplaces, businesses, entities, and sectors even, is an exciting opportunity for people, and in a modern, future, forward-looking workplace.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThe Labour Party did some work while they were in Opposition\u2014in fact, it was about the only piece of substantive work they did do in Opposition\u2014on the future of work, and they looked at the gig economy and the opportunities for people to be flexible in their employment arrangements and terms. Labour hire companies undoubtedly provide the New Zealand economy and workers who are employed by labour hire companies in triangular employment relations with the kind of situation and employment situation that they want, that they like, that they embrace, and that they want to be part of because it suits their particular style of work. So we come back to what is, essentially, the primary driver of this piece of legislation: it\u2019s to increase union membership\u2014and that\u2019s really what it\u2019s all about, because this is a Labour Government that is driven by ideology, driven by the good old days of the trade unions dominating the industrial workspace, and wants, actually, to pigeonhole all New Zealanders into either being employers or employees.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EActually, this pigeonholing effect isn\u2019t suited to those that choose to work in the gig economy or choose to be forward-looking and modern in their outlook, and choose to work for labour hire companies, and choose to have a flexible employment arrangement of the sort that triangular contracts provide. So those people are traditionally, therefore, not eligible to become union members, because they don\u2019t fit that employee category and that definition that would slot them and pigeonhole them into that position. So the real purpose of this bill is not about equity or fairness, as the member has suggested; it\u2019s really all about growing union market share, taking us back to the 1970s, taking us back to a time when the trade unions dominated the economy of New Zealand, and not in a good way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EI want to just draw the House\u2019s attention to a couple of comments from submitters. Now, these are credible, sensible submitters. Auckland Council was one, for instance, that came to the select committee, and in their submission they said: \u201Cwe [are] concerned that \u2026 unintended consequence[s] will be to impose considerable transactional costs and administrative burden on the primary employer, secondary employer, and the employee.\u201D if this bill is to proceed. Further, Auckland Council went on to say, in their submission on the bill, \u201C\u2026 the bill will afford little real protection to temporary workers, [it will] impose significant costs on secondary employers, and make employment for temporary workers and permanent employees \u2026 more precarious.\u201D Now, surely that\u2019s not the intended objective of this bill if it was really about fairness and equity\u2014but, actually, it\u2019s not; it\u2019s about trade union membership.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESalt, who are one of the leading labour hire and recruitment organisations in the country, made a submission to the select committee. In their submission they said: \u201CThe operational realities of the measures outlined in this bill are significant and extremely challenging.\u201D I think that Kieran McAnulty, the Labour list MP from somewhere, said that he realised that during the process of the select committee. Salt went on to say that \u201CThe industry some call \u2018labour hire\u2019 is far more complex and layered than many understand and this bill, if made law, will ultimately negatively impact upon workers, [and] professionals and the New Zealand economy.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EWe know that the economy is slowing, and we know that the tide has turned. We no longer have the GDP growth that we were so familiar with and used to over the nine years of John Key\u2019s and Bill English\u2019s administration. And we\u2019ve seen\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2d0706fca6f49edbebd4f99e3f49da4\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: We are sliding a little bit away from the bill as it was reported back from the select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022158cb7420b9e41598cbe7bb08d44dd3e\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m trying to give some context, Madam Assistant Speaker, but going back to the Salt submission, and this really summed it up\u2014this really summed this bill up\u2014they said in their submission: \u201CPut simply, this bill caters for an employment and contracting market \u2026 which existed two decades ago, and is not fit for purpose in [2019].\u201D\u2014not fit for purpose in 2019.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThen we had the New Zealand Port Company CEOs\u2014and they\u2019re a group that represent CEOs who manage and operate places like Northport, Ports of Auckland, Port of Tauranga, Eastland Port, Napier port, Port Taranaki, Centreport, and so on. They said in their submission\u2014it was a very compelling submission\u2014that \u201CThe Group believes that the proposed automatic transfer of labour-hire employees [in]to collective agreements would be draconian and would remove the flexibility obtained through these arrangements.\u201D Then they said\u2014which I think is telling\u2014that, actually, the impacts would be in provincial and rural New Zealand: \u201CThe Group is particularly concerned\u201D\u2014they said\u2014\u201Cabout the impact that this proposed law change could have on provincial New Zealand and on industries such as agriculture, horticulture, and viticulture where labour-hire arrangements play such an important role.\u201D I think they\u2019re right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThis is a poor piece of legislation, inherited by a new member who really didn\u2019t understand what the consequences of it would be when he signed his name to it. He came to that realisation halfway through the select committee process, tried to put it right, has made some positive changes at select committee, but it\u2019s still a bad bill, it\u2019s still a sledgehammer to crack a nut, and we don\u2019t support it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u00224e65bb58c7bc474797d5cc93a7a5eb94\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224e65bb58c7bc474797d5cc93a7a5eb94\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call the Hon Clare Curran, could some honourable member please remove the box that\u2019s in the aisle here, which is going to stop egress if there is an emergency. Could you just lift that off the floor, thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022 data-id=\u00228678a30e9a194d709d5928a5e4a51502\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228678a30e9a194d709d5928a5e4a51502\u0022\u003EHon CLARE CURRAN (Labour\u2014Dunedin South):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Assistant Speaker, t\u0113n\u0101 koe, and very responsible of you. Look, thank goodness that last speech is over. There is a lot of rhetoric and balderdash\u2014that\u2019s a great word, isn\u2019t it?\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022198dd07204524bbca7d5ce5013d4345f\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Poppycock.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a19cf1c5c1f64ecea5b5d32bea51cd5c\u0022\u003EHon CLARE CURRAN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014poppycock and drivel, etc.\u2014that gets uttered in this Chamber. Unfortunately for the watchers and the listeners out there in New Zealand, the last speech, unfortunately, epitomised that, and I\u2019m really sorry to the people of New Zealand for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EFirst of all, I really want to say thank you to Kieran McAnulty, from the Wairarapa, and also to Darien Fenton, who is continuing to represent the working people of New Zealand in the best way possible on the shop floor. I really do pay tribute to her for that and for the incredible work that she did while she was in this Parliament and what she is continuing to do in the workplaces of New Zealand to ensure fairness and representation and rights for people who really do need that representation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EThis bill is an important step forward in ensuring that the rights of working people are upheld, and particularly for people who are working under vulnerable conditions. The triangular employment arrangements do put many workers in this country, despite what you just heard in the last speech, in places that are vulnerable. Many of those people are our recent citizens, recent residents, immigrants to our country, who may not have English as their first language, who require work and are prepared to work but who end up working in conditions that put them at a disadvantage. That party over there has swept all that under the carpet, glossed over it, and refuses to acknowledge that it\u2019s an issue and, in fact, in my belief, a travesty. The Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill that has been brought to the House by the member sitting next to me, Kieran McAnulty, is, as I said, an important step forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EI want to make a couple of comments about the departmental report on this, which talked about the reason for removing parts of the bill; there are very valid reasons for that, which was the part of the bill that said, around the collective agreement provisions, this would add complexity to the labour hire model for employers and controlling third parties. I just want to make a comment about the controlling third parties, which is a technical term and, for most people listening at home tonight, they probably wouldn\u2019t really understand what that means. I\u2019ll outline what that is. A controlling third party is a person \u201Cwho has a contract or other arrangement with an employer under which an employee of the employer performs work for the benefit of the person; and who exercises, or is entitled to exercise, control or direction over the employee that is similar or substantially similar to the control or direction that an employer exercises, or is entitled to exercise, in relation to the employee.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003ENow, that sounds a bit like gobbledygook, but it\u2019s one of those things in Parliament that we have to have in legislation to clearly explain in legal terms what that relationship is. Essentially, what that means is somebody who works who is employed by a labour hire company who then goes to work for another company, and that primary relationship is with the labour hire company. Therefore, they are\u2014and I think the member Kieran McAnulty explained that to the House when he talked about the woman who was, essentially, dismissed because she was pregnant, and she had no rights and she had to fall back on the relationship with that labour hire company. By removing the collective agreement provisions, this was because\u2014and there were a lot of submissions; I think there were 170-something submissions, weren\u2019t there, and most of those submissions supported the bill, but the ones that raised the issues around the complexity of the labour hire model, which means that there needs to be more work done on this. I think everyone in the House\u2014well, on this side of the House\u2014would agree that there needs to be more work done on this, in how to provide more surety and protections for people in those situations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EThe thing that I do have a problem with, though, in the departmental report was where it was said by officials that they weren\u2019t aware of strong evidence that supported the argument that labour hire workers were exploited or underpaid in large numbers, or more so than other types of working arrangements. Listening to the National Party tonight, you would think that there was no issue out there\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222611ff56f2494bd0b64fef6c3f8061dd\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s all hunky-dory!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002221314207506d4ecea6a59ca7f136f33c\u0022\u003EHon CLARE CURRAN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and that everything was hunky-dory. On 31 August last year, Burger King\u2019s parent company, Antares Restaurant Group\u2014don\u2019t know if I pronounced that correctly\u2014was barred from hiring migrant workers for a year following accusations of underpaying staff. A Burger King worker wasn\u2019t paid for extra hours during the shifts, essentially, getting below minimum wages.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5925d64107e4a5abcd3353272fad53b\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: This bill doesn\u2019t have anything to do with that! Stick to the bill! Speak about the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7ee1565b3624ac7b0aac6300b5722a4\u0022\u003EHon CLARE CURRAN\u003C/span\u003E: Excuse me, Madam Assistant Speaker, the issue is around the fact as to whether or not there is an issue in this area. In October last year, 73 Chorus subcontractors entered into urgent talks with the labour inspectorate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c7f78dac85674af7856b167076ed17bc\u0022\u003ETim van de Molen\u003C/span\u003E: Give her some notes, McAnulty!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ccea8281e614cd089678f4e7a3d1c73\u0022\u003EHon CLARE CURRAN\u003C/span\u003E: Maybe if you listened, you might learn something? Excuse me, Madam Assistant Speaker; that\u2019s not referring to you. Seventy-three subcontractors in Auckland failed to keep employment records, pay the minimum wage, or provide employment agreements. The majority\u2014vast majority\u2014of them are immigrant workers. Labour hire firms that perform a legitimate role\u2014there is no doubt about that in our country. The question is: are they performing that role legitimately? And that means there is a lot more work to do on this issue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to give a shout out to FIRST Union, which is the largest union representing labour hire workers, which last year announced that labour hire firm Enterprise Recruitment had signed on as the first company to be an ethical employer in the labour hire workplace. An example is being shown perhaps, and there is more work to do legislatively in this area, but at least there is one labour hire company that is demonstrating some standards and a commitment of five core principles, which were that workers should be treated appropriately and not as day-by-day workers; that labour hire workers should not be contracted out in a way which undermines their rights under the Employment Relations Act; that workers should be entitled to a relevant and fair rate of pay pertaining to the work they\u2019re performing; that labour hire workers must have the opportunity to contribute a collective voice; that appropriate resources should be allocated to ensure worker and industry standards are maintained; and that training, education, auditing, and enforcement, health initiatives, skills development, and recognition in appropriate company standards ranking systems must all be adequately resourced to give labour hire workers access to a safe, fair, and engaging working environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EThis is about fairness. The personal grievance provisions in this bill are a major step forward. There is more work to do. That side of the House isn\u2019t committed to that, never has been, and that is a great shame.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022 data-id=\u002268acfce6bd1940689dffe2194752d5c5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002268acfce6bd1940689dffe2194752d5c5\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker, for the opportunity to take this call on the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill. The member in charge of the bill, I was just wondering which world he lives in, but then the member who just resumed her seat clarified where he actually comes from, which was good to know. But we know that that region is quite business-focused and they understand what is good for business and what is not good for business, and what is good for our labour market\u2014the flexibility that is needed. Those businesses definitely understand that, which that member and, of course, the Labour Party, clearly don\u2019t understand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EI also heard from the member who just resumed her seat that all the immigrants, or most of the immigrants, actually go through the labour hire companies, and, actually, I refute that comment from the member. All of a sudden that member is showing so much love to immigrants and care for immigrants because they want some sympathy for this bill. So what we would like is some real argument for this bill, rather than trying to get sympathy from various sectors in the community. We also heard that personal grievance provisions are not available for people that work through triangular work arrangements, and I also refute that. Of course, personal grievance provisions are available, but it works differently from the way the member has actually proposed in this bill. There are so many things\u2014from the members, those who spoke on this bill from the Labour side, the member in charge, and the member that resumed her seat\u2014I think, that need to be challenged. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EDuring the select committee process, my understanding was that the member was really keen to work with everybody on the select committee. I thought that by the end of the select committee process, after seeing what submitters had to say, the member would actually decide to withdraw this bill. I\u2019m really surprised that, actually, that didn\u2019t happen. The bill, nearly the whole bill, was rewritten in the select committee process and that is not something I have seen for members\u2019 bills before.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EDespite the opposition to this bill that we saw during the select committee process, this got through with the select committee recommending that it should be passed. This was a recommendation by a majority and, of course, the majority is held by Government members. I want to build on this\u2014we received 174 submissions on this bill and out of 174 submissions, 89 submitters supported the bill, 81 submitters opposed the bill. So it might look like, yes, there was more support for the bill, but when I dissect it a bit further and look at the number of unique submissions that were received supporting the bill and opposing the bill\u2014let\u2019s first look at the number of unique submissions that supported this bill. It\u2019s 17. The number of submissions that opposed this bill is 35, double the number of submitters that actually supported the bill. That should have been an indication to that member that this bill is not good to come to this stage. I would have expected that the member will understand that the sector outside doesn\u2019t like this proposal, and so he would, actually, think of withdrawing this bill, and he hasn\u2019t done that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003ENow, we also heard that, \u201CWell, it\u2019s National Party members, you know, saying all these things\u201D. No, it\u2019s not us; it\u2019s submitters, those who said things which are not supportive of this bill\u2014very clearly. My colleague the Hon Scott Simpson, before, mentioned about Auckland Council. He mentioned a different part from their submission, and I want to, actually, also quote a part from their submission, because Auckland Council is an organisation that uses people through these agencies. So it\u2019s really important to see what they have to say. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EThis is an example: they said that \u201CAuckland Council strongly supports legislation which benefits and protects employees (of any kind) who are being exploited\u201D. So, of course, we want to make sure that nobody is being exploited. \u201CWith regard to this bill, we do not consider this will be achieved. We do anticipate significant, adverse, unintended consequences which means that we do not support this proposed legislation\u201D. Very, very, very strong words. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022762daada2938450fb74b20eb122b2837\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! I apologise to the member. Could the two members who are having a conversation across the House please cease and desist. Thank you. I apologise to you, Dr Parmar, please continue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bfd80138982c407088296bfa9bc8f7bb\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. So I was saying that Auckland Council, their submission has used very, very strong words. It says \u201CSignificant, adverse, unintended consequences\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003ENow, let\u2019s look at another example, because this example is of an agency that actually supplies these skilled or unskilled people to various businesses. So we have looked at what an organisation that uses people or employs people\u2014I mean, here, the \u201Cemployee\u201D and \u201Cemployer\u201D term is used differently but I\u2019m using \u201Cemploys people\u201D\u2014that come through these hire agencies. So now let\u2019s look at what a labour hire company had to say during the select committee process. They said that if \u201Cthis bill [is] made into law, [it] will ultimately negatively impact upon workers, professionals, and the New Zealand economy\u201D. Again, a very, very strong submission. Now, the third example is about businesses\u2014what businesses think about it\u2014because it has to be about business, it has to be about the economy, because that is what relates to a flexible labour market, and Business New Zealand is a good example for that. They said that, \u201Cnothing in the bill provides any support for the idea of a highly productive and high wage economy. Business [New Zealand] recommends that the bill not proceed\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003ENow, to be fair, I would like to look at other submissions as well, those who actually said that, \u201CYes, this is a great first step\u201D. So let\u2019s look at those submissions. These submissions came from\u2014I\u2019ve just picked two examples: one came from the New Zealand Meat Workers and Related Trades Union. Of course, unions would love this bill. They are saying that of course it should be extended to more types of working arrangements, including casual workers. Then we have another submission from the largest union in the country, the New Zealand Public Service Association. Of course, they are very supportive of this bill and they\u2019re saying, \u201CYes, great first step towards ensuring protection\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EClearly, we can see that this bill is just to serve unions, but here in Parliament we\u2019re not here to serve just unions. We are here to serve every sector of our country. So we strongly oppose this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022 data-id=\u00225bd5a18f593148079e11d598ec722c95\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225bd5a18f593148079e11d598ec722c95\u0022\u003ECLAYTON MITCHELL (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much. I don\u2019t blame you for having a bit of a pause when you looked at me, Madam Assistant Speaker, because it is very difficult to remember everybody\u2019s name, and I am very less memorable than some other members in this wonderful House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003EBut it gives me great pleasure to take a short but punchy approach to this bill. I want to congratulate Kieran McAnulty for getting his bill drawn out in the first instance. I just want to articulate that the support from New Zealand First to get this bill to select committee was one with reservations at the first reading. We said, \u201CLook, we want to hear from submitters. We want to know what people think of this.\u201D We had some concerns, as a caucus, with regards to one aspect of the bill, which was about the issue around collective bargaining. I have to say, what an absolute great pleasure it is to stand up and support this bill through to the third reading, for good reason. The select committee process has shown us a pathway through a bill that has had some problems and, now, has had those problems ironed out. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003EWhen I listen to the speeches across the House, when they talk about some of the comments that are being made, they\u2019re talking about comments that were made by certain aspects of the community that had concerns about the collective bargaining aspect of this bill. It has now gone. It is null and void. It is not there. When you listen to what people are saying, including Business New Zealand, who suggests that this is now a much better bill than what it first was, we have to have some confidence that it\u2019s actually addressing a problem\u2014albeit a small problem, but a problem none the less\u2014that needs to be fixed up inside these triangular employment arrangements. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003EWhere you have a primary and a secondary employer employing an employee for a range of different jobs all around the country and, in fact, the employment groups that\u2014the hire-pool people hire tens of thousands of people around the country every single week. We think, when we think of hire-pool companies, that they\u2019re actually just hiring low-end labour to dig posts, or students in the holidays\u2014that\u2019s not true at all. In fact, there are a lot of hire-pool companies that are out there on a professional, high-skilled basis employing white-collar workers in corporate positions with high skills in the medical industry and in many, many parts of our community. Hire-pool agencies work. It works perfectly well for those employees looking for a casual arrangement. Invariably, they get better wages, but they are looking for that casual approach to their work, and it also benefits the employers looking for people on a short-term basis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003ESo we understand there is a necessity for a very, very small group of businesses that have the opportunity to exploit some of these workers, whether they be blue-collar workers or white-collar workers, and this bill addresses that problem by simply sharing the responsibility from the primary source of the employer and the secondary employer that now share that responsibility over a personal grievance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003ENow, I\u2019ve personally gone and spoken to a number of hire-pool companies, labour hire-pool companies, who are very comfortable with what we\u2019re doing here. In fact, some of the discussions that I had with them was exploring their thoughts for future works and discussion on what their feelings were if you looked at an Australian model that has a casual loading aspect in these types of arrangements. They said, \u201CWe wouldn\u2019t even be worried about that.\u201D The collective bargaining issue was the biggest concern that they had, and that has now completely gone from this bill, which leaves this bill very, very easy for New Zealand First to support and see through to the third reading. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022919a8e8d-afaf-4342-ad6f-71cbb6024544\u0022\u003EAgain, I want to commend Kieran McAnulty for the work that he\u2019s done. I also want to commend all of the members across the House through that select committee process and all of the people that have taken the time out of their day to submit on this bill. We have been very studious in ensuring that we\u2019ve actually listened to what the concerns are, that have now been addressed, and that\u2019s exactly what the select committee process is there to do. And I believe we\u2019ve now got a bill that we can all be proud of. We commend this bill to the House. Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022 data-id=\u0022f187d28a24684cbfa9c8876a7f13cef4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f187d28a24684cbfa9c8876a7f13cef4\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE (National\u2014Hamilton West):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. Do you know, it\u2019s not often that I feel a sense of unbridled excitement when the honourable member Clayton Mitchell is speaking in the House. But just for a moment I had that rush of emotion, because I thought, from the way that he started, that he was going to say, \u201CNew Zealand First had opposed this bill at the first reading but let it go through so that it could go to the select committee, and we now realise that it\u2019s an unnecessary and, frankly, counterproductive bill and we\u2019re going to go through with our reservations and vote it down.\u201D I thought, yes, that means that National and New Zealand First together will have the numbers, we can get rid of this one, and get on to some significant legislation. But, oh no, Mr Mitchell has let us all down and my excitement level went down quite considerably as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EThis bill is another example of Labour\u2019s payback to the unions for their efforts at election time, and we see that coming through time and time again. It is an unnecessary bill. It\u2019s clearly an anti-business bill, but it\u2019s also an anti - workers\u2019 rights bill. And I say that because a basic right of workers is not to join a union, if they choose not to or if that doesn\u2019t suit their circumstance, and yet this is part of a suite of employment law changes that we\u2019ve been seeing coming through from this Government for the last 18 months or so which are all about union recruitment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221d5dc505313b465bab9938a327b303ea\u0022\u003EHon Clare Curran\u003C/span\u003E: What a silly man.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e96dd5ac9644c97805095236faaae55\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE\u003C/span\u003E: So let\u2014that\u2019s so kind of the member for Dunedin South! It\u2019s possibly the nicest thing she\u2019s ever said to me. I could perhaps give a dissection of the merits of her speech a few moments ago\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226807d1f38edc4b7fb614bc21a273a910\u0022\u003EHon Clare Curran\u003C/span\u003E: Seriously, though, could you run a decent argument?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f6daa6293e945c186cb4dec4055c426\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014but that wouldn\u2019t be particularly edifying. I\u2019ll let her just sit there and insult me. She might actually do me the courtesy of listening, because this is about union recruitment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EMr Mitchell mentioned a few moments ago that he\u2019d listened to some of the submissions and they had substantially improved the bill. Well, I do pay tribute to the members of the Education and Workforce Committee for the work that they did, but let\u2019s not be under any illusion here. Mr Mitchell mentioned the Business New Zealand submission. I\u2019m holding it up here and the Business New Zealand submission includes, right at the outset, \u201CBusiness NZ opposes the Bill and recommends that it not proceed in any form.\u201D\u2014in any form. So for Mr Mitchell to suggest that suddenly they\u2019re quite happy about it flies in the face of reality. Now, to be fair to Business New Zealand, they\u2019re not suggesting for one moment that exploitation of workers should be condoned. Of course it shouldn\u2019t. Nobody in this House would argue for exploitation of workers. Of course workers have the right to be protected from exploitation, but the suggestion that this bill will prevent that from occurring is fanciful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll just make one final point in conclusion. The union narrative that underpins this bill is at odds with recent international agreements on non-standard forms of employment and fair recruitment. Those were negotiated by Governments, unions, and employers in tripartite fora at the International Labour Organization during 2015 and 2016. So this is an issue that has been recently dealt with in a consensual way by representatives of the different interests in Labour relationships, and it has been quite clearly found to be unnecessary. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003ESo the National Party strongly opposes this bill. We\u2019re very disappointed that New Zealand First don\u2019t seem to be prepared to stand up for the principles that they were enunciating earlier in the debate. I\u2019m sorry that it sounds as if it will go forward further. I hope I\u2019m proved wrong.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u002266e7fe11ad5441749b64e9fed9345ac6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002266e7fe11ad5441749b64e9fed9345ac6\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: I call Jan Logie.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022 data-id=\u00227714b60c6fc0432db5a8fc2794c7214d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227714b60c6fc0432db5a8fc2794c7214d\u0022\u003EJAN LOGIE (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Earlier than I expected, but nevertheless I am pleased to rise and offer the Green Party\u2019s support for the member Kieran McAnulty\u2019s bill, the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI would like to acknowledge the member Kieran McAnulty for getting this bill back to the House, and it seems, with us standing, that the bill has a majority and will be able to progress through, which is good news for people in New Zealand. I also want to acknowledge Darien Fenton, who devised this bill about, I think, over 10 years ago now after a trip to the UK, I understand, where she spoke to a member of Parliament there who was looking at the increased casualisation of labour and use of labour hire companies, and was quite concerned at the impact that he was seeing on working people in the UK. So she got the idea to develop this legislation from starting to see the pattern of that happening here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EAnd now we are 10, 11 years later, and indeed this form of employment relationship has grown significantly and with very mixed results, if anyone is being honest about it. We know that this form of relationship really works for some people, and we also hear consistently of stories of people talking about not feeling as if they have the stability or the certainty in their relationship, in their employment status, to be able to raise concerns and have them addressed safely, and a concern about the undermining of the employment conditions of workers around the country through the overuse of temporary contract and labour hire workforces undercutting other workers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EOn that point, I spoke with some workers from Vodafone earlier this week who were raising that concern with me directly\u2014that they are in a very, very uncertain position. A huge number of workers around the country fear that they are going to be losing their jobs, that those jobs are going to be contracted out at reduced conditions, and that vulnerable people will be left without support in our communities. Ultimately, when I hear members from the Opposition describing unions as if they\u2019re, kind of, another form of drug dealer, it really just does boggle my mind, because the gap between the stories they must be hearing about the experiences of working people really struggling to be treated with dignity in their workplaces, have safe work conditions, be paid fairly, and knowing that the unions often are the only mechanism that people have to be able to challenge those poor employment practices\u2014it seems very strange to me that they would see that as a bad thing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EHowever, back to the point of this bill, which originally sought to address two core problems: one, to make sure that employees in the triangular employment relationship were able to take a personal grievance; and, secondly, to ensure that employees could access the same pay and conditions as direct employees. So the intent of that was, really\u2014the second point was to be able to address this, kind of, drive to the bottom in employment conditions that we have been experiencing around the country. We just hear terrible stories and there was a case that led, preceding this, of some workers in a triangular employment relationship, who had been working for years over 60-hour weeks without any holidays, without any ACC coverage, without sick leave, or holidays, or KiwiSaver\u2014extraordinary. It was some unscrupulous employers seeking to exploit the lack of clarity in terms of that relationship, and it was good that the courts redressed that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EBut that gave an example of what this bill was initially intended to address: it was to remove that incentive for exploitation that exists through the lack of clarity and the ability to underpay people in this relationship compared to permanent employees. However, through the select committee process, the submissions, it was discovered that the form of this bill wasn\u2019t the best mechanism for addressing that concern, that the complexity would be very hard to manage, especially with people potentially having multiple assignments, there being multiple unions across different workplaces, or multiple collectives. So it wasn\u2019t manageable and was removed from this piece of legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI will say, though, that this is outstanding work that needs to be done. We have, I believe, a responsibility in this House to lift people up in this country and ensure that they are safe at work, that they are properly paid for the work that they do, and I take some encouragement from the work that\u2019s been started around the fair pay agreements as an ability to address that problem\u2014that this bill sought to set some standards across industries through enabling people to access collective agreements. So that would have just been in a workplace. But our fair pay agreements give us the ability to do that right across industries, and I think that is even better. So I am looking forward to that work progressing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI will also note that the Holidays Act Working Group that\u2019s going on at the moment with employers, and unions\u2014and I understand that those are very constructive relationships, unlike the impression the National Party may give. It\u2019s amazing how often that business manages to work successfully with unions to resolve recognised problems. So that is also an area where people in more precarious employment have struggled to access their full entitlements as they\u2019ve been intended by legislation, and so that is another piece of that puzzle to make sure that working people in this country are treated fairly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EI do also just want to note that the changes around the personal grievances that the FIRST Union, who\u2014we\u2019ve heard from the other side that this was just a recruitment exercise for unions, and that unions can\u2019t access these workers. Actually, FIRST Union represents a lot of workers in these arrangements, and they\u2019ve brought to our attention a real concern around the prevalence of sexual harassment for workers in this triangular relationship. I think it\u2019s incredibly important that those workers have access to the same pathways for redress against the harassment as people in permanent employment. They should have rights to a personal grievance, as they should have access to the Human Rights Commission to lay complaints, and the Health and Safety at Work Act, to ensure their safety in the workplace. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003EThis legislation gives them that right to access a personal grievance approach, and I hope that that will help strengthen their protection in the workplace\u2014that these employers, who may be a bit dodgy, will actually now realise that there\u2019s potential for consequences that they thought they were free from prior to this legislation. That is progress for the people of this country, and the Greens are happy to support it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u0022d1d1cfb82f82403c9c8d5c2b4a373248\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d1d1cfb82f82403c9c8d5c2b4a373248\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s a pleasure to rise this evening in opposition to the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill, a bill that was drafted in 2007\u201412 years ago. Yet the world has moved on, and I don\u2019t think this bill reflects the scale that this world has moved on that we have seen in the last 12 years. Just to give you a sense of the perspective, 12 years ago the iPhone was launched. Think about the dramatic changes that we\u2019ve seen in technology over the past 12 years. That bill was written the year the iPhone was made, and, unfortunately, this bill is not fit for purpose, and that\u2019s why the National Party is opposed to this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re opposed to this bill because, fundamentally, this is going to destroy the labour hire industry. It is also going to remove flexibility from not only employers but the very vulnerable people that that side of the House claims to represent. It\u2019s going to increase costs for business, and these costs are going to be passed on to customers. Most fundamentally, it takes us backwards. When the world has moved on, this legislation takes us back to the age of unions, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re fundamentally opposed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EBut don\u2019t take my word for it\u2014let\u2019s look at the submissions that were made during this process. \u201CThis bill will kill the industry.\u201D, said Roana from the Shamrock Recruitment Group in the select committee process. \u201CThis bill will increase the cost of doing business.\u201D, said Simon from AWF Madison. \u201CThis bill will hurt the majority who are good employers and good contractors.\u201D, said\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cdd882869c2148af9e35c4c7e69e63a3\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: How?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226523cc0a320f46748843013fe102fd74\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014you read the submission\u2014Alan from ELE Ltd. \u201CThis bill only benefits unions, and firms won\u2019t hire these workers because they\u2019re going to be more expensive as a result.\u201D, and that came from Business New Zealand. \u201CThere are going to be fewer opportunities because it\u2019s going to be more expensive, and it\u2019s going to slow down the productivity of small to medium sized enterprises in this process.\u201D, said Max from the Whitehead Group in the select committee process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThe majority of employers and the majority of contractors are good contractors. Most of these contractors and labour hire companies don\u2019t tolerate the exploitation, and the flexibility is the key to this industry. We\u2019ve heard it loud and clear throughout the process for the Education and Workforce Committee that firms want the ability to be consistent with their demand throughout the year. Worker choice is going to be affected because of the number of people that choose to go into the labour hire industry. We just have to look at some research. I mean, there\u2019s research coming out from Uber, which is in a gig economy - type operation. Research from Uber in Australia indicates that 78 percent of Uber drivers choose that job because it\u2019s flexible, that three out of five workers would not do it without that level of flexibility, and that half of Uber drivers that were polled in this research have kids and family with children under 18.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo the number of people that choose this genuinely for the flexibility that labour hire offers\u2014and in terms of the elderly, women, students, and entrepreneurs, they all desire that greater level of flexibility in this job environment. Flexibility drives job satisfaction. We hear all the time about well-being over on that side of the House. Well, job satisfaction is a key input for well-being, and that is why, from the Education and Workforce Committee, we heard that 80 percent of the workers that go into this industry end up with a full-time job at the end of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo the question that I ask is: what is this bill trying to solve? What is the problem that this bill is trying to solve? We\u2019ve heard it from the member himself. He said there are rogue operators out there. But this bill, said many submitters in this process, does not lead to the solution of these rogue operators. We should license this industry. We should destroy these rogue operators and send a clear message that if you are to go away from or disrespect your workers, then you will be caught, you will be fined, and you will be outed. That is what Queensland did most recently by passing the Labour Hire Licensing Act that was mentioned in the select committee process. Now, under this Act, firms that use labour hire must be licensed. Now, if you are mishandling workers, you\u2019re fined up to $400,000, and they\u2019ve got a beefed-up inspectorate as well. So there are other ways that we could have resolved the issue and challenges of rogue operators without resorting to this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EIn summary, let us discuss and build laws for the future of work, not for the memorabilia of the past. 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=\u0022517238ebed9a4716bf08f54a8cb7b443\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022517238ebed9a4716bf08f54a8cb7b443\u0022\u003ETIM VAN DE MOLEN (Third Whip\u2014National):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. Look, I thought it was quite admirable, my colleague Dan Bidois getting through that quite intolerable barrage of heckling and interjections coming on, and I just would refer your attention to Speakers\u2019 rulings 59/3 and 59/4, referring specifically to that constant barrage being entirely intolerable. The constant asking of questions that we saw from Mr Lees-Galloway, with his yapping in the front row, was actually quite disorderly in regards to my colleague\u2019s attempt at his contribution. So I would encourage a little bit more decorum from that side of the House, and on the last note referring to the previous ruling with regards to boxes on displays as well. 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=\u002240ffce39a5d8456e9ab905ecfc4eb167\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002240ffce39a5d8456e9ab905ecfc4eb167\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: I want to thank the member, yes, and it\u2019d be really helpful if both sides adhered to that kaupapa. I was noting one of the members behind the member that was speaking having an interaction with a member on this side. But, quite correct\u2014members have the right to be heard. I think Mr Bidois did very well to continue with his speech. At the end of the day, you know, it\u2019s up to the members in the House to monitor their own decorum. I could be the whistleblower all night if I wanted to, and I don\u2019t really want to, so members should control themselves. Kiritapu Allan\u2014five minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022 data-id=\u0022328d99db8d104b79b05940ad1b21bfb9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022328d99db8d104b79b05940ad1b21bfb9\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Assistant Speaker, thank you for the privilege of being able to speak on this member\u2019s bill, the triangular employment bill. I will ensure that I bring the tone down to ensure a debate that is filled with decorum, because for us on this side of the House, we are the Labour Party because we genuinely believe in the right of all workers to be able to work with dignity, to be able to operate in environments where they can show up\u2014all of us can show up, do our bit, do our hard yards for our employer, and that we have all of the rights that we on this side of the House have fought for for generations to ensure that the workplace environment is a safe environment for every single person that shows up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000627\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ENow, I note that there is this constant mantra over on the opposite side of the House that what is good for business is good for the economy. Now, in my view, what is good for hard-working New Zealanders is good and fundamental for New Zealand\u2019s economy, in order for it to thrive. Now, there doesn\u2019t have to be this oppositional tension between business and workers. What we see in a majority of environments is that where there is a good employer, where they look after their workers, where they ensure the dignity and fundamental rights of that worker, well, there\u2019s no problem. But that\u2019s not the case in all environments, and that\u2019s why this side of the House is absolutely adamant that every single person has the right to be fully protected from the tyranny of any employment practice that undermines their ability to show up, do their hard yards, and walk away with a pay cheque.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000628\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EBefore I turn to the substantive\u2014and it\u2019s been mentioned before; I do really want to just applaud the work of Darien Fenton. She\u2019s been a lifelong advocate for workers up and down the country. The first time I ever met Darien Fenton was on the floor at AFFCO in Wairoa. She could not be a more diligent and passionate advocate for our labourers out there in electorates like mine, in the East Coast, where folks might not know the nuances of the Employment Relations Act (ERA) but you have people like Darien who, day in day out, strap on her boots to go and make sure that our workers are protected, and I am absolutely in admiration of her.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000629\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EI too just want to acknowledge my colleague Kieran McAnulty, who picked this bill up\u2014and you\u2019ve actually flown with it. The way that you\u2019ve engaged with small business, the way that you\u2019ve engaged with unions, the way that you have really tackled, got to the heart of the issues, which is why\u2014and I\u2019m glad that my colleague from across the House, Mr Bidois, just mentioned a submission that was originally filed by Max Whitehead from Whitehead Group Employment Solutions. Now, they had some concerns about this piece of legislation when it was originally tabled. Well, because of the hard work of my friend here, Kieran McAnulty, and others in the select committee, going through the process, listening to over 180 submissions\u2014this side of the House wanted to make sure that that legislation that\u2019s going through struck a balance between ensuring that the rights of workers were protected and not hampering the ability of those good employers to play the role that they do. Now, what Mr Max Whitehead wrote in December after the suggested amendments through the select committee were made: \u201CHi Kieran\u201D\u2014he sent this by way of an email\u2014\u201CI\u2019m going to make a short video saying how pleased I am with you for the fair process that you\u2019ve engaged in.\u201D Now, that is the type of feedback that this side of the House got from Business New Zealand, got from labour hire companies up and down, because we are concerned.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ENow, labour hire companies play a critical role in the modern labour environment. Look, we\u2019re not living back in a day gone by, and we\u2019re acutely aware of that, but what the ERA didn\u2019t do was ensure that where we are seeing more triangular employment relationships, workers who work in these types of contracts\u2014the original legislation didn\u2019t contemplate these in the same way that this bill does. So what it basically, amongst other things, ensures is that all workers have the right to take things that we all take for granted\u2014the fundamental right to a personal grievance against the people that are in control of us all day, every day. And that\u2019s not necessarily the hire company\u2014thanks to them for getting us into the work\u2014but it\u2019s the people that are controlling us. I applaud this legislation to the House. Good work, mate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022 data-id=\u0022b0fe2868b63d404d969f0384c582369e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000631\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b0fe2868b63d404d969f0384c582369e\u0022\u003EDENISE LEE (National\u2014Maungakiekie):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te Mana Whakaw\u0101. Kei te k\u014Drero ki te kaupapa i te w\u0101.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000632\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I speak to the current matter.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000633\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EThis bill is the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill. I\u2019m doing my mahi k\u0101inga, my homework, for the MPs\u2019 Te Reo class\u2014giving it a good go, anyway.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000634\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d08c389f542742719b711403d359906a\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Ka pai.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000635\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd9c58548f3b4016aa82eb91885c3b53\u0022\u003EDENISE LEE\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, thank you for the \u201Cka pai\u201D across the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000636\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EI would like to read from a particular submission\u2014I\u2019m not going to say who the submission\u2019s from, but as I start to read, you can get a really good idea. New Zealanders are of course working under triangular employment relationships, and labour hire firms are a classic example of those relationships. Here goes some of the submission: \u201CWe draw on workers in South Auckland area, who could mostly be described as low socio-economic. They prefer to work in often temporary assignments that align with their need for flexibility and provide them with many micro-learnings, increasing their employability. A large proportion\u2014around 80 percent\u2014go permanent within 6 months.\u201D That\u2019s fantastic, right? It carries on: \u201COur industry is often criticised as being low paid, but of our workforce of over 80 people each week, only one persons\u20141.25 percent\u2014is on minimum wage. That person on minimum wage is doing basic work and is young, but is gaining valuable skills and building a work history.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000637\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EThis attack on labour hire will undoubtedly reduce employment opportunities for a local workforce which is mainly comprised of young Pacific and M\u0101ori who are already marginalised, and especially for those who rely heavily on agencies to get into the work\u2014they\u2019re often the young ones\u2014or to get back into work after having a child or transitioning across careers, because we have multiple careers now, and downscaling those who are of mature age. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000638\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s 2019. We live in an age\u2014and my colleague Dan Bidois pointed this out\u2014that is requiring a flexible, productive, and innovative workforce. You can\u2019t grow New Zealand by putting a handbrake on productive business. We need employers and we need employees who have autonomy and the capacity to do whatever is needed to be flexible in this modern and global workforce. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000639\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EWe don\u2019t support this bill. It came from a very long time ago. We on the Education and Workforce Committee could see how it was floundering, and it has found a way through by the skin of its teeth, in our opinion. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000640\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EIf you want to get down to bad egg employers, there are a few, and that came out in select committee, but they\u2019re just a few. If you want to get down to the topic of the exploitation, New Zealand law already provides a minimum standard to address exploitation matters. All this is doing is putting yet another handbrake on to business, and that will not grow New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022 data-id=\u0022c2fa5bae260740438770b4aa70dc96da\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000641\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c2fa5bae260740438770b4aa70dc96da\u0022\u003EJAN TINETTI (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E It is a true pleasure to speak in support of this bill here this evening, the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill. I really would like to congratulate my colleague Kieran McAnulty for the work that he has done in shepherding this bill through select committee to the stage that it\u2019s at at the moment. In fact, I would have to say that it was a pleasure to watch Mr McAnulty and the way that he was able to operate with the different submitters and work with them to strengthen this bill to the point that it is now a very good bill that meets the needs of a modern labour workforce. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000642\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EI was really interested to hear the contributions from the other side of the House, because I felt like they were stuck in a bit of a time warp. I felt like they were stuck in a time warp before the bill had actually come back from select committee. In fact, we even heard Max Whitehead being quoted by Mr Bidois across the House. Now, I remember very well the afternoon that Mr Whitehead submitted, and at the end of when he submitted, Mr McAnulty was so fascinated by that submission and impressed by it that he contacted\u2014right there at the select committee\u2014Mr Whitehead to see if there was further input that could go into that bill. In fact, on 17 December, after this bill was reported back, Mr Whitehead sent this email\u2014a second email\u2014to Mr McAnulty: \u201CGood afternoon, Kieran. I have just read the report that was published today. Overall, I\u2019m very happy. I think this is a fair\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000643\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4fcb97a4cd34804902035527c7036a8\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, very happy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000644\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222c1e9abb006643529af8d3761be33210\u0022\u003EJAN TINETTI\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014very happy; that\u2019s right\u2014\u201Cand reasonable law. Thank you for indulging me and allowing me to have my input. Regards, Max Whitehead, from the Whitehead Group.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000645\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EThis bill amends the Employment Relations Act 2000. It strengthens the personal grievance provisions of this Act. Tens of thousands of people\u2014and I heard that from my colleague from New Zealand First, Mr Clayton Mitchell, over here\u2014are employed through hire companies daily, weekly, and on a yearly basis. We have heard from many of the speakers on this side of the House that one of the reasons that this bill was first drafted was because of the lack of clarity in those employment situations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000646\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EIt has been really hard for some people. We have heard some examples being given. Mr McAnulty here told us of the example of the woman who had got pregnant and then was fired straight away, as soon as that pregnancy was announced. Now, we did hear some interjections being thrown across, saying that they had a right to do something about that, but the law is unclear as it stands at the moment. The whole idea of this bill is fixing a gap that exists in our employment law. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003ENow, we also heard \u201CThis is 2019. What are we doing looking at this law when it\u2019s 2019? We\u2019re going back in time.\u201D Well, it\u2019s because it is 2019, and changes have occurred in work structures so that we have a far more casualised workforce than we\u2019ve ever had in any other point in our history, and we are looking at strengthening the law to protect them. Not only does it protect them but it protects our businesses as well, which will in turn lead to a stronger economy. That\u2019s where I fail to understand why our Opposition failed to see that strengthening workers\u2019 rights is actually good for business and our economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000648\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EAs I said, the bill fixes a gap in employment law, because an employee in a triangular arrangement has a limited ability as it currently stands to raise a personal grievance against the controlling third party, and it\u2019s the controlling third party that at times can make the work conditions extremely difficult for that particular worker. I am excited to see this bill progressing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000649\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003ESomething else we heard from the other side was \u201CThis is just a small number of employers.\u201D Well, it was really interesting at the Education and Workforce Committee. In fact, I was sitting next to Mr McAnulty in one of those select committee hearings, and every time we had a hire company come in, I could predict that they would tell me that \u201CWe know that there are rogue operators out there. We\u2019re not one of them. We\u2019re a good employer, but we know that there are rogue operators, and it needs to be fixed up.\u201D Every single one of them said it\u2014every single one. So that tells me that if they\u2019re there and they know that, then it is more than just a few. It is actually quite a number, and they know who they are within their industry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000650\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EThis bill puts protections for the worker and adds to those protections, and anything that adds to the protections for the worker and for the vulnerable workers\u2014and, as I said, we heard from a few of those vulnerable workers as well\u2014has got to be a good thing. We need to look at those rogue operators, too. Maybe, Mr McAnulty, that\u2019s a piece of work down the track a wee bit. But at the moment, we are looking at strengthening the rights for those workers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EWe heard a number of submissions, and I just really wanted to end on this point. We did have 174 submissions. It was pretty evenly spread: 89 of those submitters were in support of the bill and 81 submitters opposed the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000652\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EWe heard some of those submitters who supposedly attended in front of our select committee and presented in front of our select committee, quoted here this evening from the Opposition. It was really funny, because we heard one of those submitters and what they submitted to in select committee, and they read a piece of their submission. The only trouble was that that group never did submit an oral submission to our select committee. They pulled out at the last minute and never got another chance to come in front of us. So I really wonder how much thought has been put into the argument by the Opposition at this point, or whether it\u2019s just \u201CWe see this as being something that we\u2019re going to have another attack at unions about, so let\u2019s just get in there and see what we can do.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EThis isn\u2019t about unions. This is about workers and protecting their rights, and in my mind and in the minds of every person on these Government benches, when we can protect workers\u2019 rights, that is a good thing. I commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u0022af4d34bb60ac446dbf72edf1a2b18eb3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000654\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022af4d34bb60ac446dbf72edf1a2b18eb3\u0022\u003ENICOLA WILLIS (National):\u003C/span\u003E I want to take the rather old-fashioned step of returning to the actual bill we are debating this evening. It\u2019s a bill which you only need look at the pages of\u2014which I\u2019ve helpfully highlighted\u2014to show you how gutted it in fact was at select committee. There they are, Mr McAnulty, all of the bits in your original bill that had to be excised because they would have destroyed the labour market hiring part of our economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000655\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003ESo let\u2019s tell the real story of this bill, because what it was was a terrible bill. It was a bill that was written over a decade ago by a unionist who was part of a global movement that was trying to undermine labour hire companies\u2014labour hire companies which speakers on both sides of this House tonight have acknowledged play a very important role in our economy. And what the bill sought to do was forcibly join people in labour hire arrangements to collective agreements. That\u2019s what the bill sought to do as its primary objective.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000656\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003ENow, fortunately\u2014and I\u2019ll praise Mr McAnulty for this\u2014he has sensibly got rid of that provision, because we heard submitters line up one after the other. There were 81 of them, most of whom were giving original submissions\u2014unlike the form submissions and support\u2014who said this will be a disaster. But what we\u2019ve had on the other side tonight is, instead, many speeches that have claimed that, actually, this bill is going to create workers\u2019 rights, it\u2019s going to protect people, it\u2019s going to do all of these things. I just want to again return to the facts, because you don\u2019t need to believe me, you can believe the departmental report, which says clearly, \u201CThe status quo already allows employees to raise personal grievances if they have been unjustifiably dismissed, even if they are working in a triangular arrangement.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000657\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003ESo let me just put very clearly on the record that there is nothing in this bill that creates a new right for a personal grievance that didn\u2019t already exist. In fact, what this bill does\u2014and I wish that members on the opposite side of the House wouldn\u2019t be so grandiose in their claims for it\u2014is it says that you can join other people to a personal grievance. So, really, what we have here is a bill that talks about how you divide up liability. We have a bill that says how do you divide liability when there\u2019s been a personal grievance. And what it actually could do is undermine employment relationships that have been working successfully, and it could actually contribute to a lack of legal clarity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000658\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003ESo here we have, I think, a bill that is absolutely typical of this Labour Government. It is a bill that promises the world. It says we\u2019re going to protect all these people; terrible things are happening. Well, actually, terrible things aren\u2019t happening. The bill does very little. It\u2019s utterly different from what was promised, because this is a Government\u2014and Kieran McAnulty is a member\u2014who have overpromised and woefully under-delivered.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022 data-id=\u00221934c17a7446461584dab532fde3aadb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000659\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221934c17a7446461584dab532fde3aadb\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Assistant Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to take a call on the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill. I will attempt to bring a little bit of common sense to this debate tonight because this bill will not ruin the labour hire industry. I do challenge the Opposition\u2014we were asking as the speeches were happening\u2014how will it ruin the labour hire industry. No answer came forward, because it\u2019s just empty rhetoric. Another argument we heard was it will cost businesses money. How will it cost businesses money? There was no answer, again. We also heard that it\u2019s an old bill, so therefore not relevant today. The sad truth is that, yes, it is an old bill, but it\u2019s still relevant. We\u2019re still faced with some of the challenges that we had 12 years ago.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000660\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019d like to acknowledge Kieran McAnulty for the work that he\u2019s done in bringing this bill to the House. I\u2019d like to say well done on having it drawn from the ballot in the first instance. Also, I would like to join with a chorus of others around acknowledging Darien Fenton and the wonderful work that she\u2019s done over many, many years for workers in this country. She\u2019s been a tireless advocate, and she remains so. I\u2019d also like to thank the Education and Workforce Committee. I was a member of the committee while this bill was passing through, and I was able to personally hear some of the submissions on this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000661\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThe Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill amends the Employment Relations Act 2000 to strengthen the personal grievance provisions of the Act. And that\u2019s the key point: the personal grievance provisions of the Act. It will allow workers employed by one employer, but working under the control and direction of another business organisation\u2014commonly called triangular employment\u2014to apply to the Employment Relations Authority to have their host employer or controlling third party joined to a personal grievance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000662\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThe key point here is around fairness. This bill equalises conditions between permanent and labour hire employees. Currently, there is a gap in our legislation, which means that labour hire employees are treated differently to permanent employees. There is a vulnerability for labour hire employees, and that was raised quite clearly by the Hon Clare Curran that there is a vulnerability\u2014and when I move on to some of the submissions, they will certainly highlight that. It\u2019s important that all employees have a sense of security in their workplace. They\u2019re all there, they\u2019re working hard, they\u2019re doing their bit to contribute to our economy, and there should be a strong sense of security for all employees.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000663\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESo a small but significant number of employees are exploited in the absence of law in this area. If we\u2019re going to build an economy that\u2019s working and growing for all of us, we must ensure that workers are fairly and well treated. I\u2019d just like to highlight some of the submissions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000664\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESo as we\u2019ve heard, there were 174 submissions to the select committee on this bill. So there was certainly a lot of interest in this bill from a range of agencies, unions, businesses, and general members of the public. So there was certainly a lot of interest here. A number of changes were made at select committee in response to submitters\u2019 feedback, including replacing the term \u201Cprimary employer\u201D with \u201Cemployer\u201D and \u201Csecondary employer\u201D with \u201Ccontrolling third party\u201D. The second key change that was made was the removal of the collective agreement provisions because of the complexity it would introduce to the labour hire model.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000665\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI just want to move on and highlight a couple of the submissions that we heard. The first one I\u2019d like to bring to the House\u2019s attention is from the National Council of Women of New Zealand. Now, the National Council of Women of New Zealand is an organisation representing 245 organisations\u2014so it\u2019s an umbrella organisation, so it\u2019s certainly very significant. And they note in their submission a couple of points that I\u2019d just like to highlight. They note, \u201CThe purpose of this bill is to ensure that employees employed by one employer, but working under the control and direction of another business or organisation, are not deprived of the right to \u2026 allege a personal grievance.\u201D We have heard from the other side of the House that they aren\u2019t deprived, but the reality is that they are.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000666\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EMany of them are vulnerable workers. There is quite a clear power imbalance, and that\u2019s a key point that must be remembered in this debate. There is a power imbalance, and it\u2019s important that workers have the security and the confidence and the ability to lodge a personal grievance if the relationship breaks down. The National Council of Women of New Zealand carry on; they say, \u201CWe believe that the amendments in this bill support the object of the Employment Relations Act 2000 \u2026 which includes the building of productive employment relationships\u201D\u2014very sensible, which is a key to our economy. It\u2019s a key to business productivity that there are productive employment relations. And it talks about promoting this through good faith: acknowledging and addressing the inherent power imbalance in employment relationships. Common sense\u2014common sense, I\u2019m sure the members would agree.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000667\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThe final point I\u2019d like to highlight from the National Council of Women is where they talk about the protections for vulnerable workers. \u201C[The National Council of Women] supports this bill because we believe it will improve the working lives of low-paid, mainly female employees working in fields such as\u201D\u2014and here\u2019s some of the industries where there are a lot of vulnerable workers, which is why this is so important\u2014\u201Ccleaning, catering, laundry, and orderly services by restoring essential employment protections.\u201D The ability to lodge a personal grievance is quite clearly an essential employment protection. \u201CM\u0101ori and Pacific women are disproportionately represented in these fields of work\u201D\u2014the submission goes on\u2014\u201Cand given the links between their lower incomes and lesser access to health care and lower home ownership rates\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000668\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThe second submission that really interested me and I\u2019d like to bring to the House and make those listening tonight aware of was from the CTU\u2014the Council of Trade Unions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000669\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281f6655c9e10441d9491642c7d1bd3aa\u0022\u003EHon Andrew Little\u003C/span\u003E: They know a thing or two.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000670\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef6cd5b39650416e8c2a8e219f102e0b\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: They do indeed. \u201CThere is a large agency workforce in New Zealand subject to these unfair triangular employment relationships \u2026\u201D\u2014and this has clearly been highlighted tonight from a number of speakers, such as\u2014\u201Con building sites, farms, in factories and at the airport in varying capacities.\u201D These employees are paid at minimum, or below minimum wages\u2014how can someone be paid below minimum wages?\u2014due to being contractors many times, and are not entitled to annual leave, sick leave, or even KiwiSaver. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000671\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESo there are issues out there in our workforce, and this bill addresses one of those key issues. And that\u2019s why it\u2019s excellent that this bill is passing through the House. What we know, the CTU says, is that \u201CThe current framework regulating labour hire/triangular employment is inadequate to ensure fairness\u201D\u2014a keyword \u201Cfairness\u201D\u2014\u201Cand basic employment and health and safety protections for workers engaged [as] labour hire.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000672\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThis is not going to ruin the labour hire industry. This will strengthen the labour hire industry, so I am confused\u2014and I\u2019m sure members over this side are confused\u2014as to why the Opposition won\u2019t support this bill. So why won\u2019t they support workers being able to raise a personal grievance?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000673\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225643621940274414a029caa58ff867c4\u0022\u003EHon Andrew Little\u003C/span\u003E: They hate workers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000674\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2e534a6567947edaa7c81dea73af5a1\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not going to pass a judgment on their view of workers, but I am confused. I am genuinely confused. I\u2019m not sure if they\u2019re playing politics. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on over that side of the House. But vulnerable workers\u2014there is a power imbalance, and it\u2019s important that those workers have the right, have the ability, have the confidence to be able to raise a personal grievance?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000675\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EMany of us have worked in businesses, in various aspects of employment, where, unfortunately, a relationship has broken down between the employer and the employee. Fortunately, it doesn\u2019t happen too often, but every now and then it does, and it\u2019s unfortunate when it does. But when that relationship does break down\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b4422e8bfd641949dfb719c9537e58e\u0022\u003EHon Andrew Little\u003C/span\u003E: You want to have a place to go.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000677\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d840efc9b8034f47a046f691056d1def\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019ve got to have a place to go, as a great man once said. You must have a place to go. An employee must have the ability to lodge a personal grievance. So this is about fairness and this is about people having the ability to lodge a personal grievance in confidence. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000678\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EAmendments recommended by the Education and Workforce Committee by majority agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022d8d92f717b6d4e60845204e09a2b8a2f\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 Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 63\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 57\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000679\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224b46bda0bbfd43308b70689d3eff537f\u0022\u003EProtection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000680\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022daa3cc1d13fb4de6b41eb4fb5a8fda65\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000681\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 17 October 2018.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022 data-id=\u0022206e5513628043328e370ad3b7879405\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000682\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022206e5513628043328e370ad3b7879405\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL (National\u2014Rodney):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure to take your call on this, the first reading of the Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill. And can I acknowledge the member Darroch Ball for bringing this bill to the House. It\u2019s very unusual that\u2014and the Opposition will be taking the first call. I have to say on reading this bill it\u2019s very much like a National Party bill, and had we brought this to the House it\u2019s highly unlikely that we would have had the support of the Labour Party or the Green Party. But I understand that both of them are supporting this bill through first reading and to select committee, so that\u2019s great to know that the bill has got has got cross-House and cross-party support. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000683\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EIt is a very good bill because it is strengthening the penalties that the judge and the court can hand down to offenders that assault our first responders. And whether it be our police officers, whether it be our firefighters, or our paramedics, our St John Ambulance officers\u2014we as a country ask them to go out and do a job that is tough, it\u2019s challenging, and often they have to deal with unsavoury characters that are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. And a sad reality of their job is that they are often exposed to and subject to assault. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000684\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EThe one thing that they can ask us to do\u2014the one thing that they can ask from us as a Parliament\u2014is to recognise that and to take it seriously and to send a very clear message to offenders that, actually, they\u2019ll be dealt with with the full force of the law. And if you want to assault a first responder, if you want to attack a first responder, then actually what this bill is saying is that you will face a minimum of six months in prison.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000685\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E Now, there is a clause there\u2014the manifestly unjust clause, which is contained also in the three-strikes legislation\u2014which does allow a judge under extraordinary circumstances to be able to make a different ruling or apply a different sentence. But, fundamentally, if someone assaults or attacks a first responder, then they\u2019ll now be sent a very clear message that you\u2019ll be going to jail for six months. That\u2019s a good thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000686\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EThe only problem that we do have with this bill\u2014we could argue that it doesn\u2019t go far enough. But one of the issues that we do have with this bill\u2014and we\u2019ll be talking to the sponsor of the bill, and we\u2019ll be using the opportunity as it goes through the select committee process\u2014is we actually feel very strongly that nurses and doctors and staff working in the emergency department are subjected to exactly the same threats, challenges, assaults, and attacks that our firefighters, our paramedics, and our police have to face.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EWe actually think that as a Parliament and as a country we can send a very positive message there as well. We could say that we\u2019re not going to tolerate that. If you are taken to an emergency room, where, actually, these people are fundamentally driven by one thing, and that is to care for people and to try and make them well, and if they\u2019re subjected to an assault or an attack, actually, we feel that the offenders should be sent a very clear message as well. They should be going to jail for six months\u2014that\u2019s the starting point. That is the starting point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000688\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003ECan I just say that last year there was a debate that personally I was highly offended by in this House, and it was around the three-strikes legislation. And it is relevant to this bill because, actually, it related to our corrections officers. The same thing applies to our corrections officers as applies to our police officers, to our paramedics, and to our firefighters. We ask them as a country to take on a very difficult job\u2014a job that most of us would probably not want to take on or have a crack at ourselves. So what we need to do is we need to say as a Parliament that if you are assaulted, if you are attacked, we\u2019re going to back you up and we\u2019re going to support you. We\u2019re going to make sure that we send a very loud, clear, powerful message from this Parliament and this House to say that if you do that, an attack on a corrections officer is an attack on all of us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000689\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EI was disappointed that in this House last year we had a debate around that, because there was a trivialisation of an attack on a corrections officer, to the point where I received correspondence from other corrections officers saying that \u201CWe want to feel like we have the support of this Parliament. We don\u2019t want to feel like you are going to trivialise an attack or an assault on us. We should be able to go into our workplace. We should be able to feel safe there.\u201D And that didn\u2019t happen in this House last year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000690\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003ESo I want to appeal to the Opposition\u2014I see the justice Minister is in the House tonight, and it\u2019s good to see him here. I want to appeal to the Opposition\u2014[Interruption] Sorry; what was that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000691\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3a0b6e6af4d46a6afb18017c0d51c84\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: You said you wanted to appeal to the Opposition. I think you\u2019re the Opposition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000692\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d46522a626b74f3aa1f49923e47fc70d\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: The Green Party leader is being very helpful in pointing out that the justice Minister is not in the Opposition. That\u2019s helpful. So I appeal to the justice Minister and the Government\u2014is that better?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000693\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EI hope, Minister, that you\u2019re going to take a call tonight on this bill. I\u2019m not sure. I see you in the House; I hope that you are. And I hope that you are going to get up and you\u2019re going to restate clearly for this House that actually you do support our corrections officers and you do support our firefighters, our police officers, and our paramedics\u2014especially in light of what we saw transpire as the events unfolded in Christchurch two and a half weeks ago\u2014and that, actually, you\u2019re going to support a bill like this and you\u2019re going to say, \u201CThe one thing that we can do in this Parliament is that we can back you up, we can support you, and we can say as a country that we\u2019re not going to tolerate it. We\u2019re not going to put up with it.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000694\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a98080e105274bfa8fd207737e498ede\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Wait for a Labour member to speak. Don\u2019t be so arrogant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000695\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227498d60ff8314a8eb19316a6252dbd53\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry what was that, Mr McAnulty? If you\u2019re going to say something, say it loud enough so I can hear you. What was it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000696\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b9f21100ae894ce6a411a5b95d43e064\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: I called you arrogant for a start, and, second of all\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000697\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288b8aab02e874ed999c8d34f4bbc66c6\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Mr McAnulty\u2019s calling me arrogant. You\u2019re calling me arrogant for what, Mr McAnulty\u2014for what?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000698\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229604338b19eb49a58777c46aa90296d2\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Do you really want to get into that exchange?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000699\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1b0e92d696248e88c4b8b5687272711\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, he\u2019s speechless now. He doesn\u2019t know what to say. If you want to get up and say something\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000700\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002283e42ebbf87e4551a0b4de44dbbcbaaa\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! [Interruption] Order! Don\u2019t bring me into the debate. And, second, if you two want to have a discussion, take it out into the lobby. Finish your speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000701\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7e33fa0b179462c87fa676126bbca57\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019d suggest\u2014I take offence at your tone too, actually, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000702\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226f688f77b8804ac3a7e1b63731176831\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: Really? Order! E noho. No, no. This is a time for members to debate this bill. I\u2019m not going to tolerate having a conversation going on where the member is questioning another member, and that\u2019s kind of the interaction. This is the time to take a very serious bill seriously. But my ruling is really I made a ruling and then you questioned it\u2014that\u2019s out of order. Don\u2019t do it again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000703\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b036b8172724ab29be9779f0982eaeb\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: I agree with you, Mr Assistant Speaker. This is a serious bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000704\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229fd60310142c4675ac5f408a1c995bdd\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I just made another ruling, and you\u2019re commenting on it. Just go to the speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000705\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002249ba8555758b43ea8d6997879bcb0174\u0022\u003EHon MARK MITCHELL\u003C/span\u003E: So this is a very serious bill, and I\u2019d ask any of the members opposite, if you want to be brave enough to make an interjection and call something out, take a call. Let us hear what you have to say on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000706\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EWe do support this bill. We do want to see the protections that are going to be provided for our first responders extended to our emergency services personnel\u2014in particular our doctors and our nurses in the ER. We actually feel that they do deserve that same level of protection. We believe that they deserve to have a message sent from us as a Parliament saying that we will take it seriously if they\u2019re assaulted. And I can tell you now, if you visit an emergency department in any major centre around the country on a Friday or Saturday night, you\u2019ll see what they have to put up with. You\u2019ll see what they have to face\u2014mainly because of drugs, mainly a lot of synthetic drugs, and alcohol. And, actually, although you may not believe it, Ms Curran, they do actually deserve to have the same level of protection. They do actually deserve to be recognised the same way that our first responders do. Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022 data-id=\u0022820fb2f3b0b74e59a29128f4755659e0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000707\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022820fb2f3b0b74e59a29128f4755659e0\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I\u2019m pleased to take a call on this bill and to say I agree with the member who\u2019s just resumed his seat, Mark Mitchell, to say the principles and motivating forces behind this bill are very, very important. We call on our first responders\u2014police, ambulance workers, other health workers, and fire and emergency workers\u2014and, of course, prison officers, provided for in the bill, to do some of the most dangerous work and deal with some of the most dangerous people we have in our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000708\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E We can think back to the incredibly courageous and heroic actions of those two police officers on 15 March who effected the arrest of the Christchurch mosque shooter. Think about this week and Monday this week, where in three motor vehicle accidents on roads in New Zealand, nine New Zealanders lost their lives. And who turned out to deal with the issue, to deal with the trauma, to mop up the pieces, to get people who survived off to hospital to get the care? It was the police and the ambulance workers, and in some cases fire and emergency workers as well. They do an incredible job, and we owe it to them to afford them respect and dignity and\u2014actually, through a range of decisions, not just law-making but resourcing\u2014the protection that they need to do their job. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000709\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EWe already do that in many respects. We give police officers powers that no other citizen has. We give ambulance workers the power to get to places in a hurry and do their job and do their work so they can save lives and get people to be treated carefully. We give prison officers powers inside prisons to deal with some of the most harmful people in our communities so they can keep us safe. So we thank them for that. I\u2019m sure many of those people, those professionals, will say there\u2019s more we can do, and we should be doing as much as we can. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EWe support this bill in this first reading so that it can be examined closely by the select committee, but the select committee will have questions to answer\u2014questions that we want answers to. The fundamental question will be: what is it that this bill is adding that is not presently in our current law? When you have a look at the Crimes Act, we see a number of sections that deal with violent acts against our first responders and emergency workers. So section 188 of the Crimes Act has the offence of wounding with intent. There are two different penalties: 14 years if you cause grievous bodily harm, seven years if you cause injury. Section 189, \u201CInjuring with intent\u201D\u201410 years if you cause serious injury, five years lesser injury. Section 191, \u201CAggravated wounding or injury\u201D\u201414 years and seven years, depending on the extent of the harm or the injury. Section 192, \u201CAggravated assault\u201D\u2014and interestingly, with section 192 of the Crimes Act, there is a specific and separate provision for aggravated assault against constables in the execution of their duty. Then there\u2019s section 193, \u201CAssault with intent to injure\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000711\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003ESo there are provisions there, and the benefit of having a number of different provisions in the Crimes Act, as front-line police officers will tell you, is that you then have some flexibility and some choice about what you charge the offender with, because the circumstances of offending will differ from one case to the next, and you\u2019ll want police officers to have a range of different grades of offending that they can then lay a charge in relation to. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000712\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EThen we have the Sentencing Act, which is a very important Act at the back end of administration of justice, because it gives judges, then, the scope to weigh up a whole bunch of different factors to decide what is just in the circumstances of the offending. The sentencing principles laid out in section 8 of that Act lay out a number of things: \u201Cthe gravity of the offending \u2026 including the degree of culpability\u201D; the impact on the victim\u2014absolutely important. There is no question that ambulance workers, fire and emergency workers, and the prison officers who are subject to assault\u2014that can have a huge impact on the future career of that emergency professional. So those are factors that ought to be taken into account in sentencing if the offender is charged with a serious offence. You have the seriousness of the offence as a principle that has to be taken into account, as well as the circumstances of the offender. That\u2019s what you do when you administer justice. Then section 9 has a whole list, and a growing list, of aggravating and mitigating factors, and amongst the aggravating factors is\u2014Mr Assistant Speaker, you look like you\u2019re standing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022b6d768ea95914bbea882711f15ad897d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000713\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b6d768ea95914bbea882711f15ad897d\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: I apologise to the member but this is a five-minute call and it had 10 minutes on the clock.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022 data-id=\u00220aee0e80bb104db4bd9c8aff3f06590d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000714\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220aee0e80bb104db4bd9c8aff3f06590d\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP (National\u2014Hutt South):\u003C/span\u003E Well, that was an interesting speech from the Minister of Justice, Andrew Little, who\u2019s clearly got used to the trappings of being a Minister very early on, in the sense that he\u2019s used to the 10-minute calls and he\u2019s had to take a call on a member\u2019s day in order to speak on the Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill. It was sort of hard to know if the Labour Party is going to support this bill or not, because, if you listened to his speech, it was a laundry list of reasons as to why the bill shouldn\u2019t pass, but yet we\u2019ve got this strange hybrid coalition relationship between the New Zealand First Party and the Labour Party. So the Labour Party is going to vote for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000715\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI\u2019m going to make a prediction\u2014I\u2019m going to make a prediction. I\u2019ve made a few predictions in the last couple of weeks and they\u2019ve all been proven correct, and I\u2019m going to make another one: the Labour Party\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000716\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8a4389e27314530b107c068ed25e88c\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: What about the polls? Are you picking the next poll?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000717\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002238664a6199614fe1a6c9cdc848ead5ed\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll make a prediction. I\u2019m going to make a prediction, Megan Woods. Power prices are going to go up and you guys are going to lose the next election\u2014OK?\u2014largely due to your own incompetent management of the portfolio. You have no idea what you are doing in the portfolio.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000718\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d313570073e4f0fa5f39740301b85f5\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! Don\u2019t bring me into the debate, and, secondly, can you address the bill, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000719\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223de41c08e8ab40a7a63428fde78b48fc\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, Mr Assistant Speaker. Mr Assistant Speaker probably would do a better job of managing the power portfolio. But I\u2019m going to make a prediction, which is that the Labour Party will not vote for this bill when it comes back to the House for its second reading, and it certainly will not vote for it at third reading. I predict this bill, if it does pass into law, will only pass into law with the support of the New Zealand First Party and the National Party, because Andrew Little gave a list of reasons as to all the reasons he did not want to vote for the bill: all of the existing offences in the Crimes Act, all of the various things that could already be done to recognise crimes and protections against first responders in the Summary Offences Act 1981 and the Crimes Act 1961. He knows\u2014and Mark Patterson\u2019s sitting there grinning, next to Clayton Mitchell\u2014and they know what I\u2019m saying is true.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000720\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI actually think it will be the first bill, if it does pass, that passes with New Zealand First and National Party support, and that will be, actually, a bit of a totemic day for the New Zealand First Party, and, actually, maybe the Labour Party will be a bit upset about that. They may come to rue the day that they allowed this bill to go through.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EBut, anyway, here we are\u2014Darroch Ball\u2019s bill. He\u2019s, unfortunately, absent, but I know that he would be very pleased, and I want to congratulate him on\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000722\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9ea03b17fe54fcea42c4bbba6d1b833\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: Not supposed to do that, Chris.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a7250acc99a4aa5a257037c9affb6df\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m just congratulating him; I\u2019m not passing judgment on him. I just want to congratulate him on his bill being drawn from the ballot. We will be supporting this to select committee because we think the intent of the bill is good. Actually, I do have to say, I do partly agree with some of the points\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000724\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e58770b5d7554cfcacb7e3eaee40c8ed\u0022\u003EHon Clare Curran\u003C/span\u003E: Three minutes, and he tells us what he thinks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000725\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ceeb095b669440bab55f46721a7b5f8\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, Clare Curran, goodness me. That member over there is really not one to critique speeches. I sat in Government, as a Government backbencher, for three years, at this time of night, and I watched Clare Curran come down to the debating chamber and give the world\u2019s worst parliamentary speeches about a succession of legislation that that member had no idea about, for month after\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000726\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2c29f927f384596b843ffa63699bf3c\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: That would make a really good general debate speech but this is not a general debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000727\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c8b7e8483314088bf8c7d60dbed3976\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: It would be a good general debate speech. Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000728\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003ELook, as my friend and colleague Mark Mitchell said, we are fully supportive of our first responders. In particular in the last couple of weeks, we\u2019ve had cause to reflect on that in quite a serious way, actually\u2014if I could make a serious point\u2014in the House. We\u2019ve reflected on them in the last two weeks, both in this Chamber but also as MPs go in and around the community and the vigils and the memorials. Actually, I think it\u2019s coincidental but it\u2019s actually also appropriate that the bill in New Zealand First\u2019s name has come to the House at this time, because, more than ever before, New Zealanders are thinking about the great job that our police officers have been doing, our emergency, health, fire services, and our corrections officers have been doing, as well. So we\u2019re going to vote for the bill to the select committee\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000729\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226248b384c01d42ea90e1b03a59a51f57\u0022\u003EJamie Strange\u003C/span\u003E: What\u2019s the name of the bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000730\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ecb21a42a4304e458adc9c33ce5e0599\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: The Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill, Jamie Strange. You don\u2019t actually have to read out the bill\u2019s name to make a speech. One of the things you learn in third form debating, Mr Strange, is you don\u2019t have to read the title of the debate out to have a debate about it. You should know that, as a school teacher. We\u2019ll be voting for this at first reading, and we welcome this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u00224c1256fe05cf44d2bba1bd9c8800584d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000731\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224c1256fe05cf44d2bba1bd9c8800584d\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Green):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s my understanding that there\u2019s not supposed to be a reference to an absence of a member from the Chamber, and in that speech just then, there was, regarding the sponsor of this bill. So I\u2019m just seeking your guidance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022de5de87c8d7e4b028b53d345315594da\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000732\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022de5de87c8d7e4b028b53d345315594da\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: That is correct, but it needs to be raised at the time. It\u2019s actually my job to do that. I was satisfied that the member actually addressed it when it was pointed out to him. As I said earlier in the evening, I could be the whistle-blower all night and, at this time of the night, I don\u2019t really want to be. I\u2019m going to rely on members to actually know the rules and observe them. So we\u2019ll have the next call. I think it\u2019s the Greens.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u002294d1b75a4f19400babec62b7744f5026\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000733\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002294d1b75a4f19400babec62b7744f5026\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Green):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e Te Whare. This is actually an incredibly quite serious bill despite the jovial nature of the debate that has preceded my contribution tonight. This bill, obviously being debated tonight, is the Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill, which I state on the record for the member Chris Bishop.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000734\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI think it\u2019s, as I noted, an incredibly serious topic that we are addressing tonight, particularly in light of recent events over a fortnight ago in this country, in Christchurch. For that reason, I think it\u2019s important that we here in this House acknowledge the incredible work that was undertaken by the first responders. In line with the Minister Andrew Little, we absolutely, as the Greens, recognise and respect the intention behind this bill, but reflecting on some contributions, such as those made by the Hon Mark Mitchell, around how we have to recognise and respect and ensure the safety of these first responders, the unfortunate thing about a response like this in legislation is that it occurs after the fact. So we do need to be ensuring that we are bolstering the resources as well to ensure that there is that safety provided so that these kinds of events don\u2019t actually happen and that we don\u2019t need to be using these greater increased penalties.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000735\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EIn light of these recent events and in light of respecting the work that is undertaken by our first responders, the incredibly brave people around this country, the Green Party will be supporting this through to select committee so that we can have that informed and, hopefully, mature and respectful discussion about how we ensure the safety of our first responders and aren\u2019t just having an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff after these events have occurred.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000736\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252589e0bedc148acbd8bb7354c969c87\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Do we really have to listen to this?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000737\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002263e4847be1594324a9cd5fd90508e01d\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. All yours, mate!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022 data-id=\u00228712d3535e194e0ebca428d7170236bb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000738\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228712d3535e194e0ebca428d7170236bb\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT (National\u2014Hamilton East):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I\u2019d just like to follow on from my colleague Chris Bishop. We all know what\u2019s going to happen with this bill. The Labour Party has just approved this bill to go to select committee. This bill actually went through its first reading late last year\u2014the start of the first reading, when Darroch Ball did the first speech on it\u2014and it\u2019s taken some time for the Labour, New Zealand First, and Green parties to come to an arrangement. That arrangement is that the Labour Party will pass it through to select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000739\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ENow, that\u2019s the fallacy of having those three parties in coalition, and how it\u2019s all smoke and mirrors. They\u2019re going out to the public and saying, \u201CLook how we have done something here.\u201D The reality is that it was one of those deals that Winston had to get through late at night when Jacinda Ardern was getting her changes around mining and that, and this was one of the little deals on the side that Mr Peters put on the table and said, \u201CWell, we need to get at least this bill read the first time.\u201D So the Labour Party will use their time in this House, if they use their time, to really advocate for why this bill shouldn\u2019t go through, and they are setting up the argument for why they will vote against it when it comes to the second and third readings. The Labour Party cannot vote for this bill; it goes against everything that they are saying they are trying to do in the criminal justice sector. It actually sets a mandatory sentence to go to jail.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000740\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EWe all know that the Minister of Corrections doesn\u2019t want anyone jailed. The Prime Minister doesn\u2019t want anyone in jail. They\u2019re doing everything they can to release prisoners hand over foot. They will not pass something that has a mandatory sentence of six months to go to jail. So the New Zealand First Party is sitting there; they know this is a failed policy by them, because the Labour Party is going to pull the rug out from under them at the last minute. The Green Party is ambivalent as ever because they don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on in this Parliament\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=\u0022502d19804f52408db5087240fb36f5cf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000741\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022502d19804f52408db5087240fb36f5cf\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m afraid I have to interrupt the member. This debate is interrupted and set down for resumption next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow. P\u014D m\u0101rie.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000742\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201904036c20dc5363544a30b26c9ec179355592000743\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 10 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"