"\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=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b02d3f1420dc441e9292f6e90fc3e0bc\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a207e6e2855c41fc81c7cc36dfe41e4f\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000002\u0022\u003EThe Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000004\u0022\u003EKarakia.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002280bb72ca62544631afb9e9e71c4cdecd\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226c11a9a7202645bfa80636bbc259f408\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225fdba7d60fc24bf986eb672a4be61c32\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=\u0022a5788642aea048cc91ac7a6718acce0c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a5788642aea048cc91ac7a6718acce0c\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government\u2019s statements and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u0022163a753b0df049d5a76ca27df3f8b5f5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022163a753b0df049d5a76ca27df3f8b5f5\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, particularly the Government\u2019s Early Learning Action Plan, which shows the importance the Government places on the early years of a child\u2019s learning. Elements of the plan include lifting early childhood education centres to 100 percent qualified staff, improving the consistency in levels of teachers\u2019 salaries and conditions, addressing teacher supply, more active management, improving adult to child ratios, and ensuring children in underserved communities have access to high-quality services. I think this demonstrates our focus on the most important phase of a child\u2019s life and the importance of early childhood education.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cad0c5f289714f7b8aefb821e96f5fd9\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Why have only 300 KiwiBuild houses been built?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ccdd4f3fa971475793f6b0914cc7625d\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: As you\u2019ll know, the Government has gone through an evaluation with our KiwiBuild reset of the many factors that were causing it not to meet our own expectations. I will acknowledge, however, that we are very proud of the huge production coming out of State housing and public housing. In fact, I take the opportunity to remind the member opposite that had the last Government maintained the pace of production for State houses that we are, we would have been able to clear some of those State house waiting lists. We\u2019re building more houses than any Government since the 1970s, and we\u2019re proud of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f07fc5b4ba984f198e5f3c94e1f2ca4a\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Why have no significant roading or other major infrastructure projects started under her Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225844b1260ee04e52b55ef0759b7584f7\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The premise of that question is incorrect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d49537cb35a441a4b49c62008b171308\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: How much more will her Government borrow for infrastructure as announced over the weekend?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fef03c0a3f514448b4fdc56ba57ab233\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member well knows that he needs to wait until further announcements, in only a few sleeps away, from the excellent Minister of Finance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3c15c00602143c498907685fc586849\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept that if her Government wasn\u2019t spending $1.5 billion on fees-free, $2 billion on KiwiBuild, $3 billion on the Provincial Growth Fund\u2014a total of $6.5 billion\u2014she wouldn\u2019t have to borrow more money?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230962420e1614b4e87ce4e5610e7a0af\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I take it from the member, therefore, that, even though he currently has a discussion document on fees-free, he\u2019s already made the decision to scrap it, because at the moment he seems to suggest that it may stay. I take it from his question that he\u2019s dumping the Provincial Growth Fund, and I think there would be a number of regions that would be very interested to know that that member does not support their regional development. I take it from that member\u2019s statement that he also intends to continue selling State houses to get rid of progressive home ownership and that he doesn\u2019t believe in intervening in the market and providing affordable houses. It\u2019s good to know it would be just a return to the status quo.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a859557ab38a432db4324e0b335230d3\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: So does that mean she will be borrowing more than $6.5 billion?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f193d40fb0ec41199086cbdd6efa1847\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262fbbe44125a47258ab9b496deb53ae1\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: What will her borrowing take debt as a proportion of GDP to?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f818ec3599c84e90abbc4ed44243be6b\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member knows that I\u2019m not going to discuss the substance of announcements that are rightly being made by the Minister of Finance as part of the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update. I can, however, reflect on the excellent announcements for education infrastructure. Those were made recently. It includes investment of up to $400 million for schools across the country. I note the last time the last Government talked about doing anything like that it sold all of New Zealand - owned assets in order to do it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022831692c8a8d84d988dde81b88863d126\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: If she wasn\u2019t spending so much on fees-free, KiwiBuild, and the Provincial Growth Fund, would she still need to break her own Budget responsibility rules around debt?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c3288716e4b240eb84133fa249bd47c8\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Again I point to the fact here that this is an obvious admission from the member that he intends not to maintain any of those excellent policies that are making a huge difference to get learners into education when we have a skills gap, to get our regions thriving and generating jobs, and to address our housing crisis. I very much look forward to the housing policy from that member if he doesn\u2019t believe in KiwiBuild. I hear it\u2019s going to be released on Christmas Eve because the National Party doesn\u2019t want to support their member Judith Collins.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a27b4e3fbfe4b06b68edc81f632edfe\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Ooh, a little nasty there!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223122d7677adc41568bf7f18f49da41e0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d74bafd24da24c32902cdf48feec3ebe\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Take a Valium! Does her Government contemplate borrowing $72 billion, like the previous Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bb0d882b96b244a4b8820bbff72c41ec\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member makes a very good point, of course. [Interruption] Even then, when we inherited this Government, we came in with a debt as a percentage of GDP at 23 percent, and we have brought it down, meeting our Budget responsibility rules, to less than 20 percent. We are carrying less debt than under that last Government, and we\u2019ve achieved all of the things the member likes to talk about.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dec1cc8d6881455a8b7bfb720f4bc53f\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: With the borrowing for infrastructure announcement next week, will any significant infrastructure projects get finished before the end of next year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f31e1c68ff34858a12ded5a1baeca96\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Of course, the member will need to know what those infrastructure projects are first. The second point I\u2019d make is that, traditionally, National Governments have tended to believe in borrowing to invest in infrastructure\u2014that\u2019s what most Governments do, and I note that even his finance Minister recently suggested that borrowing for significant infrastructure would be a wise decision.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c9053305c5e4448b093648eb2fe05b7\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Government contemplating increasing GST, like the previous Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229af3923ef5014258befb65fa01023211\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: No, no, but I do note that they didn\u2019t contemplate it either until they suddenly did and implemented it when last in office.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228a316e1b8bd4d80b4bc96a5beca74e4\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: In light of her supplementary answers, will any significant infrastructure projects even get started before the next election?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e2badb21b7414a7490e0385d1fdc2c35\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Again, the member has, I know, much anticipation, but I would hate him, of course, to not acknowledge the existing work that is already under way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002298c16c42c5294330bcafc11b2cfa45c5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Can the Prime Minister sit down? I\u2019ve had a lot of complaints about members from both sides shouting and the inability of people, especially outside the House, to be able to hear. That has continued today. I think it\u2019s fair to say that both sides are equally guilty, but if I\u2019m having trouble hearing the Prime Minister from this far away because of noise from both sides, it\u2019s an indication that there is too much interjection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c4700fef7bec42c29d4d46b0ada501d6\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I do want to take the opportunity to remind the member of some of the projects that have already started under this Government: Loop Road, \u014Cp\u014Dnoni, State Highway 1 Papakura to Bombay, Waipapa, State Highway 10 T\u0101kaka Hill, State Highway 6 Ladies Mile corridor, State Highway 1 Edendale realignment. Vastly different\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229c61eafc61eb495f8f31ad2d4f3b27f0\u0022\u003EHon Shane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: Waipapa roundabout! Waipapa!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e4683bdeae141be8bfc0c940716d473\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Mr Jones will not interject again during this question time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216c51748fb4b4afd9c3a4334af36a207\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014to the projects that were announced by that last Government that were never funded, that were ghost roads, and, frankly, that would probably never have happened.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4e3590a43c34cc0a6ea5fdcadc6316e\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Prime Minister contemplate at least borrowing sufficient money to complete the nine bridges Mr Bridges promised for Northland?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022944184da105a41a1b350fa5909756613\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Again, I just don\u2019t want to give too much away.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e1053727b902484aac55a83119d48354\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Did Winston Peters re-announce one of them just yesterday?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022581e8f4dab3b42ceac5bf704c697ffff\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: There were plenty still to re-announce given that you hadn\u2019t done any of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225c4a7b7f4d134648a9a01579f12591a5\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Is the only way to physically start infrastructure projects before the election now to restart National\u2019s transport projects that were ready to go but were stopped at the start of her Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002264d7d8d98a4e4991b4a2ae8453118940\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Of course, Manawat\u016B Gorge was not funded or designated by National. Levin to Sanson, Napier to Hastings, Christchurch to Ashburton, and Wellsford to Whangarei\u2014they were not funded or designated by National. I can go on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022dc4508a625a749388f89a800fe03a759\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u00221c5b396150544c01afe7a64199b159b9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221c5b396150544c01afe7a64199b159b9\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the Treasury that we are \u201Clikely to see overall New Zealand GDP growth fall below Budget forecasts\u201D, and what are the domestic factors, if any, behind this slower growth?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u0022c361321286fc4089944fedccc7e7e24e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c361321286fc4089944fedccc7e7e24e\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E The partial quote in the member\u2019s question comes from Treasury\u2019s November monthly economic indicators, and the full quote is: \u201COn balance, weaker-than-forecast investment and services exports are likely to see overall New Zealand GDP growth fall below Budget forecasts.\u201D I do not agree or disagree with this quote as it is just a forecast. If it were to happen, it would not be surprising to anyone who understands that New Zealand is part of the global economy. In fact, the paragraph above that statement from Treasury says, \u201CThe main channel through which global developments appear to be affecting New Zealand is via their impact on uncertainty and business confidence. In addition, slowing global growth is a likely factor behind softer services exports growth, including tourism.\u201D In answer to the second part of the question, the main factors I\u2019ve heard from businesses that are affecting domestic activity have been skills shortages, historic infrastructure under-investment, and our long-term productivity challenge. The member needs to remember that the New Zealand economy continues to grow at faster rates than the countries we compare ourselves to, and I would note the Treasury statement in the same document from which his question came: \u201Cthe sense gathered was that businesses are doing okay\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224af7e3878dd4403586ab5d56fe5b783d\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Don\u2019t our historically high terms of trade present an opportunity of a lifetime when we should be growing strongly?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224dbf4b4d800b45f9bc23673b7a1a8bf7\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Once again, the member is failing to see that when we look at all of the countries around the world, they are growing far more slowly than they did in the past. New Zealand, relatively speaking, continues to grow quicker than those countries.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220cc8da456f274285ab45ce60990b538a\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Is the slowing growth delivered under his Government one reason why he signalled that he will abandon his debt target for 2021-22?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cad411d3b447440198b6683e39b5b542\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: The member\u2019s getting well ahead of himself, but he is referring to the announcement about extra infrastructure investment that will be coming in just a few days\u2019 time. The main reason for that is to correct the huge under-investment and infrastructure deficit that we inherited from the previous Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221545374796184803964c0adfd3c53dee\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Does he intend to keep his Government\u2019s solemn promise made to New Zealanders to keep net debt below 20 percent of GDP in 2021-22?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002244e4e7a1c6e04d67b6f7ea6fa2cf17c5\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: What I will commit to is our great record around keeping debt low: two Budgets with debt below 20 percent and, I might say, far below the 23 percent, or nearly 23 percent, that we inherited from the previous Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002208bb05012ab54d00b45e3e9ec61f3605\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with National Party finance spokesperson, Paul Goldsmith, in regards to GDP that borrowing to invest in infrastructure is a good idea?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022255b359ab1e444808fcffd47fdc900f6\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I have heard that quote from Mr Goldsmith. I do believe that there is a case in New Zealand at the moment, with some of the lowest interest rates that we\u2019ve ever seen, with the economy in good shape, and with an infrastructure deficit, to feel that it is a good time. I am, however, not confident about the views of the people who sit beside Mr Goldsmith on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f8792e5791f64fe39e81d586944504c7\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Did he not make his promise on debt levels precisely to reassure New Zealanders who were worried about the affordability of Labour\u2019s spending promises?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ff91acb8e064f6d98a9aaa6adf3988c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! That\u2019s not his responsibility as Minister of Finance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226c3a58e6d82543c489c832ba7c450fb1\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, it\u2019s just\u2014I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288e4fd33eea84f3184ee343bf2f795b1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: In undertakings made, as the member indicated, before the election.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226eba504064e44cd7ba71d0ff4a25b887\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: He made his promise on debt levels when he spoke in the 2018 Budget, where he talked about those promises to New Zealanders\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b22b7b8faf14236a69aee51a55eb109\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: OK, I\u2019ll let it go if the member is referring to that, as opposed to what he said before.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022672ba07c38a649a180951d10ec37fa9e\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Did he not make his promise on debt levels precisely to reassure New Zealanders who were worried about the affordability of Labour\u2019s spending promises?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7bb951adbf74957aa33506001fbdea6\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: The comments I made at the 2018 Budget, when I was talking about this, were borne out at the 2019 Budget, when we met that target below 20 percent\u2014far better than the previous National Government had ever achieved; they weren\u2019t heading anywhere near there. On this side of the House, we\u2019re actually delivering when it comes to keeping New Zealand\u2019s debt under control while investing in the projects that need to happen. I\u2019ll stand by the record of this Government on debt far ahead of that previous Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002227b20dbf82724559ad3b9600ac8dbd4d\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Climate Change\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022 data-id=\u00220bf5a6434d144763b355f0ee1353934d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220bf5a6434d144763b355f0ee1353934d\u0022\u003EMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader\u2014Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Climate Change: What announcements has he made recently about Government action on climate change?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u002213d1d2bb54ba4c8a99684dbb125eb94a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002213d1d2bb54ba4c8a99684dbb125eb94a\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Minister for Climate Change):\u003C/span\u003E Yesterday, I was able to spill the tea that from now on, major policy proposals coming to Cabinet will be required to carry out an assessment of the impact that they will have on New Zealand\u2019s ability to meet our targets for cutting climate pollution, as outlined in the zero carbon Act. This will give Ministers the information that we need in order to ensure that the decisions that we make are focused on helping to solve climate change, make our communities cleaner and healthier, and don\u2019t pull us unintentionally in the wrong direction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9987c2ad92f4c33af765acb08804917\u0022\u003EMarama Davidson\u003C/span\u003E: What will Government agencies need to do when completing a climate impacts assessment on major policy proposals?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fec1d3143db14fcba0b074287fdc94bc\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: From now on, a climate impact assessment will be mandatory for policy and legislative proposals that are either designed to reduce emissions or which are likely to have consequential impacts on greenhouse gas emissions greater than 250,000 tonnes a year. Using a tool developed by the Ministry for the Environment, Government agencies will be able to assess what impact a policy proposal will have on emissions and therefore our ability to meet the commitments that this House has made to New Zealand through the zero carbon Act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f063900e16a34fc0912eadb97a41d9b3\u0022\u003EMarama Davidson\u003C/span\u003E: How will this inform Government policy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002234199e2e9d4d439993e0748e82cb38e4\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: An assessment of the climate impacts of major policy proposals will be included in all Cabinet papers, in exactly the same way as impacts on human rights, the Treaty of Waitangi, rural communities, the disability community, and gender. This will be about providing Ministers with a better understanding of the impacts that their decisions have on the climate. Because of the way the process works, it will help decision makers across the whole of Government integrate climate considerations into their decision making. Whether it\u2019s passing the zero carbon Act earlier this year, reforming the emissions trading scheme, ensuring more clean and renewable energy, or new support for electric cars, we will have set New Zealand on a path to a zero-carbon future. This announcement is about making sure that the whole of Government is pulling in the same direction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b9b5473d77d64e9d96a50a8f14e97a46\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=\u0022729d18f5385c48fe8d34c8fa6afd1329\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022729d18f5385c48fe8d34c8fa6afd1329\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader\u2014National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government\u2019s policies and statements?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u0022e11b9875975a47b2aca8bba02609afc4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e11b9875975a47b2aca8bba02609afc4\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, particularly the Government\u2019s decision to allow New Zealanders to decide for themselves how cannabis should be best regulated to reduce harm, particularly to young people, through a referendum at the next election.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022140aa63ca5e141d5a41cb9a02f404f18\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does she stand by the main objective in the legalising recreational cannabis bill, which is to promote the wellbeing of New Zealanders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220740b5aec1e8457c948404ba62f0ccbf\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. In fact, you can see through things like age restrictions, the banning of advertising, making it illegal to consume in public places, and, for instance, a licensing regime which is very particular around the way that they\u2019ll consider edibles to try and ensure that they\u2019re never targeted at young people\u2014all of that is around trying to reduce consumption and particularly restrict consumption from ever reaching young people. Ultimately, though, the question that\u2019s going to New Zealand is: do they believe that harm reduction is best achieved through the current status quo or best achieved through a heavily regulated environment, as is proposed by the bill, and, ultimately, they will decide.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002298b23fba5af240daa261ae6e2eebed30\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does she think it promotes the wellbeing of New Zealanders when there is no mention of drug-driving in the bill, when 79 people died on our roads with drugs in their systems in 2017? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022979c7406ea3248a0a4e8d3e0e751940f\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Look, I don\u2019t think there\u2019d be much distance between anyone in this House over the concerns of drug-driving. Already, though, that is something that is dealt with through the Associate Minister of Transport. There are some specific issues that need to be worked on still with some of the technologies in order to accurately predict impairment through drug-driving, but I think everyone in this House wants to ensure we do not have the issue of drug-driving on our roads. Finally, I do want to take the opportunity to add that Thursday is the day when all members of this House who have an interest in this bill are able to come together in the cross-party group that\u2019s working on the content of this bill. I encourage members to do that. We are\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a680d32dd60e463b9feb9e0c78a62344\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: How cynical. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002282b309adbd1d48e3ac4458594101571a\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I would say to the Leader of the Opposition that he well knows this is a draft bill that gives members the time, through till March, to work on the content, and I encourage him to constructively engage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224be6fbdbdaee41db86127eec6af34715\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does she think it promotes the wellbeing of New Zealanders when there is no mention of workplace safety and impairment issues caused by cannabis in the bill? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d25f974fc5a840cf9b69d3e3bd3d686f\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: That is because the Employment Relations Act 2000 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 already regulate for that very issue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d662e7b9c1904d3e84bcda9f697be978\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does she think it promotes the wellbeing of New Zealanders when, under her Government\u2019s legislation, people will be able to purchase up to 14 grams a day of weed? [Holds up small bag of cannabis] [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225489341d836f4daea0b4af07a7bbeb04\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b860059fe9fa4303a012b4d3bf819058\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member well knows that in drafting a bill that all of New Zealand can determine whether they agree with, we will have looked at international frameworks that already exist. I would say to the member that in Washington, it is twice that; in Canada, it is more than twice that; and in Colorado, it\u2019s twice that. So if the member believes it should be less, I implore the member to come and engage with the group that has been brought together across this House to constructively engage on the issues, and if the member disagrees with that level, it is absolutely her prerogative to put that argument alongside other MPs as part of that cross-party working group. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f3d051284f54c53b852d19336c56011\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! I am going to ask both the deputy leader of the National Party and the Minister of Finance to chill out. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221282bf4faecb4bd1ab5d77aaeaac4d83\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: How does the maximum amount of cannabis that can be purchased at any one time in the draft bill compare to the maximum amount of alcohol that one could purchase at any one time, if there is such a thing? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002287b52e645aa64141b65e1b9eee937fe7\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: OK. The member is right to point out that this is a highly regulated environment\u2014much more so, obviously, than what exists for alcohol. The question here, of course, is that our aspiration in drafting a bill that New Zealanders can decide on is harm reduction. We\u2019ve looked at international frameworks. In Canada, it is 30 grams. In Colorado, it is 28 grams. In Washington, it is 28 grams. The proposal in this bill is half that, or sometimes more than half that. If the member disagrees with that, she is a member of that cross-party group. I encourage her to engage, and I definitely encourage her to vote in the referendum, as the rest of New Zealand will. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e2bc7e113ee54f3b9fb8ea4afa09ca3a\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002220e17b45506f48849f83bbd062d80f2b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: A point of order\u2014and this is a warning, Mr Robertson. I can see the look on your face, and\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f885ff2ca6ef4f079771f102c523f4cd\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: I think it\u2019s a good one. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245ced0ae2a2846f0a251fbdf7d623d95\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No\u2014well, you\u2019ve got to work out whether it\u2019s going to be worth it if you get tossed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7decbb92dda43498db1066e52b98dd1\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, I do have the next question, so we\u2019ll negotiate that, but I just\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb4f70ca248c4164814c6324dc730652\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222137adf0ad7948b7bea2c945f5e3c13c\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014wonder whether the member opposite might consider tabling the bag in the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f605b3d5bac4a7c98563d7c4f17a145\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: I was encouraged by the Prime Minister\u2019s support for dealing with the issue of drug-driving, and so I wish to seek leave for the Transport (Random Testing for Drug-driving) Bill to be introduced and set down as first order of the day on the next members\u2019 day. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2eef856001d40b391b97a2b407db087\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection to that? Yes, there is. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226bbb9a9ccedb45de80ad837467970f75\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister confirm that approximately a quarter of a million New Zealanders, on a weekly basis, presently have access\u2014unlimited access\u2014to sketchy cannabis through the unregulated black market? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228fbaca16a98741fc9bbe7a205573f043\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. In fact, in working through exactly where the draft bill that will go to New Zealanders would sit on the issue of the quantity, the 2016\u2014[Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022478c437347e040d6ae9d037358dda4aa\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Two very senior members. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002287d97d242aeb49999a9e429e7cc1fc9a\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: As I understand, the New Zealand health drug harm index from 2016 was used as the basis to establish the 14 grams, based on New Zealanders\u2019 existing use. I would say to the member, look, everyone in this House will have different views on this bill. Ultimately, harm is being done. The question is: is it best being dealt with as the current status quo, or through a heavily regulated environment? It\u2019s a legitimate question, and all I would implore is for us to allow a legitimate debate to be had in a House where there will be a lot of diverse views. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bd87477b6d2447b8a18ced4d5bc9802d\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022 data-id=\u0022cb7ad18a1b3e41f6b45d2e28c4383977\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cb7ad18a1b3e41f6b45d2e28c4383977\u0022\u003ETAMATI COFFEY (Labour\u2014Waiariki)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: He aha ng\u0101 r\u012Bpoata hou kua kitea e ia m\u014D te \u014Dhanga o Aotearoa?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E[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=\u00227fe8190bbae34555942f8aae4478474b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227fe8190bbae34555942f8aae4478474b\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E On Monday, Xero released its latest small business insights data showing cash flow and late invoice payment have either held or have improved during 2019 compared to 2018. Xero\u2019s insights are drawn from the real data from its 367,000 New Zealand subscribers. Independent economist Cameron Bagrie said the data \u201Cindicates solidity in the small business economy\u201D. Xero\u2019s David Bell said, \u201Cthings like business confidence questions are a hopeless indicator of the economy. It only captures what businesses think or perceive to be happening, not how they are actually performing. It\u2019s important we don\u2019t talk ourselves into an economic downturn and we [do] acknowledge the strength [that is] showing through.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022494198a00255475899e3da715a90fc81\u0022\u003ETamati Coffey\u003C/span\u003E: What recent reports has he seen on the performance of New Zealand exports?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228a9a0680bcc4b6caab81fc62e0c459c\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Statistics New Zealand data released on Monday showed that New Zealand\u2019s export prices rose 1.9 percent in the September 2019 quarter to their highest in over 10 years. With import prices remaining flat, the overall terms of trade remain near record highs. Meat prices rose 4.8 percent in the quarter, surpassing last quarter\u2019s high, driven by higher prices for lamb and beef, which are at their highest ever levels. Dairy product prices rose 8.9 percent in the quarter, with milk powder up 9.6 percent. This is excellent news for Kiwi exporters, and demonstrates their continued success in an uncertain global economic environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d083d7b5a804264b2f13239be5172d7\u0022\u003ETamati Coffey\u003C/span\u003E: What reports has he seen on the impact of higher commodity prices on the domestic economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec2ffd4597904820a92e840a25226368\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: A recent BNZ Economy Watch report titled \u201CHot Milk\u201D noted that, \u201CFrom a macroeconomic perspective, higher dairy prices are positive for NZ\u2019s terms of trade and the nation\u2019s purchasing power. It supports nominal incomes. However, support to real GDP via this channel needs to be calibrated to how much revenue is actually spent (as opposed to saved or used to pay down debt) and netted against one of the recent price drivers\u2014namely lower milk production.\u201D Some of our colleagues in this House may want to take heed of this macroeconomic guidance. While the higher export prices are good for nominal incomes, the higher prices don\u2019t necessarily feed through into real GDP figures. It all depends on what is being done with that higher income.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225d074cc702cb4d7d943d27bcbd001745\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022 data-id=\u0022d51ba92ebf2c448db98f5affe19f0e73\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d51ba92ebf2c448db98f5affe19f0e73\u0022\u003EHon NIKKI KAYE (National\u2014Auckland Central)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: Does he stand by his policies and actions with regard to school infrastructure?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u00221afaf7c9dc3f4831b5bcc06e86faa0e9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221afaf7c9dc3f4831b5bcc06e86faa0e9\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. I particularly stand by the largest investment made by a New Zealand Government of $1.2 billion for school property to meet growth; announcing the upgrade or new build of at least 1,100 classrooms, benefiting 33,000 students across the country; and, as of Sunday, the biggest capital injection for school maintenance funding in at least 25 years, benefiting 661,000 New Zealand students.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec219a3ce1cf4ffe873e49c8797babe3\u0022\u003EHon Nikki Kaye\u003C/span\u003E: Does he believe his decision to exclude 330 State integrated schools, covering more than 90,000 students, from his infrastructure announcement is discriminatory and unfair?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ebbd7c455f4f48e6ad6c557e59bcfab2\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: No. In answer to the first part of the question\u2014yes, I stand by that decision. No, I don\u2019t believe it\u2019s discriminatory or unfair. I believe it\u2019s completely consistent with the policy around integrated schools\u2019 maintenance funding that was signed up to by the last Government in 2016.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226e2c739cb0ac4ed796c717638eaa1f2e\u0022\u003EHon Nikki Kaye\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with Paul Ferris from the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools, who has said that he chooses not to engage with the integrated schools sector, and is this a factor in his discriminatory policy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022252af160c26b4b75af8b634fefae2b83\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: No, and no.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b47ca18ce6444a38cc15daa18c86ca9\u0022\u003EHon Nikki Kaye\u003C/span\u003E: Will he front up to the crisis meeting tonight with Minister Salesa to try and prevent court action against the Crown and his Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b79a416f74b7413fb446169a41bd0d7a\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: First of all, I wouldn\u2019t characterise it as a crisis meeting. The fact that the integrated schools think that they should get extra funding, which they are not entitled to under the agreement signed up to by the last Government, is a matter for them. Jenny Salesa is responsible\u2014a delegated Minister with responsibility for integrated schools\u2014and meets with them regularly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022117756e146184c3ca1d847b8c3b242cc\u0022\u003EHon Nikki Kaye\u003C/span\u003E: Will he resign if he is found\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221954ec51abe749269b30861ebb5d5e9b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ea8395d8d09a4f579eba1b23dc0ad4e6\u0022\u003EHon Nikki Kaye\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014to have broken the legal agreement between the Crown and integrated schools?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002294f01e27e3794a0086a7333b639a3b5d\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: I reject the premise of the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225bc3e0f52c8344f5b2796d7fa3a4a66b\u0022\u003EHon Nikki Kaye\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table the memorandum of understanding between the Secretary of Education and the chief executive officer of the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f0276619813c4df3b114ee53e69485eb\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Dated?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d220b54de0a4ee68561f81ad79090d5\u0022\u003EHon Nikki Kaye\u003C/span\u003E: Dated\u2014I think it\u2019s June 2017.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002210eb8e6e7e414b2ab9a25b6e0cd212e5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection to that document being tabled? There appears to be none.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002294b7061acda84d1eb88151e70f9d5da7\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Transport\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022 data-id=\u0022fe4ccd482c264e219c8a3e176944ff21\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fe4ccd482c264e219c8a3e176944ff21\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP (National\u2014Hutt South)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Transport: How many submissions received on the Government\u2019s proposed Clean Car Discount were in favour of the discount proposal, measured as a percentage of the total submissions, taking into account emails from the email campaign from the National Party focussed on the Clean Car Discount?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u0022faa205081e354f7b94889e781f03d26a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022faa205081e354f7b94889e781f03d26a\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Transport):\u003C/span\u003E Of the 1,043 submitters who responded online or in written form to the discussion document question \u201CIs a clean car discount appropriate for New Zealand?\u201D, I\u2019m advised that 79 percent supported it. However, when the National Party\u2019s form emails on this policy are taken into account, the percentage is 31.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022adb37918d60d43bdac6f0ea476e1fe7c\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Would she still characterise her clean car discount scheme as \u201Cwinning favour with submitters\u201D, in light of the fact that 69 percent of submitters oppose the scheme?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022686bc22f1eb348139d040df5f7f70cb5\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: I think it\u2019s more nuanced than that. Seventy-nine percent of the submitters that engaged with the substantive policy document did support it, but I accept that if we include the form emails collected by the National Party that number is lower.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002272d8483719104d03865fb562bfd8ec7f\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Is she saying that the hundreds of people who submitted to her own consultation are not worthy of recognition because they happen to send it via form email?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002256e995afe1834f409337e9ca5bfe0112\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I\u2019m not. I welcome all constructive feedback.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022565cd487ac3f451d9be585e052cc1477\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Is it still a Government target to have 64,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2021?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225cff4cb7b161493399c46a32355f3bda\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: There\u2019s been no change to the target.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b12724896d7f4eff87d2a0d4138a7ab8\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: Has she seen any scientifically robust reporting on New Zealanders\u2019 attitudes towards the clean car discount policy and taking action on climate change?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bc3d7ed94dae4665b0d486d59fea109d\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. I note that in August, a Colmar Brunton poll on the clean car discount showed a majority of New Zealanders supported the proposal. I note that in 2018, a Ministry for the Environment survey of over 1,000 people showed that 75 percent think responding to climate change is the responsibility of all New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a7a885301aaf4e10a58890af402a35a2\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Why is the Government not making a decision on the clean car discount until 2020, when the discussion document was published in July and she\u2019s been working on this proposal since 2018?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ccbf4ea127664703ab8759b3e8b3780d\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: We will make a decision about that and announce it when we\u2019ve made a decision, but we\u2019re working through the detail of the policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b84730cc54954d3895b049c4e8ea4b47\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022 data-id=\u0022b3f291d873914ffca799b9612f6c03a4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b3f291d873914ffca799b9612f6c03a4\u0022\u003EJO LUXTON (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: What reports has he seen on the Government\u2019s investment for 2,050 State schools so that they can upgrade their classrooms and other property over the next 24 months?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022ef71f4e7747f49698435b1bddd9889e3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ef71f4e7747f49698435b1bddd9889e3\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019ve seen several reports on the Government\u2019s $400 million investment in school property that was announced on Sunday. Mount Cook School\u2019s principal said it\u2019s just like they had 40 fairs in a single day, and they\u2019re planning to spend the money on recladding parts of the school to prevent leaks. Berhampore School\u2019s principal said that they plan to have their first spruce-up in 20 years to their school\u2019s exteriors. K\u0101piti College\u2019s principal said that they plan to rebuild their guidance counselling offices, which are located in an ex-schoolhouse from the 1950s, while Rongotai College\u2019s principal said that the $400,000 they\u2019ll be getting would be gratefully received as their main building is 60 years old and some of their classrooms haven\u2019t been upgraded for 20 years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cead7995f9f54227943f3142ac275fa3\u0022\u003EAnahila Kanongata\u2019a-Suisuiki\u003C/span\u003E: What does the school property funding announced on Sunday by the Prime Minister mean for schools in Papakura and T\u0101maki?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5ef2b0ffa16446f96136402f3b48dd3\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m very pleased to say that there are 27 schools in Papakura that will be receiving a total of $7.7 million to increase their school property budgets to bring forward their upgrades. There are 15 schools in T\u0101maki who\u2019ll be receiving $4.6 million\u2014that includes schools like Papakura High School, Rosehill College, and T\u0101maki College, who\u2019ll be getting the full $400,000 each, and schools like Edmund Hillary School and Glen Taylor School, that will be getting between $130,000 and $177,000.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b02c9219401147979f80ef4eec171746\u0022\u003EWillow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: What does the school property funding announced on Sunday by the Prime Minister mean for schools in Northland?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002240f7b7eab26e4b6f9fc8351bfd26162b\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: Ah\u2014good question. There are 100 schools in Northland who\u2019ll be receiving a total of $10.7 million so that they can fix and upgrade their classrooms and facilities. That includes schools like Kaitaia School, who are getting $273,000; Kaikohe East School, who\u2019ll be getting $202,000; Northland College, who will be getting $185,000; and Dargaville High School, who\u2019ll be getting $291,000.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219116606f7034ae1b756f093dfede71a\u0022\u003EDr Deborah Russell\u003C/span\u003E: What does the school property funding announced on Sunday by the Prime Minister mean for schools in New Lynn?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228048b20aa0964ab5aa87d6441e6c55c1\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m pleased to say that there are 14 schools in New Lynn that will be receiving a $4.3 million increase in their property budgets to bring forward their upgrades. That includes schools like New Windsor School, who\u2019ll be getting $343,000; Avondale Primary School, who\u2019ll be getting $216,000; and Blockhouse Bay Intermediate, who\u2019ll be getting $400,000.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002253fb69ca7fe04a87949081b73a8bcc54\u0022\u003EMichael Wood\u003C/span\u003E: What does the school property funding announced on Sunday by the Prime Minister mean for schools in Mount Roskill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dac13f0a996a44778162ae0953d94ec2\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m very pleased to say that there are 17 schools in Mount Roskill that will receive a total of $4.6 million increase to their school property budget, including schools like Royal Oak Intermediate School, who\u2019ll be getting $300,000; Mt Roskill Primary School, who\u2019ll be getting $400,000; and May Road School, who\u2019ll be getting $143,000. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da3c2d2c38c044f592c5c9efcfb596f5\u0022\u003EJamie Strange\u003C/span\u003E: What does the school property funding announced on Sunday by the Prime Minister mean for schools in Hamilton East?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223db6f995fed845e4905c07a9d694f53a\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: There are 20 schools in Hamilton East that will receive a total of $5.9 million to increase their school property budgets, including Fairfield College, that will be getting $400,000; Hamilton East School, that will be getting $313,000; and Silverdale Normal School, that will be getting $237,000.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d073e121ba1347438bba25033e65f66e\u0022\u003EHon Nikki Kaye\u003C/span\u003E: What does this announcement mean for the integrated schools in New Zealand\u2014330 of them?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247e8986624194c5bbf912bdfc6f5fffc\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s good news for the integrated schools, because the amount of maintenance funding that they get is calculated based on the total value of State school property. So as this investment that we are making improves the value of State school property, the integrated schools will benefit as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220047047b731b4fe59dfb5b78d05b8682\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Foreign Affairs\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00224788f743391b4c73b3c87144913b8e67\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224788f743391b4c73b3c87144913b8e67\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National\u2014Ilam)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: When was the last time he met with the Russian Ambassador to New Zealand and what was discussed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u0022c29c9c686a0d44fca155ce60209f835e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c29c9c686a0d44fca155ce60209f835e\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs):\u003C/span\u003E I want to thank the member for his second question in eight months, and to say: at Russia\u2019s National Day reception in Wellington on 11 June 2019, where I congratulated the ambassador on Russia\u2019s National Day and wished him well. I can confirm, of course, that I met the Russian Foreign Minister only last week in Japan at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting where the issue of unexploded ordinance was not raised with me by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002298d5ace733d848db9f89423507695446\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Why has he not told the Russians of the Government\u2019s displeasure over the allegations against the New Zealand Defence Force?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022598cc2124543476d82d49d6a9ad72cee\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Because the Defence Force has put out its explanation. It debunks the statement in the first place, and we actually believe our Defence Force, because for the first time in a long time, they\u2019ve got the resources to do the job that we require them to do. And when it comes to unexploded ordinances, we are putting the money in as well. Of course, in the whole time he was there, the number of communications he had with the Russians on this matter was zero.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef5fd83fb06d432ca1d79c076042b521\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: If, as he told the House yesterday, the Russian Government was aware of the New Zealand Government\u2019s position on clearing the range in question on 5 November, does he think the statement made by the Russian apparatchik accusing the New Zealand Defence Force of murdering seven children at a much later date was sanctioned by the Russian Foreign Ministry?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002269314bb347c246eb9756b5e40abf36b9\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Could I just say that when I saw Sergey Lavrov, if that was his intention he would have raised it with me. Unlike that member, I happen to know some of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and for a long, long time, and I am open and candid with them where New Zealand stands. You see, we don\u2019t intend to run, though, our foreign affairs like an illegal casino and run it down within five weeks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f6230835d5f14740be5d5a5a37822af6\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: If the Russian ambassador is an avid watcher of question time and was hanging on his every word yesterday, would it be fair to say the only rebuke he received for his Government\u2019s suggestion that the New Zealand Defence Force murdered seven children came from the Opposition, and the only thing he would\u2019ve heard from the Government was the soothing message \u201CDon\u2019t worry, old friend.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da07c203cf3840518b1f72825bd0332f\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: With respect to that nonsensical question, all I can say is it barely requires an answer. Many people have made complaints, with respect, where New Zealand is concerned. This is the Government that\u2019s having a full-scale investigation into matters with respect to that part of the world where we were engaged, not the previous Government. We\u2019ve been candid and frank enough to have this out with full-scale research. We\u2019ve put $10 million aside with respect to unexploded ordinances. We\u2019ve given the military the resources to do the job, and my response to the Russians would be: please don\u2019t think that we don\u2019t remember who left so many unexploded ordinances when they left after 20 years in Afghanistan.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c20949c9caa4bf59844ec37c6304bff\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: If that is the Minister\u2019s position, then why has he been so willing to allow the scurrilous allegation against the New Zealand Defence Force to go unchallenged, when he has personally met the Russian Foreign Minister and could have made a side comment, at least, saying that we did not appreciate their blaming us, when as he\u2019s just pointed out\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a61e9eee65f64d698520f2a1b113cdd0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! That\u2019s four. Answer one of the four.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286d9b22cb5364e22a392b5e4593dd7f3\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Can I just say, first of all, that in our meetings and discussions with Foreign Ministries and Foreign Ministers offshore, they\u2019ve always expressed delight that there\u2019s been a change in foreign Minister, and I can\u2019t say much more than that in the interests of modesty. But from the Prime Minister down, we have made those statements publicly already, and just because he doesn\u2019t bother to read anything is no reason for him to portray his innocence in this Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b48478f9dd28436b976e91ad069ee18e\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: So is it the Government\u2019s policy now that if a foreign country makes an unsubstantiated, scurrilous allegation against the New Zealand Defence Force or, for that matter, any other Government agency, we simply overlook it as being just a little glitch along the way to the friendly situation that we wish to have?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c87c777e7b4d46cda2bf42a60bad7103\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: One of the requirements of being a foreign Minister is having the perspicacity of mind to understand the nuances and changes that happen. We know this was an attack by that apparatchik from the foreign ministry of Russia on the UK. We just happened to be collateral damage, and we\u2019re not going to respond to it, because we made it very clear from the word go, and from the Prime Minister as well\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224cd3ac6b001c4c8faea06e77bd85cd47\u0022\u003EHon Gerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Rubbish\u2014weak as water.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022725408e8c6e34648b624fb1fb73d95e4\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014what our position was. No, we don\u2019t deal in your specialty of rubbish; we\u2019re dealing in the facts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220ca843fa429a428c80f28d23343abe58\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022 data-id=\u00220a35d5f16f6e4c26933c832b0dcc8313\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220a35d5f16f6e4c26933c832b0dcc8313\u0022\u003EDr LIZ CRAIG (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about growing and upskilling New Zealand\u2019s mental health and addiction workforce?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022 data-id=\u0022fa0c312db9424027a1431a6e3b93c878\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fa0c312db9424027a1431a6e3b93c878\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E More good news. This Government is taking mental health seriously. We\u2019re making a record investment in free mental health services so that people can get the support they need when they need it. To deliver those services, which are rolling out over five years, we need to invest in our mental health support capability. So over the next four years, as many as 12,000 people will get some form of mental health or addiction training. This is an important step towards better health and wellbeing for New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dcd385e82dee4b9690323065d7223bcc\u0022\u003EDr Liz Craig\u003C/span\u003E: So what sort of training will be available?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e1124a122864733aaf6ce01557d9791\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: We need a range of mental health and addiction workers, from specialist staff to community-based workers. So our workforce development plan is multifaceted. We are more than tripling the number of people in community organisations who can undertake the mental health 101 and addictions 101 programmes. There will be more than 8,000 extra places available over the next four years. We\u2019re upskilling 350 nurses, who will receive training to offer mental health and addiction assessments advice and, where appropriate, referrals to people when they visit their GP, and we\u2019re more than doubling our cultural competency programme, with 3,500 more places, to ensure M\u0101ori and Pacific people receive culturally appropriate support when they need it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229430af2661b5420f8461cba5a13ad287\u0022\u003EDr Liz Craig\u003C/span\u003E: So are any new training programmes being developed to support staff in the new front-line mental health and addiction services?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f440bb49d1f4dd4ab32bb72955aa00b\u0022\u003EHon Dr DAVID CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, more good news. We will need new training programmes designed specifically for people who are taking on new primary-care roles. There are new mental health and addiction roles planned as part of the new front-line service, including health coaches with peer experience, and health improvement practitioners. Training programmes are being developed for those roles. It\u2019s expected it will take 46 weeks to complete the training, which will include classroom and online learning as well as on-site observation. Growing our mental health and addiction workforce will take time but we\u2019re getting on with the job, because that\u2019s what\u2019s needed to support better mental health and wellbeing for New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229bb8e58735f54d0283aca7645b7f79d8\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022 data-id=\u0022d1c548c2e78041c0bbe707006d79c849\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d1c548c2e78041c0bbe707006d79c849\u0022\u003EHon NICKY WAGNER (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Health: Has she introduced the legislation regulating vaping that she promised last year; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022 data-id=\u00227a9e465ebfd14795a8e574b924e756bb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227a9e465ebfd14795a8e574b924e756bb\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E Not yet. It is important that we get this legislation right so that we can have a futureproof framework ready to present to Parliament. The Government is working towards introducing a bill to the House soon, this parliamentary term, and this remains our goal. Seeing this legislation introduced is a priority for me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3f24b22a8dc48a78136a3d00340be3e\u0022\u003EHon Nicky Wagner\u003C/span\u003E: Why has she not fast tracked vaping regulation legislation when 5,000 or more New Zealanders die every year from smoke-related diseases?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002221d9fd3eebcb490698c2c81e472774c3\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA\u003C/span\u003E: Our Government is making sure that we are working to ensure that this legislation gets introduced to the House. What I can say is that the Government wants to ensure vaping is available for smokers who choose to use it as a quit tool, while at the same time ensuring that vaping is not available to our young people and our children or that it is not marketed or sold to them. Seeing this legislation introduced to the House is a priority for me. That is one of the reasons why we said we will definitely introduce it. I note that the previous Government had nine long years to deal with this issue and produced precisely nothing to address vaping.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228bb24d570c894b65ba977a4b27380fde\u0022\u003EHon Nicky Wagner\u003C/span\u003E: Why has she not delivered vaping legislation when parents and principals have expressed significant concerns about young people vaping?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002284867003931749d2aff429a218ed83aa\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA\u003C/span\u003E: Seeing this legislation introduced is an absolute priority for this Government. I acknowledge the concerns that are raised by health professionals, by teachers, by parents, and by principals about our young people who are taking up vaping. I share their concerns. The Government is working towards introducing this bill very soon. I look forward to all of those who are interested in vaping regulations in this country to have their say at the select committee as soon as we introduce the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3cda8ca1799422bae98e6397fee2660\u0022\u003EHon Nicky Wagner\u003C/span\u003E: Why has she not delivered the vaping legislation she promised when the ministry had begun drafting that legislation for the previous National Government back in 2017?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022009a175b93f8417498eec47a3ba2f18a\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA\u003C/span\u003E: I am informed by the Ministry of Health that they had done some consultation. However, the last Government hadn\u2019t gone through and instructed the Parliamentary Counsel Office to draft this legislation. The previous National Government, after nine long years, had not actually done enough to address vaping. That is why we\u2019re here, having not addressed this issue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f7109cd6ac5a47568ee73273dd037c4e\u0022\u003EHon Nicky Wagner\u003C/span\u003E: Will she join with me in providing an early Christmas present to New Zealanders struggling to quit smoking by supporting my member\u2019s bill to be read a first time, enabling her Government to finally deliver their promise to introduce vaping legislation in 2019?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260359529f7db4644b2e22ff1c269a779\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA\u003C/span\u003E: The reason this Government is developing its own legislation is because the previous Government did not. I am advised that the member\u2019s bill that the member is talking about had a number of deficiencies and would not have come close to striking a reasonable balance between making vaping available to smokers who choose to quit smoking, as a quit tool, as well as ensuring that our young people do not have access to vaping and vaping products. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e518b43b43424e4eb330bef4e0abfec8\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: A do-nothing Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e45d54e0cda40b7bfa8b4a5895dece8\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA\u003C/span\u003E: No, it is not a do-nothing Government. We are introducing this bill very soon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022070ef7a9992d4724a465d53550805aff\u0022\u003EHon Nicky Wagner\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave for the Smoke-free Environments (Regulation of E-Cigarettes) Amendment Bill, a member\u2019s bill in my name, to be introduced and set down for first reading next members\u2019 day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cc42de602e7a478ca1e9debb1cb8b62a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection to that process? There is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022553392e02acd420ebe313558d7a1fb22\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u2014Arts, Culture and Heritage\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u00224dd864a57f21410aa8bb892b8d19dc1a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224dd864a57f21410aa8bb892b8d19dc1a\u0022\u003EDr SHANE RETI (National\u2014Whangarei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Does she stand by all her statements and actions around data breaches?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u002283b129a92c6948209c98372ab121bdd3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002283b129a92c6948209c98372ab121bdd3\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you. Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022299e6e29e3214ae1b8ab929a1ac77687\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Is there another recent data breach that she has not revealed in this House, and does that data breach involve a child?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226580dd50e2444acc8170dd5d1834b59e\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member will be responding, I can only assume, to a written parliamentary question that the member already asked about. I think he somewhat overstates, perhaps, the gravity. He\u2019s discussing, I believe, the notification letter that we send to interested parties when taonga is found. There\u2019s a process that the Ministry for Culture and Heritage goes through under the Protected Objects Act. Under that process, in the information for one of the items that was found as part of the Protected Objects Act, the name of the person who found it was included in some of the details that were sent to interested parties for that protected object. If the member believes that this issue in particular warrants the time of this House, it\u2019s his prerogative\u2014it is his prerogative. But, ultimately, the member is familiar with the parameters of this issue\u2014he is aware of the parameters of this issue\u2014and I do not believe placing it on register, as if it somehow may be the gravitas of Tuia, is fair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f123fb8beb6a449683fcd02bebd39f1f\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Did the data breach involve a child?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022791f065deba24f16bd13f7d088b0dc95\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I know that this involved someone who found an archaeological item, and under the Protected Objects Act, the details of that find were shared with the interested parties, which I imagine would have been\u2014[Interruption] I cannot tell the member the age of the individual, but I can acknowledge that that was the data breach that the member is speaking to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bce49df473be4067a844f08c51db7716\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Can she confirm written question No. 37461 that identifies the data breach involved a child?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022239f1dc02ba3486da8a6bcf5dcee995d\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: That is the same thing that we are both talking about. The reason the member knows about it\u2014[Interruption] I cannot confirm the age of the individual, because I do not have it. But the member knows about the issue because the Ministry for Culture and Heritage identified it to him when he asked the question on written questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b127312be5f14d8a99c84f25ba95a8af\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Did the opt-out database breach she identified in the House recently actually occur a year ago, and was it only detected this year when the ministry tried to rerun the same process?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c46473e628a647e1a414dba6517bf963\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: For the sake of clarity, the member is referring to a database that was held by an external agent separate to the Government who held a number of names of people interested in a particular memorial. The ministry were preparing to invite interested parties to an event. They sought extra information of extra parties that would like to be added to that database. When it was returned back to the third party, they determined that they should have individually asked those individuals if they would like to be on the ongoing database. That is the breach the member refers to. I cannot give the exact date of the time that that occurred.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3e212573eaf46558871592c9737d9d1\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Can she confirm in written question No. 37461, regarding the data breach of an archaeological find, \u201C(the archaeologist\u2019s child).\u201D is included in that question?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226cc046933b664235af293dc07ff2e270\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s the exact question we\u2019ve already traversed and we\u2019ve already discussed. Of course, every written question, obviously, is confirmed\u2014that\u2019s why the member has it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f49f766da00343fa9dca664f155197ea\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022857399e5944741729679a5cdbb47390b\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=\u00225badb038d8694704a41f432304485a23\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225badb038d8694704a41f432304485a23\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=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re on the eve of Christmas, and I, for one, am looking forward to the first of many Christmas parties tonight. Of course, we\u2019re also, Grant Robertson, at the back end of two long years of this Labour-led Government. What have they done this week? After two full years of delivering diddly-squat for New Zealanders, well, they\u2019ve jumped into action, haven\u2019t they? Grant Robertson\u2019s jumped up. He\u2019s got a wheelbarrow full of cash, he\u2019s put it in front of a fan, and he\u2019s letting it blow everywhere\u2014he\u2019s letting it blow everywhere from that wheelbarrow of cash. They\u2019re rushing though reform of our electoral laws. It achieves basically nothing, but they\u2019re doing it anyway, and they\u2019ve also got a reformed, rushed cannabis law that has many more questions than it has answers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EWhy are they doing this, you might ask\u2014why are they doing this? Well, I think Grant Robertson knows the truth. And that\u2019s that his polls\u2014and the Prime Minister says she gets them every week in her inbox\u2014are saying the same thing as our polls, and our polls are saying the same thing as the TV polls, and that\u2019s that two years in, New Zealanders have woken up to the fact, and are working out, that this Government can\u2019t deliver for New Zealand and hasn\u2019t delivered diddly-squat. And they are panicking and they are scrambling.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003ELet me say one more thing they are failing to deliver on is the economy. Where\u2019s the growth? We\u2019re looking everywhere; it\u2019s like a Where\u2019s Wally? puzzle. It\u2019s potentially somewhere but it\u2019s incredibly small, Grant Robertson, and we can\u2019t see it anywhere.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EJob growth has gone from 10,000\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216c0e3c6947a4fa68ae5a87df6b2e446\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Grab a mirror\u2014that\u2019s where Wally is!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c875db5294ec4529823085fc5323953d\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014a month, just two years ago\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ac11b5260784fd1b8a38d2795795af3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no. Order! Order! That\u2019s enough of that type of interjection. It might have been slightly invited, but it is not going to continue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7aa7e0895324d38838e2f7d118c44f2\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014to 70 percent fewer new jobs in just two short years. Cost of living: up\u2014skyrocketing. Poverty: up. Jacinda Ardern\u2014I noticed she did not like those questions yesterday from Jack Tame or from me, actually, where the city missioners are telling her, to her face, that they want National back. That\u2019s what they want; they want National back.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EKiwiBuild was meant to be\u2014what is it?\u2014100,000 houses over a decade. Two long years in, how many have they done, Winston Peters? They\u2019ve done 300\u2014300. I mean, he gets more money in the secret account than he does from that; we all know that\u2014300.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EInfrastructure: I asked Jacinda Ardern yesterday, I gave her another chance today; not a single, significant infrastructure project delivered under this Government. Health: worse. Education: worse\u2014in complete disarray. So the scramble\u2014both the lolly scramble and the egg scramble\u2014is going on. See, Grant Robertson\u2019s looking because he knows what I\u2019m saying is right, and he\u2019s got an infrastructure spend-up coming. He\u2019s going to break it\u2014he didn\u2019t want to say it when Paul Goldsmith was asking him questions before\u2014and he\u2019s getting rid of his debt responsibility laws. Another broken promise from the Labour Party\u2014and it matters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EBut here\u2019s the real kicker for Grant Robertson and his team over there: next week, they tell us that we\u2019re going to see a great big list of projects. Is that right, Grant Robertson\u2014a great big list of infrastructure; \u201CSignificant\u201D, he keeps saying. \u201CIt will be significant\u201D\u2014it will be significant. Well, it should have a label saying \u201Cbuyer beware\u201D, Grant Robertson. He know what I\u2019m saying is true, because announcements aren\u2019t delivery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EA hundred thousand houses\u2014if it was that easy, where are they? Nowhere to be seen. Light rail down Dominion Road: we\u2019re not going to see that by 2030, Grant Robertson. So because they\u2019re promises they can\u2019t meet, they\u2019re going to give us a new fake list of projects\u2014we\u2019re going to see a new fake list of projects. Well, on this side of the House, Grant Robertson, we know how to get things done. National knows how to get things done. We are going to make sure that the stuff we did in Government, we keep doing when we\u2019re back in Government. We\u2019ve got more policies than that side right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EAt the end of the second year, New Zealanders are making up their minds. They know that\u2019s a Government that can\u2019t deliver for them, that\u2019s not out for much, and National gets things done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022f3d6fdd64067470dac003a5b45add8ef\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f3d6fdd64067470dac003a5b45add8ef\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E The most revealing thing about that contribution is that a week after they made their signature policy announcement on law and order, National haven\u2019t mentioned it once in the House this week\u2014not once. Not once did you hear any National MP utter the words \u201CStrike Force Raptor\u201D\u2014not once in the House this week. It appears that fresh from selecting the country\u2019s youngest ever candidate, they\u2019ve handed over their policy development to the country\u2019s youngest ever focus group; how else do you explain Strike Force Raptor being the name of their law and order policy? I have it on good authority that the next policy that that genius focus group has come up with is an enhanced dog squad for the police; they\u2019re going to call it \u201CPaw Patrol\u201D!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s somewhat appropriate, however, that Simon Bridges is fascinated by raptors, because raptors attack from either side, and that is where Simon Bridges\u2019 attention is really, really focused at the moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EOf course, dinosaurs are a very appropriate source of inspiration for the National Party\u2019s policy development because their entire policy platform is prehistoric. I have never before in my time in this House ever seen a politician who thinks that the answer to law and order is to get police to go out and provoke crime. That\u2019s, effectively, what Simon Bridges\u2019 law and order policy is all about. The police shouldn\u2019t just solve crime; they should go out and they should provoke it. I think New Zealanders are much smarter than that. People want to have smart policing, not people wearing cartoon logos, wielding themselves around the country and provoking crime, which is what Simon Bridges is all about, although, listening to that last contribution, there is a certain likeness between Simon Bridges and another prehistoric cartoon character\u2014Fred Flintstone. I think that Simon Bridges is the New Zealand Parliament\u2019s equivalent of Fred Flintstone, which, of course, makes Paul Goldsmith Barney Rubble. He seems quite proud of that! Of course, there are other children\u2019s programmes the National Party could take inspiration from. Ghostbusters\u2014Ghostbusters. They built ghost roads, or they claim to have built ghost roads. Perhaps they should get on to the case with the Ghostbusters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EMeanwhile, on this side of the House, our Government is getting on and confronting the long-term challenges that are facing this country. We are investing in the future of New Zealand, unlike the member opposite, who couldn\u2019t find one thing to say about his own party during his contribution here. Five minutes is nowhere near long enough to get into the things that we are incredibly proud of on this side of the House. So I\u2019m just going to pick two: the huge investment this Government is making in fixing up our run-down schools up and down the country\u2014$400 million of extra funding over the weekend going into repairing the damage of at least a decade of neglect for our schools up and down the country; every State school in the country benefiting from their policy, and they are absolutely delighted about it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EThe other policy that I want to mention today, because it\u2019s one that really gets to the heart of investing in the future, is the plan we launched today around early childhood education. This is a Government that takes early childhood education seriously. We know that the investment we make in the earliest years of a child\u2019s life will pay dividends for them and for the whole country in the future. Unlike the last Government, who froze funding for early childhood education for a decade, our Government has already increased early childhood education funding, and there is more to come. We are committed to quality early childhood education, which means investing in quality teachers, qualified and trained teachers, unlike the last Government, who stopped the plan to move towards a fully qualified early childhood education workforce. Progress didn\u2019t just stall; it went backwards under that Government. We are picking up the pieces, and we\u2019re getting things back on track, because we know that early childhood education is such a significant investment in the future of this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003ESo New Zealanders have a choice: a Government that\u2019s investing in the future, that\u2019s tackling long-term challenges, or one that takes their inspiration from the dinosaurs. That is what New Zealanders will get the chance to choose from in the coming election. I am very proud of what this Government\u2019s delivering. There is a lot more to come. It\u2019s going to be a fantastic election campaign. I\u2019m feeling really good about it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u002219e92e8a6960439fbd0a48423f1504a1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002219e92e8a6960439fbd0a48423f1504a1\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Well, the Minister Chris Hipkins over there feels good about the election campaign, and so do we, because here in the National Party we\u2019re feeling like, as we go into the Christmas season, we have a lot to reflect upon. One is the fact that this Government has delivered us a slower economy, and a slower economy means fewer opportunities for Kiwis to look after themselves, their families, and to have great jobs\u2014fewer jobs are created. When this Government came in, growth was in the mid 3 percent, growing about an extra $9 billion a year. Now it\u2019s closer to 2 percent, and we heard just a couple of days ago ASB\u2019s latest prediction that they are currently forecasting per capita\u2014that\u2019s per person\u2014growth to struggle to exceed zero. Zero\u2014so not growing at all when you take into account population growth\u2014and this is at a time when New Zealand should be booming.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EJust a couple of days ago, we saw the latest terms of trade, which are the prices that we\u2019re getting for our international goods. You\u2019d have to go back to the 1950s\u2014and, actually, it\u2019s even higher than it was in the 1950s, at the high point of New Zealand\u2019s export prices. So we should be doing really well right now. We should be booming. This is a golden opportunity for this country to progress, and instead we\u2019re spluttering along because of this collapse in confidence that we\u2019ve seen under this Government, the strange priorities that they have, the lack of delivery around anything that they promised, and the wasteful spending. The only solution that Grant Robertson and Jacinda Ardern offer is distractions, like the fact that we should smoke a bit more marijuana and do all these other things\u2014and, of course, more debt. More debt is their solution, and they\u2019re prepared to break the solemn promise that they made to the people of New Zealand that they\u2019d live within their debt targets.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe other interesting thing is that they had their conference on the weekend, and one of the interesting stories that came out was that the conference booklet was an interesting one. It had 13 pictures of Jacinda Ardern and none of anybody else in the caucus. I always remember\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a624eb194341421ca9051835eab3fd98\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s good to have a leader we\u2019re proud of.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222863937c84b04243ab5a760863241814\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, well, I always remember during the Mt Albert by-election there was a sign up saying purely and simply, just one word: \u201CJacinda\u201D. It always occurred to me that anybody that allowed that sort of sign to go up on their behalf has a colossal ego. There\u2019s no doubt about it\u2014a colossal ego\u2014just to put your first name up on a hoarding sign. And here we have a party that is looking more and more like a cult of personality for Jacinda Ardern. It\u2019s amazing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ESo we\u2019ve got the 13 pictures of Jacinda. I suppose the question is: why didn\u2019t they put anybody else in? I mean, why couldn\u2019t they have Kelvin Davis in there? Why wasn\u2019t there a picture of Kelvin? They could have had a picture of Kelvin. He is the deputy leader\u2014deputy leader of the party. Of course, he is a bit of an invisible man, not available when she is not available to do her weekly media, which is quite often. Grant Robertson fills in. So Kelvin, they could have had a picture, but they didn\u2019t. They could have had a picture of him at Ihum\u0101tao. To be fair, Grant was in the side of one of the photos, but he shouldn\u2019t expect anything more than that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252c34d43b5834043965a7af31f0580b9\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: What about Iain Lees-Galloway?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f38bc600e5241aba968765c3f74e2cd\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, they could have had Lees-Galloway. They could have had a picture of Lees-Galloway sparring with Karel Sroubek, but they didn\u2019t\u2014they didn\u2019t. What about Phil Twyford? They could have had a picture of Phil Twyford beside one of the KiwiBuild houses in W\u0101naka that nobody wants to buy, or perhaps beside one of the houses which don\u2019t even meet the standards for social housing in New Zealand. Or we could have had a picture of Megan Woods down at Taranaki talking to the people of Taranaki, where she\u2019s very popular! They could have considered one of Andrew Little. He deserved at least one photo for throwing in the towel just before the election to get them over the line. The New Zealand equivalent of Corbyn should have had at least one photo in the book. The angry old man of New Zealand politics\u2014where was he?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220344e1e036384b70be7fa46c63d71768\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: What about Jamie Strange?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002272c65d2d29fd4280952842fce17b0ecb\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, there\u2019s no chance of Jamie Strange. We could have had one of Stuart Nash. What about one of Stuart Nash collecting firearms? We could have had one of those. Or we could have had Jenny Salesa vaping. We could have had a picture of her vaping, but no, there\u2019s nothing there of Jenny. There\u2019s a whole heap of other Ministers that nobody\u2019s heard of. David Clark\u2014we could have had a speech bubble with David Clark saying, \u201CNine years of neglect, nine years of neglect.\u201D That would be a good photo of David Clark, I think. Maybe Carmel Sepuloni with one of the deadbeat dads that don\u2019t have to pay for their kids any more under the welfare system. Willie Jackson\u2014we could have a picture of Willie. Poto Williams\u2014what about a picture of Poto? I think that\u2019d be good\u2014a well-deserved photo. We could, but no, we have none of that\u2014only 13 pictures of the Prime Minister, and if anything goes to show that this Government is not a team, that it\u2019s a one-person band, then that\u2019s it. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022 data-id=\u0022d37b5c0d7d8540b6ba902444cc2a70b8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d37b5c0d7d8540b6ba902444cc2a70b8\u0022\u003EHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Oh, my goodness, how much the National Party misses John Key! Remember the days of \u201CJohn Key\u2019s National Party\u201D, \u201CI\u2019m a Key person\u201D, \u201CTeam Key\u201D? No sign of the National brand; it was all John Key, back in the days when they had a popular leader, a charismatic leader that people could believe in. I know they miss him\u2014I know they miss him\u2014and I know they wish that they had someone of the quality and character of Jacinda Ardern on their side of the House. But I don\u2019t want to talk about them; I want to talk about the marvellous weekend the Labour Party had in Whanganui over the weekend, celebrating two years of action and celebrating two years of Government for the people of New Zealand. And, boy, did we have so much to celebrate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EI want to talk a little bit about what the last two years of this coalition Government have meant for my electorate of Palmerston North. Let me just talk about schools\u2014let\u2019s talk about education. The announcement was made on the weekend at the end of the Labour Party conference that every State school in the country is going to get additional money for property and maintenance. I want to talk about Cloverlea School, a decile 3 school in my electorate. They will get $239,085 towards property and maintenance for that school, instead of school donations. The principal told me the other day that they normally take about $2,000 a year in school donations, because they come from a community where people just don\u2019t have spare cash to donate towards their local school. Instead of $2,000, they will now get $45,000 from the Government. Of course, we\u2019ve made an offer to teacher-aides that, if they agree with it, if they settle, will see all teacher-aides on at least the living wage, a huge increase in support for schools like Cloverlea School, not just in my electorate but across the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EThe Provincial Growth Fund\u2014I know the National Party doesn\u2019t like the Provincial Growth Fund very much, but we\u2019re very fond of it in Palmerston North. Shane Jones came to our electorate over the recess to announce funding for the KiwiRail freight hub, a high-tech, intermodal freight hub that will grow Palmerston North\u2019s role as a critical freight distribution centre. Of course, it\u2019ll help to reduce transport emissions. It\u2019ll take the pressure off our city roads and support that growing sector of logistics, combined with, of course, the replacement road for the Manawat\u016B Gorge, something that I\u2019ve been calling for since 2011 but the National Government never saw fit to do, never saw fit to designate, never saw fit to fund. That project is now well under way as well under this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003EThe Prime Minister came to Palmerston North not so long ago to announce a $30 million replacement mental health ward to make sure that we\u2019re delivering the services that people in need require. Housing: National\u2014in Palmerston North, State houses got torn down. State houses got torn down, and the land was left completely empty. We\u2019ve, in the last two years, had the first new purpose-built State house in Palmerston North for 25 years. We\u2019re building more State houses, and there is a plan to add 105 additional State houses to the stock in my electorate. That is a Government of action. That is a Government of delivery for New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003ECompare that with the National Party. What was their big announcement over the recess? Strike Force Raptor\u2014raa! I want to know where this came from. I want to know what inspired Simon Bridges to roll out Strike Force Raptor. I think he was going to his happy place when he was a wee lad: little Simon sitting on the living room floor watching Transformers. He\u2019s watching Transformers, and he saw the Dinobots on Transformers: Grimlock, Swoop, Slag, Sludge, and Snarl. Now, normally, we say which members of the National Party we think those characters represent, but I\u2019m just not going there. I\u2019m not that brave. But I have to say, what were they? They were a rogue strike force that would go out and beat up the Decepticon gang. They\u2019d go and cause lots of grief for the opposition, but they had a tendency to attack their own accidentally. I have to say, that\u2019s what this policy has done to the National Party. Did we hear Simon Bridges talk about Strike Force Raptor during his speech? No, we did not. Did we hear Paul Goldsmith talk about it? No, we did not. This policy has bitten National in the bum, and if there\u2019s anything I\u2019ve learnt from Jurassic Park, it\u2019s that when a raptor bites you in the bum, it\u2019s probably terminal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003ESo, I have to say, it\u2019s clear as we go into the election year that this country has had a coalition Government of action, delivering for everybody in New Zealand, and the alternative is a party of dinosaurs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022 data-id=\u0022ad099c0e790642deaaec6f7e754bdce7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ad099c0e790642deaaec6f7e754bdce7\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (National\u2014Taup\u014D):\u003C/span\u003E It is December, and, of course, we are heading into the silly season. I think that speech just said it all\u2014quite embarrassing, quite tragic. Yeah, absolutely, the silly season may be here, but also I would\u2019ve thought that there\u2019s still the opportunity for speakers to do well in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EBut it\u2019s also, in the silly season, time for people to be considering\u2014and perhaps the Prime Minister to be considering\u2014who\u2019s on the naughty and who\u2019s on the nice list. Actually, I think she\u2019ll be struggling to find any Ministers that are actually delivering what the Government has promised, because as we\u2019ve heard today, the Government\u2019s out there furiously announcing stuff. Announcement does not equal delivery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EI want to specifically focus on the area of social development, because one of the Ministers who\u2019s clearly not going to be the pick of the list for the Prime Minister is the Minister for Social Development, Carmel Sepuloni, because not only has she failed to deliver improvements for some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders in our communities; actually, she\u2019s made their lives worse. How do we know that? Because the results speak for themselves: 22,000 extra people on jobseeker benefit, and, unfortunately, nearly half of them are M\u0101ori. This is a Government who talked up about delivering for M\u0101ori, about delivering for our most vulnerable, and guess what? The results for them have got worse. If you look at the Ministry of Social Development\u2019s annual report and their impact indicators, nearly every single one is going in the wrong direction. All three employment indicators are going in the wrong direction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EBut I want to speak specifically about young people who are unemployed, because, actually, I think if there\u2019s any crime in this country, it is not giving young people opportunities. Under this Government\u2014oh, actually, they have delivered something: they\u2019ve delivered 5,500 more young people on to the dole. That is outrageous. That is absolutely outrageous, and you want to compare it to the previous Government? We tried different things, we worked incredibly hard, and we got 1,500 young people into jobs\u2014into jobs means they\u2019re in the driving seat of their lives. They have the opportunity to take home a pay packet each and every week. It gives them opportunities in life. That side\u2014yep, they\u2019ve all got their heads down, because they know what I\u2019m saying is right. This Government is failing to deliver for vulnerable New Zealanders. They are breaking their promises around making lives for vulnerable New Zealanders better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EMana in Mahi: the Prime Minister announces it to great aplomb in August 2018; 4,000 places\u2014oh, no, it\u2019s not 4,000 places; it\u2019s 2,000 places. Oh, and by the way, that\u2019s in 2023. So, actually, the number of young people who have become unemployed under this Government\u2019s watch in only two years is nearly three times the number of places that they\u2019re offering for Mana in Mahi. But what did we find out today in the annual review? Oh, guess what? They\u2019re not recording what happens to those young people. They\u2019re not recording whether they go into training, they\u2019re not recording if they are going back into education, because guess what? They don\u2019t care. They actually don\u2019t care. They want to make these announcements, they then have no plan and no action to back it up, and what does that mean: every single time, failing to deliver for vulnerable New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EYoung New Zealanders under the age of 25 actually deserve a job, and under National, when 10,000 jobs a month were being created in this economy, they had that opportunity. Unfortunately, with this Government\u2014Greens, New Zealand First, Labour\u2014they are failing to deliver employment opportunities for young New Zealanders. Interesting: the Prime Minister again makes the statement: 263 employment specialist case managers\u2014oh, but, actually, no, we heard today there are only 170. So not only is the announcement wrong; the facts are wrong, and that\u2019s another broken promise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EBut I want you to focus, for those who are watching this debate\u2014I want you to focus on the lives of the people that matter the most to us, because, actually, they\u2019re the ones that are being ripped out and ripped off from opportunities that this Government should be and said they would be delivering and aren\u2019t delivering, because this Government is breaking their promises\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286d7f15e2cd94762a51f557434f13e88\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=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022 data-id=\u002256057aa780fe41e480233ded4e276ac2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002256057aa780fe41e480233ded4e276ac2\u0022\u003EHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour\u2014Ikaroa-R\u0101whiti):\u003C/span\u003E M\u0101ori are pleased that this Government, a Labour-led Government, is delivering to their people throughout the country. They have achieved more under this Government in two years than they ever have under that lot for nine years. I\u2019m proud to belong to a party that puts people, particularly M\u0101ori people, before politics. We\u2019ve taken on the big challenges. We\u2019ve taken on the big challenge to address the big, long-term issues that that side neglected, and M\u0101ori were neglected under the National Government. M\u0101ori and Pasifika were neglected under that Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EBut let\u2019s talk about the policies. Let\u2019s talk about the gains that we have seen under this coalition Government. Let\u2019s talk about the billion-dollar targeted Budget in Budget 2018-19, the largest targeted Budget that any Government has committed to delivering wins for M\u0101ori. Let\u2019s talk about that. Let\u2019s talk about this year\u2019s announcement to teach history in New Zealand schools. Let\u2019s talk about that and the impact that\u2019s having throughout the motu, with iwi excited that this Government believes that we\u2019ve got to set our record right. That\u2019s what the Prime Minister talked about today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThere was the previous speaker, Louise Upston, that talked about neglect of unemployment. I can say that under the Minister Willie Jackson, the M\u0101ori unemployment rate has been one of the lowest in the last 10 years, sitting at 8 percent. So where does she come from, saying that we\u2019re not delivering employment to M\u0101ori?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EOf course, our commitment to having one million speakers of Te Reo by 2040 is huge. The contribution that we\u2019ve made in terms of the k\u014Dhanga reo movement and $30 million is, again, addressing a real need in our language nest that is trailblazing the return of our language here in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EI want to also talk about H\u014Dkai Rangi, which is Minister Kelvin Davis\u2019 commitment strategy of breaking the cycle of reoffending and imprisonment. I want to talk about the $156 million unlocking the potential of M\u0101ori whenua that Minister Mahuta is leading around the motu and in my electorate, Ikaroa-R\u0101whiti, where 30 percent of M\u0101ori freehold land resides. That is a huge acknowledgment of the economic potential of utilising M\u0101ori land, and that\u2019s what this Government\u2019s about. It is about language, it is about land, and it\u2019s about telling our history, but it\u2019s also about acknowledging the economic potential that sits with M\u0101ori and M\u0101ori land and M\u0101ori land trusts. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EIt is exciting to be part of a Government that is doing this delivery here. Of course, also, we saw in this House the official Rua K\u0113nana Pardon Bill. That is huge for the people in Rua K\u0113nana\u2019s wh\u0101nau from T\u016Bhoe\u2014an amazing piece of work that we are doing here. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EOf course we\u2019re talking about suicide and mental health commitment\u2014$12 million towards M\u0101ori and Pacific suicide prevention. There isn\u2019t a community across our M\u0101ori electorates where suicide isn\u2019t a big issue. The mental health commitment of this Government and the contribution of over $2 billion in mental health services is a serious contribution and investment by this Government, and I know M\u0101ori communities and Pacific communities are going to benefit by that policy announcement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EOf course we\u2019ve stopped selling State houses. Housing shortages are a big issue throughout our electorates, and this Government is working with M\u0101ori land owners around papak\u0101inga, around building more social and State houses. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EIt is exciting to be part of a Government that is delivering gains and wins for M\u0101ori. Of course there\u2019s the wardens\u2014there\u2019s the wardens. We\u2019re recognising the significance of the M\u0101ori Wardens\u2019 institutions in this Government, and so we\u2019re investing money in our wardens. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003ELanguage, wardens, land, housing\u2014we\u2019ve done it all, but there\u2019s more to do. There\u2019s more to do. This is two years. This is merely two years\u2014a half a billion dollars of targeted funding towards M\u0101ori initiatives. These are the gains that we\u2019ve seen in the last two years, but there\u2019s much more to come. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s much more to come, and I want to acknowledge the hard work of the M\u0101ori Ministers that go in to bat on behalf of our communities. I want to acknowledge the hard-working and aspiring leadership of our Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, who is leading by example. She is leading an inclusive Government, a fair Government, and a Government that\u2019s delivering and that is listening to the needs of our community. It\u2019s a great time to be part of this Government, and I look forward to the next year\u2014and also to when we win in 2020\u2014to deliver more gains for M\u0101ori. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022 data-id=\u0022d696f6a4c01949ef82ac4d58ee59fe1f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d696f6a4c01949ef82ac4d58ee59fe1f\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel):\u003C/span\u003E There is an obvious sign of abject fear and panic on the Government side of the House, and we\u2019ve seen that today. They think that the process of delivering is just talking faster and louder. Talking faster and louder is their response to actually delivering anything. Well, I\u2019ll tell you what, the public and people of New Zealand can see through it. They know there has been no delivery, and they know that this is a Government that likes to talk big but delivers very little, if anything at all. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EOne of the strange things is that occasionally when the Government does try and do something, perverse outcomes occur. So a year or so ago, they announced that they were going to make a compulsory ban on the issuing of supermarket single-use plastic bags, and there was a whole lot of debate about that. There was a whole lot of discussion about it. Some people liked the idea; some people didn\u2019t. Interestingly enough, about 75 percent of plastic bags at supermarkets were being phased out already by a voluntary programme introduced by the previous Government, and other retailers would have done it. But no, this is a Government that likes to ban things. When you ban things, perverse outcomes sometimes occur, and in plastic bags, we\u2019ve seen a very good example of that having occurred. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve had in my inbox some information and some data from a very credible source: nothing less than an outfit called Information Resources Inc. (IRI). They are the market-edge grocery survey people who provide data and information to the grocery and supermarket operators of the country, and they provide information about which products are selling and which products are moving fast, and which ones aren\u2019t. In their report from September of this year, just two months after the supermarket plastic bag ban was in place, IRI reported that unit growth in what\u2019s referred to as general merchandise\u2014which is largely made up of, amongst other things, reusable plastic bags\u2014was up a whopping 489 percent. So what\u2019s happened is that instead of taking your single-use plastic bag and reusing it in your waste bin or something like that, people have decided to buy plastic bags instead\u2014heavier-grade plastic bags. Many people have done that, and the supermarkets have gained. The IRI report indicates a massive growth in revenue as a result of this\u2014some 118 percent growth in revenue on the sale of plastic bags. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESo here\u2019s a Government that forces a compulsory ban on single-use plastic bags, and then the supermarkets think, \u201CThis is very, very good news, because no longer do we have to provide something at a cost to our business for free for our customers, and, instead, what will happen is that our customers will, in turn, buy something from the supermarket at a profit, at a margin, and that will increase the sales that the supermarket makes.\u201D It\u2019s a perfect business model for supermarkets. It does absolutely nothing for the greater good of our environment. In fact, arguably, it makes things worse, because the bags that are being purchased\u2014a nearly 500 percent increase in the amount of plastic bags being purchased and sold through supermarkets\u2014eventually, of course, end up in landfill. They\u2019re heavier-grade bags, and they cause more harm than what has been provided in the past. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESo this is the kind of perverse outcome when an ideological approach is taken rather than a science-based approach to environmental matters. But this is a Government that likes to ban things, likes to tax things, and likes to make things compulsory. That is their go-to position on almost every policy matter. Ban it, tax it, or make it compulsory\u2014those are really the only three policy options or initiatives that they take on any matter. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EYou\u2019ll remember, members, that this was a Government that promised to do a whole lot of things, including putting a royalty on the export of bottled water. Have we heard anything about that lately? Not a jot. They said that they were going to get young people without jobs working on cleaning up the country\u2019s waterways. Has any of that occurred? Not a single piece. They promised to introduce programmes to reduce waste going to landfill. What have they done? Set up a working group\u2014set up a working group\u2014and that\u2019s about it. Then, they\u2019re going to put a tax on tipping: so going from $10 a tonne up to maybe $60 a tonne\u2014a tax on tipping that will just mean more fly-dumping in electorates like mine, around the Coromandel. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESo perverse outcomes come from a Government that likes to talk a big game but actually deliver very little, and when they do deliver, perverse outcomes are achieved. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022 data-id=\u00222cd7ecd8b9e84830a09e717aac5d75ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222cd7ecd8b9e84830a09e717aac5d75ed\u0022\u003EGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. How good it is to stand up and be part of a Government that\u2019s here for the long haul\u2014looking 30 years ahead, not just three years ahead\u2014and a Government that does a bit more than window dressing. What we see a lot over this side of the House is an Opposition that talks big, that takes a photo and does nothing. I see that every day\u2014I see that every day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EWhen I look in my own backyard, in terms of Hutt Valley, I see the huge investment in schools that will change New Zealanders\u2019 lives for the future. I\u2019m proud to see that. Let\u2019s just talk about a couple of those: Arakura School, in desperate need of repair, $113,000; Eastern Hutt School, $400,000; Hutt Intermediate, $400,000; Hutt Valley High School, $400,000\u2014been leaking for a while, that one\u2014Maungaraki School, $247,000; Wainuiomata High School, $400,000, on top of a complete rebuild; Wainuiomata Intermediate School, $208,000. I could go on, but I have more to say in other areas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EThis is a Government that is investing in the future of our children and putting money into classrooms so children have warm, dry, fun learning environments to go to every day. Those teachers and those parents and those children know that that is happening. So it\u2019s all very well being a local member of Parliament and turning up for a cup of tea and a bickie, but that\u2019s no good if the classrooms are leaking and the kids aren\u2019t there to learn and enjoy themselves. So that was schools.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to move on to housing. We\u2019ve had some chronic issues in terms of a housing crisis, particularly in the Hutt Valley. While there has been absolutely no action under the previous Government, we have brand new State houses opening in the Whites Line East road in the Hutt Valley. We have a significant development of 160 units going into \u0112puni, with State houses and affordable homes. Just recently, we have a new announcement for transitional housing to get families out of motels.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EWhat I have been really astounded to see is that the local member of Parliament, Chris Bishop, is objecting to getting people out of motels. The local member is actually taking a stance. I\u2019d like to quote that local member in a recent post back in August when he took a strong stance against the housing crisis. He said that \u201CHousing in the Hutt is a disaster, and [it\u2019s] getting worse, but it doesn\u2019t have to be this way \u2026 I\u2019ve tried to outline some solutions. Some will be led by government, a lot by Council. Some require political courage and community buy-in.\u201D Well, I ask: where is that political courage? He goes on to say that \u201Cif we carry on the way we are, then housing will continue to become more unaffordable, more people will be locked out of home ownership, and homelessness will become entrenched in [the] community.\u201D We must fix this problem. Well, I ask: where is the political motivation and strength to have courage in this area and try and get families out of motels, families out of cars, families out of garages, and provide warm, dry homes and warm, dry schools for them to be educated in every day?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EThis goes to the point that the Opposition is a Government that is focused on taking a photo, making it look pretty in the paper, making it look good on Facebook, but in reality, where is the money, where is the commitment, and where is that gut feeling of being able to come forward and represent the needs of your community? I tell you: it is non-existent. It\u2019s all very well to front up and take a photo with a baby and say you\u2019re the champion of maternity health, but where was that spirit in 10 years of under-investment in our maternity services, where our midwives were run into the ground and people weren\u2019t paid enough? They work long, hard hours. Where was that member when a public meeting was called on the state of maternity services in the Hutt Valley? Non-existent\u2014at a Christmas fair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI say that it\u2019s about time the people of Hutt Valley were represented by someone who actually cared, someone who actually represented the interests of people, someone who actually tried hard to give them a house, a school, and a hospital that\u2019s funded enough to service women, children, and families. Until that day comes, I feel that the people of the Hutt Valley are not well served.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EIt is about time that this Government took full advantage of the fact that we are investing in the future of our children. We are investing in the future, and we are not taking cheap photos and making it look pretty when, in reality, this is a Government that\u2019s committed to tackling the big issues. That is exactly what we are doing by giving families more money in their pockets each day, by giving children good schools, by giving our families homes. I am proud to be part of a Government that puts that forward. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022 data-id=\u0022d938226246a4403681a5edf1cf2dd4bb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d938226246a4403681a5edf1cf2dd4bb\u0022\u003EHon JACQUI DEAN (National\u2014Waitaki):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s always good at this time of year to reflect on the parliamentary year\u2014in this case, parliamentary couple of years\u2014and really cast our sights on the Government of the day. In my case, I wish to make a few reflections and comments around the local government sector, about which much has been promised by Minister Nanaia Mahuta over the past couple of years. In particular, Minister Mahuta inherited a programme called the Three Waters Review, which arose, as we all know, out of the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak, which, sadly, involved many thousands of people, with several deaths. So the incoming Government received the second report, and out of that they formed their policy platform. I think it\u2019s good to review now, over two years later, what the Government has actually achieved in the realm of the Three Waters Review.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EWell, the signs were there in the early and mid-1980s. The Minister had made a trip to Scotland and Ireland and England to have a look at how those countries organised their water service delivery in particular, and came back. A speech the Minister made to the water summit in mid-2018 gave us the early signs of what this Government was thinking. She said that she \u201Crecommended aggregated, dedicated water providers, and this is something\u201D\u2014said the Minister\u2014\u201Cwe are exploring.\u201D She went on to say that \u201CThere are a range of different options within this proposal,\u201D and \u201CWe also need to investigate the full range of ways that we can ensure that local authorities and communities continue to be involved in whatever model we choose.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003EThat really begs the question\u2014back in May of last year\u2014well, is it a done deal? Is this Government going to choose? Is it going to be aggregated water services\u2014which is really code for council amalgamation\u2014and is it going to be compulsory? I note that at the time, the Minister, when asked, did not rule out that there would be compulsory aggregation of water services. She then went on to say \u201CA critical part of \u2026 successful change will be [determined on] how local government continues to be involved in the governance of water assets,\u201D. So what did that mean? Did that mean that councils were going to be taken out of the picture altogether? Well, no wonder that local authorities around New Zealand and the peak body, Local Government New Zealand, became very concerned about the signalling from Nanaia Mahuta. But no fear\u2014no real action, just a lot of talk so far.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003ESo then a bit further on in the year, about a year later, the language was changing. With regards to amalgamation, progress with service delivery work\u2014of course, announcing is not delivering. The Government doesn\u2019t seem to have figured that one out. Announcing something will happen doesn\u2019t actually mean that they\u2019ve achieved anything.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247e61c378825499f938dc7e84da633e7\u0022\u003EHon Shane Jones\u003C/span\u003E: Very nasty. Petty\u2014petty.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de5d8ea243c241979522577a48b97427\u0022\u003EHon JACQUI DEAN\u003C/span\u003E: He may think it\u2019s nasty, but it\u2019s the truth. So in the notes here, the local government sector has more serious concerns about the possibility of aggregating water services. Well, really? That was hard to see coming, Minister. Her advice goes on to say \u201CLocal body elections are being held later this year. There is some anxiety around the three waters work, which may come through during election campaigning.\u201D, which is code from officials to say, \u201CBack away, back away.\u201D They don\u2019t like it; it might hurt the Government. So how has the Minister\u2019s language changed now?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003ESo at her latest speech on 21 November to the rural and provincial sector, the Minister says that extensive progress has been made in recommendation with the inquiry. Well, isn\u2019t that good? Then she goes on to say \u201CWe put into place a number of things.\u201D, but saying what they\u2019re going to do doesn\u2019t mean they have done it. In this year of delivery, I am struggling\u2014really struggling\u2014to find one thing that this Minister of Local Government has done to achieve anything for the sector, apart from completely upset the local government sector with the spectre of forced amalgamation placed in front of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003ENow, from what I can see, the Minister is skiting about, and very proud of, the fact that there is going to be an independent regulator. That\u2019s one thing; hasn\u2019t happened yet, so not too excited about that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003ESo achievement: zero; achievement, zero\u2014[Time 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=\u002241e42f9747f34b4fbfc4c4097cb4754b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002241e42f9747f34b4fbfc4c4097cb4754b\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (Minister for Infrastructure):\u003C/span\u003E I follow the member from the South Island, Jacqui Dean, who distinguished herself as the Minister for Small Business under the former regime where businesses shrunk. She took a very literal approach to her role. She also was the Minister of consumer affairs where consumers\u2019 level of disgruntlement grew.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EBut I want to talk about a very important announcement that the Government was able to celebrate earlier this week. It pertains to the Taip\u0101 Bridge\u2014a key part of infrastructure that was delivered as a consequence of my leader\u2019s advocacy in the successful by-election campaign of 2014. Prior to that, there were no bridges being thought about by members on the other side of the House. The Rt Hon Winston Peters stood in every village hall and every marae and every street corner, successfully beat the National candidate, and scared the members on the other side of the House into making commitments. Unfortunately, there was no money. We arrived and the Taip\u0101 Bridge was delivered.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EIn fact, I feel the need to share a story. The M\u0101ori word for a bridge or bridges is arawhata. The M\u0101ori word for bridges with trolls underneath them is called Christopher Luxon. Now, that man, his kaupapa or his type of arrival, is called Grabaseat: Christopher \u201CGrabaseat\u201D Luxon, any seat will do. Now, of course, when the man arrives in Parliament, subject to the will of the people, whose seat is he really after? He no doubt is trolling the current National leader. In fact, occasionally I feel a little bit of aroha for Simon Bridges. He\u2019s inappropriately named because he can\u2019t bring the two sides together as they are constantly tearing and whispering and gossiping and spreading ill-humour amongst themselves; something I\u2019m totally a stranger to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EAs I announced that bridge announcement, I was called in M\u0101ori something akin to the big billy goat gruff of provincial New Zealand: swiping away all the trolls who seek to undermine our party\u2014who are spreading gossip, spreading half-baked specious stories\u2014swiping away the critics. Many critics are on the other side, but they\u2019re driven by jealously and envy. They are privately telling their supporters, of course, in the event\u2014highly unlikely\u2014that the benches of Treasury are restored to them by the electorate, that they will keep this far-sighted, very popular, and well-executed policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EI want to carry on a wee bit more about other good work that I\u2019ve been doing. I, on behalf of the Government, have fought the fight to protect the term m\u0101nuka honey. Now, that is something that\u2019s extremely important to all of our regions. Now, the Aussies\u2014and I have to acknowledge that they do believe the term m\u0101nuka belongs to them. But I would say, for the nine years of the last regime, they did nothing\u2014not a single thing\u2014to stand up for the provenance, the equity in these particularly New Zealand - distinctive brand terms. We have delivered the money. We have helped to do research of a scientific character. From time to time, I\u2019m capable of being scientific. I know a great deal about the biological and I\u2019ve practised it immensely well in my life. They\u2019ve done nothing; not a single thing. And we are going to deliver on this question. I said to the Ng\u0101i Tahu people that I don\u2019t want any situations where iwis are going in all different directions. They\u2019ve written a letter saying they support the kaupapa. That\u2019s firm, clear leadership.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EThe final thing I want to talk about is the forestry sector. As you know, there has been some white water around the waka conveying the seeds of the billion trees strategy. We are working with those representatives from the farming community. We only want to deal with facts, but we also want to open up new areas that ought to be converted from farming where the land ought to go back into trees\u2014not to displace good, prosperous enterprises but to ensure that we get the right balance, because farmers are entitled to expect us to be willing to change our ways if our original decisions and the execution don\u2019t quite deliver. A key part of that is the blue highway. If I have my way, we\u2019re dotting infrastructure around the countryside for wharves. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u0022fa79b5036447441bb3d3d1a183c66081\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fa79b5036447441bb3d3d1a183c66081\u0022\u003ECHRIS PENK (National\u2014Helensville):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Well, 2019 cannot be the year of delivery, because we\u2019re already in the start of December. At the very best, it could be the month of delivery, but they\u2019re going to need to get on with it\u2014the Government. They\u2019re going to need to put themselves into urgency to achieve that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EIn the courts portfolio, the biggest single item in terms of a broken promise or a missed opportunity or a failure to deliver comes in the realm of alcohol and other drug treatment courts. We\u2019ve had more than two years of this Government. We\u2019ve got less than one year left of this Government, but the most significant time frame, actually, in relation to the alcohol and other drug treatment courts is June 2020, because that\u2019s the date that the funding for this pilot runs out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EA bit of background: the court was established under the last Government, was universally popular within the sector, as far as we can tell, and enjoys broad political support. Certainly, positive noises have been made from colleagues on both sides of the House. That much is a very good thing, but we\u2019ve yet to see that translate into support for the courts in any tangible way beyond the end of the pilot in June of next year. So, actually, given the great Kiwi shutdown that\u2019s about to occur, we\u2019ll lose a month. So between now and June 2020, when the current funding runs out, we\u2019re really on a six-month period for that to happen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EWe keep hearing that at some point it\u2019ll come: the announcement that there will be some certainty for a sector that desperately needs it\u2014both those accessing the services and those providing them. \u201CIt\u2019s coming\u201D, they say, \u201CIt\u2019s coming\u201D. Well, it\u2019s December of 2019. Christmas is coming too, but we don\u2019t yet know if we\u2019re ever going to get the certainty that the sector needs, because we\u2019re running out of runway, so to speak, ahead of June of next year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EJust to take a step back and understand the value of the alcohol and other drug treatment courts, they were set up, as I say, under the last National Government. I acknowledge not only those involved in the political realm but, in doing so, particularly those in the sector. Judge Tremewan, for example, based in Wait\u0101kere, and others on the judicial side of things\u2014the lawyers, the police, the service providers, and the young people, and, actually, sometimes older New Zealanders, too involved in the programme\u2014have been doing wonderful things to turn around lives that have been troubled\u2014yes, with a brush with the law; that\u2019s why they\u2019re in the court system in the first place\u2014but the acknowledgement is that the underlying cause or a major factor in the offending was addiction to some sort of illicit substance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003ESo what happens is that we have an opportunity through the courts, through a particular sentencing mechanism, for the help to be provided. It\u2019s rehabilitation, it\u2019s very holistic, but it does tackle or address\u2014I\u2019ll use a slightly less confrontational metaphor\u2014the underlying issues that relate to that substance abuse. Stepping back further than that even\u2014sometimes aspects of a person\u2019s life that might have somewhat gone off the rails and caused them to be in a difficult place such that they are offending in the first place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003ESo these are very worthwhile endeavours. These are very worthwhile objects and aims. They\u2019ve been doing really wonderful things. I myself have had the opportunity to view that sitting in the courtroom and seeing the way that the judges and the other key players involved expertly handle these people coming before them\u2014and they are people and they\u2019re addressed as such and they\u2019re regarded very much in that way. I\u2019ve attended the graduation, along with the family and wh\u0101nau and friends and wider circle, of these people who have come out the other side of these programmes. They are demanding programmes. They\u2019re not an easy ride. They\u2019re not some sort of short cut; some sort of a \u201Cget out of jail free\u201D card\u2014pardon the pun. But they do actually allow\u2014they are a \u201Cget out of jail free card\u201D, I suppose, but in a way that, actually, is very constructive and doesn\u2019t undermine any of the principles of our justice system, because it is helping to keep New Zealanders safe, to have fewer people going out there causing mischief and also causing mischief to themselves and those nearest and dearest.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003ESo why, then, are we in December of the year before the programme runs out, essentially\u2014and we\u2019re hearing in the annual review at the Justice Committee, when officials come in there, and they give very professional answers; they\u2019re giving answers in line with their mandate and is allowed by Government policy, but they\u2019re making noises as though to say the Government will soon be in a position to announce the results of the evaluation, an evaluation that\u2019s been held for months, now since July. We haven\u2019t had a copy. We\u2019ve had it requested, but we\u2019re certain that it will show good things have been done. And, yes, it is costly. Yes, this kind of thing is going to be a drain on Government resources, but it is worthwhile, and I urge the Government to get on and at least deliver something in this space before the year is out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022 data-id=\u0022f3b14d50670e45bb8641271f832e7072\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f3b14d50670e45bb8641271f832e7072\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E What a delight to be able to close out this general debate this week, and it\u2019s a delight because, do you know what, this side of the House is delivering for New Zealanders. This side of the House is delivering for kids. This side of the House is delivering for rural and regional New Zealand. I want to make a few remarks about, I guess, why we are feeling so upbeat. On this side of the House, we\u2019re feeling pretty damn upbeat because I think for most of us, when we came into this House, we came in with a real purpose and a passion to make transformational change for those people that had been long forgotten by those folk who sit there in the Opposition benches. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ENow, there\u2019s a reason I didn\u2019t become an artist. There\u2019s a reason I didn\u2019t become an artist, but I do want to show you the mighty East Coast. It\u2019s an area\u2014OK, it\u2019s not a great picture, but I drew it myself. But I had to draw this picture for myself, because when I look at a place like this, the East Coast, geographically it\u2019s a really dispersed area. And you know what? Under the last lot, I remember just thinking year upon year how we were never at the focus, at the centre, under their gaze. So when I come and look at what this side of the House has achieved for little electorates\u2014well, pretty large electorates, but great electorates like mine in the East Coast\u2014I want to talk about the investment that we are making in our kids and in our schools. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EI want to thank the Hon Chris Hipkins, because he\u2019s sitting in this House right now. He just made the big call to invest $400 million into up-doing the capital infrastructure of our schools. But $12 million of that is being invested into my wee electorate in the East Coast. We have over 18,000 students. There are 90 schools in the East Coast electorate, and I\u2019m going to take you on a little trip around my very, very fantastic drawing that I\u2019ve done here. I\u2019m going to start over in Murupara. Murupara was a town that that lot neglected for far too long; $210 million is going into the local school there to up-do their buildings. Let\u2019s come along over to Edgecumbe. Edgecumbe has just been flooded. These guys, they came in for a few photographs, but then they kind of left it behind. Well, my Minister of Education, he\u2019s investing $150,000 into the college. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s come along a little bit further into Whakat\u0101ne. Allandale School: I know Drew Manning will be watching the speech with glee because those buildings there at Allandale School, they\u2019re a little worse for wear in some corners. Well, Allandale School, a wee decile 2, they\u2019re going to get $250,000 of capital investment. Let\u2019s come along up the coast a little bit: \u014Cp\u014Dtiki College, $228,000. Let\u2019s go over\u2014oh, we\u2019re going to flip back to Kawerau, $291,000. We\u2019ll go up the coast, Horouta W\u0101nanga, $118,000; Tologa Bay, $162,000; Te Teko Primary School, where my daughter will go, $127,000 investment for that school. Look, the list goes on and on and on, so I don\u2019t want to take all my time with all of my fantastic goals, but watch an announcement for small rural provincial towns and communities like ours.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EBut let me turn to another ray of sunshine in the Hon Minister Shane Jones. Well, when he comes to the East Coast, sometimes it\u2019s good, sometimes it\u2019s not. Don\u2019t talk about Wharek\u0101hika this week, Minister Jones, or a few other folks. But what I can say is that because of the collaboration on this side of the House, we are focusing on investing in our regional economies. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ENow, I want to talk about what the East Coast has received under this side of the House. All right, from the Provincial Growth Fund alone, it\u2019s about $200 million, just over. But that means nothing to laypeople sitting at home, OK\u2014big number, big numbers. Well, I want to talk to you in real terms what it means. All right, so most of us who work there, we have four-wheel drive trucks because we can\u2019t even get around the coastal roads. What you see all up and down our coastal roads right now is, because there\u2019s been over $10 million in investment back into our rural roading, well, we\u2019ve got roadworks everywhere\u2014the first time in ages. Over $200 million dollars has been committed to those regional and rural roads, and it stimulates our regional economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s go to a little place called Waiap\u016B\u2014$5 million has been invested into the river catchments up there. Minginui, again, another little place long lost and forgotten over there: over $5 million for a nursery development. Te Kaha, irrigation scheme\u2014$13 million stimulating that regional economy. Come down to \u014Cp\u014Dtiki\u2014$20 million in aquaculture. And may I say there just may be more around the corner. Who knows? Who knows? And it is the same down in Whakat\u0101ne. This is a Government that is delivering for rural and provincial New Zealand, and I\u2019m incredibly proud of what we are doing to rebuild Aotearoa New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003EThe debate having concluded, the motion lapsed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227d07176903274d11a5473d07ee39b4c4\u0022\u003EElection Access Fund Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00223b199ce61d9b45fa93125739457f17ac\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u002287281cb4013941748ada507556888169\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002287281cb4013941748ada507556888169\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Green):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Election Access Fund Bill be now read a second time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003ET\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te M\u0101ngai. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e Te Whare. This is a great day for democracy, for evening the playing field. When this bill passes its final hurdle in months to come, it will ensure that no future political candidate with disability will have to internalise the costs of barriers that society places in front of them through design or systemic neglect. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI want to thank the Governance and Administration Committee, that being a rather extensive list. The committee throughout was former chair Brett Hudson, chair Dr Jian Yang, Ginny Andersen, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, the Hon Jacqui Dean, Paul Eagle, the Hon Peeni Henare, and former members, of course, Raymond Huo, Jamie Strange, and Lawrence Yule. I want to thank all of them for the mammoth effort in working with me to knock this bill into the most robust and workable law possible. And the party spokespeople on disability and on electoral law reform on all sides who have collaborated to bring this forward with its unanimous support in the House today\u2014over the last year of that journey, it\u2019s included but not been limited to the Hon Carmel Sepuloni, the Hon Ruth Dyson, the Hon Poto Williams, the Hon Tracey Martin, the Hon Dr Nick Smith, the Hon Nicky Wagner, Dr Shane Reti, and David Seymour.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EThank you to the Office of the Clerk who went above and beyond to help facilitate an inclusive and accessible process in very practical terms. That meant the first entirely truly accessible select committee process that this Parliament has ever seen. It\u2019s a bit mind-blowing that it took that long, but, nonetheless, with the help of disability advocates and services that meant New Zealand Sign Language explainers, easy-read documents, translation services, and, with the permission of the Governance and Administration Committee, extended times for submitters with certain barriers to communication. Also, I want to thank the flexibility of the Business Committee to accommodate this bill as the first members\u2019 order of the day for timing, certainty, and for New Zealand Sign Language interpreters. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EThis Election Access Fund Bill began in the mind of Mojo Mathers, its original author. Mojo came into Parliament as an advocate for animal welfare and for water quality as a Green MP. But she also happened to be the first member of Parliament with profound deafness. Her representation of those characteristics in this place often meant that when people spoke about her, they precluded her political contributions with those characteristics. Mojo was an incredible politician and she also had profound deafness. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EWhen politicians talk about any demographic grouping, we tend to generalise, whether that\u2019s intentionally or unintentionally. For example, when we\u2019re talking about young people, middle-aged people, parents, those without children, the rainbow community, whomever\u2014often we frame most people in relation to the dominant power group. We \u201Cother\u201D them consciously or not. But no demographic is homogenous. It would be a mistake to call all millennials liberal lefties as much as it would be a mistake to call all baby boomers conservatives. Each of us have unique life experiences that help shape us much more than what can seem to some as flippant or arbitrary external categorisation features. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EWhen we\u2019re talking about removing barriers so that the Deaf and disabled community can engage equitably in our democracy, we are talking about removing barriers that exist for any citizen who may find themselves disabled by a system that is not designed with their participation in mind. This legislation is an intentional step forward to levelling the playing field. It establishes the Election Access Fund administered by the neutral, independent Electoral Commission. The fund could be used by any disabled candidate to cover the disability-related costs of standing in a general election. These candidates would access that fund by way of an application and that would apply throughout their journey as a candidate from the moment that they showcase that intention to selection meetings and throughout the campaign trail. Some have suggested that the eligibility for the fund should only apply during that three-month regulated period closest to the election, but I would state that that entirely misses the point, actually, because the point of this fund is to remove barriers that other candidates simply do not face. It doesn\u2019t give anybody an advantage; it simply levels the playing field.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI want to thank the Governance and Administration Committee again for their work through these minutiae of the bill and the fund\u2019s operation. They also made recommendations that were accepted unanimously across all parties that will see the fund available for by-elections. Whilst there was much discussion and, I inferred, a general preference to see the fund extended to local body elections, it was, unfortunately, too much to contemplate within the narrow scope of a member\u2019s bill, because it would involve changes to the current administration of local government elections, which are governed by different legislation than our general elections and by-elections.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EThere was also a move to deepen, albeit narrow, the focus solely to the path of candidates, removing the ability, unfortunately, of NGOs and political parties to apply for resources from the Election Access Fund. But that was an important part of building that unanimity and making sure here that there is an ease of application, of facilitation, and for the review of efficacy of the fund. I hope that the eventual success of this fund in its operation will illustrate the importance of a completely barrier-free election, a stream of work which I anticipate there is an appetite for from across this Chamber. I definitely felt and heard comments of that sort from the select committee process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EAdvice from the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Justice through the select committee process made clear the huge workload to facilitate this upcoming general election and the associated referendums or referenda\u2014whatever your preferred wording is. To ensure that the Election Access Fund Bill is successful, it will need at least a year and a half to establish. The ticking clock as imposed by the members\u2019 day processes means that we won\u2019t, unfortunately, be able to get this done in time for the 2020 general election, and I want to apologise to those members of the disability community who will be gutted by that. We are too. But we have required, through the committee amendment to the bill, that it will come into force on 1 July 2021, after the upcoming election and well in time to produce a predictable, certain, and robust Election Access Fund in time for the 2023 election.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s important to make clear that increasing accessibility to our democracy is not just the basic, human, decent thing to do, nor just a part of the social contract; it\u2019s also part of our international obligations. In 2008, New Zealand joined dozens of other countries around the world in ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Article 29 of the convention guarantees signatory countries will, and I quote, \u201Censure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected,\u201D and, I quote, \u201Cpromote actively an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation in public affairs,\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI want to thank all of my colleagues across the House, who are supporting this unanimously today. I think we\u2019ve seen the best of this Parliament in the process through this Governance and Administration Committee, across both the Government benches and the Opposition. I want to desperately thank the clerks and the Speaker\u2019s office for their incredible work in bringing together this truly accessible process, which has served as a prototype, I hope, for how we can be better at producing a more inclusive democracy and those processes moving forward. I want to thank the accessibility advocates and members of the disability community, and I want to thank Mojo Mathers for the work that brought this to the House and for the support that it has today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI proudly, on behalf of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, commend this Election Access Fund Bill 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=\u002201e787e8cb50464e87af9a9f97b951b3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002201e787e8cb50464e87af9a9f97b951b3\u0022\u003EDr JIAN YANG (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. First of all, I would like to thank the previous speaker, the sponsor of the bill, Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick. Thank you for your commitment and also your skills and effort to communicate with different parties and also to work with the committee members. This committee, of course, unanimously supports the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EI would like to take this opportunity to also thank former MP Mojo Mathers for her commitment or her work in this area. I observed her work while she was a member of Parliament. I understand the Parliament, actually, must support resources to support her work. It is important that we support people who are what we call disabled persons.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EThe intention of this bill, of course, is to establish a fund which would facilitate disabled people to participate in politics, and to make sure that everyone has equal ability to be involved in politics. As the previous speaker, Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick, mentioned, we as a Parliament have an obligation to support people with disabilities under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. So I endorse that particular quote, and I believe that we do have that obligation and we should make it a priority.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EThis Parliament has indeed made a continuous effort to support disabled people to participate in politics. According to the Electoral Commission\u2019s 2017 election report, you\u2019ll find that 92 percent of disabled voters were happy or very happy with the overall voting process; 95 percent said they encountered no issues while voting; and 92 percent were satisfied with the process, up from 88 percent in 2014.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EThe commission\u2019s goal according to their year 2020 strategy is that by the year 2020, all eligible New Zealanders, regardless of disability, are able to fully participate in parliamentary elections. Now, with our determination, with our commitment, and with the support of modern technology, we should be able to achieve that goal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003ETo participate in voting and to stand in an election\u2014these two are somewhat different. It takes more resources to stand in an election, so for that reason we need to provide more support and more resources to those disabled people to stand in elections. So this bill is particularly for that particular purpose.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003ENow, the Governance and Administration Committee received 84 unique submissions and 385 form submissions. The vast majority of submissions supported the bill, and the committee, as I mentioned, as a whole supported the bill. So the bill has cross-party support. Nevertheless, the committee worked hard and consulted with different parties\u2014in particular, with Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u2014and made quite a few changes to the original bill. Chl\u00F6e mentioned some of the changes. I may highlight some of these major changes, because I think they\u2019re important. The changes have made the bill even better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003ESo under clause 6, \u201CElection Access Fund established\u201D, subclause (1) says, \u201CThe Electoral Commission must establish a fund to facilitate the participation of disabled persons\u201D. We changed the wording, using \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D instead of \u201Cpersons with disabilities\u201D, because \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D\u2014this particular expression is used in the New Zealand Disability Strategy, so that\u2019s the preferred phrase. However, we do not define this particular phrase, because it\u2019s beyond our scope.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EThis fund will support disabled persons standing as candidates, or seeking election as candidates, in general elections or by-elections, as Chl\u00F6e mentioned. We included by-elections because we believe by-elections are a part of parliamentary elections. So we included that. And in clause 7, about eligibility, originally there were three categories of people or organisations that may be eligible for funding, including individuals, not-for-profit entities, and parties. The committee decided that it is better to simply reduce it to individuals and make individuals eligible instead of not-for-profit organisations or parties, because it will make the fund more neutral, so it\u2019s easier for us to actually manage the fund and make it a politically neutral fund.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EWe also made it clear that the payment from the fund will not be counted as an election expense or a candidate donation, and also we made sure that it is exempt income of the individual or candidate. So, basically, we made an effort to make the bill better, more politically neutral, and make sure we are able to manage the fund more reasonably.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003EWe are committed to providing disabled people with more support so that they can have greater independence and live better lives in their communities. We\u2019ll continue to support people with disabilities to continue to participate in our politics, particularly in the electoral process. It is important that disabled people have a strong voice and we make them feel valued.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022656487fe-e0a2-485c-8dc2-fe61b9aec128\u0022\u003ESo for that reason, I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022 data-id=\u00226775a73fa07445329873d2076836507d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226775a73fa07445329873d2076836507d\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE (Labour\u2014Rongotai):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. T\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te Rangatira. It\u2019s a real pleasure to be able to talk on this bill, the Election Access Fund Bill. I want to start by thanking Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick for her leadership, her drive, and her patience with what I describe\u2014in fact, she has articulated it better than I could describe it\u2014as a truly authentic, accessible process. And I think that\u2019s a key point in this that I want to reinforce, because as a member of the Governance and Administration Committee, I know that was really important to her. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI talk about drive because at every opportunity that Chl\u00F6e could come to the committee\u2014she was not a member\u2014she made sure that she prioritised her attendance. We ensured that she was able to come. So she was able to contribute appropriately and at the right time to ensure that the final product here was going to be the real deal and the best possible bill ever. So I want to thank you personally, and I\u2019m sure that the committee members, as they speak, will too. This takes drive, and I know that what we see here today has been debated fully by the select committee, and I will come to that too.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EPeople have mentioned a whole range of colleagues who have been part of this process, but none more so than Mojo Mathers. When she came in\u2014and I like the way you explored her as a person a little bit, because it would have been easy to say, \u201CShe\u2019s profoundly deaf, so it was obvious that she was going to do this.\u201D But, in fact, two things stood out for me. She had a real passion and drive for animal welfare and water issues. And I think we too often do that\u2014we say someone like that is disabled and therefore it\u2019s obvious. Well, it\u2019s not obvious, and it also wasn\u2019t obvious for the previous Government to do something about it and implement it. So I\u2019m glad that we\u2019ve taken across-the-House approach and are able to put this in front of the House for a second reading this afternoon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EThe authentic process I talked about meant that we had a really good range of submitters, and we worked tirelessly, using technology and having some patience\u2014and I mention that too, because that\u2019s what it required in terms of ensuring that their words were heard. And when we talk about disabilities, there are many types. So we had to be all-encompassing in terms of how that was going to be carried out. But those submitters\u2014the numbers are there: 84 in terms of individuals, 385 in terms of form submissions\u2014certainly came through in terms of advocating for the different bits of the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI personally want to thank, on behalf of the New Zealand Labour Party, our Kirk sector. I know that in the Rongotai electorate that I represent, we have a strong, functioning, sometimes bit loud, Kirk sector where our disabled community comes together. They have never, ever been shy to tell me what they think, and so we are a sounding board, particularly for my friend Nick Ruane, who funnily enough, has always wanted to stand for an elected body of some sort, mainly local. We\u2019ve heard that this is not going to cover that. Legislation there is different, but more so, when we talked about this in the select committee, we thought, \u201CLet\u2019s just get this on the mat, get it going, and then we will look at incorporating those seeking a local government.\u201D, and because there are many more than the privileged 120 numbers in this House, that\u2019s got real potential. I know that even at the last local government elections in the southern part of the electorate, one of the candidates there had a disability, and we\u2019re catching up soon because I was hoping to engage and get his feedback on this before speaking today. But it wasn\u2019t so. But there is interest here and this, as the first step, will do a lot for that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EThe other concept we heard was that this is barrier free. I\u2019m just going to sum it up like that. And in terms of New Zealand being a true democracy, then that\u2019s really important because this means there are no barriers\u2014it removes them. I\u2019m sure that Mojo Mathers would have intended it like that from the start, because that\u2019s what a true democracy is like. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve heard what some of the aspects of the bill do. I know in terms of this Government\u2019s big picture, or our larger plan, ultimately, it\u2019s working towards building a more inclusive New Zealand. This is a key part of that jigsaw puzzle and a very important part because we must get this right. And this is what this bill will do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI want to just point out a couple of things, and I don\u2019t want to repeat what other speakers have said, even at this early stage in the speaking order, around what the amendments were at the Governance and Administration Committee. But we did debate several points at length, and one of those was covering by-elections. Yes to that; we\u2019ve heard that. But one thing that\u2019s not been mentioned is the definition of \u201Cdisabled persons.\u201D Let\u2019s refer to them as disabled persons rather than \u201Cpersons with disabilities.\u201D So there were some of the finer points there, and these are just technical things, but they do align to the New Zealand Disability Strategy. Definitions are important, and we know there are many examples of how that fits in. In terms of eligibility, it\u2019s only individuals, and that was discussed at quite some length too. I\u2019m glad we settled on that and looked at where the exclusions lay, what the roles are for not-for-profits and how they play a part too. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003EI think also the other parts have been all already discussed in terms of election expenses and whether the payments would be tax exempt, I\u2019m going to leave those, but, look, I want to finish by saying well done to Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick and the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand for leading this. I think the mantle has been appropriately carried over, and in the second reading this afternoon, this will pass with flying colours. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022 data-id=\u0022803a1e4428044c10b992fa6b7191db58\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022803a1e4428044c10b992fa6b7191db58\u0022\u003ELAWRENCE YULE (National\u2014Tukituki):\u003C/span\u003E I want to begin my contribution by congratulating and thanking Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick for sponsoring this bill into the House and through this process and also pay a significant tribute to Mojo Mathers for the work she did in coming to this House. I remember the media stories at the time, when she entered this House, and there was some debate at the time about things she needed to support her in her role as a member of Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve only recently joined the Governance and Administration Committee, so this is a late entry for me into this realm. But just, at the outset, can I say I am completely supportive of this approach. I do\u2014with some regret, I think\u2014say that we couldn\u2019t get it done in time for the local government elections and we couldn\u2019t get it done in time for the 2020 elections. That\u2019s a frustration of the sort of way things operate in Parliament and the slowness of members\u2019 bills, particularly when you get significant bills in front of it, like the End of Life Choice Bill. But that\u2019s the way it is: better late than never.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003EI, in my life, have had quite a lot to do with disabled persons in various roles, and it is a real disadvantage for them to have access to the parliamentary and local government process. They can do it, and they should be encouraged to do it, but it\u2019s a lot harder. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003EI am really comfortable with where the select committee got to and where we are at the second reading. I am pleased that we did include by-elections, and that change was made. I, on balance, think that the right decision was made on NGOs and political parties. It wasn\u2019t a unanimous view, but it was clearly thrashed out, and I think this really goes to the heart of what this bill is about. It is about helping individuals, overcoming barriers to participate in the political process. I remind viewers\u2014if anybody\u2019s listening on a Wednesday afternoon at 20 past 4\u2014that this is not about funding signs or newspaper ads or things like that; this is about providing candidates with access to things that they need to be a candidate\u2014whether that\u2019s travel, whether that\u2019s sign or other interpretive language assistance, or whether that\u2019s even assistance in completing paperwork to be able to participate in a campaign. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003ESo I think this is a very responsible thing for this Parliament to do. I\u2019m thrilled that it\u2019s got cross-party support. But I do want to, in my contribution, pay tribute to the Electoral Commission to what it\u2019s done in terms of disabled persons having access to the voting process. The Electoral Commission has attempted\u2014and this came out in the select committee\u2014to make voting more accessible for members, and my colleague Dr Jian said that previously. People who are blind and have low vision or other physical disabilities that prevent them from voting without assistance can now vote by telephone. A DVD resource kit is available for voters with learning disabilities. An easy reading guide to voting is available for people who have learning disabilities, low literacy levels, or who use English as a second language, and a support person can help fill out enrolment forms. Wherever possible, return officers place advance voting booths where people live, work, and congregate, and they also provide mobile voting services to remote locations, corrections facilities, hospitals, and rest homes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003ENow, that is all about improving access to the disabled person and, in some cases, to the general population. What this bill does, though, is actually help right at the beginning where somebody has an interest in standing for, in this case, Parliament, at the general election\u2014and, hopefully, in the long term, we can roll this out into local government, where somebody can participate. It is my view over a number of years that we are greatly enriched in our thinking if we have a diversity of people in this Chamber or in council chambers around New Zealand, and that includes disabled persons. We all bring a unique perspective. Disabled persons bring a unique perspective to me. I did listen to\u2014in a very powerful moment in the end of life choice debate\u2014a young woman that is disabled who\u2019s now rallied against end of life choice. I listened to that, and that was a very unique perspective to have. I think this Parliament could do with as many of those perspectives as we can get.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick said about boomers and the differences between us all. We\u2019re not that different, and I have seen a number of examples in this House where we can reach out across the Parliament. This is a relatively simple thing to do. It makes common sense. My only criticism is that we haven\u2019t gone far enough and fast enough, but that\u2019s something that needs to be addressed another day. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003EThis side of the House is very happy to support this legislation and to get it through to its final reading to get Royal assent, even though it won\u2019t become effective until 1 July 2021 and, effectively, it won\u2019t be available for candidates until 2023. But for people that want to stand for Parliament in 2023, they now know that there is some assistance available to get them into the process, to take away some of the barriers that are very real and understood by this Parliament and myself. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022 data-id=\u002285ed3bf457c74e2b8d626f7eefed3d2c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002285ed3bf457c74e2b8d626f7eefed3d2c\u0022\u003EGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity of speaking on the Election Access Fund Bill. It was a real learning experience for me to understand what this bill set out to achieve and also to hear from submitters during those views that we heard at the Governance and Administration Committee. Can I firstly acknowledge Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick for bringing such a great bill to this House\u2014another great member\u2019s bill from her\u2014and also acknowledge Mojo Mathers, who initiated this bill during the last Parliament, I understand. Briefly, I\u2019d just like to outline what the bill does, and then I would like to cover some of the key changes that have been recommended by the committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EThe purpose of the bill is, basically, to facilitate the participation of people with a disability in general elections. That was an interesting task set out to start with. We have varying and different disabilities within the community, and identifying a way for people to have access to campaign, to be selected, and to stand in a general election has proven in the past to have a number of obstacles for those in the community\u2014so having a thorough examination of where those obstacles lie and how we can be far more understanding of where they exist to facilitate a greater level of participation in our democracy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EThe fund can be used by any disabled candidate to cover disability-related costs of standing in a general election. For example, the classic example would be an interpreter in terms of sign language. There were lots of examples given during the submissions of how that was a high cost for many candidates to meet, particularly in events such as a public debate in a town hall when you\u2019re campaigning, and to try and have to pay for that as well as campaigning can be a real obstacle for candidates. Also, any not-for-profit body running an election education event or producing an election publication to make sure that they are making sure everything is accessible can also apply to the fund\u2014and any registered political party who wishes to support the access needs of their members. It will be for the Electoral Commission to determine eligibility for payments from the fund.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo in terms of where we want this to be, it\u2019s important to note that there is a clause in there\u2014clause 9\u2014which enables for a review of how this new fund is tracking. This is new ground. This is new ground for New Zealand in terms of facilitating greater participation in our election process, so it\u2019s really important that we keep track of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo, in particular, what the committee has recommended is to tighten up that review period. Initially, we had a longer period, and the committee has recommended for the Minister to arrange this review and to give further details within a six-month period after the release of the Electoral Commission\u2019s report. In particular, we were interested to see who would manage to access the fund, whether it was working effectively, and also the wider question on whether this should be applying to local government elections as well. So, in the first instance, for the next general election which this will apply for\u2014not the one next year but the one following\u2014many submitters did suggest that local elections should also be covered by the fund. This was debated pretty thoroughly amongst the Governance and Administration Committee, and we felt that it was best that the fund should first focus on a general election to see how well it operated in that space, and for the review by the Minister and the Electoral Commission to then consider whether it should be more widely applied to local body elections, as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI think there was a general consensus from Governance and Administration Committee members that we hoped and expected that local elections would be covered eventually, because it made good sense for accessibility to be made as wide and as available as possible, but this would be better managed after the fund had been tested and reviewed. So I would like to say, too, that it was really good to have consensus right across all Governance and Administration Committee members. The way that we operated was to set up a subgroup that had members deliberating and going into the detail about some of these issues aside from the select committee. It was really good to see such a high level of engagement and consensus from right across the House on an issue as important as enabling everybody in our society to fully participate in something as important as an election, and to be standing as a candidate as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo the Electoral Commission will also be including a review, as well as the Minister, and looking at whether or not there\u2019s fair access to it and how that\u2019s operating. I think it\u2019s a really important thing to note that there\u2019s a wider body of work to make sure that we have good accessibility right across the board. There\u2019s some excellent work under way in terms of the Disability Strategy, by looking at key areas such as employment, education, health, and housing, to make sure that we are reaching far beyond just this member\u2019s bill to make sure that we have an accessible and inclusive society.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EWith employment, this Government has prioritised and encouraged employers to adopt equal opportunity for hiring practices and ensure that people are being included as widely as possible. In terms of education, making sure that there are strong messages to include all students and teachers having access to New Zealand Sign Language\u2014that\u2019s incredibly important. It\u2019s so heartening to see my own daughter coming home and being able to use sign language at home, to see how much that\u2019s being used and rolled out across our schools and in our early education centres, as well. In health, we want to support the implementation of the provisions of New Zealand\u2019s Disability Strategy, making sure that works right across the board in all our health services. Finally, in terms of housing, the houses that we\u2019re building, we want to make sure that those houses have good accessibility and are able to be used by everyone in our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to, once again, conclude by thanking Chl\u00F6e for her work on this. She worked incredibly hard to make sure that everyone was consulted, that the details of the policy were spelt out, and that we had a clear understanding of how this election fund would be working going forward. I think that it\u2019s a great legacy for New Zealand that we\u2019ve got consensus that people are encouraged to be able to participate in our community no matter what their background, lives, or abilities are. I would like to commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u00221d2f0954334745a5988f7bdd35d95d1a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221d2f0954334745a5988f7bdd35d95d1a\u0022\u003ECHRIS PENK (National\u2014Helensville):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Election Access Fund Bill, in the name of Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick, we are supporting on this side of the House, and it\u2019s pleasing to note that all members are doing so. A couple of issues that should be dear to the hearts of everyone in this House. I was thinking about representing the title of the bill almost in a Venn diagram with \u201Celections\u201D in one circle and \u201Caccessibility\u201D\u2014I\u2019ll just take the liberty of changing the word slightly\u2014and in between those fits this bill. So it seems a no-brainer to support something that increases access to elections and to democracy for members of our society who, like all members of our society of course, should be held in great value and esteem.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EI think it\u2019s worth noting that there is a certain amount that a law can achieve, and I\u2019ll go on to talk about some of that in the context of the bill just to add some comments that others have already made. But so too it\u2019s important that the attitudes that we all carry around are important in this space, and there are some things that we can\u2019t legislate for, of which we will have to be mindful. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EA fellow candidate at the last election had an unfortunate incident whereby she was found to have been parking in a disabled space, and that was, of course, the cause of some outrage\u2014you know, \u201CHow dare a political party candidate be parking in a disabled space.\u201D\u2014until it was pointed out that she was, in fact, entitled to by reason of her disability. I won\u2019t give any more detail of that story today; that\u2019s her story to tell and not mine. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EBut I would also just add, as a note to self as much as anything, my electorate office has a ramp beside some stairs, and I was only aware of the lack of accessibility with the ramp, just the way that it met the ground proper, by the occasion of a disabled constituent coming to visit me and pointing that out. So that\u2019s something of which I was not aware, but I should have been. So, just as an example of the attitudes that we must all be mindful of. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003ESo, technically outside the scope of the bill\u2014of course, the bill is able to do a certain amount but it doesn\u2019t quite do everything\u2014but I\u2019d, sort of, encourage all fellow members of the House and, indeed, all fellow Kiwis, to be mindful of the way that we should be inclusive of all New Zealanders in the electoral processes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EIt seems a really worthwhile thing not just from a basic, sort of, human rights perspective but also in relation to many Kiwis who would be described as \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D\u2014to use the phrase in the bill and, indeed, the phrase in the Disability Strategy\u2014who often are politically very aware and active. Often they will have issues whereby they\u2019re interacting with Government departments, like the Ministry of Health, ACC, maybe disability services on a disproportionate basis, and, obviously, other aspects of life, and interacting with Government departments with which all Kiwis are familiar. But it\u2019s certainly the case that many of my constituents and friends who would be described as \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D certainly have strong political views, and, for what it\u2019s worth for me to acknowledge today, would make excellent members of Parliament or excellent local government candidates and so forth. I\u2019ll return to the local government aspect just very briefly in a moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EBut moving on, I just feel the need, as well, to acknowledge a certain amount of personal humility. I wouldn\u2019t be described as a New Zealander living with a disability in the context of this bill, so I approach the task with some sort of consciousness of my own limitations in that regard, Even in terms of the bill, I haven\u2019t been familiar with it through the select committee process, so I\u2019m sort of playing catch up, somewhat. But reading it carefully and listening to the comments around the House, it seems that a number of different issues that are important in the way that it will operate have been carefully considered.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EIn relation to the local government aspect, we\u2019ve talked earlier today and yesterday in the context of another electoral bill, which I won\u2019t revisit now but I think it\u2019s worth saying that, in general terms, if local and general electoral law can be aligned as well as possible then that\u2019s a positive thing. So I think it\u2019s a helpful attitude that the sponsor of the bill and the Governance and Administration Committee have taken whereby they are talking about having an opportunity to broaden the scope or the application of the bill in future years to encompass the local government space. That\u2019s something on which Lawrence Yule, among others, has touched, and I know that he is someone with a passion for the local government environment and ensuring good democratic processes for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EI think a helpful addition that it seems the Governance and Administration Committee made was around by-elections. Of course, they\u2019re important, no less than general elections\u2014although, in an MMP environment, they sort of have a very particular role. But there\u2019s no good reason to exclude the benefit of the bill for our disabled fellow Kiwis from accessing it, so that seems like a positive change, as well. I\u2019ll leave my contribution there. But I say that I look forward to the remainder of the contributions from others in the House, and the continuing support of the bill, at this, the second reading, and beyond.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022 data-id=\u00222f869e9595be40c2a5ffdec181d17263\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222f869e9595be40c2a5ffdec181d17263\u0022\u003EHon TRACEY MARTIN (Minister for Children):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. So I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to speak at the second reading of the Election Access Fund Bill. I was just looking over the contribution I made at the first reading, and I wanted to just remind the House that New Zealand First at the first reading did articulate that we had some concerns that we felt. I\u2019m pleased to see, actually, that the Governance and Administration Committee and the work of the Governance and Administration Committee have acknowledged those concerns\u2014we obviously weren\u2019t the only people who had them\u2014and have worked their way through them. They were around the responsibility of political parties to make sure that they supported their candidates. I reminded the House, at that time, that New Zealand First had been one of the first to have a blind candidate, and of the extra protections and extra support that New Zealand First had put in for that candidate to be able to participate on a fair and equal basis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EI\u2019m going to say something now, and I hope that all the members of the House recognise that this is a serious topic. So I hope that this will be taken in the way that it is meant. We currently have a member of the New Zealand First caucus who is technically legally blind. So we make sure that that person has the support that they need to do their job, because \u201Clegally blind\u201D is not necessarily 100 percent blind, but it means that there are extra supports that need to be put into place for that person to do their job. The fact that I can see the surprised looks on people\u2019s faces means that we\u2019ve done a very good job in supporting that person inside our caucus to make sure that they can be their best on a daily basis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EWe took on that responsibility. We also felt that this Parliament needed to take on that responsibility, and at the time of the first reading Mojo Mathers was in the gallery. I read a snippet from an article from 15 February 2012 because I remember being in the caucus when Mojo Mathers first came into Parliament and there was quite a lot of raruraru around what she needed to be her best inside of this environment and who was going to pay for that. New Zealand First as a caucus said that we would put in\u2014we were happy to give up a percentage of our staffing budget so that Ms Mathers could get the $30,000, or whatever it was, needed for her to be her best. All that needed to happen was this work environment needed to be altered slightly so that she would have the supports she needed to represent those who had placed her here. This is a House of Representatives. I often tell people that if you can\u2019t look around this House and see yourself here in one of us, then it\u2019s not doing its job.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EI\u2019m going to make a point, though, too that this House\u2014if somebody was in a wheelchair, and we have had, I remember, two members. I\u2019m pretty sure it was the Hon Carmel Sepuloni and the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway made that point on a particular day that, you know, we might have to have a think about how we can remove some of the seats in here, should that be necessary, for somebody then to be able to bring their wheelchair in and participate in the same way, rather than having to sit in an aisle. I see that the select committee took that on board, and they have recommended the removal of the ability for political parties to use the fund and for non-profit entities to apply to the fund.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EWe weren\u2019t sitting on the select committee, but I\u2019ve had a quick look through the explanatory statements at the beginning of the bill. I think it\u2019s very wise, also, about having the review, both the Electoral Commission\u2019s review and the opportunity to have the review by a Minister so that we can see if the fund is working in the way that it is supposed to be working. This is about access; this is not about advantage. This is about levelling the playing field. This is about making sure that we recognise that all members of New Zealand society have the opportunity to stand and be heard and to put forward their views and their policies and their belief structures to the New Zealand public and have the opportunity to be voted here. That\u2019s the basis upon which we all stand at every election and the basis upon which our democracy is formed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EI do also pick up on the fact that the payments will not be for election expenses or donations\u2014hot topic at the moment\u2014but that it will be for those things that are needed, whether that be sign language, whether that be, for example, for the amount of reading that might be needed. There is a possibility that one might need a reading pen. It\u2019s a $200 solution, but it may be that the candidate in that moment does not have the capacity to fund those sorts of things. So it will be interesting to see, if the bill goes all the way through past third reading and finds itself in law, who accesses the fund and for what purposes. I would be interested after a three-year period to see how that is being used.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003ESo, at the end of the day, I think the majority of New Zealand First concerns have been addressed by the select committee. We are going to be interested at the committee of the whole House. We still believe that political parties really do need to stand up and maybe, just maybe, they should be doing what New Zealand First has done for some time, which is take that responsibility in making sure that that extra support is there, but at this stage New Zealand First is happy to support the bill. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022 data-id=\u00220e02517a16b34eaa82a3cb51708dec91\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220e02517a16b34eaa82a3cb51708dec91\u0022\u003EHon MAGGIE BARRY (National\u2014North Shore):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to speak at this, the second reading of the Election Access Fund Bill, a bill that National supports. I think we have a proud record of identifying ways in which people who are living with disabilities\u2014and that\u2019s nearly 25 percent of our population\u2014are given every opportunity. We had Enabling Good Lives. We\u2019ve had a number of other initiatives seeking to increase the ability of the one in four New Zealanders living with disabilities to participate fully in society. This bill is about people with disabilities being able to participate fully in the democracy and to stand for Parliament. I\u2019ll talk about the number of submissions that we had that also wanted to include local body elections as well a little bit later.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EI think the underlying aim, and the philosophical principle behind this bill, is the reason why we are supporting it. It was in the name of the Green MP Mojo Mathers at the beginning, and Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick has taken it over now. I had talked to Chl\u00F6e about this when it first came in and thought this was an outstanding initiative, and I had worked with Mojo when she first came in and understood the struggles and the need to have technical assistance. She coped admirably well, but it was a very difficult process for this place to accommodate her as a Deaf person. I can\u2019t imagine how bad it would be for people in wheelchairs. The entire old Parliament would have to change dramatically, but that\u2019s another issue and another story. There are always challenges to be addressed, and I think it is really important to have an entity like the Electoral Commission involved in establishing a contestable fund. They\u2019re an independent entity. They are rigorous in their approach. I think separate from Parliament is desirable, and I think contestable funds will work really well because the people who deserve it most and need that targeted assistance will be able to apply for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003ESome of the other clauses that colleagues have talked about in determining eligibility criteria with individuals standing as candidates, non-profit organisations who do election education events, or political parties\u2014we would prefer the money to go to the individual. We are, of course, cautious about the other aspect of this bill, which has been discussed, and I think we\u2019ll continue to be, which is around the whole way political parties and political candidates are funded\u2014a lot of progress and work in progress in that space. We are a bit cautious around that. I think it is important that the taxpayers\u2019 dollar is spent wisely and well, and that the internal mechanisms of a political party are being funded through taxpayers\u2019 money doesn\u2019t sit easily with us as a general principle. However, I think that the individual who needs assistance to attend the functions, to attend the debates, to understand what people are saying, whether it is in sign language\u2014and there is a terrible shortage of people who are able to do sign language, particularly in some of the far flung places around New Zealand. There is a shortage. So these are all acting as barriers to people doing what they need to do, which is to make this place more representative, to make people like us more aware of the difficulties and problems.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EThere are a lot of questions that still need to be, in our view, traversed. We\u2019ve got to be careful about unintended consequences. If we set up a fund to access issues, what about other access issues? Where does it stop, essentially? What are the other elements that should be covered in this? Should people be able to get assistance to get to meetings\u2014driving, for example, for petrol allowances or for any other kind of transport to get them to meetings? Should local entities organising events for candidates have to stump up for translators for political party rallies? These are the sorts of shades of beige that we need to give some careful consideration and thought to, but we are very much supportive of the underlying principles.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EWhen the Governance and Administration Committee started to hear the submissions, there were about 90 submissions, initially, from interested groups and individuals, and then there was oral evidence from about 18 submitters. The points that were raised by the submitters were widely discussed by the select committee. I was in there at various times, not through the entire process, but really some of the elements about the review, for example, were whether it should be within six months after the release of the Electoral Commission\u2019s report. Should we have a clear look at this fund when it\u2019s established\u2014how it is working, who it is serving well, and who it is not serving well? And if those, I suppose, opportunities to examine are formally enshrined within the bill, that would make it easier to do it. And I think it would make the bill and the ability of people with disabilities to access funding they need for what they require to step up to these sorts of jobs\u2014it would be available to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EThe Law Society, for example, recommended that this bill proceed. They like the idea of a bill to support disabled people in political life. That was one of the fundamental points that they made. There was talk about how you define people with disabilities\u2014\u201Cpersons with disabilities\u201D or \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D. When we were in Uganda recently at a Commonwealth parliamentary conference, the definition of disabilities took a number of days, actually, and there was offence taken and the nuances of the languages and the translations and so forth were inordinately complex to get through. I\u2019d like to be able to say the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association arrived at the perfect solution, but that was not possible for something like this. But good to keep discussing it and to feel where the mood has changed, and I think that this bill has done that very well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EBack to the Law Society\u2019s submission: they talked about the difficulties the Electoral Commission might face, needing some guidance as to how to divide up the payments. So you have a fund that should, or could, give money to eligible recipients, also disabled people seeking to stand as candidates in general elections, and as well as that to the not-for-profit entities organising the education events in political parties. I alluded to them earlier, about the issues that need to be explored, and it was the Law Society that really raised these complexities and suggested that the Electoral Commission be given a lot of guidance on it. The Blind Foundation also submitted on that issue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EI think that the Disabled Persons Assembly, when they made their points about this particular legislation, were very supportive of the notion that this bill be extended to include candidates standing not only for the general election but also for local government as well. The feeling around the committee in the ongoing discussions was to see how it goes at the general election level. But I think it\u2019s very important that, at local board and at local council level, people with disabilities are given further assistance. I had some discussions, and I\u2019ve been observing through social networking, how a disabled individual stood for a district health board\u2014the difficulties of affordability, of accessibility, of her getting to meetings. She\u2019s in a very sophisticated wheelchair\u2014high-needs user, if you like. It was extremely difficult on a personal level for her and her family to get to meetings. So I agree with the Disabled Persons Assembly that it is really important for democracy. Let\u2019s face it, a number of people who are in this Chamber now have come through local government, and it is a pathway to this place. So why would we not look at funding individuals to get into that access area and point? I think there is a lot of agreement around colleagues that that should be done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EI think the eligibility criteria\u2014and, again, the Disability Persons Assembly emphasised this\u2014must be needs-based and focused on removing barriers rather than diagnosis. Having something that is specific or determined by the degree of impairment is not where they wanted us to go. They wanted us to focus in this bill on removing barriers, and I think that that\u2019s something that brings it back again to the fundamentals and something that we need to concentrate on and not get too distracted by other things. It is really important that the people with disabilities are included in the design of the criteria, the application process, and also in the aftermath and the administration and review processes alongside the Electoral Commission. So, rather than the Electoral Commission imposing something from on high and handing it over in tablets of stone, it would be enormously helpful, and I would encourage the Electoral Commission\u2014and, it would appear, with unanimous support when this bill passes\u2014to really actively include and to recruit people who are living with disabilities, who understand the challenges and the barriers that exist.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003EI think that that is a very important part of all of this. \u201CWith us not\u201D\u2014what is the phrase? Nicky Wagner will know this because she did Enabling Good Lives. It is \u201CWith us not for us.\u201D Is that the phrase?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229c0ce423f7f245cb9bd102bac17ae533\u0022\u003ELouisa Wall\u003C/span\u003E: \u201CNothing about us without us.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226d01fc5251244d4daaec9ef1bcdb4fff\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: \u201CNothing about us without us.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228095740689d14df9a9d78bc3f209f27e\u0022\u003EHon MAGGIE BARRY\u003C/span\u003E: There we go. Thank you. A chorus from around the House, and showing again the spirit of inclusivity and, I suppose, collegiality that we all bring to this particular discussion, because the idea that the people who are being affected are not part of the process is abhorrent to many of us. I think that, for people to understand what it is like to live with disabilities, as my colleague Chris Penk said earlier, it is presumptuous of us to think that we understand their lives. So it is incredibly important that they are there and, hoping that that is the case, I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022 data-id=\u0022b1d76187777f47a09959d58f555cff43\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b1d76187777f47a09959d58f555cff43\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Madam Speaker. E tika me mihi ki ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata hau\u0101 m\u014D t\u0101 r\u0101tou kaha ki te whawhai i ng\u0101 w\u0101 katoa. Tika me mihi ki a r\u0101tou, koutou i tautoko i t\u0113nei r\u014Dp\u016B, t\u0113nei te mihi ki a koutou m\u014D \u014D koutou tautoko ki t\u0113nei r\u014Dp\u016B i t\u0113nei w\u0101.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E[It\u2019s right to acknowledge disabled people for their strength to continue fighting at all times. It\u2019s right to thank them and to thank those of you who have supported this group. This is my thanks for your support of this group at this time.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EKia ora, Madam Speaker. As we all know, we have a very prosperous economy at the moment, and New Zealanders are doing tremendously well at the moment with this Government: unemployment at 4.2 percent, we\u2019ve got M\u0101ori unemployment down to 8 percent, employment rates are up\u2014men 72 percent, women 62.9\u2014Pasifika are doing well, M\u0101ori\u2014doing well everywhere. We\u2019ve been doing well for some time, as\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a34d026c4bf4a8e93bd518b40187643\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: How is this related to the bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8722396d4e3475894004cad8dddba59\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m going to come to that, so just hold fire\u2014just hold fire\u2014because I want you to listen. This is an economy and a country that is doing tremendously well. Business confidence is up, and no one believes the nonsense that we heard in the general debate today about these 30,000 jobs a month, which is just a total story from the National Party, who, as we all know, have lots of problems with numbers and make numbers up in the general debate about how many new jobs they\u2019ve created. It\u2019s all a load of nonsense, because they\u2019re just grabbing the best three months, and believe you me, it\u2019s way down on that number.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ENow, I\u2019m talking about this today because we can\u2019t just have a rock star economy for the National Party\u2019s mates. No, we can\u2019t. We must have an economy for everyone. We must have an economy for everyone\u2014you have the connection now\u2014and that\u2019s where our disabled people miss out. I want to say to Chl\u00F6e and to Mojo Mathers, well done. Ng\u0101 mihi ki a korua for your kaha. You know, I\u2019ve had something to do with this community, and I\u2019ll say I\u2019ve never seen a more humble community. They made not a lot of demands on the previous Government, and they don\u2019t make a lot of demands on this Government. I\u2019m humbled every time they come into our offices\u2014I work in support of Minister Sepuloni\u2014and I admire their humility and the support that they have for whoever the Government is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo any bill like this that can advance the interests of a group of people who have double the unemployment rates, have double the underutilisation rates of the normal population, is a bill we must all support\u2014a bill we must all support. I just think it\u2019s tremendous, the way they hold themselves. But New Zealanders would not really know their position, because they\u2019re not a group of people who come out and slam whoever the Government is. No, they\u2019re not. They\u2019re a group of people who, in my view, have not had the resourcing and funding and support that they deserve, and we\u2019re working on that. We\u2019re working on that, as the previous Government did, too. There\u2019s no doubt about it\u2014it\u2019s been a tough area. But this bill, a bill that opens up accessibility for these people, is a bill that we have to support.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EAn estimated 9 percent of the population suffer hearing impairment. We know every day of the struggles of these people. I watch it all the time; I\u2019m sure people in the House watch what happens all the time, in terms of this wonderful group of people who\u2014just going down to the supermarket is an ordeal because people continually take their car-parks, simple everyday practices that the public should know better, but their rights are breached all the time. Do we hear a big furore from them? Do we hear anger from them? No, we don\u2019t. They just continue along this line.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo I want to say today to everyone who\u2019s been part of the Governance and Administration Committee, well done to everyone. Let\u2019s get the rights up for this group of people. Let\u2019s not play politics, and let\u2019s support a group of people who are right down in terms of the bottom of statistics. I talk about those stats all the time in terms of M\u0101ori, in terms of women, and in terms of this group of people in the disability area. They\u2019re a group of people I\u2019m proud to say that I support and will do my best to advocate for going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity to tautoko this bill. I\u2019m happy to support the bill today. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022 data-id=\u00224fdcbde3f62347f4968a9cba76bee7a6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224fdcbde3f62347f4968a9cba76bee7a6\u0022\u003EMATT KING (National\u2014Northland):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s a pleasure to take a short call on this. I would like to acknowledge Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick. I knew that when she was running as the mayoral candidate in Auckland\u2014I remember thinking what a remarkable young woman and I thought she\u2019s going to go places, and here she is in Parliament now, and she has fire in her belly. I knew she was going to make a difference. I knew she wasn\u2019t going to leave this place without leaving her mark, and she\u2019s rocking through two bills now. One of them in particular, the cannabis bill, is going to be a biggie, and this one is another really worthwhile bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EA lot of the matters have been traversed in this bill, but one of the things I think as an able-bodied and non-disabled person, to actually experience what it\u2019s like to have a disability\u2014a number of people I know have tried to, say, wear a blindfold for a day or ride around in a wheelchair and try and understand how hard it is for disabled people to get about their daily lives and just get places and live life\u2014it\u2019s pretty tough. I acknowledge that this bill seeks to establish a fund through the Electoral Commission to allow disabled people to be involved in political life. So it\u2019s an honourable cause. It ensures that everyone has equal ability to be involved in politics and covers the disability-related costs of standing in a general election, so it\u2019s an amendment of the Electoral Act. We in National fully support the process for increased access for disabled people. So good on you, Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u2014good on you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s important that disabled people have a strong voice and we enable them to participate in the community. I note that from the Governance and Administration Committee there were a number of changes recommended, including by-elections and bill coverage, reference to changing the definition of \u201Cpersons with disabilities\u201D to \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D to keep it in line with other Acts, and \u201CPayments from the fund\u201D recommends removing the \u201Cprovision for political parties and not-for-profit entities to apply to the fund.\u201D So that, effectively, narrows the scope of the fund so that only individual disabled people are eligible. So, I think, pretty good amendments to the bill. I see Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick is nodding and so I\u2019m getting her agreement\u2014very happy about that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u201CPayments would not be election expenses or donations\u201D: \u201Cnot to be used for general campaigning costs\u201D, so it\u2019s \u201Cspecifically for accessibility costs not faced by others.\u201D And I see here payments are to be tax exempt from income tax. Include a review of the fund in legislation within three years to ensure it\u2019s tested and any improvements can be made\u2014it\u2019s a good recommendation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003ESo this is kind of a no-brainer bill, really. I can\u2019t but support it, so I commend this bill to the House. Well done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022 data-id=\u0022f561b969458a416688b2514e9c959b75\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f561b969458a416688b2514e9c959b75\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Oh, thank you very much, Madam Speaker\u2014delighted to take a call on the Election Access Fund Bill. This is a significant piece of legislation. I know that we have many pieces of legislation pass through the House, and on a members\u2019 day, I look at the Order Paper and we\u2019re probably going to talk about half a dozen bills today, but I do personally believe this one is incredibly significant. This is a piece of legislation that people will talk about 10, 20, 30 years on from now, because what this piece of legislation is doing is opening a door. Yes, it\u2019s only opening the door slightly, but that door, though, will get wider and wider as time goes on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EAs we know, this bill seeks to establish a fund administered by the Electoral Commission that would facilitate the participation of disabled persons in political life, aiming to ensure that everyone has equal ability to be involved in politics. Now, we have heard from some previous speakers around equal opportunity to be involved. In New Zealand, we generally have an inclusive society, but we\u2019re not there yet\u2014we\u2019re not there yet. We\u2019ve still got challenges around transport at times, various access, and, as this bill highlights, we do have some barriers around integration into political life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EAs the previous speaker, Maggie Barry, noted, local government is often a pathway into central government. School boards and DHBs are often pathways into central government. Now, this bill only deals with central government, and so I am also hopeful that at some point in the future, there may be an opportunity for this bill to be extended out to other areas, but it\u2019s certainly a good start, and as I said, the door has been opened around access. I look forward to that door opening wider and wider as time goes on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s another point I\u2019d like to highlight here, which is the aspect around how a disabled person can receive money and support before being selected as a candidate. This is a very important point, and we spoke about this in the Governance and Administration Committee at some length. Before I get on to that point, I will just acknowledge the select committee, the chair, Jian Yang, and I think it was Brett Hudson before that\u2014this bill covered two chairs. Actually, we had Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick in\u2014at one point, it felt like you were there every week, Chl\u00F6e, coming in\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f6f6c67e76d84fe79e1f49996c519d94\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: I was.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022642c833a7d314be1b71acec50aa2e6ba\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, you were. But that just shows Chl\u00F6e\u2019s diligence to get this bill through the select committee, to iron out any challenges, to work through the processes. Chl\u00F6e worked very closely with officials, because, obviously, the officials were there with Chl\u00F6e every time, and I would like to acknowledge the officials. They certainly did a lot of work on this bill. They had a good look at some overseas jurisdictions as well, particularly the UK, and that gave some guidance around how to frame the bill but also around the potential cost of the bill there. I think it\u2019s fair to say the bill will be towards the lower end of cost.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EBut just to segue into the point there that people can receive the money and support before being selected as a candidate. This is very important. It\u2019s important that we don\u2019t gloss over this, because, I will say, all political parties have a very robust process around becoming a candidate, and many times that process is contested. So let\u2019s say, for example, a seat is open for nominations, and at times it\u2019d just be that one person is nominated, but more often than not, that seat will have two, three, four, five people nominated. Before the person receives the endorsement to become a candidate or the vote to become a candidate, there is a lot of work to be done. Many times there are months of work to be done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EWhen I talk about that work\u2014and I say that members in the House will obviously know this because we\u2019ve all been through this, but for the benefit of members of the public to understand\u2014often there are months\u2019 worth of work before a vote is made on who the candidate might be for that seat. That work involves attending meetings. It involves visiting people. It involves various forms of verbal and written communication, often over quite an extended period of time. So I\u2019m very pleased that this bill provides support for disabled people who would like to be a candidate before the date of the selection, because that\u2019s certainly very important, and that process is extensive and exacting at times.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ENow, that\u2019s for an electorate. In terms of the list, in a way, it\u2019s similar, because, as people know, a party list is ranked, and to achieve a winnable list position on your party list, there is quite a bit of work that has to be done and, in a way, a similar sort of work. Effectively, it\u2019s a form of lobbying at times: lobbying members, proving areas where you add value to the party, and that takes resource, that takes time, and that takes effort. So just to highlight that point there, because I think it\u2019s a very important point from this bill here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to acknowledge Mojo Mathers. Unfortunately, our time didn\u2019t cross in Parliament; I came in as she was leaving Parliament, but in a way, she prepared this bill like John the Baptist for Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick to come and take it over, if I could use that. I\u2019m not sure Mojo\u2019s ever been called John the Baptist, but there we go. In a way, she prepared the way, she did the groundwork, and Chl\u00F6e has certainly come on board to complete that piece of work in terms of, as I say, opening that door a bit, and hopefully that door will open more and more.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019d just like to move to some of the submissions that we had on the bill, and, obviously, I was a member of the Governance and Administration Committee. Our committee received 84 unique submissions on the bill, with many submitters providing supplementary information at the oral hearings. In addition, we received 385 form submissions, using a form provided by the Access Alliance. Now, that\u2019s quite a significant amount of submissions, and if I could put that into context, that is certainly more submissions than most bills generally receive, and I think that\u2019s sort of a fair point in terms of my experience here. So it shows the interest in this bill, not just from the disabled community but from the wider community as a whole. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to highlight one of those submissions, which was from the Disabled Persons Assembly\u2014Christchurch \u0026amp; Districts, and this is what they said. They said, \u201CCurrently there are too many barriers to participation in elections. This makes it particularly difficult for disabled people to make informed decisions, standing for all elections, lobbying political parties or [getting] their issues onto the political agenda.\u201D They specifically used an example of someone who is Deaf or hearing-impaired, and they said, \u201CA Deaf or hearing impaired candidate standing for election currently has to find funding for their own access needs (such as \u2026 interpreters or note-takers) in order to participate in a candidate forum.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EThere was a key point that stood out to me. In the final line of their submission, they said, \u201CIt should be noted that there are far too few positive role models in the Deaf and hearing impaired community who hold public office within New Zealand.\u201D, and I believe this bill is primarily about leadership. It\u2019s about enabling people within the disabled community to have the opportunity to provide leadership. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ENow, each one of us in this House\u2014there\u2019s 120 of us\u2014we\u2019re all leaders. We\u2019re all providing leadership for our local area and also within our party and within our general constituencies. It\u2019s absolutely vital that we have leadership from the disabled community and that we have role models from the disabled community, and this bill certainly helps to encourage that, which is important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to touch on the points we heard from the Hon Tracey Martin, who noted that it\u2019s important that political parties support a diverse range of candidates. I think that, generally, political parties do this OK, but we\u2019ve all got areas where we can improve, and that\u2019s the challenge for each of us\u2014so each of us sitting in the House here today and all of those who are leaders in various forms within political parties and right across New Zealand. It\u2019s important that we all have a look at ourselves and see how we encourage more diversity of candidates\u2014how do we, practically, support candidates with disabilities, for example? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EIn the last sort of 30 seconds, I\u2019d just like to highlight that the administration of the funds will be through the Electoral Commission. So the Electoral Commission will, basically, decide how the funds will be distributed. We had many discussions in the committee, talking about \u201CWell, is it money first, or do you pay and get the receipts reimbursed?\u201D, and we probably went down a rabbit warren that we didn\u2019t need to. So we\u2019ll leave that to the electrical, or the Electoral Commission\u2014not the \u201CElectrical Commission\u201D\u2014and I commend this bill to the House. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022 data-id=\u0022981d9275b99a49a389841dce280541fa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022981d9275b99a49a389841dce280541fa\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE (National\u2014Hamilton West):\u003C/span\u003E The member\u2019s quite a bright spark. I\u2019m very pleased to follow my colleague Jamie Strange from Hamilton and I commend him on that very constructive speech. I also want to congratulate him on completing his audition for the role of John the Baptist. I\u2019m wondering if that means that he\u2019d like us to deliver his head on a platter in the election in Hamilton next year, but, actually, I want to assure him I don\u2019t wish him any such sinister fate. If he, however, does decide to do that, perhaps he might revert to the hairstyle that is now going viral on Facebook that he had 23 years ago, when he and his lovely wife got engaged. I wish them both a very happy anniversary for the other day, and if you haven\u2019t seen the photograph on Facebook, members, I do commend it to you for a little bit of light-hearted entertainment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI\u2019m the final National speaker in this debate, so I won\u2019t take a full call, but I would like to make a few points on this Election Access Fund Bill in its second reading. Of course, the first thing is to congratulate Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick on having the bill drawn. As I mentioned to her a few moments ago, she\u2019s been here for two years and has hit the jackpot almost immediately. I\u2019ve now been here for 11 years. I think I\u2019ve had at least five members\u2019 bills in the ballot over that time and I\u2019ve yet to have a single one drawn, and I\u2019m getting pretty frustrated. I have lodged a beauty in the ballot this week, so I\u2019m hoping there will be a draw tomorrow. It\u2019s the Concealment of Location of Victim Remains Bill, and it\u2019s one that just deals with the anguish that families suffer if the location of the remains of their victims is not identified by the offender. So it\u2019s one that I hope will attract cross-party support. I\u2019m aiming to ensure that people who add to the anguish of families in those circumstances will be denied parole. But, anyway, I can come back to that if it gets drawn. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003ENow, to turn my attention to Ms Swarbrick\u2019s bill, which, as she and others have noted, was originally drafted by our former parliamentary colleague Mojo Mathers. I\u2019m sure that Mojo will be watching the debate today, so I want to congratulate her. I know that she\u2019ll be delighted to see the cross-party support that this measure is receiving, and I think it\u2019s particularly appropriate that we\u2019re having this debate today while it\u2019s also being interpreted for members of our Deaf community by the very skilled sign language interpreters who work in the Parliament. That means that they\u2019ll be broadcasting all around the nation to people who are watching, and I send my aroha to all members of our Deaf community. I congratulate them too but also, of course, everybody who lives with a disability, and not just those who struggle to hear. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EIt is, of course, a significant achievement to draft a member\u2019s bill and, in particular, to steer it successfully\u2014as this one, inevitably, will be\u2014to its conclusion so that it becomes enacted, and therefore both Mojo and Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick deserve our congratulations for that. As I say, I\u2019ve yet to have the joy of doing that, but I guess that\u2019s the curse of being a dysfunctional geriatric, as I was described so charitably this morning by a man who I think is at least 15 years older than me. But, anyway, I\u2019ll carry on, and we\u2019ll see. Maybe I\u2019ll need to be as old as he is before I actually get my own bill drawn\u2014who knows? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EMadam Speaker, there\u2019s an old political mantra that I feel sure you\u2019ll have heard and that many members will be aware of, and it goes \u201CNo taxation without representation\u201D. I think that particular maxim dates back to the time of the American Declaration of Independence. In the modern context, I think that members of our very large and diverse communities of people who live with disabilities might assert \u201CNo representation without participation\u201D, because those of us who have always enjoyed the good fortune of being able-bodied\u2014and I hope also able-minded, but I\u2019ll let others be the judge of that\u2014cannot fully understand the challenges that people with disabilities face every day, no matter how close we are to them and how attentive we may try to be to their needs and interests. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI\u2019m sure that most members of Parliament do go out of their way to try as empathetic and supportive of people with disabilities, but we\u2019ve heard a number of members speak today about different things, and I too have to admit that my electorate office is not well suited for people with disabilities. It does worry me. It\u2019s why I will always go to see constituents with disabilities, but I\u2019m aware of the fact that some people just arrive at our door, and if they can\u2019t get up to the office, that is a problem. Unfortunately, there is no lift in the building. It\u2019s something I hope to rectify. I don\u2019t own the building, and so I can\u2019t rectify that, but it\u2019s something I am very mindful of, should I be re-elected at some later stage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EIt is one of the reasons why I\u2019ve done everything that I can, particularly in recent years, in my city of Hamilton to support and encourage three young people, each with different disabilities, to stand as candidates in our local body elections. All of them did so, either in 2016 or just recently\u2014in October\u2014with considerable energy and determination, and I was hugely impressed by their efforts because I could see the extra effort that was required for them. In one case, I\u2019m talking about a young man\u2014and I won\u2019t embarrass him by naming him\u2014with a number of different disabilities who nevertheless, I think, would make an outstanding contribution, probably in the district health board space. Hamilton didn\u2019t have an election for that particular role this year, so he\u2019s going to have to wait for another three years, but I\u2019d love to see him be successful, and I\u2019ll do what I can to help him. As I say, they show huge character and huge determination, and I have enormous admiration for them. I\u2019m sorry that they haven\u2019t been successful yet, but I\u2019m sure that if they persevere, one day they will, and no one will be more delighted than me when they are. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003ESimilarly, I do hope that we will see others follow in Mojo\u2019s footsteps by entering this Chamber as MPs. I also hope\u2014as I think one previous speaker noted today\u2014that it won\u2019t be long before that includes someone or perhaps several people who live their lives in wheelchairs who are also sworn in as members of this House. I trust that we, as members, and that those who ensure that the facilities are appropriate for those working within the Parliamentary Service will do everything they can to help them to overcome those physical barriers and any other challenges that they may face and, even more importantly, to ensure that they are able to be heard with respect and enabled to make full and positive contributions to effect public policy and good governance in our land. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003ESo, with those thoughts, I can only conclude by saying that this is a very good bill, and I and all members on this side of the House are very pleased to support it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022 data-id=\u0022938c02e8b6d84821a5000d304dd0e9ec\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022938c02e8b6d84821a5000d304dd0e9ec\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s a real pleasure to stand today and talk on this bill. It\u2019s actually a real pleasure after the sounds we\u2019ve heard and the noise, and being in urgency this morning, to have harmony in the House. It\u2019s a wonderful thing that we are all in agreement around this bill, the Election Access Fund Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge you, Chl\u00F6e Swarbick\u2014rick. Swarbrick. Sorry, I slurred. I want to acknowledge you because absolutely every time you have something that you\u2019re passionate about, you throw yourself into it 100 percent, and you represent the people that your legislation covers, 100 percent. I want to acknowledge your energy. I want to acknowledge the careful way you have gone about working on this piece of legislation and honouring what Mojo Mathers brought to this House. So thank you for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ESo this bill\u2014we\u2019ve heard it across the House\u2014does a number of things. But I wanted to just acknowledge, before I continue, that yesterday was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities\u20143 December. Yesterday, I was at the Access Alliance meeting for the Parliamentary Champions for Accessibility Legislation. This is a cross-party group, and I just want to acknowledge their campaign. I\u2019d like to lay a challenge down to everyone here in this House. It\u2019s been great. We\u2019ve heard everyone\u2019s support for this piece of legislation, but there is a campaign, and it\u2019s called, \u201CIt\u2019s time for an accessibility law in New Zealand.\u201D That will be coming to a Parliament near you soon, people, and I look forward to your support.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EThis bill is probably the perfect example of talking about the difference between equality and equity. So equality is, as we know, about everyone being the same and getting the same. Equity is about providing the difference\u2014that sometimes we are not the same and others need help. This is about us being able to and ensuring that there is the ability for people with disabilities to stand in a general election or by-election. Now, MMP is a wonderful process that has come and has really supported inclusivity, but it is very hard to run in a campaign. It is very hard to be selected. It\u2019s hard enough as an able-bodied person to do that. Where there is disability, the additional barriers that are faced by these people are extreme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EWe have to really acknowledge that this piece of legislation really supports and encourages the ability for full participation. It\u2019s still going to be a hard task for those people to run in a campaign. Their task will be more difficult than, perhaps, mine will be. I found it hard enough. I needed, at times, someone to drive me around while I was campaigning. I needed someone to make me a meal. I needed sometimes someone to just ring me and tell me about that piece of legislation or policy that we were going to be talking about. Imagine the barriers that people with disabilities face. So I\u2019m really delighted that this piece of legislation has, as far as I understand, unanimous support in the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ENow, the bill does a number of things, and I just want to very briefly go through them. The bill covers not only national elections, but it also covers by-elections. It\u2019s really important that we cover by-elections, because this is sometimes a real opportunity of time and space where people are able to stand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EIt talks about the definition of \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D. Now, I really like this. I didn\u2019t sit on the Governance and Administration Committee, but I have to acknowledge that everyone did such a good job. This is a wonderful piece of legislation. So we talk about \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D rather than \u201Cpersons with disabilities\u201D. I really like that. I like it because they futureproofed it\u2014they futureproofed it, because right now we may understand that a person with disabilities has a definition, but actually, \u201Cdisabled persons\u201D moves the conversation forward, and doesn\u2019t give a black and white definition. I think that\u2019s really useful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EIt talks about the eligibility for funding. Now, previously, in the first reading, the bill allowed for political parties to apply, and it also allowed for the not-for-profit entities to apply on behalf of someone who wanted to stand. Now, the select committee agreed at that time that they wanted to ensure that there was no bias. They wanted to ensure that there was no politicising of this money. So they have ensured and put in place very clearly that it is the individual person\u2014the individual person\u2014who will get access to this funding. It won\u2019t be an organisation. Now, whether or not that creates an additional barrier, perhaps that\u2019s a question that can be asked. But what I would say is there is no fear or favour in that process, and I really like that. I like that the payments would not be an election expense or a donation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ESo this, again, goes back to equity. It is, in fact, not money that a person has fundraised for or needs to account for in their electoral expenses and finances; it\u2019s actually about trying to redress the balance, giving the equity in the place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ESo I really like that part of this legislation. In fact, there\u2019s nothing I don\u2019t like about this legislation, I must say. Payments will be tax exempt, so you\u2019re not, as a person who\u2019s already running with barriers, having to pay tax, because we know that people with disabilities often earn less. So this tries again to rebalance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EFinally, this piece of legislation will be reviewed\u2014a one-off review in three years\u2019 time. I think that that\u2019s useful. Did it do what it was intended to do? Has this enabled people to stand for Parliament and support accessibility? So that\u2019s what the review will do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EThis is a really tidy piece of legislation. It changes the principal Act, which is the Electoral Act 1993, to give us some real and genuine shifts around representation. It\u2019s an active step, an active step to enabling the ability for people to be able to participate. So I think I will probably take my seat at this point, but on behalf of the Labour Party, to all those members here in the House, I want to thank everyone for supporting this piece of legislation. It is small but important. This is only the beginning\u2014only the beginning\u2014of us seeing some true inclusivity in this House. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\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=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022eb84efccd1604cfaa8f4a45b1ff18db4\u0022\u003ECrimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e9f5ade7e108450380b6cd1debd8e43c\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022 data-id=\u00225e0916dd1c544e61be4dc696d316e513\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225e0916dd1c544e61be4dc696d316e513\u0022\u003EJO HAYES (National):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Health Committee to consider the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EToday signifies a historic moment in this, the House of Representatives. For the first time, we\u2014the women members of Parliament from across four parties\u2014bring the first multi-member bill in the name of myself for National, Priyanca Radhakrishnan for Labour, Golriz Ghahraman for the Greens, and Jenny Marcroft for New Zealand First. The Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill is the result of a number of years\u2019 worth of work, and I want to acknowledge the Human Rights Commission, the Ethnic Minority Women\u2019s Rights Alliance of Aotearoa (EMWRAA), the FGM Education Programme, members of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, and, most importantly, the strong migrant women whose voices have been heard here today in the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EToday also marks one of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, where we in Parliament stand up against violence against women worldwide, and where we empower survivors and continue to give women and girls a voice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EOver 200 million women and girls are victims of female genital mutilation (FGM). It is an extreme form of both physical and mental violence, and it is a lifelong sentence for them. Many women and their unborn children die needlessly at childbirth due to the severe complications caused by FGM.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003ESo what does the bill do? Firstly, it updates the definition of female genital mutilation in the Crimes Act 1961 for the following purposes: to uphold New Zealand\u2019s obligations to protect women and children as outlined in the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It brings New Zealand in line with international best practice, it ensures the Act is relevant and fit for purpose, and, as I have said, it amends the definition of female genital mutilation in section 204A of the Crimes Act 1961.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EFemale genital mutilation has been defined as \u201C(a) means the excision, infibulation, or mutilation of the whole or part of the external female genitalia of any person; and a means of (b) includes, but is not limited to,\u2014(i) the partial or total removal of the clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, or the prepuce, or any combination of these: (ii) the narrowing of the vaginal opening by cutting or repositioning the labia majora, or the labia minora, or both: (iii) other harmful procedures intended to alter the structure or function of the female genitalia, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterising\u201D, which is described as type four of FGM under the World Health Organization\u2019s definition and one that is missing from New Zealand\u2019s current FGM definition. This will, however, change at the Royal assent stage of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EBy the very definition I have just read out, one must wonder why on earth a human being would want to do this to another. It is neither cultural nor tradition. It is cruel and it is abusive, and it is not just men that do this to females but women\u2014or I should say some mothers are also perpetrators of this heinous act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EIn New Zealand FGM was classified as illegal in the 1996 Act through the amendment of the Crimes Act. Today we strengthen that classification because we know it\u2019s outdated and needs to be updated. The barbaric practice of FGM is a criminal offence\u2014even if the person had consented to the action\u2014and it is a breach of the human rights of girls and women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person\u2019s rights to health; security and physical integrity; the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment; and the right to life when the procedure results in death.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EFemale genital mutilation is a complex and multi-faceted practice deeply rooted in historical, cultural, social, and religious beliefs. It is based on traditional practices in various cultures carried out under the perception that altering a young girl\u2019s genitalia makes them more attractive prospects for marriage, and in some regions it is considered a necessary part of a girl\u2019s social development. We in New Zealand know that FGM is nothing of that sort. It is violent abuse of babies, young girls, and women, and it has no place in our society.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EWe are clear that violence against women and girls is entirely unacceptable and cannot be allowed to hide behind tradition. That is why we women MPs stand united today to eliminate the practice of FGM through the legislative process. I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022 data-id=\u002284a5a3add72d4d148522113b658e39e5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002284a5a3add72d4d148522113b658e39e5\u0022\u003ELOUISA WALL (Labour\u2014Manurewa):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. Can I add my voice to colleague Joanne Hayes in congratulating the Parliament. We, actually, are creating history today, because we have shown to the world and our constituents and the nation of Aotearoa New Zealand that when we find something that is incredibly important, we can collaborate, and we can let go of our party political affiliations. So I think that\u2019s incredibly significant, and I want to acknowledge all the men in the House and thank them sincerely for their support of this piece of legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EFor me it is all about violence. Next year in 2020 we will commemorate Beijing\u002B25, and when we think about that, that was about putting women and girls at the centre of trying to create equality in New Zealand and internationally. So from that perspective we\u2019re going to pass a piece of legislation in the Beijing\u002B25 years which will signify New Zealand\u2019s commitment to ending violence against women and girls.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EI have to acknowledge the FGM Education Programme. That was established in 1997, and that was formed to actually acknowledge female genital mutilation (FGM) was a practice in New Zealand and we needed to do something about it. So I want to acknowledge Nikki Denholm, Ayan, and Melissa, whose advocacy for this piece of legislation actually started 11 years ago\u201411 years ago. And it was within the context of a collaboration with the Human Rights Commission initially, so I have acknowledge Dr Jackie Blue and now Saunoamaali\u2019i Karanina Sumeo, who\u2019s our current Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, and our Ethnic Minority Women\u2019s Rights Alliance of Aotearoa, as colleague Joanne Hayes has talked about.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003ESo the focus of FGM education was to improve reproductive healthcare services through provider training and support, and also to prevent FGM in New Zealand, because we had communities who had come as migrants who, as Jo articulated before, had experienced FGM in their heritage countries. So we do have a problem in New Zealand; I want to be categoric about that. The FGM Education Programme has said that the cultural currency of FGM is relevant today. The reason it is is because it\u2019s a social norm and it\u2019s a cultural norm. There\u2019s pressure on our young girls to conform. And if they don\u2019t have it, they become ostracised, they\u2019re despised, and there is no pathway for those young women to marriage. So from a heritage perspective, pathways to marriage actually guarantee security and provide an economic base for our young women. So we actually do have to understand the cultural context of FGM.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003ESo FGM, fundamentally, is violence against girls and women, and it\u2019s an indication, as UN Women and UNICEF say, of a highly gender unequal society. Within that context women are used so men can express their sexuality. It\u2019s all about the sexual pleasure of men, because one of the consequences of FGM is that women lose the right to have an orgasm. So that\u2019s why male circumcision\u2014and I\u2019m putting it on the table\u2014is not the same. So people who want to address male circumcision, that\u2019s another bill, and one of the men can put that up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EI want to highlight that FGM education has consulted with our Somali community leaders, and they were unanimous in their support for this piece of legislation; the Eritrean leaders, and they were unanimous in their support for this legislation; the Ethiopian leaders, and, again, they were unanimous in their support of this legislation; the Indonesian leaders, who expressed strong support for this legislation; and also the Kurdish leaders, who were strongly in support of this legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EFor us, we would never have brought this bill to this Parliament if our communities didn\u2019t ask us to. We are doing this because we are in a position to be able to change the laws of this country, but, fundamentally, as a cross-party women\u2019s group, we stand as representatives of women in our communities. And it\u2019s my absolute pleasure as the co-chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians to give voice to those women who want to change the future for our girls. So I\u2019m incredibly proud of what we\u2019re doing today, and 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=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022 data-id=\u00229ba17c9e3ac3498c853047a2f96f9364\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229ba17c9e3ac3498c853047a2f96f9364\u0022\u003EJENNY MARCROFT (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s an absolute pleasure to be part of this historic day as together we unite to support women and young girls. This piece of legislation gives graphic detail about female genital mutilation, and from the dictionary \u201Cmutilate\u201D means to damage something severely, especially by violently removing a part.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003EThere is no easy way to talk about female genital mutilation. I am sure for those girls, particularly the young girls and those women who have this procedure performed on them, sometimes by their mothers\u2014and even though they think it is the right thing to do, both the mothers and the girls, it is still a violent act. As we mark 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence, we need to stand up against violence against women and girls. And today we are doing that here, united in this House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003ENow, this bill will amend the Crimes Act 1961 to update the definition of \u201Cfemale genital mutilation\u201D, as we call it; a much easier, more palatable way: FGM. And we will ensure that all types of FGM are illegal in New Zealand. So this bill will ensure that all women and girls are protected from all forms of FGM. I\u2019d like to acknowledge my co-sponsors of this bill: Jo Hayes, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, as well as Golriz Ghahraman. A thankyou also goes to Louisa Wall, co-chair of the Commonwealth women\u2019s parliamentary group.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003EThroughout the course of learning about FGM, I found that I thought about my own daughter and imagined what it would be like for her if this was a practice common to New Zealand, and I\u2019m just horrified to even think about it. The fact that FGM is the belief that it prevents a young girl, a young woman, from being promiscuous\u2014it\u2019s hard to imagine. The fact that it actually curtails a woman\u2019s sexuality\u2014it\u2019s unbelievable in my reckoning. To kill off a sexual desire that a woman may experience, it\u2019s not where we\u2019re at today in 2019. FGM is a clear breach of the UN\u2019s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is against the law in New Zealand, and we are tightening up that law today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003ELouisa Wall mentioned male circumcision. With FGM there is no medical benefit in female circumcision. So that\u2019s something that we need to think about. It\u2019s all about violating a young woman, a young girl, and we just must stop it right now. Our legislation is currently 30 years old, and so that\u2019s why we need to make sure that it becomes consistent and updated with the World Health Organization definition. Type four FGM will now be included with this amendment and type four includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, and cauterising the genital area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003EType four has been performed. Back in 2011, there was a case of a young Indonesian girl where type four was performed while away on a holiday overseas, but there was no prosecution that could be made under existing FGM legislation because it did not include type four. So the legislation that we pass through this House will, in fact, ensure that that form of FGM will become illegal as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s important to note that to empower and uplift women, education must happen. And so the FGM Education Programme has been very uplifting and Louisa Wall went into great detail about that. So I would like to also mention that as well in my contribution. Empowering these women in their communities so that they can live wholesome, full lives in every manner possible, including a sexual life\u2014that is important and that\u2019s something that we can all share today in giving voice to these women. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003EThis bill brings to light the human rights of girls and women. FGM is a manifestation of gender inequality and the empowerment of women is of utmost importance to the elimination of this practice. I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022 data-id=\u00223c71abc2296c44d2bc484593f17994e6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223c71abc2296c44d2bc484593f17994e6\u0022\u003EGOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a pleasure to rise and speak to this bill, because today we across this House stand together and declare our commitment to the protection of all women and girls. This bill is a signal that no level of abuse, no level of harm, is going to be tolerated in our law against any woman and especially against young girls. So we are beginning the process of amending the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill to bring it into line with what the World Health Organization says is a harmful practice. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003EUntil now, we\u2019ve been criminalising female genital mutilation (FGM) of the most serious form, but we haven\u2019t been eliminating all forms of harm and degradation because we know that other so-called lesser types of mutilation exist, so-called ceremonial types of harm exist, and that derives from the cultural belief that women and girls do have to be subjugated to some form of harm in order to be\u2014whether it\u2019s desirable as a marriage partner or, in fact, just under the control of a patriarchy. We know that that kind of practice exists in all cultures in different forms, but today we are beginning the process of outlawing any kind of cut, piercing, pricking\u2014any harmful practice\u2014and that\u2019s the definition that we\u2019re adopting now to genitalia.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003EBut it has to be said that while we stand here and say that no incursion on our bodily integrity is to be tolerated, no kind of harm is tolerable no matter who inflicts it and in what context, we are, in fact, amplifying the voices from within those affected communities. This is lawmaking by the affected communities for the affected communities, because it has been they who have staunchly fought for this. It has been men and women, feminists from within the affected communities who have been educating us, educating within their communities, educating the globe about this harmful and degrading practice. And they\u2019ve been calling not just for culture change, which is something we all do as politicians and activists\u2014we do have to fight for cultural change to win equality for women and for other marginalised communities; that\u2019s what they\u2019ve been doing\u2014but also specifically for this law change. So I do want to acknowledge them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge, as others have, the FGM education trust and the community leaders that have come together, as Louisa has just listed: the Somali community, the Eritrean community, the Indonesian community, the Ethiopian community, and the Kurdish community. They have come together to support us bringing this law change through, and I do want to stop and acknowledge that, because often when we talk about things like FGM, the debate does degrade into an attack on certain cultures over others, and this isn\u2019t how this bill will go because it is being led by affected communities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022abf27403-4392-47c9-9af0-6773753e95cb\u0022\u003EWe know that in New Zealand, we ourselves are living an epidemic of domestic and sexual violence, of gender-based violence, and that equality for women is still a fight that we are fighting within our culture, across different groups. This is one fight that we\u2019re winning today and I want to acknowledge the women, the co-sponsors across this House who I share this absolute privilege and humbling honour with, who have come together. It\u2019s every party. It\u2019s the National Party, the Labour Party, New Zealand First, and the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand standing together as women and men voting through this change for equality. I think what we\u2019re saying today is that we none of us are safe or equal or empowered until we all of us are safe and empowered and equal. So I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u0022314538b959d24364896db7411e08e72f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022314538b959d24364896db7411e08e72f\u0022\u003EHon ANNE TOLLEY (National\u2014East Coast):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s a pleasure to stand and talk to this bill. Can I start by paying tribute to the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians group, co-chaired by Jo Hayes and Louisa Wall, who have worked very hard to focus and drive the cross-party work, the result of which we see here in the House today, and ensured at the same time, as Golriz Ghahraman and others have said, that we have represented the voices of other women in our community who want us on their behalf to make a change and who want us to work together to make that change. So it is with some pride that we all stand here in the House on this quite historic day, when we see a bill for the very first time in this House with four names on it rather than one name.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EI want to thank the Business Committee\u2014which, of course, is made up of representatives of all the parties in this Parliament\u2014who have enabled that to happen. It hasn\u2019t been an easy path, but they have enabled that and they have supported that right through the process. I also want to thank the agencies\u2014and they\u2019ve already been mentioned\u2014that have been in the background, ensuring that this bill was not an attack on a particular culture but rather was the voice of women coming through, saying this is a change we want to see made, and, again, we want it made by Parliament and by the women that work together in Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003ESo we\u2019ve heard that the bill updates the definition of female genital mutilation in New Zealand\u2019s Crimes Act and brings it into line with the World Health Organization classifications and what is commonly accepted internationally as best practice. But it does more than that, because we are making it very clear that in New Zealand, we see this as violence against women. We are standing together here in this Parliament to say that that is intolerable and that we in New Zealand, in our laws, are not going to tolerate that in any way, shape, or form. It is an abuse, it is cruel, and it can be fatal. Throughout many countries, the victims can die from blood loss, they can die from infection, and, of course, they can die, and do die, from subsequent complications.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EI just want to use my last couple of minutes to acknowledge a woman that I read about in the newspaper recently, and I saved the cutting because I was so impressed. I apologise to her relations, because she has died. She died last month, and her name is Bogaletch Gebre\u2014I think is how you pronounce it. She\u2019s an Ethiopian woman. She\u2019s about the same age as me, but they\u2019re not quite sure when she actually was born. She had no birth certificate. In her Ethiopian village, she was mutilated at the request of her mother, who cried, who didn\u2019t want it done but realised that it needed to be done. But she went on to educate herself and then went back to Ethiopia, and she started an agency that then worked with her communities. The interesting thing about her was that she didn\u2019t seek change by demonstrations or confrontation; she sought to make change by what she described as community conversations. In other words, she worked with her communities to educate them, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s so good to be supporting the FGM education trust, who are doing exactly that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EAlso, the agency that she founded involved men and women, because this isn\u2019t just a women\u2019s issue\u2014there\u2019s no such thing, actually, as women\u2019s issues. They are issues that affect the men and the women in our communities, and we need to have them both involved in that fight against violence against women and girls. So she had remarkable success in the villages that she worked through, and her death is deeply regretted. I did want to pay tribute to her as one of a number of women that have gone back to work in their communities and the women that are working with our New Zealand communities to educate them that this is an abuse, this is cruel, and this is not needed or wanted in our New Zealand communities. I have pleasure in commending this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u0022c0d64dbff4584785b1c7941d77e5c71a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c0d64dbff4584785b1c7941d77e5c71a\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Speaker, thank you. I want to thank the members in whose name this bill is sponsored for this momentous occasion. This bill ostensibly updates the definition of the legislation to match what is international best practice, but it is so much more than that. This bill demonstrates New Zealand\u2019s ability to lead the world in supporting legislation to reduce inequities for women.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EWith this bill being a multi-members\u2019 bill, I want to thank Jenny Marcroft, Golriz Ghahraman, Jo Hayes\u2014I wanted to leave Jo till last, actually\u2014Priyanca Radhakrishnan, and Jo Hayes, because their strength of character to work collectively, to demonstrate it, and to allow for each of us as parties and women to celebrate and share in that is extraordinary. But there are two other women that are notable in this. One is my friend Louisa Wall, who has driven a lot of this kaupapa for many, many years, and the other woman I would like to thank is the Hon Anne Tolley, because, behind the scenes, the Hon Anne Tolley has navigated the parliamentary processes and supported it in a way that only she can, with her mana and her respect, to allow this process to occur.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EI am the recent past chair of the New Zealand Parliamentarians\u2019 Group on Population and Development, and I recently had the honour of leading the delegation to the International Conference on Population Development, ICPD25, which is 25 years since the United Nations made the first declaration to support population development in Cairo. Twenty-five years on, nations from around the world\u20149,500 delegates\u2014met to reconfirm their commitment to the agenda for population development. At that conference, on the very first day, the president of Kenya, President Kenyatta, stood up and said he made the commitment that FGM would be outlawed in Kenya by the year 2022\u2014an extraordinary statement with which to start the conference.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EThis conference was extraordinary, in that we openly discussed LGBTQI rights. We openly discussed the issues of trans rights. We stood for a minute\u2019s silence to recognise those trans people that had died the year before. I want to say: the context is we are in Africa, where Ethiopia and Somalia on the top and eastern border of Kenya have up to 98 percent FGM. So there is an African country standing up for the rights of those women. We also made a commitment to the three zeros by 2030: zero maternal deaths; zero unmet need for family planning, which includes safe abortion; and zero gender-based violence, which includes harmful practices such as FGM.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EOn the last evening that we were there, I hosted a little function for a couple of Kiwis who are doing some plant and food research there, and they told me a story, and I want to share this story. It\u2019s about a woman who works with them. As a young girl, she heard the aunties come to the village, and she heard the screams of the other young girls who were having the FGM practice upon them by the aunties, and she managed to escape for a few hours. She left the village. When she came back, her father made the choice to take her and her four sisters away from this practice and away from this village. So she didn\u2019t actually get FGM. Her father made the decision to educate his daughters, and they have a life that\u2019s different from many other women in Africa because of it. Now this woman is a plant technician working for a couple of New Zealand guys in Kenya and making a great life for herself. Why I tell that story is that those two gentlemen were so moved by that that they made a commitment to Kenyan women from that point on to help them be educated. So they use this woman who works for them as a plant technician to educate other women about FGM.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EI want to commend New Zealand women parliamentarians\u2014the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians but the women in this House. You are just amazing. Thank you so much. I\u2019m so proud of you all. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000487\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\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022 data-id=\u00227c3fd7a769c74d7fb9a8c5d5463bfb05\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227c3fd7a769c74d7fb9a8c5d5463bfb05\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (National\u2014Taup\u014D):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am very pleased to rise and speak in this amendment bill, which for those who are just listening or watching for the first time, this is parliamentary history being made today. It\u2019s being made because this is a piece of legislation that\u2019s being introduced on a members\u2019 day, which is actually a multi-member piece of legislation. The critical work that\u2019s happened behind the scenes has happened with the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians New Zealand group, of which I am proudly a member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003ESo this is a bill that\u2019s jointly sponsored by four women members of Parliament: Jo Hayes is the National member, Priyanca Radhakrishnan from Labour, Jenny Marcroft from New Zealand First, and Golriz Ghahraman from the Greens. It is really important because so much of what the public hear about what happens in Parliament, unfortunately, is the areas that we disagree on. I\u2019m very pleased that today, as we debate in the first reading, the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill, there is wide-ranging support for this piece of legislation being introduced.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EA number of people have raised with me almost a level of surprise about the fact that this is a piece of legislation before the New Zealand Parliament. So I do want to just reiterate the fact that New Zealand actually classified female genital mutilation as illegal in 1996; so there was an amendment to the Crimes Act back then. But this piece of legislation is now bringing it even more up to date because the current definition is limited and outdated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EWe want to make sure that girls in New Zealand, no matter their cultural background or their country of origin, are protected from what is unfortunately a very barbaric act of violence against them. It is primarily children. They are girls that this practice\u2014and actually the element of it that I think is important to note, even if a girl or female agrees to the practice, it doesn\u2019t protect those from the law. So it is a really important piece of legislation for New Zealand in progressing the rights of girls and women in this country, but also incredibly critical and historic in that it is a multi-member piece of legislation that we are introducing and doing the first reading on a members\u2019 day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EI have to be honest and say, when I first became a member of Parliament 11 years ago, this issue was something that was being discussed, and I sort of thought, \u201CWell, that\u2019s actually not an issue in New Zealand.\u201D Naively I had thought that this wasn\u2019t an issue that New Zealand girls faced but it absolutely is. It has very long roots in history, in cultural, social, and religious beliefs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EThe reality is New Zealand is a country that has a very proud tradition of supporting women and their rights. I\u2019d love to say that we\u2019re there. We\u2019ve still got, unfortunately, a long way to go. But this is a very important action and it is an action. When you pass a piece of legislation it is a very important action that you are committing to, and it has been committed to with four members of Parliament, four women members of Parliament from four political parties. I don\u2019t think there is a stronger message that you can send to the New Zealand public, for those that come to New Zealand\u2014they might be coming as refugees, they might be coming as immigrants to this country\u2014who see this as a land of opportunity, which it absolutely is. Part of that opportunity is, though, totally and absolutely protecting girls from this level of sexual violence. We are saying as a New Zealand Parliament, men and women alike, this practice will not be tolerated. It will not be accepted in New Zealand. I think that this is a very, very strong message that we are sending.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003ESo it is important that we are very clear about the fact that there are zero health benefits from female genital mutilation. So despite what some people may say, there are zero health benefits. It harms girls and women in physical, emotional, and mental ways, and that is not something that we will tolerate in this country. I\u2019m just hoping in the period of months ahead of us, where this goes through the process of every piece of legislation, there will be scrutiny. I\u2019m hoping in the select committee that it manages to go through a reasonably swift passage so that when this law is passed we are able to protect even more girls and women in New Zealand. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022 data-id=\u00221cde0a75464d4ec1ab0d3daaf6bfd958\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221cde0a75464d4ec1ab0d3daaf6bfd958\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you. I rise to take a call on this really special bill today. It\u2019s a special day in Parliament. We have a bill that has come from our Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians. As we\u2019ve heard, it\u2019s been sponsored by four women across the House in collaboration and agreement. But the important thing to note is, of course, that it\u2019s come from all parties in this House. These four women of colour have sponsored the bill, which is, in fact, historical, not only for the four parties that are represented but actually we do have a little slice of diversity that enables this House to do this, and I want to acknowledge that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EThis bill also sits within the 16 days of activism on violence against women. The 16 days of activism are very dear to my heart. I think every day should be a day of activism against violence, but at least we have a formal 16 days. Female genital mutilation (FGM), is a form of violence perpetrated at the centre of us as women and girls. I mean that literally and figuratively.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EI\u2019m humbled that as a P\u0101keh\u0101 woman I have the opportunity to add my voice into this important debate. I want to specifically acknowledge my good friend and the Labour sponsor of this bill Priyanca Radhakrishnan. Priyanca has championed this bill at our caucus and, with her work alongside the ethnic community, is a passionate advocate around issues to do with sexual health and reproductive rights and gender-based violence prevention.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EI want to pause and acknowledge today that I recognise that it is my privilege to speak when the voice of others who\u2019ve been pivotal in this work are silent. I acknowledge the organisations who have helped us come to this place. I acknowledge the many, many women affected around the world. FGM is a global issue. FGM affects over 200 million women. Every day 6,000 women, 6,000 girls, are affected and undergo this horrific act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ETalking about this act in this House is difficult and it\u2019s somewhat triggering for me, because I think about the fact that many of us here have no experience of FGM, but we also know that one in four women are affected by sexual violence in this country. As a consequence, this conversation may trigger many of those women as well. It\u2019s, as I said, a global issue, affecting 200 million women, and, in fact, 30 million girls under the age of 15 are estimated to be at risk from now until 2026\u201430 million girls. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EIt is my great pleasure to stand tonight and to acknowledge that this is a global issue; one that we here in this Parliament think is important, and one that we will, in fact, be working closely across the entire House to resolve the issue that we accidentally left out one part of the definition under the World Health Organization, which talked, briefly, about the pricking, the piercing, the incising, the scraping, and the cauterising of the genital area. It makes me feel almost ill to say those words. So I am delighted to stand in this House, and I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022 data-id=\u00222116989e468f440cb9288a770f6cc606\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222116989e468f440cb9288a770f6cc606\u0022\u003EHon NICKY WAGNER (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I too am very pleased to support this joint members\u2019 bill against female genital mutilation. I think it\u2019s exciting that this is a new way to bring a bill into the House, and I congratulate the MPs Joanne Hayes, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Jenny Marcroft, and Golriz Ghahraman, and, of course, all members of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians New Zealand group for the work that they did to get the bill to the House and for introducing a new collaborative and innovative way of legislating.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EThe vast majority of New Zealanders consider female genital mutilation (FGM) an appalling practice. It\u2019s dangerous, unhealthy, and an abuse of young girls. It\u2019s often carried out in the name of culture and tradition, and it\u2019s an example of a tradition that is violent and barbaric and has long outlived any rational argument for its use.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EI visited Ethiopia earlier this year with the Speaker\u2019s tour and with the previous speaker, Angie Warren-Clark. We met with many women and women\u2019s groups to discuss issues that concern them. There are over 6 million people, mostly families, women, and young children, presently displaced in Ethiopia, and life is enormously difficult: living in camps with poor access to healthcare, poor access to food, and generally a really unsafe lifestyle. Children suffer from malnutrition and poor health, and there\u2019s a huge number of children who are stunted because of the lack of quality food. Stunted girls have lifelong problems with their health and particularly struggle in childbirth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EWe went to a place called the Hamlin Fistula Trust, which was set up by a New Zealander, Dr Reginald Hamlin, which was there to repair the damage to young women that was done in childbirth. We visited their hospital, we met with the young women, and we saw for ourselves what remarkable work they were doing and how it changed the lives of these young women. We were also told that in Ethiopia, almost 60 percent of young girls suffered from the custom of genital mutilation, and particularly those in rural areas and villages.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EA woman\u2019s life after FGM is compromised\u2014compromised by pain, often infection, and with a reduced quality of life. In some cases, women are disabled for life, and some even die. We all understand that violence against women and girls is totally unacceptable in any way, and this is a particularly intimate and debilitating form of abuse that cannot be tolerated. As we\u2019ve heard, over 200 million women in the world today have undergone female genital mutilation, and 3 million young girls\u2014and I mean young; mostly under 15\u2014are abused in this way every year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EI want to make it very clear: there are no health benefits of FGM. It harms girls and women in every way. It\u2019s practised in over 30 countries in various forms using different tools and methods, but all are intrusive, dangerous, and debilitating.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003ENow, FGM has been illegal in New Zealand since 1996, but the current definition is limited and needs to be updated. This legislation will align with the World Health Organization recommendations and best-practice advice. It will raise the issue of female genital mutilation in New Zealand. It will highlight its danger and our abhorrence of the practice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EI believe that all New Zealanders want to protect young girls and women, whether they\u2019re here or internationally, and this bill will highlight this issue. It will help protect them from this form of abuse in the future. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022 data-id=\u002238126dae34ec4c90a01b55f02c576dc2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002238126dae34ec4c90a01b55f02c576dc2\u0022\u003EANAHILA KANONGATA\u2019A-SUISUIKI (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s an absolute privilege to lend my voice to this very important bill that\u2019s historical in this House. I stand here as the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Pacific region chair, which New Zealand is part of\u2014of 13 countries in the Pacific.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge the sponsors of the bill\u2014the leadership of Joanne Hayes, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Jenny Marcroft, Golriz Ghahraman\u2014and, of course, our co-chair of the New Zealand branch of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Louisa Wall for her courage in terms of her contribution to where we are right now. I also want to extend my thanks to all the members of the Business Committee\u2014who, through their leadership, have enabled this process to happen\u2014and every member of this House, because when Joanne Hayes had put this motion to the House, one member could have opposed it and, even including the member for Botany, Jami-Lee Ross, did not oppose this. So I want to acknowledge that leadership, because that\u2019s the sort of behaviour we as a country are looking for. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003EWhen our Prime Minister stands on the world stage and talks about manaakitanga, and stands here welcoming new New Zealanders as refugees talking about manaakitanga, she\u2019s talking about compassion. She\u2019s talking about aroha. She\u2019s talking about care. This bill\u2014I\u2019d just like to remind everybody\u2014the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill is an example of what that is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003EWho are we, really? Who are we to tell another culture that we disagree with their practice? Who are we to do that? I want to acknowledge the Hon Anne Tolley. She spoke about the woman\u2014and I want to honour her memory\u2014Bogaletch Gebre, an Ethiopian human rights activist and scientist who passed away recently who was the champion of women\u2019s rights against female genital mutilation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003EThe reason why I bring that to this House is because I want to put into perspective the courage of this woman and her memory\u2014what she\u2019s left behind. We\u2019ve heard from people in this House. The Hon Poto Williams spoke about it. She said that there are about 200 million women in the world who have gone through this, but the population of Ethiopia is 112 million. To put into perspective the courage of this woman is that this is the 12th ranked highest-population country in the world and 98 percent of women\u2014girls and women\u2014have had this experience and are scarred by female genital mutilation, this practice. Really, who are we\u2014a country of, is it just over four million?\u2014to tell the 12th most-populated country in the world that this is a practice we\u2019re against? Well, it is because we believe in doing what\u2019s right. We are a country who\u2019s known for her courage in doing what\u2019s right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003EI have had three children, and for all three I\u2019ve had an operation. In that operation\u2014I think we call them caesarean\u2014I have had all the services available to me. I have had\u2014what\u2019s that word, in terms of numbing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228446cccf22364cdea21ea95aa5d27806\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Anaesthetic. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002218b0066418294689bd384cdb75c7d8a0\u0022\u003EANAHILA KANONGATA\u2019A-SUISUIKI\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve had that. But to think\u2014and I woke up, and there\u2019s the baby nice and well, surrounded by this health system, who is second to none in the world, I believe\u2014our health system is second to none. I\u2019ve woken up well taken care of, and, if I\u2019m in pain, I get something for that too. But to think that girls, women, millions and millions, experience this trauma\u20146,000 a day experience this trauma. We cannot, as a country, just sit here and say that it doesn\u2019t involve us. New New Zealanders who come into this country with the practice need us to demonstrate our aroha.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003EOn that note\u2014I know I\u2019m running out of time\u2014I just want to acknowledge everybody in this House for your respectful behaviour in this k\u014Drero around this practice that we must stand against. I commend this bill to the House. I\u2019d like to remind everybody that the bill is sponsored by four members\u2014and we could have had six, but there are just some things where it needs to be just the women\u2019s voice. Ka kite.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u0022ec7c94e535824c59a59c950fb1335ff7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ec7c94e535824c59a59c950fb1335ff7\u0022\u003EMAUREEN PUGH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I have pleasure tonight, too, in standing up in support of the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill in its first reading. I acknowledge my colleague Jo Hayes, who introduced the bill earlier today as co-chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP). I acknowledge the other co-chair, Louisa Wall, and all the other cross-party members of CWP who have recognised the need to make amendments to the Crimes Act 1961. It\u2019s the first time that legislation has been introduced into this House in the name of MPs from multiple parties. It\u2019s a tangible example of the value of cross-party work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EWe heard evidence from women from the FGM Education Programme, who\u2019ve been supporting other women who have had the female genital mutilation (FGM) procedures. If this House had seen the photos that we were shown, you would know that anything we can do to prevent this happening to girls, we must. These practices have absolutely no place in New Zealand society. It is cruel. It leaves young girls permanently maimed and at constant risk of infection and pain.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EThe World Health Organization estimates that there are about 140 million women in the world who have had FGM, from removal of the clitoral hood to the whole excision of the external genitalia, before the vagina is sewn up, with only a small hole left for urine and menstrual blood. It can be performed on females from babies through to young teens in the belief that this girl will grow up clean, her honour intact along with her virginity, as a way of preparing her for marriage. This happens to 3 million girls a year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EFGM is also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision. The practice is found in 27 African countries and in Asia and in the Middle East. But it isn\u2019t only something that happens in those countries. There is now a helpline set up in the UK to support girls at risk of FGM in that country. One study estimates that there are 66,000 women in England and Wales who are living with FGM, and 20,000 girls are at risk. It happens in the immigrant communities, because those communities tend to stick together and they bring their customs with them. Now, the child doesn\u2019t know any different, so they simply do what they think is the right thing by their parents.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EThis bill is actually quite small and it expands the definition to a fourth definition to accompany the three that are already in the Crimes Act 1961, which made it illegal to perform\u2014and I quote\u2014\u201Cany medical or surgical procedure or mutilation of the vagina or clitoris of any person for reasons of culture, religion, custom, or practice.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EI was inspired by a couple of women myself. One I\u2019d like to pay tribute to: Diane Howe, before she passed away, was a very strong advocate for FGM procedures being banned across the world. But the other one was a book I read called Desert Flower, and that was the autobiography of Waris Dirie. Now, she was about five years old when she was left for several days in a make shift shelter in the Somali desert to recover from her operation. Like all the girls in her community, she was left with no water, there was no anaesthetic, there were no antibiotics, and certainly no pain relief. She had undergone FGM. Dirie says she lay there talking to God, saying, \u201CMake me stay alive, you owe me this now.\u201D Waris Dirie ran away from her life in the African desert just after she turned 13 and had been promised as a wife to a 60-year-old man. She was illiterate and poor, and all she had with her was a ragged old shawl. She travelled alone across the desert to Mogadishu, and this was the first leg of an amazing journey for this young woman, who became an internationally renowned fashion model, and then, ultimately, went to New York City where she became the human rights ambassador for the United Nations for the elimination of female genital mutilation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EAs she said, as long as the problem stays under cover, then nothing much happens, or at least not fast enough; if we put it into the open, if it\u2019s on TV and in the newspaper, if we have politicians and religious leaders talking about it and saying \u201CNo\u201D, then we fight it together. We in this New Zealand Parliament are fighting it together today. I commend this bill to the House. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022 data-id=\u0022ad3ce8ac22ff47f794fb16b5e14b0f19\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ad3ce8ac22ff47f794fb16b5e14b0f19\u0022\u003EDr LIZ CRAIG (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s an absolute pleasure to rise and stand in support of this bill with my colleagues across the House because female genital mutilation (FGM) is a global sexual and reproductive health issue and also a human rights issue for many, many, many millions of women across the globe. Basically, for us as a country, it\u2019s incredibly important that we align our definitions of FGM with the World Health Organization and with international best practice so that we can stand alongside those millions of other women that are affected by FGM both in New Zealand and across the globe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to just start by acknowledging the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians for bringing us to this point. As you\u2019ve heard today, this is a first for us here in Parliament, having four different MPs coming to introduce this bill, and so, basically, the symbolism of women MPs from National, from Labour, from the Greens, and from New Zealand First, standing together and lending our support to the elimination of FGM. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003EI\u2019d also like to acknowledge the role of the FGM Education Programme and the FGM community educators, who have actively been advocating for this legislation to be updated for a number of years now, and also for the work they\u2019ve been doing in communities locally that are affected by FGM, and, basically, not only to improve the outcomes of women who are affected but also to make sure that FGM doesn\u2019t occur here in New Zealand. As I said, FGM is a global issue affecting about 200 million women worldwide. Because of our role as part of that global community, increasing numbers of women who have undergone FGM are now living here with us in New Zealand. So thinking through the role that the FGM Education Programme has not only in awareness raising and education but also equipping health professionals who are going to be looking after women who have undergone FGM during pregnancy and during childbirth so that they\u2019ve got clear guidance and guidelines about any next steps in terms of walking beside those women during those times in their lives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003EAs we know, FGM was made illegal in New Zealand in 1996 via an amendment to the Crimes Act. I think the sense at the time, and still now, is that basically FGM is a form of discrimination against women and it reflects underlying gender inequalities in society and also the huge amount of harm that it can cause to women and young girls in terms of the huge side-effect profile.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003EThe other thing is that usually it\u2019s performed at a very young age. I reflect back to my own time as a junior doctor working in obstetrics and gynaecology. One of my roles there was to obtain written informed consent from women that were in our care who were undergoing gynaecological procedures. We were trained that it was incredibly important that what we did with women was that we explained the procedure well and we weighed up the benefits, and, basically, talked about the benefits and what would actually happen, and also talked to them about the risks of those procedures, because we felt it was incredibly important that women had the ability to make an informed choice about whether, indeed, they went ahead with a procedure\u2014the ability to have informed consent. I think that\u2019s a fundamental right that many, many young girls in particular, but women across the globe are being denied; that ability to weigh up the risks and benefits and to say \u201CNo\u201D if they choose not to go ahead with a procedure that for them may well have no benefits.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003ESo, basically, why are we coming to update this Act now, as there has been no recent documented evidence that FGM is actually occurring and being practised here in New Zealand? I think the importance of it, as I\u2019ve already mentioned, is that we are part of a global community, and so what is incredibly important is for us to make sure that young women, girls, women of any age here in New Zealand are protected from all forms of FGM here and also if they travel overseas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223c5917bd-9c2f-4bdf-af2f-b13cd1a2c8bb\u0022\u003EWhat this bill will be doing is updating the definitions of FGM, particularly to include the type four FGM, which is not currently covered under the Crimes Act, which relates to harmful procedures to the female genitalia, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, and cauterising the genital area. We\u2019ve already heard that some women travelling overseas, particularly the case of that young girl, were not fully covered because the definitions under this Act didn\u2019t fully protect them. So I think this is an incredibly important bill that brings us in line, in terms of our definitions, with the World Health Organization and with international best practice. I have no hesitation in commending this bill to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022 data-id=\u0022df771281892043bb8eb1962f2680bf83\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022df771281892043bb8eb1962f2680bf83\u0022\u003EJO HAYES (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. It has been a privilege to lead the first reading of this bill and to be able to stand and provide the right of reply. I am absolutely privileged to have heard the contributions from the members in the House today\u2014the way that they have openly shared their experiences of meeting women and girls who have experienced that abhorrent female genital mutilation action on their bodies and the sharing of the heartfelt stories that our MPs here today have come into this House and have openly given of all of their hearts. I want to say this has been a milestone for this Parliament in this sitting to have four of us being mentioned on the bill, a multi-member bill, and what I see with this Parliament is that all the significant bills that are about woman and children are always led out from the women MPs, and it\u2019s very humbling to see that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EI want to also add in around the contribution from Maureen Pugh around the visit that we had from the FGM education group. The pictures that we were shown from this group actually put female genital mutilation front and centre, and it was those pictures, the stories, that drove this bill. I can say honestly here that the person who drove it the hardest was Louisa Wall, the co-chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians. It was her who brought this group in, and the Somali group, and put this issue front and centre in front of all of us. To do what we\u2019re doing tonight, I think that we can all feel very honoured to be able to speak for these women.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EFinally, I want to also acknowledge David Seymour. I think Anahila talked a little bit about David. David wanted to be on our bill, but for obvious reasons\u2014but he supported us, and I just want to acknowledge him for supporting the process all the way through. I just say to him: keep in there with us all the way, David, because you\u2019re part and parcel of this historical time even though your name might not be on the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EI think, as we move through, as the Hon Louise Upston spoke in her presentation tonight in her contribution about how the select committee no doubt will do a very thorough job in their process but that the process should be as speedy as we can get it, because this is an important issue and it is something that we here have given of our time to these woman that are affected by female genital mutilation. I think to slow down would be a little bit of an insult to them. So that\u2019s not what we\u2019re here for. We\u2019re here to support them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EThis part of my contribution will be brief because it is the right of reply. I just want to thank everybody tonight for their contributions. I want to acknowledge the rest of the Commonwealth Woman Parliamentarians of New Zealand. You\u2019ve done a wonderful job. You can all be proud of yourselves as I am proud of you. I commend the bill to the House. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EBill read a first time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EBill referred to the Health Committee.\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=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002220542f23bcad47df8f3337dee0faa1c4\u0022\u003EDog Control (Category 1 Offences) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fb9fe043b612411da3505f2a50e62175\u0022\u003EIn Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022 data-id=\u0022cad5d489a21b4470b8c5a73627d7cb9a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225e6b7aaa-8157-4d5e-9940-1bdbcd61ae95\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cad5d489a21b4470b8c5a73627d7cb9a\u0022\u003EALASTAIR SCOTT (National\u2014Wairarapa):\u003C/span\u003E I seek leave for all provisions to be taken as one debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022 data-id=\u002242df2074a4734d768e9b46c2319cd559\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002242df2074a4734d768e9b46c2319cd559\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson)\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002293fd1152a4b0463cbd19cad5f70933de\u0022\u003EClauses 1 to 4\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022 data-id=\u002297adc1830f844070a50e6385f8e8f3c9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002297adc1830f844070a50e6385f8e8f3c9\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT (National\u2014Hamilton East):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. It gives me great pleasure to rise on the Dog Control (Category 1 Offences) Amendment Bill, particularly on behalf of my colleague Ian McKelvie, who normally would have been here because this is his bill. Unfortunately, Ian can\u2019t be here tonight, but members of the National Party and other parties, I\u2019m sure, will be here to support that fine member in his bill here tonight.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EThis bill is a simple bill in the sense that it enables justices of the peace and community magistrates rather than District Court judges to hear cases in regard to these issues of category 1 offences under the Act. Now, that may seem to be a very small change, but it actually will enable the freeing up of District Court judges\u2019 time. Some people may consider that that time would be very minor in case but, when you look at the number of cases that come before the courts, we see that there were 465 charges placed under the Dog Control Act in 2016, and 427 of those were category 1 offences. So that, effectively, will take 427 cases that, potentially, could be heard by justices of the peace or community magistrates.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIt is for the type of case that is a category 1 offence\u2014so it would go through the criminal justice system and before a court\u2014but most people would consider that it would be a situation that can be dealt with other than by a District Court judge\u2014namely, a justice of the peace or community magistrate. Mr McKelvie, in this case, has identified an area in the law where there had been a requirement that it would go through a higher level of scrutiny in the court system when it is, in fact, a case of public opinion that could easily have been dealt with by a lower level of scrutiny\u2014namely, a justice of the peace or community magistrate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIn effect, Mr McKelvie is saving the court system time, and by doing that he is enabling\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223d643096b3c647c28d419d65018f2f90\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: Very worthwhile.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022065b088d281e4309bf5c91a5ee77b3a5\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: A very worthwhile ambition, as Mr Chris Penk says, and Mr Chris Penk is our courts spokesperson, so he will have a very good and strong understanding of what that will mean in saving time for our District Court judges.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIt, effectively, means that our District Court judges can hear other cases in a more timely way, and some people may consider, well, what does that actually mean? But there are a lot of people out there who go through our court and justice system who wait a long time for their case to be heard, and if they can have that case heard earlier and in a quicker and more timely manner, it enables them to actually deal with any issues that they may have created in their own lives. It may enable them to get the help that they need through a sentence that may be attributed to that person. It may enable victims to feel that they have had a better response to the situation than if they\u2019d been waiting for a court case to be heard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ESo there are a lot of downstream effects from this bill that are not obvious in the title, which is around dog control, because it will enable members of the public that have committed an offence to actually get help earlier. That is a big part of this parliamentary system: to enable people to get the assistance that they need. So Mr McKelvie has, in effect, helped a lot of people by simplifying the rules around the Dog Control (Category 1 Offences) Amendment Bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EFirst of all, I would also like to just acknowledge that Mr McKelvie has a history of dog legislation, whether it is, in fact, this legislation or the cattle rustling legislation that he has been known for to go through this Parliament as well. So he\u2019s been a very lucky man in the sense of drawing bills that have a very rural focus but actually a practical focus. I think that we all consider the kaum\u0101tua of the House to have a very practical sense to what he does.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ENow, the Primary Production Committee received and considered 13 submissions on this bill, and recommended that it be passed with certain amendments.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022 data-id=\u00227fb760505e0b4dab8fdb0b29829122c7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227fb760505e0b4dab8fdb0b29829122c7\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson)\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, I thought the member was going to take another call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022 data-id=\u002211ab802249c74d8e9fec59198259ebdf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002211ab802249c74d8e9fec59198259ebdf\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just want to start by reassuring you that I am not standing tonight, as I often do, to have a crack at David Bennett. I\u2019m standing tonight to speak in favour of this bill. And, out of respect of the bill\u2019s sponsor, Ian McKelvie, I\u2019ll be sticking to the bill because I, on behalf of the Labour Party, will be the only speaker tonight speaking on this, because, whilst we are here in the committee stage, we support this bill wholeheartedly. We feel there is no need for further changes. The Primary Production Committee discussed this in detail. We worked well together. Mr McKelvie has put forward a common-sense and straightforward bill that will benefit not only dog owners but also the court system as well. Those low-level offences that don\u2019t need to clog up our system can be dealt with by magistrates and JPs and the like, and this bill will allow them to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EOf course, as the previous speaker, David Bennett, has mentioned, the District Courts\u2014the active criminal cases in front of them have increased from 28,000, in 2013-14, to an incredible increase of around 35,000 in 2016-17. What we also saw\u2014and I don\u2019t think this has been covered in the previous reading of this bill\u2014is that it was actually the changes under the previous Government which saw various courts come under further strain. One that comes to mind is the Family Court. The National Government\u2019s Family Court reform, as it says here in my notes, resulted in lengthy delays and not enough judges. As at March 2018, there were 8,000 Care of Children Act cases waiting to be heard, up 30 percent in two years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003ENow, this bill\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227a588c09e0224df8a684e91b5af303c9\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson)\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not quite sure that this bill delivers much change in the Family Court system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227cfd7ff9c48c4d8e82c2f16805890b61\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY\u003C/span\u003E: If I may just simply explain, because, actually, the judges involved in that court will be freed up from having to deal with crossing over from the District Court into the Family Court, which is what we saw as a result of the changes\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b646a4d79a5a4f7fb2817ae66695c4e1\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: He\u2019s making a good point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275fd7210640040a8822959015ea77460\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014which is what I was just explaining. Thank you, Mr Bennett. I am making a good point. The point being, the reason that the Labour Party supports this\u2014in addition to it making sense, in addition to this being common sense\u2014is that Mr McKelvie has said to this Parliament that through this bill, the dog control bill here, he will, in some ways, relieve this country of the burden that National\u2019s reforms of the Family Court and many other courts have left this country in. The Labour Party wholeheartedly supports this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022 data-id=\u00222868c9cee47445aab0a25a8275b61f8c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222868c9cee47445aab0a25a8275b61f8c\u0022\u003EHAMISH WALKER (National\u2014Clutha-Southland):\u003C/span\u003E Can I start by acknowledging the sponsor of this bill, Ian McKelvie. He is a very good, practical, hard-working rural MP, and as the chair of the Primary Production Committee mentioned, Ian comes up with some very practical bills\u2014a lot around dogs, actually.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003ESo this is a very practical bill. What it does is it aims to do two things. One is it basically allows JPs to sit in as judges for very minor dog cases, and, secondly, it aims to improve animal welfare by basically getting the dogs out of the pound facilities earlier. If it takes, say, weeks or sometimes months for very simple and straightforward dog cases, if we can get a JP in there to hear the case within days, that should improve the animal welfare of the dog but also decrease the work or the strain on those pound facilities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EIt is important to note that more complex cases\u2014for example, dogs rushing at persons, animals, vehicles; orders relating to dogs seen worrying stock; or the destruction of dogs\u2014won\u2019t be seen by JPs. It\u2019s basically just for the very simple and straightforward cases. The select committee did ask the officials how many cases it would apply to over the past year, and it was around about, I believe, 15 percent of all dog cases before the courts that would be seen by JPs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003ECan I lastly finish by just acknowledging all the hard-working JPs out there. They do a wonderful job. A privilege I\u2019ve got as an electorate MP is that someone that wants to become a JP comes to your office. They are wonderful, community-minded people and, often, the glue of the community. So can I end there by just acknowledging all those hard-working JPs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u00223c4264a2e1504c2c8a0a98bfdb1cd025\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223c4264a2e1504c2c8a0a98bfdb1cd025\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. I just rise to read out New Zealand First\u2019s support for this Dog Control (Category 1 Offences) Amendment Bill. I too will acknowledge the sponsor of the bill, Ian McKelvie, who has been referenced earlier as one of, I think, the most highly respected MPs on both sides of the House. He\u2019s a man steeped in common sense, and a sensible bill like this is befitting his character.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EWe heard through the Primary Production Committee that there were 13 submissions, but, really, the guts of this is to try to take the burden off the District Courts for those lower-level offences. I think there\u2019s two parts of that. I think it\u2019ll allow, probably, those lower-level offences to be actually taken up, because there\u2019ll be a lot of people that won\u2019t want to drag a neighbour or something through the District Court, but they may be annoyed enough to want to take it to a JP. So it actually does give some justice for, perhaps, some neighbourly disputes, and the like.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI was just going through the category 1 offences, which will still be dealt with by the District Court, and I did note that \u201Cdogs rushing at [a person], animals, or vehicles\u201D is one of those category 1 offences. I guess my real question there is that our pet dog Snowy is a springer spaniel - collie cross and, much to my chagrin, he does actually take defending the family home quite seriously and does rush vehicles every now and again. I guess it may be slightly outside the scope of the bill, but I\u2019d like, maybe, the member in the chair, Alastair Scott, to reassure me that I will not come under the auspices of Strike Force Raptor for Snowy\u2019s indiscretions as the local stock agent comes up the drive. I would like some reassurance there, because I think there is some concern in the community at this heavy-handed approach.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EBut in terms of the rest of the bill, I think it\u2019s sensible. It does de-clog the court system, and it will allow people to probably take up some cases against neighbouring dogs that they may not have felt compelled to do under the more heavy-handed court system. So we really support this bill. It is a good, sensible bill, and befitting of the sponsor, so I look forward to this progressing through the Parliament. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u0022862b958157614322857d96055ccdfaae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022862b958157614322857d96055ccdfaae\u0022\u003EMAUREEN PUGH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thanks very much, Madam Chair. I too stand in support of my good friend and very old colleague, Ian McKelvie.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022480070af167e4a89af6bdb7d2e00717f\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Oh!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a1db64dc20b4b099a1e8850c3099de2\u0022\u003EMAUREEN PUGH\u003C/span\u003E: No, I did mean he\u2019s an old friend and good colleague. As Ian would attest, when you\u2019re involved in local government and you\u2019re talking about dogs, it\u2019s probably one of the most controversial things that you can talk about in local government\u2014that and library books.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EI note that this is a very simple bill, but it is a very practical one, and you would expect that from Ian McKelvie. One of the main aims of this is to eliminate the kind of time that is involved in the District Court. I\u2019m sure my colleague Chris Penk will agree that the last thing we need our courts to be clogged up with are very minor dog offences. That is not the best use of our court system, and we have a very fine set of other members in our community, our justices of the peace and our court magistrates, who are able to fill that void.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EI do note that in the submission that came in from the Royal Federation of New Zealand Justices\u2019 Associations, they do agree that there is capacity within their trained JPs now, of which there are about 260 across the country, to fill the gap and undertake the work that is required as a result of this bill. But I would ask the member in the chair, Alastair Scott, if there will be special training for those JPs so that they can undertake this new work, and who is responsible for the training for those JPs so that they understand the laws that they are going to be presiding over? So if the member is able to answer that, I would be very grateful\u2014if he was listening. That would be good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022057c65c2f2be47689bc324805987c8f5\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson)\u003C/span\u003E: You may wish to repeat the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3519a860c1a4da98711fc82a39e4d4c\u0022\u003EMAUREEN PUGH\u003C/span\u003E: Maybe he could get it in the Hansard. But I do note also that the submission from the Rangit\u012Bkei District Council also mentioned two clauses in there, and there appeared to be some conflict between the two. I don\u2019t know that it has actually been addressed in the bill, and I just wonder if the member had some idea about whether that conflict was addressed in the Primary Production Committee. It talks about section 32(2), which is excluded from the effect of these amendments, but section 33EC(1) is included, and they both talk about menacing dogs and dangerous dogs. One is excluded and one is included, so I just wonder how they\u2019re reconciled in terms of this new piece of legislation so that when they do come before the court\u2014have both been excluded or are both included now, because I couldn\u2019t find the reference to it in the draft bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EBut one of the things that I think we\u2019re going to see with this legislation, too, is that because we have the capacity now to hear these minor offences by JPs, we now eliminate the amount of time that animals will be spending in impounding facilities in the council dog pounds. What we know about those impounding facilities is that they cost a huge amount of money to run, and so those costs then have to be picked up by the people who own the dogs. So this is a very practical piece of legislation because we speed that up and we save people money. We save the courts time and the courts money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003ESo there are absolutely no issues with this bill at all, but just to reiterate: my first question that you may have missed, I say to the member in the chair, was around the JPs who will be presiding over these cases. The federation of JPs says that they have the capacity, the numbers, to undertake the work, but is there special training that will be made available to the justices so that they can adequately undertake the work that they will be required to do in the court system? So your wise counsel on that would be appreciated, I am sure, and this is basically the end of my contribution. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022 data-id=\u0022169c32395afa445b86796b2b06387884\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022169c32395afa445b86796b2b06387884\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson)\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Penk, you\u2019re not taking a call? Right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222463c6c366f54433971207bc4e4e911c\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Chair\u2014Madam Chair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d999dbb1ae3436a869d50c2cec45c2e\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson)\u003C/span\u003E: I call Chris Penk.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u0022e0f4cccd2b8f4baaa6243cd050664006\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e0f4cccd2b8f4baaa6243cd050664006\u0022\u003ECHRIS PENK (National\u2014Helensville):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. You asked for that, quite literally. Only one very brief question of the member in the chair, Alastair Scott, which is that I wonder if he\u2019ll finally be able to answer that question that many of us have asked since the early 2000s: who let the dogs out? Who? Who? Who? Who? Who?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EClauses 1 to 4 agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EHouse resumed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003EThe Chairperson reported the Dog Control (Category 1 Offences) Amendment Bill without amendment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\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=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228942c20974384d139cff69ca10e0ee64\u0022\u003EElectoral (Entrenchment of M\u0101ori Seats) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00229c8d55a23bc441e1843dc7b794f7b412\u0022\u003ESecond 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=\u0022298530c4ea514c30b41895d5e816209a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022298530c4ea514c30b41895d5e816209a\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Electoral (Entrenchment of M\u0101ori Seats) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EE Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. E t\u016B ana ahau ki te haut\u016B i Te Pire Whakatikatika P\u014Dti (Whakap\u016Bmautanga o ng\u0101 T\u016Bru M\u0101ori) i t\u0113nei p\u0101nuitanga tuarua. E ng\u0101 mema o Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E[Madam Speaker, greetings. I stand to lead the Electoral (Entrenchment of M\u0101ori Seats) Amendment Bill during this second reading. To the members of this House, greetings one and all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s a delight for me to speak as the sponsor of this bill at its second reading. This is a very simple bill. It\u2019s only four clauses long, but it is highly significant for M\u0101ori representation and the recognition of M\u0101ori representation in this House. Currently, the general electorate seats under our Electoral Act are entrenched, but our M\u0101ori seats are not, and there is no valid reason for that discrepancy. So I\u2019m delighted that this bill made it to select committee, and I want to acknowledge our coalition partners who supported my bill to select committee. I do want to acknowledge the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee for its examination of this bill, all members and, in particular, our acting chair who stood in my stead, our deputy chair, Marama Davidson, who ably chaired our committee as we considered this business.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EAs I said, it is a simple bill, but it\u2019s quite extraordinary how it has struck a nerve in terms of the feeling that is out there against so-called M\u0101ori privilege or M\u0101ori special rights that emerged through the submissions. I do want to acknowledge that we did receive many submissions. Those in favour were from up and down the country, from M\u0101ori, from P\u0101keh\u0101, from all groups\u2014hap\u016B, wh\u0101nau, communities, trade unions, the Human Rights Commission, some august academics and individuals\u2014who were in support of the bill. Likewise, I do want to acknowledge there were many individual submitters who opposed this bill. Conspicuously, those who opposed this bill had rather similar form submissions which emanated from groups like Hobson\u2019s Pledge and other similar groups, and they are conspicuously P\u0101keh\u0101, too. But, be that as it may, it is our right as a Parliament that we do examine and we do consider all of the different views in relation to this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EBut I want to really cut to the nub of this legislation. As I\u2019ve said, it\u2019s a simple bill. Currently, general electorates have an extra protection under our Electoral Act. It requires three-quarters\u2014a 75 percent majority\u2014of the Parliament to vote down or do away with any general electorate seats, and yet our M\u0101ori electorate seats, which have been a part of our Parliament and our constitutional arrangements for over 150 years, can be voted out and voted away by a simple majority of this House. Again, there is no real valid reason why we should be treated differently and have different treatment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI have been just trying to come from a very principled position, just to ensure that there are very strong arguments around equality and making sure that we are treated the same, and also very strong arguments around our rights as tangata whenua. The fact is that our M\u0101ori electorate seats in Parliament are a taonga. Basically, we wouldn\u2019t be here as M\u0101ori today in society in 2019 had it not been for M\u0101ori elected members of Parliament being able to make those advances for us as the indigenous tangata whenua of our nation. So, surely, in this day and age\u2014in 2019\u2014why shouldn\u2019t M\u0101ori electorate seats have the same protection as general seats? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThat is the question that has been posed. We\u2019ve heard a lot of views, obviously, to the contrary and, quite frankly, they don\u2019t stack up, in my book. We\u2019ve heard technical views around the view that \u201COh well, the electoral laws aren\u2019t really entrenched because not all the provisions are entrenched.\u201D\u2014we\u2019ve heard technical things around that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EWe heard arguments that \u201CWe already have too many M\u0101ori in Parliament.\u201D or \u201CThere are lots of M\u0101ori MPs in Parliament.\u201D\u2014and we do, and that\u2019s a great thing. Look, we don\u2019t have too many. We can always do with more\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd29e52ffebe469697b390abf70dfcbe\u0022\u003EHon Dr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: Too few\u2014too few. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207edda2118984774b94b95881bf61402\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014too few, indeed\u2014but we do have many M\u0101ori in Parliament. Just looking around our House this evening and around our M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, we have members representing their party lists and we have members that represent certain general electorates. So there is a great variety and number of M\u0101ori in this House\u2014as there, rightly, should be\u2014but the M\u0101ori seats are a taonga. They are special. They are a world-leading model of indigenous representation that we have had for over 150 years, and I believe that if we cannot ensure that we are treated the same here in 2019, it really reveals, I think, another side. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThere is a dark side. Dare I say it, there is racism that runs deep within our country, and that reared itself with the views that we heard from certain sections of certain interest groups\u2014very small interest groups, I might say. But that was on full display for all of us on the committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ESo this is a significant bill. It has been a significant day in Parliament, with our very first mixed-member bill on female genital mutilation, and, obviously, we\u2019ve also been chewing through quite a lot of heavy electoral legislation. But I like to think that with this piece of legislation, it has had very good scrutiny. It has a very strong, sound basis in fairness, in the Treaty, and in ensuring, basically, that M\u0101ori electorate seats can be treated the same and, therefore, we as tangata whenua in this House don\u2019t feel like \u201COh, we\u2019re inferior, because we can just be wiped aside and extinguished for ever just by a simple resolution of this House.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ESo I want to, just once again, reinforce that this is an important bill. There\u2019s a lot of history behind our M\u0101ori seats, and if I could just reach out to the other parties\u2014in particular, the National Party and New Zealand First\u2014I\u2019d say to try and put principle ahead of politics on this particular matter. I know that, obviously, there is a constituency out there that you want to appeal to and that you want to blow that dog whistle to, to send them the message that \u201CYes, we\u2019re going to keep these M\u0101oris down.\u201D or \u201CYes, we\u2019re not going to give them more rights.\u201D, and I would just say let\u2019s rise above that. Let\u2019s think of the future of our country, how far we have come, and how far we have yet to go. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EAnother thing I\u2019d like to say is that I\u2019d rather not hear some empty compliments placed towards me, being a promoter of this bill. There\u2019s a lot of that k\u014Drero that goes on in the House for members bringing in bills. This bill is not about me. This bill is about all our M\u0101ori MPs and all our M\u0101ori people right across Aotearoa, mai r\u0101n\u014D tae noa mai ki t\u0113nei w\u0101\u2014from way back to here, where we are now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI am just a torch-bearer that was lucky enough to bring this bill to the House. I want to acknowledge the late Parekura Horomia before me, who brought this bill and who waited on this bill; likewise, the former member the Hon Te Ururoa Flavell. There are a lot of past members, and I\u2019m sure that if it doesn\u2019t pass tonight, there will be future members that will continue to carry the torch to ensure that we are treated equally in this House and that we stand for an Aotearoa which is respectful for tangata whenua and us all as Aotearoa. With that, I commend this bill. Kia ora t\u0101tou. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022 data-id=\u0022c497a0290b3f41cdb05560c7768e98e4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c497a0290b3f41cdb05560c7768e98e4\u0022\u003EHon NICKY WAGNER (National):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te Mana Whakaw\u0101. National does not support this bill, and even though Rino Tirikatene does not want me to appreciate his work, I just want to note the work of all the M\u0101ori MPs who have brought this bill to the House. I sat on the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, I listened to the discussion, and I thought that the process was very worthwhile. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s interesting that, currently, there are very few constitutional provisions that are entrenched in electoral law in New Zealand. In fact, there are only six. There\u2019s the term of Parliament, the age for voting, the division of New Zealand in terms of general electorates, the adjustment of the electoral allowance quota, the use of the secret ballot, the fact we have two votes under MMP, and the establishment of a Representation Commission. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EAs we know, originally, M\u0101ori seats were introduced as a temporary solution to the condition that property ownership was a prerequisite to be able to vote, and communal M\u0101ori land ownership meant that M\u0101ori did not qualify. This, of course, in the days of universal suffrage is no longer relevant, and even at the time, it was never expected that the M\u0101ori seats would be a long-term solution. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EIn fact, until 1996 and the introduction of MMP, there were only four seats, which meant that the M\u0101ori vote did not have the same weight or influence as a general seat vote. However, with the introduction of MMP in 1996, the number of M\u0101ori seats was set by the same calculation as general seats. Today, a vote in the M\u0101ori seat is exactly equal to a vote in a general seat, so separate M\u0101ori seats do not give M\u0101ori any greater voting power.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EAlso, the importance of individual electorates\u2014general or M\u0101ori\u2014are not as great under MMP because the overall number of seats gained by any party is not determined by the electorate winnings, but by the party vote.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003ENow, back in 1985-86, there was a royal commission on the electoral system. That gave considerable thought about how we should run our elections and what we should do and the future of the M\u0101ori seats. They concluded, at that time, that the M\u0101ori seats had not helped M\u0101ori, and that they would achieve better representation under an MMP system. They recommended that New Zealand adopt an MMP system, which we did. They also recommended that New Zealand abolish the M\u0101ori seats, which we didn\u2019t do. As previously discussed, since 1996 and the introduction of MMP, the numbers of M\u0101ori seats have been set at the same quota calculated for general seats, so M\u0101ori have equal representation in the New Zealand Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003ENow, I really enjoyed listening to the submissions at the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee. We heard a variety of opinions about the M\u0101ori seats and about their entrenchment. Some saw them as historically important and as a taonga that should be preserved for ever. Others saw them as separatist and bad for New Zealand. Some believe that the entrenchment of the M\u0101ori seats is consistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Others disagreed, and believed that it would undermine the principles of the Treaty, and the ability of New Zealanders to be equal, and to move forward together.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003ESome said that the M\u0101ori seats were essential to give M\u0101ori a voice, but others disputed that, saying that M\u0101ori are already strongly represented in general electorates and in party lists. In fact, it\u2019s really interesting to note that M\u0101ori are represented in the leadership of all major parties in this Parliament. As a National MP, I\u2019m very proud that both our leader and deputy leader are of M\u0101ori descent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003ENow, if we go back to the original establishment of the M\u0101ori seats and the debate in Parliament at the time, Hansard tells us that they were seen as a mechanism to bridge a gap\u2014to bridge a gap\u2014until M\u0101ori could sit side by side with P\u0101keh\u0101 and be elected into Parliament as of right, and on merit. Now, today there are 30 MPs in the 52nd Parliament, across five parties. The majority are not here because of the M\u0101ori seats. They have come through the general seats or they have come on party lists. They have come on merit. That tells me that M\u0101ori have indeed bridged that gap, and today, that M\u0101ori and non-M\u0101ori, and I can see it across the House, sit side by side and on an equal footing in this Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003ENow, it\u2019s interesting to see that not all M\u0101ori choose to be on the M\u0101ori roll. The number of electors of M\u0101ori descent choosing to enrol in the M\u0101ori roll increased really sharply between 1993 and 1996, because that was coinciding with electoral reforms which allowed the number of M\u0101ori seats to reflect the result of the M\u0101ori electoral option, and changed the days of the four seats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EThere was also another increase between 1999 and the 2002 election. That saw the number of M\u0101ori seats increase to seven. That was followed by a plateauing, and since 2011, the enrolment of electors of M\u0101ori descent has been slowly decreasing. Currently, just over half of those of M\u0101ori descent choose to be on the M\u0101ori roll. In 2017, there were 476,798 electors of M\u0101ori descent enrolled. Of those electors, 52.8 percent were on the M\u0101ori roll, and 47.2 percent were on the general roll.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EAs I have said previously, and want to make it very clear, whether you are on the general or the M\u0101ori roll, your vote has equal influence or weighting. National believes that it\u2019s a good thing that M\u0101ori representation has increased, and we\u2019re seeing M\u0101ori in both general and list seats across all parties. Our policy is that we will not remove the M\u0101ori seats until M\u0101ori decide that they are no longer needed. Our priority is to conclude Treaty settlements and processes and to support and encourage full potential of M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292824476-4e66-4052-8435-b049833d8b83\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re committed to ensuring that M\u0101ori succeed alongside other New Zealanders in terms of health, quality of life, and socially, culturally, and economically. The social investment approach and Wh\u0101nau Ora have been hugely beneficial for M\u0101ori in past years. We want to see them continue, but we don\u2019t believe there is a good reason to entrench the M\u0101ori seats. Indeed, we believe it would be very odd to entrench the M\u0101ori seats when other important aspects of the electoral system are not entrenched. For example, it\u2019s not entrenched, the number of MPs. We haven\u2019t entrenched the MMP process for selecting candidates. We haven\u2019t entrenched the 5 percent threshold. So, despite the interesting discussion that has happened through the select committee, despite the work of Rino Tirikatene and previous M\u0101ori MPs, National will not support the entrenchment of the M\u0101ori seats. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022cb9a464d17df497e8109c84220fce161\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cb9a464d17df497e8109c84220fce161\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister for M\u0101ori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Speaker. Look, there\u2019s one reason why the National Party will not agree to entrench the M\u0101ori seats, and that\u2019s because they know they have absolutely no show of ever winning one of them, so it\u2019s just political collateral to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EThey would prefer, though, to surreptitiously throw their support in behind other parties to try and win them off the Labour Party, but they would not set out themselves to contest those seats, because they don\u2019t want to look like they are talking out both sides of their mouth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to quote Sir Taih\u0101k\u016Brei \u201CEddie\u201D Durie in his submission when he says, \u201CThe M\u0101ori seats in Parliament represent our M\u0101ori mana motuhake. They are the voice of our t\u016Bpuna, and their claim that we should be recognised and represented on account of our indigeneity.\u201D Now, for some of us, the words, \u201CThey are the voice of our t\u016Bpuna,\u201D are actually the voice of our t\u016Bpuna. Now, I know two of the M\u0101ori members in Parliament right now whose t\u016Bpuna actually held a couple of the seats. One is my colleague, my friend, my nephew on one side of the wh\u0101nau, my uncle on the other side of the wh\u0101nau, the Hon Peeni Henare, whose tupuna, the Hon Tau Henare, held the Northern M\u0101ori seat in the early part of the 20th century.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EThen there was also the second member of Parliament for Eastern M\u0101ori, a man called Karaitiana Takamoana. Karaitiana had a daughter called Merehoka, who had a son called Panapatuari, who had a daughter called Maorapanapa, who had a son called Walton Davis, who had a son called P\u0101napa Davis, who had the speaker who now has the floor. So our ancestors, their voices were heard echoing around the walls of either this Chamber or the Chamber that preceded it. So for us, as M\u0101ori, the M\u0101ori seats are a taonga. They were held by our ancestors and we treasure them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EI also want to turn to the submission of Apotoro Runanga Anaru Ratapu. He said, \u201CThe seats are more than 150 years old and they carry the memory of individuals \u2013 including former M\u0101ori seat holders \u2013 the memory of movements \u2013 including the R\u0101tana movement\u201D. Now, every late January the National Party traipses up to R\u0101tana there, they put on a fine show of turning up and saying how much they support the start of the political year at R\u0101tana, and yet, they don\u2019t actually stand and support the very cause that Tahup\u014Dtiki W\u012Bremu R\u0101tana promoted\u2014that is, the M\u0101ori seats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EThe submission continues, \u201CThe seats embody this memory and hope by guaranteeing a kaupapa M\u0101ori voice in Parliament. M\u0101ori seat holders are exclusively accountable to M\u0101ori whereas general seat holders and list MPs are not. This makes the M\u0101ori seats unique.\u201D He goes on to say in his submission, \u201CEntrenching the M\u0101ori seats also ensures that the seats are given the same mana as the general seats.\u201D So here we have the National Party actually reinforcing unequal outcomes for M\u0101ori compared to the general seats. So what we\u2019re saying is that the entrenchment of the M\u0101ori seats\u2014we believe that there should be a 75 percent majority that is needed before they can be overturned, just like the general seats. We just think that this is equality.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EAndre Mason also, he says in his submission \u201CThe establishment of the M\u0101ori seats are a step towards Crown achieving their partnership obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. In particular the equal rights and protection of the M\u0101ori people.\u201D But when he talks about the partnership obligations under Te Tiriti O Waitangi, I raise this because as the Minister for M\u0101ori Crown Relations I tell the story about the Treaty of Waitangi being a bridge between the M\u0101ori world and the P\u0101keh\u0101 world. In fact, Nicky Wagner spoke before in talking about the seats bridging a gap. Now, if Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a bridge between the M\u0101ori world and the P\u0101keh\u0101 world, the question is how far are people from the P\u0101keh\u0101 world prepared to go to cross over that bridge into our M\u0101ori world and to understand why things are special for us: why we think, feel, speak, and act in the way we do in our M\u0101ori world. What we\u2019re seeing now is the National Party refusing to cross over the bridge that is Te Tiriti o Waitangi and come into the M\u0101ori world and to understand why it is that we so treasure and so value the M\u0101ori seats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EArticle 5 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), which the National Party in 2009 made a big fuss about signing up to\u2014they signed up to it, but they never ever had any intention to honour what the UNDRIP stands for. But article 5 of the UNDRIP says \u201CIndigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State.\u201D This is exactly what we\u2019re choosing to do. What M\u0101ori want is to be able to have the right to maintain and strengthen our distinct political institutions. One of those institutions\u2014the way it\u2019s embodied in this House is by the seven M\u0101ori seats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003ENow, I say that it is just not right for a major political party to want to treat the M\u0101ori seats differently to the general seats. All we\u2019re asking is for a fair go. All we\u2019re asking is for the same rights that are conferred upon general seats and the general population to be conferred on us in the M\u0101ori seats and the M\u0101ori population. I take my hat off to my colleague Rino Tirikatene, who is carrying the same kaupapa that I think Matiu Rata carried, Parekura Horomia, and he did mention another name. Sorry I\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000627\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0376b2050ee47159e2dffa34a7db086\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Mita Ririnui.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000628\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e27e548de7a494c95222d98be13587a\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: Mita Ririnui, the Hon Mita Ririnui. They\u2019ve all carried this, and it\u2019s always failed. There\u2019s always been a stumbling block, and the stumbling block is sitting across the aisle from us. They need to change their minds, their attitude. If they want to be true Treaty partners, then they actually need to have a good look at this and ask what is so wrong about it. There\u2019s been nothing that the Hon Nicky Wagner said today that convinces us that they have any valid reasons other than\u2014in my humble opinion\u2014they just know they\u2019re not going to win the seats. They know they\u2019re not going to have a chance of ever winning the seats. They know that M\u0101oridom just doesn\u2019t back them, so they\u2019re not prepared to back our people. And I say that that\u2019s wrong, and I think that the National Party really needs to re-examine the stance they\u2019re taking on this issue. It\u2019s just a matter of fairness\u2014fairness for M\u0101ori. Do the right thing is what I say to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000629\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EI mean I say to the M\u0101ori members across from us, just do the right thing. Stand up for your people; that\u2019s all I\u2019m saying. Stand up for your people. Speak up for your people. The M\u0101ori members of the National Party know that this is what our people want. They just need to do it. They just need to have the intestinal fortitude to get up and do something and do what\u2019s right for their people. So it\u2019s highly disappointing to hear that the National Party isn\u2019t going to support the entrenchment of the M\u0101ori seats\u2014it\u2019s highly disappointing. It\u2019s not surprising, and I just believe that the M\u0101ori members of the National Party really should have stood up to their leader. Then I forget that, yes, that\u2019s right, the leader of the National Party is M\u0101ori, the deputy leader of the National Party is M\u0101ori, but they\u2019re not doing what\u2019s right by M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003EI\u2019m looking forward to hearing in the rest of the debate the reasons\u2014I\u2019m looking to be convinced, but I just don\u2019t think that there are any arguments that the National Party can put up that are going to convince us that their position on this bill is the right position. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u00228c4368123fe2470cbc8ae651a6597634\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000631\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228c4368123fe2470cbc8ae651a6597634\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te Mana Whakaw\u0101. It\u2019s a pleasure to speak at the second reading of the Electoral (Entrenchment of M\u0101ori Seats) Amendment Bill. I do want to start out by acknowledging the chair of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee and the member for this bill, Rino Tirikatene, and all members of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee. It\u2019s a pleasure to work with you. It\u2019s a distinct select committee in our Parliament. No matter what I say in this speech, I just want to acknowledge the fine contributions that you make to your own electorates and I know that you do good work for the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000632\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo we know that National is not supporting this bill, but I want to tell you about this issue and how it affects me, because it\u2019s very personal to me. I\u2019ve reflected on the issue of the M\u0101ori seats right throughout my life. It\u2019s been informed by my travels overseas, but also by my late father, who was, up until the last election, a registered M\u0101ori electoral member. His conversations with me have influenced me greatly on the issue of the M\u0101ori seats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000633\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo I don\u2019t support this bill. I don\u2019t support this bill because I believe that, regardless of what I say about these members and the fantastic contribution that they make to their communities, these seats do divide rather than unite. I do think that these seats are not required for effective M\u0101ori representative in our Parliament. So, because I don\u2019t support these seats, I do not support the entrenchment of those seats, and, therefore, I do not too support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000634\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EI would love to see the day where there are M\u0101ori flourishing in all different types of forms of life throughout New Zealand in leadership roles, whether it be in political leadership, whether it be business leadership, whether it be science, whether it be the arts, or any other endeavour that M\u0101ori seek. But how are we going to get there? Will we get there by having quotas or entrenchments or any such matter\u2014life from that? The answer is I don\u2019t think we do need these seats and that we do need such quotas in order to have the vision that I see for M\u0101ori throughout New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000635\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EM\u0101ori MPs are not the only MPs who do a fantastic job for M\u0101ori. We can only look to the likes of Willie Jackson who came here as a list MP. He is a fantastic contributor to the M\u0101ori community, aren\u2019t you Willie Jackson? Even though you call on some members to go back to Italy, you do a fantastic job\u2014well, not you, Madam Speaker, but Willie Jackson does a fantastic job advocating for M\u0101ori and he does not represent a M\u0101ori seat.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000636\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo we should all be the voice for M\u0101ori, whether you\u2019re in a M\u0101ori seat, a list seat, or the fantastic seat that I represent that\u2019s a general electorate seat, the seat of Northcote. National won\u2019t be supporting the seats because our position is clear: we don\u2019t support the seats but we support the right for M\u0101ori to decide when these seats disappear. It is for M\u0101ori to decide when these seats disappear. And it is our priority on this side of the House that the priorities for M\u0101ori are around redress through the Treaty settlement process and through making sure M\u0101ori fulfil their economic potential in life whether it be business, technology, the sciences, the arts, and in their general wellbeing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000637\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo, just to talk about the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, we had about 750 submissions in the select committee process. By far the vast majority of these\u2014roughly 75 percent\u2014were opposed to this bill. We heard from 23 oral submissions and I want to summarise for you some of the key reasons that these submissions were against the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000638\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThe first is that entrenchment does not entrench the seats. The entrenchment provision can be simply overturned by a simple majority in our Parliament. So this bill, while the intent of it is to, in fact, make them entrenched, the provision to entrench them can actually be overturned by a simple majority. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000639\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThe second and most important is that these seats are not constitutional. As my colleague Nicky Wagner pointed out, these were set up more for political reasons, for short-term measures, and they weren\u2019t supposed to be for a constitutional measure. A constitutional measure would require broad support from this House and it\u2019s very clear that today we don\u2019t have that broad support. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000640\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThe third and final key reason that was raised in the select committee process was that\u2014[Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000641\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5860459273d4c0f8ac9ae3b647590dc\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: There seems to be a lot of noise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000642\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d21854fe67304a3482be7831343a5b9d\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014this does not guarantee a voice and representation for M\u0101ori. M\u0101ori electorate MPs have the same pressures to comply with party policies just like every other type of electorate\u2014right? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000643\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a13417d2a283480895688c9a2a4221e6\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Give us an example.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000644\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293a3e0554f2d4592a25a23e33362109f\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, look at Willie Jackson\u2014yo. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000645\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo look, this bill, actually, makes a mockery of what it means to be a list MP and what it means to be an electorate MP. To actually say that electorate MPs don\u2019t do a good job of representing their minority groups is actually a mockery of what it means to be an electorate MP. We all have in our seats minority groups in our electorates, whether it be Jewish, whether it be M\u0101ori, whether it be Samoans, whatever it is. And actually, the Treaty was all about making sure that we were one and that we were treated equally under the eyes of the law and in representation. This bill does not guarantee a voice for M\u0101ori because actually M\u0101ori are representatives and represented well in other forms, whether it be electorates or list seat MPs. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000646\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo just to summarise my points: National will not be supporting this bill in its second reading. I think what is really important is that we focus on the things that matter to M\u0101ori. And the things that matter to M\u0101ori, of course we\u2019ve heard\u2014I\u2019m on this M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, we hear them all the time. It\u2019s about getting good jobs; making sure they\u2019ve got high incomes, that they\u2019ve got access to great healthcare; that the health systems, that the State systems\u2014that they can interact with them in a measure and on a basis that they want to engage with, not necessarily on the white or P\u0101keh\u0101 system that we have. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo, it is incumbent on all MPs\u2014whether we are M\u0101ori; whether we are P\u0101keh\u0101\u2014to make sure we are doing the best for M\u0101ori throughout New Zealand, to make sure that we are representing their best interests. That is, I think, the intent of the Treaty of Waitangi\u2014that we all bring the kaupapa and the vision of M\u0101ori to this House and that we do not outsource it to a certain group of M\u0101ori MPs, that we take it all on board for legislation in the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000648\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo, as I said\u2014[Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000649\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207294293d58b4d3bbe3becf63774edd7\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000650\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022344cb4b9fe6543dea9c7bd69c94a8c95\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014National will not be supporting this bill. We applaud the work that M\u0101ori MPs across the House do, whether you\u2019re in a M\u0101ori seat, whether you\u2019re in a general electorate seat, or whether you\u2019re a list MP. But there are so much more important things to focus on for\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022077ef65cde1d4b648dd38befe4efec16\u0022\u003ETamati Coffey\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000652\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022698f7e39065c4a06a71f6579269100fe\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry to interrupt the speaker. A point of order\u2014Tamati Coffey.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e09452f3f8f2458191d3387a576d42df\u0022\u003ETamati Coffey\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I don\u2019t usually get irate about this, but actually to have the members say that all delegations to M\u0101ori are outsourced to certain members of this Parliament\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000654\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a46fc7e1c75e449b916a501abaafef12\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry, that\u2019s not a point of order. That is a debatable point. The member will sit down and, I understand, has an opportunity to speak and can contribute to the debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000655\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f1022ed89dea4063a571a23b5e491eeb\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s great to continue along these lines. But as I said, in summary, we will be opposed to this bill. We think that the submissions say enough in terms of the substance of why we should oppose this bill and I do not commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022 data-id=\u002212b84bd7970a43acab3f883edee4639e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000656\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002212b84bd7970a43acab3f883edee4639e\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Associate Minister for M\u0101ori Development):\u003C/span\u003E E tika me mihi ki a koe e Rino m\u014D t\u014D kaha ki te k\u014Dkiri i t\u0113nei kaupapa. Tika me mihi ki a koe e hoa. M\u014Dhio m\u0101tou he tino uaua te whakahaere i t\u0113nei kaupapa i te mea he tino uaua te whakahaere te r\u014Dp\u016B tuatahi engari ko te mea nui kei k\u014Dnei ki te k\u014Dkiri i te kaupapa m\u014D te whawhai m\u014D te kaupapa. Tika me mihi ki a koe, e hoa. Tika ana hoki ki te maumahara t\u014D t\u0101tou whanaunga Parekura, n\u0101n\u0101 i t\u012Bmata te kaupapa, tika ki te maumahara taku whanaunga, te whanaunga ki a Meka me Kiritapu, tana kaha ki te wero i ng\u0101 w\u0101 katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000657\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E[It\u2019s right that I acknowledge you, Rino, for your strength to push this matter forward. It\u2019s right that I acknowledge you, my friend. We know how difficult it is to get this matter moving because of the difficulty running the first group; however, the main thing is that this matter is being put forward and that you are fighting for it. Thank you, my friend. It\u2019s right also to remember our relation Parekura; he started this. It\u2019s only right that we remember my relation, Meka and Kiritapu\u2019s relation, and his strength to challenge at all times.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000658\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EWell, that was a wonderful speech from the Opposition member Dan Bidois who made it very clear why National will not support this entrenchment bill\u2014about 150 times he said that. The sad part about that is that National purports to support M\u0101ori and did a great deal\u2014they went down that track, they did the big agreement with the M\u0101ori Party and Te Ururoa Flavell who, incidentally, also put up this entrenchment bill, and they didn\u2019t support Te Ururoa Flavell. And so it\u2019s a bit sad when we hear a good young man like Mr Bidois over there, who was struggling but obviously advocated very well for his P\u0101keh\u0101 constituency tonight\u2014very well, and forgot all about his M\u0101ori side and really brought his Italian side to the House. Or was it a French side? I\u2019m not quite sure. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000659\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EBut sad to hear that sort of k\u014Drero because National love to talk about how they support M\u0101ori but we don\u2019t see it; we just hear. We heard the talk from John Key, we\u2019ve heard the talk from others through the years, but we remember the talk of Don Brash and I think that will always resonate with us. But I want to say to National this is a bill based on principle and I think that\u2019s recognised from the other side. So to Rino Tirikatene, this is the fourth time\u2014the fourth time\u2014that this bill has been presented to the House, right: Mita Ririnui, Te Ururoa Flavell, and our mate Parekura Horomia. Parekura was a wonderful advocate for kaupapa M\u0101ori and so it\u2019s a shame his good mate Shane Jones is not in the House tonight. He\u2019s going to be here apparently very shortly to dazzle us with his Reo because I was wondering what Parekura would have said to our good mate Shane about this bill. I think he would have said to our good mate Shane, \u201CBro, support this bill.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000660\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288c8307072e34673aefcef1beb108e22\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Shane Jones\u2014full name, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000661\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277e357ba349b41dbbc58cddb05e6b2dd\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Apologies, Madam Speaker. He would have said to Shane Jones, \u201CBrother, bro, support this bill. Support this bill, Shane Jones, because you are proudly M\u0101ori.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000662\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EKelvin Davis forgot to refer to Shane Jones but I\u2019m doing that specially for our New Zealand First colleagues tonight, who we value very much as wonderful coalition partners. But we have a little bit of a different view on this bill, so I was just wondering tonight whether they might just change their minds, because we just need\u2014I think, what is it, eight or nine votes, isn\u2019t it, Rino Tirikatene? Eight or nine votes will change things for us and Parekura would say to Shane Jones, \u201CRemember 1996, Shane Jones, when New Zealand First swept into the House, and M\u0101oridom were proud.\u201D And how did they sweep into the House? It was on those M\u0101ori seats\u2014on those M\u0101ori seats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000663\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First were proudly celebrating the tight five, wasn\u2019t it Meks? Meka Whaitiri\u2014yes. The tight five. I can always remember it, and we were very proud of that tight five, for a little while anyway. We were proud of them for a little while. You know, we all remember what they did. Rana Waitai and Tuku Morgan and Tau Henare and John Delamere and Tu Wyllie\u2014the old cuzzie Tu Wyllie. Who was the other one? Winston Peters was the leader. And here we are tonight. We knew National were not going to come with us, but I\u2019m making a plea now to our New Zealand First colleagues, who we value very much. Maybe they could change their minds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000664\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ENow, Shane Jones is coming into the House. He\u2019s speaker No. 12, so it\u2019s all on Shane Jones tonight. Will New Zealand First support us, the M\u0101ori caucus? I\u2019m really hoping they will, because we love each other, as the Opposition knows. There\u2019s this aroha between the two caucuses. We\u2019ve got a New Zealand First party tomorrow night\u2014whether I get invited tomorrow night, that might be a bit of a different story. Oh, here he is. Here he is. He\u2019s coming in at the most appropriate moment, one of the most dynamic members in terms of Parliament, and a man who the future of this bill hangs on when he speaks at No. 12 in the debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000665\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EParekura would say to this very learned man, who will dazzle us in Te Reo M\u0101ori and English, \u201CVote for this bill, bro.\u201D That\u2019s what Parekura would\u2019ve said\u2014right, Meka Whaitiri? Why would you vote for this bill? Because this bill will entrench the M\u0101ori seats, just like the general seats are entrenched. That\u2019s what Pare would say. He\u2019d say it in his own sort of way. He was very close to Shane Jones, and I feel he\u2019s with us tonight, watching this kaupapa, willing this bill across the line. Something could happen tonight. We could see a change. I\u2019m hoping for a change. And he would say, \u201CThink about your whakapapa. Think about what the M\u0101ori seats mean. The M\u0101ori seats mean everything to us.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000666\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ENow, it\u2019s pretty simple, because I know that we\u2019ve got a lot of experts in terms of the Treaty here. This is basically a breach of the Treaty partnership if you do not vote for this bill. It\u2019s very simple\u2014very simple. If you do not vote for this bill, it is a breach of the Treaty partnership, and that\u2019s clear as a bell. Our experts have told us that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000667\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219753bc4fcb84821a8f29e5b76b30e4a\u0022\u003EKiritapu Allan\u003C/span\u003E: Yep, that\u2019s right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000668\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226ae574bfce0e4cb8905e4e2aa93f2e01\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: This is about justice. Kiritapu Allan knows this. This is about equality. This is about mana motuhake\u2014mana motuhake. Who knows about mana motuhake? Shane Jones does. Shane Jones knows all about mana motuhake, and he\u2019s going to tell us tonight about mana motuhake and about why New Zealand First should be supporting this bill: because our people are demanding it. Why are they demanding it? Because they see our wonderful M\u0101ori MPs: Meka Whaitiri, Nanaia Mahuta, Kelvin Davis, Tamati Coffey, Rino Tirikatene, Peeni Henare in the electorate seats\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000669\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0919ef25ed74b5785a6bc74968fe1ff\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Adrian.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000670\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f6e6d55a0e9640c2bc567b94fc7140fe\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Adrian Rurawhe, the No. 1 equal Speaker in the House, with Trevor Mallard and our Speaker here right now, Anne Tolley. Adrian Rurawhe has done a great job in Whanganui. What are they doing? They\u2019re advocating for kaupapa M\u0101ori. Why are they able to do that? Because that\u2019s their first priority, not like Dan Bidois, who has to advocate for all his P\u0101keh\u0101, his lovely friends on the Shore, and the Chinese and the Indians and the Asians and the Africans and everyone else. He forgets about the M\u0101oris because he knows there\u2019s only about 25 of them over there, but anyway.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000671\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo our M\u0101ori MPs will advocate in the M\u0101ori seats, not like Dan \u201CWe Are the World\u201D Bidois. Our M\u0101ori MPs know how to advocate. It\u2019s all about kaupapa M\u0101ori. As Kelvin Davis said, Judge Eddie Durie said the M\u0101ori seats in Parliament represent our M\u0101ori mana motuhake. They are our voice of our t\u016Bpuna and their claim that we should be separately recognised and represented on our indigeneity as tangata whenua of Aotearoa. What a wonderful k\u014Drero.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000672\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EThe late Rangi Walker said\u2014Rangi Walker. Do you even remember Rangi Walker, Shane Jones? The late Rangi Walker said that the general seats being entrenched and the M\u0101ori seats not was perhaps the most discriminatory measure of all in the application of the law to M\u0101ori representation. Ranginui Walker, an uncle to Shane Jones\u2014he said that in terms of the M\u0101ori seats. That\u2019s what Ranginui said, and it was a reminder of how dear these seats are. These seats are tremendously dear to us. M\u0101ori members know that over there. Jo Hayes knows that. Dan doesn\u2019t. Dan Bidois doesn\u2019t know, because he\u2019s still 23 or whatever he is, but Jo Hayes knows this, and Nuk Korako knew that. You know, Dan\u2019s a disgrace at the moment, but he\u2019ll come right later on. But the reality is it\u2019s about mana motuhake. This is about justice. This is about our whakapapa. This is about history. This is about National not supporting us and New Zealand First having an opportunity to support us\u2014and even if they don\u2019t, we still love them. But the reality is this is their opportunity\u2014Shane Jones\u2019 opportunity to show his mana motuhake. T\u0113nei te mihi ki a koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022 data-id=\u00224c614311a272400f8d43f5770c3ed31b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000673\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224c614311a272400f8d43f5770c3ed31b\u0022\u003EMATT KING (National\u2014Northland):\u003C/span\u003E Oh, hell! I think Willie Jackson needs to take a chill pill and lower the blood pressure a bit, but very entertaining. I\u2019m sorry, Rino Tirikatene. We cannot support this. We cannot support this. Willie Jackson says that we don\u2019t support M\u0101ori, and I\u2019ve got to tell you this: under National, M\u0101ori do better\u2014more Treaty settlements. The numbers are all better. That is actually a proven fact. It\u2019s a proven fact.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000674\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EThis is one of those bills where I sort of wonder what we\u2019re trying to fix here. Like, are the M\u0101ori seats at risk? Why entrench the M\u0101ori seats? There\u2019s a whole lot of really important parts of the Electoral Act that are not entrenched\u2014the number of MPs, MMP process for list seat allocation. The 5 percent thresholds are not. So we\u2019re proud of our history ensuring M\u0101ori have a voice in Parliament, from an early history. We\u2019re very proud of that. M\u0101ori representation across the list and the general seats has actually improved across the parties and across time, so, in actual fact, M\u0101ori representation in Parliament has never been better\u2014never been better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000675\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EOur policy is to let M\u0101ori decide. So they can vote with their feet, and while there\u2019s large numbers of them on the M\u0101ori roll, National are more than happy for them to retain the M\u0101ori seats. If we get to a point where M\u0101ori vote with their feet and go off the M\u0101ori roll and it depletes to a certain level, well, then we can relook at that decision. But the actual fact is our priority is concluding the Treaty settlement process and encouraging the full potential of the M\u0101ori economy. Reforming Te Ture Whenua M\u0101ori Act would go a long way to achieving that goal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003ESo after the controversy of the Electoral Finance Act from the Clark Government, we had a policy of progressing our electoral law changes with a supermajority or consensus. So of the 10 last bills, five were passed unanimously, three by super-majorities. Only two relatively minor bills were passed by a simple majority, one being a member\u2019s bill. We\u2019re interested to see where New Zealand First go. If they stick by their rhetoric, they won\u2019t support this bill. So we\u2019ll see what they do. We\u2019ll see where they go.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000677\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003EBut there are a few provisions that are entrenched in this Electoral Act, but the reality is\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000678\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8790a0dede34b259a4c1e0c5f88cadc\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: Name them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000679\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022733bf454c11d4fae93f2cf44fc29d39c\u0022\u003EMATT KING\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014in entrenchment\u2014well, we\u2019ve got them here. We\u2019ve heard them before, so I won\u2019t go through them. I\u2019m only going to do a short call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000680\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228eefb74ffd34f51b6b0dad02ecd3bbf\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: No, no, no\u2014you missed one. You missed one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000681\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a285f6845aab4797b0eee70fbbb39b41\u0022\u003EMATT KING\u003C/span\u003E: Eh? You want them? There\u2019s actually six.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000682\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c3ccbb8aadf4a74ba64ae05adef3aa1\u0022\u003EKiritapu Allan\u003C/span\u003E: There\u2019s seven.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000683\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dbd5bc63000d4d3599bc126fefa457c6\u0022\u003EMATT KING\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, there\u2019s seven\u2014six or seven. But the reality is this\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000684\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022baec037ee4df4105ac5043a980a90a1e\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! Now, look, really, it\u2019s getting out of hand. I\u2019d say to the Hon Clare Curran: just be careful\u2014just be careful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000685\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222bc2cb3f60bd489abc2d05ce2def8ea3\u0022\u003EMATT KING\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The reality of this is that any entrenchment provision that we bring in can be reversed with a simple majority. So what we\u2019re doing here is we\u2019re trying to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000686\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002264ea13304d5d46879253f41d605f62a1\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: Why do we entrench anything?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227940e9f2-9cea-43d5-8f16-3b470e34f47f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf32c08913914e5794e28a166a5bce11\u0022\u003EMATT KING\u003C/span\u003E: Well, you could argue that\u2014you could argue that. So the reality is this, I don\u2019t see the M\u0101ori seats are at risk so I don\u2019t see that we\u2019ve got a problem here that needs fixing. So this bill, in my view, is not necessary. I\u2019m sorry, Rino Tirikatene, but we cannot support this. I don\u2019t commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022 data-id=\u00229774b4f61d0a4ed0b2bfeffdb6861477\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000688\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229774b4f61d0a4ed0b2bfeffdb6861477\u0022\u003EMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E We can\u2019t wait till the M\u0101ori seats are at risk to then decide to entrench them. That cannot be the way that we go about ensuring that we are upholding Te Tiriti. That cannot be the way that we go about ensuring that we are upholding the constitutional equality that needs to exist between entrenching general seats and making sure that we are equally protecting M\u0101ori seats. At the moment, our general seats are protected to the extent that they require a 75 percent majority for them to be rearranged and overturned. That is not the case for the M\u0101ori seats; that is legal discrimination, that is moral discrimination, that is constitutional discrimination. The Green Party are proud to have in our high-level charter and constitutional kaupapa for our party that we name Te Tiriti as being the founding document of Aotearoa, and that tangata whenua have unique status in Aotearoa, not another minority status\u2014that we have unique status. We have held a long policy of entrenching our M\u0101ori seats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000689\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EThe Opposition tonight has gone through a list of things that are also not as protected with the 75 percent threshold. There are a whole lot of other things that are protected with the 75 percent majority-vote threshold that are not just the general seats. This is what else is protected with a 75 percent majority before they are able to be changed: we protect the term of Parliament; we protect the setting up of the Representation Commission; we protect the part of law that provides the general seats and the division of New Zealand into electorates; we protect allowances for population unders and overs in electorates; we protect the voting age; and, we protect MMP. Why can we not also equally protect the M\u0101ori seats with the 75 percent protection gate?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000690\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EIt is very clear that we should be allowing for M\u0101ori to be the decision makers of our M\u0101ori processes in electoral law, that indigenous constitutional standards should be for M\u0101ori to have the final say over, that we cannot allow for a majority to be able to dictate what happens with minority electoral processes. The M\u0101ori seats provide a guaranteed representation\u2014a guaranteed representation\u2014because this is not even just about being proportional; this is about guaranteeing that no matter what happens, there is always a mandated, clear voice accountable directly to M\u0101ori communities. This is the value and the beauty of M\u0101ori seats for all of Aotearoa not just for M\u0101ori\u2014that making sure that M\u0101ori have an accountability to be able to lead with a tikanga M\u0101ori and a kaupapa M\u0101ori world view in our political decision-making is for the benefit of our whole country, not just for M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000691\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EThere are many, many ways that the M\u0101ori seats have proven themselves to represent their interests directly. I stand here as a list MP. There are many examples, but I did\u2014she was in the House\u2014want to acknowledge, for example, the leadership of Minister Nanaia Mahuta in leading an iwi-lead response to homelessness. Again, given that far too many of our M\u0101ori are disproportionately represented in people who do not have a good, decent, secure place to live, it is absolutely right that iwi and M\u0101ori organisations are given the resourcing and the trust to enable their visions of how to get us out of this mess, with our own people, in particular, given that support. This is M\u0101ori direct accountability to M\u0101ori communities, M\u0101ori wh\u0101nau, hap\u016B, and iwi, and the guarantee of that accountability is something that absolutely should be protected.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000692\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI was honoured to chair the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee through the hearings of this bill. I was honoured to chair because our chair, Rino Tirikatene, is the proud sponsor of this absolutely essential piece of legislation. I commend and will continue to commend him for bringing this bill into the House. I stepped up into the chairing position as deputy chair, and we were able to listen to the submissions, and were able to hear the whakaaro, the opinions, of people who wanted to have their voice heard on this bill. Yes, it\u2019s true, again, this is why\u2014this is why\u2014we cannot have majority-making decisions for minority communities, because you are going to get a flood of opinions coming from a place of ill-information, I will say, who are against this bill because they see it as favouritism, because they see it as privileging. So we do get a flood of those voices because when there is a majority\u2014and we haven\u2019t had those conversations and we haven\u2019t yet had generations of historical New Zealand history in schools\u2014then we will have majority floods that actually skew what should be happening for constitutional and Tiriti good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000693\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EWe did see that in written submissions. Then in the oral submissions we were able to hear incredibly well-thought-out, robust submissions, informed from a place of insight and lived experience as to why entrenching and protecting M\u0101ori seats is important. I just wanted to acknowledge my absolute honour in being able to chair our select committee process and allow for people of all opinions to be able to have their say on this piece of legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000694\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge what we heard through some of the submissions\u2014that entrenching M\u0101ori seats is not the only piece of work that our House needs to be doing to ensure that we have got equal access and an equality in our democracy and in our engagement systems. I wanted to acknowledge that, while it is outside the scope of the bill, there were submissions from many submitters who felt that it was important to point to what other work needs to happen alongside this legislation to ensure that we have a fair, democratic process. As an example, when it comes to M\u0101ori seats we would like, the Greens have already got a member\u2019s bill drafted by Golriz Ghahraman, to see M\u0101ori being able to switch between the general roll and M\u0101ori roll as often as we please as opposed to the status quo, which is only every five years. That also did come through some of the submissions that came before the select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000695\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI really just wanted to again reiterate to the previous speaker, my good colleague Matt King of the North, who I have a respect for on our M\u0101ori Affairs Committee\u2014as I do for all of our colleagues\u2014simply that we cannot wait till these seats are under threat to then protect them. We need to put that assuredness in place right now. We can do that. The opportunity is before us as we stand this very second. The Green Party are proud to be able to hold our head up in full support of this legislation from my esteemed colleague Mr Rino Tirikatene. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022 data-id=\u00221947c80c6e27438296082f82fa6466fb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000696\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221947c80c6e27438296082f82fa6466fb\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE (National\u2014Hamilton West):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thoroughly enjoyed the contribution from our good friend the member for Northcote, Dan Bidois, before, but I\u2019d like to correct one aspect and to tell you, Madam Speaker, that you\u2019re doing a fantastic job. I\u2019d just like to get that on the record.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000697\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6f97f3ec436441587ae216637054bb9\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You shouldn\u2019t bring the Speaker into it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000698\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e018faa4e98948f1aeb4db88c1055666\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE\u003C/span\u003E: I know that the sponsor in charge of the bill asked us not to do this, but I am going to acknowledge the member for Te Tai Tonga, Rino Tirikatene, because I think I could probably speak for every member of this House by saying that he is one of the most respected, likable, and genial members of this Parliament, and I don\u2019t for one moment question his sincere intent in putting this bill forward. I congratulate him for getting it to its second reading. But, I\u2019m afraid, nor can I support the bill, because I believe it is neither necessary nor justified.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000699\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI think that it is important\u2014if it hasn\u2019t been stated already\u2014to state that the reason the M\u0101ori seats were created back in 1867 was because at that time property ownership was the prerequisite to being able to vote. So the M\u0101ori seats were created because communal M\u0101ori land ownership meant that M\u0101ori did not qualify. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, standing here in 2019, we can all see how outrageous that was, and so I don\u2019t think anybody would suggest that that wasn\u2019t a very, very fair and important reason for creating them. But we have long since moved on from that point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000700\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI\u2019m going to move, for a moment, just to making a few personal observations, and so I need to stress these are not the policy or the position of the party I\u2019m so proud to represent in this Parliament, but I do believe that they\u2019re relevant to my reason for not being able to support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000701\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EThe first one is I do not like arguments that pit one race against another. The second is I do believe\u2014very important; I do believe\u2014that extra support is justified and often necessary for those who are most disadvantaged in our society and that special targeted investment and assistance is appropriate if we want all our young people or tamariki to thrive and make the most of the opportunities all New Zealand Governments of recent times have aspired to and argued for. I think that the Hon Willie Jackson\u2019s claim earlier that not voting for this bill would be a breach of the Treaty partnership is absolute nonsense. I do believe that a strong M\u0101ori voice is necessary in public debate and to achieve sound governance, so I do not argue for the abolition of M\u0101ori seats but nor would I ever vote to entrench them\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000702\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI don\u2019t believe that any change to the arrangements for M\u0101ori seats should be considered in isolation or under the current MMP electoral system. That\u2019s partly because I believe that if a competition were ever to be held to design the most ludicrous electoral system, MPP would be a clear winner. That doesn\u2019t mean that I favour a return to first past the post. I don\u2019t, because I think that\u2019s very undemocratic and there are benefits to MMP that we can all testify to and that I think would be a shame to lose. But what I am saying is that there are better and fairer proportional representation systems, and I sincerely hope that one day we will switch to one, not least to restore the power to choose the Government to the voters of New Zealand rather than to the leader or leaders of a couple of minor parties, because that is a gross abuse of democracy, and it\u2019s something we\u2019ve languished under for too long. So I don\u2019t believe that this debate tonight is necessary or even useful in isolation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000703\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll finish with a few of my party\u2019s views, not just my own. As has been indicated, National is not supporting the entrenchment of M\u0101ori seats, and we believe it would be very strange and unjustified to do so when other important aspects of our electoral system are not entrenched, such as the number of MPs in total or our MMP process for list seats allocation, the five percent threshold, and so on. It is our policy, and has been for some time, in the National Party that we will not remove the M\u0101ori seats unless M\u0101ori themselves decide that they no longer need them. So Mr Tirikatene\u2019s fear that he expressed in his speech earlier this evening that M\u0101ori seats could be removed easily and without warning does, in my view, seem totally to lack foundation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000704\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EWe in the National Party are committed to ensuring that M\u0101ori succeed alongside other New Zealanders in terms of economic, health, and social wellbeing. That isn\u2019t just a platitude; it is something that is very dear to my heart and to those of my colleagues. The National Party has a very proud record of supporting M\u0101ori to get ahead and enjoy the best of opportunities in this wonderful country that we\u2019re all so privileged to live in. I think I can\u2019t put it any clearer by saying that I want the same education, healthcare, career prospects, prosperity, and security for every young M\u0101ori that I want for my own children. But they don\u2019t need the M\u0101ori seats to enjoy those opportunities and experiences, as P\u0101keh\u0101, Pasifika, Asian, or other ethnicities who make up this wonderful and diverse community can testify to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000705\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003ESo while I applaud the member for his good intent and for bringing this bill forward, I do believe that there are very clear and compelling reasons why it shouldn\u2019t be supported. I\u2019m very disappointed and surprised that nobody from the New Zealand First Party has yet taken a call, but I trust that the Hon Shane Jones shortly will do so, because that party\u2019s position really could be crucial. I hope therefore\u2014it looks as if he\u2019s about to take the call\u2014he\u2019ll make his position clear, but we won\u2019t be supporting this bill tonight.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u0022a81451338a9c4eb6be839a04e38de3a7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000706\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a81451338a9c4eb6be839a04e38de3a7\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I understand this is a split call, and I call the Hon Shane Jones.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022 data-id=\u002250aa83745b3345f0b0e7f364a8ee27f6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000707\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002250aa83745b3345f0b0e7f364a8ee27f6\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (Minister of Forestry):\u003C/span\u003E This period of five minutes will be etched in the political history of Aotearoa. Of course, I\u2019m following what Parliament calls \u201Cthe White Rabbit\u201D, the man from Hamilton, Tim Macindoe, and I\u2019m reminded, given my generation, of the song by Jefferson Airplane. That song is quite simple. It\u2019s got a particularly familiar lyric: \u201CTell [them] a hookah smoking caterpillar has given you the call\u201D. That\u2019s what we\u2019ve heard. We\u2019ve heard from someone who has absolutely no conception of what his party is doing to M\u0101oridom.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000708\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EWhy is a 17-year-old member of the youth wing of the white power movement from Palmerston North being sent to Parliament? Why did they denounce\u2014why did they stand upon the head and the mana of Jo Hayes, a senior M\u0101ori woman of the National Party, and send a boy who celebrates his arrival and his candidature with the white power sign. Not only is that a reflection of the wrongdoing of their party but it shows that there\u2019s an inverse relationship\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000709\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223aa6944f558649ee9b2eab65c4763cd0\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Could you come to the bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228eef169f83a04e6c9e6ff60cf67c88dd\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014as to what we\u2019re hearing from the \u201Cwhite parrot\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000711\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022097cd721bdc342a6a3fc2767d4eef8b0\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Can we come to the bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000712\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc844c3d5d6c42b1a1815e1016b42221\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: I beg your pardon?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000713\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ba1f343c2f55432e927e123487c351d8\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just for a change, it would be nice to come to the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000714\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e7bb22979db4aaaa1afcae97c0870f6\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: This is like a M\u0101ori speech, first there\u2019s an introduction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000715\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022858729058fd44c96b7fe005857a72220\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry, but a minute and a half. Come to the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000716\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a4e89fd967747c1b14207cdb126323a\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker, I\u2019m talking about the allegation that M\u0101ori seats are superfluous because they know what they\u2019re doing\u2014they do not know what they\u2019re doing. We feel aroha because of the diminished status of one of our sisters on the other side of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000717\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EHowever, let me come back to the bill\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000718\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200935b4d1dca4e4c830bc535a61aee35\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000719\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227f9dfda7446486da58a64e9476c5b5e\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: Now, this bill is promoted by a fine New Zealander. All around the houses on the hills of Wellington, the maraes, and the plateaus, people under rose bushes and eating p\u016Bh\u0101 are listening tonight. They know that Rino Tirikatene is a fine parliamentarian. There is hardly anyone in this House who has a richer, more lustrous lineage than Rino Tirikatene. I only need to go back to the days when R\u0101tana swept across the forequarters, and who did he have? He had the grandfather of Rino Tirikatene as a key representative of the Labour Party. That is why, on a regular basis, my rangatira and I go to R\u0101tana every year. Now, the grandfather who held the Tai Tonga\u2014Te Wai Pounamu\u2014M\u0101ori seat was originally cheated out of that seat but for the vote of a P\u0101keh\u0101 from Dunedin. Actually, I like Dunedin people; somewhere else in the South Island.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000720\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003ESo this particular legislation, we are not voting for its entrenchment but neither are we voting like the National Party to see them swept aside in a march of supporting 17-year-olds from the youth wing of the White Power movement of Palmerston North. Our party supports not white power but grey power. Grey power is hina. As you can see, the hairs of wisdom are becoming a little bit more hina on m\u0101tua Shane Jones\u2019 head.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003ESo we acknowledge the rich tradition that the promoter of this bill brings to the House in the form of Rino Tirikatene. Indeed, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with his wh\u0101nau and the inevitable R\u0101tana band who are very friendly to me as I wander around making announcements in the tuawhenua. But this evening it falls heavily upon my shoulders, despite the provocations of Willie Jackson, who never won a M\u0101ori seat, I might say\u2014mind you, I\u2019m in that character as well, which is actually a further reason why we should watch the M\u0101ori seats because Pita Sharples beat me and he kept the other side in power, and that in itself led to enormous levels of degradation and an abuse of the whole kaupapa and institution of M\u0101ori seats. But they\u2019re in the past and we are going on to brighter things.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000722\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EAs befits someone who speaks, on occasion, with modesty, sobriety, and seriousness, although we greatly respect Rino Tirikatene and all of the M\u0101ori wing of the Labour Party, and, indeed, we respect the lost souls, the wairua ngaro, the wairua kotiti [the lost souls, the confused souls], of the National Party who are diminished, and see 17-year-olds with their white power signs diminish the mana of the M\u0101ori people in the National Party. So, for those reasons, we cannot support this bill this evening. Kia ora t\u0101tou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022 data-id=\u0022b28de923fc1149708fc03ca7c643f084\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b28de923fc1149708fc03ca7c643f084\u0022\u003ELOUISA WALL (Labour\u2014Manurewa):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare. I\u2019ve got engaged in this debate, and I want to thank the National Party for giving me one of their five-minute calls. I\u2019d like to start back in 1854, when there were 51 MPs in this institution that we all work within, and they were all P\u0101keh\u0101 men. In fact, it wasn\u2019t until between 1867 and 1996 that we had full M\u0101ori seats. Indigenous seats\u2014obviously, seats that were about the indigenous status that we have as M\u0101ori to Aotearoa New Zealand. The Government of 1867 said that we needed to give M\u0101ori a more direct say in Parliament. So the M\u0101ori seats have always provided a specific voice for M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000724\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003ESo when we look at the M\u0101ori seats, actually we have to look at the status of the M\u0101ori seats and the status of M\u0101ori here in Aotearoa New Zealand. We now have an electoral system where M\u0101ori get to decide, and, basically, 50 percent of us are choosing to be on the M\u0101ori roll and 50 percent of us are choosing to be on the general roll. Because of our MMP system, some of us get into this institution as list MPs. So I put on the record that I\u2019m a proud M\u0101ori who\u2019s on the M\u0101ori roll. I choose to be on the M\u0101ori roll because I believe in a specific voice for M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000725\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003ESo the history of our Parliament, essentially, is one where we had white seats and where we had brown seats. It wasn\u2019t until 1967 that I as a M\u0101ori could actually stand in a general seat. Up until that point in time, I was only allowed to stand in the brown seats. The interesting thing about that year is that that\u2019s when P\u0101keh\u0101 could actually stand for M\u0101ori seats. No P\u0101keh\u0101, I believe, has ever won a M\u0101ori seat, but from 1967 they could stand in a seat. Then we had our electoral reform, and so in 1993, we had four M\u0101ori seats; and then when M\u0101ori got to choose, from 1996, we had five seats; 1999, we had six seats; and since 2002, we have had seven M\u0101ori seats within our political system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000726\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EThe issue that confronts us tonight actually is about racism. I\u2019m putting it out there because that\u2019s the reality. We have had general seats that actually were white seats, and we have had M\u0101ori seats that were actually brown seats. Our electoral system says that our white seats are more important to the integrity of our electoral system than our brown seats. How do we do that? We say our general seats, which historically have been for P\u0101keh\u0101 New Zealanders, are entrenched within our constitution, but our brown seats\u2014our M\u0101ori seats\u2014in this institution, we only need 50 percent plus one to get rid of them. That, fundamentally, is the issue. We have a racist electoral system, ladies and gentlemen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000727\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EWhat this bill seeks to do is to say that there is no distinction; we do not have general seats, white seats, M\u0101ori seats, or brown seats, because every single member in this Parliament is equal. Our electoral system does not say that, and that\u2019s why I had to stand\u2014and I\u2019ve tried to p\u012Bnono off all my mates to get a say\u2014because racism is real and it\u2019s structural, and if we want to know what it looks like, we don\u2019t have to look at a cartoon in the Otago Daily Times; we can actually look at our electoral system and we can look at how we treat our M\u0101ori seats, and it\u2019s absolutely, for 2019, disgusting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000728\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003ESo I am speaking this passionately because we have an opportunity through Rino Tirikatene\u2019s bill to rectify an historical injustice. That\u2019s what I\u2019m going to call it: an historical injustice, because, essentially, if the seats are different, are we saying that general MPs are better and worth more than M\u0101ori MPs? Are we really saying that? That\u2019s actually what the seats say when we entrench one but the other one we can just let go with 50 percent plus one. I think that\u2019s incredibly offensive, and I wish we had the maturity as a Parliament to say that our M\u0101ori seats are just as valuable as our general seats. That\u2019s what this opportunity tonight presents us with.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000729\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EI\u2019m incredibly proud to be a voter in the M\u0101ori electorate of Hauraki-Waikato, and my mate here, Nanaia Mahuta, is the person that I trust with my vote because I know her M\u0101ori voice is going to speak for the people, the M\u0101ori people, of Hauraki-Waikato. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u0022af80385ca8e54266a2728630bce6ebcb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000730\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022af80385ca8e54266a2728630bce6ebcb\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This is a split call, and I call the Hon Meka Whaitiri.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022 data-id=\u002265e203e7c72d4ead9c165dc1339f36d0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000731\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002265e203e7c72d4ead9c165dc1339f36d0\u0022\u003EHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour\u2014Ikaroa-R\u0101whiti):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Speaker, can I first acknowledge the sponsor of this bill, Rino Tirikatene, who has worked tirelessly around getting views not just at the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee but the submissions that came before the select committee. His whakapapa doesn\u2019t need repeating, but I do want to acknowledge his t\u012Bpuna and the mana of the Tirikatene wh\u0101nau that have stood in this House prior to Rino Tirikatene to advocate for M\u0101ori rights. I want to acknowledge the work that Rino has done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000732\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThis week we\u2019ve had very robust debates, and I\u2019ve heard members, particularly on that side, call certain bills a constitutional outrage\u2014constitutional outrage. What this bill is doing is trying to plead for a constitutional rebalancing\u2014a constitutional rebalancing\u2014and, for the submitters that came before our select committee, those were many of the issues. I want to point to a couple of themes that came from the 740-odd submitters, and the 23 that appeared before the select committee, because they raised some interesting points in their submissions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000733\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThe majority were M\u0101ori submitters, and this is why this House needs to understand that M\u0101ori have a particular lens when they are looking at things like this particular bill, the entrenchment of the M\u0101ori seats. They look at it through the lens of our obligations as guaranteed under the Treaty of Waitangi\u2014the partnership that that document prevails and makes available to the indigenous M\u0101ori people of this country. So they look at their rights as protected under the Treaty and apply their lens in submissions on this particular bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000734\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThey looked at that, they looked at the issue around equality, and they also looked at the issues around the constitution. What Rino has done here is take those arguments from the various submitters and apply them here in this bill. I have sat here listening to the Opposition members, thinking around their view about opposing it\u2014not clear enough around more M\u0101ori coming into Parliament. It really is the opportunity to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people, as guaranteed under the Treaty of Waitangi, like many of the submitters that came in front of us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000735\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EYou see, approximately half of the M\u0101ori voting population are on the M\u0101ori roll; the other half are on the general roll. People will say, \u201CWell, then, we don\u2019t need the M\u0101ori seats.\u201D But the point is that the expectation of speaking up on kaupapa M\u0101ori is actually not only with the M\u0101ori seats but with every seat holder in this House. Every seat holder in this House must be advocating for the rights and interests of M\u0101ori voters around the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000736\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022783364a06bcd4415b8b15784d8bdb8ce\u0022\u003EAdrian Rurawhe\u003C/span\u003E: But do they?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000737\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b4863dab7af54f5cb12594894b85b771\u0022\u003EHon MEKA WHAITIRI\u003C/span\u003E: But do they? No. And we heard that from Mr Dan Bidois, who talked about delegating those responsibilities to the seven M\u0101ori seats. The reality is that M\u0101ori voters choose the M\u0101ori seats and the general seats. So, therefore, my point is about the obligations of all members of this House\u2014all members of this House\u2014to deliver gains and opportunity for M\u0101ori. That\u2019s why I\u2019m standing in support of this bill: because it actually goes to the very heart of the rights and interests guaranteed under the Treaty of Waitangi. I have not yet heard a single argument on that side that addresses the issue around equality, around constitutional balance, which is what this bill is asking this House to take, but also the rights and interests as guaranteed under the Treaty of Waitangi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000738\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EMy colleague the Hon Willie Jackson talked about the New Zealand First position. I\u2019m really saddened that they\u2019re not supporting this bill. I remember when a leader that you would know\u2014a rangatira, the late Apirana Mahuika, when he came to this House to negotiate the Ngati Porou Treaty settlement, he simply said this: it was payback time\u2014it was payback time for the Crown and Ngati Porou. And I say this to the New Zealand First Party: it\u2019s payback time because, in 1996, the M\u0101ori seats enabled New Zealand First to come into this Parliament as a party\u2014no other seats; the M\u0101ori seats\u2014and so I simply say to New Zealand First: it is payback time. We seek the support of this bill. I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022 data-id=\u00222c846b76c8534d45b05a9b86dd5f5432\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000739\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222c846b76c8534d45b05a9b86dd5f5432\u0022\u003ETAMATI COFFEY (Labour\u2014Waiariki):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Speaker, thank you for this. I\u2019ve been sitting here actually listening to everybody\u2019s speeches in the House tonight, and it\u2019s gotten me quite emotional, actually\u2014emotional because this is a deep issue. This isn\u2019t a surface kind of issue. Issues of equality in New Zealand run deep. Issues of equity for M\u0101ori run really deep. In fact, we in this House should be reminded by all of the wreaths that sit around our House, looking down on us, from all of those people, the men and women that went away to war, especially those M\u0101ori that fought in those wars. Why did they fight in those wars? They fought in them because that was the price of citizenship. That was the price that they needed to pay to ensure that their tamariki mokopuna were looked after by this Government\u2014this Government. No other Government; our Government. They fought in those wars, they died in those wars, and we have them hanging around our Chamber here as constant reminders of that price that they paid. Some paid the ultimate price of citizenship.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000740\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EIt absolutely frustrates me that we stand in this House week after week giving apologies to iwi that come through here, to hap\u016B that have been wrong done by, and we apologise to them and we give them the good talks about how we\u2019re moving forward together, and then on a day like this, we\u2019re actually standing here talking about an issue which seems so fundamentally simple in its logic: the thought that if we have general seats that are entrenched, actually, our M\u0101ori seats should be entrenched, too. So everybody in this House that today is going to be voting against this bill should hang their head in shame. They should absolutely hang their head in shame, and they should be reminded every time they get up and they spiel on about partnership in this country that, actually, they voted against true partnership. They voted against tino rangatiratanga. They voted against mana motuhake. So that\u2019s the thing that I\u2019ve been thinking about as I\u2019ve been listening to these speeches.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000741\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003ESome of the rhetoric from the Opposition talking about how many M\u0101ori are moving off the M\u0101ori seats, they\u2019re moving into the general seats\u2014let\u2019s not ignore the fact that it was actually National Party policy not too long ago to get rid of the M\u0101ori seats. So does this smack of that? It probably does. Let\u2019s just acknowledge that fact, that it was a policy of their party not too long ago to actually get rid of the M\u0101ori seats, and today it looks like they\u2019re one step closer to actually ensuring that we\u2019re going to continue to not have that equity in our country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000742\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EThe irony of this whole situation is that these seats, the very seats that we\u2019re sitting in today, are actually a completely foreign construct. They are a foreign construct that was brought in from a country a long way away, and we dealt with that as M\u0101ori people. We rose to the challenge. We saw our M\u0101ori seats as the thing that was going to bring us a guaranteed voice in this Parliament. So that\u2019s why we participated in that system. But is it an equal system? Well, obviously not. If we\u2019re standing here in 2019, having had this bill come through the House before in many iterations\u2014and let me just spell them out, because it was the Hon Mita Ririnui, the previous MP for the Waiariki, that brought this bill to the House first. It was then handed to the late Parekura Horomia. It was then handed to, again, the Waiariki MP, Te Ururoa Flavell, and it\u2019s my colleague here, Rino Tirikatene, that\u2019s bringing this to the House. Why? Because it\u2019s logical. Why? Because, actually, anything that our general seats have, our M\u0101ori seat should absolutely have too, and that doesn\u2019t happen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000743\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EFor all the arguments that the Opposition are coming up with, I\u2019ll tell you that one thing they\u2019re not talking about is that partnership, that partnership that this country is supposedly founded on, the partnership that they\u2019re continuing to ignore by not supporting this bill, by not putting it through today. Our M\u0101ori seats are about the whakapapa of our people. We\u2019ve had some great people standing in our M\u0101ori seats coming through this Parliament, and I\u2019m sure that they would\u2019ve thought that by 2019, we would\u2019ve had equity when it came to the entrenchment of our parliamentary seats. I\u2019m sure that they would be rolling over in their graves, looking back, thinking that, actually, we\u2019re still standing here, in 2019, disappointed as all hell, hoping that, really, one day we get that partnership that they fought for, the reason that they came into this parliamentary House. It\u2019s still not happening, and it\u2019s 2019.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000744\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EI commend this bill to the House, and I really hope that the Opposition take a good, hard look at themselves.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022 data-id=\u0022469d5add1507437e8b4dd5f6edae26ca\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000745\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022469d5add1507437e8b4dd5f6edae26ca\u0022\u003EJO HAYES (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I\u2019m pleased to take a call on the Electoral (Entrenchment of M\u0101ori Seats) Amendment Bill in the name of Rino Tirikatene in the second reading. I just want to go down a little bit of history for National, because National did actually represent themselves in the M\u0101ori seats right up until the year 2002. I think that was the last time we stood in a M\u0101ori seat. Whilst we never won a seat, we got quite close to winning a seat, and that was OK. That was OK that we came close, because, yes, we did represent ourselves. As history has shown, yes, we no longer stand in the M\u0101ori seats. We no longer stand candidates in the M\u0101ori seats.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000746\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003ETo say that the M\u0101ori on this side do not care is just an insult. Many of you don\u2019t know what goes on behind closed doors on the National Party side. Many of you don\u2019t know the discussions that we have had and the agreements that we have come out with. To say that National does not care about M\u0101ori is very, very untrue\u2014very untrue\u2014because we do care about M\u0101ori. We have done this. We have worked with M\u0101ori throughout our history as a party. If we had no care for M\u0101ori, why would we have bothered to actually settle over 58 Treaty claims in a nine-year period? Why would we have even bothered to do that? It was those claims that have actually added to the economy, to the building of the M\u0101ori economy, over those nine years, and we can see that all growing now: $50 billion worth of M\u0101ori economy, and a lot of that is based on a M\u0101ori agricultural base, as well as the Treaty settlement claim funds that have come out and the development that they have gone through over that period of time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000747\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003ETo say that National does not care about M\u0101ori\u2014why is it that National was the first P\u0101keh\u0101 political party to partner with the first independent political M\u0101ori Party? They didn\u2019t belong to any P\u0101keh\u0101 organisation, like most of us sitting in this room today. They did not do that, and we brought them through into Government. We didn\u2019t leave them on the side. We brought them into Government with us. We gave them an opportunity with Wh\u0101nau Ora and a host of other bills that we supported the M\u0101ori Party on. Is that a party that does not care about M\u0101ori? It is not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000748\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EFinally, I just want to talk a little bit more about National caring. The M\u0101ori organisations we\u2019ve set up over our history, the M\u0101ori Women\u2019s Welfare League, the M\u0101ori providers\u2014all of those groups have actually helped to enhance M\u0101ori and their futures, and they continue today. The M\u0101ori Council, M\u0101ori Television\u2014those were all initiatives done under a P\u0101keh\u0101 political party, the National Party. So when we start to look at all of those things that National has actually started\u2014we have left behind for this Labour Government a number of Treaty settlement bills for them to actually complete. How many have been completed in the two years? Six. Four of those were National Party Treaty claims. To say that we don\u2019t care is terrible, because we do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000749\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022758dcaf3-9976-43ac-8593-79f66ee4da22\u0022\u003EWe even supported the Waitangi trust and continue to respect the kaupapa of R\u0101tana, the K\u012Bngitanga, and, of course, Waitangi on 6 February every year. We are a party that cares. We care more than what New Zealand First did\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u002236e9c226156940b08d9ce11f4c9feb0c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000750\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002236e9c226156940b08d9ce11f4c9feb0c\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry to interrupt the member, but the time has come for me to leave the Chair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000751\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000752\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 10 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201912049963177e686840898c1fdd31761fbe46000753\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"