"\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=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002265dfd799c956400b997ef4c176e2f694\u0022\u003ETUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229050632456224f8f9f4e31dabe198665\u0022\u003ETUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000002\u0022\u003EThe Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000004\u0022\u003EPrayers.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002289a8c628938048e0a877cafc27cfefb3\u0022\u003EMembers Sworn\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228662d547a428466294c21cfb32eda3fb\u0022\u003EMembers Sworn\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022a7ebd4b47d2e4d448a9e79f0b557b265\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a7ebd4b47d2e4d448a9e79f0b557b265\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I understand that the Hon Phil Twyford is present and wishes to make the Affirmation of Allegiance. Will he please come forward to the chair on my right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022 data-id=\u00229bb6786d3e8340ec8230d529748eefd6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229bb6786d3e8340ec8230d529748eefd6\u0022\u003EHon PHIL TWYFORD (Labour\u2014Te Atat\u016B):\u003C/span\u003E I, Phil Stoner Twyford, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her heirs and successors, according to law.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002230913b58430e4c4080519c3d8cb5c72e\u0022\u003EPETITIONS, PAPERS, SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLS\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f8d3c184d5394b11879d47afb0d0bea5\u0022\u003EPETITIONS, PAPERS, SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLS\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002202d773bfd07443649188622eb3226883\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002202d773bfd07443649188622eb3226883\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Petitions have been delivered to the Clerk for presentation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u002275e354a70f0c41cea7eb8e0739e89a2a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002275e354a70f0c41cea7eb8e0739e89a2a\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EPetition of Luke Chandler, requesting that the House ban the export of live animals from New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Ryan Lourenco, requesting that the House grant a residence amnesty to 200,000 migrants on temporary working visas or partner working visas, currently in New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Tincy Mary Philip, requesting that the House urge the Government to allow international students with valid visas, who have paid their study fees, to enter New Zealand to pursue their studies\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Shengjun Jin, requesting that the House amend the Veterinarians Act 2005 and regulate allied veterinary professionals\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Alan Thompson, requesting that the House urge the Government to commission a formal and independent inquiry into the response by emergency services to the Whakaari / White Island eruption\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Lisa Elizabeth Anne Er, requesting that the House urge the Government to place a moratorium on the use of 5G cellular networks until independent research has been completed on the effects of 5G on citizens in the environment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Julie South, requesting that the House urge the Government to provide order exemptions to veterinarians of all disciplines to enter New Zealand as critical and essential workers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Laurance Paterson, ONZM, requesting that the House urge the Government to review and amend the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002268ca7e3913ff4bd982c36b0ca7ccb46a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002268ca7e3913ff4bd982c36b0ca7ccb46a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those petitions stand referred to the Petitions Committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EMinisters have delivered over 100 papers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u0022a05e8d6f95f44f38b1da0c1407d78821\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a05e8d6f95f44f38b1da0c1407d78821\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EAnnual reports for 2020: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EAgResearch Ltd \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ECallaghan Innovation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMinistry of Defence\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EInstitute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EInstitute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ELandcare Research\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENational Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Defence Force\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETelevision New Zealand Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Parole Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMinistry of Business, Innovation and Employment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EInland Revenue Department\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ete T\u0101h\u016B o te Ture, Ministry of Justice\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMaritime New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETourism New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETransport Accident Investigation Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMinistry of Transport\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENursing Council of New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ESerious Fraud Office\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EFinancial Markets Authority\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EKiwiSaver\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EFire and Emergency New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EWinston Churchill Memorial Trust board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EHealth Quality and Safety Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ELaw Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EPrivacy Commissioner\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Trade and Enterprise\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EAirways Corporation of New Zealand Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EAsureQuality Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ECordia Group Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMetService\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Post Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EQuotable Value Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EStatistics New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETranspower New Zealand Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EGenesis Energy Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EKiwi Group Holdings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EDepartment of the Prime Minister and Cabinet\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Railways Corporation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EOranga Tamariki\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENg\u0101rimu VC and 28th (M\u0101ori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMeridian Energy Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Infrastructure Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ECivil Aviation Authority\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMinistry of Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EDrug Free Sport New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETe Kawa Mataaho, Public Service Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Walking Access Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Film Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EElectoral Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ERadio New Zealand Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMinistry for Pacific Peoples\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EHuman Rights Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ELottery Grants Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ESocial Workers Registration Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ECrown Infrastructure Partners\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u014Ct\u0101karo Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EClimate Change Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EEducation New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETertiary Education Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ECapital and Coast District Health Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EHutt Valley District Health Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EDepartment of Corrections, incorporating the Minister of Corrections\u2019 report on non-departmental appropriations for the year ending 30 June 2020\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETreasury, together with the Minister of Finance\u2019s Vote Finance report on non-departmental appropriations 2019/20\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETreasury, together with the Minister of Finance\u2019s Vote Finance report on non-departmental appropriations 2019/20\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Eintegrated reports for 2020 from New Zealand Post, Landcorp, and KiwiRail Holdings Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Eannual shareholder review and annual financial results for 2020 for Air New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Efinancial statements for year ending 30 June 2020 for Electricity Corporation of New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport on non-departmental appropriations 2019/20 for Vote Health; Minister of Research, Science and Innovation, Vote Business Science and Innovation; Minister of Housing, Vote Housing and Urban Development\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Estatement of performance expectations 2021 for Television New Zealand Ltd, Tourism New Zealand, Cordia Group Ltd, Drug Free Sport New Zealand, New Zealand Film Commission, Radio New Zealand Ltd, Electoral Commission, Social Workers Registration Board, Education New Zealand, Capital and Coast District Health Board, Hutt Valley District Health Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Estatement of intent for the three years ending 30 June 2023: Airways Corporation of New Zealand Ltd, New Zealand Post Ltd, and MetService\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Estatement of intent for 2020-24 for Television New Zealand Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Estatement of intent for 2021 for Cordia Group Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport of the Abortion Supervisory Committee for 2020\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Einterim report on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Eerratum to the Ministry of Education\u2019s annual report 2020, Electricity Corporation of New Zealand 2020, the Treasury half-year economic fiscal update 2020, protocol to upgrade free-trade agreement between New Zealand and the People\u2019s Republic of China, associated side letters and national interest analysis, Government response to the interim report of the Justice Committee inquiry into 2019 local elections and liquor licensing trust elections and recent energy trust elections,\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport of the Attorney-General, under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, on the Oranga Tamariki (Youth Justice Demerit Points) Amendment Bill and Budget Policy Statement 2021.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002218a53d067ea544ea94c897155d9ac2b3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002218a53d067ea544ea94c897155d9ac2b3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Not finished yet. I present the report of the Controller and Auditor-General entitled, Central government: Results of the 2019/20 audits. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EI present the following reports of the Ombudsman: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003Ethe 2019/20 annual report; \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003Ethe unannounced inspections at Auckland Prison and Matawh\u0101iti Residence under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003ELocal Government Official Information and Meetings Act compliance and practice in Buller District Council, Invercargill City Council, Porirua City Council, and Tauranga City Council.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EThose papers are published under the authority of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003ESelect committee reports have been delivered for presentation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u002271cc7155b3ac49878658476ce8ebfd2a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002271cc7155b3ac49878658476ce8ebfd2a\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EReport of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand monetary policy statement and financial stability report, November 2020\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Governance and Administration Committee on the petition of Lewis Holden for New Zealand Republic, and on the report of the Attorney-General, under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, on the Local Government (Freedom of Access) Amendment Bill \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport of the Health Committee on the petition of Orna McGinn \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee on the petition of Grant Knuckey \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport of the Primary Production Committee on the Food (Continuation of Dietary Supplements Regulations) Amendment Bill \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee on the petition of Ankita Sharma, Craig Tonkin, and Karen Dow.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022406040e72655438d8dd4b5b6c0e4fd48\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022406040e72655438d8dd4b5b6c0e4fd48\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The bill is set down for second reading. The report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee and the report of the Attorney-General are set down for consideration. The Clerk has been informed of the introduction of bills.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u0022d13b68b5e2e445519eeaca4ec918b265\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d13b68b5e2e445519eeaca4ec918b265\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ELocal Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill, introduction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EClimate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill, introduction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EGirl Guides Association (New Zealand Branch) Incorporation Amendment Bill, introduction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022397cb8bed3bc4d0e9efe92526c753af1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022397cb8bed3bc4d0e9efe92526c753af1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those bills are set down for first reading.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022789d61cadf664ab685ceb250f1edfaab\u0022\u003ESpeaker\u2019s Rulings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bbe0e202aa144963a1dabe21afb563f7\u0022\u003EDebating Chamber\u2014Dress Code\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022467e2617d37a497596f926ab1d4e60aa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022467e2617d37a497596f926ab1d4e60aa\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Members, I\u2019ve noted that one member in particular has, notwithstanding the ruling that has been circulated to members, decided to enter the House without a tie. This matter was a subject of consultation with members. My own personal view has been expressed widely that I think ties are outdated, but that was not the view of the overwhelming majority of members who expressed their view to me. I\u2019m therefore going to indicate to the leader of Te Paati M\u0101ori that I will not be calling him while he is not wearing a tie and he is not to enter the House again not wearing a tie.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022 data-id=\u0022f733a568de1d484fa9eca05cba667fa5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f733a568de1d484fa9eca05cba667fa5\u0022\u003ERAWIRI WAITITI (Co-Leader\u2014Te Paati M\u0101ori):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. In an email you sent to the members of this House you did advise that business attire\u2014and what I\u2019m wearing is M\u0101ori business attire and a M\u0101ori tie; I stand here before you today in that manner. The second part of your email also talked about how a 2017 review of the Standing Orders supported members dressing in formal wear of the cultures they identify with. So that\u2019s why I stand here with this Standing Order at this particular time, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002257d58090f63545efa0dd334d42e14428\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002257d58090f63545efa0dd334d42e14428\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: OK, I\u2019ve noted the member\u2019s comments. He hasn\u2019t convinced me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00220594c6ca4b554ecdbd246a57ad39f9fe\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228ae3bd6376bb4b1194546cac4162f2fe\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fbcdd9c0277249699ddddeee18ed951e\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\u2014Oceans and Fisheries\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u0022a110bcd242fc4a8dafaacdf27ce1a4a0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a110bcd242fc4a8dafaacdf27ce1a4a0\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader\u2014Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Will the Government take action to protect 30 percent of Aotearoa New Zealand\u2019s oceans by 2030, given that more than 50 other countries have committed to doing so, including, recently, the United States?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022 data-id=\u00229735d6e446034568a3b66110aab8dcf1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229735d6e446034568a3b66110aab8dcf1\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER (Minister for Oceans and Fisheries):\u003C/span\u003E The Government\u2019s first priority regarding marine protection is to reform the marine protected areas Act. One of the most glaring issues to fix is that we don\u2019t yet have marine protection legislation covering the exclusive economic zone. It is Government policy to seek protection of 30 percent of marine areas over time. A range of protection arrangements different to those in the Marine Reserves Act may be necessary. I also note for the member that the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) group of countries have not yet made a binding commitment to protect 30 percent of either the global oceans or their own space; rather, it\u2019s a group of countries that are seeking to promote such an outcome from negotiations later this year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c2282ce4ff74dbbaab2e1a4b045374b\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: What advice, if any, has he requested from officials following his statement late last year that \u201CWe need to do better in respect of bottom trawling.\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef5a3d77a1e44c1cbf10b8ed2126fd4d\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: One of the areas of advice that I have sought is better information as to whether there are new areas being bottom trawled or it\u2019s repetition of trawling over previously trawled areas. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b672885e541415384befa0b87b19413\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: Why did the New Zealand delegation oppose measures at the recent South Pacific regional fisheries management meeting to strengthen the protection of deep-sea corals and other vulnerable marine ecosystems? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002208901798fd964ca1b6f1e6fc7d3a6d5e\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: The\u2014well, point of order, Mr Speaker. I don\u2019t see how that\u2019s relevant to the question that\u2019s been asked\u2014the primary question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f3078b1328a42658d0b6e116f3b3138\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2014no. No, I\u2014[Interruption] I want to hear the response from James Shaw. I mean, I would have thought that corals could have been affected by bottom trawling, but I\u2019m not an expert. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002210b5c9c9a47b4b38af8168cc0a180665\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the primary question was about taking action to protect 30 percent of our oceans, and the HAC coalition that the Minister referred to\u2014it talks about the oceans in their fulsomeness, not just fisheries, and, as you say, the coral reefs and so on are part of the ocean ecosystem. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222a2dc2cb44b141e8a6c4b0eadafff281\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m\u2014yeah, the Minister will answer the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4c23fb1c48b44a79d3d0e074902669c\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sure officials thought that they were properly reflecting Government policy. I don\u2019t have the detailed information to hand to give the member a more fulsome answer. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa3234f6c693428fa3b71213e94ff385\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minister instruct officials to recognise and support the r\u0101hui that Ng\u0101ti Paoa has recently placed on the waters around Waiheke Island to protect ao Hauraki from overfishing? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eaf23f69fc744b25a8953154fa65acf8\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am aware of the r\u0101hui and local concerns about overfishing of various mainly shellfish species and rock lobster. I have sought advice from officials as to what the Crown response should be as to whether there ought to be action from the Government of a similar nature. No decision has yet been made. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022963bfe1b80f9409d85a762a60764f05b\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Kia ora. Will the Government take action to protect Aotearoa oceans by legislating for a nationwide ban on seabed mining permits and revoke existing seabed mining permits that threaten the health of our moana? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b5692f38e27b48138be8f5b667ab337b\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s not currently Government policy, but it\u2019s not to say that the issue may or may not be revisited in the future. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223283ce2689ea4e9ca77663812a885a2b\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not clear: is that a yes or a no? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002256fa7aaa73034b918d62a0dc0ccb7dea\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2014[Interruption] No, well, that\u2019s all right. That\u2019s a supplementary question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da118ac104fa4a4ca6edc1d0a58a4eca\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: It was\u2014the answer was that that\u2019s not currently Government policy to have a ban on all seabed mining, but it doesn\u2019t mean to say that the issue won\u2019t be revisited in the future. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c93bd25bdb54005afa600107f8eec5f\u0022\u003ETim van de Molen\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minister at least commit to creating the Kermadec ocean sanctuary during this parliamentary term; if not, why not? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b861871397b1444cb5b040ff5f1a32e2\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: I can commit to using my best endeavours, but it isn\u2019t good to land something, or to claim to land something, before you\u2019ve caught it, which is what the prior Government did. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229729e6b06ff54d85b11766fd60e2aaf4\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. I seek leave of the House for the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill in my name to be set down as the first order of the day on the next members\u2019 day. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229dd75491a5d449c596d92c8cb12caa83\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection to that course of action? Yes, there is. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226b96961040cb410aaaf57cf4b47e13a8\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u0022706959d44fdf43aa99426b58b62f067a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022706959d44fdf43aa99426b58b62f067a\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (Leader\u2014National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she believe that New Zealand should aim to get access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines as early as possible?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u0022d5406384797148fb83856ed0d3e5e4b9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d5406384797148fb83856ed0d3e5e4b9\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f51ce2f791eb4ddf9cf4b524bab3b050\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Was it misleading for her Ministers to tell New Zealanders that we would be \u201Cat the front of the queue\u201D for vaccines?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227af3575fccb2476c8b11ad4a9ee3aee3\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ca82a1dbbac49e58ea8d592f7d2fff6\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: When will New Zealand\u2019s healthcare and border workers receive their COVID-19 vaccinations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022112853be1e6c484399b9826202304343\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019ve indicated our expectation that the arrival of our first Pfizer vaccines will be in the first quarter and we expect within a two to three week period to be able to vaccinate our border workforce.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022943b1f2715f1403aa9b55fec9fe1278c\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: When will a detailed immunisation plan be released?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002201155291e7734861bf40dfc895c4c90b\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: We have already provided our vaccine strategy. Given that we currently do not have community transmission in New Zealand, we have prioritised those who are at the greatest risk, and they happen to be those who work at our border. Unlike other countries who have had to prioritise\u2014and rightly so\u2014those most vulnerable, their elderly, their healthcare workers, New Zealand is in the very privileged position to be instead making sure that we are protecting our cleaners, our health workforce in our managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ), our customs and immigration workers, everyone who is part of our current testing regime is front of the queue for vaccines as soon as they arrive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e3206b04bfa4f75b69aa2a4944c4abd\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Is there a detailed plan or is there just a strategy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0b7e672fc7c47c98d264509ffe86321\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Of course there is a plan. It is a significant logistical exercise. When you have a vaccine that requires cool chain supply at -70 degrees you have to have a plan for distribution across the country, but of course we have the advantage of already having these staff members on a weekly rota for testing and that will support our vaccination programme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8de633db6a3470cabcf6896657fac30\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: What advice has she received on a vaccine passport system similar to that of Australia, and will she release it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e848e3600e7418fba0bcf46ea728729\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Actually, much of the work in that area is being developed at an international level, and I have received copies of advice provided to the Minister of Transport around developments of that regime. As you can imagine, as an international community, we\u2019re looking for a recognisable system that acknowledges, no matter which border you\u2019re crossing, those vaccines that are considered to be sufficient to move and travel safely. So New Zealand is keeping in close touch with the international community on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ee943f677f142169484bc969820b43d\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Would the Prime Minister characterise documents signed between the Government and companies supplying the vaccines as contracts or agreements?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022316a39ae92654e618280331d4b3e51c3\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The official titles for them, not just in New Zealand but abroad, has been advance purchase agreements. Of course, we then go through our own process to make sure that we are giving regulatory approval for their use. So those are arrangements where we\u2019re essentially committing to buy, they have to fulfil a number of obligations, we then have obligations on us as to if we accept how much is purchased and paid for etc. A very important point that I\u2019ll make to both members in this line of questioning: for us to sufficiently protect New Zealand, we need good, high uptake of vaccines. We have to have the confidence of New Zealanders, and that means making sure that we go through our own regulatory process. Some countries that are rolling out rolled out before clinical trials were complete. That was because people were dying. That is not happening in New Zealand, we are balancing timeliness with security to New Zealanders\u2014that they are safe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262b3b2ac8fb047378848573474fdec8b\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: In that case, then why did her Government tell New Zealanders last year that they were at the front of the queue?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f3c8708e40d46a08c5aa9328f9ef388\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Because, in terms of our purchasing, we have been very quick to ensure that we have access to four vaccines. And I would suggest to the member that actually talking to New Zealanders about what they want to see in our vaccine strategy, which is an assurance that it is safe, is incredibly important, as is timeliness. The second thing that I would suggest the member look at is the profile of the vast majority of countries who are currently rolling out vaccines, often under emergency approval, and I correct the member\u2014Australia is not rolling out their vaccine, they have not received it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222f2320dd33c3439c9ad4be0e9bc20576\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u00221cf9ef2f70a64a0fbbec2219de6d95d7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221cf9ef2f70a64a0fbbec2219de6d95d7\u0022\u003EDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What are the priorities for Budget 2021?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u0022e3f8c30bdaf8488585534356048a0ba0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e3f8c30bdaf8488585534356048a0ba0\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Today, I had the pleasure of releasing the Budget Policy Statement for 2021. Budget 2021 will be guided by the Government\u2019s overarching objectives for this term, which are: continuing to keep New Zealanders safe from COVID-19, accelerating the recovery and the rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19, and laying the foundations for the future, including addressing issues such as our climate change response, housing affordability, and child poverty. We\u2019ve set out five wellbeing objectives to guide this investment in Budget 2021. They are: securing a just transition to a low-emissions economy; lifting productivity and enabling all New Zealanders to benefit from the Future of Work; lifting M\u0101ori and Pacific incomes, skills, and opportunities; reducing child poverty and improving child wellbeing; supporting physical and mental wellbeing for all New Zealanders; and keeping COVID19 out of our communities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b1dd67c7d6be4019b8017bab6befd4a4\u0022\u003EDr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: What are the projections for Government debt in the Budget Policy Statement?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d5f8af81c37b4f3e9985a5c2fef1de4c\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: With the onset of the economic consequences of COVID-19, the Government took the necessary steps to support the economy and protect New Zealanders\u2019 jobs. Doing so required us to take on substantial levels of debt to deal with this one-in-100-year shock. Projections at the time of the pre-election fiscal update in September showed net debt falling from a peak of about 56 percent of GDP in 2024 to 48 percent of GDP in 2034. New projections using the Treasury fiscal strategy model today show net debt now at 36.5 percent of GDP in 2034-35, representing about $60 billion less debt at the end of the projection period than was projected at the pre-election update.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229be41546c710484d96dc25ff6d4af345\u0022\u003EDr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: How will issues like housing be addressed through Budget 2021?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3213da2ff674ff0adf6ab8d5fd00925\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: A focus on housing will be a critical part of Budget 2021. Across the wellbeing objectives that I mentioned, it has a critical role to play. For example, M\u0101ori and Pacific households have disproportionately been affected by lower rates of homeownership and therefore have enjoyed fewer opportunities for safe, secure, and affordable places to live. Equally, child wellbeing is affected dramatically by housing, including issues of dampness in some of our lower-quality housing stock, and insecure tenancies. The housing crisis did not begin under this Government, but we are addressing it. Doing so will require tough decisions, and that is what New Zealanders will see, through a rolling series of measures that we will be announcing, beginning with demand-side measures, later this month.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022397cdf8be2de4e92917353437cd561cd\u0022\u003EDr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: How much did this gorgeous photo on the cover of the Budget Policy Statement cost?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a68799dab0d44a885bd3dc05915f9ed\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: As the member\u2019s raised it, this photo here on the Budget cost the taxpayer zero dollars, as the photographer was the modest Mr G Robertson.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b7edf9d30cd641fdb1f41c0f89695ffd\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u0022adac287081aa411aa9879caaa3d0dac3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022adac287081aa411aa9879caaa3d0dac3\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader\u2014ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her commitment to \u201Cfoundational\u201D change; if so, is this different from \u201Ctransformational\u201D change?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u00225dbd44c76c964912b903dba518a54de1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225dbd44c76c964912b903dba518a54de1\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E I stand by my comments. I was referring to a suite of policies like the introduction, for instance, of Matariki as a public holiday in New Zealand, the introduction of the learning of New Zealand history in schools, that will make a long-term difference to how we see ourselves as a nation. That in no way detracts from the work we\u2019re doing on longstanding policy issues like, for instance, housing, child poverty, and climate change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022069a2336e9184ba6a2c034fc670a0ed7\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Is the fall in homeownership rates to a 70-year low under her Government an example of foundational or transformational change?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222ae125b34a59429ab4acddd22340e753\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member is making some kind of assumption that housing is no longer a priority\u2014that is wrong, for the very reason that the member has quoted those statistics: they are not acceptable to us as a Government. It\u2019s one of the reasons they remain an absolute focus, and you will have heard them feature in this question time already.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022acb832ca70864d0dbca8035342ac8930\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: How is the addition of more than 2,000 new gang members to the national gang list under her Government an example of transformational change, or will foundational change make matters better?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022047c1c95cc0f43a2be41bb7812482e0c\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member appears to have pored over words as if they are a trade-off. I\u2019ve already rejected that premise. If you wish to debate the issue of gang-related crime in New Zealand, let\u2019s have that discussion. We all know the origins of that track well back from well beyond the last three years. This has been consecutive years\u2019 worth of issue, exacerbated, unfortunately, by some of the decisions made by Australia to export their gang problem to New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b0ef3f792de2416c85ce04a2bc05ce00\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Is the progress to date on Auckland light rail an example of the kind of foundational change that New Zealanders can look forward to in the next three years?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3222b9a00244c0aab8d2e1c987e8a92\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Shall I take that as the member based in Auckland\u2019s support, then, for a significant infrastructure project that will make a huge difference for Aucklanders? And that\u2019s why we\u2019re going to make sure that in the long run, it\u2019s something that has as wide support as possible, and I\u2019d welcome his.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe3a2a04b1cf45fd849eda9fb4060b05\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: What sort of transformational or foundational effect will falling maths and science scores have for future generations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e7701ab619de4cacb8027ba3ea648374\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Again, I share the member\u2019s focus on ensuring that we have a lift in achievement. One of the concerns we had when we came in was that the focus on national standards was not the way to lift the achievement across literacy and numeracy. We are, at the moment, working alongside Minister Tinetti and making sure that through our curriculum work we have a very clear set of expectations around what the curriculum is in those early years in schools, giving much more direction to teachers, as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f275fd0b44b14302973bbf404efc6e5e\u0022\u003EHon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister confirm that the falling literacy and numeracy standards that the member just mentioned reflect the first cohort of students who did the majority of their schooling under national standards?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002215520067b04c46b3bb70a0b6eb551361\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I can, which, in my view, only further justifies our view that that policy was wrong. We are also of the view that we have to look at the totality of a child\u2019s life to ensure that they are learning well. That is why, for instance, I don\u2019t underestimate the long-term impact, alongside curriculum, of things like Food in Schools for making sure that children are learning in an environment where they are ready to learn.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cb352d9bae594bae8e73780318aac660\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Why should anybody believe the next three years of \u201Cfoundational\u201D change will be better than the last three years of \u201Ctransformational\u201D change, where nearly every measure the Prime Minister talks about went backwards?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226839bdb77501467aa0236ae55b04f2fd\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I utterly reject the premise of that member\u2019s question. Let\u2019s take, for instance\u2014of the nine child poverty indicators, seven of them improved, and we had only just begun. On this side of the House, we are very open about the decades-old problems that we have in this nation, but that does not reduce our ambition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002255000d20a2ce4eeab888dc5d4f6de926\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u2014Housing\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022 data-id=\u0022f55fc05e656e44e389368dd447f50bf8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f55fc05e656e44e389368dd447f50bf8\u0022\u003EANAHILA KANONGATA\u2019A-SUISUIKI (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Housing: What plans for public housing has the Government announced?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022 data-id=\u00226db35d2612c347ccb375520f80eda270\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226db35d2612c347ccb375520f80eda270\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing):\u003C/span\u003E I recently announced the Government\u2019s Public Housing Plan 2021-2024, which outlines the intention of where 8,000 additional public and transitional housing places announced in last year\u2019s Budget will be built. The plan confirms we are on track to deliver over 18,000 extra places by 2024 and gives local councils, iwi, community housing providers, and the construction sector more certainty about where those houses will be built and at what scale. We\u2019re continuing to build public and transitional housing at rates not seen in two decades, and as a Government, we are proud to help more of our most vulnerable members of our communities move into warm, dry public housing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002273b4bfcd17c04094b365d3f780940ea0\u0022\u003EAnahila Kanongata\u2019a-Suisuiki\u003C/span\u003E: How does this plan support regions with the highest demand for public housing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223365fb324699407e94e974fdbbff7b03\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: We know the public housing build in previous years has not kept pace with population growth leading to rent rises, housing shortages, and deprivation. While public housing will continue to be delivered across the country, there is a particular focus on Northland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, and Whanganui. These new houses will make a big difference in those communities that are seeing significant housing needs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f8513c3852b47a191a50802a424cc06\u0022\u003EAnahila Kanongata\u2019a-Suisuiki\u003C/span\u003E: How does the public housing plan complement existing Government housing support programmes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246781191f5634d688854d599183da2cc\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: The public housing plan is one part of a range of housing initiatives to address the housing crisis. These include the Housing First programme for people experiencing chronic homelessness, Progressive Home Ownership to help families buy their own homes, support for first-home buyers, and our homelessness action plan. There is no silver bullet to fix the housing crisis that we face and we recognise there is much more to do. But each of these programmes are an important part of our work to ensure every New Zealander is able to live in a warm, dry, healthy home whether they own it or rent it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f119e1d84de4e1ea7d97329bc837b2d\u0022\u003EJan Logie\u003C/span\u003E: How many of these houses will be accessible, knowing that there are just a small handful of accessible rentals on the private market?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022242832212620489893844213b61ba2d7\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m pleased to inform the member that K\u0101inga Ora has recently put in place a policy to ensure that at least 15 percent of all new builds are built to accessible universal standards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e5817db10a804c95bb310e43be546c27\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022 data-id=\u0022b503a08907b9424c8fefdad2a6b16f76\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b503a08907b9424c8fefdad2a6b16f76\u0022\u003EANDREW BAYLY (National\u2014Port Waikato)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What specific measures, if any, has the Minister taken since January 2020 to respond to warnings from the Reserve Bank that unconventional monetary policy could lead to house price inflation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u0022f500e7f83fa149809ebb109a17ebadcd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f500e7f83fa149809ebb109a17ebadcd\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E At the time of the January 2020 report the member is basing his question on, the Reserve Bank\u2019s position was that there was not a case for using unconventional monetary policy in New Zealand in the near future. So the premise of the member\u2019s question is actually based on a hypothetical scenario. Obviously, COVID-19 changed that. The global pandemic created the largest economic shock in a hundred years, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand followed other central banks around the world by rolling out a series of measures to support the economy, including unconventional monetary policy. They also changed their views on what that would mean for house prices. In any event, the Government has continued to take a number of specific measures to address the housing market. These include the largest public house building programme since the 1970s, increasing investment in infrastructure to allow for greater housing supply, starting work on reforming the Resource Management Act (RMA), releasing the National Policy Statement on Urban Development, and continuing to work with the Reserve Bank on the interactions between monetary policy and financial policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f91127d46bcf47e99b940c0c656f5d0a\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Why has the Minister still not formally responded to the Reserve Bank\u2019s letter of 9 December 2020 on measures to amend monetary policy, such as capital adequacy ratios or debt-to-income restrictions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221ec542c8a04d4834aacefc87d11ef419\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: We are taking our time to respond to the very serious issues that have been raised in the debate about the housing market. It is important that we get these right\u2014they are significant decisions. Cabinet is working its way through them, and we\u2019ll be making announcements shortly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e372ab5e5704456696ccda902d767d28\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree with the Reserve Bank Governor that measures to increase supply, such as increasing land availability or removing regulatory barriers, are the significant determinant in reducing house price inflation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226d5971fb017e459992e620992b3c9519\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I agree with the fact that supply issues are important as demand issues are important. It\u2019s one of the reasons why we\u2019re undertaking a programme to reform the RMA. It\u2019s the reason why we released the National Policy Statement on Urban Development, and it\u2019s the reason why we understand that this is not a situation where there is a silver bullet; it will require sustained action across demand and supply, and that is what we\u2019ll do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002203677f8cb8a54b81a753ae9da3586826\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Why has he taken over a year since he first received the warning from the Reserve Bank to address house price inflation, during which time first-home buyers in New Zealand have seen the median house price increase by approximately $121,000?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3d572e9b00d4ba7bc44d58a3af056c0\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Between January 2020 and now, an event occurred\u2014it was COVID-19\u2014and in May the Reserve Bank itself forecast that house prices would fall by 9 percent. That was the consensus of economists. It didn\u2019t turn out; the opposite has happened. The Government is moving to address that now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4836c92ed1141f2bd91a7cc13675557\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Does he believe that it\u2019s fair for first-home buyers, who\u2019ve seen the median house price increase by about $11,000 per month and who are now seeing their dream of homeownership out of their reach?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224b78ca22c87d4a88b7c5814a7f35b210\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: What I don\u2019t think is fair is a Government that had nine years to actually get on with building affordable homes, with actually supporting New Zealanders into homeownership, and failed to do it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d45731006f42409a8e1533bbe672d662\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022 data-id=\u00222665ef40e3cf4c3e9222c382addbef11\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222665ef40e3cf4c3e9222c382addbef11\u0022\u003ET\u0100MATI COFFEY (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: What progress is the Government making in ensuring that students in New Zealand schools are able to learn and understand our own histories?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u00225ffce1ee322741fd87bd0a97d7e8ad5a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225ffce1ee322741fd87bd0a97d7e8ad5a\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E What Kiwi students learn about New Zealand\u2019s history at school is now out for public discussion, and it\u2019s great to see New Zealanders engaging in the debate already. Public engagement on the draft curriculum content for Aotearoa New Zealand\u2019s histories that are going to be taught in our schools began last Wednesday and it will run through until the end of March. We want all New Zealanders to have the opportunity to have their say on the draft content and we\u2019re hoping to hear from as many people as possible. I urge all New Zealanders who are interested in our history and our kura to provide feedback.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022821d2526901144fdbefb2e37dfa51a6b\u0022\u003ET\u0101mati Coffey\u003C/span\u003E: Will these changes mean that students have to learn exactly the same thing wherever they live?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022550ae8015f824775bef046820e97c744\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: There will be some parts of our national history that we want all children to learn about, but we also want young New Zealanders to be able to explore the stories that are unique and relevant to them. For example, if you\u2019re in the Waikato you may learn about the invasion of the Waikato led by Governor George Grey. In Otago you might delve deeper into the region\u2019s M\u0101ori and Chinese heritage. In Porirua you may explore the stories of Pacific migration to the area. Across the country we all have elements of history that are unique to our areas and we do want young New Zealanders to be learning about that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231c63aedbf724b8fa4aa44715bd08adb\u0022\u003ET\u0101mati Coffey\u003C/span\u003E: How has the draft curriculum content been produced?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd0066db75494bafad921fdbcfb65e5e\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: Over the last year, the Ministry of Education\u2019s been working with teachers and school leaders, school sector representatives, academics, representatives from our communities\u2014particularly our M\u0101ori, Pacific, migrant, and disabled communities\u2014to develop the draft curriculum content. It was then tested with a small number of schools and kura in term 4 last year and it is the content that\u2019s emerged from that the Ministry of Education is now out consulting with the public about.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002209b02c4d006e40449cb21cd9305d1419\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022 data-id=\u0022dbf8c97f16a34ad0b839d6b138319e76\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dbf8c97f16a34ad0b839d6b138319e76\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (National\u2014Taup\u014D)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister\u2019s statement on 5 November 2020 that \u201Cwe cannot rest on our laurels and we want to see more New Zealanders obtain work, which is why we are prioritising the roll-out of the flexi-wage scheme prior to Christmas\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022 data-id=\u002255d1a187dab349649f7c2d75dd00559e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002255d1a187dab349649f7c2d75dd00559e\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, I do agree with the Prime Minister. We do want to see more New Zealanders obtain work. That is why it was good to see 27,000 people move off benefits into paid work in the December quarter. We are seeing the outcomes of our strong economic plan with recent data released by Statistics New Zealand showing record high for jobs in construction, while unemployment fell from 5.3 percent to 4.9 percent. We are doing better than our economic forecasts, which projected an unemployment rate of 6 percent. This is because of this Government\u2019s decisive actions to date to keep people connected to their jobs and support businesses and households through the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue this work through the expansion of Flexi-wage. We\u2019ve taken some extra time to get this expansion right and we\u2019ll be announcing those details on Thursday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022945699c3fe6d49089edf13da7ffd4d59\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: When the Prime Minister said about the Flexi-wage extension, \u201CWe want to be in a position to assist businesses to take on workers over the Christmas New Year period if they can, rather than waiting till after the holiday period.\u201D, why did she not bother to tell the Prime Minister she couldn\u2019t deliver it by Christmas?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c4008713fae4577bb0b8968a151f447\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI\u003C/span\u003E: We want to take the time to get the detail right. As I said, it is a relief that we saw the number of exits off benefit into work in the December quarter\u201427,000, which was actually up on the year before. We\u2019ve got a number of initiatives in place that don\u2019t necessarily just start with the expansion of Flexi-wage, but the expansion of Flexi-wage will be an important part of this Government\u2019s suite of initiatives to address unemployment in this country and to keep New Zealanders in jobs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf4a1c66958e436a881ffe838019b75b\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: How many of the 213,006 people without a job and on the jobseeker benefit would have had a job by now if she had delivered the Prime Minister\u2019s promise to have the Flexi-wage extension in before Christmas?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281bc828a82b24f6eaa607b6e2c8ebbad\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s important when you roll out any initiative that you do get the details right. We\u2019ve taken the time to do that. The Flexi-wage expansion will be announced on Thursday, and, as I said, it is good to see that exits off benefit into employment in the last quarter were higher than the same quarter in the year previously.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d9bf126d17624a04ba75c02b7c9bea4a\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Government consider it a failure that over 68,000 people are now on jobseeker benefit compared to a year ago, and, if so, why did the Government not prioritise supporting those people into work and out of hardship? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022824f59c4c1d0498c8816b6dcc3b0d282\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI\u003C/span\u003E: We have experienced an unprecedented event, and that is COVID-19. Internationally, countries are experiencing higher levels of unemployment. It was heartening to see that our unemployment rate had dropped to 4.9 percent despite predictions, and even the forecast numbers around the numbers of New Zealanders who would be on benefit at this time are lower than anticipated. We are doing everything that we can, and, as I said, we will continue to make sure that we support New Zealanders to stay in work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227552ee0074b64c639bf9382cad23f9e8\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: Why, after six months since the Prime Minister first announced the extension to Flexi-wage, do New Zealanders still not know the details of the policy that Jacinda Ardern considered to be one of her top priorities to deliver before Christmas?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002270eff119b845424696c2640866c79b9f\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI\u003C/span\u003E: We will be announcing the detail of the expansion of Flexi-wage on Thursday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222ca32e570ed84818b3a42934cfa137b7\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022 data-id=\u0022cabc67fd22d244728edceafada495d39\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cabc67fd22d244728edceafada495d39\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI (Labour\u2014\u014Ctaki)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What recent announcements has she made about supporting businesses and employees in their response to COVID-19?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022 data-id=\u002294f7ed32694449718b1fd5d5e2036156\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002294f7ed32694449718b1fd5d5e2036156\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment):\u003C/span\u003E Yesterday, along with Minister Wood, I announced a new Short-Term Absence Payment. This initiative means that from today, businesses whose workers need to stay at home while they await a COVID-19 test result can contact the Ministry of Social Development and apply for a one-off $350 payment to help pay that staff member if that are unable to work from home. Testing for COVID-19 remains a critical ongoing element in our elimination strategy. This payment is designed to reduce the financial pressure on businesses and encourage them to continue their valuable role in keeping COVID-19 in check. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ad68fb078a93426e98a7a4b2b2a4cf1c\u0022\u003ETerisa Ngobi\u003C/span\u003E: Which workers does the payment apply to?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022db9bd1811a09456f8d8cf6a3f2d7b0c0\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI\u003C/span\u003E: The Short-Term Absence Payment can be applied for by employers for workers who cannot work from home and are, in accordance with public health guidance or requirements, staying home while waiting for their COVID-19 test results, have a dependant who is staying at home while waiting for a test result, or are a household member or secondary contact of someone who is a close contact of a person with COVID-19 who has been advised by a doctor or a health official to stay at home while waiting for the close contact\u2019s test result.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2cae435bfcd452995db413f160b4048\u0022\u003ETerisa Ngobi\u003C/span\u003E: Why is this an important part of the Government\u2019s COVID-19 response?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220b5d1bb8d7094c7faefebc706cfe1653\u0022\u003EHon CARMEL SEPULONI\u003C/span\u003E: The aim of this payment is to better support business and workers to comply with public health advice by alleviating some of the barriers to getting a COVID-19 test. This payment will also take some of the financial pressure off businesses whose workers await the results of a COVID-19 test, which can usually take between 24 and 48 hours. This initiative builds on the back of the successful wage subsidy and leave support scheme. It is part of our ongoing commitment to softening the blow of COVID-19 to both employers and workers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222c93776984194553a8bbbeaf1055d375\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014COVID-19 Response\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022 data-id=\u0022ae29335f110043988dd325e09986e970\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ae29335f110043988dd325e09986e970\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: On what date will New Zealand receive its first shipment of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, and what reports, if any, has he seen on how many other countries have started COVID-19 vaccinations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022800f7b3f07c34794b0d61e928487dfd4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022800f7b3f07c34794b0d61e928487dfd4\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response):\u003C/span\u003E The first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2021. The Government will be making further announcements when we\u2019re absolutely certain of when the vaccine will arrive. I receive a regular science briefing of international developments regarding the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in other countries where emergency approvals have been used to quickly roll out vaccines, but I\u2019ve not received a running list of those countries.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0ee0de192674284a84c45df2446f752\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Why has he repeatedly stated that New Zealand is at the front of the queue for the COVID-19 vaccine, when at least 50 other countries have already started their vaccine roll-out and we haven\u2019t?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022285c7830d21a4f8782b8e91d33c531df\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: The member clearly hasn\u2019t been listening to what I\u2019ve been saying over the last month or so. We\u2019re not using emergency approvals to roll out our vaccine campaign in New Zealand. We do not have the public health grounds to do so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bad012cd6acc41a08a425aacf0c200ec\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Why has he applied to the COVAX vaccine facility for the Pfizer vaccine when that facility is designed for the equitable distribution to low and middle income countries\u2014precisely the countries that he says need to be in the front of the queue ahead of us?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225afede9328f8445e94f9252dab7e9085\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: No, I reject the premise of the member\u2019s question. He\u2019s wrong in what the COVAX vaccine facility is designed to achieve.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e5aaeb262a34a92a23bdd7a876096ca\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Why did the Government not contract with Pfizer to deliver the vaccine before now, when countries like Singapore\u2014which has also done a very good job in dealing with COVID\u2014were clearly able to do so?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd43351e21d44213b7a9644174aa9861\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: As I indicated in my earlier question, Singapore is among the countries that are using an emergency vaccine approval process, which we have not used here in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277cb772fee2946daae9e538d05025fa0\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Was the Government given the option of an earlier delivery time in exchange for paying more for the COVID-19 vaccine provided by Pfizer?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022127336cdf1bf47d494ce97b1f25f7158\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262b5408c8beb4989bb00610ec573df03\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister aware of statements from Anne Harris, managing director for Australia and New Zealand at Pfizer, that New Zealand wasn\u2019t slow at ordering the COVID-19 vaccine and that they will meet their contractual obligations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c122abb8a5846488b25575714e3bdfe\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: I want to acknowledge the enormous international pressure that the vaccine manufacturers are under around the globe and the lengths that they are going to in order to satisfy the contractual arrangements that they have entered into.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228d73b56e6abc4ad1bdbbe74eed469af2\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014Building and Construction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022 data-id=\u0022c4534b4772ef4d15af2573422c91887f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c4534b4772ef4d15af2573422c91887f\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE (Labour\u2014Rongotai)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Building and Construction: What recent reports has she seen regarding building consents?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u00228aae3e28abe84b9a94c17ad6667f3f92\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228aae3e28abe84b9a94c17ad6667f3f92\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister for Building and Construction):\u003C/span\u003E I have seen a report from Statistics New Zealand that shows a new record quarterly high in the number of building consents being granted. These figures show 11,291 new homes were consented in the December 2020 quarter\u2014the highest quarterly number ever; beating the previous record from the December 1973 quarter, when 10,713 new homes were consented. For the year ended December 2020, the number of new homes consented was 39,420. The figures show that despite uncertainty caused by COVID-19, there is a lot of residential activity in the pipeline, especially for townhouses, flats, and units.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274ae12e897ff498db9f9852f41590322\u0022\u003EPaul Eagle\u003C/span\u003E: How is the Government supporting the building and construction sector to build on this growth in consents?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8a1ddda296443c1a2027050b2df5631\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: As a Government, we are committed to supporting the sector through continued investment in trades training and apprenticeships, our building legislative reform programme, and improvement to our planning system by repealing and replacing the Resource Management Act. We want this strong and sustained growth in the building sector to continue and to deliver on this record high in the number of consents.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ccbdca93a09e41baa755a3a6453f140b\u0022\u003EPaul Eagle\u003C/span\u003E: How is the building sector responding to this record number of consents?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022853ea3bfa44e4857a8a21148e8058d04\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: We are already seeing the building and construction sector respond, as Statistics New Zealand data has shown strong growth in the sector despite COVID-19. The household labour force survey shows an annual increase of 21,000 people employed in the construction industry to meet this new demand. It\u2019s also encouraging to note that 5,800 of this increase are women.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002235333575452a4d329c51ded876c3e604\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u2014Corrections\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022 data-id=\u0022e5fa3daf5bfe403cbd6481ed1a264833\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e5fa3daf5bfe403cbd6481ed1a264833\u0022\u003ESIMEON BROWN (National\u2014Pakuranga)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by his statement about the Waikeria Prison riot being a \u201Cprisoner disorder event\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022cf0f03f4e3cc466bb21d2422d5eca516\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cf0f03f4e3cc466bb21d2422d5eca516\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister of Corrections):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. It involved prisoners, there was disorder, and an event\u2014prisoner disorder event.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224999995aeee9490ab436fd36f18dd4ce\u0022\u003ESimeon Brown\u003C/span\u003E: Why has the Department of Corrections operational review called the riot at Waikeria Prison a \u201Cmajor disorder event\u201D and not a riot?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d8a01396036e4fa7851dc75b7793a0c7\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m advised that the Department of Corrections has a framework for categorising prisoner-based incidents. This was categorised as a prisoner disorder event. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222fccb6b477d347a3aa41e754d32b4f72\u0022\u003ESimeon Brown\u003C/span\u003E: Can he describe to the House the difference between a riot and a disorder event, and why isn\u2019t he being honest with New Zealanders in accurately describing the total takeover\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002224e4051b34c3419eb91830382853b693\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member\u2019s just lost that supplementary. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255d0b7a4-a2c9-4c38-9b77-475311a48a89\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b9ff8d7a1bf42d4aee39bf1a87e0e4e\u0022\u003ESimeon Brown\u003C/span\u003E: Is it true that one of the demands of the rioters was that the destruction of the entire upper jail was not to be described as a riot, and is this the reason he has not described the destruction of the upper jail as a riot? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f2fa73cfe7a4c5ea1dd9465afc1766b\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af9633819c6048c6afbef16c0748b251\u0022\u003EGinny Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: What advice, if any, has he received on the actions of corrections staff during the event at Waikeria? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281c27d6ce4dc4295859b2e1ed38cb0b1\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: Following the event, I visited the site and met with staff to express my full thanks for their professionalism and bravery in person. There was a lot of emotion from staff who had to evacuate hundreds of prisoners while fires burned around them and staff who safely brought the incident to an end. I have huge admiration for what they did in very difficult situations. I\u2019m proud to be their Minister and of the bravery they showed throughout the event. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022962a43c4d7c240d993a240f6b6f5e7c3\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary question, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022081d6523f59a4678bca389181ca6afab\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I\u2019ve indicated to the member that I will not call him when he is not properly dressed. The member will resume his seat. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a005d3aa0ce04a808ac1928675442d98\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: A point of order, e te M\u0101ngai. Your memo made reference to those that have cultural attire. You have allowed other cultures to wear what\u2019s right for them. Why are you denying M\u0101ori culture their attire, and his heitiki? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cdda3b5148db4b3c89accbdf7b978e57\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The expression that is used in the Standing Orders is \u201Cbusiness attire\u201D. Business attire is something on which I have consulted. The members chose not to respond to the consultation. That is their choice. I have been guided and will continue to be guided in these matters by the views of members. I\u2019m not absolutely required to do that, but I do want to make it clear that the significant majority of members who responded made it clear that ties were part of business attire. And we could have a long discussion on this, and I have had it in my office with a number of members, and, as I\u2019ve indicated at least twice to the House, my own sympathies are with an abandonment of ties, but that is not the view of members who responded. Supplementary question\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cea1b068bca94e99b44cca5306a8c5ab\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022063a4413a0084844984435fe94f19650\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, the member cannot take a point of order. [Interruption] The member cannot take a point of order. I do not recognise the member. He will now leave the Chamber.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi withdrew from the Chamber. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229163ca7593d945f28ad179914c5c571b\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Why did the Minister state that it was a prisoner disorder event when it was clearly a protest against Corrections\u2019 negligence in addressing the recommendations of the Ombudsman\u2019s report? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd977e8227c9483b83f2d3d79ea62f94\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: I disagree entirely with the member. There is no justification whatsoever for what those men did. It was totally unacceptable. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ff9be87201ce45dfaacefc1688be6dc9\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: It was a riot.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c0b9004c053746bb9091746239857d6a\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: They endangered the lives of over 180 other prisoners who were in their cells when those fires were lit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8c8a91053f2428187b6251eced901e0\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: It destroyed the entire upper jail with fire.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d26908e8ca04c27bd4154bdd5771817\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: They have denied families\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc8c9c785e7d4e14b60f2828e945457a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! I\u2019m now going to ask the member to resume his seat. I\u2019m going to ask David Bennett to stop interjecting. I think most members regard this as a serious matter and having that sort of snarling occurring is not appropriate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bb59ceb0783341ba827053f1d7d3ee20\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: Corrections also addressed the issues that the prisoners raised, such as the water being brown. That was bore water. The water is tested six days a week. It\u2019s the same water that corrections officers drink. The issue around the bedding and the clothes\u2014other former prisoners have come out and said that it is simply false. The M\u0101ori Party has fallen into the trap of believing the people who played up in the prison and are excusing their behaviour where there is no excuse.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c11dcbd620e44b44a5d4955630216c14\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: So is the Minister saying the Ombudsman\u2019s report is wrong?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d315df71149042ea84f00c65a0a5ff67\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: No, Mr Speaker. The Ombudsman\u2019s report was written in October of 2019. It only came out towards the end of last year. Corrections accepted the findings of the Ombudsman\u2019s report and they had taken steps to address those issues. We\u2019ve also got to remember that the conditions at Waikeria Prison were there when the M\u0101ori Party and the National Party were in Government and the M\u0101ori Party had\u2014[Interruption] This is important. This is important. The M\u0101ori Party had an Associate Minister of Corrections who did nothing to address those very issues that those people raised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c136d660ebdd4a61b354724fa6a36dc7\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: So, I\u2019m sorry\u2014after all of that rhetoric, the Minister is saying the Ombudsman\u2019s report is correct?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022802874a3-deca-48b7-9d33-9087058892f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002229943409b2af426590726f815a4d99fd\u0022\u003EHon KELVIN DAVIS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve said that Corrections addressed the issues in the Ombudsman\u2019s report, which was written a year before the event occurred.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022835f4e8e333c4e5d82403144804c5265\u0022\u003EMotions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ecad4d04b204474881719bd68f725430\u0022\u003ENo Confidence in Speaker\u2014Leave Declined\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022 data-id=\u0022ea91472cdabf479b8dfb810694c25fbd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ea91472cdabf479b8dfb810694c25fbd\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP (National):\u003C/span\u003E I seek leave to move a motion without notice of no confidence in the Speaker, which is in my name and on the Table.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u00221ca7353734ee4d5e9d50581729629fdf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221ca7353734ee4d5e9d50581729629fdf\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E Point of order, Mr Speaker. Speaker\u2019s ruling 18/7, made by Speaker Jack back in 1970 and endorsed by Assistant Speaker Tisch in 2015, states that the one and only proper form of attack against the Speaker, the presiding officer, is a notice of motion in the House. The member has not put a notice of motion on the Order Paper. Therefore, other members in the House cannot consider the merits of that, because it has not yet been published.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f5a66a3ad1a4368946de573c9809da4\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002244bd641a7d6e401bb20e42724a441256\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002244bd641a7d6e401bb20e42724a441256\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I don\u2019t need assistance on that particular point. The House is actually the master of its own business in this matter, as with some others, and if the House chooses, by giving leave, to proceed in the way that the member is requesting, it may. Is there any objection to that course of action? There is objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bdac5c49d35c4c9f992720b3cfbdfae6\u0022\u003EAddress in Reply\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220505d846fe394f88a9bfeea026d2e803\u0022\u003EAddress in Reply\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000297\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 9 December 2020.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022e41b630ecad5448487688c29ac77dc85\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e41b630ecad5448487688c29ac77dc85\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response):\u003C/span\u003E It is a fantastic time to be a New Zealander and to be here in New Zealand. One only needs to turn on the TV news every night to understand just how fortunate we are to be here in Aotearoa, when around the world COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on economies and societies and lives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EThe good news continues for New Zealanders, and we saw that just this week, when employment rose by a further 17,000 people in work during the December quarter. That is a significant improvement in our employment statistics, at a time when all the forecasts had suggested we would be going backwards. Our unemployment rate fell from 5.3 percent to 4.9 percent. Compare that with Treasury\u2019s Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update, where they forecast the unemployment rate would grow to 6 percent. Of course, that in itself was lower than their projections at the height of our COVID-19 response, where they expected it to go significantly higher than that still.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003ENew Zealand is doing very well. Consider the construction industry. Construction jobs rose by 21,000 annually, which included those people working as plumbers, electricians, and roofers, and that more than offset the impact of COVID-19 on our tourism-related industries. These results are the result of the Government\u2019s decisive actions to keep New Zealanders in work and to make sure that we are supporting New Zealanders through the challenges caused by COVID-19. In the middle of a global pandemic, New Zealanders have put their trust in this Government. We recognise the big responsibility that comes with that, and we are absolutely committed to seeing this through.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EWe have three overarching objectives that are guiding our response: first, keep New Zealanders safe from COVID-19; second, accelerate our economic recovery; and, third, lay the foundations for a better future. The protections that we have put in place against COVID-19 have been amongst the most effective in the world: 105,000 New Zealanders have returned home through our border since we established our managed isolation facilities, and yet we have had fewer than a dozen incidences of people transferring COVID-19 to others during that time through our managed isolation facilities. That makes them among the most successful in the world\u2014more successful than those in Australia and other countries. We can all be proud of that, and we should be proud of those working at our border, and we should thank them for their commitment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EIn terms of accelerating our recovery, New Zealand is doing incredibly well. Our five-point economic plan to cushion the blow to the New Zealand economy is working. We are investing in our people. We are seeing people upskilling, we are seeing people taking on apprentices, we are seeing people enrol in tertiary education, and we are seeing people taking up training opportunities through the reinstatement of things like the training incentive allowance, which is assisting sole parents to get back into work through better training and better qualifications.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EWe are creating jobs through a big economic stimulus package, and we see that up and down the country in the infrastructure projects that are under way and that are developing, whether it be in transport, whether it be our schools, our hospitals\u2014we are picking up the pieces after a decade of neglect of our infrastructure. This is the infrastructure Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EWe are preparing for the future by making sure that we\u2019re increasing the amount of our electricity that comes from renewable energy, with a goal of getting to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030. We are supporting our small businesses through things like the Small Business Cashflow (Loan) Scheme, and we are making sure that we are positioning ourselves globally in the wake of the pandemic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re tackling the big challenges of the future: climate change, child poverty, and challenges like housing that have been too long neglected\u2014a challenge that built up under the last Government. They did not rise to that challenge; they did not address that. This is a Government that has been relentlessly focused on the issues that matter to New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EAnd that is a bit of a contrast to what we are seeing from the members opposite. What did they spend their summer holidays doing? Well, David Seymour spent his summer holiday taking out a two-page personal ad in the Woman\u2019s Weekly. We then saw Dr Shane Reti so determined not to be distracted from the issues that matter that he got very quickly distracted by issues that didn\u2019t matter, and thought that the liaison between a managed isolation worker and a returnee was a ploy by the Government to distract the National Party\u2014just pass the tinfoil hats, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002257a9ee7668784868861b67c770f918d0\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: Or Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002229447b8947334789a0fbd62c55d4046f\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker. Then we have the absolute pearler. We have David Bennett. David Bennett wants a road to Tauranga, a Waikato medical school, and apparently wants to pay for them by introducing \u201Clover taxes\u201D. I would quite like to know who\u2019s going to have to pay these lover taxes. He must be committed to them because he took out an ad in the local paper to promote his new concept of lover taxes\u2014something that either people of Hamilton clearly didn\u2019t leap at, given that he lost his seat. I think it was the lover taxes that did him in, in the end. I want to know who has to pay and what the criteria for his lover taxes will be.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EPoor old Simon Bridges continues to \u201Ccount my chickens for granted\u201D. I\u2019m not entirely sure exactly what he was meaning there. And then, of course, we had Paul Goldsmith\u2019s bizarre theory that we would stop teaching economics in our schools if we didn\u2019t make it part of the history curriculum. I am sorry to disappoint the member who would be the member for Epsom, but whilst, of course, things like historical attitudes to racism will be covered as part of the New Zealand history curriculum when it\u2019s taught in our schools, I wouldn\u2019t be banking on a sudden surge of demand for his biographies of Don Brash and John Banks, Mr Speaker. I think he should stick to falling asleep during Judith Collins\u2019 speeches, Mr Speaker; I think that\u2019s going to serve him far better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002249aecba902cc4206b4a85e0f3864dd3e\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: Or Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216044ca9f9ca4c43ac2d48e0e93428a0\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: Then, of course, we have Christopher Luxon, yet to make his debut here in Parliament, but in his first public debut as a member of Parliament, he fell down at the first opportunity, and, of course, today we have clearly learnt that he has recently graduated from the \u201CMurray McCully school\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ba1cc14b2fc04910b1c8dea909d2c967\u0022\u003EMatt Doocey\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b59763931294867b016b47c826a5447\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. [Interruption] The member will resume his seat.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205916eaf8bae4a0f9474bd03b4c33e4b\u0022\u003EMatt Doocey\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Sorry to interrupt that speaker, but he is a very experienced member of Parliament, and will clearly be aware this is not a general debate slot but a debate on the Speech from the Throne.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002283c001720ec84dc08376e495675770f2\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. The Minister will resume his speech. This is a very wide-ranging debate. Thank you\u2014the Hon Chris Hipkins.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c2bb054962d4663a95b95fb293a3bc3\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: It is indeed. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Clearly, Mr Luxon has recently graduated from the \u201CMurray McCully school of ethical diplomacy\u201D, and I\u2019m sure that we will hear more about that in the days and weeks to come.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EMr Speaker\u2014Madam Speaker\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002256270d95fe384240b512f68772a79e2d\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221ecc96345eed490d8bde28ad73127c0d\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c09680c94204989ab02ae89a89752f2\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8490453866c49628e54a4e167d48546\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s force of habit, Madam Speaker. New Zealanders have given this Government a great responsibility\u2014the responsibility to ensure that New Zealanders are kept safe, the responsibility to ensure that we bounce back from one of the greatest economic challenges that anyone in New Zealand will have seen in their lifetimes, and we are absolutely committed to making sure that we will do that. As the Minister for our COVID-19 response, I am absolutely committed to ensuring that we have a very safe and secure border, and we are seeing evidence of that on a daily basis, as thousands of New Zealanders return home on a weekly basis, and they do not bring COVID-19 into our community. Again, I want to acknowledge the work of tens of thousands of people up and down the country working at our borders to make sure that is happening. I want to thank the international airlines for their cooperation in that effort. They have been remarkably successful in working with us to keep COVID-19 out, and we appreciate that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EWe are preparing for a vaccine roll-out, the largest vaccine roll-out New Zealand will have ever seen, and I think that that is something that we should all be taking very seriously. We should be looking very closely at the international evidence around vaccine efficacy, and that is the approach that this Government has taken. We have purchased four different vaccines so that we can make sure that New Zealanders get the right vaccine for them, the most effective vaccine for them, and the science on that is still being settled, which is why our approach of a balanced vaccine portfolio has absolutely been the right one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EThere are huge constraints on vaccine manufacture and supply around the world. New Zealand is doing very well, and I think when people see the vaccine roll out around New Zealand, they will see that it has been very well planned for and prepared for. The one remaining thing to be determined is the exact date on which that campaign will start. I can tell you it will start within a couple of days of the vaccines arriving in New Zealand. They still have to be unpacked, and they still have to be prepared for the vaccination campaign to begin, but that work will start the hour that they land in the country\u2014we\u2019ll be working very quickly to get them out as quickly as we can. We do not have a specific date for the arrival, but we are prepared for it whenever it should arrive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EAll New Zealanders can be proud of our COVID-19 response. We are a very, very fortunate country at the moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u002251256663e83f40458f9eb9a591efe00a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002251256663e83f40458f9eb9a591efe00a\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Green\u2014Auckland Central):\u003C/span\u003E E te M\u0101ngai, t\u0113n\u0101 koe, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou e te Whare. It\u2019s\u2014I mean, I would genuinely say a pleasure to stand and speak in this House for the first time in 2021, but I will be completely honest and say that, in walking back into this place, it felt and smacked, immediately as we started the argy-bargy throughout question time, to be completely separated from the reality of the many New Zealanders that we represent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022536e15f83fe949b7bcf69e951efb5faa\u0022\u003EHon Scott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: Who\u2019s next on your list? You can go.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220830c0115dc647dc94acb0dcc407c73b\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK\u003C/span\u003E: So, Scott Simpson, what I\u2019m here today to talk about\u2014what I will use the Address in Reply debate to talk about\u2014is the housing crisis. Members in this House may recall that throughout the election we had the Minister of Finance and the shadow Minister of Finance, the Hon Paul Goldsmith from the National Party at that point in time, playing a game of Monopoly. It was a charity game to fund-raise for a worthy cause, philanthropic, but, none the less, to me it smacked of quite a bit of irony. The reason for that is, for those who aren\u2019t aware, the game of Monopoly has its origins in a game originally devised by a woman called Elizabeth Magie in 1904. At that point in time it was known as The Landlord\u2019s Game. The Landlord\u2019s Game was intended to be \u201Ca practical demonstration of the present system of land grabbing with all its usual outcomes and consequences\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003ENow, I don\u2019t at all intend to read too much into what these two members of Parliament were up to. Of course, this was for a charity match. But, none the less, what is represented in that game of Monopoly, formerly The Landlord\u2019s Game, is not supposed to be an aspiration in this country. It\u2019s supposed to be a warning that all of us in this House should heed, because when you do high school or undergrad economics, you\u2019re taught about the supply and the demand curve, you\u2019re taught about the way that the market is supposed to operate through exchange\u2014free exchange\u2014driven by self-interest. And that self-interest\u2014that rather ahistorical theory and way of teaching economics\u2014is supposed to provide the most optimal, the most effective, and the most efficient allocation of resources. But to any who\u2019ve been paying attention to the way that housing and wealth are allocated in this country over the past 30 or 40 years\u2014far longer, even, than I\u2019ve been alive\u2014it is pretty evident that it hasn\u2019t been operating that way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EThe question, I guess, is where is the housing crisis in this picture of the economy and economics, particularly as often lauded by particularly members of the Opposition? I\u2019m sure that the so-called libertarians that sit next to me in this Chamber\u2014haere mai\u2014would say that the market just isn\u2019t free enough. And I have engaged in debate with them a substantive number of times where they\u2019ve said, \u201CYou simply have to remove the rural-urban boundary, because you\u2019ve got to let the city sprawl.\u201D No, not the slightest mention of how we\u2019re to build the infrastructure that is, of course, to enable exactly that\u2014you\u2019ve also got to allow these massive apartment blocks to just be built and crop up, but not in our backyard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003ELook, fundamentally, what we\u2019re talking about here, if we are to realise some version of the so-called free market, is to realise that right now the market is entirely geared towards what the so-called rational man in this ahistorical economic theory would absolutely be gearing themselves towards, because you, effectively, have a State-guaranteed investment in the form of housing at present. What I mean by that, if we\u2019re to run through all of these facts and figures\u2014in fact, at the Finance and Expenditure Committee, which a number of members presently in the Chamber were present for, we had the Reserve Bank Governor in front of us, I attempted to\u2014but unfortunately was cut off as a result of the time running out\u2014have the Reserve Bank Governor agree or admit to exactly this, because the facts are this: two-thirds of wealth in this country is held in housing stock. Loan-to-value ratios have been so low for so long that many investors have leveraged themselves up to the hilt\u2014many being enabled to do so as a result of the capital gains that have continued to accumulate on the properties that they have in their back pocket. As a result of all of those things, those potential defaults of those mortgages present a huge financial system liability.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EThis is a huge, huge ballooning problem, and it will not be satisfied by simply attempting to deal with it on the supply side. We have to deal with the fact that, again, these economic theories, of the rational man or otherwise, effectively, mean that all sensible people who were simply looking to increase their self-interest and realise greater gains out of the market would, of course, be investing in housing. It simply makes sense at the moment. So the question then becomes: why have we taken off the table and labelled as too much of a political hot potato one of the things that experts across the board are calling for, and that is a sensible conversation about taxation in this country?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll refer to a column by Marc Daalder from Newsroom, who said, \u201CThe average house in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, [the] Kapiti Coast and Queenstown earned more in untaxed capital gains over the final three months of 2020 than the average New Zealander earned in pre-tax income over the entire year.\u201D You may remember that our Minister of Finance wrote to the Reserve Bank asking them what to do with regard to the ballooning housing crisis and the housing unaffordability issues that came up in question time today, further and further escaping particularly first-home buyers. In both that response from the Reserve Bank and also other letters which have recently been uncovered by Stuff.co.nz\u2019s Thomas Coughlan, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has advised that when it comes to unconventional monetary theory or application, as the case may be, such as quantitative easing, it is for the Government to take action to deal with the social consequences thereof. It is for the Government to figure out how to best implement policy\u2014be they laws or regulations\u2014to ensure that inequality does not take deeper root in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EAll of these issues are fundamentally interconnected, and that\u2019s something that I\u2019m really proud that we in the Green Party of Aotearoa understand at a base level. You cannot begin to meaningfully engage with conversations like climate change and the terror that global warming can bring upon oneself when you really engage with the science on that if you are stressed on a day-to-day basis about survival. If you do not have a house that is a home, then the amount of transience, particularly as a renter, that may befall upon you and your wh\u0101nau has flow-on effects into your ability to get a stable education. And speaking to those who are teaching in many different schools across this country, particularly in lower socio-economic areas, that is, indeed, a massive issue\u2014our young people are moving from school to school to school as they move through the rental market, as their wh\u0101nau does not have enough money to put food constantly on the table.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EI guess my final question to this House today in this first speech on this first day that we\u2019re back in 2021 is: do we have the guts to have these conversations, or are we just going to continue to throw accusations back and forward at each other? Are there going to continue to be escalating narratives and bogeymen about the idea of taxation? And God forbid that we tax wealth as we do work in this country, because right now there is a huge burden that is falling on people in this country who already do not have enough, and it continues to compound the more that we continue to enable and allow, by virtue of doing nothing, inequality to run rampant throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. I actually hesitate to suggest that all of us in here actually kind of know that. We kind of know that the tax system is quite fundamentally unfair in that respect. We all kind of know that we should be able to have this debate and discussion as, actually, a number of us do behind closed doors, but in this place in a more sensible and mature manner.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003ESo if I can put one hope, if any, on the table for 2021, it\u2019s that we\u2019re finally able to debate, progress, and discuss and solidify meaningful, fair tax policy in Aotearoa New Zealand to address inequality\u2014fundamentally the housing crisis. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022 data-id=\u0022a83b63957c364bdd867643ec792f68bc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a83b63957c364bdd867643ec792f68bc\u0022\u003EHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Courts):\u003C/span\u003E E ng\u0101 mana, e ng\u0101 iwi, e ng\u0101 reo, e ng\u0101 k\u0101rangaranga maha, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, kia ora koutou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003E[To all authorities, all people, all voices, all affiliations, my greetings to you all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EI do that because I think there are certain occasions in this House where the first words ought to be M\u0101ori. There\u2019s just something quite special about the beginning of a year, particularly when you\u2019re in Government. I want to also say happy New Year to my colleagues on that side of the House. I do so because I felt a sense of the anguish or the despair that they felt. I couldn\u2019t even get a smile out of Simon Bridges, I couldn\u2019t get a smile out of Chris Luxon, and certainly Miss Judith Collins was not smiling at all. So I say happy New Year to my colleagues on that side of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s been an awkward year, moving from last year where COVID-19 hit the nation and then suddenly we were in the Christmas period. Some of us travel overseas during the Christmas period, but, alas, this did not happen on this occasion and those of us who are Ministers of a Government\u2014or privileged to be Ministers of a Government\u2014found ourselves not quite sure whether to fully embrace the spirit of Christmas and the parties that go with it, mindful that we were still in the middle of a global pandemic. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003ESo I want to acknowledge all of New Zealand for their patience, but also in particular for the trust that they have given to Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Government. I acknowledge that what New Zealanders have done in last year\u2019s election was to vote for certainty and stability, and that\u2019s quite humbling. And for me it\u2019s equally a sense of gratitude, because not only is it a privilege but we now find ourselves with a responsibility, but more so the responsibility sits on the shoulders of Jacinda Ardern. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge her leadership. I want to acknowledge the way that she conducts herself despite the bullets and the arrows and stones that are thrown because of the political arena that we operate in, and that she\u2019s able to maintain her dignity and her mana and to keep that smile going. I also want to acknowledge Mr Chris Hipkins, in particular, because most of us might have had a day or so and enjoyed time with our families. I know that he\u2014most of all because of his responsibility in keeping New Zealand safe\u2014probably didn\u2019t sleep well at all during the Christmas break.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003ESo we are in the middle of this global pandemic and people have put their trust in us, and I want to say, as I have engaged across the country and mainly with our Pacific communities, I am uplifted with the confidence, with the trust that they give us, and I\u2019m so grateful to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EI want to say that in accordance with our experience and the context of last year and this year, this Government\u2019s overarching objective in the next three years will be focused on keeping all New Zealanders safe from COVID-19. That\u2019s first and foremost. The second thing is that we want to accelerate our economic recovery, and this is in particular important for M\u0101ori and Pacific and for vulnerable communities, women, and young people, in particular, because it has been our past experience that whenever there is an economic downturn it is the most vulnerable in our communities that are hit the hardest and often are slow to recover. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EOur third objective as a Government for the next three years is to lay the foundations for a better future and to build back better\u2014not build back to the same as how others wish it but to build back better. And the statement that was delivered this morning by the Hon Grant Robertson was about the focus of our wellbeing approach, re-emphasising again what I would call those transformational pillars which we introduced to the country in 2019 and that we will continue using as foundational pillars going forward\u2014but it is going to be important that we continue to focus on our people. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EIt is like the whakatauk\u012B, \u201CWhat\u2019s the most important thing in this world? It is people, it is people, it is people.\u201D We need to make sure that we\u2019re looking after people throughout the next three years so that they are able to support their families, giving them confidence. That\u2019s going to require leadership. Leadership at this particular time is a person that can stand up and provide a good positive vision for the rest of the country. Sure, you can be critical, but criticising for the sake of being critical doesn\u2019t cut it in times where people require stability and certainty.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EWe will be focused on jobs. It\u2019s about protecting existing jobs. It\u2019s about creating new jobs. It\u2019s about looking at the future and seeing what opportunities there are. And for M\u0101ori and for Pasifika, for many of our young people that are leaving high school, I\u2019m going to be encouraging them to embrace the digital economy. We need to embrace it so that we\u2019re creating a new generation of innovators, creators, who can fully own the digital economy. Small businesses for a long time have always been the lifeblood of economies, and we need to make sure that we\u2019re providing that support and opportunities. Big business are big business and often they don\u2019t think of anybody else but themselves, but we know in times of challenge it is small businesses that come to the fore, and certainly we want to focus on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EPreparing for the future is also about tackling climate change, and putting a stake in the ground and moving towards those goals. And I think the climate change commissioners\u2019 report sets us up nicely for what we have collectively to do as a nation going forward. And that\u2019s also being mindful that we are a Pacific nation. We have a role and responsibility to the Pacific region. We are firmly anchored here. I\u2019m so proud that we\u2019re able to work closely with the Realm island countries, with the Polynesian sector, and we have a role and responsibility to bring the rest of the Pacific region so that we\u2019re united in our focus for our shared aspirations, for prosperity, for security and peace.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EI love the way that Nanaia Mahuta has delivered core and fundamental principles that will guide our engagement with the world and, in particular, with the Pacific region\u2014the principle of whanaungatanga, the recognition of our kinship, the recognition of our genealogical connections; the principle of kotahitanga, the recognition that we have shared in a collective purpose to work for the benefit of all peoples; and, of course, the principle of kaitiakitanga, the recognition that we all have roles to play in being guardians of our planet and being stewards and being really responsible in reporting back.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EFor Pacific peoples, in the next three years, I\u2019m going to be working hard across the board with my ministerial colleagues but across the board with of a lot of agencies to deliver the Pacific wellbeing approach that we started in the last three years, where languages and cultures are important and young people can be confident in their diversity of colours, diversity of parentage, diversity of the languages they can speak. The goal of economic prosperity for this generation coming through is no longer working on the factory floor. It\u2019s about them being their own bosses, being their own authors of their own legacy, being able to design and implement the solutions that will make them safe and that will also ensure that they prosper and thrive. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003EThe other goal is about wellness. I know we all point and say it\u2019s about sickness. But it\u2019s actually about wellness. I want to put a positive spin on that, because the challenges are huge and the needs are many, and these challenges we cannot solve overnight. It takes a bit of time and we\u2019ve got to build those strong foundations of being able to access quality healthcare that recognises the mana and dignity of people. And, of course, the youth, the Pacific youth I proudly promote as the \u201CGeneration Six Bs\u201D: people who are brown, beautiful, brainy, bilingual, bicultural, and bold. This is the generation\u2014I describe it that way because that\u2019s what I see. It\u2019s beautiful, it\u2019s diverse, and I see that that\u2019s the future, and I\u2019m very pleased to be part of the Government that\u2019s trying to deliver on these things.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022 data-id=\u002293d301e6e6154982968069b03838ad23\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002293d301e6e6154982968069b03838ad23\u0022\u003EMATT DOOCEY (National\u2014Waimakariri):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure to rise in this Address in Reply debate today, and to come after that former speaker, Aupito William Sio, who I always enjoy listening to. He\u2019s got those calming, soothing tones of a storyteller, a bit like a parent who\u2019s calming a young child to sleep with a lovely fairy tale. But, unfortunately, what we know at the end of the day is that that young person grows up to realise that fairy tales, in reality, are not real. It\u2019s interesting. We\u2019ve heard from a Minister and then another Minister and three or four Labour callers today who actually didn\u2019t even refer to the Speech from the Throne that we are debating today, because they know that it is a fairy tale. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EI will be pointing out some of the key issues that we on this side of the House think this Government is not delivering on that were outlined in the address from the throne, because, of course, this Government has a track record in failing to deliver. It was a failed socialist experiment that put up ideas and didn\u2019t deliver them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EBut what I want to do first off, in the first opportunity I\u2019ve had in the House since the election, is to acknowledge the good people of Waimakariri\u2014very humbling to be re-elected in my third term. I want to thank them for all their support, and I give them my commitment that I will be working hard for all in the Waimakariri to the best of my ability, because we do know that in the \u201CWaimak\u201D, \u201CWaimak\u201D people reward hard work. You can go back to Jim Gerard, Mike Moore, Clayton Cosgrove, and Kate Wilkinson. They know that if MPs go out and talk about the real issues, they will reward them, and, unfortunately, last term, what we had in Waimakariri was that the Prime Minister did not visit Waimakariri once. What was worse was we didn\u2019t even have one Minister come into that electorate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EWe have a small town in Waimakariri called Woodend. It\u2019s a small rural town that\u2019s got a State highway running through the middle of it. Mums and dads take their kids across that State highway to school every day. Car movements in the last three years have risen from 16,000 to 20,000 car movements a day, and why that three-year measurement is important is it was three years ago that the Labour Government came in and cancelled the Woodend bypass. No Prime Minister to come and explain, no Ministers, no transport Minister, and that community waits. They\u2019re put at risk. Here we have the address from the throne and the fairy tale, but the reality is not real and true. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003ECan I also say, while I think of it, that this is a special day for me. My youngest son, James, starts school today at St Joseph\u2019s primary school in Rangiora, so I want to wish him all the best. While we are talking about family, I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the Rt Hon David Carter. Many will know that David is my uncle, and I want to acknowledge his knighthood in the Queen\u2019s honours over new year. I wish him well, and well deserved. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EWhat I want to talk about in my call today is mental health. Remember mental health? The Government made it a big issue in 2017\u2014one of their top priorities. But\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237be9825249e4b738c742d6ab6d747fa\u0022\u003EAnahila Kanongata\u2019a-Suisuiki\u003C/span\u003E: It still is. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3be3a0f1960447ba7275d038a9544ff\u0022\u003EMATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, so we hear from a Government MP that it still is. So explain to me, then, if mental health is still a big issue, why in the address from the throne it commanded two sentences out of 13 pages? Two sentences, and it said, \u201CIt will roll out mental health support to all primary and intermediate school age students, and continue to roll out nurses in secondary schools.\u201D Interesting\u2014number one priority, or one of the top priorities, apparently, for this Government, but two sentences out of 13 pages. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EWhy not talk about the flagship, $455 million, new front-line mental health service that was trumpeted in Budget 2019? Flagship\u2014that was going to change the way that we responded to mental health services. Well, I\u2019ll tell you why you won\u2019t find it in the address from the throne and you won\u2019t find it being spoken about by any Government Minister or any Government MP: because that $455 million flagship front-line mental health service\u2014so far, the Government\u2019s spent $56 million of it. How many GP practices, currently, are now delivering this service in just under two years? Eleven percent. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242b8cc8958d945e0b9d89f744a82b34f\u0022\u003EHon Scott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: How many? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222dd76ba2cfb24f678af8ec9026637ea4\u0022\u003EMATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: In two years, they have rolled it out to 11 percent of GP practices and have only spent $56 million of the funding. What\u2019s even worse is that under written parliamentary questions, when we asked how many people are employed by this new front-line mental health service, in July, it was 232 full-time equivalents, and in October, it was 195. They had lost a quarter of their workforce. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EPeople are leaving, the roll-out is stalled, and when I asked probably the most pertinent question of a new service\u2014a flagship, front-line mental health service being rolled out. Going to change the face of mental health in New Zealand\u2014that\u2019s what New Zealand was promised in 2019. When I asked how many people had been seen by this new front-line mental health service\u2014because let\u2019s remember, it was promised it would be scaled up to see 345,000 people a year\u2014the answer was, \u201CWe don\u2019t know, because we\u2019re not gathering the data.\u201D When you set up something, would you not be interested to know how many customers you have? What we all know, and on this side of the House we know, is that that\u2019s code for another Government failure. They\u2019re embarrassed to tell us that they\u2019re actually not seeing a fraction of those 345,000 people, and that\u2019s disappointing, because that\u2019s not the level of service promised to New Zealanders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EBut let\u2019s listen to some of the professionals. Irene Begg, who\u2019s a trauma counsellor based in Whakat\u0101ne, with, of course, White Island. A new flagship, front-line mental health service\u2014why would you not prioritise it for that region after that disaster? Why not prioritise it for Canterbury after March 15? There\u2019s no plan to, and this professional says, \u201CIt\u2019s all very vague. The Government says it\u2019s going to roll out this and that, but we haven\u2019t seen it in the provinces.\u201D \u201CThis and that\u201D, \u201Cvery vague\u201D, \u201Cwe haven\u2019t seen it\u201D\u2014what an embarrassment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EHow about \u201CMental Health Foundation chief executive \u2026 said the \u2018appalling\u2019 lack of access to mental health services for children and youth across New Zealand had worsened since the Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction which reported to the Government in November 2018.\u201D\u2014over two years ago. This Government came in, spent $6.5 million, held hundreds of meetings, and encouraged thousands of people to make submissions, and what\u2019s happened? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8a226e8a4e34a5fa5dc677dfa048f5c\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Nothing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022313020c7912047cea0915927f046ac0d\u0022\u003EMATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: Nothing. In fact, they\u2019re saying it\u2019s got worse. They raised expectations and haven\u2019t delivered. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EThen we have the retiring Mental Health Commissioner, who retired yesterday, and in his final report\u2014a scathing report\u2014said that there is considerable and growing concern about the lack of transparent action plan to implement He Ara Oranga and provide a long-term plan to promote mental wellbeing. Basically, there\u2019s no plan. The inquiry put out around 50 recommendations and there\u2019s no plan for delivering them, and that\u2019s a problem with a Labour Government. They\u2019ll tell you what you want to hear to get into Government\u2014\u201CPut us in. We\u2019ll change things. We\u2019ll make a difference.\u201D\u2014and they get in and they fail, and they don\u2019t have a plan. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EWhat\u2019s really disappointing is I supported a petition from a young girl to Parliament. She\u2019s attempted suicide, tragically, a number of times, and when I spoke to the medical professionals working with her, they said, \u201CWe are yet to see evidence that the large amount of funding that\u2019s been promised is flowing into the system.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003EWe were promised $1.9 billion into mental health. We were promised services at the front line. We were promised a Government that was going to get in and implement a plan, and they\u2019ve failed to deliver. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022 data-id=\u00228c83603d6a2849c5aa53285bf1ff4ba6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228c83603d6a2849c5aa53285bf1ff4ba6\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: For a five-minute call, I call Rino Tirikatene. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022c2f8e5f31dba45778d9221e221120996\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c2f8e5f31dba45778d9221e221120996\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te Mana Whakaw\u0101. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e ng\u0101 mema o te Whare P\u0101remata. I\u2019m delighted to speak in this Address in Reply debate. I\u2019m not sure, the member that\u2019s just resumed his seat, Matt Doocey, what parallel universe he resides in, but it\u2019s full of doom and gloom, and it\u2019s really quite contrary to the actual reality that we have here in Aotearoa, and that\u2019s the reality of a Labour Government with the biggest mandate that we have received from across the country. I\u2019m proud to be a member, with all of our caucus members, of this Labour Government under the leadership of our Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI\u2019m proud to be a member of the largest M\u0101ori caucus in the history of the New Zealand Parliament, and I\u2019m also proud to be a Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the first majority Government in MMP history. This Government is making history, and, as has been outlined in the Speech from the Throne and in the speeches to date from our Prime Minister, we are addressing the three overarching objectives that our Government is focusing on\u2014namely, keeping New Zealanders safe from COVID-19, accelerating our economic recovery, and laying the foundations for a better future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EWe all know what devastation COVID is wreaking across the world. Every day, I\u2019m thankful. I\u2019m thankful for the leadership of our Government, of our Ministers, and of our Prime Minister that has kept our country and Kiwis safe from COVID-19. We\u2019ve been committed to our elimination strategy, and it has worked. We have kept outbreaks at bay. We now have the strongest, most world-leading\u2014we are admired worldwide for our border and our managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) processes. I want to acknowledge all of those wonderful folks who are working on the front lines every day to ensure that they keep our borders secure and safe as we welcome back folks through our MIQ facilities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ESo we are keeping New Zealanders safe from COVID-19. We acted fast. We gave the best economic response, which was through our health response. And what has that done? That has provided us the space to keep our engine going as an economy. We have not slowed down at all. In fact, our merchandise exports have increased from over a year ago. So we are doing well as a nation despite the impacts that COVID is having, in particular in specific sectors like tourism and overseas education, international education. We note that there are impacts there, but our economy as a whole is going very well indeed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI\u2019m proud\u2014and one of the responsible areas that I have is in the trade area, which is very important for our overall wealth and wellbeing as a nation\u2014to see the great work that we\u2019re doing in international trade under our first wahine M\u0101ori Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon Nanaia Mahuta, who looks after our foreign policy, and the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor, who is looking after our trade and export growth. In spite of all of the difficulties that COVID is raising, we have been able to continue with our trade agreements that we have signed. We\u2019ve just upgraded the free-trade agreement that we have with China. We have signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, a massive agreement with over a third of the world\u2019s population, and are making sure that New Zealand is right in the middle, where all the action is happening. We are right there. We are working on expanding our architecture with the UK and with the EU. So we are doing a lot of work as a country, and all of that not only benefits the total New Zealand economy; it benefits the M\u0101ori economy as well, which is particularly dear to me: all those suppliers of the lands and produce from the seas and from the bountiful lands that we have right across Aotearoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003ESo in the spirit of the last remaining time, I want to acknowledge the spirit of Waitangi and the positive vibes that were emanating from Waitangi as we celebrate 180 years of our Treaty partnership, no more evidenced than by the presence of our Prime Minister right throughout the duration of those celebrations. Those positive vibes have been felt right across Aotearoa, right through where I was, right down there in Bluff, at the bottom of Te Waipounamu. Our country is on a great track. We are keeping out COVID-19. We have sound leadership with our Government and our Prime Minister, and I\u2019m very proud to be a part of it, and we\u2019ll be taking great strides in the term ahead. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022 data-id=\u0022fb28d3413a29484a8d0e1e141f4ec20c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fb28d3413a29484a8d0e1e141f4ec20c\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: I call Dr Deborah Russell\u2014five minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022 data-id=\u0022391b314c21694a12b2cc27a9235d8388\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022391b314c21694a12b2cc27a9235d8388\u0022\u003EDr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour\u2014New Lynn):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, members of this House, I ask you to cast your minds back to a year ago. A year ago, when we returned to this House after the summer break and after the celebrations at Waitangi, and at that time the first rumours, the first knowledge of a new coronavirus was making its way to New Zealand. We were looking at the stories coming out of other countries and starting to realise that this could be very serious. At that time the virus had not even been named, it was still the novel coronavirus. It was only, I think, towards the end of February that it acquired the name COVID-19. How much our world has changed since then, how much it has changed, and how much our response to COVID19 has had to shape what the previous Government did, the Government in the 52nd Parliament, and what this Government in the 53rd Parliament will be doing, and I\u2019m proud to be part of that Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EWe have three overarching objectives set out in the Speech from the Throne. We will be keeping New Zealand safe from COVID-19, we will be accelerating our economic recovery, we will be laying the foundations for a better future. Those are the overarching objectives of this Government. Our work to keep us safe is ongoing. It\u2019s in the border controls, it\u2019s in the increased testing at the border, it\u2019s in the requirements for pre-departure testing, it is in our contact tracing if ever a case of this virus makes it out of the border, as indeed it does from time to time as it is a tricky virus, and that\u2019s where we all have a part to play with scanning\u2014we\u2019re recording where we\u2019re going, through Bluetooth tracing and so on. So that ongoing work carries on. That\u2019s what we\u2019re doing to keep New Zealand safe and so far it is working.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EWe are accelerating our economic recovery. We started with the wage subsidy, right at the start, to keep people in jobs and to keep businesses going. We carried on with training and free apprenticeships, we had no- and low-cost loans for businesses, all designed to keep business and jobs going. It has turned out to be an excellent response. The latest employment data from Stats NZ shows that our unemployment rate is down to 4.9 percent. Of course we\u2019d like it to fall further, of course we are very worried about employment of women and of M\u0101ori and Pasifika where that unemployment rate is higher for those particular groups. Nevertheless, this is a good outcome compared to Australia at its 6.8 percent, 8.7 percent in Canada, and the OECD average of 6.9 percent. We are doing well on employment, and that will accelerate our recovery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EAnd we are laying the foundations for a better future, particularly where we work on climate change and on child poverty, and where I want to focus on housing. There was an impassioned speech from a previous speaker about what is going on in the housing market. To that speaker and others, I say the market is doing as markets will do\u2014it is responding to signals. I perhaps prefer not to think of it as market failure but as a market delivery that does not deliver the social outcomes we want, and the social outcomes we want are warm, dry, secure, affordable homes for New Zealanders. If ever there is a case for Government intervention it is in the housing market, and that is precisely what we are doing with our focus on new social housing. So instead of selling off social houses, we are building them and increasing dwellings to ensure that there will be many more places in social housing. We have social housing places going in all around the country, and especially in Auckland.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EI want to talk of the 300 or so new dwellings that have been built or are being built in my electorate right now. Just a few months ago, with Minister Megan Woods, I visited the Thom Street development\u201480 new dwellings, 80 families with warm, dry, secure homes. Close to public transport, close to shops, close to schools, homes where people can build a life, where they can develop, where they can be secure, where they can be part of a community, where they can hold down a job, because they have a warm, dry, secure home provided through K\u0101inga Ora. It is this focus on social housing that will be critically important to solving at least part of the housing problem, and I am very proud to be part of a Government that is looking after our people and making a better New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u0022182a9557649645fab535d4a63e45000a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022182a9557649645fab535d4a63e45000a\u0022\u003EMAUREEN PUGH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I stand today to reply to the 2020 Speech from the Throne. Before I get into my talk, I\u2019d just like to take up a point that was made by the member who\u2019s just resumed her seat, Dr Deborah Russell. Much has been made over the last few days, and especially in the media, around the 4.9 percent unemployment rate and how celebratory it has been that we have achieved that\u2014or the Government has achieved that. But what it does not take into account, and it was referred to by that member, is the number of women who have been made unemployed. But what we are not seeing in those statistics are the number of women who are second income earners in families, who do not factor into the unemployment stats. So what that has virtually done is carved a huge amount out of the income of households and so those women\u2014a lot who worked in the hospitality sector and have lost their jobs\u2014don\u2019t feature in those statistics of 4.9 percent. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EAlso what doesn\u2019t feature are those who were employed and whose hours are reduced as a consequence of the downturn in the economy. So again what we are not seeing in the statistics is the downturn in income from reduced hours. So there are families across this country, very much acknowledged, who are struggling at the moment because of the situation we are in. It would be wrong for the Government to rest on its laurels and celebrate a 4.9 percent unemployment rate when hidden behind that are a huge amount of other statistics that we need to be very, very concerned about as a country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003ENow, one of the opening lines in the Speech from the Throne told us that New Zealand had voted for stability and certainty at the election. I know from my own patch down in West Coast - Tasman that a lot of farmers actually did vote for certainty, and the thing they wanted to be certain about was that the Greens would not have a place in the halls of power. What happened immediately following the election was that the Greens were found a ministerial place and you can be certain\u2014the one thing that there is certainty about\u2014is that their influence will be felt as we move forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003ENow, I would like to draw some attention to an event that now forms part of New Zealand\u2019s history and that event took place on 9 December 2019 and that was at White Island. At that time and over the days following and the weeks following, 22 people\u2019s lives were lost and 25 further people were seriously injured and suffered extensive burns. So that\u2019s 47 families that were tragically impacted by the events of that day. Yet this Government fails to want to initiate a royal commission of inquiry into that event. I don\u2019t understand the rationale for not wanting to do that, because in most other major events such as that a royal commission is called for and that helps us understand all of the events that happened in the lead-up to that, all of the signals that may have been missed, and the procedures that may not have been perfect, and that\u2019s how we learn from the mistakes that have been made, and that\u2019s how we are a lot more certain that those mistakes are not repeated. It\u2019s a deep dive into the issues surrounding the whole event. So I do challenge the Government to reconsider and undertake a royal commission of inquiry into that event. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EAs spokesperson for emergency management, it is of particular interest to me to make sure that we learn from all of those experiences. So in my role as spokesperson for emergency management one of the things that I did earlier this year was to submit some written questions to the incoming Minister. What I was trying to do was to flesh out some of the priorities that the new Minister had and so I asked, \u201CWhat are the priorities in your role that you have written to the Prime Minister about?\u201D I was referred to the Speech from the Throne, so I went back to the Speech from the Throne to see exactly what was said about emergency management, because there are some areas in this country that are very vulnerable and will require some special attention in terms of the preparedness for emergencies. For instance, we know that a lot of people in this country now are concerned about flooding, sea-level rise, but also there are people who live in the South Island who live near to a fault line. So there is a lot of work done over time and will be in the future about preparedness for those events. So when I went back and had a look at the Speech from the Throne, there was actually no mention of it, so I ended up in this circular debate about what the priorities are. \u201CRefer to the Speech from the Throne.\u201D, I was told, but the Speech from the Throne actually didn\u2019t mention it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003ESo the next one that was of concern to me in my other role\u2014the community and voluntary sector. I had the same process for the new, incoming Minister there and asked for some feedback on what the priorities were and was again referred to the Speech from the Throne, and again there was no mention of it in there. So I have to wonder: is there actually a plan, are there priorities for the Government, and does it extend beyond the two areas that I was inquiring about and roll into a whole lot of others?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve heard today\u2014and Minister Hipkins referred to it earlier on\u2014about the three priority areas that the Government has, and over the last three years we saw it relentlessly pursuing press releases and making statements and making announcements. But there was no delivery and I just have to ask if people remember what the year of 2019 was tagged as by the Government: the year of delivery\u2014the year of delivery. So where is that delivery? Oops, nowhere to be seen. In fact, all three areas that the Government prioritised in the Speech from the Throne, all of those areas, have actually gotten worse; not just a little bit worse, but a whole lot worse.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EThe Labour Government proclaimed in their Speech from the Throne that they\u2019d have three overarching objectives. We heard about COVID. I mean, we hear a lot about COVID, and rightly so, and we\u2019ve heard a lot about vaccines in the last few days. But the one point of weakness that we have is in our border and our border control. Yet the Government continues to let infected people get on planes and come to New Zealand and into our managed isolation facilities. Now, Judith Collins and Dr Shane Reti have been calling since August last year for pre-flight testing, but that has failed to be implemented. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EThe other issue that was raised in the Speech from the Throne was to accelerate economic recovery. And what we\u2019ve seen too is, again, a whole lot of money being allocated\u2014billions of dollars, in fact\u2014but promising money and making an announcement is not the same thing as planning and delivery. And, again, we end up in the same argument, in the same debate where delivery is actually a stranger to this Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EI would like to talk about one particular project that was allocated $24 million, and that was in Franz Josef, an area of the West Coast, one of the most stunning places on the planet, I believe. Twenty-four million dollars\u2014that money will be circulated around the community and it will invest in some really important protection work for that community. So it was announced last July and then what happens? It\u2019s decided that it needs to be reassessed; reassessed to make sure it\u2019s value for money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac89b8c9d2cd424a8609670c01b3078b\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Another broken promise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221609e493f0b443fda080f87360a4cbe0\u0022\u003EMAUREEN PUGH\u003C/span\u003E: Another broken promise and a lack of delivery. But then it brings to mind what the other projects are that are going to be reassessed and whether they will deliver value for money and how many other projects around the country are at risk of having the same scrutiny put over them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EOne of the other issues that it would be remiss of me not to mention is tourism. The third objective is to lay the foundations for a better future. We have a $16 billion GDP contribution coming directly from tourism and a further $11.3 billion from indirect contribution. That industry is hugely under stress at the moment. We have had ad hoc contributions from the Government, unfair processes. I welcome the Auditor-General\u2019s review of the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme funding because I think it\u2019s going to highlight\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002232c0d8fd05494c739cc6cb3a8f068c46\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002232c0d8fd05494c739cc6cb3a8f068c46\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member\u2019s time has expired. I call Mark Cameron for his maiden statement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022 data-id=\u00228ee40a0e8ab5470fbf55c0b4102dae39\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228ee40a0e8ab5470fbf55c0b4102dae39\u0022\u003EMARK CAMERON (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker, and the gathered members. \u201CEmploy your time in improving yourself by other men\u2019s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.\u201D\u2014Sir Winston Churchill. On 10 a.m., December 12, 1944, Stuart Franklin, Geoff Bale, and five others flew on that day aboard Juliet-Echo-Echo NG-351. They flew stoic in their silence, brave in their intent, and petrified in their stare, and, yet, they flew on. Help arrived. Enemy aircraft strafing, munitions ever constant, ever threatening, only to appear, then disappear just as quickly. Altitude was evaporating. Controlled mayhem erupted. Their plane smashed into the ground\u2014no landing gear, little hydraulics, and a 4,000 pound \u201Ccookie\u201D bomb on board. Unbelievably, all survived. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EGeoff Bale was just 21 years old, a sheep farmer from Masterton. Within weeks, these men were back in circulation. My grandfather among them, Stuart Franklin, was a man of few words, boundless wisdom, and I loved him beyond measure. What so many young New Zealand men who served would have done to be back home like Geoff Bale, back on the farm. It is for this sake, I believe I owe them a debt I will struggle to ever repay. To have risked so much\u2014the loss to family, potential not realised, dreams never met\u2014and yet all those brave souls flew on. Thousands upon thousands flew on for the freedom of democracy and prosperity, to embrace all things heartfelt, and, for Geoff and Stu, all things home, all things Kiwi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EChurchill also said, \u201CWe shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape us.\u201D My speech here today is for all the men and women farmers, the fishing folks, and all of New Zealand blue-collar workers, like all those who risked to dream beyond the war, that allowed the rest of us, in time, to do the same. People like Geoff Bale, the sheep farmer who became a living metaphor for all of those that desired to farm, would go to any lengths to hold on to what was dear. He was one of so many who chose to risk everything to preserve a life I now choose to enjoy, a life of freedoms that, sadly, evermore seem to be taken for granted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EThis embodiment of a desired better tomorrow goes back to our earliest settlers, those men and women, and the love of the land against all the challenges that it might bring\u2014that true pioneering spirit, a journey in and of itself being one with the land. This was the nature of farmers and labourers throughout New Zealand\u2019s history, going to such extraordinary lengths to live on the land and enjoy the toil they\u2019re in. The farm I now own in Northland has a long and colourful history. It is a canvas of 150 years of farming in New Zealand steeped in pride, passion, and zeal. This is unparalleled in so many other countries. In 1869, Ann Rogers left Auckland with her 10 children. By some accounts, it is believed she set sail from Helensville, up the Kaipara Harbour, following the tide. This journey would have taken weeks, making landfall when nature allowed, following the tide north. Many weeks later, they arrived in R\u0113hia, Northland, on the farm I now own. Joseph, her husband, a printing press operator in Auckland, was destined to follow the year later. Within 12 months of Joseph\u2019s arrival, their farming dreams laid out in front of them, Joseph was to lose his life to a terrible fever. Farming in the wilds of Northland in the 1860s was fraught with danger and disease. His loss sadly left behind Ann and her 10 children in these untamed lands of Northland. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EYet, Ann\u2019s dreams of making good in this journey remained undaunted. Ever the farmer\u2019s way, ever determined, she remained steadfast and unwavering. Although her challenges were vast, her willingness was ever greater, and she stuck at it. The generations that followed must have such immense pride. Men like Bob Berridge, following in her footsteps, some 50 years later, on the same farm. He carried the baton forward. He also dared to dream. As a teenager, Bob, in the 1910s, would clear scrub all day to create farmland, giving him just enough pasture for a few cows, which he would milk by hand when he could, in fact, catch them. To supplement his meagre income, he would ride his horse six or seven hours to supply salted meat to the shepherds miles away, often returning after midnight, his journey lit by the moon. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EThese are but some of the people that preceded my career on the farm I now own. Many decades on, I beam with pride and respect at their exploits. Though the challenges have changed and the difficulties are still frequent, that desired passion of New Zealand farmers to work the land, to be one with nature, and to embrace the farming ideal remains strong\u2014for now, at least. I think every farmer has it, like those Albertlanders who settled on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour and their aspirations, or the Geoff Bale of this world. We now see this belief locked in so many farmers\u2014three, four, or five generations whence. It is that something special that our farmers, our fishing folk, and our rural people feel. It\u2019s just something in our bones. But evermore, unfortunately for many, that feeling is slowly dying. I think most farmers and rural people would reluctantly agree. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EMy old friend Winston Churchill again: \u201CThe farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.\u201D I am afraid our farmers are finding that image ever increasingly more difficult to discern. All our farmers and growers identify with who they are by what they do; ever increasingly, that identity is being taken from them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EAs a young boy of five and six, this saw me growing up on a dairy farm in Northland. Small town, rural New Zealand is where my life journey began. Every day was an adventure, a learning experience, the rigours of daily farming, life ever present, and a community in which everyone knew everyone\u2014and I loved it. Although I spent my teenage years at Auckland Grammar School, the pull towards the countryside and rural New Zealand was always strong. The land, the animals, farm machines, all were powerful magnets for a young boy. It was because I felt part of something, something bigger than myself, and like so many of us who feel it, it was tremendous. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EMy life on the farm has been a journey shared with my wonderful family. My darling Jodie\u2014my partner\u2014my mother Julie and sister, and my uncle Brian are here today. They shared in my dreams to see me succeed in one of the best industries in New Zealand and amongst the best farmers in the world. I have now been farming for 30 years non-stop and in that time I\u2019ve seen all sides of rural New Zealand: the trials and the tribulations of those in my community and those that have stood beside me in their rural journey. I have worked with livestock for decades, whether goading dairy cows or being chased by wild bulls, the latter of which resulted in breaking both collarbones and eight ribs on several different occasions, or being on farm with pneumonia in a perpetual wet winter that caught so many farmers out. Also, living with the pangs of depression for three or four years in my early thirties. This has been my life in farming. These won\u2019t be unfamiliar anecdotes to most farmers, many of whom now know colleagues and friends who found the going too tough, sold up, moved on, or, in too many cases, took their own lives. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EYet, despite an environment of increasing uncertainty, we farmers are still here. We are hanging on, always working. After all, the world needs feeding and clothing and it\u2019s our job to do it. But what has remained, till now at least, has been the farming communities and an occasional politician who might choose to listen. \u201CBut are they listening really?\u201D, many would ask. There is a sadly ever-widening divide between urban and rural New Zealand. It is a divide which I and the ACT Party have promised to come here and address. It was heartening to see COVID-19 briefly bringing New Zealand farming communities front and centre again, a temporary shift in perception which was so wonderful to experience and seemed by the wider public to be gratefully received. Farmers rightly asked, though, why did it take something like COVID-19 for so many people to realise how important farmers are to this country and how good we are at what we do? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EI joined the ACT Party long before anyone had heard of COVID-19 because I saw a need for real change. My mission was to return a sense of pride to rural New Zealand, and I thought the ACT Party would help me provide that opportunity. I want all farmers again to feel that sense of fairness, which for too long has been missing. We farmers are tired and weary of being political fodder for some New Zealanders\u2019 guilty conscience about their own environment, or being pandered to during an election campaign to then only be ignored when the votes have been cast. Ever more, the political class speaks less to the provincial communities it once embraced so vigorously. Those communities now feel more distant from their urban cousins, more at odds with the way they see their own backyard. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EFor the good of New Zealand\u2019s collective wellbeing it must not be this way. That is why I have come to the ACT Party to balance the conversation. We can no longer accept cynical soundbites like \u201Cdirty dairying\u201D and suggestions animals are destroying the planet or that industry perpetually pollutes. Rural New Zealand deserves better than being told to desist and diversify by people with so little experience on how farming and industry actually works, especially when so much has already been done to improve our environmental footprint and the country\u2019s collective farming operations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EI intend to help change this narrative so more people recognise the good works of all New Zealanders, not the chosen few. We have always been a country that embraces technology, and our Kiwi farmers are the best in the world at doing it. We should see our future as one that builds on the foundations that have been made and support techniques that allow industry to be on equal footing with that of the environment, not its whipping boy. As the ACT Party rural spokesperson, I will bring this advocacy. I will extol of all good things in rural New Zealand, including the protection of the environment and equally, ACT\u2019s fundamental principle of the protection of private property rights. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EI will advocate for sensible-based environmental policies for all New Zealanders, which are attainable and pragmatic. I ask all politicians here in this Parliament to bring honesty, integrity, and practicality to the process of regulating the operations of all New Zealand communities, not virtue signalling and catch phrases that cannot be applied to real farming and those that do it. Farmers remain so bloody important, such strong threads in the fabric of this country and New Zealand society. My goal here is to restore that understanding, so that once again, self-belief will be farmers\u2019 and growers\u2019 and rural folks\u2019 greatest asset. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EThat is why I am here, to pay off this debt to my constituents: the farmers, the rural communities and all those beyond, to the descendants of farmers like Geoff Bale and the Albertlanders and those that followed them. But most of all, I owe my debt to those brave souls who flew on that day in 1944 and served their country in its darkest hours so that we might all enjoy our lives across this great land, so our farmers and our town folk alike can once again rejoice with shared pride and that we all here can embrace this highest altar of our democracy and, in doing so, bridge that ever-widening urban divide. Thank you, Mr Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022526799ef546843c1bd88b4e0926553e9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022526799ef546843c1bd88b4e0926553e9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I call on Dr James McDowall to make his maiden statement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022 data-id=\u00225c4141ddcdff4d95b232256c12f626c0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225c4141ddcdff4d95b232256c12f626c0\u0022\u003EDr JAMES McDOWALL (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is an honour and privilege to be sent here by the 219,031 people\u2014New Zealanders\u2014who agreed with our principles and lent us their votes at the 2020 general election. All members owe this privilege to the people of New Zealand, and it is for them who we work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003ETo those who chose not to vote for ACT but perhaps considered it, our caucus will be working hard for you in Opposition, and we hope to earn your support during this parliamentary term. New Zealand needs a strong and enduring classical liberal party, and growing from one to 10 MPs is just the start of that journey. We stand for economic and social liberty, and the rule of law.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI pay tribute to my talented, diverse, and united caucus, and also to our candidates who didn\u2019t quite make it into Parliament last year. Please stick around, for our best days lie ahead of us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EAs I stand here today I would be remiss if I didn\u2019t mention Stuart Pedersen, an ACT stalwart and former candidate who tragically passed away at sea in 2019. Stuart was a cheerful, intelligent, and generous man, respected by his political allies and opponents alike. He was planning to give the 2020 campaign his all, and he really should be sitting with us here in this House. My thoughts are with his family and friends.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EMy core team in the Waikato played a major role in the success of our party in that region. I acknowledge the hard work and perseverance of Myah, Roger, Bruce, Les, Garry, Harry, Mo, and Steve and Rom and their wonderful children, Olive and Elle. I, a libertarian, vegetarian, firearms enthusiast, wouldn\u2019t be here if it wasn\u2019t for all of you. You kept the faith and stayed loyal, and you have the party\u2019s eternal gratitude.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI was born on 6 January 1988 during the reign of David Lange here in New Zealand, Ronald Reagan in the United States, Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom, and Gorbachev in the Soviet Union\u2014what a time to be alive! A month after my birth, the gradual collapse of the Soviet Union began. The dissolution actually took about three years, but good things take time. Just over half of my life ago, I got into politics, having attended an ACT function in Auckland. I got to meet the likes of Roger Douglas, Richard Prebble, Rodney Hide, who had just won Epsom, a younger David Seymour, and many others who are still involved in the party today. I found them all to be straight-shooting people who say it like it is and talk a lot of economic sense. I never thought I would go on to eventually represent the party in Parliament, but here we are\u2014life is full of unexpected twists and turns.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI thank my family and friends, many of whom are here in the gallery today, for their enduring love and support. I have my parents to thank for my perseverance, resilience, optimism, and even my musical upbringing. Thank you all for taking on the burden of time and expense in travelling to our nation\u2019s capital to support me from the gallery. Thank you so much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI also think of family members such as my grandfathers, Lou and Laurie, who I wish were still around to see me being elected as a member. I\u2019m sure all members think about wh\u0101nau who have passed in recent years, especially when they never got to see their election to this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI acknowledge my wife, Sushan, who has given me her full support for my political endeavours, despite the many negative stories about the toll that being a member can have on families. I also thank my daughter, Sofia, though she\u2019s only three years old and doesn\u2019t really know what\u2019s going on, for not kicking up a fuss, which is unusual, and for enabling an easy job transition. She loves to tell her friends at day care that her daddy works at the Beehive, which is not quite true, but you never know what the future may hold. I do find it quite entertaining when she tells me to be careful of the bees at work\u2014I actually think she\u2019s wise beyond her years. As an aside, my daughter is a half-Chinese seventh generation New Zealander, and I certainly hope that she doesn\u2019t experience the horrendous racism that my wife has experienced and continues to experience in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI\u2019m actually not the first person in my family to work within these halls, though it has been a while. My great-great-grandfather, Samuel Marsden Baker, fluent in most dialects of te reo M\u0101ori, was the chief interpreter in the House of Representatives and was a close friend of the Rt Hon Richard Seddon. This cohort of my family actually spoke te reo M\u0101ori at home, which must have been very unusual for a P\u0101keh\u0101 family at the time. My great-great-great-grandfather, the Rev. Charles Baker, first arrived in the Bay of Islands in 1828, and because of his association with James Busby, he was present at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, and he is depicted in the famous painting by Leonard Mitchell. I\u2019m proud to have this ancestral link to the Treaty, and it was a privilege attending the commemorations in Waitangi last week.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EFrom my schooling background, I\u2019d like to thank two teachers in particular\u2014I didn\u2019t have a great deal of success until I met these two people\u2014Mr Singh, my economics teacher, who introduced me to the Austrian and Chicago schools, and Ms Anderson, my business studies teacher, who is, funnily enough, related to our former deputy leader, Beth Houlbrooke, who is in the gallery today. In addition to the practical lessons learnt, they taught me to put trust in my own abilities and to take ownership of my learning. Frankly, many of my prior teachers were nothing but cruel\u2014sorry to say that. I\u2019ll never forget my teacher in intermediate telling my classmates that I was the most useless student in the class, which set me up for years of verbal and physical bullying while the school turned a blind eye. But enough about that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EThe visits that I made to partnership schools had a profound impact on me\u2014students have a place that they can call home; they\u2019re much more than just schools. I wish I went to one, and I wish we had more of these across New Zealand, but unfortunately these community-driven initiatives were torpedoed and future students will be left to fend for themselves in the same State education system that failed them in the first place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EWe live in a country that grants its citizens constitutional freedoms, including freedom of expression, that many around the world do not enjoy. That is why so many risk everything to set up their lives here. This House must maintain those freedoms, at the very least, and I will steadfastly use my time here as a member to enhance them. We must promote the rule of law and respect the separation of powers. This Parliament is merely a cog in the constitutional wheels of our nation; we share the power that is given to us by the people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003ESeemingly contrary to popular belief, New Zealanders also look after our environment, mostly, not only because it is the right thing to do but because we are directly incentivised to do so. To act against the environment can be economically disastrous. I contrast this with scenes that I witnessed firsthand while visiting several towns and villages in Asia a few years ago. Residents were dumping all of their household waste, including heavy metals, directly into the tributaries of a major river. The banks were absolutely littered with rubbish that hadn\u2019t made it all the way down. That river flows into the South China Sea\u2014this happens all over the world. So when I see images on TV of the floating rubbish islands in the Pacific Ocean, I know exactly where that stuff came from. Here in New Zealand, we obviously don\u2019t tolerate that sort of behaviour, and I also don\u2019t think that we give ourselves enough credit for the positive work that we do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EIn New Zealand we have unacceptable levels of material hardship, poverty, homelessness, and significant over-representation of tangata whenua in our prisons and in our courts, among many other issues. No one in this House wants to see this. The Government has three years of seemingly limitless power to tackle these issues, and I hope for all our sakes that they are successful. Take care, though, the more laws that are written, the more criminals that are produced.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI also hope that the Government looks at supply side economics in the housing market, and makes it easier to build quality homes throughout the country. Our out-of-control housing market is debilitating for my generation, and even more so for those that come after. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI mentioned migrants before. An efficient, high quality, and respectful immigration system is an essential part of any country\u2019s machinery. I hope that one day we will have such a system. The bar needs to be raised significantly at Immigration New Zealand, or it needs to be replaced altogether. Whether it\u2019s the appalling delays in processing visas, the lack of transparency, the inhumanity, the inability to work remotely, or immigration officers who get their own policies wrong time and again, it\u2019s simply not good enough. Migrants make huge sacrifices to call New Zealand home, and more often than not they show the rest of us what hard work really means. They have moved to a foreign land far away and flourished, just like our own ancestors. Christopher Columbus once wrote, \u201CYou can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI think of my in-laws, who I\u2019m very close to. Decades ago, they left communist-controlled lands and made their way to New Zealand. My father-in-law was a refugee who escaped Pol Pot in Cambodia, a Marxist dictator who murdered at least 2 million of his own people, including my father-in-law\u2019s father and sisters. My mother-in-law left behind a nation still grappling with the after-effects of the Cultural Revolution and years of famine. Say what you like about Muldoon at the time, but I think I know where I\u2019d rather live. My in-laws set up successful businesses and worked hard in physically demanding jobs that they themselves created from nothing. Since arriving in New Zealand the only day they have taken off each year is Christmas Day, and work every other day. I\u2019d like to say that this is exception but actually, for many migrants, it\u2019s not, it\u2019s quite normal, and I pay tribute to each and every new New Zealander.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge, briefly, the many work and student visa holders who have been stranded overseas since March 2020 through no fault of their own, with their jobs, homes, possessions and, in some cases, family members, left behind here in New Zealand. I know that you\u2019re in a huge amount of distress. It is unacceptable that you have been shut out and given no certainty about your futures in New Zealand. If New Zealand is to maintain its image as a world-leading destination for work and study the Government has to work on its kindness and come up with a fair solution.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EMy political ideology is simply that our morals and ambitions are our own and that they should not be forced upon anyone else, not least of all by the Government of the day. Everything else just flows from that idea. The enforcement of immoral laws restricting the rights of citizens to make them morally upright is unjust for it violates a person\u2019s right to individual autonomy. As Rand said, \u201CA Government is the most dangerous threat to man\u2019s rights: it holds a monopoly on the use of legal force against its citizens.\u201D By extension, we should act as global citizens and not be afraid to call out Governments around the world that not only abuse individual and human rights but also venture into our own backyard with nefarious motives and ideals. We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. The wolves are getting closer to our doorstep.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI thank the many thousands of people who contacted me in support of using Cantonese in this House during my oath, it was a pleasure to share this side of my family with you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003EI conclude by thanking the ACT Party board and caucus for investing their time and confidence in me. We\u2019re all working for a more productive, thoughtful, intelligent, and fearless New Zealand, where people seek and achieve a better quality of life. We are the masters of our own fate, to also quote Churchill. Learn to value yourself, which means fight for your happiness. I want my daughter to grow up in a New Zealand that is filled with ambition, innovativeness, and envied productivity. I honour the heritage of this nation, its unique constitution, and its Treaty. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ff1ad5a3-e02a-4ffe-a961-ef69bdaee1c9\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022b1c5912071c24b8cadf8dd88c0530c86\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b1c5912071c24b8cadf8dd88c0530c86\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I call on Karen Chhour for her maiden statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022 data-id=\u00229e7ac0850cc94dd882a10446ba8af601\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229e7ac0850cc94dd882a10446ba8af601\u0022\u003EKAREN CHHOUR (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. We often don\u2019t have the hard conversations that are needed for many reasons. They are too hard to hear or we don\u2019t want to face the truth that things are not as they should be. I\u2019ve come into this role, knowing that I\u2019m going to have to have some of these hard conversations about the care of our children in this country. In an ideal world, we would not need someone like me to stand here and say New Zealand deserves better; unfortunately, that\u2019s what I\u2019m having to do. I\u2019ve watched over the years as Governments, past and present, tiptoe around issues that are so important to the average New Zealander. I\u2019ve waited for a Government that had the courage to stand up and start saying what needed to be said; unfortunately, this never seems to happen. For years I\u2019ve never really told my story, as I was ashamed of it. As I got older, I realised, unless we are honest with ourselves about our past, we cannot move forward. So here it goes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EI myself was born in Australia and brought to New Zealand by my mother when I was around a year old. I was taken to live with my grandparents in Kae\u014D. Life was simple, power and running water was not a thing, and, unfortunately, neither was indoor plumbing. But I was in a loving environment, which was the most important thing. I was moved to Auckland to live with my mother when it was time for me to start school. This is when my life changed. My mother had just got married and was starting a new life, and now they were taking on a child they didn\u2019t really know at all. To the outside world, we looked like the perfect family, but, unfortunately, nothing could have been further from the truth. Life got so bad that, by the age of nine, I didn\u2019t think I was going to survive to the age of 10. It was around this time that I ran away from home and cried out for help. Unfortunately, my cries for help went unheard and I was sent back into the same situation that I had run away from. Around this time, my mother\u2019s marriage was ending and, eventually, she ended up on the DPB.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EWhat was going on at home was affecting me in my day-to-day life in many ways. I was quiet and reserved and easily upset. This made me a target for bullies. The bullying got so bad in intermediate that it was decided it was best for me to leave, rather than dealing with the problem. How often have we heard that? I felt alone, with nowhere to turn, in a system that had let me down in so many ways. So I kept to myself and tried hard to simply stay unnoticed. By this stage in my life, my mental health was in the toilet and I was at the point where I didn\u2019t know if I wanted to wake up the next day. The simple truth is I was at rock bottom. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EThis is when a lady by the name of Dona noticed something was not right. She came to me and asked me one simple question: \u201CAre you OK?\u201D Dona offered me a lifeline that day\u2014one I knew I had to choose. One night I ran and ended up on her doorstep, with just the shirt on my back, and she took me in, no questions asked. Now, this is was my second experience with the system. They organised family group conferences and tried to find members of my family that would take me in. My mental health did not seem to be of a concern to them. I was made to feel like a burden. Their questions made me feel like I was to blame, and I was being labelled a trouble-maker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003ETime went by and, even though I loved living at Dona and Clarke\u2019s, I knew I couldn\u2019t stay there for ever, so I started to ask questions. This is when a social worker told me, \u201CI\u2019m sorry, none of your family wants you.\u201D I asked whether I could go back to my grandmother and was told, \u201CYour grandmother can\u2019t take you again\u2014it\u2019s too hard for her.\u201D I spent years resenting my grandmother for this, and it was only when I got older that I found out she had begged social services to have me, only to be told she was too old. Can you imagine being a child and hearing from a social worker that nobody\u2014not even your family\u2014wants you? I have lived with these words my whole life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EThe system needs to learn that children are not just a number or a problem to be got rid of. They have minds and hearts of their own, and our words can break them. Eventually, I was placed with a family member that did their best, but I always knew that I was forced on them and I never felt welcome. I was a teen moving around from relatives\u2019 houses to friends\u2019 couches, and back with my mother when I had nowhere else to go. I was bounced from pillar to post, and, by the time I was 14, I had moved schools seven times. I could not keep up, so I did what so many have done before, and I simply dropped out. I got a job and I saved what I could, and eventually I moved into a flat and became completely independent. I worked graveyard shifts at McDonald\u2019s while I tried to continue my education by day, doing a course. I drank a bit, I cried a lot, but I was doing OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EOne night I promised myself that, if I ever had a family of my own, I would never allow them to go through what I went through. Yes, I made mistakes\u2014I was young\u2014but it was then that I decided to take on every opportunity I could to try and better myself. I have worked hard over the years to make something of my life that my children can be proud of. It has not always been easy. I\u2019m grateful to my husband, Meng, who has stood by me through all the tough times. We started our family earlier than expected: having our first child at 18. Meng found a job as a compressor mechanic and supported me while I searched for work. Once the baby was born, I worked nights at any job I could find. Eventually, Meng managed to find an apprenticeship in telecommunications. That apprenticeship has led to so many opportunities for us. I won\u2019t pretend it was easy. The hours were long and the income was low, but he is now a project manager in his field.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EMarriage came and then a second child. Then a year later we had saved enough to buy our first home. It wasn\u2019t much, but it was ours, and it was so much more than just a house. It was the happy home that I had never had. Two more children followed, and we ended up living there for 15 years until we could finally afford the house we\u2019re in now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EI worked many jobs over the years to help where I could, but all I wanted was to be home for my kids. So I stopped working and started helping my mother-in-law with her business. I sourced work and helped prepare clothes for deliveries. In return, she taught me how to sew. This was amazing as it allowed me the time to do things I wanted with my children, while learning a new skill. I\u2019ve spent the last seven years volunteering with the St John Youth programme, holding the position of assistant divisional manager for five of those years. Over the years I\u2019ve been that mother in the classroom, helping with reading groups, school trips, and anywhere else I was needed. And when we moved into our bigger home, I took the skills my mother-in-law taught me and became self-employed in the New Zealand - made clothing industry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EThis brings me to today. Over the years, I\u2019ve watched and listened to people in my community telling me their stories. It became clear to me that the system has not got any better than when I experienced it. In fact, it\u2019s getting worse. My heart would break because I could relate so much to what they were saying, but I felt there was nothing I could do to help them. I\u2019ve watched so many promises being made to improve the system, but it seemed that every time a promise was made, they changed the name but not much else. Whether it be Child, Youth and Family, Ministry for Vulnerable Children, or now Oranga Tamariki, it\u2019s the same system with a new letterhead. This simply isn\u2019t good enough. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EI am one of the lucky ones. I had people that helped me believe in myself just enough that I could see my way out. It\u2019s because of them I am able to stand here today and say enough is enough. We can\u2019t keep doing what we\u2019re doing. Society needs to take a stand and decide what is acceptable and what is not. I had the privilege of giving a similar speech to an audience during the election campaign and I\u2019m going to say the same thing I said to them. It is high time the Government stopped the lip service and did something that actually helps the people that need it the most. Governments past and present have spent years avoiding making any real meaningful decisions, but at least we can now say we\u2019ve had an inquiry into abuse in State care. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EThe royal commission report is a good thing. It brings some closure to the victims and I am grateful that these people have been given the opportunity to speak up and finally have a voice. But does this report really tell us anything we did not already know? Now we need more than just words. Apologies only go so far and cannot be taken seriously when what we apologise for is still happening. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EI stand here today not only as a survivor of abuse as a child but a survivor of our system\u2019s abuse. It is time we said what needs to be said: enough is enough and we won\u2019t tolerate it any more. We must focus on our most vulnerable, our children. Parents are grownups. They can make their own choices and decisions. Our children don\u2019t have the ability to make big choices yet, and they shouldn\u2019t need to. They deserve our guidance and protection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EACT thinks this can\u2019t really take place while there\u2019s such a focus on race and culture in an organisation delivering that protection. As I recently said, when Grainne Moss stood down as Oranga Tamariki chief executive, ethnicity and culture should not be how we decide what\u2019s in the best interest of our children. Oranga Tamariki should be colour-blind and open to whatever will ensure a child\u2019s wellbeing and safety. It is not a one-size-fits-all thing, and having legislation that tries to make it that way doesn\u2019t work for our children.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EIf that means placing a vulnerable child into a home of a family who desperately want to love and care for them, rather than doing everything possible to place their child back into a family that made them vulnerable in the first place, then that should be the solution. As someone who has experienced three elements of placement\u2014non-family who wanted me, family who didn\u2019t, and extended family who did\u2014I can tell you, as a young person you\u2019ll take love, compassion, stability wherever you can find it. That\u2019s why ACT believes Oranga Tamariki needs reform, just not in the way the reform looks likely to be done under this Government. But who knows? They might listen to me. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EWe actually need to set up a better system of support for people in this country, proper care for survivors so they can move forward with the hope of a better life. I\u2019m really concerned, if we don\u2019t do something fast, our next generation is going to suffer in ways we can\u2019t comprehend. For years, I\u2019ve been frustrated watching the numbers for homelessness, child poverty, and mental health rise. There seemed to be no party that was willing to have an open and honest discussion around these issues. I want to have these conversations and work to find a solution that is more than just throwing money at the problem. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EWe need to set up targeted help and put that money where it is needed the most. I think we spend far too much time on the -isms in this country: racism, sexism, and classism. I firmly believe that they can be used as weapons to distract us from the important issues instead of focusing on what needs to be done in these areas. The consequence of constantly putting labels on things seems to be that we\u2019ve created an environment where expectations are lowered and personal responsibility is no longer a requirement. I want to focus on people being the best they can be and celebrate their successes in these areas instead of constantly focusing on the negatives that give these people the platform they desire.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EOh, please don\u2019t misunderstand me when I say this; I know these things happen. I, myself, have been on the receiving end of bullying for some of these very reasons. I was judged when I was younger, sometimes very openly, about just being another M\u0101ori dropout that would never get anywhere in life. I soon learnt that it did not matter how hard I worked to improve myself. If someone wants to, they will always find a reason to try and drag you down. We cannot just accept that this is OK, but we also can\u2019t let this distract us from reaching our goals. We cannot afford to get this stuff wrong any more. Our next generation is relying on us to learn from the past and get better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to be standing here as a member of the ACT Party team. They are willing to look at issues from an understanding of what\u2019s good for the country and not just what\u2019s good for the party. I would like to thank everyone who voted to support us and look forward to serving you and all New Zealanders in the years to come. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022285984b759104b46b4c07a10731c181f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022285984b759104b46b4c07a10731c181f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I call on Toni Severin for her maiden statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022 data-id=\u0022bf38b8c26b67480588cf2d5e1e6887c0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bf38b8c26b67480588cf2d5e1e6887c0\u0022\u003ETONI SEVERIN (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am humbled to be standing here as one of ACT\u2019s new list members for the 53rd Parliament. First of all, I would like to thank the public of New Zealand who voted party vote ACT. If it was not for them, I would not be standing here today. Next, I would like to thank our ACT leader, David Seymour, for what he has achieved in the last six years as the lone voice of ACT in this Parliament. Finally, thank you to all the ACT candidates and helpers for all their hard work this last year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EAs the youngest of six, I grew up in Invercargill in a family that had its problems. Some days, I didn\u2019t want to be there. But I have to thank my parents, who instilled in me the values of hard work and self-responsibility. I have carried them throughout my life to achieve the things that I have.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EIt was not easy for me growing up. I had struggles in school with my reading and spelling, but I did make it to the seventh form\u2014year 13, for you young people. It was not until I joined the serology unit at Canterbury Health Labs that a lovely lady, Sheryl Young, suggested that I get tested for learning disabilities, as she noticed I was struggling. At the age of 21, I went to Seabrook McKenzie Centre in Christchurch to be tested, and found that I had a learning disability, a form of dyslexia. They were shocked that I made it to the seventh form. With this knowledge and understanding, I still achieved to become a qualified technical assistant in immunology. Later, I studied part time for three years and worked full time to finish a diploma in marketing at Christchurch Polytechnic, now known as Ara. During my years at Canterbury Health Labs, I was a Public Service Association delegate, team manager, and team member for the Canterbury health dragon boat team.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EFor the last 25 years, I have been a part owner of a successful small business with my husband, Richard. Now I\u2019m a member of Parliament. Going through all this, I have a message for you all: do not be afraid to ask for help. Most of all, do not give up. Ask for help and keep asking for help until you get it. Richard has been a great partner in life and in business. It\u2019s because of Richard that I\u2019m standing here today. Richard volunteered me to Sir Roger Douglas as a candidate in the 2008 election, and, as they say, the rest is history.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EOne wish I would make is that my parents were still with us to see what I have achieved, and have my dad tease me that he voted for Winston Peters, which may not have been true, as he liked to bait people into disagreements. I thank my dad for his service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 14 Squadron, J-force. Mum, thank you for making the best home that you could.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EWith the values of self-responsibility, freedom of choice, freedom of speech, less Government intervention, ACT is the only party I have supported, since the beginning of MMP. I am humbled to be here in Parliament to further these values.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EAs a small-business owner, the red tape and the taxes consistently piled upon us add costs that many of us cannot afford. Two years ago, I read a statistic in the Air New Zealand magazine, which has stuck with me: 97 percent of businesses in New Zealand are small businesses, of up to 20 employees. That\u2019s a total of just over 515,000 businesses, generating 28 percent of GDP, and employing around 631,200 people. I am happy to be the voice, with my ACT caucus here in Parliament, to ask questions on behalf of these business people. One thing I would ask this Government to do is please listen to what New Zealand business people have to say. They know best what needs to be done to help them to make New Zealand prosperous in this COVID time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EOver the years as a small-business owner, my main role was making enough money to be able to pay our staff, bills, and taxes. It has not been easy. There were times where Richard and I would have no money, as there was not enough in our bank accounts for us, our staff, to be paid. We always made sure they were paid first. We had to negotiate flexibility paying suppliers, sometimes over a few months, because we had a tax payment due. Most small businesses don\u2019t always have spare money sitting in their bank accounts, and if they do, there\u2019s always something that will happen to take that spare money away.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EWhen small-business people need a bank loan for their business, they are most likely to borrow this against their home\u2014if they have a home. So not only do they risk their business but they also risk their family home. Then, once you have a successful business, people say things like \u201CHow lucky you are! You must be successful, because you own all this.\u201D But what they forget is all the hard work we had to put into our business. Long hours, personal money, one partner working another job or two, no holidays\u2014just some of the sacrifices we have made because we believe in our business.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EI quote for you from the Roman philosopher Seneca: \u201CLuck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.\u201D That pretty much describes the grind that goes into creating a successful business. But just when you think it\u2019s all working out, more red tape, taxes, compliance costs arrive. We work hard to keep our business running, our employees employed, but year after year it gets harder. So why do we do it? We do it because we have invested so much time and money into a business that employs staff and services clients. I am proud to be a small-business owner. Our hard work is starting to pay off, but there are so many small businesses out there that are having a hard time. I know this because it could have been us. All it takes is customers not paying due to an event like COVID. Finally on business: we don\u2019t want hand-outs, that\u2019s not sustainable. We want an environment that supports small businesses to be able to grow through hard work to succeed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EMy second request of this Government is: please listen to our children. Our children understand more than what us adults think they do. We need to ensure our children have access to the best education we can give them. I am sad to say we are failing too many of our children in education. Too many are not receiving the help they need in our schools. One-size-fits-all schools do not work. We all have different needs and abilities. Please put the choice of education into the hands of our children and their parents. They understand their needs better than someone in Wellington. I compare one-size-fits-all schools to a pair of socks that says \u201Cone size fits all\u201D\u2014in my experience, they don\u2019t. If you have an average sized foot, you\u2019re fine, but if you don\u2019t, you\u2019re out of luck. Just don\u2019t let our children down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EWe are the House of Representatives. We need to listen to all groups who come to us. We may not agree with all that they say, but we will behave conciliatorily. We can always find middle ground and find solutions that can help as many people as possible. We have to keep an open mind. What I think I know today might be proven wrong tomorrow, and just the view that I\u2019m right and you\u2019re wrong does not help deliver practical solutions. If we, as people, can look at differences as opportunities, rather than threats, we can do so much more for one-another. So often it\u2019s environmentalists versus farmers, teachers versus student learning, victims versus prisoners. We have to find a balance and make sure all these groups are helped. We are letting too many people down on both sides of the fence. Let\u2019s remove the fence and have solid, practical solutions and great guidelines to make the best public policies we here as MPs can.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003EI would like to leave you with some quotes that say a lot about what shapes my political thinking: \u201CFree marketing and deregulation are not right wing policy stances. They are the policies of those who believe in individual liberty and the availability of choice in a competitive environment.\u201D That was Aubrey Begg, Labour MP for Awarua from 1972 to 1975. \u201CThe problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is \u2026 Government spends too much.\u201D The great Ronald Reagan reminding us all that we must question every dollar governments spend on our behalf. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229d892f20-579d-4c43-8247-7ab72c4f7c2e\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022d6790a01eb0d4159bd8279f9f580946e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d6790a01eb0d4159bd8279f9f580946e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I call on Dr Emily Henderson to make her maiden statement. [Interruption] Order! Order! This is Emily\u2019s time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022 data-id=\u0022b29db6a580a84bd7a496bfc60c5ed1f3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b29db6a580a84bd7a496bfc60c5ed1f3\u0022\u003EDr EMILY HENDERSON (Labour\u2014Whang\u0101rei):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Speaker, t\u016B ake t\u0113nei. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou Te \u0100ti Awa, e ng\u0101 mana whenua o Te \u016Apoko o te Ika. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou ng\u0101 hap\u016B, ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau o te rohe o Whang\u0101rei, me k\u012B, ng\u0101 kaitiaki, ng\u0101 kaimanaaki. He mihi ki a koutou ng\u0101 hap\u016B, he mihi ki a koutou tohu o nehe. Ng\u0101 maunga whakah\u012B, ng\u0101 awa, ng\u0101 moana. T\u0113nei te mihi o te mana o te Whare P\u0101remata ki ng\u0101 kai\u0101rahi me ng\u0101 kaimahi o ng\u0101 wawata o te iwi. He karere t\u0113nei m\u014D ng\u0101 iwi o Whang\u0101rei, hei mihi ki a koutou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003E[Mr Speaker, I now take my stand. Greetings Te \u0100ti Awa, the authority of this land of Te \u016Apoko o te Ika. Greetings also to the subtribes and families of the Whang\u0101rei district, that is to the caretakers and carers of the land. I greet all the subtribes and all your ancient landmarks; the ancestral mountains, the rivers and the oceans. This tribute is from the authority of Parliament to the leaders and fulfillers of the aspirations of the people. I am but a messenger for the people of Whang\u0101rei. Greetings to you all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EHe mihi kia koutou ma to my family and my friends and my Labour team, who have travelled all the way down to support me, and to those at home I know are watching too. Huri noa, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EKa huri \u014Dku whakaaro ki te tini me te mano kua mate. E te matua Rudy Taylor kua oti nei t\u014D mahi rangatira, moe mai r\u0101. R\u0101tou ki a r\u0101tou, t\u0101tou ki a t\u0101tou. Me \u016B t\u0101tou ki te kaupapa kua takotohia.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003E[Let me reflect upon the myriads that have passed on. Sir Rudy Taylor, you have completed your chiefly tasks, rest in peace. Them to them, we to us. Let us turn to the agenda that is before us.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EI am a sixth generation P\u0101keh\u0101. He tangata tiriti ahau. By birth, I\u2019m a Wellingtonian, and the fourth generation to feel Ko K\u0101piti te motu, ko Pukerua te takutai, engari i \u0113nei r\u0101 n\u014D Whang\u0101rei ahau [K\u0101piti is the island, Pukerua is the beach, but I now call Whang\u0101rei home].\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EIn fact, the day I made my first stump speech last May was nearly 40 years, exactly, to the day that my mum and dad drove us into Whang\u0101rei, seven-year-old me in the back seat with the first four of what would become six siblings. Mai i te \u016Bpoko o te ika tae noa ki te hiku kua hoki mai au ki konei.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003E[From the head of the fish all the way to its tail, I have returned here.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EWe went from the head to the tail of the fish and now I am back full circle, to my great honour, as the Labour MP for Whang\u0101rei, and also as a proud member of team Tai Tokerau alongside Minister Davis and Willow-Jean Prime for Northland. They were so generous in taking me under their wings, but always behind us all was the wide, wide wings of the late, great Rudy Taylor, lifting us all to where we are now, in a position to make good on the Te Tai Tokerau saying, \u201CIt\u2019s the tail that powers the fish\u201D. But in what direction? Throughout last year\u2019s campaign, the words of another big man, Norman Kirk before his election to Prime Minister, were a touchstone for the Labour Party. \u201CNew Zealanders\u201D, he said, \u201Cdon\u2019t ask for much. Someone to love, somewhere to live, somewhere to work, and something to hope for.\u201D But it\u2019s the words he said afterwards that echo in my head. On the night of his election he said, \u201CAnd now comes the job of making dreams come true.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EWe, each of us, come here with the hopes and dreams of thousands of people on our shoulders\u2014in my case, the hopes and dreams of the 98,300 people of Whang\u0101rei\u2014and for all of us now comes the job of making dreams come true. New Zealanders don\u2019t ask for much, but in Whang\u0101rei, over the last 40 years, we got it less than most. I am not old enough to remember Kirk, but I remember the Whang\u0101rei I grew up in. It isn\u2019t the Whang\u0101rei in which my kids grow up. Like the rest of Te Tai Tokerau, Whang\u0101rei has never been wealthy, but over the past 40 years we have got progressively poorer until, in fact, we bump along the bottom of the bad end of just about every set of statistics going. Now, some of us do OK, but as a Family Court lawyer and as a criminal lawyer, I have seen what happens to the others. Violence, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, and neglect handed down from generation to generation, over-crowded, run-down houses filled with hungry, sick kids and worn-out parents. After 40 years of neoliberalism and trickle-down economics, that\u2019s what trickles down in Whang\u0101rei. That kind of poverty causes more than material deprivation, it squeezes out that fourth Kirk necessity\u2014room for hope, room to dream. It creates what my mum, after 30-plus years of running a crisis agency, calls poverty of hope, and nowhere more than for our young people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EYet Whang\u0101rei has massive potential. The same young people who sometimes feel they have no future are stunningly talented, and we have amazing resources with which they could be building a great future. A stunning marine and coastal environment, innovative home-grown industries, and a nascent tech community set to explode. Not to mention the deepest, best-located port with the easiest access for our overseas trading partners. But in order to realise that potential, we need support. Only in the last three years under the Labour-led Government we start to see some real investment. Now we need to follow through and restore a level playing field in the North.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EThe Labour Party of Kirk believed creating a level playing field was the State\u2019s first responsibility and the basic measure of a decent society. In the years since, we\u2019ve been shamed into thinking that ideal is in some way naive or even presumptuous, that equity and justice are dreams we can\u2019t afford, that a level playing field is just too much uphill work. Whang\u0101rei is over feeling ashamed. Because we are not naive. It is not naive to think a country can be run on the basis of equal opportunity and fairness. It is not naive to think it is worth shouldering responsibility for uplifting the vulnerable. It is not naive to expect that the interests of the people should be at the heart of their Government. And the truth of that was amply demonstrated by the last Labour-led Government, which spent 2020 proving over and over that putting its people first is the best and smartest way to protect a country. It is the ethos that helped build this country. It is what has sustained us through the last dark months. It is the kaupapa that can see us thrive into the future. That is the dream I am here to help secure. That is the job I am here to help get done. With help, Whang\u0101rei can achieve our dreams. And, what\u2019s more, we know achieving them will help this country achieve its goals, including, for example, an improved coastal shipping and rail network utilising the best and deepest port in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003ENow, I know now is not the easiest time to have these dreams. As a country, we\u2019re all aware of how precarious is our tiny lifeboat balanced on the edge of this global storm. We know that the safety of all our people has to be the economic priority, but it\u2019s my job to raise them anyway as the representative of the 98,300 people of Whang\u0101rei. Not just because I represent Whang\u0101rei, but also because if leadership is about ensuring people\u2019s survival it\u2019s also about articulating the dreams that will see them thrive. However big the seas you have to cross first, it is about articulating the dreams that show us where on those seas we are aiming.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EEven so, and looking at the world outside and the scale of the problems inside, it is hard not to be pessimistic about my chances, but it\u2019s Whang\u0101rei itself that gives me hope because it\u2019s there I\u2019ve seen change happen. As a courtroom lawyer, working in a system under strain is not new to me, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale, and nor is working to turn around a system whose practice has come adrift of its ideals. Both the Family Court and the Criminal Court are under immense strain and there are times when neither does the job they set out to do. Nowhere in the Criminal Court are the cracks more evident than in the plight of vulnerable defendants and vulnerable witnesses: children, rape complainants, those with issues that impact their ability to communicate in and understand trials.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003ENow, it may be shocking to hear, but I know as a lawyer and as the daughter of a lawyer and as an academic who studies lawyers that lawyers are in this job to protect people, not harm them. Yet we do harm not only to individuals, but also to the search for truth. And we do that harm through some of our most time-honoured, centuries-old practices. It\u2019s hard to turn a ship that thinks it\u2019s going in the right direction, but six years ago, in Whang\u0101rei, we did just that. We designed a pilot that became the District Court sexual violence court and the basis of a national training programme for judges and lawyers. It wasn\u2019t easy, but now more and more lawyers agree that if a defendant or a witness is going to struggle to communicate or understand standard trial process, we change the process. Some still see that change as a threat, but the rest of us know that if the way you\u2019re acting is endangering the very thing you\u2019re trying to achieve, change is good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EThere is still much more to do in the Criminal Court and a lot more to do in the Family Court, and some of that we can discuss when we debate the Sexual Violence Legislation Bill, much of which was also piloted in Whang\u0101rei\u2014I told you, this tail moves the fish. As a nation there is so much more we have to move, but if a bunch of crusty lawyers can abandon centuries of tradition because it\u2019s not fit for purpose, there\u2019s hope for us all, and there isn\u2019t really any other moral choice but to try. We have to give those kids in Whang\u0101rei, in Levin, in Moerewa, and in Kawerau\u2014we have to give our kids back Kirk\u2019s room to dream, room to hope. We cannot lose another generation\u2019s promise. And on the environmental plane, science is telling us very clearly there\u2019s absolutely no time for delay. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s for these reasons I stood. But as a parent I can say, hand on heart, one of the worst moments of parenting is when you realise the buck stops with you. Most especially, we cannot pass this buck to our kids and expect their activism to somehow do the trick while we get on with business as usual. No one is more scared of leaving the job to us than our children. In declaring a climate emergency, Prime Minister, you said that our children feel this crisis in a truly visceral way. You were right. They are anguished. They are angry. They doubt our preparedness to do the job. And I know this up close and personal because up there in the gallery four of them are mine. But just as our lawyer colleagues want justice and change tack to get it, as parents, as grandparents, as aunties and uncles, there\u2019s not a one of us who doesn\u2019t want what\u2019s best for our kids, wouldn\u2019t give everything for our kids.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EThat being so, the country that dreamt up the eight-hour day, whose mothers first fought for and won the right to vote, whose every citizen one way or another descends from voyagers and visionaries, is a person who risked everything for the dream of a better life for their children, this country can face up to the challenges, rise up to the challenges. It can create new dreams and become something even greater.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EJust last week at my first Waitangi, I watched our Government face up to the challenge of restoring our partnership in Te Tiriti, just as days earlier it faced up to the challenge of the first Climate Commission, and the few days before that, it began the challenge of rebuilding Oranga Tamariki, all for the sake of that dream of a better future for our children, because ours is the job of making dreams come true. And to those four kids in the gallery and all the others, should you ever doubt that commitment because it\u2019s taking too long or we hit hurdles, the little song that our family chose today is the song that my grandma chose to have sung at her funeral as a message to her children\u2014that generation, today, my parents, my aunts and uncles have come here to sing it to me. I sing it for you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EIf I have words to make a day with you\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EIf I had words to make a day for you\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EI\u2019d sing you a morning golden and new\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EI would make this day last for all time\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EAnd give you a night deep in moon shine.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EIf I had words to make a day for you\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EI\u2019d sing you a morning golden and new\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EI would make this day last for all time\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003EAnd give you a night deep in moon shine.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002217bfa49a-da49-4001-9466-0b4bfd70b3f3\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u00225e96db9c9711404f82d1d34f82ef4002\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225e96db9c9711404f82d1d34f82ef4002\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I call on Dr Gaurav Sharma to make his maiden statement. Sorry, just hold that up. Because there was an interruption, I thought all the people were in who needed to come in. I\u2019ll call the member in a minute, but could I just get some indication from security as to why all these seats aren\u2019t full already? [Pause in proceedings] Can I just ask the messengers upstairs to open both doors there so we don\u2019t have people coming through one at a time, thank you. I call on Dr Gaurav Sharma to make his maiden statement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022 data-id=\u002259e6a0b235054a2185e84888c7d7f499\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002259e6a0b235054a2185e84888c7d7f499\u0022\u003EDr GAURAV SHARMA (Labour\u2014Hamilton West):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Speaker. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people. Today, I stand in the House of People as a representative of Hamilton, which has been recently named as the most beautiful large city in Aotearoa New Zealand. While I only form one-third of Labour\u2019s team from Hamilton with the Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Jamie Strange being the other two, I strongly believe that when it comes to Hamilton, West is the best. But don\u2019t just take my word for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EMany years ago, another handsome man from Hamilton West stood right here in this House to give his maiden speech. In fact, he didn\u2019t look much different from you, maybe a tad bit younger and with a bit more hair on his head. His name, too, was Trevor\u2014Trevor Mallard, in fact. I follow today in the footsteps of young Trevor Mallard and eight other members who have had the honour of representing the great people of Hamilton West. Only three out of the previous eight MPs in Hamilton West have been from the Labour Party and I want to acknowledge today in the House former Labour MP Martin Gallagher, who, along with you, Mr Speaker, and one Dorothy Jelicich round up a strong history in the electorate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EAs you know, Hamilton is a very special seat. As the bell-wether seat of the country. Hamilton West is a diverse electorate with a very heterogeneous mix. While on one hand we have the CBD, million-dollar houses around Lake Rotorua, and are the economic hub of the Waikato, on the other hand we have some of the most economically deprived areas where families are struggling to make ends meet. While on one hand we have one of the largest hospitals in the name of Waikato DHB and a fine polytech like the Waikato Institute of Technology, on the other hand, we have people struggling to get access to doctors and some of the lowest decile schools in the country. On one hand we have international rugby and cricket stadiums, while on the other we have people working three jobs who have neither the luxury nor the time to afford to watch a game on TV. The stark contrasts of Hamilton West make it an electorate with a lot of challenges, challenges that I\u2019ve seen not only after becoming an MP or as a candidate in the last two elections, but also as a local doctor in the community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EUntil October last year, I worked in a large medical practice with 12,000 patients, many of them with high needs. I saw firsthand in my community the effects of domestic violence and abuse, where a young woman was raped and beaten by her partner for many days before she could escape to seek help. I saw our rangatahi stuck in vicious cycles of methamphetamine addiction. I saw parents who lost their kids to Oranga Tamariki. In more than one way, my personal experiences from the past have helped me to relate to my patients and will continue to do so with my constituents.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EI was born in the Himalayas in India, and first came to New Zealand when I was 12 years old. My father migrated to New Zealand a few years before me and my mother with $250 in his pocket and a dream for a better life. It took him over six years to find a job in his field of work in engineering. But he did not give up. He slept at night on benches in Auckland Domain, eating meals at Hare Krishna and Auckland City Mission, working as a labourer putting tarmac on the road and packing food in cold storage units, selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door, and driving a taxi so that I could have access to the best education in the world. My mother worked as a caregiver in a retirement home. Both my parents have been heavily involved in volunteer work in local communities in New Zealand. My dad volunteered for the St John Ambulance in Kaikohe and my mother volunteered in an NGO for many years. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EI started my schooling in New Zealand in form 5M at Auckland Grammar under the stewardship of former headmaster John Morris, who is present in the gallery here today. Grammar gave me a good education and inspired me to learn more, dream more, do more, and become more. It also taught me resilience. I was bullied at school, but Mr Hawkes and Mr Schmidt taught me to stand up against bullies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EIn my three years at Grammar, I went from 5M to form 7N, graduating as the proxime accessit. While at Grammar, we were encouraged to take up extracurricular activities, and I decided to volunteer in a retirement home. This chance decision changed the course of my life for ever and led me to working as a caregiver in rest homes for a further four years on a part-time basis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EAs I was finishing my last year at school, my father was diagnosed with a bile duct tumour. At this point, I met Professor John Windsor, a world-renowned hepato-biliary surgeon who performed an 11-hour surgery on my father. Not only did he save my dad, Professor Windsor was also the first person to hand me a stethoscope, at the tender age of 17. Inspired by my mother\u2019s and my own experience of working in a retirement home and looking up to Prof Windsor, I went on to study medicine at the University of Auckland. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EAt university, aside from surgery, I developed an interest in public health issues and policy making and was the elected representative for over 3,000 medical students. This is where I got the first taste of broader issues that affect our healthcare delivery. In my fifth year of medical school, I was involved in presenting a paper that examined climate change as a population health issue, the global impact on threatened food supplies, re-emerging infectious diseases, poor water quality, extreme weather events, loss of livelihoods, and forced climate-related migration within the Pacific. My group won a public health prize at the University of Auckland for this presentation and based on this I was encouraged to apply for and accepted for an internship at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. At WHO I was able to broaden my public health experience by working with the non-communicable disease cluster on research findings in developing countries, many of which suffer from extreme poverty and poor health outcomes. The coffee table discussions at WHO with my peers on how to question the current status on public health led by Antonio and I to launch a public health festival in Spain. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EFollowing my European adventures I returned home and joined the board of the Auckland Refugee Council to fight for the doubling of our refugee quota. Simultaneously, I worked at hospitals around the country, wanting to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, John Windsor. Somewhere along the way, I also had the pleasure of working in Mongolian hospitals, travelling over 2,500 kilometres in the Gobi Desert from one clinic to another. The great bond that I established with the people of Mongolia led me to seek ways to help increase access to medicine and surgery for the locals, but this was easier said than done. I realised that as a doctor I did not possess enough technical skills to launch, fund, and run a large-scale organisation. I was only able to care for my patients one-to-one but in order to make a system-wide change I had gaps in my knowledge that I needed to bridge. This is what led me to take a break from medicine and go to business school at the George Washington University. I was lucky to receive a Fulbright scholarship for my MBA and even luckier to spend two years in Washington DC.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EThe MBA helped fill a lot of gaps in my knowledge about finance, human resources, business strategy, and planning. It also opened me to study mergers and acquisitions in France, to learn about emerging markets in Mexico City, and to work on a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement on agriculture products in Vietnam. But living in DC also made me realise the difference that good and bad politicians can make. Not long after I arrived in Washington for my MBA, the first of the TV debates on politics started. What seemed like a big joke then has turned out to be a bitter reality for America and the rest of the world. A lot has changed in world politics since, and most of it has been for the worse. The constant attack on media, the populist and nationalist rhetoric, the fake attack ads on openness, the utter disregard for facts and science: a post-truth world that in hindsight had all the hallmarks of its making, but at that time still could not be imagined in our worst nightmare. This is why a collective global effort is required to get rid of fake news and misinformation created in this new world order, and our politicians need to step up engagement with our grassroots citizens.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EFour years ago, while living in DC, concerned about climate change, environments, healthcare, and women\u2019s rights, I marched on Washington with men and women, young and old, theist and atheist, straight and queer, of all colours against erosion of society\u2019s moral fabric and the rhetoric of device and unscientific conspiracy theories that are at the cusp of being normalised in this post-truth world. This is what made me run for Parliament in 2017 in my last semester of my MBA as I shuttled every few weeks between Washington and New Zealand, doing my assignments at the San Francisco airport in transit. The question that everyone asked me, though, is why the Labour Party? Well, my family\u2019s journey in New Zealand, starting from my father\u2019s homelessness to receiving my Fulbright scholarship, has been full of perseverance and is a true example of Labour\u2019s motto of providing opportunity to all Kiwis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EMy wh\u0101nau and I have always been thankful to the Labour Party\u2019s policies and social security measures, as well as education and health reforms, and this is what inspired me to join Labour, firstly as a party member, secondly as a grassroots volunteer for Phil Goff in 2014, and subsequently as a candidate in 2017. But being a candidate is never a smooth journey. In 2017, I found some people who refused to shake my hand, not because they did not believe in my political ideology or that of my party\u2019s policies but because my skin tone did not match that of theirs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EAs people in the streets of Hamilton said to my good P\u0101keh\u0101 friend and campaign volunteer, \u201CCould you not find a candidate who looks like a New Zealander?\u201D It shocked me. In the most recent election, I woke up one morning to find one lovely Hamiltonian was harassed and verbally abused by two sets of people for having signs supporting \u201Ca curry candidate\u201D. Racial discrimination is not new to me, neither in politics nor in other spheres of life. When I was at the university, a prominent paediatric surgeon bullied me for months and said, \u201CYou people come to our country, I will kill you and ruin your career.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EWhile these incidents do not represent the majority of people in Aotearoa who have embraced me with open arms and whom I now represent, it is important that we acknowledge racism is still alive in Hamilton and in Aotearoa. As I said in 2019 after the Christchurch mosque attacks, how we deal with racism as a community and as a country will not be decided by how many bouquets of flowers or cards we leave at the mosques and how many social media messages we write but by how we stand up for others when next time another adopted Kiwi is being racially targeted. Speak up not for one religion or one community but for our collective identity as a peaceful and diverse country, a country that may not be perfect but is definitely our home, my home.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EWe are lucky still to be in a country where we have the right to take part in choosing our elected representatives. We are lucky that despite a global pandemic we were able to go into polling stations without wearing masks. While in many countries politics and campaigning has become more formalised with paid roles, we are lucky that most of our campaigning is done by passionate grassroots volunteers who put the time and effort behind a cause, not for personal gains or money but for something they truly believe in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EIt was humbling for me to find out that I was the first ever MP of Indian origin to win an electorate seat, until I was joined by my colleague Priyanca Radhakrishnan after the special votes were counted in. But this has been a long journey, and today I stand on the shoulders of many giants who have gone before me, giants like former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, and the first person of South Asian descent to be a list MP, Dr Ashraf Choudhary, both of whom are present in the Chamber today. I also want to acknowledge former Labour list MP Dr Rajen Prasad, as well as Mr Kanwaljit Bakshi and Dr Parmjeet Parmar from the other side of the aisle, along with Mahesh Bindra, whose side of the aisle depended much on what Mr Winston Peters decided on the day. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003ETo the voters of Hamilton West, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so humbled that you have chosen me to represent our community. I have big boots to fill, following Tim Macindoe\u2019s footsteps, but I\u2019m going to put my all into it and rise up to the challenge. To Tim Macindoe, I have thoroughly enjoyed our debates and conversations over the last three years, thank you for always being kind and gracious. We have often not agreed on policy, but our mutual respect for each other will for ever continue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003ETo my colleagues in this House, as I said in my first caucus introduction, I couldn\u2019t help but feel in awe of people in the room who I had grown up with as my heroes. From the amazing Nanaia Mahuta, who I first heard speak at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland many years ago at a husting, and Grant Robertson, who kindly took me out for a coffee in Ponsonby when as a twentysomething-year-old I had an idea I wanted to share with him. To stalwarts like David Parker, Andrew Little, and Phil Twyford, and of course, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who I voted for on more than one occasion as a medical student living in the Auckland Central electorate. To be sitting in the same room as all of you incredible Kiwis who have given years of your life to public service was, and is, very humbling. While the feeling hasn\u2019t sunk in yet, I know that I\u2019m surrounded by people with a lot of mana in their communities and mahi behind them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003ETo my patients, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for everything you\u2019ve taught me about medicine and life. I am here today for you because of you. To the 150 or so people in the gallery today, and many who are watching from home, thank you for being part of my journey. The gallery today includes people I went to high school and medical school with, my high school professors and medical school professors, my nursing and GP colleagues, as well as many Labour supporters, candidates, volunteers, and New Zealand council members. There is my 89-year-old grandpa, my mother, who has been my biggest strength and supporter, as well as our campaign manager, Emma Pike, who despite having two jobs led an exceptional team. There is Max Kristofferson who despite a shoulder injury put up 200 hoardings. There is Simon Jenkins who helped us doorknock thousands of houses while wearing a moon boot on his fractured foot. There is Mike Tribe, our Labour Electorate Committee chair, and Jaspreet Saluja, our phone coordinator. There is Bill Barwood and Sandy Kristofferson who coordinated the delivery of 56,000 pamphlets. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EThere are so many of you. All of you form a part of me, and without each of your parts I would never be whole. We went from losing by 7,731 votes in the 2017 election to winning by 6,267 votes, a change of 13,999 votes and the first time a candidate has ever received 20,000-plus votes in Hamilton. To my entire volunteer team sitting in the public gallery, thank you once again for putting your faith in me. It\u2019s been a long road, and there have been many challenges. The 2017 election, the revival and rejuvenation of local Labour branches, the candidate selection for 2020, and the general election. You have walked with me every step of the way, and I am for ever grateful. But our work has only just started. The challenge now is to make sure we prove to the people of Hamilton that we are worthy of the opportunity that has been given to us to make a change. And once again, I look to you, my volunteers, supporters, friends, and mentors, as we work together across party lines to make our beautiful city one of the most livable in the world. We must not stop until every New Zealander can afford a roof over their head, food on the table, free education, access to timely primary hospital and dental healthcare, as well as the guarantee that our mokopuna will have a clean, green planet. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EI asked at the start of my speech, what is the most important thing in the world? Yes, it is people, it is people, it is people, and the true measure of our society is how we treat our most vulnerable people. The path ahead is still challenging, but I know that under the leadership of Jacinda Ardern and the watchful eyes of many New Zealanders who have put their hopes and faith in us, we will be able to stand up to our next set of challenges with the same determination, focus, and empathy that we did through this global pandemic. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003EHoake tonu t\u0101tou, let\u2019s keep moving. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002234ec4a4e-60bd-4a4d-b211-10f9324db3ac\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002213c62c37e33f40988d417d19be7ee6db\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002213c62c37e33f40988d417d19be7ee6db\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Can I now ask those people in the gallery who have been here to support that speech to make room for the people who are here to support the next. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EWaiata\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022 data-id=\u0022f1f59c97c4a34c7f9c0ec78d48f2a602\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f1f59c97c4a34c7f9c0ec78d48f2a602\u0022\u003ESARAH PALLETT (Labour\u2014Ilam): \u003C/span\u003EAhumairangi maunga, Te \u0100ti Awa tangata, ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata whenua o te motu wh\u0101nui, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou. T\u0101tou ng\u0101 mema P\u0101remata, te Tiriti o Waitangi, n\u0101na te motu nei i whakapou. M\u0101ku koe e h\u0101pai. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003E[Greetings to Ahumairangi mountain, to Te \u0100ti Awa people and to all indigenous people throughout the country. To the members of Parliament, and to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the document that underpins this country, I will uphold your values. Greetings one and all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EI begin my speech as I have begun every part of my personal journey here in Aotearoa New Zealand: in te reo M\u0101ori. You might recall that I took my affirmation in this place as a member of Parliament in te reo. Several years ago, I also took my affirmation of citizenship in te reo. It\u2019s important to me to acknowledge M\u0101ori as tangata whenua of this land and to mark my personal commitment to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EMr Speaker, may I also add my voice to those before me who have congratulated you on your re-election to your role. I fully support the heartfelt words of my colleagues, but, on a more personal note, thank you for being one of the first senior MPs to offer support and a kind word to this rookie candidate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EIn my previous role as a midwife, I became used to dealing with unexpected arrivals. However, perhaps one of the most unexpected arrivals of my career was myself in this place. It will come as no surprise that this happy delivery could not have taken place without an amazing team, but my very first thankyou must go to the people of Ilam, who have put their trust in me and given me this opportunity. That trust is no small thing. To them: I promise that I will serve you to the best of my ability and always work hard for you all. I also acknowledge the Hon Gerry Brownlee for his time spent representing the electorate since it was created in 1996. Mr Brownlee, you spoke in your maiden speech of the pride and humility that you felt upon being elected to this place for the first time. I echo those sentiments. I\u2019m sure that in future, we will disagree on many matters, but at this particular time I extend my genuine and grateful thanks to you for your 24 years of service to Ilam.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003ENo campaign is ever successful without the efforts of a wide group of people working toward a goal they believe in, and so my heartfelt thanks go to my incredible Ilam campaign team. What the team lacked in size it made up for in energy and enthusiasm, and I\u2019m proud and honoured to have had you all working by my side. John Sullivan, Anthony Rimell, Alex Seren-Grace, Merav Benaia, and my campaign manager Matt Seren-Grace, you all rock. To everyone who agreed to have a hoarding on their fence or waved a sign by the side of the road, made a phone call, delivered a leaflet, baked a muffin, staffed a table, donated a dollar, held a home meeting, or tooted their car horn in support of our team, I thank you. Huge thanks too to our amazing Labour campaign team and the team at Fraser House, and, of course, our wonderful president Claire Szab\u00F3, and women\u2019s vice president Fleur Fitzsimons.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EOn a more personal note, Dad, watching, I know it was a shock initially to find that I was on the red team, but thank you for your unconditional support and love. I love you. My two daughters, Alex and Bea\u2014strong, fearless, relentlessly intelligent, and loving\u2014never forget who stands behind and beside you. You fill me with such pride and love every single day. Gloria Clegg, also watching, you have loved me and my daughters like a mother. I love you and miss you, darling. Megan and Amy, my extra daughters, I am so blessed to have you in my family. Andy, my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, my partner in everything, thank you for being exactly who you are, the man that I love and can\u2019t wait to be married to\u2014and thanks for asking, by the way. You often have more faith in me than I have in myself, and I know that you always have my back, as I do yours. I\u2019m a better person in every way because you\u2019re by my side.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EIf you\u2019ve ever visited the University of Canterbury\u2014moving on\u2014seen the lions and giraffes at Orana Wildlife Park, or flown into Christchurch Airport, then you\u2019ve visited Ilam. Ilam is also home to Kate Sheppard House, Te Whare Waiutuutu. Standing in the garden of her home in September 1893, she read the telegram announcing that women had achieved the right to vote. In December last year, when Te Whare Waiutuutu was opened to the public, I was proud to stand in that same garden as the first woman MP for Ilam. Standing there, I felt what I feel now: not the thrill of power but the weight of responsibility to the people I serve. I welcome that responsibility.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EI\u2019m well aware that I am here because of the inspirational women leaders who have gone before, women leaders who have climbed the career ladder and then tied it off firmly for those who were coming up behind them, rather than kicking it down. I would like to acknowledge the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Hon Lianne Dalziel, Hon Dame Ann Hercus, and Hon Ruth Dyson, in particular, for being truly extraordinary examples of this style of leadership. And I stand here because of the inspirational women around me: the Canterbury Labour women\u2019s branch, a group of exceptional women who will do and are doing great things to support women; the amazing women I see in this place\u2014too many to mention, but I want to acknowledge my Canterbury colleagues Hon Dr Megan Woods, Hon Poto Williams, Jo Luxton, and Dr Tracey McLellan. I\u2019ll also sneak in a mention for Dr Duncan Webb\u2014clearly not as a woman but as a feminist ally\u2014and, of course, our Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern. Prime Minister, in a short time you have changed the conversation about what it is to be a genuine leader and had the courage to bring compassion and kindness back into leadership. I am often frustrated by how kindness is conflated with weakness, when rather to lead with kindness takes enormous courage. In the best possible way, Prime Minister, you have set the bar higher for us all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EI stand here too because of two particular women in my family. The first of these women is my great-grandmother. She all but ran away from home to serve as a nurse in the Boer War, much to the horror of her family, who had raised her to be largely decorative rather than useful. I was told that she resisted orders and used her designated rest time to treat soldiers who she was forbidden to help in her official duty time. In at least one case, her actions saved a young man\u2019s life. She was disciplined at the time, but her actions were later recognised by Queen Victoria. She was a woman of courage and strong belief in helping others, no matter the personal cost to herself. The other is my mum.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EI was born in Jersey, in the Channel Islands. Jersey is nearly 19,000 kilometres away, and only has a population now of 100,000. As I grew up, my mum was a nurse and midwife working permanent nights so that she could see me before and after school. My dad was a shop manager. We didn\u2019t have much money, but I always had a roof over my head, and I never knew what it was to go hungry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EEarlier in her life, Mum had been a midwife who rode around the East End of London on a bicycle, catching the babies of women who were living in the extremes of poverty. The stark realities of life for people living in those conditions were made clear to me in the stories she told. So while I had a privileged upbringing in many ways, my mum was always quick to remind me that the purpose of privilege and, later, of power is to advocate for, elevate, and support those who have less. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EMy dad\u2019s stories were of his childhood lived under Nazi occupation in the Second World War, of the bravery of his father in acts of rebellion that would have resulted in his removal to a labour camp at best, had he been caught. But Dad\u2019s childhood wasn\u2019t a simple story of good versus evil, but one of good people that were just following orders; of people not standing up against fascism when they had the chance and before the opportunity was lost. It was another important lesson for me that good intentions have to be backed up by actions, or they are meaningless.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EWhen I was 21, my mum died of breast cancer. She was just 53\u2014the same age I am today. She was first diagnosed when I was eight, and later on the symptoms of what I now know were metastatic bone cancer were written off as just being in her mind. For years, she was referred to a psychiatrist instead of an oncologist. Suffice to say that it\u2019s left me with strong feelings about how women\u2019s pain is commonly dismissed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EFollowing Mum\u2019s death, I moved to England, got married, and had my two amazing daughters. When they were very young, I ran my own small business\u2014a cloth nappy laundry service\u2014endeavouring to balance employee welfare, the financial bottom line, and whole-of-life environmental costs and benefits.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EMy then husband and I made plans to emigrate to New Zealand in 2003. However, this was not to happen as we\u2019d hoped as I was diagnosed with breast cancer myself, aged just 36. But I was one of the lucky ones. The cancer was caught early. Prompt diagnosis and State-funded treatment undoubtedly saved my life, yet cost me nothing. Personal experience should not be necessary to understand the benefits of universal healthcare, but it does tend to focus the mind when you are facing the possibility of leaving two small children motherless.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EA few months after my successful treatment, we completed our move to this beautiful country and made \u014Ctautahi\u2014Christchurch\u2014our home. With hindsight, it\u2019s somewhat ironic that we chose Christchurch because we felt that the earthquake risk here in Wellington was too great\u2014good one!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EWe settled quickly, although there were a few hiccups along the way. On one memorable occasion, in true Kiwi tradition, I was asked to bring a plate to a party. Ever helpful, I literally took along not just one but a dozen empty plates. If one plate was needed, surely 12 plates would be better, but apparently not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EI also had to teach my daughters that Goldilocks did not, in fact, have three \u201Cbeers\u201D\u2014that is far too many beers for a small child. It took me a while to get used to Kiwi vowels. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003ESoon after, I decided to take a new career path and joined the amazing women and men who are able, after years of study, to call themselves midwives. As a midwife, I\u2019ve been blessed with the trust of women and their wh\u0101nau through the best of times and the worst of times. I\u2019ve seen life at its most beautiful and ugly. I\u2019ve seen the unmitigated joy on the faces of new parents, perhaps after years of infertility. And then I\u2019ve seen young people pregnant and traumatised by years of abuse, the empty cupboards that greet a new family returning home, the bruises that a mum can\u2019t hide, the pain of addiction across the spectrum of rich and poor, the kids that I sneaked into the hospital to get their first hot shower for months\u2014their parents couldn\u2019t afford to turn the water heater on, ever\u2014and the baby being admitted to hospital with a preventable respiratory infection caused by the mould and damp in their home. Moving home was not an affordable option. These are all things that are not too far away from the stories that my mother told me of her experiences as a midwife 60 years ago. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EMany of these experiences involve women and systemic inequities. They resonate through many aspects of women\u2019s lives and in to the lives of everyone around them. They resonate across generations, and when they are eliminated, we all benefit. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EAccording to family legend, my first word was \u201CNo\u201D. This will not come as a surprise to those who know me best. It does seem to be a trait in the family. My great-grandmother said no to orders, and treated injured soldiers; my dad\u2019s family said no to accepting Nazi occupation, and resisted; and my mum said no to poverty and deprivation, and spent her life trying to help others. Just like them, saying no is, for me, not enough without taking action and trying to make a difference, which is why I stand here now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EI will bring my ethic of hard work and, hopefully, some of my mum\u2019s boundless strength, fearsome determination, and relentless compassion to say no to policies and values that keep people in poverty, no to systemic injustices, and no to systems and processes that leave many at a disadvantage through no fault of their own. And I will say yes to the values that this Labour Government brings, yes to achieving gender equity, yes to warm, dry, affordable houses, and yes to a robust health system that cares for us all. I\u2019m here to work hard to make the greatest possible positive change for the largest number of people, and to advocate for, elevate, and support those whose voice is smaller.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EI am honoured that the people of Ilam have elected me to be a part of this Government of strength and kindness, one that sees, cares, wants to make changes, and is now getting on with it, and I will back up my promises to them with action in this place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EIn closing, I\u2019d like to share some advice that was given to me by a very good friend\u2014wise advice to guide me through my time in this House. \u201CBe yourself,\u201D they said, \u201Cand don\u2019t be a deck.\u201D\u2014I\u2019ve got a lot better at those Kiwi vowels. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003EHuri noa i t\u014D t\u0101tou Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e7bab061-0905-44a1-a4ec-cf89b58a1baf\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022b188eb03889145a8b983c2bfe13937f8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b188eb03889145a8b983c2bfe13937f8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Could I ask the people who were here to support Sarah to now move out so the next crew can come in, please? Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EWaiata\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022fb2056d75ddf4a18b7f27ac3d9fbaff6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fb2056d75ddf4a18b7f27ac3d9fbaff6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call the member\u2014because I can see some movement up there\u2014I\u2019ll just indicate, if possible, that at the end of the speech a couple of things will happen. The first is, if there is to be a waiata, it should start at a point fairly soon after the end of the speech rather than catch everyone by surprise. The second thing is that the House will be suspended at the end of the speech until 7 o\u2019clock, so we don\u2019t need to do that stuff afterwards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022 data-id=\u0022ddfc52df1b344027852cfb9fb4fc9b49\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ddfc52df1b344027852cfb9fb4fc9b49\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT (Labour\u2014New Plymouth):\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EWhakataka te hau ki te uru\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EWhakataka te hau ki te tonga\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EKia m\u0101kinakina ki uta\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EKia m\u0101taratara ki tai\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EKia h\u012B ake ana te at\u0101kura\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EHe tio he huka he hauh\u016B\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ET\u012Bhei Mauri Ora\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E[Cease the winds from the west\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ECease the winds from the south\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ELet the breeze blow over the land\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ELet the breeze blow over the ocean\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ELet the red-tipped dawn come with a sharpened air\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EA touch of frost, a promise of a glorious day\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EI know begin]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ET\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. Ng\u0101 mihi nui ki a koutou. Ki te atua, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Ki a Papat\u016B\u0101nuku, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Ki te P\u0101remata, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Ki te hunga mate, ki te hunga ora, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E[Greetings one and all. Abundant greetings to all. Greetings to the Lord. Greetings to the Earth Mother. Greetings to all in Parliament. Greetings also to the deceased and the living, greetings one and all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EMy life\u2019s work has been all about serving people and serving our community. However, I am an unlikely politician. I\u2019ve always stood for people\u2019s rights. I\u2019ve been a voice for those who have had no voice. But power and titles, they mean very little to me. Sometimes I\u2019ve seen them in such a bad way\u2014that power and title oppress instead of liberating. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EI always said \u201CNo, no, no.\u201D to the idea of running for Parliament, but that no was eventually massaged by many people in this room, including the Prime Minister\u2019s own auntie and local New Plymouth identity Marie Ardern. So here I am.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EMy approach to life is best summed up by the Aboriginal artist and activist Lilla Watson, who said, \u201CIf you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time, but if you have come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.\u201D I\u2019ve followed this mantra in my life and in my work, not by fixing everything for everybody and doing everything but by walking alongside them, working together for our liberation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ENow, I say that I wasn\u2019t into politics and here I am, but, let\u2019s be honest, 1984 was quite a big year for me. I was nine years old and David Lange was this larger than life character. His passion, his oratory, his humour, it captured this nine-year-old school boy from Dominion Road School in Mount Roskill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EThe year 1984 was also the year that I wrote in my school journal\u2014don\u2019t look too closely at the crosses. It said this: \u201CWhen I grow up, I want to be like my dad. My dad\u2019s a Salvation Army officer. My dad helps people. When I grow up, I want to help people.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EMy parents\u2019 Salvation Army work was rather hectic. Take aside the timbrels and the tubas, the Red Shield Appeals, knocking on doors, and moving every few years, as mum and dad gave themselves to the work; there were also the unique experiences that my parents gave me: the drunk who spent a few nights sleeping in our garage sobering up, the family from overseas who had experienced trauma and were staying with us, and the skinhead having Sunday lunch with us for his birthday, as well as the countless prison girls that came and went from our home. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EThe year 1984 was also the year that I have a vivid memory that\u2019s changed me\u2014the person that I am today. My mum was the chaplain at Mount Eden women\u2019s prison. Times were different back then, Kelvin, and we used to get easy access down the corridors of the prison, into the cells, and into the common areas. It was quite regular after school for mum to swing by home, pick us up, and take us to the prison to visit some of these girls, or to visit some of those who\u2019d recently been released. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EThis one afternoon, mum swung by home, and I was just there by myself, and off we went to visit one of the girls who\u2019d just got out of prison, and her baby. Now, this was nothing different or unusual\u2014and then we arrived at the old Onehunga rubbish dump. I was confused\u2014we were visiting a mum and her daughter. We drove through the dump to a working shed out the back. We hopped out of the car, and I can still smell the smell of that dump and remember the confusion, thinking \u201CWhat are we doing here in this dump?\u201D We knocked on the door, and this mother and her child answered it. We went inside. We sat on the edge of the bed in the shed in the back of the dump, and it was immaculate. What little she had, she took great care of. Mum had the conversation. We left and went home.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ENow, I don\u2019t remember the conversation that mum and I had in the car that day, but I do remember thinking that something is wrong that a women and her baby, in New Zealand, are living in a shed at the back of the dump. That experience changed me, and it\u2019s never left me. I now also think it will shape my work here in Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EMy life\u2019s call to serve people has led me to being a foster parent over the past 20 years. I want to acknowledge some of those tamariki who are here and those who aren\u2019t here. K\u014Dwhai, Tainui, Nigel, Dennis, George, Kevin, and Blaide, to you, and to your wh\u0101nau, I love you. I\u2019ve committed my life to you, which means that it\u2019s a sacred honour for me to be here serving you in this place and for me now, at this beautiful young age of 45, to be koro Glen. But I stand here because of you. Every day that I walk into this House, I think of you and of the chances that you never had, of the trauma that is your unwelcome friend, of a system that wasn\u2019t responsive to your needs or your culture.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EI think also of the children today who are going through similar things. I stood for Parliament to make a difference on a larger scale than just my community work. I want to see a transformed society where my mokopuna will have more opportunities, face less prejudice, and be part of a country that loves and looks after our most vulnerable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EThis place is a place of power where decisions are made to change people\u2019s lives; I\u2019m a living example of that here in Parliament today. Because this place, as I said, has the power to oppress but it also has the power to liberate. Today I feel liberated standing here wearing this korowai, due to the courage of this House that yesterday I was able to marry the man that I love and cloak myself in his whakapapa, represented in this korowai. Man, my nine-year-old self in 1984 would\u2019ve been pretty happy, but pretty confused about this whole experience. I actually still am, to be honest, but I feel liberated in this place. This place of power has liberated me. So thank you to all those who work for liberation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EI know what it\u2019s like to be on the margins, to be mocked. Sadly, I know that there are still some in this country who struggle with their bigotry and old thinking. John and I have been called \u201Cfaggots\u201D over the fence of our own home. When on the campaign trail I was challenged for my perversions, one person wanted to make sure that everyone knew that I was gay because then no one would vote for me; that didn\u2019t work. This man denied my Christianity and tried to wield the Bible against me that day. That day, Minister Andrew Little stepped in and he said to this man \u201CThis is not about your religion. This is about your prejudice.\u201D Our society has come a long way, but we have a long way to go. Thank you, Andrew.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ELouisa Wall, thank you for your fight for us, that we can be married here, and those who go before you, before us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EToday, I\u2019m proud to stand here as the member of Parliament for New Plymouth. I also want to acknowledge that it was 34 years ago that the last MP for New Plymouth gave a maiden speech in this House\u2014Harry Duynhoven, thank you for being here. I\u2019m humbled that the constituents of New Plymouth have placed their trust in me to champion their causes, their needs, especially the needs of our most vulnerable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s a few thankyous, which is a risk, I know, but none the less\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f27b993bbd5c47d09d2d68d873caf331\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Good luck!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022797f8baa9bd441b1ae5b2bcaebd86156\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, luckily this isn\u2019t being recorded. Our campaign team, Grant Hassall, Bali Haque, Lorraifne Webber, Colleen Hammonds, Esme Eastment, Gordon Gower, Antony Rhodes, Colin Bell, thank you so much. To Bruce Gatwood-Cook, Virginia Winder, Shelley Baldwin, Mike Baldwin, Brendan Lister\u2014this is where I go rogue and name a few people, I probably am going to muck it up now but anyway\u2014Lesley Olley, Marie Ardern, Troy Ryan, Eileen Kiffin: gold star volunteers. But you all are gold star volunteers because here we are and here I am standing in front of you. To the New Plymouth LSC, to members and supporters, we got there. To Andrew Little, again, thank you for putting your trust in me, and for you, Prime Minister, thank you so much for allowing me, having faith in me, and probably getting some texts from your aunt every so often to tell her what things I\u2019ve been doing wrong.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EI also want to thank to Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki, who have been on my journey with me. To Community Taranaki who have helped me, empowered me to be here as your representative and as representative of our people. To Incedo, my faith community, who always keep me grounded, thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EAnd to my family, to Mum and Dad, to Drew and Delwyn, Jackson, Montana, Leo, Charlie, to Mark and Nikki, to Ezra, to Micah, to Judah\u2014I think I got them all. Lucky we\u2019re a P\u0101keh\u0101 family! And to Jon, my rock, my world, I wouldn\u2019t have run if it wasn\u2019t for you walking alongside me. Thank you\u2014I love you, husband. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EMost of all, I want to thank the people of New Plymouth, of Waitara, of \u014C\u0101kura, of \u014Cpunake, and everywhere in between for putting your trust in me. Our electorate is blessed with natural beauty, resources, and talented, hard-working, down-to-earth people. To my constituents, as your member of Parliament I will work for you all. I will be an MP for you, even if you voted for me or did not vote for me, and I am brimming with ideas and how we can bring the possibilities of our community together; my door is always open. My vision for New Plymouth is a city that leads New Zealand\u2019s green energy future, that we ensure that it is a just transition. I will continue to ensure that everyone has a place to call home, that we have a world-class medical-care system for our people in our region, and that our communities rediscover and reimagine the connectedness between neighbours and communities. I want to serve our region and our country, where it\u2019s not about just talking about issues and problems but it\u2019s talking about possibilities and the assets of the people within our communities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EI spoke earlier about a woman and child living by the dump, and today we have a housing crisis in New Zealand. I strongly believe in this Government\u2019s vision that everyone has a warm, dry place to go home, a vision of houses that shelter them from the wind and the rain, and one where the young people of Taranaki can afford a house to raise the wh\u0101nau.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EI stand here proudly as a Labour Party MP and see the wonderful challenges and excitement we have: the fact that we are going to be teaching our own history in schools, that we have our own public holiday that represents this nation, and that tonight in this House, legislation begins to deal with M\u0101ori wards and allowing councils to have a better representation. Many of you in this room have fought for that, so thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EI close and to speak to this korowai, and to this te raukura that I wear. I especially want to thank M\u0101ori women in my life who have guided me. They give to me this raukura, the three feathers of Parihaka, and so it is with this taonga front and present with me today that will guide me as I serve this House. The raukura connects me to our creator, and grounds me to love and the service of the people of Aotearoa, honour and glory to God, to our creator, peace on Earth, and goodwill to all people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EHe h\u014Dnore he kor\u014Dria ki te atua, he maung\u0101rongo ki te whenua, he whakaaro pai ki ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata katoa. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E[Honour and glory to God, peace on Earth, and goodwill to all mankind. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EKia ora.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EWaiata\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ESitting suspended from 6.14 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022770c09c7c9e74775bd09cf8d310413c2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022770c09c7c9e74775bd09cf8d310413c2\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: \u0100, k\u0101ti r\u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. The House is resumed. I understand the Government will move an adjournment to the Address in Reply debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022 data-id=\u00228c31a67b833b4282a1e26d7a303e965e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228c31a67b833b4282a1e26d7a303e965e\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That this debate be now adjourned. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022c192d240b852433d9a031044b7021dd0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c192d240b852433d9a031044b7021dd0\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This debate is adjourned and set down for resumption next sitting day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002278a41ade82d34a4d92f6fafe0b0989e7\u0022\u003EUrgency\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022086871b3fde14a318958f2c7aa767425\u0022\u003EUrgency\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022 data-id=\u0022dd87e9c51d7e40889aab733ede7c26e3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dd87e9c51d7e40889aab733ede7c26e3\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That urgency be accorded the first reading and referral to select committee of the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill and to the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EBoth bills were introduced on Friday morning, so they\u2019ve been public for four days, but technically they\u2019d have to sit longer on the floor of the House before being read a first time, but for the move to urgency. The urgency is needed to bring them above the line on the Order Paper so that they can be considered now and sent to select committee earlier than would otherwise occur. I\u2019ll summarise the reason as to why we believe urgency\u2019s justified, but both bills have to be passed by a certain date, as the Ministers will explain in more detail.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EThe M\u0101ori wards legislation, from the Government\u2019s perspective, needs to be passed by 22 February, and the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill by mid-March, and we think it\u2019s desirable that both of these pieces of legislation go to select committee, albeit for a truncated period. Urgency, if it\u2019s agreed, won\u2019t continue until tomorrow morning so that select committees running tomorrow won\u2019t be interfered with. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u0022152ff2bd790c4065a041bfffb0ae0a97\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022152ff2bd790c4065a041bfffb0ae0a97\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Point of order, Mr Speaker. If I could just ask, the Minister said that the bills need to be passed by a certain date. I understand that an urgency motion should give some reasons why it is necessary for the bill to be passed early. The Minister\u2019s given the date by which he\u2019d like it to be passed, but he hasn\u2019t explained why that is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022 data-id=\u0022105a61e290b1477ba649a342de3778bf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022105a61e290b1477ba649a342de3778bf\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m happy to elucidate a little bit more. In respect of M\u0101ori wards, if M\u0101ori wards are to be in place in a date and time for the local government elections next year, that creates effectively a cascade of dates backwards, and in respect of the climate change auction prices, that\u2019s necessary so that by the time the first auction under the revised emissions trading rules takes place, there is a reserve price able to be put in place. At the moment, the legislation doesn\u2019t allow an auction reserve and this legislation is necessary to put that in place before the first auction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022385ce27955264bdf81cde43395b788cc\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That urgency be accorded.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 75\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 41\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224cfb179666734f81bb08cd34fd6c88a7\u0022\u003ELocal Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a946f4e982a64ee8ba21f3d7298d9976\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022 data-id=\u00224eba2a9c3bd7430182702e8791f727fb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224eba2a9c3bd7430182702e8791f727fb\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government):\u003C/span\u003E I present a legislative statement on the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u00220e334f41fb9b4780842581b2a04e3c32\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220e334f41fb9b4780842581b2a04e3c32\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e68eeaab20842e2ad981173c86049e8\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 15 February 2021 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during an evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders 193 and 196(1)(b) and (c).\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003ELast week, many of us were at Waitangi, celebrating the 181st anniversary of the signing of our founding document, Te Tiriti o Waitangi. That document signalled that New Zealand\u2019s constitutional basis was going to be informed by our bicultural origins.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI want to turn to this bill, and it is an idea whose time has come. You will hear in this House tonight many people over there say that there is not enough time in select committee. But I can remember in 2002, under the Local Government Act, when the 5 percent poll provision was put into legislation, how challenging it was to get unanimity across the House to remove a discriminatory law. But here\u2019s the thing: some years later, when we became Government last term, I got a letter from Local Government New Zealand, and, in fact, it was one of the major priorities that they brought to my attention. I had to trawl back through my records and find that letter. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EOn 22 March 2018, the then president of Local Government New Zealand, David Cull, wrote to the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, and the Hon James Shaw, as the respective leaders of the coalition confidence-and-supply Government, asking that the poll for M\u0101ori wards and constituencies be removed. I note this particular comment in his letter: \u201CAs noted, these poll provisions apply only to the establishment of M\u0101ori wards and constituencies. That they do not apply to other wards and constituencies marks the provision as discriminatory to M\u0101ori and inconsistent with the principle of equal treatment enshrined in the Treaty of Waitangi. Either the poll provisions should apply to all wards or they should apply to none. The discriminatory nature of these polls is not acceptable.\u201D Tonight, we are rectifying that by ensuring that we can put through the House\u2014yes, under urgency, but, again, it\u2019s an idea whose time has come\u2014the move to remove this discriminatory poll.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000627\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003ESo, as this matter will go to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, we anticipate that there is already a broad knowledge amongst our society about how inhibitive that poll has been to introduce M\u0101ori wards into many districts. In fact, we only need look to New Plymouth District Council in the six-year journey that they undertook under the then Mayor of New Plymouth, Andrew Judd, who took it upon himself to educate many New Zealanders about why this poll was discriminatory. Since that period of time, a number of communities within a number of council districts have argued for the removal of this discriminatory poll, and the reason why is simply because time has moved on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000628\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EWe only need look at the natural disasters that have occurred when civil defence has been invoked, when we think about the western fires, when we think about the Kaik\u014Dura earthquake, and when we think about the Christchurch earthquake and how iwi M\u0101ori mobilised to support local government in order to respond\u2014they were quick to put their hand up. When we think about the COVID-19 response, M\u0101ori and iwi organisations were quick to put their hand up with local government to say, \u201CWe can help our community; we are long-term contributors to the wellbeing of our community.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000629\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EWhen we think about leveraging and the opportunity that Treaty settlements provide for regions to really rethink what regional growth and opportunity looks like in an integrated way, there is ample opportunity to ensure that M\u0101ori participation in local government decision making and in partnering can support the broader outcomes of regions and communities and districts. That\u2019s why we\u2019re pushing through this particular bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EThis hasn\u2019t been an easy issue, so I don\u2019t want to sugar-coat anything, because the debate that has occurred over the last six years has told us that there are some really strong views in some parts of our community, who do not want to see M\u0101ori wards and constituencies in their area. But I hazard a guess that it\u2019s a small part of those communities, because there is much more openness to ensuring greater inclusion and participation in local democracy than ever before. I wouldn\u2019t be swayed by many of the fearful comments that are coming from the other side of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000631\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EWhen we moved to develop this approach, I foreshadowed, certainly in the last term, that were we to be in a position to enable these changes to go through, we would make that happen. I reaffirmed that again once I took on the role as the Minister of Local Government in this term.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000632\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI\u2019m proud to say that no longer, over an 18-year period, will it be difficult for councils to establish M\u0101ori wards and constituencies\u201424 have tried; three have succeeded: one by resolution, that\u2019s my own council, Waikato Regional Council; one through special legislation which was sponsored by the Hon Mita Ririnui, and that was very toxic debate in this House. But they have evolved into a place where there is far more cooperation and partnering in the Bay of Plenty than they could have ever imagined when the debate to have M\u0101ori seats was had, and now, recently, the Wairoa District Council. There are several councils who are awaiting the decision that we will make as a Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000633\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003ENow, the question was asked: \u201CWhy are we pushing this through urgency?\u201D Quite simply, it\u2019s to ensure that those nine councils who are currently due to hold a poll will not have to bear the costs of holding a poll once this legislation is confirmed. So let me just note in the House who they are: the Kaipara District Council, Gisborne District Council, New Plymouth District Council, Northland Regional Council, Ruapehu District Council, South Taranaki District Council, Taup\u014D District Council, Tauranga City Council, and the Whangarei District Council.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000634\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EBy enacting this particular measure within the time frame that I\u2019m promoting, it will then remove the onerous costs on councils to have to hold a poll, and the decision at council will stand. Now, we all elect our local representatives based on our judgment of their ability to think of the common good as councillors sitting around the table. None of that will change\u2014none of that will change. In fact, those councils who are working really well have dynamic and important conversations for the greater interests of their communities and their region. Having M\u0101ori wards and constituencies will not change that particular outcome; in fact, I believe it will enhance it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000635\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI point to the letter that I received, in particular, from the Mayor of Nelson City Council, Rachel Reese, who said\u2014I quote\u2014\u201CWe need all members of our community to see themselves represented by those who hold positions of leadership.\u201D Major challenges currently facing local authorities include climate change and the impact of COVID-19 on our communities\u2019 health, social, and economic wellbeing. Local authorities can draw upon the principles and values of Te Ao M\u0101ori and how we respond to these challenges. Having M\u0101ori representation around council chambers is an important way to strengthen our ability to do this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000636\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI have many, many more letters here in front of me\u2014for example, from the Race Relations Commissioner, who said that the provision is discriminatory; from the Hawke\u2019s Bay Regional Council; from the Northland Regional Council; and there are several more who are standing in line, saying the time has come. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000637\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EWe are not thwarting any democratic process. This is a debate that has been around for a very long time. What we\u2019re enabling is for councillors who are elected to represent the interests of their electorate to not be thwarted through a discriminatory 5 percent poll provision that could overturn their resolution at the council table. It\u2019s an idea whose time has come. I\u2019m proud that we\u2019re taking these steps to push through a change that has been long awaited. Do you know what? I\u2019m more proud of the many mayors and councillors who have lobbied me over the last four years to say, \u201CLet\u2019s just get on with it, there\u2019s too much to do to dilly-dally.\u201D Let\u2019s get on with it. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000638\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003ESo can I commend the bill to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee and trust that they will hold robust discussions with submitters. I commit the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022726ddb52f87d49ae8e28974ab6bb69f5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000639\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022726ddb52f87d49ae8e28974ab6bb69f5\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022 data-id=\u0022a2e858d9fedf4c85b8d9792a72c75965\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000640\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a2e858d9fedf4c85b8d9792a72c75965\u0022\u003ECHRISTOPHER LUXON (National\u2014Botany):\u003C/span\u003E We oppose this Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill because, frankly, it undermines local democracy and direct democracy. We oppose it because this is a decision for local people and local communities about their local government, not for central government. We oppose it because it\u2019s about local government and M\u0101ori owning and building and deepening their own relationship with each other. Frankly, it\u2019s a shameful and undemocratic process with no consultation, if we\u2019re really honest with ourselves. That\u2019s what\u2019s happening here tonight. It doesn\u2019t align to the treatment of general wards and constituencies. There, frankly, are a lot more important local government issues to address, given the crises that local government\u2019s having. On this side of the House we, like most New Zealanders, frankly, do think it is a decision for local people and local communities to make decisions about their local government. It\u2019s not for Government, central government, to come crashing in over the top, unilaterally imposing a law top-down on local people who are being denied their opportunity to actually talk and to have a say on this matter. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000641\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003ENow, we know there are diverse and different communities all across New Zealand, and some may well choose to have M\u0101ori wards and constituencies and others may not. But that should be their decision. They should make their decision, not us sitting here. The second thing is, if you\u2019re really worried about representation\u2014and there are over 78 councils with 1,600 elected members\u2014they are already obliged under legislation to work on having a continually improving relationship and a deepening relationship with M\u0101ori and iwi and ensure that there is proper involvement in decision making. My observation is that they take those responsibilities incredibly seriously, whether it\u2019s the council or whether it\u2019s M\u0101ori or iwi, and they work incredibly hard to make sure that they\u2019re doing that. I think local government and M\u0101ori should be able to work through the mechanisms by which they do that and achieve that outcome rather than central government imposing a means on how they may go about doing it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000642\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003EBut I think the most important thing is that this is an incredibly shameful way that this change is being jammed and rammed through with urgency and with a truncated select committee process. Let\u2019s be honest, we\u2019re not going to see any meaningful or any real engagement with the public or local government stakeholders over the next week that we have this out in select committee. I think the Government needs to explain several things. If you felt the issue was so important, why didn\u2019t you do it last term? If you felt the issue was so important, why didn\u2019t you go to the election campaign with it and campaign on it? If you felt it was so important, why didn\u2019t you go and hold a referendum on this instead of other things? So the big question is: whatever happened to the big, open, transparent, democratic Government that we were promised? There is nothing democratic about this. There\u2019s nothing open about this. There\u2019s nothing transparent about that. And you guys know that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000643\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003EThe most worrying thing is that you look at the Labour manifesto from the last election and under \u201CLocal government and communities\u201D, this is what it says. Let me say it: \u201CLabour will uphold local decision making in the democratic institutions of local government.\u201D Then it goes on to say, \u201CLabour will ensure that major decisions about local democracy involve full participation of the local population from the outset.\u201D And let\u2019s be really honest. You\u2019re talking about a major decision here around local government, yet there\u2019s no local participation of the local population and there\u2019s certainly none happening from the outset of this bill. So it\u2019s a real basic one. We believe that people affected by this decision should have a say in it. But this is an arrogant decision by this Government who is running roughshod over a basic democratic principle. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000644\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003EFrankly, I don\u2019t think this is what the people who voted for you at the last election actually expected or would want from you. And most damningly, it\u2019s not just us saying this. It\u2019s your own regulatory impact assessment, which is saying\u2014let me quote this: \u201CThe short timeframe for developing the policy options and undertaking the impact analysis means there has been minimal consultation on the specific Stage 1 proposals.\u201D and \u201C[That] meant that consultation on the proposed Stage 1 legislative changes with the general public, local authorities, and with iwi/hap\u016B, was not possible.\u201D So when your own departmental disclosure statement states that the policy details have not been tested or assessed in any way to ensure the bill\u2019s provisions are workable and complete, it\u2019s not just a principle that\u2019s being contravened, it\u2019s not just us arguing and defending that; it\u2019s your own advice internally telling you that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000645\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003EThe other point is that the bill doesn\u2019t fundamentally do what it said it was about, which was really about addressing and aligning the treatment of M\u0101ori wards and constituencies to that of general wards and constituencies. That\u2019s apparently to come later on in this parliamentary term in an unknown second part of this legislation to be introduced. This bill, frankly, is just repealing the mechanisms for a binding poll on M\u0101ori wards and constituencies. But if you are really serious about aligning general and M\u0101ori wards and constituencies, why wouldn\u2019t you adopt the same treatment that we have for M\u0101ori wards for the general wards and constituencies today? Why are we passing that law right here, right now? Why aren\u2019t we saying that if there\u2019s councillors that want to make changes to their electoral arrangements, that that should be all pushed back to the public for consultation and for a poll, because that would be about more engagement, more democracy. When faced with that choice, this Government has said, \u201CNo, we don\u2019t want more democracy, we don\u2019t want more engagement. We actually want a lot less engagement. We want a lot less democracy.\u201D And you\u2019ve chosen the lower path as a result. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000646\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003EThe other thing I\u2019d say is, frankly, this is not the most pressing or serious local government issue that we could be facing. This sector is under the most stress it\u2019s probably seen in 30 years, and if we\u2019re really honest, take a step back, local government is struggling big time. It is struggling on several fronts. It\u2019s struggling on infrastructure, maintenance, and funding to enable growth. It\u2019s struggling around the three waters reforms. It\u2019s struggling on resource management reform. It\u2019s got glacial consenting processes. We\u2019ve got mitigation and adaptation of climate change, and we should really be talking about those impacts and actually having a plan, not just a declaration. We\u2019ve got dysfunctional council dynamics and governance. We\u2019ve got abysmally poor strategic planning. We\u2019ve got low capacity capability and skills across the sector. We\u2019ve got atrocious customer experiences for the average resident dealing with councils, and we\u2019ve got erosion of public trust happening, as evidenced by really low voter turnout. We\u2019ve got some really pressing challenges in the sector. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003ESo just take Auckland Council, for an example, a world-class city from New Zealand, right? But what\u2019s happened here? We have an accident on the bridge and you can\u2019t get to work for two weeks. The next day we have some railway lines that need urgent maintenance, so your commuters are stopped from getting in and out of the city. We\u2019ve got water restrictions because we can\u2019t plan for water infrastructure. We\u2019ve got a port that\u2019s actually not operating at full capacity. We\u2019ve got a CBD in gridlock because of endless construction projects that don\u2019t join up. We\u2019ve got rising congestion and we\u2019ve got unswimmable beaches again this summer due to poor sewerage infrastructure. So if you were really serious about doing some things on local government, you\u2019d actually get to the crux of the issue, which is: what\u2019s the funding model going forward between central and local government, and what are we going to do about that? Because we\u2019re just band-aiding and number eight wiring a 1970s system when we\u2019re trying to build a country for the 2040s. We\u2019re getting more of the three waters reforms. A way you\u2019d get that done faster and better\u2014you\u2019d need to deal properly with the housing crisis and reform the Resource Management Act. We\u2019ve got 78 councils that, frankly, can\u2019t deliver the basics brilliantly today. It\u2019s an atrocious experience for the average punter dealing with the council. Local government\u2019s operating under a hundred different statutes of this place and so that\u2019s\u2014you know, why don\u2019t we rewrite the Local Government Act and actually clean it up seriously? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000648\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003ESo I think it\u2019s very clear. We oppose this bill because we do support local people and local communities making decisions about their local government and not having Government come crashing in over the top and imposing unilaterally law on top of it. We\u2019re not opposed to communities establishing M\u0101ori wards, but they should make that decision. We should also let councils, 78 of them, actually work out their obligations in practice with M\u0101ori and iwi and deepen and strengthen them themselves without us dictating how they might go about doing it. We\u2019re not sure why this change is critical at all and the most pressing priority right now, given everything else that we\u2019ve got going on. As we all, frankly, know, this is a shameful, it is an arrogant, it is an undemocratic approach and process with no meaningful consultation. And the fact we\u2019ve got to put it in a truncated steering committee with one week\u2019s consultation\u2014who\u2019s showing up over this week, which members of the public are coming in, which members of local government stakeholders are coming in to actually talk about this? So, without\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000649\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c417c94917a24549a68eda5a1a0acbc9\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019ll be a select few they invite.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000650\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022593e0074c3f147b99eefc7d82bec4d54\u0022\u003ECHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, it\u2019ll be a select few for sure. They\u2019ll be stacked. But for us, we strongly, strongly oppose this bill\u2014we strongly oppose it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u00227de1b23420804bd7885d22a72f311d24\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227de1b23420804bd7885d22a72f311d24\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call T\u0101mati Coffey can I ask Louisa Wall and Simon Bridges\u2014cut it out now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022 data-id=\u002291b83f02ac524d29a0e0f5d2d0a90ddf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000652\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002291b83f02ac524d29a0e0f5d2d0a90ddf\u0022\u003ET\u0100MATI COFFEY (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s my pleasure, actually, as the chair of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, to stand and to contribute to this, the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill. As I do this, I know that there are thousands of people out there watching and listening right now to the contributions being made in this House, because this has been a long time coming. It\u2019s been 20 years in the making. It has been 20 years in the making and a whole lot of frustration, because M\u0101ori representation on local council has been dismal. In fact, because of the small provision, which enables 5 percent of the local voting constituency to be able to overturn what\u2019s essentially, as the Race Relations Commissioner said, a racist piece of policy, a discriminatory piece of policy, actually because of that reason we have a lack of M\u0101ori being able to represent M\u0101ori at the decision-making table. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003ENow, I want to take a moment just to commend all of those councils out there that have wanted this. Back home in the Bay of Plenty, I can remember two conversations that I had with two of our local mayors, Mayor Tony Bonne from Whakat\u0101ne District Council and also Mayor Garry Webber from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. Both of them looked me in the eye, as both P\u0101keh\u0101 men, and they said to me, \u201CWe want this to happen. We absolutely want this to happen.\u201D The member for Tauranga is sitting over there having a good old chuckle, but, actually, he wasn\u2019t in the debating chamber that day that the M\u0101ori wards were voted on by the councillors that were there. Nobody thought it was going to happen, but a couple of people made some really powerful submissions, and as a result that was a decision that the Tauranga City Council made. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000654\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EThere are councils all around the country that want this. They don\u2019t want the hassle of having to go out and try and fabricate some other way to engage M\u0101ori in local government decision-making processes. They want this. Tony Bonne wanted this. Garry Webber wanted this. Tenby Powell, when he was the mayor, wanted this as well. We have a series of mayors who want this, and today we are delivering that for them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000655\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EI want to congratulate ActionStation and Toni Boynton and her crew, who came to the steps of Parliament at the end of last year to present a petition on behalf of the people of New Zealand to remove this provision which is not democratic. It\u2019s actually racist in its element, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re having this decision today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000656\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EYou see, to be able to establish a general ward, as a local council you\u2019re able to do that. To establish a M\u0101ori ward, actually the game changes. Suddenly, because it says \u201CM\u0101ori ward\u201D in there, it goes straight to the ability for the local community, 5 percent of them\u2014that\u2019s not a huge lot. You can generally drum up 5 percent, but 5 percent of the local population can overturn that decision, and it\u2019s not good enough. It\u2019s not good enough, and we\u2019re here today passionately saying from our side that we have a commitment to Te Tiriti. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000657\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EActually, that\u2019s something that I wonder if the other side actually have. They\u2019ve made announcements recently about wanting to stand in the upcoming elections in the M\u0101ori wards\u2014essentially, the M\u0101ori seats are M\u0101ori wards in constituencies. They\u2019ve made that comment over there, and today they\u2019re standing there and they\u2019re telling people that this is wrong. So I\u2019m looking back at them, in the eye, and I\u2019m saying that this will happen and you will look back on this as being on the wrong side of history. Everybody in this House who opposes this will be on the wrong side of history.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000658\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003ELet me talk about what the amendments will do. What we\u2019re looking to do is we\u2019re looking to honour our Treaty commitments by repealing the provisions in the Local Electoral Act 2001 that relate to polls on the establishment of M\u0101ori wards and M\u0101ori constituencies. Now, for those people that don\u2019t understand I\u2019ll make the comment: M\u0101ori wards, local council; M\u0101ori constituencies, regional councils. Of the 24 councils around the country that have tried to implement M\u0101ori wards in the last 20 years, three have been successful. One was the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, but that was actually done through legislation, through its own set of legislation. So if you look at it, not a good hit rate, right? M\u0101ori people trying to get their representation at local council, not being able to get it because of this provision. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000659\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003ESo we stand here today saying that we are going to change things. To the people back home that are wondering how this sits with us, Taup\u014D District Council and Tauranga City Council resolved to establish M\u0101ori wards for the 2022 election. \u014Cp\u014Dtiki District Council resolved to hold a poll alongside the 2022 elections. Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Whakat\u0101ne District Council up to this point have been prohibited from making another resolution around M\u0101ori wards in 2020 because of a six-year binding poll in 2018 that failed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000660\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re here today. We\u2019re changing things up because we believe in our Te Tiriti partnership. We believe that Crown-M\u0101ori relations between the Government, between M\u0101ori out there, need to be a whole lot better than it has been over the last 20 years. Our M\u0101ori people are crying out for representation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000661\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EI\u2019m really stoked that the previous speaker got up and talked about the Labour Party manifesto. It\u2019s a good one, and actually I\u2019m glad that he took the time over his holidays to really drill down into some of the finer points of our manifesto. What he missed, though, was the bit in there where we talked about Labour\u2019s commitment to Te Tiriti. He missed that little bit in there that talked about Labour wanting to be a better Treaty partner to M\u0101ori. Until he understands just what that means, they will continue to be hypocrites, to stand there on that side\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000662\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d15052a73b2743f787818ee1598c2045\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member will stand, withdraw, and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000663\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f343d69c6d8e495ab1eb3e5bdb9718a0\u0022\u003ET\u0100MATI COFFEY\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw and apologise. The other side will stand there and they will continue to tell New Zealand that this is a bad piece of legislation. This is what we need. If we\u2019re to mature as a country, then legislation changes like this are exactly what we need.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000664\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003EI\u2019m part of a really passionate group of people on the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee that are going to be moving this through. We will be moving this through. It will be fast as well. Let there be no mistake about that. We do things urgently because they are urgent. That\u2019s why we use urgency and that\u2019s why we\u2019re going to be invoking it. But it will be a short submission time. So I say this to all of those people that are listening out there that are thinking about submitting into our committee: the window will be open for a very short period of time and I encourage people to come forward with their submissions and actually come before our committee. Put your case. Tell us how passionate about it you are, whichever side you sit on. Let the people listen to your submission. Let the media listen to your submission. Let everybody that\u2019s sitting around that committee table analyse why you\u2019re so passionate one way or the other. But I say it will be a very short time frame because this is long overdue. It\u2019s long overdue and we need change. We need support from the community to be able to come forward during this urgency, during this bill as it moves through over the next week, and actually submit to it. It\u2019s a good piece of legislation. It\u2019s long overdue and it\u2019s time we moved quickly. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022 data-id=\u0022d5d31cce73fd446fa1737ae8f55fd101\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000665\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d5d31cce73fd446fa1737ae8f55fd101\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES (National\u2014Tauranga):\u003C/span\u003E You know, in this House, often times MPs get up, and they say it\u2019s good to speak on this bill. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s good to speak on this bill. I think it\u2019s highly regrettable that we\u2019re here right now doing this under urgency. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000666\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EI could use all kinds of hyperbole. I remember the Hon Chris Hipkins, when we were in Government for nine wonderful years of progress in New Zealand, would come down the House on the rare occasions\u2014and I\u2019ll make it quite clear: it was rare\u2014that we passed bills in urgency, and he\u2019d be frothing at the mouth. He\u2019d be making clear what a constitutional outrage this was, even though they agreed entirely with the bill, and even though, often times, it was simply to fix a very discrete technical matter. I\u2019m not going to use the hyperbole, but it is regrettable that we are doing this in urgency right now, not on some technical fix on a bill, on some issue\u2014I remember one in the last Government around speed and licensing needing to be fixed. I think it was the last one; it might have been the one before that. The whole House came together and we did it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000667\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re in urgency today on a local democracy bill making fundamental change. Am I the only one who sees the ridiculous irony of that? There\u2019s an anti-democratic local democracy bill. That\u2019s literally what we\u2019ve got here, because the other side is putting this through\u2014it\u2019s ramming it through\u2014in urgency.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000668\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EThe member last said we should be grateful, because they\u2019re going to do it for a week in committee. You can come along, but, by the way, we\u2019re not going to listen to anything you say if you disagree with us. That is literally, fundamentally what he said. Well, I say it\u2019s an anti-democratic democracy bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000669\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003ELabour Party, \u201Ch\u201D is for hippo, it\u2019s for Hippocratic oath, and it\u2019s for some other words beginning with \u201Ch\u201D as well, frankly. Maybe over this term of Parliament, when Chris Hipkins thinks about urgency, he should take those remarks into account.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000670\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s also very arrogant, and we heard it coming through very clearly from the last member. It\u2019s a \u201CWe won. You lost. Eat that! We\u2019ll pass this in urgency because we can. We don\u2019t even need to be right.\u201D That\u2019s, bluntly, frankly, the kind of thing we heard from the last member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000671\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EI\u2019d make a couple of other process points before we get into the substance of this bill, and the first is this. It\u2019s a point Christopher Luxon made well, as well. I\u2019ve looked through this. [Holds up Labour Party 2020 M\u0101ori Manifesto] It\u2019s got some nice glossies. Nanaia Mahuta looks good in it\u2014she\u2019s on every second page. But, as I go through page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, I don\u2019t see a single reference to passing this bill to, effectively, entrench M\u0101ori wards in New Zealand. There\u2019s not a single reference in this bill to that. There are some things we can\u2019t say in this House, but they didn\u2019t have, let\u2019s say, the \u201Cfortitude\u201D of their convictions in this area. They weren\u2019t prepared to go to the general electorate, to New Zealanders of every colour, creed, and ethnicity, and to say, \u201CYou know what: this is something we believe in.\u201D So to hear them crowing right now is just a bit rich.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000672\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EI want to say, frankly, let\u2019s be clear why they did that. They didn\u2019t want to give their coalition partner\u2014that old crocodile Winston Peters\u2014the chance to get back into this place. Let\u2019s be honest about that: that\u2019s why they did it. [Interruption] What, cynical? That\u2019s what it is: it\u2019s cynical. Now they\u2019re sitting over there because they weren\u2019t prepared to be clear with the electorate about what they were going to do in this House right now, right here, which they\u2019re doing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000673\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EOne final process point: this bill is retrospective. By the way, that is egregious when it\u2019s what we do in relation to criminal matters, but it\u2019s still pretty bad in instances like this. Frankly, things shouldn\u2019t be retrospective. I\u2019m not going to take the time, but there are very good reasons why, actually, going backwards, when people thought things were going to be a certain way for a certain time into the future, is bad law. This is bad law because it\u2019s done in urgency, because it\u2019s done retrospectively, and because, as they do it in urgency now, in the first months of their new full majority term, they didn\u2019t even have the decency to be clear and campaign on this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000674\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EI also want to say I disagree with this bill in substance. In relation to the wards themselves, personally, I find it hard when we come to special separate representation for M\u0101ori. As a M\u0101ori man, it says I\u2019m not good enough, because of my whakapapa, because of the colour of my skin.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000675\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c9fd5416f6b4a328549cd65f5e8ffd3\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002255f1c0e95abe402d9da94ffd2e8d05f8\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: They laugh over there. They laugh when I give my experience. This bill, to me, says that I\u2019m not good enough to win a vote of a non-M\u0101ori. Well, I am good enough. I am good enough. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000677\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EBy the way, Louisa Wall has been good enough. Paula Bennett has been good enough. Shanan Halbert has been good enough for Northcote, a seat which\u2014and I haven\u2019t done the demographic study\u2014I am sure doesn\u2019t have as many M\u0101ori per head of population as many other parts of New Zealand. He is good enough in that seat. He doesn\u2019t need special treatment in this law to win his seat in modern New Zealand in the 21st century.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000678\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s be really clear about the problem\u2014or, actually, the lack of a real problem\u2014we are fixing in this bill. I accept\u2014as, frankly, the 11th member of Parliament of M\u0101ori descent to win a general seat\u2014and now we\u2019ve gone dih-dih-dah-du [Member gestures to indicate an increase], and it\u2019s much higher than that. I accept there have been problems in the past, but right now, in this Parliament, and in the last Parliament, there were more M\u0101ori in this Parliament than in New Zealand per head of population. That may be a bit crass, but, on the numbers in this Parliament, we\u2019re winning.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000679\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EBy the way, at local government, in local democracy, the same wasn\u2019t true. But if you look at the numbers right now, it, basically, is. We are catching up in local government all around New Zealand. You give it five years and it would be happening anyway. But this Government comes in. I say what it says is they don\u2019t have faith in M\u0101ori to do it for ourselves. I think that\u2019s a crying shame in 2021.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000680\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EIn addition to saying that Labour doesn\u2019t trust M\u0101oridom, actually, what they\u2019re also saying in this bill\u2014the other side of that coin\u2014is that they don\u2019t trust New Zealanders. That\u2019s what they\u2019re saying here. They don\u2019t trust New Zealanders to elect M\u0101ori, when, in fact, in Tauranga, in Northcote, and in a bunch of other seats\u2014I\u2019m not actually sure what Louisa\u2019s is\u2014in the various seats out there, they have done that, and they will do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000681\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226dcd6de4ad2748019abf14f7f3c30a30\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, you nailed that one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000682\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae798944f9a74ef98ef07c0271b57b8f\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: They also don\u2019t trust\u2014this is what we get from this smarmy guy over this side. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000683\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281f4dd24a3164fee8b3b16a60da90556\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, he\u2019s a dickhead anyway.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000684\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d06b8768973240ef935f30e83b07b9df\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: He\u2019s a very smarmy new member of Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000685\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2ce775268694daaa09c24d3bdbefdf5\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I don\u2019t mind being called smarmy\u2014there might be an element of truth to that. However, I do believe that being called a \u201Cdickhead\u201D by the honourable Mr Bennett is unparliamentarily, and he should be made to withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000686\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7c05097e4de410587578f71c559881f\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I didn\u2019t hear it myself. Is that correct, Mr Bennett?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d1e7af25b39f4d12946160f4fea92672\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000688\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e9f9ba98b7fa42e0b534d3b550b92954\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I should think so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000689\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228d55c5289c5497ab59b7292242432f0\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: Labour don\u2019t trust New Zealanders to elect M\u0101ori, and they also don\u2019t trust New Zealanders on referenda process like set out in this law. I say that\u2019s a real shame. You know, I accept, actually, if you look at the referendum and the 5 percent issue, it\u2019s problematic. Actually, it needs reform, because the reality of doing that in relation to M\u0101ori wards but not in relation to other wards needs a fix, but the answer there, as Christopher Luxon set out very well, is real, genuine, thought through local government reform, not coming to the House with a bill that\u2019s anti-democratic, that\u2019s passed in urgency, that\u2019s done retrospectively, and that\u2019s done without a skerrick of a campaign promise anywhere for the utmost of cynical reasons by the New Zealand Labour Party. This is a bill that I say, as a M\u0101ori man, actually\u2014you know what\u2014says to M\u0101ori around the country, \u201CYou\u2019re not good enough to do it in a general ward. You\u2019re not good enough to do it in a general seat.\u201D Actually, I was. Plenty others have been. I find that personally insulting for M\u0101ori who come after me. I say this is bad process, it\u2019s a bad law, and I, for one, am very glad that National today is opposing 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=\u0022fbdaf621f14d4e61bc4d912837904e98\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000690\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fbdaf621f14d4e61bc4d912837904e98\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Before I begin my speech, I\u2019d just like to acknowledge the fact that I am wearing sunglasses in the House, and that is due to recovery from eye surgery. I have permission from the Speaker for that, but if any of you are wondering why, that is the answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000691\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s a real pleasure to stand here in this House to speak on the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill. It is a great honour, actually. I noted on the Order Paper that I\u2019m the only P\u0101keh\u0101 from this side of the House that is speaking on this issue. Therefore, I think it\u2019s important to acknowledge the privilege that I\u2019ve been given on this issue, but also the fact that our great leader, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, spoke to us at Waitangi about the bridge, and M\u0101ori crossing the bridge: every day that happens, and for us as P\u0101keh\u0101, we need to cross that bridge at times as well. So for me, this is a great honour to speak to this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000692\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s also with some sadness that we\u2019re here in 2021, talking about an issue which is fundamental to our democracy and partnership under the Treaty of Waitangi. For me it is a real shame. In my community of Tauranga Moana\u2014and I am a list MP in the Bay of Plenty electorate, which is the horseshoe that wraps around the centre of Tauranga City. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000693\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207aca73839084c3781ffda9e13951a0b\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Strangles it!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000694\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c58112f7346f4820960be6f6494e3a4e\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha! We\u2019re a vibrant\u2014very vibrant\u2014part of this city. The issue for our city has been the M\u0101ori wards very lately. It\u2019s been very divisive and heartbreaking. As the mother of M\u0101ori children and the wife of a M\u0101ori man, I find it really difficult, but it is important that we have these conversations, and that those of us here that are P\u0101keh\u0101 remain to be allies in this issue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000695\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EM\u0101ori wards are the only opportunity that people have to say, \u201CNo, we won\u2019t do this.\u201D That 5 percent vote\u2014do you know in Kaik\u014Dura, that\u2019s 100 people that will stop the democracy of having M\u0101ori people represented\u2014100 people. In my city, that\u2019s 5,000 people, and those 5,000 people are not representative of the majority of us. They just have to put their signature. They are told that it\u2019s anti-democracy, it\u2019s anti-democratic. It is not anti-democratic to have representation from one Treaty partner. It cannot be anti-democratic to have people represented at the table, not just being consulted on but actually helping to make the decisions. It is important that we remember that tangata whenua were here first, that tangata whenua have a different view from myself, perhaps\u2014it\u2019s a unique view and it\u2019s an important view.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000696\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EIn my city, it has been 28 years since we had a M\u0101ori member on our city council. Twenty-eight years does not tell me\u2014well, actually, 29 now that we\u2019re in 2021. Twenty-nine years does not tell me that it\u2019s about an equal playing field; it tells me that there is something else going on in our city. It tells me that racism is alive and well in our city. Certainly for me and my experience as a P\u0101keh\u0101 woman who nobody can tell has M\u0101ori children or a M\u0101ori husband, I experience the racism on a daily basis, and I hear it from the people of our community. It breaks my heart, but my job as a P\u0101keh\u0101 woman is to speak back to that, and that\u2019s what I am doing. It is incredibly important to me that we have representation from our Treaty partners. If we don\u2019t have that, if we do not wind this back, we will never, ever cross that bridge.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000697\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003EFinally, in closing, be gentle with each other in this conversation. It is hurtful\u2014it is hurtful for people to hear these conversations, and we must be respectful. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227ec53e32-05ab-4c6b-a080-4024e72a9099\u0022 data-id=\u0022602b3df97b8a4315b7cc692be21b0081\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000698\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227ec53e32-05ab-4c6b-a080-4024e72a9099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022602b3df97b8a4315b7cc692be21b0081\u0022\u003EDr ELIZABETH KEREKERE (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora koutou. The Greens have long supported this kaupapa, and it\u2019s reflected in policies across our M\u0101ori, democracy, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi policies. We aim to promote and support guaranteed tangata whenua participation in local governance through the establishment of M\u0101ori wards and to remove barriers to the establishment of M\u0101ori wards. In fact, this bill is very similar to a Green member\u2019s bill in Marama Davidson\u2019s name that was pulled from the ballot in May 2017. It failed its first reading the following month because the combined Greens, Labour, and M\u0101ori Party seats at that time only totalled 48. It is, of course, a very different story now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000699\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227ec53e32-05ab-4c6b-a080-4024e72a9099\u0022\u003EGreen members have also been actively involved in the movement for M\u0101ori representation on local bodies. Our new MP Teanau Tuiono fronted the Together: Kia Kotahi Mai campaign supporting M\u0101ori wards in the Palmerston North City Council and the Manawat\u016B District Council. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000700\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227ec53e32-05ab-4c6b-a080-4024e72a9099\u0022\u003EI can confirm that the Greens did campaign on this. It is in writing and it does speak to two of our six M\u0101ori priorities for this term that wh\u0101nau, hap\u016B, and iwi have a say in the decisions that affect them, and being on councils certainly helps them to better assume kaitiakitanga of their whenua, awa, and moana. We note that the bill \u201Crepeals the provisions in the Local Electoral Act 2001 that relate to polls in the establishment of M\u0101ori wards and M\u0101ori constituencies; and prohibits binding council-initiated polls on whether to establish M\u0101ori wards or M\u0101ori constituencies (while retaining the right of councils to initiate non-binding polls to gauge public sentiment); and establishes a transition period ending on 21 May 2021 in which any local council may, regardless of any previous decisions or previous poll outcomes, resolve to establish M\u0101ori wards or M\u0101ori constituencies for the 2022 local elections.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000701\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227ec53e32-05ab-4c6b-a080-4024e72a9099\u0022\u003EI\u2019m a list MP based in Gisborne, and our district council recently approved the establishment of M\u0101ori wards. It was emotional, sitting in that council room when that unanimous decision was announced. I was dismayed, but not surprised, when a well-funded organisation from outside our rohe immediately swamped the flasher areas of town with fliers starting the poll process\u2014not where I live, though, in Kaiti. These polls have proved to be an almost insurmountable barrier to improving M\u0101ori representation in local government and, in some cases, a deterrent to local authorities considering establishing M\u0101ori wards or M\u0101ori constituencies. I look forward to councils being able to rip up those racist polls as not worth the paper they were written on. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000702\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227ec53e32-05ab-4c6b-a080-4024e72a9099\u0022\u003EOne issue the Greens would like to raise for consideration in the second stage of this work is whether only those who are on the M\u0101ori roll can vote on the M\u0101ori wards. The political decisions we make going into a general election are very different to how we might want to operate at a local level. It has been also a longstanding position of the Greens that M\u0101ori should be able to change between the general roll and the M\u0101ori roll at will, and not once every five years. This is also part of an improving democracy Green member\u2019s bill, in Golriz Ghahraman\u2019s name, that is still in the ballot. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000703\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227ec53e32-05ab-4c6b-a080-4024e72a9099\u0022\u003EFinally, the Greens consider this bill will help strengthen the M\u0101ori Crown relationship at a local level by removing barriers to M\u0101ori participation in local elections. It is likely that more councils will establish M\u0101ori wards once this bill is passed, giving M\u0101ori greater representation and voice around the council table following the 2022 local elections and into the future. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000704\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227ec53e32-05ab-4c6b-a080-4024e72a9099\u0022\u003EWe commend this bill. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u002240526228cad64d76bb5fde5307e52d2d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000705\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002240526228cad64d76bb5fde5307e52d2d\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of ACT in opposition to the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill, but first I would like to honour and express solidarity with those hundreds of people who have been on the parliamentary forecourt today protesting against a military coup that has deposed a democratically elected Government in Myanmar. We want to say in this House\u2014and I\u2019m sure few, if any, will disagree with me\u2014that they are on the side of right, and the coupsters who have deposed democracy in their country are wrong.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000706\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EBut I couldn\u2019t help but feel a little irony that now we are in the House, the Labour Party has brought forward legislation to take away democratic voting rights. Why? Because the people of New Zealand cannot be relied upon to vote the right way. You might think I\u2019m making this up\u2014I wish that I was\u2014but that is what this piece of legislation says. That is what the Minister of Local Government, introducing the bill, said. That is what other speakers from the Green Party and from the Labour Party have said: \u201CLook, these polls are an insurmountable obstacle to getting more M\u0101ori representation.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000707\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EWell, actually, that\u2019s wrong on two counts. First of all, we never in a democracy say that the will of the people is an insurmountable obstacle. Actually, the people are right in a democracy. But, second of all\u2014and here\u2019s the great irony\u2014if this Government was committed to doing the legislative process correctly, if it was committed to doing its due diligence correctly, it might\u2019ve asked, \u201CWhat problem do we seek to solve?\u201D It might\u2019ve asked, \u201CIs it true that there is an insurmountable obstacle to M\u0101ori representation in the councils of Aotearoa New Zealand?\u201D If it asked that question, if it took the time to do the research, it would simply ask: how many people elected to councils claim M\u0101ori descent, identify as M\u0101ori? What percentage of the councillors\u2014does anyone on the Labour side know the answer to that? Does the Minister know? No? Silence. They don\u2019t know. They probably haven\u2019t asked the question, because these rushed lawmakers in our Government don\u2019t even ask the right questions before they make a law. Shanan Halbert knows\u2014he\u2019s looking. He\u2019s thinking, \u201CI know, but I don\u2019t want to say.\u201D, because he knows that the answer is 14 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000708\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003ENow, here\u2019s another question: what percentage of New Zealanders identify as M\u0101ori? Does anyone from the Labour Party want to try this time? Does anybody know? Silence. They don\u2019t know\u2014they know, but they don\u2019t want to say. The percentage of New Zealanders that are M\u0101ori is\u2014wait for it\u201414 percent, the same as the percentage of M\u0101ori on councils. So they are wrong when they say that there\u2019s an insurmountable barrier to M\u0101ori being elected to councils. M\u0101ori are doing a great job of being elected to councils, thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000709\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003ESo why is the Government bringing forward this bill? Well, it\u2019s difficult to know. After all, it\u2019s a Labour Party bill. It is part of the Local Electoral Act 2001, when the Government was\u2014wait for it\u2014Labour, and this legislation that allows recalls on M\u0101ori wards was introduced in 2002 when the Government was still Labour. So this Labour Party has had six years in Government, from 2002 to 2008, and then they were in Government from 2017 to 2020. That\u2019s nine long years, as we often hear the refrain, that this Government, or the party that is now in Government, Labour, was actually quite happy to have recalls on M\u0101ori wards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003ESo why the urgency now? Well, the simple truth is they\u2019re doing it because previously they didn\u2019t have the numbers in the House, and now they do. Some people think, well, maybe that\u2019s just how democracy works. Well, actually, this is how democracy works: democracy is about people being heard. Democracy is about people being able to have a voice and express their opinions. In this House, we introduce legislation and then we debate it three times, and in the middle of that, there is a six-month period where poor little members of the public\u2014you know, the people that have been voting the wrong way\u2014are able to come along and actually have their say and be heard\u2014not in one week, as Tamati Coffey glibly suggested they might be able to be heard; actually, come along over six months and have their say. Then it\u2019s debated again, it\u2019s reported in the media, people can think about the legislation, and then there\u2019s another committee stage where we can make changes to it. Then there\u2019s another debate where people can make up their mind if they really want to support the legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000711\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThat process does three important things. Number one, it means that we get the benefit of all people\u2019s ideas. Sometimes a submitter, somebody, can tell us something that, heaven forbid, parliamentarians might not know. That\u2019s why we listen to people. The second thing it does is it increases trust in a particular law. There are a lot of laws this Parliament\u2019s made I don\u2019t really agree with\u2014it\u2019s one of the reasons I stood for Parliament, to come and try and change some of them\u2014but I follow them and respect them because I know that for the most part, the laws here are made well by a process that listens to people. Finally, when Parliament makes laws in an inclusive way, it improves the harmony and unity of our whole community. When this Government rushes through legislation without listening, with none of the usual process, it erodes faith in the law, it erodes faith in the community, and it also means we get worse laws, because we haven\u2019t asked people for their perspective and benefited from their advice and wisdom.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000712\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EBut then you come to the question of: what is the real, underlying philosophy of this legislation? It\u2019s very simple. It\u2019s two things. It is that collectives are more important than individual people. Which group you belong to is more important than the dignity inherent in every individual person. There should be different laws for you, and you should be treated differently, based upon who your ancestors were. That\u2019s the second principle underlying this legislation. It is that who you are is more important than what you do and how you act. These values are anathema to a society that wishes to become prosperous, kind, and valuing of each of its members. This legislation really says that we should take one group of people, based on who their ancestors were, and give them a different set of laws and a different political system from this House, simply because we think it\u2019s more important who you are and which group you\u2019re part of than what you do and how you act in your life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000713\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003ENow, if this Government truly believed in equity, if this Government really wanted to make every person alike in dignity, what they would do is allow binding referenda on all electoral arrangements. That would be a helpful thing to have. It would be helpful to actually let the people who are the electors, who own the council, be able to say to the people trying to get re-elected, \u201CWe don\u2019t like your arrangement.\u201D That\u2019s what would be helpful, but that\u2019s not what this Government is doing. This Government is deliberately engineering the law, as they\u2019ve stated, in order that some people will get elected or be more likely to get elected based on who their great-grandparents were\u2014not on what they do but who they are, not on the value and the dignity inherent in every individual person but on membership of a collective. Those values are completely the wrong values for creating a society that is kind, prosperous, and inclusive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000714\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EI am proud that ACT is opposing this piece of legislation. We cannot afford to continue dividing ourselves along superficial lines. We must celebrate the common humanity that unites all people and stop seeking ways to divide us with group rights and collective identity. I\u2019m proud to oppose this bill, and I can\u2019t wait for the debate on the short select committee either. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022 data-id=\u00224e7c2d4eccf749868122b6a43430e172\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000715\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224e7c2d4eccf749868122b6a43430e172\u0022\u003ELOUISA WALL (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te M\u0101ngai o te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. I guess the question before us tonight is what rights do our tangata whenua, M\u0101ori, have in local government decision-making, and what status do M\u0101ori have as the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa? Lest we forget, we\u2019re a colonised country. Lest we forget that, actually, M\u0101ori have undergone racist and incredibly detrimental actions by the Crown in our country for us to be able to stand proudly as New Zealand\u2019s indigenous people. When we look at the issue of indigenous representation, yes, we should look at our New Zealand Parliament. We created the M\u0101ori seats and we continue to have the M\u0101ori seats because, for our democracy, we believe that specific M\u0101ori representation and specific M\u0101ori voices in this Parliament are fundamental to how our democracy will function, because of the status we have as the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000716\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EThe reality within local government is that we do not have the same mechanism. If we look back to 2001 when the Local Electoral Act 2001 was enacted, section 4 requires local government to provide for fair and effective M\u0101ori representation. The problem that we have is they don\u2019t have enough tools to ensure that M\u0101ori have a say around the decision-making table of local government. I want to acknowledge the leadership of Nanaia Mahuta\u2014her leadership in bringing this to the House after a conversation that was started in 2018. As she articulated, Local Government New Zealand came to her. They said, \u201CPlease do this, we need it, we need your leadership.\u201D And, yes, we\u2019ll be frank, the coalition Government in the last Parliament would not agree to this legislative reform. So was it explicitly in Labour\u2019s manifesto? No. Was it explicitly in the Minister of Local Government\u2019s manifesto and agenda for change? Absolutely. Was it in the manifesto and change for local government? Do our local government leaders want this? Absolutely they do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000717\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003ESo we are responding to the leaders that have been voted for by electors and all these councils. When you look at the different councils who have wanted to do this, I particularly want to focus on New Plymouth. It\u2019s an opportunity to acknowledge Andrew Judd when he was the mayor, who tried to get this through and has spent six years travelling around Aotearoa. He\u2019s had over 350 consultations with people in Aotearoa about the importance of ensuring that tangata whenua have a say in local government decision-making.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000718\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge Taup\u014D District Council, who, in 2017, actually had a vote. And guess what? They didn\u2019t vote for M\u0101ori wards, but what they did commit to is working with their iwi, with their tangata whenua to find a mechanism for them to work together, because they wanted to give effect to the Local Electoral Act, they wanted to give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi, to their Treaty partnership. Then in 2020, they actually had another vote, and they as a council decided that they wanted the M\u0101ori wards. I want to commend David Trewavas and the people of Taup\u014D, where I whakapapa to, so that\u2019s where my passion comes from. Have they been talking? They have talked, they have consulted, and one of the people said to them that they wanted to talk about partnership. They talked about the partnership between the council and iwi. They all noted that fundamental change was required, that they needed, as Treaty partners, to work together on issues like taking care of our taiao, our environment. They wanted a solution that they sought from the Minister of Local Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000719\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EBecause the reality is we never had to have a vote and a poll in each of our constituencies if you\u2019re a specific M\u0101ori member of Parliament. This Parliament made a law and said, \u201CWe are creating M\u0101ori seats to ensure that M\u0101ori have a say in the decision making of Parliament.\u201D In fact, that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing for local government now. We\u2019re giving local government the tools to ensure that they can create a specific M\u0101ori voice within their local government decision-making so they can give effect to the Treaty, just like we do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000720\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b4a597dd-ed8b-42b8-975b-40c6e0cdaee1\u0022\u003EI just want to finish. One of the conclusions of Taup\u014D District Council\u2019s M\u0101ori wards\u2014they said, \u201CIt is not if wards should be introduced, but rather a question of when\u201D, and bullet point 3 on page 1 says they\u2019re actively advocating with Local Government New Zealand and central government for changes to legislation to better provide for M\u0101ori having a voice in decision making. Our councils want them. The people who voted for them\u2014if they don\u2019t want them in the next election, that\u2019s up to the people. But they\u2019ve voted for leaders in their local communities who have brought this issue to Parliament, and we are going to do everything we can to support our local leaders to implement legislation that enables them to have better relationships with tangata whenua and our M\u0101ori people. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u002271708883c3004d318888b3de5effdbdb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002271708883c3004d318888b3de5effdbdb\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This is a split call. I call Barbara Kuriger\u2014five minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u0022ba80c81c554140159cfb0f974e33c6d4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000722\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ba80c81c554140159cfb0f974e33c6d4\u0022\u003EBARBARA KURIGER (National\u2014Taranaki - King Country):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. So yes, this is a problem that needs to be solved, but the way the Government is going around this is not the way to solve the issue. You don\u2019t change a bad process by using bad process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003ESo what the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill actually says is to align the treatment of M\u0101ori wards and M\u0101ori constituencies with the treatment of general wards and general constituencies as much as possible. Now, no one\u2019s disagreeing with that. There is a problem that we need to solve here. The last speaker talked about the fact that this Government is giving local government the tools to do this. So why does stage two of the impact summary then say\u2014which we\u2019re not doing tonight and we\u2019re not into yet; this is somewhere down the track to follow\u2014\u201Cestablish a new process for decisions on whether to establish M\u0101ori wards that [are] better aligned with the current process for establishing general wards and constituencies\u201D? So what we\u2019re saying is we\u2019re going to do this and then, after we do this, we\u2019re going to work out what is the best process to do this. Now, if anyone\u2019s ever heard about putting the horse before the cart, here it is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000724\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s quite concerning, really, to read through this when we hear about what the select committee process is going to be. I\u2019ve seen some pretty shocking select committee processes in the last Parliament\u2014processes where the public were open for submissions for a week, in some cases 12,000 submissions, and 20 people got to the table for one day to be able to give their say. Why is this Government so scared of letting the public have their say on this issue? We often learn something, and we must trust the public to help us make decisions. We as politicians don\u2019t have all the answers, and someone may just come in with a good idea. So the one-week consultation on this process is an absolute farce. It would be far better to run this process properly and have any changes come into force in 2025. That\u2019s the problem that we have, that, actually, this is being rushed through. It\u2019s changing something, and we don\u2019t know that we\u2019ve actually got the best process to run this going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000725\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003ELegislative guidelines actually state that legislation should have prospective, not retrospective, effect. If retrospectivity is intended, this must be stated in the legislation and capable of justification. I don\u2019t actually see anything that is stated in this legislation that justifies why it\u2019s retrospective, other than the time frames: \u201CWe have to do it in a hurry\u2014we have to do it in a hurry.\u201D If it was needing to be done in such a hurry, why didn\u2019t the Labour Party talk about it on their way into Government? Why didn\u2019t we give it to the public to use their voice? What are we scared of\u2014what are we scared of? Why should we not be letting the public\u2014isn\u2019t that what we\u2019re here for? I mean, even the departmental disclosure statement states the policy details have not been \u201Ctested or assessed in any way to [assure] the bill\u2019s provisions are workable and complete\u201D. So I\u2019ll repeat that: has not been \u201Ctested or assessed in any way to ensure the bill\u2019s provisions are workable and complete\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000726\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003ESo I would encourage any speaker on the other side to get up and tell us on this side of the House how they think the bill\u2019s provisions are workable and complete. If they haven\u2019t been tested and assessed, I want to know what their assessment is: how the Government\u2019s members have actually assessed this to know that it\u2019s workable, because, actually, I just think that you\u2019re using a very short-sighted, very quick, very rushed process to solve an issue that could be solved in a far better way if we just took the time to listen to the public, work through, and make sure all the provisions are aligned. But no, unfortunately, this Government does not trust our local people to make local decisions, and it\u2019s another case of \u201CGovernment knows best\u201D once again. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022275fa55c9f454e838df8e4c467f9cef8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000727\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022275fa55c9f454e838df8e4c467f9cef8\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I call Debbie Ngarewa-Packer\u2014five minutes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022 data-id=\u0022f4df542e3978411c8507235720325f57\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000728\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f4df542e3978411c8507235720325f57\u0022\u003EDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader\u2014Te Paati M\u0101ori):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora. You know, when you\u2019re accustomed to privilege, equality starts to feel like oppression and it starts to feel undemocratic. The truth is we live in a nation that has actively chosen to violate Te Tiriti over and over again. It is timely to unravel the racism that we have a democratic system that has been put into power without any valuable input from M\u0101ori. It\u2019s 2021. We shouldn\u2019t be debating this, and a party who wants to, quite honestly, stand M\u0101ori seats should know better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000729\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EThe M\u0101ori Party is stoked that we finally will be getting rid of this racist provision in our electoral laws. This is something that Te Paati M\u0101ori have long campaigned for. I would like to commend Minister Mahuta for bringing this legislation back into the House under urgency. I\u2019m sure a week will be enough time for the racists to speak. This is a huge win for M\u0101ori and for those who have stood up against racism and fought for mana whenua representation in local government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000730\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EThe Local Electoral Act, as it stands, is racist and discriminatory. If a local council wishes to establish M\u0101ori wards, it can be voted with a referendum if 5 percent of the local electors petition for it. This provision does not allow the same to happen for general wards. M\u0101ori wards or not, councils should still have long-lasting relationships with Te Tiriti partners. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000731\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003ESo this announcement is long overdue. Successive Governments have failed to act and have enabled this racist law that oppresses tangata whenua and our right to have a say in decisions that affect us. Furthermore, it is absolutely archaic to believe that Te Tiriti is proportionate. In fact, the question should be asked, for those that are ignorant: why are we only at 14 percent population?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000732\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EThis law has been used by racist organisations like Hobson\u2019s Pledge to undermine our rights and prevent M\u0101ori from having a say in local government decisions. While we do have guaranteed political rights at a national level, this has not translated into local government. The United Nations has even highlighted Aotearoa\u2019s extremely poor indigenous representation in local government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000733\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EI would like to acknowledge local politicians and allies like Andrew Judd, who for two years and 262 days reminded us all daily of this, and, of course, the grassroots and tangata whenua leaders who have carried this kaupapa for M\u0101ori wards\u2014the Punas, the Dinis, the Hepas, the Elijahs. Local governments are willing and ready to take leadership in giving M\u0101ori a guaranteed voice in their rohe. We have already seen dedicated M\u0101ori wards being adopted by councils around the country to great success.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000734\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EThis amendment is a good first step today towards embodying Te Tiriti o Waitangi at a local level and returning the balance of power to mana whenua. However, it does not guarantee M\u0101ori representation or necessarily restore any mana whenua rights. So it must be seen as a first step only in returning power to tangata whenua to their rohe, or crossing that bridge. It should be compulsory on councils\u2014or, at least, compulsory to have mana whenua reps.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000735\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EFinally, we would like to say that we\u2019re not even sure why this would be going to select committee; it should just go through. Therefore, Te Paati M\u0101ori commend this bill to the House. Kia ora r\u0101.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u00227c191219697d444c85fe432bd4ada435\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000736\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227c191219697d444c85fe432bd4ada435\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te M\u0101ngai o te Whare. I\u2019m delighted to speak on this landmark bill. This is a landmark piece of legislation that we are putting through its first reading. I want to acknowledge the Hon Nanaia Mahuta, a great leader, a great Minister who will go down in history as one of the greats\u2014one of the greats\u2014for doing things that are advancing the causes of M\u0101ori. So I want to acknowledge her, her fight in bringing this bill to the House, and all the support that she has from around the motu, up and down the whole country, from councils and communities who yearn for their own M\u0101ori representation. That\u2019s what this bill does. It allows M\u0101ori representation to now be able to give expression to that in councils up and down the country. So I\u2019m absolutely delighted in this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000737\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EIn the last Parliament I brought two bills to this House to fight for M\u0101ori protection of our rights in Parliament and also for local representation in Ng\u0101i Tahu. It all comes back to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mr Seymour spoke about what is the underlying philosophy. It\u2019s simple, Mr Seymour: Te Tiriti o Waitangi. That is the underlying philosophy which we on this side of the House are giving expression to through the passage of this bill. M\u0101ori representation is a must because to give true expression and to uphold the promises of Te Tiriti, M\u0101ori need to be represented at all levels of Government in this country, here in Parliament and in local government. So we are, through the passage of this bill, able to give effect to that. It\u2019s long been overdue. I\u2019m proud as a M\u0101ori electorate member myself to be able to support this bill along with our vast M\u0101ori caucus\u2014first XV\u2014and our members and this Government. We\u2019re very proud to be able to bring this landmark legislation to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000738\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EFinally, this bill is not only good for M\u0101ori; it\u2019s good for our country. It\u2019s good to have our local government areas reflecting the communities that they represent, and really I think the undertones that have come through tonight from the other side are quite telling\u2014quite telling in terms of just not being where Aotearoa is in 2021. That\u2019s why I\u2019m so proud on this side of the House that we can advance real and meaningful legislation that will make a difference not only now but for the generations to come as we evolve and grow as a nation of Aotearoa, upholding the promises of Te Tiriti. We\u2019re not perfect. We\u2019re not going to get all the way there in a hurry, but we are making good progress. This is one great step in that direction and I commend this bill to the House. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u0022182bed83cb8049d4af564487d4d3c1fc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000739\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022182bed83cb8049d4af564487d4d3c1fc\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National):\u003C/span\u003E This is bad law. It is law that\u2019s being advanced by bad process, and it is based on bad principles. It\u2019s bad law because it underminingly says, \u201CWe don\u2019t trust New Zealanders. We\u2019re going to take away your right to have a say about how your community is governed.\u201D It is appalling process. The idea that you can bring a bill into Parliament affecting our electoral law and that we\u2019re going to give New Zealanders a week to make a submission to a select committee\u2014a bill that is going to be the law of the land before the end of the month\u2014is a disgrace to this Parliament and a disgrace for those memorials on the walls of this Parliament that recognise those that died for the true principles of democracy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000740\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI want to talk about bad principle, because, in my view, the concept of democracy is not something that\u2019s a European idea or a M\u0101ori idea or a Pacific idea\u2014and I\u2019ve just been on Parliament steps protesting the removal of the democratically elected Parliament in the country of Burma, and those on the steps of Parliament cherish democracy as much as those of whatever ethnicity or religion that we are. The principle that\u2019s wrong is that somehow by dividing up our democracy along the lines of ethnic representation makes us stronger\u2014is flawed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000741\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI challenge members opposite: tell me a country in the world that is more successful, that has better race relations, as a consequence of having ethnically separated representation. I can tell members opposite that I have been to dozens of countries where there is ethnic representation and it drives divisions and not unity in those communities. I also say to this Parliament that I\u2019ve seen it with representatives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000742\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve been privileged to be the MP for Nelson, and in that time, I took the view that it didn\u2019t matter whether the constituent was M\u0101ori or anything else. It was my duty to represent them. I don\u2019t think our democracy is helped when I\u2019ve heard members saying \u201CWell, you\u2019re of a different ethnicity. I have no responsibility for you.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000743\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI want to challenge the Minister about a number of statements that she\u2019s made. She said very strongly in promoting this bill that the law, as it stands, is racist.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000744\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220df6018b6c1548e2863aa569ceee2b2f\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000745\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227fd439af4f334a79859d7ec8961255f6\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: The member Willie Jackson says \u201CThat\u2019s right.\u201D So who wrote that racist law? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000746\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022878da72fb6b74e2f975fa321bbe9f866\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: You and your mates.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000747\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002257162d3e165e414f8d18db7e7ff41bf1\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, no, Mr Willie Jackson. Let\u2019s check the parliamentary Hansard. The law that puts in place the referendum on M\u0101ori wards was passed in 2002 by a Labour Government. Nanaia Mahuta spoke in the third reading, strongly supporting the law that she today says is racist. So I say to the Minister: how can a member in one breath, in one speech to the House, say this is great law and then come round a number of years later and say it\u2019s racist law? I say that member is misleading. I say that if it is a racist law, she should have the courage of her convictions, stand up in this Parliament, and apologise for the previous Labour Government, of which she was a part, for passing it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000748\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI then come to Labour\u2019s manifesto. I\u2019m a bit old-fashioned. My old-fashioned approach to politics is you develop a manifesto, you go to the public, and you say, \u201CVote for me and I will do these things.\u201D Then you come to the Parliament and you put those things into law. So I read Labour\u2019s local government policy from the 2020 election, where I concede they got a very strong mandate. Well, here was their local government mandate: \u201CLabour will uphold local decision-making in the democratic institutions of local government.\u201D They will uphold local decision-making. The first local government bill we get removes the referendum of local decision-making.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000749\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s go further. Labour said this: \u201CLabour will ensure that major decisions about local democracy will involve full public participation of the community affected.\u201D Is that what we\u2019re doing with this bill? Is there a single member in this House who can put their hand on heart and say we\u2019re doing exactly as we pledged to the people when they received their mandate?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000750\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThen I come to the practical and real provisions of principle. I\u2019m not one that either at local or central government level believes that every decision should be made by referendum. I\u2019m not one of those. I didn\u2019t personally believe, as much as there are strongly held opinions in this Parliament on tough questions like euthanasia, like abortion, like cannabis. My honest view is that Parliament should have the courage of its convictions and make decisions, and I do think it\u2019s a bit of a cop-out for local government when they go for referendum. But I say there is a very important distinction when we are dealing with electoral law matters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000751\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI\u2019m sorry; whether you are around the council table or whether you are in this Parliament, when it comes to the rules about how we elect this Parliament or we come to the decisions about how a council is elected, the electoral system belongs to the public at large. If it\u2019s a decision about whether we\u2019re going to change our electoral system from MMP to single transferable vote, whether we\u2019re going to change the term of Parliament, whether we\u2019re going to have separate M\u0101ori representation, they are decisions that belong with the public, and that is why those referendum provisions are there, and that is why it is so wrong for the Government to be wanting to remove them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000752\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe flawed select committee process also compounds the problem of actually working out some of the important detail on this bill. I\u2019ve heard from M\u0101ori who say, \u201CWhen it comes to council, I might like to be on the general roll, but when it comes to parliamentary elections, I\u2019d prefer to be on the M\u0101ori roll.\u201D What\u2019s the Government\u2019s answer to that? They can\u2019t, actually. The way the bill is drafted, you can only be on the M\u0101ori roll, and all those people who chose to be on the M\u0101ori roll after the last census are automatically placed on the M\u0101ori roll for those purposes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000753\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s also very interesting that the Government is going to shut down the select committee process when there are significant M\u0101ori who do not support this provision.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000754\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022566de65d03ab4072829c34457d597e5f\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: No, there isn\u2019t.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000755\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022454d649533b94999aadd44c897f24af0\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the member Willie Jackson says, \u201CNo, there isn\u2019t.\u201D Can I refer to the report in the Christchurch Press where Ng\u0101i Tahu\u2014quite a big iwi, actually; they are the biggest geographic area of New Zealand\u2014have said they do not support separate M\u0101ori seats on the Christchurch City Council because, actually, while the majority of M\u0101ori in Christchurch are not Ng\u0101i Tahu, the Treaty obligation is actually with the Treaty partner and Ng\u0101i Tahu in that particular area of our country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000756\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ESo I challenge members opposite as to why, with such a significant change that goes to the heart of how democracy functions, they are so keen to rush this through. The truth is that it\u2019s just plain, cynical politics. Labour thinks that by having separate M\u0101ori seats, just in the same ways that they\u2019ve been able in different periods to dominate the separate M\u0101ori seats in this Parliament, they will be able to get their foothold more strongly and control local government. It\u2019s about vested interest and control, not issues of principle.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000757\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI said at the beginning that it\u2019s bad law. It is. I\u2019ve said that it\u2019s bad process. It is. I\u2019ve said that it\u2019s based on bad principles. It is. This Parliament should not have part of the shenanigans that Labour is imposing on us with this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u00224d56a42933344d7eaf7d5b1104f30bae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000758\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224d56a42933344d7eaf7d5b1104f30bae\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I understand this is a split call. I call the Hon Willie Jackson\u2014five minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022 data-id=\u00222566329ad32f4996aa2741e7c24f348e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000759\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222566329ad32f4996aa2741e7c24f348e\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister for M\u0101ori Development):\u003C/span\u003E Now we can see why the member lost his seat. What a disgraceful performance from a member, along with Simon Bridges, who just last week told us they were going to stand in the M\u0101ori seats. Simon Bridges is an advocate for the M\u0101ori seats now, along with Nick Smith. Talk about hypocrisy. The National Party\u2014a shocking exhibition last week in terms of what\u2019s happening in terms of the M\u0101ori seats\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000760\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226fbf6055c6ed4419a16317ec920a9171\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker, point of order. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000761\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a67fc1df6e54f75b902ae44dcb63411\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Can I say, Mr Speaker, 20 years of\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000762\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e3e56fc733b4ecab9e9d1a7c6d402d1\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000763\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d8fd2485e8b643d190a01a6751b70e63\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, sit down, Seymour, you mug.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000764\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002287d40c53a56a481ea4ce2a0371a96f1b\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker, point of order please. I appreciate you being able to take a point of order. Look, earlier in the debates, Adrian Rurawhe was in the Chair and pulled up a member for accusing another member of hypocrisy. You appeared to be deep in contemplation or conversation and missed Willie Jackson saying exactly the same thing, and I wonder if you could uphold the same standards as the previous presiding officer?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000765\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e82d5dc7771f4131a6976de67998a514\u0022\u003EHon Damien O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Madam Speaker. Speaking to the point of order, it is not inappropriate to speak of hypocrisy; it is inappropriate to accuse anyone of it, and this member did not accuse anyone of that\u2014using the \u201Ch\u201D word\u2014but he did speak of hypocrisy, which, in my view, is in keeping with the Standing Orders of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000766\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002267e5391dec99459f85156a128b2b9e1f\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I clearly heard the Minister say the Hon Dr Nick Smith and I were hypocrites. I can\u2019t speak for Dr Nick Smith, but I\u2019m no hypocrite. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000767\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226d8840a055f43b2a3f99f1a78171c47\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, Madam Speaker, I did say they were hypocrites, so I apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000768\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8e974f7e154468ab00aad8ac20dfc69\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: The Hon Willie Jackson, would you please withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000769\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac8205d651454effb6735e9094c85238\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw and apologise for calling them hypocrites. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000770\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230e1239d797148128cd6332cbc061320\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. You may continue. Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000771\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228fcacb137a204f74b5c8a0b29502cbf1\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Kia ora. Can I say that we have a National Party committed to the M\u0101ori seats now, but hello, one week later, they\u2019ve forgotten all about it and it\u2019s back to where they were in 2001. What a disgrace Simon Bridges and Nick Smith are. Simon Bridges, who tries to advocate a M\u0101ori position, who should not be the MP for Tauranga; Jan Tinetti should be. He only squeezed home because he forgot about his M\u0101ori side yet again during the Tauranga campaign\u2014a shocking performance from Simon Bridges.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EI want to say, I stood and spoke on this bill 20 years ago, and nothing has changed from the National Party\u2014nothing has changed. It\u2019s still the same right-wing rhetoric that we get from Nick Smith\u2014shocking really. I want to mihi to my tu\u0101hine Nanaia Mahuta who, 20 years ago, was supporting the kaupapa\u2014supporting the kaupapa\u2014but it was a tough time, and she\u2019s been misrepresented today yet again by the National Party, but she has been a champion in terms of this kaupapa, and I want to mihi to her.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000773\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EWe are on the way to justice for our people\u2014justice for our people. I want to ask the National Party, who last week supported M\u0101ori seats, because Judith said, and this week have forgotten about the M\u0101ori seats, and have gone back to their old rhetoric: who was the last mayor of Auckland who was M\u0101ori? Anyone know? Who was the last mayor of Wellington who was M\u0101ori? Anyone know? Who was the last mayor of Christchurch who was M\u0101ori? Anybody know? Dunedin, Tauranga, you can go everywhere. Guess what? We\u2019ve never had one\u2014we\u2019ve never had one, and that\u2019s the essence of this claim. We know this. You can\u2019t get through if you take a pro-M\u0101ori view. You have to take a P\u0101keh\u0101 perspective, like Simon Bridges, who\u2019s embarrassed Ng\u0101ti Maniapoto and disgraced the M\u0101ori nation over the last\u2014[Interruption]\u2014no, it\u2019s a fact. Simon knows this\u2014I\u2019ve told him this many times. The reality is he advocates a P\u0101keh\u0101 perspective to get his P\u0101keh\u0101 votes, because he knows that if he puts a M\u0101ori view up, he will lose his position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000774\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EI\u2019m so proud of this bill. We\u2019re on track now for justice. We are hoping for M\u0101ori mayors and M\u0101ori councillors one day, and we are hoping that Tauranga and Jan Tinetti can bring it home for us down there, that we can change the political situation, and National will be dead in the water yet again come the next election. They were down to 25 percent, so that\u2019s why they decided to stand in the M\u0101ori seats, but this is something that our M\u0101ori k\u0101hui is very proud of\u2014our M\u0101ori caucus, our Minister\u2014we\u2019re on the way to justice. Kia ora an\u014D t\u0101tou katoa. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022 data-id=\u00226da04de6c80f4d3cb7cf3a8fe239c066\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000775\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226da04de6c80f4d3cb7cf3a8fe239c066\u0022\u003EWILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour\u2014Northland):\u003C/span\u003E E te M\u0101ngai o te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koe, otir\u0101 t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. E te Minita, te m\u0101reikura, t\u0113n\u0101 koe Nanaia, n\u0101u i \u0101rahi t\u0113nei ture ki roto, t\u0113nei pire ki roto i t\u0113nei whare i t\u0113nei p\u014D, t\u0113nei te mihi atu ki a koe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000776\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E[Greetings to the Speaker, and to everyone here. To the distinguished Minister, Nanaia, who introduced this law, this bill into this House this evening, I salute you.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000777\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge the three councils in my electorate who have recently passed a resolution to establish M\u0101ori wards and constituencies: that\u2019s the Kaipara District Council, Wh\u0101ngarei District Council, and the Northland Regional Council. The Far North District Council vote was tied and therefore lost. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000778\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EI am really pleased that we are introducing this bill, which will remove the provision which only applies to the establishment of M\u0101ori wards, therefore levelling the playing field. I want to quote Pita T\u012Bpene of Te R\u016Bnanga o Ng\u0101ti Hine where he said, many, many years ago, the status quo is unacceptable. I have been studying this topic of local government and M\u0101ori for the last seven years. For 20 years, it has been almost impossible to establish M\u0101ori wards and constituencies throughout the 78 councils around the country. Why is that? The tyranny of the majority. We have Local Government New Zealand calling for this. We have the Human Rights Commission pointing to the fact that M\u0101ori are severely under-represented and this is one of the mechanisms in which we could achieve fairer participation and achievement of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We have the United Nations special rapporteur and two reports also pointing to it, the Waitangi Tribunal, petitions to Parliament, numerous evidence. I want to congratulate the Minister of Local Government for having the courage to bring this legislation 20 years after we have tried and tested this in our communities where councils for the first several years were too afraid to make the decision. But\u2014bold leadership\u2014now those decisions are being made and, as has been said here tonight, if the voters are unhappy with that, the chance to make it right is in three years, is at the election. So I commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u00228f04b391016a41569ad52a00fd712466\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 77\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10;Te Paati M\u0101ori 2.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 41\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000779\u0022\u003EBill read a first time.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002236f7f15e376b47dcaaa3e56d4756308b\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill be considered by the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 77\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10;Te Paati M\u0101ori 2.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 41\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000780\u0022\u003EBill referred to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000781\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00226bbd8fe80bfa4594a1b82265d3f7f93c\u0022\u003EInstruction to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022 data-id=\u00224a785a025721416a952e3549530884a0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000782\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224a785a025721416a952e3549530884a0\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 15 February 2021 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during an evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders 193 and 196(1)(b) and (c). \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000783\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EI acknowledge that it is unusual to make a change of this nature in such haste. However, the bill must proceed quickly so that the changes affecting councils can apply for the 2022 local body elections. Councils and communities with M\u0101ori ward processes already under way will have certainty about what will happen, expensive poll processes will soon become redundant and they do not need to be started, and\u2014to be clear\u2014for those councils who want to reconsider whether they have M\u0101ori wards at the 2022 local elections, if they decide to, every council has until 21 May 2021 to create M\u0101ori wards for their communities. After that, councils that have resolved to establish M\u0101ori wards will need to undertake the representation review process to make sure that their overall representation arrangements are fair and effective. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000784\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EThe bill will address a discriminatory provision where a poll of 5 percent of electors can overturn a resolution to create M\u0101ori wards and constituencies. This provision does not apply to general wards and constituencies. That\u2019s why we are making the changes contained in the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000785\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003EDespite the urgency of the bill, the Government values hearing from all New Zealanders about law reform and we encourage people to make submissions. This is why we are proposing that the select committee process does take place and in haste, and I respectfully ask the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee to consider the bill thoroughly and report back to the House by 15 February. Giving the committee additional authority to meet outside the usual hours will support it to meet the time frames that I invite the House to support in this motion. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022 data-id=\u00224b0aa79e023049adaaf7d3b07c09b998\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000786\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224b0aa79e023049adaaf7d3b07c09b998\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u00221e70905e60664db5b83f2931ab09395b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000787\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221e70905e60664db5b83f2931ab09395b\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National):\u003C/span\u003E It is an absolute farce that the Minister is giving five days for the select committee to call for public submissions, for those public submissions to be heard\u2014remember\u2014from councils, and for it to receive advice from officials, hear those submissions, and report the bill back to the House. I cannot believe that the Minister was able to say with a straight face that this would result in a thorough process. Every other member of the House could see it for the cynicism. I\u2019ve heard that member give speeches in this House saying that when you\u2019re dealing with local government matters, you need to make sure there\u2019s time for a council meeting so that the council can discuss its submission. How many councils are going to be able to have a meeting in the next five days to consider this significant change in their electoral law? It is indeed a complete joke. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000788\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s just test the reasons that the Minister of Local Government has given for this five-day select committee process. The first is that because the provisions would result in a poll of 5 percent of people, it would take up that democratic provision, but that Minister was involved in putting in the law. Remember the law that she is wanting to repeal\u2014that she today called racist\u2014is a law that she, in the Helen Clark Government, put on our law books, and she even spoke at its third reading with high praise. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000789\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ENow, the member now says that we need to do this in a rush because it\u2019s retrospective. Here\u2019s my point for the Minister: councils that have begun the process under the existing law have voted for it on the basis that there was the check of a referendum. I\u2019ve heard from councillors who said, \u201CI voted for M\u0101ori seats in my area on the basis that there was a protection in the law and a referendum for the citizens of my community to have a say.\u201D, and now that is being taken out of the process. What\u2019s the Minister\u2019s answer for that councillor and those councils\u2014[Interruption] Well, no, let\u2019s be frank: councils that have made the decision that they would like a M\u0101ori ward did so in the knowledge that there was a referendum provision put in place by the Labour Government in 2002. Yes, they did\u2014that\u2019s exactly what they did\u2014and that is being taken away. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000790\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EHow many members of this House believe that the reason the Minister of Local Government is doing this is to save money for the ratepayers? Oh, come on\u2014pull the other one. This is a Government that has spent tens of millions, hundreds of millions, billions, and the amount that\u2019s involved in the expenditure on a few referenda to give the public a say is diddly-squat in the big picture. There is not a member of this House, Minister, who believes you\u2019re taking away this referendum procedure because of the cost. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000791\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ENow, I want to commend my colleague Chris Luxon on the amendment that he has moved that says a date of 15 May. That would at least give New Zealanders some opportunity to have a say. Why is it that members opposite will not give New Zealanders the opportunity to have a say on this bill? This is a bill in which they are taking away New Zealanders\u2019 right to have a say and to have it resolved in a referendum. This is not a provision that they can justify. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000792\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI heard Willie Jackson give a speech, and he said, \u201CWell, this is what we\u2019ve got a mandate to do.\u201D Well, the problem is that your mandate from your local government policy was to \u201Cuphold local decision making\u201D in democratic institutions of local government. Your policy was to \u201Censure that major decisions about local democracy involve the full participation of the local population\u201D. Can a member opposite\u2014one of those Labour new members\u2014explain to me how giving five days for a select committee process\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000793\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293e14f5a3e8c480e993ac359c03a2e41\u0022\u003EHon Michael Wood\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Madam Speaker. The referral today is supposed to refer to matters relating to the referral to select committee, not the substance of the debate and the Labour Party policy on this issue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000794\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222bd73a4672a4487b855e3703bca69a93\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: That is correct. Thank you, the Hon Michael Wood. Continue, the Hon Nick Smith. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000795\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f57a3e967ac49faa0909b9530e59fc7\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I say to the Chair and to the member that when Labour says in its manifesto that it\u2019s going to \u201Censure \u2026 major decisions about local democracy will involve full participation of the local population\u201D, can a member please explain about having a five-day select committee process\u2014Mr Michael Wood, how does a five-day select committee process live up to the promise you gave to the electorate of major decisions about local democracy involving full participation? Would Mr Wood please answer me: how many days will submitters have? How many days will there be? We know the select committee\u2019s got five days. How many days will there be for any council in New Zealand or any ratepayer or voter that wants to have a say? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000796\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EWould any member opposite please tell me? Five days for the select committee\u2014how many days will New Zealanders, councils, iwi, members of the public have to make a submission on this bill? The silence is deafening. Not a member of the Government who campaigned on a policy of ensuring full public participation in decisions on local government will answer a very basic question: how many days are they going to give the New Zealand public to have a say on this bill? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000797\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EWe know they\u2019re giving the committee five days, so it\u2019ll have to be less than that. Actually, I don\u2019t think anybody will be making a submission between now and midnight, so by the time you take the remaining days of this week, we\u2019re really talking about\u2014if they\u2019re lucky, they might get a day and a half. Is there any member of this House who would put hand on heart and say that full public participation is met by giving electors less than a couple of days? [Hon Willie Jackson holds up two fingers] Well, at least I have an answer\u2014I give Willie a credit. He\u2019s going to give two days. Two days, Willie, is the amount of time that New Zealanders will have to make submissions on this bill. Could one of those Labour members opposite tell me whether they think that giving two days for submissions meets your manifesto commitment of enabling full public participation in the decision making on the very core of our democracy and how their local council is elected? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000798\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s a joke. It is farcical. It is cynical. I don\u2019t think there is a single member of this House that believes the Minister\u2019s motion matches up to the very policy that she campaigned on at the 2020 election. I fear for our democracy when the Minister of Local Government says that two days for making a submission lives up to the Government\u2019s policy of ensuring basic and important decisions about local democracy involve a full participation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000799\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI have a simple challenge for the House: let\u2019s vote for Labour\u2019s manifesto, because Labour\u2019s manifesto, I\u2019m sorry, is best represented by the amendment moved by Chris Luxon. That would enable the select committee to have until 15 May. My challenge to members opposite is to have the courage of your convictions, vote for the manifesto commitment that you made\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000800\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3b620502366466cab9c8e09bacf1dc0\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The Hon Nick Smith, we\u2019re not voting on the manifesto. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000801\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d97f09f633434a739d4e0b0a7f86452d\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014show that you are true to your word, and support the amendment that there be a reasonable time for the select committee to consider this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u002243cd163d5e004e89a47f748abe2cf737\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000802\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002243cd163d5e004e89a47f748abe2cf737\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of ACT in opposition to this motion. The reason I oppose it, and the reason ACT opposes it, is because the benefits of this rushed select committee process do not outweigh the costs. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000803\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThe benefit, actually, it turns out, is not even a benefit. The result of bringing forward the select committee report-back time to a time only five days away, two working days away, for submitters\u2014the effect of it is just to make sure that this law is retrospective. So even the benefit of this motion is actually a cost. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000804\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EIf we\u2019re bringing forward this select committee report back and we\u2019re taking away the opportunity for people to submit in order that this law can apply to elections that people have already participated in or decisions people have already made, that is retrospectivity. We talk a lot about retrospectivity in this House and why it\u2019s wrong for us to make laws that affect things that people did in the past, and I think it\u2019s a very important principle that is actually worth dwelling on and keeping alive in our community. It is absolutely critical in a free society that people are able to understand what the laws are and how they can follow them and, if they choose to break the laws, what the consequences might be. It allows people to plan their futures without concern for arbitrary coercion by another or others. That\u2019s a really important value. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000805\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EWhen this House makes retrospective law, what we\u2019re saying is \u201CYou can make a decision today to behave or act in a certain way, but the rules can change on you tomorrow.\u201D When we say that to the New Zealand public, we\u2019re saying, \u201CYou can\u2019t freely plan your future.\u201D, and we\u2019re actually, in a very real way, taking away people\u2019s freedom. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000806\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThat is something that I think a lot of people on the other side of the House\u2014because I come to the maiden statements of as many members as I can to hear what really is on people\u2019s minds and how they really think. I know that people like Shanan Halbert and Michael Wood, and I would say Willie Jackson, but I\u2019m not so sure. But, you know, let\u2019s go to the guy from Christchurch Central, Duncan Webb. I know they didn\u2019t come to this House to make retrospective laws. I know that they\u2019re fundamentally good people who came along to this House to try and uphold good principles and make New Zealand a better and freer place to live\u2014possibly even Willie Jackson, deep, deep, deep down\u2014and I think they should be asking themselves, \u201CAm I supporting this motion to make retrospective law? Why? Did I raise it in caucus? Was I heard? And if I didn\u2019t feel I could raise it, what am I here for?\u201D That\u2019s the question I think people actually should ask themselves. Really, it\u2019s a very important question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000807\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThat is the retrospectivity element. The effect of this rushed process is actually just to make this law retrospective\u2014that\u2019s why we\u2019re rushing it\u2014and if that\u2019s the benefit, then, actually, it\u2019s a cost. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000808\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EBut the real problem here is what we lose. We lose the opportunity for any kind of sincere consultation of the New Zealand people to make a law. If you want a working example of how this happens, I go back to the arms amendment Act in April 2019. That legislation was passed with a nine-day select committee\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000809\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226bca9e326d0a486d9edf6c837a80d5c3\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: Relevance, David Seymour\u2014come back to the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000810\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288a7db25224646fea8a7ff6be816df34\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker, this is actually not about the bill. It\u2019s about the motion to refer, or for the select committee to come back more quickly. I\u2019m addressing that, and I\u2019m addressing what happens when we rush select committee processes, and if you\u2019re telling me\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000811\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221988ca21a52e42f9864eab1e24b8091f\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Mr Seymour, it is relevance, though, but can you please refer it to the motion of this bill. It\u2019s not about the arms legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000812\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022469a205443df4183af36e3a87ff8ba0d\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker, I\u2019m very much referring to the motion about when we report back from select committee on this bill, and if you\u2019re telling me that we\u2019re not allowed to use examples from this House\u2014from the real world\u2014to make our points, then I don\u2019t know how people are supposed to debate. I mean, I think using examples is a reasonable way for people to debate. Wouldn\u2019t you agree, Madam Speaker? OK, thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000813\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003ESo the example I\u2019d like to use is that this House has actually had recent experience of rushing a select committee process. It was the arms amendment legislation back in 2019. The outcomes are outcomes that I predict will come true for this legislation as well, and there are really three. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000814\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EIf we don\u2019t give people the opportunity to properly be heard, then what happens is, number one, we actually miss out on the wisdom of those submitters, because I know it\u2019s probably difficult for some people to believe, but every now and then, not all the wisdom in New Zealand is contained within 120 parliamentarians. Sometimes there are people out there in the public who actually know things that we don\u2019t, and that\u2019s why a lot of politics in representative democracy is about listening. We\u2019re not going to have the opportunity to listen with this motion because, if we\u2019re supposed to report back by 15\u00A0February\u2014well, let\u2019s think about it. Today\u2019s 9 February, you\u2019ve got 10, 11, 12, which is Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and then you\u2019ve got a weekend on 13 to 14\u2014you know, some of us hope to be busy on 14 February. Who knows? Then, on 15 February, the select committee has to report back. So, in practice, there are going to be two days that the select committee can actually hear submissions from the public. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000815\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003ESo the select committee is not going to get to listen to the public in any practical sense. That they\u2019re going to call for submissions, receive them, read them, and hear people\u2019s views in two days\u2014it\u2019s not going to happen. The people are not going to be heard, and no new information is going to be brought along. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000816\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EBut the second thing that we can learn from the arms amendment bill back in 2019 that\u2019s important is that, actually, when people are heard, they have more respect for the law. There are a lot of laws that I don\u2019t particularly agree with in this Parliament\u2019s past. One of the reasons I stood for Parliament and got elected was to try and change some of them, funnily enough. But I respect them, and I follow the laws of New Zealand because at least I believe that they\u2019ve been well made in a process that treats people with dignity, hears people\u2019s views, and is inclusive. The problem with making laws that don\u2019t do that\u2014that don\u2019t hear people\u2014is that people are less likely to follow them, and that may be why the Government banned 300,000 centrefire semi-automatic rifles and somehow only collected 60,000 in. That\u2019s a classic example of what happens if a law is not made well\u2014people don\u2019t seem to respect it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000817\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThe final thing that proper lawmaking does is it actually builds cohesion and inclusiveness and unity in a community, because people feel that, actually, the law is being made in a community that includes them. Now, we heard\u2014and I think, potentially, it should have been pulled up for bringing the House into disrepute\u2014a member here saying that the people who submit will be racist. I don\u2019t think it helps for us, as members of Parliament, to actually attack people who want to come and submit and share their views with us. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to help race relations in New Zealand for anybody. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000818\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EBut even putting aside those very regrettable comments from the M\u0101ori Party, I think that it is unhelpful to, effectively, say to New Zealanders, \u201CWe are not interested in hearing your views.\u201D I think that is a terrible thing to say to New Zealanders. It reduces the inclusivity of this community. We saw it with the arms amendment Act in 2019. We had person after person who came to a subsequent select committee, when there was another bill that did have a full submission process, who said they felt they had been marginalised and excluded from our society by the way that they were treated. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000819\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019d put it to the members opposite, some of those that are sitting here thinking, \u201CIs it really worth it to rush a law through, to say to the community that \u2018We don\u2019t want to hear from you.\u2019, to miss out on the wisdom of people out there who might have helpful suggestions, and to make our society just that little bit more divisive, just a little bit more exclusive?\u201D\u2014is it really worth it in order to make a retrospective law, because that is what\u2019s on the table? The costs and the benefits\u2014in this case, even the benefits are actually a cost. For that reason, thoughtful members on the other side, I know, are thinking this is the wrong thing to do. To bring something forward by three years\u2014one electoral cycle\u2014when we\u2019ve had 20 years to do it, and to erode New Zealand\u2019s democratic traditions like that is absolutely not worth it and is something that, frankly, I think they\u2019ll be a little embarrassed about when they look back on their careers in years to come. Thank you, Madam Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022 data-id=\u0022ea6c97325ba84da6bb4ed02f54b39926\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000820\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ea6c97325ba84da6bb4ed02f54b39926\u0022\u003ECHRISTOPHER LUXON (National\u2014Botany):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the motion be amended by replacing \u201C15 February 2021\u201D with \u201C15 May 2021\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000821\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003EThe reason, as you\u2019ve heard this evening, is very obvious, and you\u2019ve heard it from the previous speakers. We oppose this legislation because, frankly, it\u2019s undermining local democracy and direct democracy. Let\u2019s be clear: it is a shameful process with no consultation. It is being jammed and it\u2019s being rammed through with a truncated select committee process. It\u2019s not going to see any meaningful process. We can debate five days or two days, but it\u2019s just not going to happen that we\u2019re going to have proper engagement with local government stakeholders or with the public. Frankly, it\u2019s an arrogant decision by a Government with a majority. It\u2019s not democratic, and I think a lot of members shouldn\u2019t be proud about the way we\u2019re going about it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000822\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s not just us that\u2019s opposing it; it\u2019s experts advising the Government. The regulatory impact statement, I remind you, says, \u201CThe short timeframe for developing the policy options and undertaking the impact analysis means there has been minimal consultation on the specific Stage 1 proposals.\u201D, and that \u201Cmeant that consultation on the proposed Stage 1 legislative changes with the general public, local authorities, and iwi/hap\u016B, was not possible.\u201D The departmental disclosure statement also brings that same issue. It says that it hasn\u2019t been tested or assessed in any way to ensure the bill\u2019s provisions are workable and complete. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000823\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003ESo that\u2019s the reason for why we should take the time to care about our democracy and to expand it from five days to maybe 90 days\u2014through to 15 May\u2014and to take the time to hear from our people who want to commit and talk about this subject with us, to tap into their expertise and their perspectives, and to actually make a decision that\u2019s a good one for all of us. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000824\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003EOur democracy is precious, and we\u2019ve seen that in liberal democracies all around the world. We shouldn\u2019t take our institutions for granted. We\u2019re doing that here with this rapid passing of the bill. I really ask that we take a lot more time to give it due consideration. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022 data-id=\u00223ccf41854ae64de091800b714b189d3b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000825\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223ccf41854ae64de091800b714b189d3b\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022 data-id=\u00220105edacd61e45cb8a23e3032451607e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000826\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220105edacd61e45cb8a23e3032451607e\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES (National\u2014Tauranga):\u003C/span\u003E I want to speak against the substantive motion and for the amendment that Christopher Luxon has put up, changing the dates from 15 February to 15 May\u2014from some five days to 90 days. Really, the issue here is time, and five days\u2014as we\u2019ve made clear, I think, on this side of the House\u2014just isn\u2019t good enough. I like what David Seymour was saying, which was that it\u2019s actually a disbenefit in many ways, and I\u2019ll come back to that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000827\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EBut, you know, we know you can\u2019t achieve anything in five days. Michael Wood, like myself, is a churchgoer and he knows that the Good Lord, on the first day, created dark and light. On the second day, there was water and fish. On the third day\u2014help me out, Michael\u2014there were animals and various other things, and on the seventh day, he rested. Even he needed more than five days to create the earth, and here we are\u2014we are rushing this through in just five days.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000828\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EThe point\u2019s been made, I think, very well that, actually, it\u2019s not even five days when you\u2019re talking about the actual time for submissions, for people to come along who may just have wisdom and experience and knowledge, and, actually, for expertise from local government that we do not have in this House of Representatives. They are actually getting under two days to make those submissions, and I said at the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000829\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ceb76d6dec24aaf8c78a9cf21c8b3a7\u0022\u003EDr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Madam Speaker. I\u2019m loath to draw too much attention to Mr Bridges, but we\u2019ve heard this three or four times now and we don\u2019t need to be told how many days there are for submissions yet again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000830\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226ab3c24b93a84e6dbb4449b945e5a888\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: I call the Hon Simon Bridges.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000831\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259ac5ff2c5ab4433a90c53dcce4a2c30\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, that\u2019s good. Thank you for that, Madam Speaker. I disagree with what David Bennett said about your speakership. I think you\u2019re doing a great job, and I just want to put that on record. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000832\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EFive days, two days, or under two days, for actual submissions, and the wisdom, the experience that people will bring to those submissions, even where there is actually a sense that, because we know\u2014and I agree with David Seymour that it\u2019s regrettable when people in this House attribute bad faith to others when they haven\u2019t even made a submission\u2014we might just hear from a bunch of racists. Well, actually, there will be people\u2014possibly thousands, actually\u2014that would like to come along and make their submission against this bill for what some on the other side of the House might say are racist reasons. But we know from long experience in this House that by being given that opportunity\u2014I was going to say \u201Cprivilege\u201D, but it\u2019s not a privilege, actually. It should really be their right to come along on a fundamental bill like this about local democracy, given that even if the outcome\u2014because, let\u2019s be honest, we know that the outcome is going to go against them. We know there\u2019s a preconceived view on the other side of the House, even though they didn\u2019t put it in the manifesto\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000833\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e26f72f01eb34c879159d7fe0e6e9a3d\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: How do you know? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000834\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fcaee0b507e6471ab0a1dab2083c60eb\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014to deal with this. Well, you said so, Willie Jackson. You told us so. Even though that\u2019s so, we know that if they\u2019ve come along, they\u2019ve been heard, and they\u2019ve received some degree of decorum and politeness from the select committee, they will be more willing to see it as a bona fide, good-faith, decent law that they have before them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000835\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour talked about\u2014well, he didn\u2019t actually say \u201Cdisbenefit\u201D, but he said, effectively, that in a cost-benefit analysis, the costs of this outweigh the benefits\u2014the five days. I would say, frankly, that there is a\u2014if you want to keep with the economic language\u2014disbenefit from doing it in five days. And I don\u2019t want this, by the way, but you\u2019d almost be better to have the\u2014dare I say it\u2014integrity to just not have a select committee process. If you\u2019ve determined what you\u2019re going to do and you know you\u2019re going to do it, you should have done it tonight\u2014make the whole thing\u2014because we know that that\u2019s the charade that\u2019s going on here. You\u2019re doing it in urgency, you\u2019re doing it retrospectively, you didn\u2019t put it in the campaign manifesto\u2014well, as I said, just do it. I don\u2019t want that, but, in a sense, that\u2019s better. It has more integrity than a five-day charade that, dare I say it, is barely in good faith. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000836\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EBut there\u2019s something even better than that, and that is because I know that as a senior Minister, as Minister of Foreign Affairs now and as Minister of Local Government, it is in the power and the ability of Nanaia Mahuta. She\u2019ll remember the tweet I did when she first became Minister of Foreign Affairs\u2014see, she smiled\u2014when I said how good she would be and how fantastic we would be, and when she leads international delegations when they finally open up, I\u2019m ready and willing to come\u2014[Interruption] No, no, no. She has it\u2014[Interruption]\u2014I\u2019ve got a serious point\u2014within her ability today to change from 15 February to 15 May. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000837\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EThe reality of that is that it won\u2019t change anything much. We still know that the Government will, in the end, pass this law, but it would have been an infinitely better process\u2014still shorter than the six months that\u2019s usually there, but an infinitely better process\u2014where for not five days but for much longer, people would have been heard. People from all around New Zealand, with their experiences, wisdom, and expertise, will have had that ability. They will have washed away, dare I say it, the tarnish that those members put on this bill right now with the urgency. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000838\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EThat would go some way to dealing with the fact that they are wanting to do this bill and make this law retrospective, and it\u2019s particularly important in this case for the sole fact that I talked about and other members talked about in our speeches in the first reading, which is that this process is happening when it wasn\u2019t campaigned upon. It wasn\u2019t in any manifesto document. In fact, I hadn\u2019t realised when I had spoken that\u2014worse than that\u2014in the local government manifesto, the Labour Party had said the opposite. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000839\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003ESo for all those reasons, you\u2019ll be clear that I oppose the motion and I support the amendment, and I say to Nanaia Mahuta that she\u2019s a good person. She\u2019s a senior person. She got it wrong in Tauranga\u2014no, we won\u2019t go there. She got it wrong, but she can do the right thing here. I hope there will be support across this House to increase the period of time during which this is at select committee so that people have that right that they have to be heard on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022 data-id=\u00221de17477883f487e81f1d62fdfd06b7f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000840\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221de17477883f487e81f1d62fdfd06b7f\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: I call Duncan Garner\u2014Duncan Webb. Dr Duncan Webb\u2014my apologies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u00229cd71b58e93d4b8e902addb582548940\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000841\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229cd71b58e93d4b8e902addb582548940\u0022\u003EDr DUNCAN WEBB (Junior Whip\u2014Labour):\u003C/span\u003E That\u2019s fine, Jenny. I move, That the question be now put.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u0022e00d15af360545b5b41f5b2a6dcffa77\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000842\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e00d15af360545b5b41f5b2a6dcffa77\u0022\u003EBARBARA KURIGER (National\u2014Taranaki - King Country):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I stand in support of Christopher Luxon\u2019s amendment. The reason I do so is because when we talked about the timing of this bill and we talked about stage two, which is supposedly going to establish a new process for decisions on whether to establish M\u0101ori wards that\u2019s better aligned with the current process for establishing general wards and constituencies, this current process is putting the horse before the cart. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000843\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003EI would ask any member of the Government who\u2019s over the other side to tell us tonight whether they can come back here in five days\u2014and we\u2019ve got members that are over there clearly getting a bit testy and nervous about the whole five days and objecting to it. But I would challenge any of those members over there to stand up and tell us that in five days they will have tested or assessed in any way to ensure the bill\u2019s provisions are workable and complete, because at this stage the departmental disclosure statement says that they haven\u2019t. So I\u2019m challenging any member over there to stand up and tell us that they can have that completed within five days\u2014that would be wonderful. Thank you, Madam Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022 data-id=\u00223db0a0c2488c41c0bd17c7c8811e820a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000844\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223db0a0c2488c41c0bd17c7c8811e820a\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister for M\u0101ori Development):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Madam Speaker. I move, That the question be now put. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022 data-id=\u0022bdbe6f14f34b46c6b031243e76cbea55\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000845\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bdbe6f14f34b46c6b031243e76cbea55\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. The ACT Party supports good lawmaking and following the democratic process, because that process is important. That\u2019s how we find the flaws and kinks in proposed laws, and that process takes time. I know it takes time, because I spent three years working at Auckland Council and I\u2019m proud of many of the projects that were delivered while I was there. But it does take time to engage with the communities who are affected by major changes in the democratic process, and five days is not enough, because communities need to have confidence that the laws that are made in this Parliament will have a wide as possible level of support and will endure. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000846\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003ELocal government has a complex and challenging role to deliver services, to manage assets, and to create coherent and connected communities. Their job is already extremely difficult, and around New Zealand they are failing in a number of ways that are of great concern. We\u2019ve seen falling participation in local government elections and a loss of trust and confidence in local government from this Minister of Local Government and from their communities. I\u2019ve seen reports that trust in local government is as low as 60 percent in some communities, or as high as 60 percent in Auckland. Turnouts of 30-odd percent at local government elections would give people little confidence that a proposal like this, given five days\u2019 consultation, will increase confidence in local government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000847\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EWhat Parliament should do, and what this Government should do, is set out the case for change and let local government and their communities bring their views to select committee. They need time to engage as communities and to come back to this House. This Government might find there are better ways to achieve their goals and get more paddlers in the waka. That is what the select committee process is for. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000848\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EACT asks this Government to listen to our communities, because you might be surprised. Thank you, Madam Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022 data-id=\u0022eec85b97b23f450a9af165e0a6c37a6f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eec85b97b23f450a9af165e0a6c37a6f\u0022\u003EGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour\u2014Hutt South):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the question be now put.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022ba28d189647d44f393cdf93b2a7abac0\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the question be now put.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 75\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 41\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000850\u0022\u003EThe result corrected after originally being announced as Ayes 75, Noes 43.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u00228e522d6eb042477d97d5754892be58e8\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the motion be amended by replacing \u201C15 February 2021\u201D with \u201C15 May 2021\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 41\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 75\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAmendment not agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022d2f9a4ee29e7474895c23493711dac8c\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 15 February 2021 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during an evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders 193 and 196(1)(b) and (c).\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 75\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 65; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 41\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000851\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f5cd572c0cc744c682382a1787bfc217\u0022\u003EClimate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000852\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00229425573e6a944e7182538466771f925f\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u00224ec4025ad2134916ad7d507f9fa485d3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000853\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224ec4025ad2134916ad7d507f9fa485d3\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Minister of Climate Change):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I present a legislative statement on the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000854\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226e26d98c86a84f7a8f8712f9192e5006\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000855\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a395a125e1a24cee930f7568421050d9\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Environment Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 4 March 2021 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during an evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, and outside the Wellington area, despite Standing Orders 193, 195, and 196(1)(b) and (c).\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EE te M\u0101ngai t\u0113n\u0101 koe. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e te Whare. This bill amends the Climate Change Response Act 2002 and the Climate Change (Auctions, Limits, and Price Controls for Units) Regulations 2020. Its purpose is to ensure that when the emissions trading scheme (ETS) units are auctioned for the first time next month, that they are sold at a price that reflects activity in the secondary market. It is a technical but necessary amendment that will help to create a more reliable carbon price signal and help ETS participants to make long-term investment decisions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000857\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003ETo reduce greenhouse gases in the most cost-effective way, there needs to be a sufficient and a predictable price on emissions. To that end, you will recall that legislation to reform the New Zealand emissions trading scheme passed through this House last year. Of the changes made, one of the most important was the introduction of a cap on the total emissions allowed within the scheme. Prior to this, Aotearoa New Zealand, somewhat absurdly, had a cap-and-trade scheme without a cap, meaning that the emissions permitted under the scheme were, effectively, unlimited. Because of this anomaly coupled with open access to a glut of cheap international units, many of which had little or no environmental integrity, the New Zealand ETS had failed to deliver on its primary purpose, namely to bring down emissions. By putting in place an emissions cap and amending the principal Act to align with New Zealand\u2019s contribution to meeting the goal of limiting average global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we have now changed that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000858\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve also changed the way that some ETS units will be allocated, by introducing a set of rules for auctioning, which is what brings me to the purpose of the bill that we\u2019re here to debate today. Over the course of 2021, we expect that a total of 19 million New Zealand units (NZUs) will be auctioned through the emissions trading scheme. The availability of these units will be spread evenly across four scheduled auctions, the first of which will take place next month on 17 March. If these auctions are to create a long-term, well-defined, and transparent framework for the efficient allocation of units, which is what we intend, especially as the pre-allocations of units is phased out, and if auctions are to encourage investment in low-emissions technologies, which the Climate Change Commission made clear last week are urgently needed, then these auctions will need to operate within certain parameters. That is why the $25 fixed-price auction, which was always meant to be temporary but has ended up as an artificially low ceiling on the cost of emissions, has been replaced with both a price floor and a cost containment reserve. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000859\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EWorking in tandem, these mechanisms will help to stop the price of emissions getting either too low or too high. They\u2019ll work like this: if, when an auction takes place, the clearing price for units is higher than $50, the cost containment reserve will be triggered. At this point, an additional number of NZUs will be made available to help moderate the price. The price floor complements this by ensuring that unit prices at auction do not drop below $20 in 2021. This will help to manage the risk of emissions prices falling for the wrong reasons, thereby undermining investment. It is between the price floor and the cost containment reserve, between the lowest price an emissions unit can drop to and the highest it can reach before it triggers the cost containment reserve, where the ETS auctions will now operate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000860\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EOf course, the mechanisms that we legislated for last year support price stability in the auction itself, which would be known as the primary market. But one of the features of the ETS is the creation of a secondary market where already issued units can be traded between various buyers and sellers. Put simply, the primary market is where a unit changes hands for the first time; whereas the secondary market comprises all subsequent transactions. These secondary markets are crucial to the functioning of the emissions trading scheme, not least because they provide a means for participants to sell surplus units, which creates a powerful incentive to reduce emissions. But for that incentive to exist over the long term, which is a prerequisite for any organisation looking to make low-carbon investments, the secondary market needs to remain stable. And that\u2019s what this bill is for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000861\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EIt introduces a mechanism for New Zealand units to be held back from sale if, at the end of the auction, the clearing price for a unit is lower than what is known as \u201Ca confidential reserve price\u201D. The principle is simple: ahead of each auction, a confidential reserve price would be set relative to the secondary market price of New Zealand units; if, once the auction has been completed, the clearing price has dropped below this reserve price, no units will be sold. This will help to maintain a minimum carbon price and strengthen the incentives for major long-term investments in low-emissions technologies, which, in turn, will stabilise the secondary market should prices collapse if an auction does not go to plan. A reserve price will also mitigate the risk of exposing the Crown to a fiscal cost if units are sold for less than the prevailing secondary market price.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000862\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EAs you know, Madam Speaker, the changes that we made to the emissions trading scheme last year were the result of five years\u2019 work that was carefully signposted and consulted upon every step of the way. Following the passage of the subsequent reform bill, there was agreement from both sides of the House that a confidential reserve price was necessary to the functioning of auctions under the ETS.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000863\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EThe orderly passage of this bill ahead of the first of those auctions, on 17 March, is crucial for building trust in the integrity of the process, as well as signalling to business that this House can provide the long-term policy certainty that they are calling for, particularly in the wake of the Climate Change Commission\u2019s draft advice. It is in no one\u2019s interest to undermine the auctioning process and to allow the secondary markets to be undercut, not least because the greater stability that this bill provides for will encourage investment which will lead to increased productivity and employment opportunities, as well as lower pollution levels. I therefore commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022 data-id=\u002218d16a84a4c643c385b1fe24211a9ada\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000864\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002218d16a84a4c643c385b1fe24211a9ada\u0022\u003ESTUART SMITH (National\u2014Kaik\u014Dura):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker and it\u2019s a pleasure to speak on the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill. I met James Shaw prior to Christmas where he asked me whether we would support this change in this bill because of the anomaly in the Act that we had passed last year. And I said, well, yes, but depending on what was in the bill and I\u2019d like to see that. Unfortunately, I didn\u2019t find out it was coming up until this morning, even though it was published late on Friday. I think that\u2019s quite poor and I thought James is better than that, actually. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000865\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EI also note that, James, during your time in Opposition, you railed against urgency unless there was almost a near-death emergency on our way. This is not the case with this bill. This could have been brought to the House before Christmas, giving us plenty of time for a select committee process and people to put in submissions. That would have been quite\u2014it\u2019s not as though the legislative calendar was that full last year, as it was they were scraping for legislation. So I think it\u2019s appalling. We\u2019ve gone through this whole debate about truncated processes in the previous bill, but I won\u2019t go across all of that country again. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000866\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EBut this is a highly technical bill and a highly technical\u2014or particularly the markets and how they operate are highly technical. We need expert advice on this as to whether it\u2019s the right thing to do in the way this bill was drafted. We support getting this right. We absolutely support that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000867\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EWe want this to work efficiently and effectively. But is this the right mechanism? We simply don\u2019t know, and I\u2019m sure that the Government doesn\u2019t know either. So to have what is a three week-and-a-bit select committee process, I don\u2019t think is long enough to get that expert advice. We know that the traders in the market, commodity markets are\u2014and this is effectively what this is, it\u2019s a commodity market\u2014massive and they\u2019re very complicated in the way that they work, and I\u2019ll talk about how the system might be gamed a little later. So it\u2019s important we get those people in, and to give their submissions. I\u2019d like to hear from Fonterra, actually, they run a very good auction system. I\u2019d like to know what their view is on this. But we want to ensure, of course, as the Minister said, that the secondary market remains intact and keeps its integrity, and I support that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000868\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EAnd I note, in the whole process\u2014and this is the rules for auctioning in the New Zealand emissions trading scheme (ETS)\u2014what the Minister didn\u2019t quite explain is that each bidder puts in a bid stating their price and the quantity of the New Zealand units that they want to acquire, they are then ranked from highest to lowest. Then, each successful bidder receives a quantity bid at prices at, or above, the clearing price. That uniform price means that all bidders pay the same clearing price and that price is the lowest successful bid. So effectively what the concern is here is that people in the market could get together, come to an agreement, a side agreement\u2014which would probably be illegal\u2014and then ensure that the low bid was very low, acquire those units at that very low price, then sell them on the secondary market later, or, in fact, wait for the price to go up. So I think we understand why you\u2019d want to do that, and we do need to get this to function properly, and we want confidence in the market, but the other\u2014in terms of fiscal risk, at $25, it\u2019s just over $2 billion, just over $2 billion, up to $20, $25. Actually, that\u2019s at $25, it\u2019s more likely to be $3 billion. So there is a significant fiscal risk for the Crown, and I think that\u2019s great that we get this sorted. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000869\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EI note, also, that the cost containment reserve, where the Government will put back into the market other units to ensure that the price stays within that containment reserve, I think that\u2019s also a very important point that we need to understand, and I want to hear a lot more about that through this process. Carbon budgets and the ETS, or the carbon budgets with the sinking lid that we will effectively have on our emissions through the ETS, is the best way for us to manage our emissions. It\u2019s far better than utilising a policy approach which is a top-down approach, which I note that the Government seems to be quite keen on. The Climate Change Commission talks at great length about policies. They also talk about us walking more and cycling more and put a number on that, so I\u2019m not quite sure how they think they\u2019re going to manage that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000870\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EBut we can see how that doesn\u2019t work when we look at the power market in Germany and the UK. In Germany, they utilised high subsidies to encourage wind and solar power production. They now have the highest power prices in Europe, and also a very small reduction in their emissions. In contrast, the UK, which utilises an ETS, had a very successful rate at lowering their emissions quite significantly, and that was when power producers who had coal power supply stations changed over to gas. Gas has half the emissions of coal, and they\u2019ve significantly reduced their emissions, and also have kept their power prices much lower than in Germany. So the ETS is the right mechanism for us to lower our emissions. So the National Party supports that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000871\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EWe also think the carbon budgets and the sinking lid, as I said before, are really important, and we can see that the ETS is working here in New Zealand. There\u2019s quite a debate about the number of farms or the hectares going into forestry, particularly on the East Coast of the North Island, and that is as a result of the high carbon price in New Zealand\u2014at $38 it\u2019s trading at at the moment. That is encouraging the market to plant more trees. We also see it working in the transport sector. The Climate Change Commission\u2014I\u2019m somewhat surprised\u2014don\u2019t believe that the ETS is working that well, but, actually, we can see that if you hop into a taxi at any time, more than likely it\u2019s a hybrid, and it\u2019s a hybrid because the taxi drivers are very sensitive to price of their operating expenditure, which is fuel, and hybrids are much cheaper. So they\u2019re making a rational market decision, and that\u2019s what the ETS does. We should have more trust in that. But, of course, it does depend on having a market that\u2019s going to be effective and efficient, and one that participants will have a lot of confidence in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000872\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EIs the Minister the right person to set up the mechanism and the reserve price? I\u2019m unsure whether that\u2019s the right way to go about it. As I said earlier, I\u2019d like to hear from Fonterra and other commodity traders. I\u2019d like to hear from the banks and so on. They have a very short period of time to put their submissions together. Like the rest of us, they\u2019ll have only found out that this has come out, probably, today. By the time they get their submissions together, the select committee gets its head around it, I think it\u2019s a fairly short process. I worry that the select committee won\u2019t get the best opportunity to go through those submissions to get our heads around it. I\u2019m very much looking forward to hearing from these people, because we need to know if this is the right way to go about it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000873\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003EIn fact, there\u2019s even a debate to say that if, indeed, people went about this\u2014certainly not illegally, but if the price fell lower than the secondary market, there would an argument to suggest that\u2019s not a bad thing. We\u2019d be finding the lowest cost option to lower emissions, and that would be a good thing from New Zealand\u2019s perspective. The ETS\u2014the way it works is it will not necessarily go up at the same rate all the time linearly, because it\u2019ll react as the economy slows down, the increasing price of New Zealand units will likely slow down along with that. As the economy becomes more successful, if you like, or as our economic activity goes up, the New Zealand units will probably go up along with that\u2014that\u2019ll follow that along. So I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a bad thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000874\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022094b0ff4-e404-451b-b4a9-ad12bd4dee56\u0022\u003ESo, in short, we support this through to the select committee. We think that this is a slow process, which we think is quite regretful\u2014sorry, should be a much slower process. We think it\u2019s regretful that the Government have put us in this position, and we would really like to hear from the Government side as to all the reasons why they didn\u2019t deal with this in a much more timely manner and ensure that we got a far better process and a better outcome as a result of that. So with that, I commend it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022 data-id=\u0022e2a0faa736ef44888efc7bc7298af62d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000875\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e2a0faa736ef44888efc7bc7298af62d\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to take a short call in favour of the Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill. As the statement that has been tabled by the Minister, James Shaw, has said, this is necessary to rectify a mistake in the regulatory underpinnings of the auction process. There was always intended to be the ability to set a reserve price. That did not make it into the drafting, and therefore there\u2019s a lacuna in the legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000876\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EFor member\u2019s benefit, I\u2019m sure other members will have been approached by some of the facilitators of carbon trading in New Zealand during the election period. They pointed out that there was a real danger that without a reserve price, given the relatively small number of large participants in the emissions trading scheme that there could be collusion amongst them and the price of carbon could be collapsed. That would be undesirable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000877\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EI think we do want to have a relative period of stability in the price of carbon, and it is appropriate that there be a reserve price. I think just about anyone who ever sells another valuable asset by way of a tender or auction reserves the right to reject unduly low offers that don\u2019t reflect the vendor\u2019s view as to what the minimum should be. When you auction a house you have a reserve, when you auction the house you don\u2019t tell the people that are coming up to the auction what the reserve is. They find that out by whether the auction is passed in or not, because the reserve is kept confidential to the vendor and the vendor\u2019s agent. So that\u2019s essentially what is being proposed here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000878\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2f640393fdb49f2ac08f45b3f71874b\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: If it was that obvious, why wasn\u2019t it done before?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000879\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ac7a4481afe45d79a59ac0530da2ece\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: It is obvious, as the member says, and it was meant to have been done before. That\u2019s clearly set out in the statement that\u2019s already been tabled by the Minister for Climate Change. The bill rectifies the issue which was meant to include the possibility of a confidential reserve price. It didn\u2019t, through error, and this amendment fixes that so that we can proceed with auctions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000880\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221bce82dd12a443a5a26ac74fe543ddc7\u0022\u003ETodd Muller\u003C/span\u003E: Can we blame Winston?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000881\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cbad2cd857c444699845efb60527dd46\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: That would be unfair.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000882\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000883\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002228baeb1c89b342a181d17e5d5b7ee9a4\u0022\u003EVoting\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000884\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229d4028df7e4d44f5a070c7c418b69bc4\u0022\u003ECorrection\u2014Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022 data-id=\u0022129822126d8d43fcabc89db86506e741\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000885\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022129822126d8d43fcabc89db86506e741\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: Members, before I call the next member, the result of the vote on the closure motion for the instruction to the select committee on the Local Electoral (M\u0101ori Wards and M\u0101ori Constituencies) Amendment Bill was reported as Ayes 75, Noes 43. The correct result was Ayes 75 and Noes 41. The record will be corrected.\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=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f313b7e2bffc41be9e4cfd165c20fa87\u0022\u003EClimate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000887\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002256cfbca32ea047f28c9ddfb11090f543\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000888\u0022\u003EDebate resumed.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022 data-id=\u0022d7d2b038cc6b40859c0591f2289a0a99\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d7d2b038cc6b40859c0591f2289a0a99\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. The analogy for this bill to be likened somehow to the sale and purchase of a house at auction is not a bad place to start. But it doesn\u2019t really reflect the complexity or the importance of this piece of legislation, or, indeed, the mistake that has been made and overlooked by Minister Hon James Shaw who usually is better than he has been on this bill. Because what we\u2019re going to find out in a minute or two is that there has been a long, protracted, tangled web of incompetence around this particular piece of legislation that dates back now well over 12 months.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000890\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EMinister Parker is correct in a way; no property owner taking a valuable asset, like a house, to auction would in their right mind, I think, not set a reserve that was confidential to them and, indeed, the auctioneer, and that\u2019s fair and reasonable. So what we have here is a Government that failed to pick up on a mistake during the passing of the original and primary legislation, the principal legislation, and actually missed it. Or did they\u2014or did they? Actually they knew. They knew all along about this potential error, this potential mistake, and there was dithering. There was dithering on behalf of the Minister, who for a period of time said \u201COh no, no, no, actually, we don\u2019t need to worry about it. The risk is low. Let\u2019s not do anything.\u201D Then there was a range of activity that said, oh, actually no, the fiscal risk to the Crown accounts is actually very significant, it runs into hundreds of millions of dollars, is the potential risk to the Crown accounts. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000891\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EI\u2019m grateful to the editor of none other than a very good publication called Carbon News, Adelia Hallett, who wrote back in October of last year\u2014in October of last year she wrote\u2014that \u201CThe Government\u2019s surprising decision, reported by Carbon News earlier this month, to press ahead with the auctioning of carbon credits without a technical reserve in place to stop units being sold at below-market-prices opens the door for that very thing to happen.\u201D So there was commentary amongst the media that follows carbon issues, they were aware of it, and so too was the Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000892\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EThen Adelia Hallett goes on to write in her article dated October of last year, \u201CAnd the price tag for taxpayers could be in the multi-millions-of-dollars. The new system, which starts in March [2021], was supposed to include a technical reserve to stop units being sold [at] substantially below the prevailing price on the secondary market.\u201D So Adelia Hallett knew that it was supposed to be included, and yet listening to the Minister tonight, it would be just a question of hearing \u201CNothing to see here. Everything\u2019s calm. Everything\u2019s smooth. Everything\u2019s right.\u201D We\u2019ve got the first auction on 17 March, suddenly we have to pass this piece of amending legislation under urgency.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u201CThe technical reserve\u201D\u2014the article goes on to say\u2014\u201Cwould have been the lowest price the Government was willing to take for units in any given auction.\u201D, and that\u2019s exactly as the Minister used almost 10 minutes to describe in very, very technical terms designed, I think, to probably confuse anybody that\u2019s listening at this time of the night about the process of this piece of legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000894\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESo what we do is we go back to Cabinet papers, and there were a number of them, setting out the options, the risks, and making Cabinet aware of this loophole and the hole and the potential risk to the Crown accounts. Cabinet agreed with its economic development committee in a decision in March last year, nearly 12 months ago\u2014in March last year\u2014that a technical reserve price must be set for each auction relative to the market price of New Zealand units (NZUs) using a prescribed methodology that is kept confidential. That was a Cabinet committee decision made in March last year. Can\u2019t say, Minister, that you didn\u2019t know, that you weren\u2019t aware, that you didn\u2019t bring it to the attention of colleagues\u2014it\u2019s all there in the Cabinet papers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000895\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EBut then there was a more recent paper to the Business Committee in which Minister Shaw said that the auctions will begin without a technical reserve in place, and the second paragraph of that Cabinet paper says\u2014and remember, this is March 2020 last year\u2014that a technical reserve price to stop NZUs being sold at a price significantly below the prevailing secondary market would help ensure that the primary auction does not significantly influence prices in the secondary market. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000896\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESo Cabinet knew, Cabinet was advised, and what happened? The Minister said in that very document, in the next paragraph\u2014he said, before going on to say that auctioning would start without one, \u201CHowever, I recommend the proposed regulations be set without providing \u2026 a technical reserve price at this time.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000897\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ENow, that\u2019s not the impression that was given by the Minister in his speech to this House this evening. The speech that the Minister gave to this House this evening implied that everything was smooth, calm, and this was just a technical bill that just needed some kind of change to tighten it up. Actually, the Minister knew 12 months ago, and, what\u2019s more, he was advising his colleagues around the Cabinet table 12 months ago of this loophole. He gave advice to his colleagues then that no reserve would be needed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000898\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESo the questions that my colleague Stuart Smith asks are absolutely right: why the change? Why the change in demeanour, why the need now? Why did Minister Shaw change his mind, and what were the factors that led him to change his mind? Back in October last year, the price was about $35 that NZUs were being traded at, and that meant that there could have been a potential risk to the Crown accounts back then of something like $71 million per auction, or a total of $285 million a year. That\u2019s why the Minister is bringing this legislation to the House under urgency, because finally, at long last, some sense was prevailed upon him to bring it to the House now under urgency.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022 data-id=\u0022d985463442e244eb8d68bbd4e0b7336e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000899\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d985463442e244eb8d68bbd4e0b7336e\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport):\u003C/span\u003E How good is it to be part of a Government and part of a country that is grasping the nettle of climate change. Over the last year, this House has actually worked together very collaboratively to set New Zealand on a path to tackle the most significant challenge of our times. Under the leadership of the Minister, James Shaw, who I acknowledge, we\u2019ve reformed the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to make sure that it does have a cap that helps us to leverage down carbon emissions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000900\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve set up a world-leading independent climate commission, which put forward its interim report\u2014its draft report\u2014at the beginning of this year that encompasses all sectors and gives New Zealand a road map to reduce our emissions to net zero by 2050.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000901\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022\u003EIf I can be sector specific for just a moment, we\u2019ve had major reforms announced to reduce our transport emissions over the last month by bringing New Zealanders a clean car standard to clean up our fleet, biofuels into the fleet, and making sure that we electrify our public buses so that we bring down emissions in that sector, the second most polluting sector in our country at the moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000902\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022\u003EIn early March, we will have the first ETS auctions stemming out of that reform work that happened last year. What I think everyone across the sector\u2014and, actually, it would appear so far everyone across the House\u2014agrees is that having a confidential reserve price is an essential part of ensuring the robustness and integrity of that system. The previous speaker, the Hon Scott Simpson, tried to construct something of a conspiracy theory about how we\u2019ve got to where we\u2019ve gotten, but the reality is that everyone agrees that we need this change to make sure that that auction system works appropriately and the ETS system works appropriately.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000903\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022\u003EWhat we say in this House is that in the face of a climate emergency, it\u2019s time to get on with the job. Let\u2019s pass this piece of legislation and carry on with this important work to reduce our emissions and meet our obligations to future generations. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u0022011bd3385d69435f86ab564434738c7e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000904\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022011bd3385d69435f86ab564434738c7e\u0022\u003EDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, and a great analysis from the Minister of Transport on the huge strides being made in climate change. So far, from the other side of the House, all we\u2019ve heard is that this is a great bill and perhaps it would have been nice to capture it the first time around. Well, I sat on that select committee, and it was one of the most complex pieces of legislation that I\u2019ve had the pleasure of going through. And whilst we didn\u2019t catch it first time, there is absolutely no excuse to not tidy up now so that we have an auction system which is robust and has integrity, isn\u2019t open to manipulation, and that the coffers of the Government are properly looked after. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022 data-id=\u002289a791b888524922ab66576a3f0d3702\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000905\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002289a791b888524922ab66576a3f0d3702\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you so much, Madam Speaker, for your patience tonight. ACT opposes this bill, but, unlike my colleagues here, we are not pleased to be here debating this arcane and complex piece of legislation, under urgency no less. ACT opposes this bill for the same reason we opposed the 2020 regulations: because it prohibits purchasing credits on an open market, which is how markets in the real world actually work, and it\u2019s a needless complication to an already complicated system, devised by the climate Minister and the Government. We heard how complicated it was. It sounded pretty complicated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000906\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EThat Minister\u2019s explanation confused most market analysts, and maybe that is what is intended, but it won\u2019t help New Zealand reach a target of net zero emissions by 2050, either, which is what New Zealand signed up to in Paris. It will create uncertainty and discourage New Zealand businesses to innovate. That\u2019s the fastest way to solve the problem about how to mitigate our emissions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000907\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EACT\u2019s position is this: New Zealand business should have the ability to purchase high-quality credits from any willing seller, and New Zealand business should not be subject to the invisible hand of a Government Minister who will have the power to set a confidential reserve price at an auction, especially from a Government led by a Prime Minister who once declared that she would lead the most open and transparent Government ever.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000908\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EThis bill entrenches a damaging culture, a culture that pervades this Government\u2019s lawmaking\u2014this culture of urgency and once-over-lightly and \u201CShe\u2019ll be right\u201D. Well, it\u2019s not right. This bill continues to politicise the New Zealand business environment at a time when business needs certainty and a steady environment from which to grow out of COVID and all of the economic and social issues that that has caused. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000909\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003ENow, the Minister already controls the supply of carbon credits to this closed market that the Government created and, therefore, has the power to influence emissions up or down. So why doesn\u2019t the Minister simply reduce the supply of credits rather than hiding behind the veil of a rigged market? Well, that\u2019s because this Government has shown a willingness to race far ahead of our trading partners by setting unrealistic time frames for New Zealand to reduce its absolute emissions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000910\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EThe Minister even said recently that those unrealistic targets set at Paris are not enough to satisfy the Government\u2019s agenda and that New Zealand businesses should expect their assets to be stranded\u2014I repeat, \u201Ctheir assets to be stranded\u201D\u2014and jobs to be lost in order to meet the Minister\u2019s targets. You can imagine what those targets will do to communities up and down New Zealand\u2014like South Auckland and the thousands of workers at the Glenbrook steel mill and all of those supporting industries, and the communities that they live in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000911\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EIn the central North Island in the Bay of Plenty, where pulp and paper are made and from there exported to the world, those communities where those high-paying jobs are essential for the health and wellbeing of the people who live there. In Northland, cement manufacturing at Golden Bay will be put at risk, and in Taranaki, already suffering from this Government\u2019s flawed policy agenda, where fertiliser and other raw materials are made\u2014that\u2019s where we will see the impact of this kind of flawed policy rushed through under urgency. Now, all of these materials can be imported from countries which have no intention of matching New Zealand\u2019s unrealistic time frames, and based on this Government\u2019s trajectory it looks like the loss of those industries will come sooner rather than later. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000912\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003ESo the Minister must believe that the market system won\u2019t be enough, and that\u2019s why we need these extra controls allowed for in the bill\u2014this rigged market proposed by the Minister. Now, we\u2019ve seen other examples about how markets work all the time. We\u2019ve seen the housing market. There\u2019s an awful lack of land supply; therefore, the price of land has gone up far beyond what we could imagine. So we know a market price encourages changes in behaviour. We\u2019ve seen those changes in behaviour. We\u2019ve seen intensity; we\u2019ve seen high-rises going up; we\u2019ve seen new dwellings being built which don\u2019t even have car parks. They don\u2019t need car parks because we know that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000913\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2a0151a5ade43a6977bd9499c952b27\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: The beauty of the market.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000914\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb3b82c644754e8e97e96737390affc0\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT\u003C/span\u003E: Oh! There\u2019s behaviour changes coming from price signals from the market. So we understand that the Government\u2019s climate change interventions are designed to change behaviours. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000915\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003ENow, ACT\u2019s opposition to the original bill and to this amendment were well founded. These regulations that the bill seeks to amend were flawed in the first place, and this amendment only complicates things. ACT opposed Government\u2019s meddling in markets and creating more uncertainty for business at this time, when business needs certainty more than ever as we slowly recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our economy and society. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000916\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EWe support an ETS, an emissions trading scheme, which gives New Zealand business options\u2014options to mitigate the effects of carbon dioxide emissions on the climate at the lowest possible cost to their businesses and to society as a whole. This regulation does not do that. ACT supports an ETS which allows for trade-offs between businesses which emit carbon dioxide as part of their process, like a steel mill or a power station, and a willing seller, those which take up carbon dioxide as part of their business activity, like growing trees or some other capture and storage technology, because ACT trusts New Zealand scientists and engineers to work out how to mitigate carbon dioxide. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022 data-id=\u00229836d0a1394e42f9bb74b88c95d61fac\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000917\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229836d0a1394e42f9bb74b88c95d61fac\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: This debate is interrupted. The Government has indicated to me that it does not wish to continue in urgency.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u00223b8fa88a74604fb2a487aa20b6d30f12\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000918\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223b8fa88a74604fb2a487aa20b6d30f12\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Point of order, Madam Speaker. You may not be aware, but the Standing Orders Committee has changed the Standing Orders so that a debate can either end five minutes early or continue for an additional five minutes, so that a member does not have his speech interrupted as you\u2019ve just interrupted this member\u2019s speech. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000919\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThe Speaker said at the end of last year that it would be helpful for all members to read the Standing Orders Committee report, and I think it\u2019s really helpful if we can actually let the member finish his speech. I ask that you allow that to happen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022 data-id=\u00224ed39da0675d4eb498a3d2f80914d55e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000920\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022098b8334-57f8-4062-bac6-bfbc3474e88e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224ed39da0675d4eb498a3d2f80914d55e\u0022\u003EHon MICHAEL WOOD (Deputy Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E Speaking to the point of order, if the member had have read the Standing Orders Committee\u2019s report he would have understood that those provisions do apply but they are at the discretion of the Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022 data-id=\u0022bc7cbae122b14341a27343b58a768ad2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000921\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bc7cbae122b14341a27343b58a768ad2\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa)\u003C/span\u003E: That was actually the point I was about to make, David Seymour, that the decision is at the Speaker\u2019s discretion. So, if I may, the Government has indicated to me that it does not wish to continue in urgency. Therefore this debate is interrupted and is set down for resumption next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000922\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202102099e71d6a342814431bc77dc4880a279c4000923\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 10.01 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"