"\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=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d34c75c61eaf410ea229f096d8fd3d29\u0022\u003ETHURSDAY, 10 JUNE 2021\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022cdc0862b1dc34d54a8f8ea7234983ea3\u0022\u003ETHURSDAY, 10 JUNE 2021\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000002\u0022\u003EThe Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000004\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00229b9332ed9f9e46cc982bd0ac17eff040\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002218749270cee044449495707dfbf90ff5\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022eb20366850964b1182b1632c9f9b1ae4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eb20366850964b1182b1632c9f9b1ae4\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: E te Atua kaha rawa, ka tuku whakamoemiti atu m\u0101tou, m\u014D ng\u0101 karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga i a m\u0101tou. Ka waiho i \u014D m\u0101tou p\u0101nga whaiaro katoa ki te taha. Ka mihi m\u0101tou ki te Ku\u012Bni, me te inoi atu m\u014D te \u0101rahitanga i roto i \u014D m\u0101tou whakaaroarohanga, kia m\u014Dhio ai, kia whakaiti ai t\u0101 m\u0101tou whakahaere i ng\u0101 take o te Whare nei, m\u014D te oranga, te maung\u0101rongo, me te aroha o Aotearoa. Amene.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E[Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the Queen, and pray for guidance in our deliberations, that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility, for the welfare, peace, and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c59cc3c0323b4780b65762d3c88cba1e\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022140257a61faa4053b0ccffac1d6be6dd\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022e86e23a533cc4264b2e8ff6a81d3caae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e86e23a533cc4264b2e8ff6a81d3caae\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E Today, the House adjourns until Tuesday, 22 June. On that day, the Ng\u0101ti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill will receive its first reading, and the Appropriation (2020/21 Supplementary Estimates) Bill will complete its remaining stages along with all stages of an imprest supply bill. Other legislation to proceed through further stages that week will include the Fair Trading Amendment Bill, the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill, the Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill, the Intelligence and Security (Review) Amendment Bill, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill, and the Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Bill. On Thursday, 24 June, the House will debate the report of the Education and Workforce Committee on its inquiry into student accommodation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022 data-id=\u0022b9cf03864543428ba59c2b94e1f308d7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b9cf03864543428ba59c2b94e1f308d7\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP (National):\u003C/span\u003E I thank the Leader of the House for that update. I\u2019d just ask him, in light of an interesting exchange in the Justice Committee this morning, what the Government\u2019s intentions are in relation to three issues they have previously signalled legislation would be introduced on: three strikes, hate speech, and conversion therapy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022c0bc33ff6263439ea4f955405f08dfae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c0bc33ff6263439ea4f955405f08dfae\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E I can confirm the Government intends to progress all three of those issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00229545f85d11364cde8ad77f251e9485c0\u0022\u003EPetitions, Papers, Select Committee Reports, and Introduction of Bills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002277a47b3794d44ada92e3ce2a1ab9a1c7\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=\u00228fb1e7d2c1f14239852abe8cc9b70c20\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228fb1e7d2c1f14239852abe8cc9b70c20\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No bills have been introduced. 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=\u0022817229e37299478595d4f067208b4f2a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022817229e37299478595d4f067208b4f2a\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EPetition of Jane Sutherland and Rebecca Greer requesting that the House urge the Government to establish a school bus service from Kingston to Wakatipu High School\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Samantha Edmondson requesting that the House urge the Government to increase resources for, and access to, mental health services for children\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of the New Zealand Taxpayers\u2019 Union requesting that the House urge the Government to withdraw funding for SkyPath.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002265de22f8c5d444778e77c5b22edfe32e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002265de22f8c5d444778e77c5b22edfe32e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those petitions stand referred to the Petitions Committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EMinisters have delivered papers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u00229938099044764bc6842c71767caff7ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229938099044764bc6842c71767caff7ed\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EExternal Reporting Board, Statement of Performance Expectations for the period 1\u00A0July 2021 to 30 June 2022\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ETakeovers Panel, Statement of Performance Expectations 2021/22\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ERevision Bill Programme 2021-2023.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022ec53b741d6fd4d689f9c14860b567f2c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ec53b741d6fd4d689f9c14860b567f2c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I present the Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament: Summary of amendments to annual returns, June 2021, and the report of the Controller and Auditor-General entitled Strategic suppliers: Understanding and managing the risks of service disruption. Those papers are published under the authority of the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000027\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=\u0022cfa002c16b0147cbb46b148013115ba3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cfa002c16b0147cbb46b148013115ba3\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: Reports of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003Ethe Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Monetary Policy Statement, May 2021\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ESupplementary Estimates for the year ending 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=\u00223add3f75f8084da091baefc70b04033c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223add3f75f8084da091baefc70b04033c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Monetary Policy Statement is set down for consideration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022284aea14100d4fc38b203407e4d2e9d2\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a495a3fcb1ee4ca6b9fd5bd7523972ed\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022815bc78f61b54cf2b0eb1aea630f6cab\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\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=\u00225257eea993c94f799dae9e5e6d936ade\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225257eea993c94f799dae9e5e6d936ade\u0022\u003EANDREW BAYLY (National\u2014Port Waikato)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Is he confident the Government is getting good value for money out of all the taxpayer money that it is spending?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u0022949eeb46c37849b4ab2f4718dcc2ba7e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022949eeb46c37849b4ab2f4718dcc2ba7e\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E I am confident that not just the Government but New Zealanders and businesses are getting value for money from the Government\u2019s investments that are made on behalf of all New Zealanders. I would add that, as has always been the case, some initiatives do need to be altered along the way to ensure that they deliver the best value for money. This is particularly the case when new programmes are being developed, and if we\u2019re adopting innovative approaches to improving the wellbeing of New Zealanders, there will be occasions when they do not work as initially planned and can be tweaked.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221571886164684467be578e2fe216cbe3\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that the $785 million for a cycle bridge in Auckland would clear the entire waiting list for the 30,000 people needing hip replacements, plus fund 100,000 free mental health counselling sessions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229d9070a57b6c4c83ac049c1b9114d2d2\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sure the member is aware of the difference between capital and operating expenditure. He also will be aware that we spend billions and dollars each year in our health system. And he\u2019s at risk here of comparing apples and giraffes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022460357d4023145a09d652e6bb8110bae\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that, for $785 million, the Government could pay for all life-saving medicines on Pharmac\u2019s unfunded list for two years, including for cancer treatment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022926893dab25a4c6693d4909b434c2af8\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: What I can confirm is that the Government has increased the budget for Pharmac by over 25 percent since we\u2019ve been in office, taking it to over a billion dollars a year. And I repeat my earlier answer: the member might want to conflate these things together, and Governments previously have always invested in long-term transport projects at the same time as investing in things such as Pharmac.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f926ea59fd54a8a8a60a9a40a91aa76\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that, for $785 million, the Government could clear the backlog of school classroom upgrades so that our children can learn in safe and healthy environments?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da39df7464a84f3a89e16d6e3a084bc2\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I can confirm that the Government has massively increased the amount of funding that we put in to upgrade classrooms, as we have done in the health system to improve hospitals after the previous National Government failed to invest in capital in health and education.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e986f45b1b97470eb88dea18cdf2de98\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that, for $785 million, the Government could fix the country\u2019s most dangerous road, north of Tauranga, and build a second Ashburton bridge?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296504d41a3fc4df8b76ac1aed6df7cbf\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I can confirm that the Government is investing billions of dollars in transport and upgrades right across New Zealand. This also includes ensuring that we do maintenance on our State highway network, something that the previous Government decided not to bother with.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd1ae5f6ccb644f3839454f67c19da5d\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that, according to Waka Kotahi, for just $300 million more the Government could build an extra harbour crossing with three lanes for cars and buses and a cycle pathway?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224855df575ccc4493b9ed8b22c3585790\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I can\u2019t confirm that. What I can confirm for the member is that, for $785 million, he could get some better questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d80538b352524904b53cd1319b9d30ff\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014Research, Science and Innovation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022 data-id=\u00225cd8287dc2fd4632b11b05f892deeda9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225cd8287dc2fd4632b11b05f892deeda9\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT (Labour\u2014New Plymouth)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation: How is the Government continuing to support Just Transition in Taranaki and Southland through Budget 2021?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022 data-id=\u00227839ea3791954292904db6ffd8a6e87e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227839ea3791954292904db6ffd8a6e87e\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Research, Science and Innovation):\u003C/span\u003E Last month\u2019s Budget included $20 million over four years to continue the work we started in 2018 supporting a just transition approach in Taranaki as the region moves away from oil and gas exploration. This funding will also enable support to be extended to the Southland community as the T\u012Bwai aluminium smelter moves towards closure in 2024. I\u2019m proud of the work we\u2019ve started on supporting workers and communities through the transition to a low emissions future, and I was pleased to see the endorsement of the just transition approach by the Climate Change Commission in their advice released yesterday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e22771d5be144a9ea486506f839acd5b\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: What will Budget 2021 funding support in Taranaki and Southland?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cdc3974ce46d434d858477f7eb251095\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: Funds will be used to unlock additional investment, further business cases, support community initiatives, and pay for local staff to support the ongoing transition process. In Taranaki, a significant engagement programme has been undertaken to deliver regional economic development plans that set the strategy for the region through to 2050, and this new funding will support implementation of these plans. In Southland, we\u2019re working closely with regional stakeholders to identify priorities and projects that can support the transition following the expected closure of the T\u012Bwai Point Aluminium Smelter in 2024. Currently, the focus is on strengthening relationships and part of a broad-based partnership with the Murihiku collective of r\u016Bnanga, councils, mayors, unions, and industry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f3ea5939ade4074b2b1a21c930ba59a\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: How does a just transition approach align with our climate change goals?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223d4b3a2fed884aa9a445b7b6366f5aba\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: A just transition is about how we plan for a future with a low-emissions economy and what that looks like with those in partnership with those affected the most. The Climate Change Commission report is explicit in its advice that it will cost New Zealand more down the line if we don\u2019t act now. We do not want to see a repeat of the economic shocks seen during the 1980s which left workers and communities unable to plan for their futures as we prepare for our transitions to a low-emissions economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002244adc38eb53941f5af63adf5d3659f61\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u0022db6589a8129d41899d3dc967a0dc565b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022db6589a8129d41899d3dc967a0dc565b\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Will an objective in future Budgets he delivers be making a just transition to a low-emissions economy, in order to ensure low-income households are not left behind in the Government\u2019s response to the Climate Commission\u2019s advice?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u0022cb087e9bafcb4c619bd4551ce3356676\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cb087e9bafcb4c619bd4551ce3356676\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Supporting New Zealanders through a just transition to a low-carbon economy is currently one of the Government\u2019s five Budget wellbeing objectives, and while those objectives have not yet been set for future Budgets, it is a long-term commitment from this Government to support just such a just transition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286e9927b91b2481bbac84f7d87dae7a9\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the Climate Change Commission\u2019s summary of what a \u201Cjust transition\u201D means in Aotearoa, which includes skills training, sending early and clear policy signals, and honouring Te Tiriti?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220005ab9d973240a484cbf5af4e42b5bf\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I do agree with those concepts. More broadly, as the Minister who\u2019s recently resumed her seat has said, these programmes, Just Transition programmes, can be very active programmes that work at both a community and individual level.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c182ad3e798149fc8a4a307cd51fee91\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: What specific support will the Government provide to low-income households so they can access low-emissions technology like electric vehicles and e-bikes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d3aa1f58e69744b89441d52aa87d85ce\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: One example is in the Budget: a contingency has been set aside to support the uptake of electric vehicles, and I\u2019m sure there\u2019ll be more detailed announcements about that very soon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a28ea50a86d94d1d8b4e8182cdc7a0c9\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: Does he acknowledge that reducing poverty and income inequality must be central to the Government\u2019s work to address climate change and protect our environment, and why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d9192f165c5049bab80a80a5979dea69\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: That is central to the Government\u2019s programme for a range of reasons, including that one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ec80121dcc244ad91da5be7e19e3dbe\u0022\u003EHon Julie Anne Genter\u003C/span\u003E: What specific support will his future Budgets provide to those communities and workers that rely on high-emission sectors?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002278b5ad5e273c4e8ca7deeeb24b497f9b\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: That is the very essence of a Just Transition programme. I\u2019m not going to pre-empt specific initiatives in future Budgets, but what I can say is that we\u2019re very focused, through our Future of Work programme, for example, on supporting all workers to a just transition, be that for technological reasons or, in the case that the member is raising, with respect to climate change. We are very confident and optimistic of the ability of New Zealand workers and businesses to transition with support to use new technologies to create new jobs and new areas of work, but that will be a partnership.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022235455cd688a46518c3c37df1204e8f2\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u2014Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225cf229a9-8722-46b2-a37e-b528e075be7d\u0022 data-id=\u0022675d10036b78476c94916434dcedeae3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cf229a9-8722-46b2-a37e-b528e075be7d\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022675d10036b78476c94916434dcedeae3\u0022\u003EANGELA ROBERTS (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: How does Budget 2021 advance the Government\u2019s reform of the Tomorrow\u2019s Schools system?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022ac5605323dea4e66aceb8906acdd1e5e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ac5605323dea4e66aceb8906acdd1e5e\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E This year\u2019s Budget provides funding to allow the Government to get cracking on implementing Supporting all schools to succeed, the Government\u2019s response to the Tomorrow\u2019s Schools review. Central to this is initial funding to start rebuilding front-line advisory capability within the Ministry of Education in a new education service agency called Te Mahau. That is being launched by the Secretary for Education in the second half of this year. It does respond to the feedback from schools that whilst they welcome and continue to enjoy the self-governing model, they do on regular occasions feel that they are not receiving the level of support that they would like from the centre.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cf229a9-8722-46b2-a37e-b528e075be7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dbcaeeb117d7473891c48dc67c044664\u0022\u003EAngela Roberts\u003C/span\u003E: Will these changes include any direct financial support to schools?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022097f27cf5f1a43a7af984957efc8ba7e\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. The flexible fund will also be rolled out, starting with a $10 million investment in 2021/22, which will give staff in the regions the ability to respond more flexibly to the needs of schools. We learnt through COVID-19 when we established the Urgent Response Fund, which was a $50 million fund\u2014a much bigger fund\u2014that when you provide flexibility for the staff working for the Ministry of Education at the front line to better respond to schools\u2019 needs, great things can be achieved. We want to continue with that momentum.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225cf229a9-8722-46b2-a37e-b528e075be7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222407bad2d2d04d20b349b0c1f0d577d6\u0022\u003EAngela Roberts\u003C/span\u003E: How will this package support the Government\u2019s curriculum reforms?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222510adbc7e0e4b94b325ce58bcb10f17\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: Very consistent with my first answer, one of the things that we heard from schools over the past few years is that when it comes to curriculum, they do look to the centre for more resourcing and more support. New Zealand\u2019s curriculum is a very devolved curriculum, and that is something that teachers welcome, but they do look for more guidance. As a result of that, we are establishing a curriculum centre within the redesigned Ministry of Education Te Pout\u0101h\u016B, which is going to be a game-changer for the way the Government agencies interact with and support schools when it comes to issues around curriculum.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223724001dbf114524b7cb5c2f348b4cc4\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\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=\u002255f1f724194b4222bde027ffb3782717\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002255f1f724194b4222bde027ffb3782717\u0022\u003ECHRIS BISHOP (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What percentage of people in each of the Government\u2019s seven COVID-19 subgroups have not received at least one COVID-19 vaccination, and is he confident that the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out is on track to meet the Government target of every adult being offered a vaccine by the end of the year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022f91b40ec37c74090a69b38e994b7e1ce\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f91b40ec37c74090a69b38e994b7e1ce\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response):\u003C/span\u003E The size of each of those subgroups of people is not a static number and, in fact, in some of those subgroups, particularly the front-line border workers, quite large numbers of people are adding and exiting from that category. So a percentage number is impossible to calculate and would be meaningless. However, I can give the raw numbers of people in each of those groups who have been provided with vaccines. Across groups 1A and 1B, we\u2019ve provided 53,000 first doses and 46,000 second doses. Across group 2, 306,000 people have received their first dose, and 211,000 people have been given their second dose. In group 3, 111,000 people have received their first dose, and just under 19,000 have had their second doses. Finally, in group 4\u2014a group that is yet to formally start\u2014nearly 28,000 people have been given their first dose, and a couple of hundred people have received their second dose. In regard to the second part of the member\u2019s question, yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c2ca5ce3f804a8980dd358b70206d4f\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: How can the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out be on track when around 50 percent of border and managed isolation and quarantine workers and their household contacts have not even had their first shot of the vaccine, when that group was meant to be finished by March?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225f0a8cc3e36443c696a25a54133dec65\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: I reject the premise of the member\u2019s question. In fact, when it comes to household members, the estimate put forward was, at best, a guess. It was an estimate of roughly how many people we thought border workers had within their households, and it\u2019s not compulsory for that group of people to come forward. How many people come forward from that group is totally up to those people, and of course I would say if you\u2019re in that group and you haven\u2019t had a vaccine yet, I\u2019d encourage you to come forward and get one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a6528b971dc74d149f55e2ae6d36cad5\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Government record what group people belong to when they\u2019re vaccinated; and if not, what is the point of the groups?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022812c1ffb6e074902bf5b719a09c8d9c2\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes we do, but people can belong to more than one group, and so therefore it is possible that some of the people in group 1B\u2014for example, household members who also may qualify in group 2 or in group 3\u2014can be coded under that group. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d1f267c708a64f619ab6122f76d32f35\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Has he sought an explanation of how one district health board had to destroy a thousand doses of the vaccine in April, and how does he think the thousands of high-risk people out there contacting their GPs, desperate to get a vaccine, would feel about knowing that a thousand doses were destroyed in April?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022408cdc3c767f444a888b2a085f745e82\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: That is a very rare event in New Zealand\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, and I would say that the people who are waiting for vaccines can be confident that New Zealand has one of the lowest vaccine dosage wastage rates in the world. The World Health Organization says that countries should plan for a 10-15 percent wastage rate of their vaccines, and New Zealand sits at under 2 percent wastage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c09e2e248c504512916ff59d70f8359c\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Is it correct that for a 49-day period in September and October, the Ministry of Health model says we need to vaccinate 75,000 people per day, and is he confident the roll-out will scale up to that level of vaccinations per day?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c452cfe733f41b1953ae89eccd28144\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: The vaccine roll-out model has continued to be refined as we\u2019ve understood more about both what we can expect in terms of deliveries, but also how we can make sure that we are rolling out the vaccine in a sustainable way. Work has been undertaken, since the model was first mooted, with district health boards to try and smooth demand during that latter part of the year, so that we don\u2019t end up with big peaks and troughs. As a result, the average should be, for a sustained period of time, around 50,000 a day. That doesn\u2019t mean that there aren\u2019t going to be unders and overs within that. We know, at the moment, we have lower vaccination rates, for example, in the weekends; we tend to reach the peak vaccination rates around the middle of the week. Mondays can often be a bit slower; Fridays are often the best day. So there\u2019ll be unders and overs within that, but we will be averaging, for a sustained period of time, 50,000 doses a day, and that is how we will get to the population coverage that we\u2019re aiming for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022285bc20435914389ba32815c8d6c5bd3\u0022\u003EChris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: In light of that answer, will he instruct the Ministry of Health to update the model publicly available on the Ministry of Health website\u2014because at the moment, the model simply shows that between September and October, we will have to do 75,000 doses per day?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260a26e49250d4d3a9e67741fb5f90410\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: The vaccine model will be updated at the appropriate time. One of the things that will determine that, of course, is further guidance on vaccine deliveries. We\u2019ll get further information in July as to what we\u2019re expecting to have delivered in August and September.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d8c3e017a46a488fac48be7ae3f6cc0d\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Housing (Public Housing)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002266f06e7e-afa8-457f-a105-048b86a13282\u0022 data-id=\u00220e1bc36996ad48918828919e6bccb264\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002266f06e7e-afa8-457f-a105-048b86a13282\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220e1bc36996ad48918828919e6bccb264\u0022\u003EBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader\u2014ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Does she agree with the Minister of Housing\u2019s statement, \u201CI think there are a number of really good landlords and I think we all meet them when we\u2019re out and about\u2014but certainly, with some landlords as there is in any sector of society\u2014yes, there is more need for compassion.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u0022e5b45467f5c0430baf195f42b63d1c60\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e5b45467f5c0430baf195f42b63d1c60\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, and I also agree with the Minister when she said that the Government is not relying on compassion to deal with the housing crisis and has also reformed tenancy laws to ensure they are fit for the 21st century.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002266f06e7e-afa8-457f-a105-048b86a13282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230b904fd70c44c0b8d7084f8f67b5ac6\u0022\u003EBrooke van Velden\u003C/span\u003E: Does she believe the Government is a compassionate landlord when only 11,000 of its 68,000 homes meet the healthy homes standards?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230487e80c6924822a87684b945f025b0\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: I reject the premise of that question. K\u0101inga Ora\u2014Homes and Communities advises me that, yes, 11,345 of their homes currently meet the healthy homes standards. However, they are not required to complete their target until much later, and that is because they have a portfolio of 66,000. And the other reason is that we intend to spread the demand for building materials and trades across the time period and allow for sufficient time for private landlords to complete their obligations under the healthy homes standards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002266f06e7e-afa8-457f-a105-048b86a13282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002217fa909990154efd9069a57eed1bfbf2\u0022\u003EBrooke van Velden\u003C/span\u003E: How can the Minister of Housing demand compassion from private landlords, who must comply with healthy homes standards by 1 July, when 57,000 of its own homes don\u2019t meet the same standards?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286bb989446124751b8cebe2167fc2d15\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: To refer back to my previous answer, I don\u2019t know that the member is aware of just how massive a task it is for K\u0101inga Ora to complete, and in order to not put pressure on the rest of the community, in terms of demand for building materials and trades, we have ensured that we spread the demand for that by allowing K\u0101inga Ora to take a little more time than other landlords to do so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262e4558fd0564a4a9cf82b764aa4f62e\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Can she confirm that the Government has decided to exempt K\u0101inga Ora - owned properties from the tax changes to interest deductibility, and why is there one rule for private landlords and another one for the Government? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c0c7fda3d7a048878c2393980911f114\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: There have been no decisions made with that regard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f27530a8429e4754982ff655140fab63\u0022\u003EHon David Parker\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister aware that the Government is also consulting on whether that same rule should apply to other providers of community housing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220a6f3950832d410fa35d5fe8c188f039\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I am.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002266f06e7e-afa8-457f-a105-048b86a13282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c6f466f3f2040d0b49b5581cea52818\u0022\u003EBrooke van Velden\u003C/span\u003E: Why can\u2019t the Government meet the same standards they expect of private landlords?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002273685ebc83284a6985c324e94ea4d3ea\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: We are wanting to ensure that our homes will meet the healthy homes standards. We have a huge portfolio of homes and we need to make sure that the work is done properly. The other thing that we do not want to do is to put pressure on material supplies that we will all need. We want to ensure that the homes are repaired to an appropriate standard. There is a huge portfolio of homes and we fully intend to ensure that these properties come up to standard as required.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223cd5baa3501446149672bdef03f8029c\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Trade and Export Growth\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022 data-id=\u0022b7ce187a3985475694dab3a065384e5e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b7ce187a3985475694dab3a065384e5e\u0022\u003ENAISI CHEN (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Trade and Export Growth: How has New Zealand contributed to APEC\u2019s commitment to speeding up the cross-border flow of vaccines and related goods to fight the COVID-19 pandemic?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u002237a1f6209ec24ac78a3e91c9583b3e1b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002237a1f6209ec24ac78a3e91c9583b3e1b\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR (Minister for Trade and Export Growth):\u003C/span\u003E On Friday and Saturday, I chaired the annual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting. One of our key objectives for the meeting was to demonstrate that APEC is responsive and relevant to the COVID-19 crisis. A key aspect of this was showing that trade can be a force for good, and, collectively, APEC Ministers delivered. The impact of the APEC trade Ministers\u2019 agreement is that it will make the component parts of the supply chain flow more smoothly. I understand that for the likes of the Pfizer vaccine, some 286 component parts are sourced from over 80 companies in nearly 20 countries. So \u201Canything that makes the production smoother and easier has to be good not only for New Zealand but for all APEC members, and those benefits should flow through into our Pacific neighbours, who we are supporting.\u201D No one is safe from COVID-19 until we are all safe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229c33b0247bda413ea0a25c448dafd01f\u0022\u003ENaisi Chen\u003C/span\u003E: What other outcomes did you achieve from the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228be904413bf14f4398e345bb78b56333\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: For the first time in memory, every APEC economy was represented at ministerial level, underscoring the high level of political commitment to these issues. The meeting was also enriched by the presence of the World Trade Organization Director-General, Dr Okonjo-Iweala. We were therefore in a strong position to discuss and demonstrate our collective support for the World Trade Organization to modernise trade rules for the 21st century. We also discussed and agreed on the importance of promoting economic policies and growth that contribute to tackling climate change and other serious environmental challenges. Critically for Aotearoa New Zealand, APEC Ministers also took note of the initiatives that we have been driving in APEC to unlock the economic potential of indigenous people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266c3e5a77b6649b1b25ebef7f208c5be\u0022\u003ENaisi Chen\u003C/span\u003E: How does APEC fit into New Zealand\u2019s Trade Recovery Strategy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228e6066e6ba62479aa6775b948d0d0f53\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: The trade-led recovery strategy launched by Ministers in 2020 supports the Government\u2019s wider five-point recovery plan. We find ourselves in an increasingly difficult trading environment. Globally, we are in a time of international turmoil and geopolitical uncertainty. Global supply chains are disrupted, and our exporters are facing rising offshore trade barriers and subsidies. It is for this reason that the Government is implementing the trade-led recovery strategy. The strategy includes 41 actions delivered by 11 agencies to support exporters. APEC is a key deliverable of this strategy as part of efforts to reinvigorate trade architecture and global economic institutions. In the face of concerning global trends, we are looking to use APEC to support open markets, resist protectionism, and generate sustainable growth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022686a7d28f2884996b40bc7a8007b3e2b\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Housing\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u0022de1a503fa79f4791b21a06c77f1ef553\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022de1a503fa79f4791b21a06c77f1ef553\u0022\u003ENICOLA WILLIS (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Housing: Does she stand by her statement that the Government has \u201Cincreased the public housing stock by 7,671 since we came into Government in 2017\u201D; if so, why does the most recent K\u0101inga Ora managed stock quarterly report show that total managed stock is only 4,649 more than reported by Housing New Zealand in its September 2017 managed stock quarterly report?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022 data-id=\u0022db2f26c937a342c5889ee126c961ecb9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022db2f26c937a342c5889ee126c961ecb9\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, we have increased the public housing stock, by 7,671 since we came into Government. I can also confirm that since coming into Government, K\u0101inga Ora\u2019s total managed stock has increased by 4,649 homes. I would note that K\u0101inga Ora\u2019s managed stock is different to the public housing stock. K\u0101inga Ora\u2019s managed stock is inclusive of State houses eligible for the income-related rent subsidy (IRRS) funding alongside community group housing transitional housing that is owned by K\u0101inga Ora. The 902 houses leased to Ng\u0101ti Toa\u2014public housing stock, on the other hand\u2014includes all K\u0101inga Ora State housing stock as well as those owned or provided by community housing providers. So the 7,671 figure I provided is the change in the number of public housing places between 1 November 2017 and 30 April 2021. As at 1 November 2017, there was a total of 66,216 public housing places, and as at 30 April 2021, there was a total of 73,887 public housing places, a net change of 7,671 places. I note that we have used the smaller of two figures\u2014if we had summed the two numbers the member is talking about, that would have been a net change of 9,773 houses.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022859e13f9-33bb-41bb-b2f0-d848eaf25407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b46db386778d4846af6b68b259d4031d\u0022\u003EAndrew Bayly\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m confused.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226eba23ae69a47b1be117f67fa986764\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that\u2019s something the Minister\u2019s not responsible for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260890901cd404c4c82f39b7ba4eb7092\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Well, can the Minister simply confirm that according to reports published by Housing New Zealand and K\u0101inga Ora, the number of State rentals in September 2017 was 61,323, and, as of March this year, that number is 64,106\u2014a difference of just 2,783; and how can she possibly reconcile those facts with her exaggerated claims of additional houses.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022db28becde8284a07b9cc1486c78a4c49\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a335b70f7c034d49811181115803d26a\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, I\u2019m happy to provide the member\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281ca079340e54f979ff2256bc30a2e3f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, the member will resume her seat. I\u2019m going to let the member ask the question again without the pejorative comment in it. The member\u2019s very lucky.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3b6e9d777694c4f8e21c2de7ec4cc7b\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that according to reports published by Housing New Zealand and K\u0101inga Ora, the number of State rentals in September 2017 was 61,323, and, as of March this year, that number is just 64,106\u2014a difference of 2,783; and how can she possibly reconcile those facts with her claim of 7,000 additional houses?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e082535950454625bee53e3e1927bbd9\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: I gave a very fulsome primary answer. The member is confused, and if she\u2019d like a briefing on the data sets, I\u2019m happy to arrange for her to be walked through that. But the data set that the member is talking about is K\u0101inga Ora - owned property. She\u2019s talking about the State rentals in there. What we are talking about is the number of public housing places that are provided, which, of course, also includes public housing places that receive IRRS funding, which are provided by community housing providers (\u201CCHiPS\u201D). Since we came into Government, 5,124 further \u201CCHiP\u201D places have been provided, so I think the member will find, if she looks at the relevant data sets, that all the numbers add up. We are proud that we are building more public houses in this country than has been built in a generation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b4b796c15ffc4f5da8ab8120f14ea367\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Can she confirm that she signed off on K\u0101inga Ora targeting the sale of $37 million worth of State houses in the 2020-21 financial year, and can she update the House on whether they met their target?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7a69188ec954a9dbc0e2f0f9d0d65ba\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019ve been through this many times in this House. K\u0101inga Ora advises me that the total value of public housing properties that it has sold\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ceb6ce17094a45cd8b65f3d082d9e268\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member\u2019s colleague asked a question, all right? I\u2019m assuming the point of it is to have an answer, and not to have an answer which is drowned out from members on my left.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a9b198e8bc7d44b7a78e7c483dcda98f\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: I am advised that between 1 September 2017 until 30\u00A0November 2020, there were 191 State houses that were sold over this period. This is because they were homes that were no longer fit for purpose, and is a tiny fraction. The value of these sales was $63,879,920. I would note that between the financial years 2014-15 and 2016-17, 1,300 State houses were sold for a total of over $204 million.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227775d675997d4c5f9326404417273072\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that the Government has demolished more than 2,000 State houses, and plans to demolish at least 3,000 more in the next three years?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe3c9ee29ca34be181580a76f7aafcec\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: I certainly can. That\u2019s because this is a Government that is investing in the redevelopment of those State houses. We are a Government that has actually funded the addition of actually intensifying those areas. That is how we are building more State houses than any Government in a generation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf944ba83d5046c19aa71dfd715924c0\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Why did she agree to the transfer of 902 properties out of the State housing rental stock for management by Ng\u0101ti Toa, and how is that any different from National\u2019s policy of transferring houses to community housing providers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022853f8d4a182a42c1927aa28f6446596b\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: This is a unique arrangement\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d98b201e228045b0b44bb356c79449d1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! I am going to remind members of discussions that we\u2019ve had recently that have led to potential fairly gross disorder, and I\u2019m going to require this answer to be heard in silence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d692b278c6fd4aa49f1bf8b1edb6709f\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: This is a unique arrangement and the first of its kind, that, actually, K\u0101inga Ora has retained ownership of those properties; they are leased to Ng\u0101ti Toa. This is part of what partnership in a modern\u2014[Interruption]\u2014New Zealand looks like.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ce09c1516c14b048ad4e6486b1562a3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! There will be two additional questions for the National Party as a result of the interjection to my right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aad60383306c4ce8850e43e75613f14e\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Can she confirm that this year\u2019s housing budget puts aside $360 million specifically \u201Cto provide for expenses incurred as part of the sale of land and dwellings\u201D, and why is that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bb54eb163ab3412ca4bfadc3a86d1af5\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: This was a question that the member asked at an Estimates hearing yesterday and was given a very fulsome answer around what this is. When you are an agency that is actively adding to the housing stock and there are transactions that go through, and also in terms of when there is also the appropriation as it purports to KiwiBuild, that this is a technical, financial requirement of the Public Finance Act, in terms of the sale of the KiwiBuild houses that were always meant to be sold\u2014this is not about the sale of State houses.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b040a05d36b6415a9c3957551b349f0f\u0022\u003ENicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Is it correct that the Government\u2019s State house waiting list is growing around four times as fast as the Government is building houses?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d836cd906ffa4b8585d3626245ecfe80\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: We are well aware of the size of our public housing waiting list, and it\u2019s an issue that we are working to resolve. As we constantly remind the Opposition, if they had built State houses instead of selling them off, and built at the rate that we were, we would have 15,000 more public housing places in this country. We are the first Government in many decades to be adding to the number that we are. But we acknowledge, on this side of the House, that there is still plenty of work to do, but we are committed to doing it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224aa379be69914766912e2da659a61852\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Small Business\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022 data-id=\u0022775f1dd0b66e4eaaa3280e046b4b56ac\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022775f1dd0b66e4eaaa3280e046b4b56ac\u0022\u003ET\u0100MATI COFFEY (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Small Business: What is the Government doing to support digital training and advice for small businesses?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022 data-id=\u002214dd9bab22fb4d0786d342c6a5083a54\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002214dd9bab22fb4d0786d342c6a5083a54\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH (Minister for Small Business):\u003C/span\u003E We are backing small businesses as the economy recovers. Budget 2021\u2019s biggest focus was on securing the economic recovery while continuing to keep people safe. Specifically in my small business portfolio, Budget 2021 set aside $44 million over two years for a new initiative to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It will provide business training courses for 60,000 SMEs and further support another 30,000 SMEs through digital advisory services as part of the Digital Boost programme. This new initiative will enable small businesses to recover from the global economic impact of COVID-19 and take advantage of new opportunities through e-commerce. Digital commerce also contributes to higher wages, higher productivity, and a lower-carbon economy\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002299f5411a660e427f87dfd3fa84f9e240\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member has answered the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c652d8f1703c49feae0897b54e4eb64a\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s half as long as Megan\u2019s one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221ddafa041594402c844ccf67dd418dc9\u0022\u003ET\u0101mati Coffey\u003C/span\u003E: How is the Government working with business to drive wider uptake of digital tools and technologies?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265ffbdf6ae88469d9ea4920cd11759f4\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: Our aspiration is for New Zealand to have the most digitally enabled small business sector in the world. Last month, a new public-private partnership was launched to improve access to digital technology and training for small businesses. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has launched the Digital Boost initiative to bring the private sector on board. Organisations make a public commitment to support small businesses, workers, or communities with free or discounted goods, services, advice, or training. One of the companies at the launch, Google, said there was \u201Cenormous opportunity\u201D if digital transformation is embraced and that \u201C$46.6 billion worth of economic value could be gained by 2030 if we do this right\u201D. Other agencies, Xero and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, estimate real GDP could increase between $3.5 billion and $6.2 billion if there was just 20 percent increase in the uptake of cloud computing alone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228028131bf9304efcbb70a166f6cd83ff\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member answered that question and about three others.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226590faa0-f76b-4386-84f3-9b06296cc772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223d76c4d5dd094e75bdd4d129311b2f0a\u0022\u003ET\u0101mati Coffey\u003C/span\u003E: What response has he seen from small businesses for wider training and advisory support, especially in regional Aotearoa New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022467bbbca514b4f90b1d0c239fe217ed8\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: In the member\u2019s own area of Rotorua/Bay of Plenty there has been a strong uptake of Government-funded COVID business support for training and advice. The member, who owns a successful small business himself in Rotorua, will know of the Regional Business Partner programme, which utilises established networks like chambers of commerce and economic development agencies, and this has been active. More than 1,000 small businesses in the Bay of Plenty have accessed the Government-funded voucher system for specialist advice and training across a range of disciplines. Support worth $2.8 million has been rolled out to Bay of Plenty businesses through this voucher system. The global pandemic is still our biggest threat, but we are well placed to deal with it through initiatives like free digital training and advice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022df8e517212e04eea8364b4685bd7f860\u0022\u003EHon Todd McClay\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister really believe that the digital training will outweigh the significant cost imposed on small businesses by his Government through sharp increases to the minimum wage, doubling of sick leave costs\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002271546966029e4c1492fc88c74d12edb6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: OK. That\u2019s two now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c86ee8e5edbc4dce9e078c0b720bbab6\u0022\u003EHon Todd McClay\u003C/span\u003E: But he had three.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a079026b276433ca4911834b9cc8c10\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: He might have given three answers, but he didn\u2019t have two questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d91f7d6dea2e4be289f512a74679522a\u0022\u003EHon STUART NASH\u003C/span\u003E: There are many initiatives this Government is implementing to help small businesses. This is but one of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022472bbb7bdeb14c0ba907ba805aceda74\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Defence\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u00229cb2b7b6fa5243a2a28748d39e5cee3b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229cb2b7b6fa5243a2a28748d39e5cee3b\u0022\u003ECHRIS PENK (National\u2014Kaipara ki Mahurangi)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Defence: What, if anything, is he doing to resolve waiting times of up to 140 working days veterans face in seeking medical records and medal entitlement information?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022 data-id=\u0022791c3ac48d474d499672189e5b76ec00\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022791c3ac48d474d499672189e5b76ec00\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs) \u003C/span\u003Eon behalf of the Minister of Defence: I want to begin by acknowledging all ex-servicemen and -women and the pride they bring our country. I\u2019m advised that most requests for a copy of a veteran\u2019s medical files are treated as urgent and processed within 10 working days when received through Veterans\u2019 Affairs New Zealand. Understanding the definition of a veteran is outlined in the Act and given priority. The reason some take up to 140 days can be due to the nature of the request, complexity of the situation, the requestor, or because the request is unclear in its purpose. I\u2019m further advised that any request relating to a funeral or terminal illness is prioritised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002213227d9346a04c41aa74a0c535f05577\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: What are the implications for veterans who are subjected to such lengthy wait times in terms of accessing health services and other entitlements?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d189f2e2569547219a2386f90bc01645\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: Can I reiterate that if, for the purposes of a medical entitlement, a requestor has been clear in their request, they are given priority in the queue and a response, I\u2019ve been advised, will be processed within 10 working days.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed3bfabfe31943ac9b33b513ce03257c\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister intend to introduce or support legislation that would re-establish a time frame for the Government to provide important information such as medical records to veterans?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f0a9b181d4f452a9c5537996fac7f78\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: In relation to requests that are made for the purposes of claiming medical entitlements, as has been made clear in questions that have been responded to by the Minister, there are 10 working days in which the request is processed. There is a triage process. It is a manual process, and that is critical to ensuring that the nature of the response is relative to what the request is for, because the same unit also deals with requests for medal entitlements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e7a8ffc6d8434ed5ac7002f876453591\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. My question was in relation to the reintroduction of a statutory time frame as opposed to the operational aspect of how requests are handled currently.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022934d1e8f37fa42cd81964f869517ac1d\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: At present, I\u2019m not aware that there\u2019s any legislation pending.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221dfb011890e046929b11c79bee2673eb\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister think that this situation aligns with the sentiments of the Prime Minister at Anzac Day about sharing recognition and respect with all who have served our country on this most special day?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab9b338bfcc942258e0226718ace5861\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: If I understand the nature of that question, which may well be in relation to requests for information in relation to medals, as the Minister made clear in written question No. 19836, a requestor can expect to receive a response within 10 to 140 working days. Often, time varies with the complexity of the applications that are being processed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a42fb74d8bd74571b1a7e4f34b119fb3\u0022\u003EChris Penk\u003C/span\u003E: What is the Minister\u2019s response to veterans who perceive that this Government pays lip service to veterans\u2019 issues on Anzac Day but is uninterested in issues affecting them the other 364 days a year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022788d93e0dfc1411dac3923d89f0fb218\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: I reject the premise of that question. In fact, Veterans\u2019 Affairs have engaged in regional conversations with veterans around the services that they provide to veterans.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022718a1fc5d0514043a2d26f0b4c4ef6bb\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014Rural Communities\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022 data-id=\u0022fb6333fe32984a769154a81d8e7614c4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fb6333fe32984a769154a81d8e7614c4\u0022\u003EMARK CAMERON (ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Rural Communities: What advice has he requested or received on the impact Significant Natural Areas will have on rural communities?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u0022c0153a54afd440f58f11f36c5eef9463\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c0153a54afd440f58f11f36c5eef9463\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR (Minister for Rural Communities):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019ve received several pieces of advice from the Ministry for Primary Industries over the last years as the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity continues to be developed. The national policy statement is not yet finalised and the impacts on rural communities will continue to be a consideration for Ministers as we work on finalising it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219d55e77595a4a568294d26dc5e15a5e\u0022\u003EMark Cameron\u003C/span\u003E: Has he heard from rural communities on the adverse impacts Significant Natural Areas could have on the use and value of their property?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c28fcc08491d4984a5e81833cd0fd846\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: Yes I have received correspondence and talked with constituents in my area where they believe there will be an adverse impact on their communities. I\u2019ve also spoken to many people from rural communities who live in those areas, because they want to see that indigenous biodiversity retained and protected. And so there\u2019s a healthy discussion taking place and we\u2019ll manage this process very carefully.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002262e3fe35ec604b3b9a70e3ed00edbd6c\u0022\u003EMark Cameron\u003C/span\u003E: What does he say to farmers such as one in Tasman who found out through a letter from the council that their entire 600 acre property\u2014which has been in his family for 100 years\u2014has been designated a Significant Natural Area?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221527e5757a204f36809e31138e611d77\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: I can\u2019t really comment on the individual property, other than to congratulate his family, I guess, for protecting that biodiversity. Can I suggest that if they have remained on the property for that long, I\u2019d suggest they have a very good business model that has enabled them to protect the biodiversity and continue to farm or run a horticulture operation. Can I say that councils around the country have taken different approaches to how they identify and notify\u2014not all those approaches have been sound. That\u2019s one of the very issues we\u2019re trying to address so that the obligation laid down in the Resource Management Act of 1991\u2014that obligation to protect these areas has not been implemented by the vast majority of councils around the country; that\u2019s what Government is taking action on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a9af5c2df7341418fe1e48c30a37915\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Will he confirm his statement in select committee this morning that there could be compensation to affected farmers in certain circumstances?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022720c9ae492254bd6a45f8a41927cb21b\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: What I said at the select committee is that if there\u2019s a proven loss of value, then discussion needs to occur to ensure some fairness. There are a number of properties in my particular patch and all around the country where that\u2019s a fair discussion that needs to occur\u2014there are no prejudged outcomes of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ddffc5057cb646a9b6937d1910e69c51\u0022\u003ETeanau Tuiono\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister satisfied that the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity will address concerns such as those raised in the Far North by ensuring councils\u2019 processes involve meaningful engagement with M\u0101ori?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef526c57536c4a8189fff198872fd0f5\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: In summary, yes. We have to ensure that there\u2019s proper consultation and engagement with iwi, with landowners and, indeed, that\u2019s the process we\u2019re working through.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022262cf274c15542dc817656254eeaa41b\u0022\u003EMark Cameron\u003C/span\u003E: Will he advocate as Minister for Rural Communities for compensation for farmers for any loss of use of their land from Significant Natural Areas?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3699612677c41f6b63bc258c5571bb8\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: As I said at the select committee, we have to ensure fairness in this process. There\u2019s a lot of, I guess, subjective judgment over valuations before and after and what might be a fair compensation claim\u2014those things we\u2019re going to work through carefully.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224e2edfdda4074b719cea698a8198ce6a\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u2014Immigration\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022 data-id=\u002293c5bc09261242e7a169b19bba762d6a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002293c5bc09261242e7a169b19bba762d6a\u0022\u003ETANGI UTIKERE (Labour\u2014Palmerston North)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Immigration: What announcement has he made about work visas?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022 data-id=\u0022cf8a98b0fddc4229a22c446fc665784c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cf8a98b0fddc4229a22c446fc665784c\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Immigration):\u003C/span\u003E This morning, I announced changes to onshore visas that will provide employers and visa holders with more certainty. Around 10,000 working holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employment, or SSE, work visas that were due to expire between June and December will now be extended for another six months to help manage ongoing labour shortages while New Zealand\u2019s COVID-19 border restrictions remain in place. This will provide employers with an assurance that they can continue to access the current onshore workforce to help fill roles.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022603f667022154f199973eb27f637ce4a\u0022\u003ETangi Utikere\u003C/span\u003E: How will these changes provide employers and visa holders with more certainty?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3a3bf3427544d61bc30e3b146188dd5\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: These changes will provide certainty to workers and their employers. Those workers on working holiday and SSE visas can stay and work in New Zealand for the foreseeable future. We\u2019ve also announced well-signalled changes to essential skill visa conditions, which has allowed us to stage our way back to pre-COVID settings. All of these workers have been filling jobs since our border closed, which has severely limited our ability to bring in new tranches of working holiday and SSE workers, so providing this certainty to workers and their employees now will take some pressure off the sectors that they are working in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223591453982614c4ca8906c55d6dd5b48\u0022\u003ETangi Utikere\u003C/span\u003E: Why has the Government taken this action?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e01ff0625764fca95d50c04192fb799\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: The Government has taken a pragmatic approach to these situations to ensure that we are well positioned for the economic recovery, within the limits that our border closures put on us. While we\u2019re taking these pragmatic measures in the short term, we are consistently encouraging sectors and employers to think about how they make the shift work and look for ways to recruit New Zealanders before returning to temporary migrant workers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd5b789e4a1e49b5a93b738eccc70394\u0022\u003EErica Stanford\u003C/span\u003E: How does the Minister explain, on the one hand, announcing in his immigration reset speech a plan to drastically reduce our reliance on low- and mid-skilled labour, and then, less than a month later, announcing an extension to working holiday visa holders and an extension to the duration of low-skilled work visas from six to 12 months; and does he understand that businesses need certainty, not mixed messages?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220bd733fdc0e54c05aeb505359e1c5730\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: The member might know that the border is closed at the moment, so in order to assist businesses to deal with short-term shortages, I think it\u2019s a positive thing that we\u2019ve extended the working holiday visas. As I have said at the end of my previous supplementary answer, we\u2019ve also sent messages that, in the long term, we should learn a lesson from COVID, and those sectors that have traditionally relied on migrant labour, who are now facing shortages in their sectors, should look at training opportunities to make sure New Zealanders could potentially fill those jobs in the future.\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=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228954c4387e13411e88dc9e86053c925b\u0022\u003EHealth (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022de6744c88e944880bd67c1a740f1e8b0\u0022\u003EIn Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000181\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 8 June.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c3d2de3d8dda48fab3cf530f2455f764\u0022\u003EClauses 1 to 9\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u002279fa7aec8fd64277986bad84891a844f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002279fa7aec8fd64277986bad84891a844f\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: K\u0101ti r\u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. Members who are leaving should do so swiftly, please. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EThe House is in committee for further consideration of the Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill. When we were last considering this bill, we were debating the question that clauses 1 to 9 stand part. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EThe question is that the Minister\u2019s amendment replacing clause 6A set out on Supplementary Order Paper 35 be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EAmendment agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EClauses 1 to 9 as amended agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EHouse resumed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u002223bd3be946984f65bf62678d63f56394\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002223bd3be946984f65bf62678d63f56394\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: The committee has further considered the Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill and reports it with amendment. I move, That the report be adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EReport adopted. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a646abf922eb4b3e95c6c40963c9c08d\u0022\u003EGas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022661d9eea74c249209d968146a039e86d\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000194\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 3 June.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022 data-id=\u002263fd8058c1514695896da4c3d9cfd694\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002263fd8058c1514695896da4c3d9cfd694\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: The National Party have the first call. I call Melissa Lee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022 data-id=\u00221c195d4166ca40f68116972a7962a4b4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221c195d4166ca40f68116972a7962a4b4\u0022\u003EMELISSA LEE (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a pleasure to rise to support this bill in the second reading. Having actually sat through the select committee process, sometimes members have to reflect back on how far ago we have actually discussed this bill and how many people participated in the select committee process in terms of our submissions. This Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill was referred to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee of the 52nd Parliament on 27 May 2020. The committee called for the submissions and there were, in fact, 11 submissions from interested groups and individuals. We heard oral evidence from four submitters at a hearing by video conference and we received advice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and I thank them for the process that has taken place. I think when this bill continued on in the 53rd Parliament, the committee tried to re-open the submission process because we felt that, given the distance in time from the time of the last Parliament to this one, we thought perhaps that there might be more people interested in the subject matter and perhaps submit more. But we didn\u2019t have too many people interested, so we just basically continued on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EThe purpose of this bill is to amend the Gas Act of 1992 to provide and enhance information disclosure requirements for the gas market and to ensure that settings around the enforcement and penalties are suitably robust. The bill does not actually make substantive changes in itself but amends the framework to expand the scope of regulation-making powers. A number of changes require gas industry participants to report forecasts of supply and demand of gas reserves and I know that there were some concerns in terms of commercial sensitivities from some of the submitters who were not very happy if disclosure actually meant that competitors could potentially have information that they would actually like to keep not public because it would mean that they might end up not being competitive. This is also reflected in the response to the 2018 Pohokura outage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EOne of the issues with the Pohokura outage\u2014it wasn\u2019t an issue of lack of information but an issue of lack of gas, actually. But this bill will allow New Zealand to understand just how bad the situation is in terms of this Labour Government decision to ban gas exploration in Taranaki. But I digress, the gas crisis is, in fact, the direct result of the policy implementation by this Government and it is, effectively, decimating a whole district, actually\u2014a whole area of Taranaki which actually relies on the gas exploration business, a lot of supply and support businesses that support the people who are in that industry\u2014and I think that we will actually see the impact of their decision going forward into the future, because we are short on gas. We are going to be running out of gas because we stopped exploration. The other thing is that we are importing more coal from overseas and our carbon footprint is going to be bigger as a result of the decision of this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022867d55dc1b3f4847a6f541971ef6fc33\u0022\u003EMaureen Pugh\u003C/span\u003E: It is bigger.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b5e7ad9e71e4c2a8129f3dd674071f2\u0022\u003EMELISSA LEE\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, Maureen Pugh. You are right. It is absolutely bigger.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EBusiness actually needs certainty. They need good regulation, good policy, to make sure that they can plan for the future, and sometimes they don\u2019t actually have that\u2014particularly in the gas industry sector\u2014and I feel devastated for those people who are involved in that industry. It is estimated we need $100 million of investment per year just to keep the production levels that we currently have. This has dried up and we have seen gas production fall 40 percent in three years. This has resulted in job losses at Methanex and timber mills. New Zealand Steel have reduced production and, as I said, we\u2019re using more coal and Huntly gas station is burning four times as much coal\u2014and that is definitely a humungous increase in the greenhouse gas emissions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003EHowever, the framework in which this bill actually works in terms of the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill\u2014the responsibility of the businesses involved in their duties is something that we actually support and I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022 data-id=\u002288e2794eee7e4a849ba15b0e32b0a2e7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002288e2794eee7e4a849ba15b0e32b0a2e7\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT (Labour\u2014New Plymouth):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to take a call on this, the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill. It has been a privilege to be on the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee as we have worked our way through this. Now, firstly, I want to thank the previous Government\u2014the previous Parliament, should I say; the 52nd Parliament, who began this work. That was before my time, and I\u2019ve had the pleasure of coming on board and getting involved to learn, to understand, but also to work on behalf of my constituents in my electorate, where this is personal. I want to say a big thankyou, also, to the Hon Dr Megan Woods, our Minister who has brought this piece of legislation to the House, and to my select committee colleagues who have been part of forming this, taking it to select committee, and hearing the submissions, as it has moved through the parliamentary process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ENow, I didn\u2019t really want to get into it, but my colleague and member on the other side of the House, who I sit on the select committee with\u2014Melissa Lee\u2014just sort of forced me to go there because there is some misinformation going around, in around the fact that we\u2019ve suddenly stopped exploration. Well, we haven\u2019t stopped exploration. This bill isn\u2019t a response to the announcement in 2018. We know there are a lot of other things that went on. I just want to draw your attention to the fact that the last time we discovered gas offshore was the year 2000, I believe. That\u2019s the last time. It wasn\u2019t that suddenly in 2018 we stopped and there was nothing left. But it has been hard to find already, which is a separate point. And then onshore, I think, off the top of my head, forgive me if I\u2019m wrong, it was around 2006 that was the last time there was any kind of onshore discovery of gas. So for the member to say that because of the ban\u2014that keeps getting thrown around here\u2014that we have to bring this legislation in is incorrect. Putting an end to new permits offshore doesn\u2019t affect this at all. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EThen, I was encouraged this morning in select committee, we had the Minister Dr Megan Woods speaking about the energy sector, and, again, the \u201Cc\u201D word keeps coming up in this House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226f81f6f2054d40e2b5516c49ab6a796b\u0022\u003EAngie Warren-Clark\u003C/span\u003E: Not the \u201Cc\u201D word!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022842f21fef7cd4f5fa97e578e7ee3fc1c\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: The \u201Cc\u201D word does. It\u2019s a bit disingenuous, again, this \u201Cc\u201D word, because I know\u2014 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd9dc8f2186e4550857616e3e1c02366\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Just say the word \u201Ccoal\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226380a6ff11524299bb1a30b48ee64dfd\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: It is a dirty word. And I know that member does\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa9cf32172204cb3a56b67382aefa1c3\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: The member can\u2019t say the word \u201Ccoal\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280a80989e2494ee6ad2061f92a32ab87\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: \u201CCoal\u201D. I can say \u201Ccoal\u201D as much as I like.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ee22949b7054c5e8a4752b39961228e\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Isn\u2019t it embarrassing that the member can\u2019t say it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b4d971f257fa43d7a06a5ff8fd1c1e10\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not embarrassed at all, because, like I said, the Minister in select committee this morning was really upfront. In fact, as always, she owns this space, and talked around how \u201CYes, there is coal in use\u201D, that\u2019s why we as a Government are exploring our New Zealand battery options, because we have to transition, we must transition, and we will transition. We can either lead the world or we can stay in the coalmines of the 19th, 18th, and 17th centuries. But we are in the 21st century and we must move on. We need to find resilience, and hence why we are looking at the New Zealand Battery Project. But I am digressing from this bill because I felt like I had to in terms of what was just said across the other side of the House, which was incorrect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EThe other thing, also, was around job losses. I am very sad that the Waitara Valley Methanex plant has been mothballed. That really does grieve me as the member for that area, because one job loss is too many. The previous speaker did talk about the job losses around oil and gas and how somehow this bill is responding to that\u2014which, again, it isn\u2019t. But we know, again, that Methanex, which is a great employer in my electorate, had to mothball it on several occasions in the last 20 years, as they always do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd3a61ba5af544aeaeb985514dd30e3d\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. I had the benefit of attending a wonderful dinner last night with Speaker Mallard, and we received the benefit of his advice on Speaker\u2019s rulings. I\u2019d just like to bring the attention of the House to 44/4: a member may not accuse another member of making a statement they know to be incorrect\u2014in other words, making things up. I think that Mr Bennett did, in fact, accuse the former speaker from the National Party of making information up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc0a6d763ae249b08cf8e4291b324efe\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s not what I heard; a debating point is what I heard. I take a dim view of people interrupting other members who have a right to speak. Debate the points. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229250d4470aba45f8b359edfe0b8d2c41\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: For me, it was, really, obviously, in terms of just trying to clarify some statements in this House while the masses watch on television and in the gallery. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EAgain, it was a pleasure to be in the select committee process\u2014I think this was one of the first bills that I\u2019ve worked through\u2014and to be able to have the submissions from a number of submitters and several oral submitters to talk, and many of those were in the gas industry, so it was important to them. So we were able to hear some of the information, some of the issues they had, and also to take on board some ideas that they brought to this particular bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ENow, this bill is here to strengthen the regulation-making powers in the Act to provide for enhanced information, disclosure requirements for the gas market, and to ensure that settings around enforcement and penalties are substantially robust. Now, we need this; we need to ensure it is in place. And the previous member\u2014and I know, as I rewatched some of the speakers earlier on, when this was first talked about, around the Pohokura site, in terms of the outage that we had there back in 2018, and in terms of our security when it comes to gas, and, of course, information to disclose and what penalties might be involved. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ESo this bill also seeks to clarify the current policy intent, that regulations made under the Act for arrangements relating to outages and other security of supply contingencies may apply across all industry participants and, also, to consumers\u2014but, of course, not to domestic consumers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E So I think back to when we had our submissions in January, via Zoom, and to some of the concerns. I note here that there have been some proposed amendments and some information, and there was, obviously, the legislative scrutiny as well, and I feel that we\u2019ve landed in a place where both sides of the House can agree. There are some things that we don\u2019t agree on, but in terms of we need to ensure that this is here because the security of our gas supply is very, very important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ENow, the Gas Act has been around for a long time. And 1992 was my last year of high school\u2014I know, you can\u2019t believe it, you thought I was only starting school then; I was just finishing, actually! Careful, careful. So it has been around for a long time. I believe, back then, some of our climate discussions, some of our challenges around gas supply were probably a bit too far in the future for many. We should have had our eye on the challenges of gas security but, unfortunately, I\u2019m not sure that this bill, particularly back then, was thinking in that space. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003EThe Gas Act is the principle piece of legislation that regulates us, the Government of New Zealand and the natural gas industry. Looking at Part 4A of the Gas Act, it sets out the co-regulatory model for governance of the gas industry. This means that an approved industry body, that\u2019s the Gas Industry Company, co-regulates the gas industry through making recommendations that secondary legislation be made by the Minister. This secondary legislation is referred to as a \u201Cgas governance arrangement\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ENow, I also want to note that the Gas Act also provides for gas governance rules to be made, rather than regulations, and that these can be made for all purposes that regulations can be made for. Rules are notified by the Minister in the New Zealand Gazette. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003ESo, as a member of the select committee and bringing it back to the House again, today, for the second reading, I support this piece of legislation\u2014 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a38f5a1006a147a4b0693139e7f8e42c\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: So hard to go home. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf689300fff4431e8e4ed18690d7827e\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and I know that, Barbara Kuriger, thank you, that you do as well\u2014but we need to keep our eye on what is important, and this is ensuring that the information disclosure and penalties amendment bill of gas; this isn\u2019t here to talk about the \u201Cc\u201D word; it\u2019s not here to talk about what people like to refer to as \u201Cthe ban\u201D because\u2014 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022476ddb47a48f4dfb9a6f6445d443657d\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Say it, Mr Bennett, it is \u201Ccoal\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002235c56a7ace064e878dcb662ed1412b26\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014I can say \u201Ccoal\u201D many a time, thank you, madam. It was a wonderful thing. We here, on this side of the House, support the fact that we need to ensure that companies in New Zealand are regulated, are ensuring the gas supply, that we keep the lights on, and that we transition\u2014we transition away from coal\u2014and we are committed to that. I commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u002235ac6cf39e6b4ea2817358e2fdb94d84\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002235ac6cf39e6b4ea2817358e2fdb94d84\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e te Whare. I rise in support of this bill on behalf of the Green Party. It is really, really important that we do have adequate regulation and the requirement for disclosure of information, and that that is properly enforced for areas that are strategically important to us, like aspects of our energy and electricity system. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI do want to respond to some of the comments that were made by other speakers in this debate. I think this is really, really important, because I have seen discussion out there on Twitter and elsewhere about what\u2019s happening with electricity prices right now and why we\u2019ve increased imports of coal. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI think that, firstly, we\u2019ve got to be very clear: the investment in infrastructure is something that has years and years, if not decades, of lag time, and there is no question that there\u2019s no way that the policies of this Government have in any way contributed to the fact that we\u2019re importing more coal this year. What it is directly due to\u2014and I would find it hard to believe that the National members claiming this actually believe it, because they are intelligent adults and I\u2019m sure they\u2019re able to understand this\u2014is that from the end of 2008 until the end of 2017, when the National Party was in Government, absolutely no planning or investment or incentives were put in place to transition us to sustainable renewable electricity. There was no long-term planning done, there was no framework put in place, and there was no direction sent by that Government that there would be a transition away from fossil fuels, until, of course, now, in 2020\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216f7a609bd1f41ad8c459984fa446b1e\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: What about John Key\u2019s cycleways?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f78ea84127e4aaea90485543d7aa119\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s ridiculous. Those weren\u2019t even about transport. The cycleways which the member is referring to were about tourism. They were about tourism, because they\u2019re not actually in towns and cities\u2014they\u2019re about recreation. But, I mean, the Green Party supported it and worked with them on that, but the point is that the previous National Government\u2019s entire economic development strategy was based on things that increased pollution and increased carbon emissions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003ESo we can take it from those members that they don\u2019t actually believe in climate action. They don\u2019t believe in climate change. There is a window of time that is running out for us to respond to climate change so that we can avoid an economic, health, and humanitarian catastrophe for ourselves and future generations. We only have nine years to drastically reduce emissions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022915799bd2848496aba1b3648393c2c60\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: So we\u2019re burning coal. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fedc41450b2e44529bc673ec48766801\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, it would have been much cheaper and easier and we would be much further ahead and advanced on this journey, and we would not have to be importing coal this year if the last National Government had done one single thing to set a direction of transition to renewable energy. But they did not, and so how dare they believe that voters are stupid enough to believe it when they claim that the Labour Government\u2019s policies have anything to do with importing more coal during a dry year when we all know it takes many years to plan and build and develop the infrastructure that will enable us to have security of supply from a renewable source in a dry year. Yeah, we could have been 10 years advanced on that journey, thanks\u2014no thanks\u2014John Key\u2019s National Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003ESo then the most ridiculous thing that they\u2019re claiming is that, somehow, sending a very clear signal to business and to the rest of the sectors of the economy that we are transitioning away from fossil fuels and, therefore, we\u2019re not going to be releasing new permits for exploration for oil and gas offshore because we already know about more oil and gas than we can afford to burn and have a habitable climate and habitable planet. So it just seems kind of insane to be looking for more of something that we cannot actually afford to burn and have a habitable climate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EYou would think anyone that understands basic maths, science, and physics would embrace this, and in most parts of the developed world, the right-wing Governments have embraced this knowledge of climate change and have worked on a transition. If we look at Germany, for example, they are well advanced in a transition and they have made significant progress, while the right-wing parties in New Zealand are in total denial about the fact that we actually need to change what we\u2019re doing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EBut, not only that, they had this lottery approach to economic development, where they\u2019re like \u201CI know how we can get some more money. Let\u2019s go out there and invite all these companies around the world to come look for oil and gas offshore in our incredibly sensitive marine environments, and if they find some oil and gas, we can sell it and we\u2019ll make some money out of it. That\u2019s how we\u2019ll get rich quick\u2014that\u2019s how we\u2019ll get rich quick.\u201D, except, what these guys don\u2019t realise\u2014and, I mean, they are pretty poorly informed on most issues, admittedly. My father-in-law is a petroleum geologist; in fact, so is his wife. They\u2019re absolutely experts in this. They haven\u2019t lived in New Zealand for 45 years, because they had to leave to get jobs after they got their PhDs in geology in the late 1970s, but they put in very informed submissions on the Government of the day\u2019s plans on oil and gas exploration back when the National Party was in Government, in 2009 or 2010, I think. They said, \u201CThis crazy. These plans are absolutely crazy. We do not have the infrastructure.\u201D They weren\u2019t proposing even raising the level of royalties that would have made it worthwhile for New Zealand. Firstly, there were very poor chances of finding any oil and gas in deep water in New Zealand, and very low chances that it would be economic. It turns out that my in-laws were absolutely right: of course nothing was found over nine years of exploration. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EBut it\u2019s completely ridiculous to assert that sending a signal in 2018 that we\u2019re not releasing new permits for exploration has anything to do with a shortage of gas right now, because there is no way that if additional permits had been released in 2018 or 2019, we would have magically found a bunch of gas and had it up and ready for production by 2021. These are people who know absolutely nothing about the industry and make the most ridiculous statements. It just drives me crazy having to listen to it, because they take themselves so seriously. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EOK, so let\u2019s just go back to the actual facts about what\u2019s happening here\u2014all right. Almost 40 to 50 percent of our actual gas supply in New Zealand is used by Methanex and exported overseas for, let\u2019s see\u2014we have no royalties. I don\u2019t believe we get any royalties from them. They pay almost no tax in New Zealand, and they employ fewer people than a supermarket. So how is this of benefit to New Zealand that a strategic asset, which is the gas that they\u2019re using and then selling products overseas that don\u2019t benefit New Zealanders\u2014they barely pay tax in New Zealand\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225f3a64c397934266b372904ab3cd3578\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: About 80 percent of their products are used here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c2c3c233054457d9651ea573456c682\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: No. They barely employ people\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225d246b8699b6406fa41bdee953bb68ea\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: Paints, resins. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228270039afea542cc817b277f631d0721\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, so we buy them back? Great! No. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EIf the strategic best use of that gas is in electricity production or in people\u2019s households, we do have to ask ourselves the question: why is 40 to 50 percent of it going offshore to produce products that are not directly benefiting New Zealand? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003ESo if we are going to address the climate crisis, we have to have a rational, costed plan for how to do that, and sending early signals to the industry makes sense. That\u2019s what Barbara Kuriger said earlier in this debate: industry needs certainty. That\u2019s exactly what the Government has given them, and absolutely we\u2019re going to have catch up on the lost decade in which no policy was developed, no planning was prepared, for us to actually transition to sustainable renewable electricity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019m just tired about hearing the very high-level talking points from the National Party and others who are totally disingenuous in their debating points, claiming that the Government is somehow responsible for a dry year and the fact that 10 years ago, when the UK had established its climate commission\u2014no, more than 10 years ago. It was 2008. From the time the National Party was in Government, from 2009 to 2017, there was no climate commission, no evidence-based plan. In fact, they were just like \u201CLet\u2019s go full hog on increasing agriculture emissions, trying to look for oil and gas that wasn\u2019t even there, that wouldn\u2019t have been economic to produce, in the hopes that we get rich quick by producing more fossil fuels that will burn the planet.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EClearly, my explanations are never going to get through to them. But I know the people watching at home understand that they\u2019re not right, because just before me, we had the Labour member for New Plymouth speaking, and so, clearly, if New Plymouth was truly upset at the Labour Government\u2014that\u2019s why they elected a Labour MP. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003ESo I think the National Party is deeply in denial about the level of just how popular they are, with one out of four voters, at most, having confidence in them. But I think that\u2019s dropping quickly, the more they open their mouths and express their absolute ignorance about how we\u2019re going to respond to climate change, and their total lack of care for those who are worse off in this country, and their ignorance about colonisation. That\u2019s all I have to say.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022 data-id=\u0022822e68c4c7fc4223a45356c0f2745022\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022822e68c4c7fc4223a45356c0f2745022\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I appreciate the Green member\u2019s passion. However, I\u2019m still not entirely clear whether they support this bill or not, but there was certainly a lot of information offered to the people who may be watching at home. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EACT opposes this bill unless certain changes are made to make it more effective and actually to deliver on the outcomes that the bill proposes to deliver. The purpose is apparently to strengthen the regulation-making powers in the Act to provide for enhanced information disclosure. It assumes that there\u2019s some problem with information disclosure with the current system, but I want to offer members an opportunity to have a look at some of the information that\u2019s already being disclosed. But before I do, let\u2019s just come back to the reason why this bill came before the House. It\u2019s because there were a number of recent gas outages, primarily the 2018 outage that came as a surprise to some gas users, and certainly the Government, at the Pohokura station. We know that outages can affect gas availability and prices, and they also affect the electricity market, which relies on gas, because energy made with gas supplies about 20 percent of New Zealand\u2019s energy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003ENow, this regulation appears to be another example of Government overreach. Essentially, it\u2019s an industry where the Government has already shown a record of reactionary and failed policy, driven by emotion, chasing clickbait and favourable headlines rather than actually delivering policies which benefit business and create jobs and make communities more sustainable. The Minister made some comments, or their delegate did, when this bill was introduced about whether ACT has a full tank or not. I can assure the Government that ACT is fuelled up and we are here for the long haul, and we are standing up for better regulations to make sure that businesses are able to deliver what they need to do for our economy and jobs for communities. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EAccording to the Government, this bill does not provide any changes that impose immediate costs on business. However, there are costs likely to be imposed on industry and, therefore, consumers. This bill is actually a threat to industry. It is threatening those businesses which employ thousands of people and are already fulfilling their disclosure obligations. This bill ignores the fact that there is a voluntary regime that is working very, very effectively right now. That is why ACT is opposing this bill in its current form without the amendments that we\u2019ve tabled\u2014that\u2019s Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 41\u2014which make sure that an adequate cost-benefit analysis is undertaken before any further regulations are made. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EWe took on board the feedback from stakeholders during the select committee process, to come up with this amendment, because the stakeholders were concerned, not just that they\u2019re going to lose jobs and lose production and that their businesses are going to be affected; the stakeholders are concerned that gas supply issues are only going to get worse, and even though the Government claims that this gas information disclosure bill is designed to create more stability and provide more certainty, what we know is that the single-largest disruption to the gas supply industry is going to be due to the Government\u2019s oil and gas ban. Whether that\u2019s taking effect now, it is certainly the intention of the Government to eliminate gas as a fuel. They\u2019ve started by eliminating exploration permits and we\u2019ve seen every permit outside of Taranaki surrendered, and that\u2019s where we\u2019re going. So adding further regulation to ensure visibility on the supply side seems bizarre given the Government has signalled its intention they don\u2019t want any supply at all. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003ESo ACT believes that it\u2019s a disingenuous bill and actually it\u2019s a knee-jerk reaction to being caught on the hop only a short time after making their flawed, clickbait, headline-grabbing oil and gas exploration ban announcement that, lo and behold\u2014lo and behold\u2014there\u2019s a gas shortage. Now, some may have tried to connect the two, and sometimes it\u2019s difficult to connect bad Government policy to bad social and economic outcomes; sometimes it takes years before we see massive brain drains of people going to countries like Australia or just not bothering to come back to New Zealand even though it\u2019s some kind of safe haven, some kind of oasis that we hear from the Government. So who knows how long it will take for their bad policy to kick in, but we certainly have a shortage of gas right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EBut look, in terms of what the stakeholders told us, some of them said they strongly support the bill, and of course that raised immediately the risk of commercial information being disclosed between market participants. Others said that there should be significant restrictions in place to make sure that commercially sensitive information is protected. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EThey also suggested there\u2019s already a voluntary regulatory code, and I\u2019ll give you an example of that. [Holds up a graph] Here is the voluntary information that tells Government and tells energy consumers and other producers how much gas is being used by businesses large and small. [Holds up another graph] Here is the current disclosure, and you can go on the Gas Industry Co. website and you can click and download this right now. This tells you when the next outage is going to be. Again, it\u2019s very difficult to see why this piece of regulation is needed. [Holds up another graph] This also tells you how much gas is being stored right now in the Ahuroa field and the fact that a lot of gas is being stored to take care of our dry-year risk, this dry-year risk that the Government believes it actually needs to build a multibillion-dollar dam at Onslow, flooding a UNESCO-level wetland\u2014the largest hydroelectric dam on what will no doubt become a very technically difficult construction site, and unlikely to be delivered within the lifetimes of any of the current members of this Parliament. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003EBut that\u2019s how much gas is currently being stored. This deals with the dry risk. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c52b1542f4143adae85b05dfa6a564c\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Hmm, the gas chart. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254e235b98a0e44a084e901b899ea1d07\u0022\u003ESIMON COURT\u003C/span\u003E: This is a gas chart. It\u2019s true that ACT is gassed up. We\u2019re fuelled up. We\u2019re here for the long haul. We do our research. We don\u2019t come to this House and just make wild statements and wild guesses about the kind of policy that should be promoted by this House and should be passed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003ESo that\u2019s why ACT has actually proposed amendments to this bill through our SOP 41, because ACT believes that when the Government makes laws, it should only make laws that are absolutely necessary. Where a business is demonstrating social responsibility and when they\u2019re operating in an environmentally friendly way, in a transparent way, in an efficient way, and in a way that provides highly paid jobs in communities like Taranaki, supporting industries in places like New Plymouth, the Government should recognise that and recognise their value to the regions and to manufacturing in our major cities. ACT says the Government should leave those businesses alone. That\u2019s what we say, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re opposing this bill unless our amendments are taken up. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003ESo, with that, Mr Speaker, I will say thank you for showing me some flexibility today with the previous comment that I made. But I will finish by saying that the ACT Party opposes this bill unless the amendments as tabled under SOP 41 are made. Thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022288783df-ade6-42d2-bd21-06ffa87dedf8\u0022 data-id=\u002205565767104b49eb99257b988aa99086\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022288783df-ade6-42d2-bd21-06ffa87dedf8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002205565767104b49eb99257b988aa99086\u0022\u003ESTEPH LEWIS (Labour\u2014Whanganui):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you. I rise today to take a call on the second reading of the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill, which amends the Gas Act 1992. I\u2019d like to begin my remarks today by acknowledging the Minister, the Hon Dr Megan Woods, for her work to ensure that we get our regulatory settings right for our energy market. I know this is just one small part in our Government\u2019s focus to make sure that we have a more sustainable and resilient energy sector.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022288783df-ade6-42d2-bd21-06ffa87dedf8\u0022\u003ENow, this bill was introduced to the House, and had its first reading, last term, before I was privileged to be elected as a member to this House. However, I understand this bill stems from work that started way back in 2018, when the Minister asked officials to determine if information disclosure arrangements in the gas market were sufficient and fit for purpose. It was off the back of concerns that were being raised about the prolonged gas outages at the Pohokura production stations, and I think it\u2019s worth noting that that gas field provides 40 percent of our country\u2019s natural gas supply. Combine that with the planned outage at Kupe and the dry spring conditions, leading to sustained high wholesale prices for electricity, and historic prices on the gas spot market. This is all combined to highlight the need to ensure that disclosure of information is timely, particularly when it may have significant downstream impacts, or potentially cause security of supply risks, as we\u2019ve seen. A number of parties at the time voiced their concerns about the variation of the level of information that was being disclosed by gas market participants, particularly if this information\u2014as I said\u2014was going to have a significant impact downstream, including to businesses who may not be involved in the natural gas industry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022288783df-ade6-42d2-bd21-06ffa87dedf8\u0022\u003EComing back to the present day, this bill seeks to expand the scope of regulation-making powers, and it does this by amending section 43F of the Gas Act. This section sets out the scope of regulation-making powers, and the proposed changes will enable gas governance arrangements to be made that provide for a broad regime for sharing information, which will have a significant impact and which may contribute to the risk of critical gas shortages. The bill also clarifies that the existing policy intent, that regulations made under section 43F for arrangements relating to outages and other security of supply contingencies apply across all industry participants and consumers. This expanded ability to make regulations to enable governance arrangements that provide for the broad disclosure is important when you consider the context. That is, as a country, we\u2019re currently experiencing a drier than average hydrological condition, so it\u2019s very important that necessary information can be easily disclosed and communicated in a timely way, so that people have the ability to plan ahead accordingly. In addition to that, the official statistics on gas supply show that we have about 11 years of gas supply remaining, which hasn\u2019t changed much for the past two decades, and that\u2019s with further exploration continuing with existing permits. That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial that we continue to explore and invest in alternative forms of renewable energy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022288783df-ade6-42d2-bd21-06ffa87dedf8\u0022\u003ENow, as you may recall, I grew up in a small town in South Taranaki, in my electorate, called Waverley. It\u2019s a great place, traditionally, for dairy, sheep, and beef farming, but recently we had a new farm spring up almost overnight. Between Waverley and Patea, we now have the Waipipi Wind Farm, which is a $277 million investment by Tilt Renewables, into constructing a 31-turbine windfarm across 7 hectares of prime South Taranaki coastal farmland. These turbines are the biggest turbines ever built in Aotearoa, being 4.3 megawatt machines standing at 160 metres tall with a 130 metre diameter rotor. It\u2019s the first wind farm to be constructed in New Zealand on flat land, and this farm will produce enough clean energy each year to power about 65,000 houses, and save us the emission of roughly 250,000 tonnes of carbon. I confess, I quite enjoyed watching the construction progressing each time I drove up through the electorate last year, and on more than one occasion I was required to pull over and wait, as the blades were being transported past from New Plymouth on their way to the Waipipi Wind Farm\u2014it was an impressive sight to see.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022288783df-ade6-42d2-bd21-06ffa87dedf8\u0022\u003EI also note that this bill makes changes to the Gas Act penalty regime. The bill amends the penalty regime for industry participants, by increasing the maximum civil penalty able to be imposed by the Gas Rulings Panel for breaches of gas governance regulations from $20,000 to $200,000. This addresses concerns about the low level of pecuniary penalty available to be currently issued by the Gas Rulings Panel, particularly for situations where there are a wide range of consumers that may be affected by a potential breach. The bill also creates a penalty for consumers who are not industry participants, who will now be subject to civil pecuniary penalty instead of criminal penalties if they breach gas governance arrangements. This will ensure equitable treatment between industry participants and consumers, and non-industry participant consumers. It will be used to deter breaches of regulation by these consumers, including some of the larger consumers of natural gas. This penalty will also have a maximum of $200,000, and will not apply to residential consumers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022288783df-ade6-42d2-bd21-06ffa87dedf8\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to acknowledge as well the work of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee, who reviewed this bill and listened to a number of submissions. Following that process, I note that several important changes have been recommended by the committee to address some of the issues raised by those submitters, including a change that will ensure that a failure of an industry participant to follow a Gas Rulings Panel order will continue to carry a criminal penalty. This will help ensure that appropriate incentives are in place for the industry to comply with orders from the panel. The bill represents a step forward in improving how information that may highlight the risk of critical gas shortages, or the potential significant price impacts from gas shortages, is released to the market.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022288783df-ade6-42d2-bd21-06ffa87dedf8\u0022\u003EI\u2019m sure that no one would disagree that energy security is critical for supporting a productive, sustainable, and inclusive New Zealand economy. That\u2019s why the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill is important. Because this bill ensures that appropriate regulatory requirements can be put in place for supporting security of supply and to improve outcomes for energy consumers. Therefore, Mr Speaker, I am happy to commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022274af2385a57426c8c84e9488453f3c8\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This is a split call, I call Joseph Mooney.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022 data-id=\u002284d7353acdfa4f2da82d720f68b08c00\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002284d7353acdfa4f2da82d720f68b08c00\u0022\u003EJOSEPH MOONEY (National\u2014Southland):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to take a short call on the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill on behalf of the National Party. The National Party supports this bill. The bill amends the Gas Act 1992 to provide for enhanced information disclosure requirements for the gas market and to ensure that settings around enforcement and penalties are suitably robust. However, the bill does not make substantive changes in and of itself but amends the framework to expand the scope of regulation-making powers. A number of the changes require gas industry participants to report forecasts of supply and demand of gas reserves. This is in response to the 2018 Pohokura outage, but it also can be linked to the Government\u2019s decision to ban offshore oil and gas exploration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EIf enacted, the bill will clarify that the gas Government regulations could (a) specifically provide for arrangements relating to gas outages and other security of supply contingencies in relation to any markets for gas and (b) require data and information to be provided and disclosed for any industry participant or consumer. National supports more transparent disclosure around current, pending, or possible gas outages, but we need to remember why we are here. This bill is needed because New Zealand is fast entering a gas supply crisis. The Pohokura outage wasn\u2019t an issue of a lack of information but, ultimately, an issue of a lack of gas. This bill will allow New Zealand to understand just how bad the situation Labour has put us in is\u2014it\u2019s why we support it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s also important to state why we are here. This is a direct result of Labour\u2019s 2018 oil and gas ban. When the gas ban was implemented, Minister Woods said, \u201CDon\u2019t worry, we have 100,000 square kilometres of gas exploration already permitted.\u201D She said, \u201CWe have permits that go out for 30 years; the sky isn\u2019t falling in.\u201D What she didn\u2019t say is that gas doesn\u2019t come out of the ground by magic. Businesses need certainty to invest big sums of money, and they need to invest money in things called plant and equipment to get gas to our houses and factories and our electricity generation. Our trading partners have reduced emissions by using natural gas and turning off old coal-fed power stations and industrial heating. We instead are reducing significantly our supply of gas and discouraging investment in exploration of new gas fields. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EIn Otago, Beach Energy made a decision to abandon existing exploration permits off the South Island as a result of the Government\u2019s oil and gas ban. And while the Government call it a just transition, the plan for the future was nothing but a short-sighted policy to appear as a leader on the global stage in climate transition. Officials warned the decision would cost billions in royalties, destroy thousands of jobs, and likely increase global emissions, yet the Prime Minister and energy Minister Megan Woods still ploughed ahead with ideological policy. This is something we need to be cautious of in this House. We do need gas; we don\u2019t need hot air.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EThis Beach Energy decision to abandon the existing exploration permits effectively ended any offshore exploration outside of Taranaki. It is a blow to Otago\u2019s economy and it will mean significant job losses. Gas exports could have also helped our recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis. A significant gas find in the South Island would have allowed industries presently reliant on coal to transition to lower emissions fuel\u2014which is what other countries are doing\u2014while boosting New Zealand\u2019s exports.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EI note that in the last year alone New Zealand imported 1.1 million tonnes of coal, and we\u2019re on track this year to import 2 million tonnes of coal, and a lot of that coal is what\u2019s known as dirty coal. So instead of reducing our emissions profile, we are actually increasing it by short-sighted policies that don\u2019t focus on the fundamentals. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EI note that the previous speaker, Steph Lewis, spoke about the pride at seeing wind farms being built, and I certainly encourage the growth of wind farms, but we need to be conscious that this is a complex energy environment. Today alone, wind is operating at 10 percent of capacity, so we need to have an alternative energy supply, and this is why this bill is here, because we need to have gas to supplement our energy supply. So we need gas to reduce our energy profile, to reduce our emissions profile, and ensure that we can power our economy and make sure New Zealanders have electricity to turn on the lights.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003ESo this is a small step that is required in the environment we find ourselves in, but I would encourage the Government to reconsider its short-sighted ban on the exploration of gas around New Zealand so that we don\u2019t have to import dirty coal from other countries.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022 data-id=\u0022daf7e795842c490d9c2d70b4c3cd8f32\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022daf7e795842c490d9c2d70b4c3cd8f32\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thanks, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s a real pleasure to stand. I was a little bit confused with the last member\u2019s speech and just wanted to make the comment\u2014in fact, all of the members across the House who are voting for this bill, it didn\u2019t sound like they were. They sound like they\u2019re pretty much just against this bill at all. Anyhow, it would be really great to hear them actually speak\u2014because they were involved in the creation of this legislation and are actually supposedly voting for it\u2014around some of the positive aspects.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ESo anyway, I\u2019m taking a short call on behalf\u2014I\u2019m covering the M\u0101ori Party slot here today, and I\u2019m really surprised that the M\u0101ori Party aren\u2019t here, given that they\u2019re\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022753781f4fe2742dea358dbc20e0a286a\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member should not mention the absence of anyone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246a93cb3ee584ad9a3f9eef4076b91e8\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, yes. Absolutely. They\u2019ve chosen not to take a call, and I\u2019m really sorry about that because I know that they certainly would\u2019ve had lots to say on this issue, given that they\u2019re so passionate about the Taranaki region. Nevertheless, sir.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019m particularly surprised to be speaking on this bill today. I have not sat on the select committee that was involved\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d854362909984b15b2862b507bb2d0be\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: The member should tell us what she knows about gas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260d827ddf5db4c8d849ce9ffbfa65f1a\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: I know lots about gas. I\u2019m a great barbecuer. Nevertheless, back to the speech I think.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003ESo this bill is particularly around amending the principal Act, the Gas Act 1992. Look, it\u2019s really in place to help with some assurance and security around supply and goes through a number of things to ensure that the gas governance regulations require data and information to be provided and disclosed by any industry participant and consumer. And it goes through a number of things that must be disclosed or discussed. So these are about the volume, the price, the forecasts of supply or demand, the info about actual or potential outages, the info about the risks to the security of supply, and information to help other industry participants and consumers make informed decisions. Now, I think that all of that\u2019s really important, because I guess, as we move into a period of time where we are trying to move to 100 percent renewable energy, that we actually need to know what the supply looks like out there. We need to know what is coming up in the future. Apparently 11 years of supply is left, I\u2019m not sure if that\u2019s the case or not, but this bill puts that information right up the front, and we are still investing in this area. I sat, last term, on the Crown Minerals (Petroleum) Amendment Bill 2018, and it was absolutely my pleasure to be there\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022224ba4edf8794203854fa0d818362956\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m finding it hard to follow.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5fdbb78ddec46a7b4e10fa9ecac74a6\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014looking at the new\u2014the member is finding it hard to follow because he\u2019s not usually here on a Thursday. He usually gets thrown out on a Thursday so he can go home early. That\u2019s why the member is finding it so hard to follow. Have a cup of coffee, Simon Bridges\u2014have a cup of coffee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da10e584c3e94ba586af0770e38d6840\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Lot of gas over that side of the room.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b561a5466fc7430f84404ff9bce85240\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: Lot of gas. So it was a real pleasure to sit on that bill and to understand that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc71baa60ef947fc8d7d501f2db9b777\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: What\u2019s she doing sitting on the bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a05867f369548488fadc97e997c93aa\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014as a Government, we\u2019re moving forward\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d6f577d81f0460f8688561b15f42f35\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Get off the bill. Leave the bill alone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225062f32c01174beeb1c1151bd643b67f\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014around looking towards some alternative. I think it\u2019s Thursday afternoon, and the member needs his nap.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2336382283842e182135c9960a9cb3a\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m waiting for a valedictory.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002229fb1aa76d6d43fba367e2523f80c510\u0022\u003EANGIE WARREN-CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: The member is waiting for a valedictory, yes, as are we all. So I think probably, on that note, I would like to commend this bill to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022 data-id=\u00220f6ae3b588ce4b3ca5556318dfdc9284\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220f6ae3b588ce4b3ca5556318dfdc9284\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI (Labour\u2014\u014Ctaki):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m just trying to find my notes. There\u2019s some comedians in the House today. But can I say it\u2019s a privilege and honour to always take a call in the House and as a newbie, like I said the other night, get used to and learn when we get into the House what we\u2019re doing and how to speak. Really good to have members like Simon Bridges on the other side of the House to role model that to us, and we can hopefully pick up those tips\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002241ba7c0adb364e3cb0cd657a3238c77c\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Hey, I\u2019m helping you get to 10 minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022da12827a4a6845649e8e80317229b3d9\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Kia ora. Oh, thank you. Make sure you heckle heaps so I can make sure you get into my speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224daa1b48d5dc4666b7613877f5c9a065\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I can be 2\u00BD minutes of this speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227754b6054cf64911a9071ae60fb9bc2b\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that\u2019s fantastic. That\u2019s what we want and that\u2019s as much as I needed to filibuster, so that\u2019s great, Simon Bridges, thank you. That\u2019s working together across parties\u2014fantastic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003ESo, as I said, it\u2019s a privilege and an honour to take a call on the Gas\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c611160affe43868ba260d9b30c1735\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Filibustering with hot gas!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227ef7105533b4091a396439193dc2e27\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Well, and you too, Barbara Kuriger\u2014another good mentor to be able to help me fill in my 10 minutes\u2019 time, so kia ora for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003ESo yes, a great privilege to take a call on the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill\u2014jump in whenever you like, Simon Bridges and Barbara Kuriger. First of all I just want to thank the Hon Megan Woods for championing this bill forward, and of course the 52nd Parliament that we know Simon Bridges and Barbara Kuriger were part of, but I wasn\u2019t obviously. So I wasn\u2019t part of the select committee either.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c5712b8e8b24ce2940314d88cda478a\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: They missed out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae70e0b852514041bf837d0dc53a307f\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee, and I\u2019m still not part of that but absolutely support the work that they\u2019re doing\u2014amazing mahi they\u2019re doing\u2014so thank you for that. Also just to thank, I think, the 11 submitters that did submit on this bill. So while I wasn\u2019t on that select committee, my understanding is that this bill looks to strengthen the regulation-making powers, as has been said before, in the Gas Act, provide and enhance information disclosure requirements for the gas market, and ensure that settings around enforcement and penalties are suitable and strong.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003EI read about, and was obviously affected by, the outage in 2019 at Pohokura gasfield, which I believe holds up to about 40 percent of our natural gas supply, and they were prolonged and actually coincided with other gas outages and gasfields at that time. And also during that really dry time as well. We know that this led then to record natural gas spot market and wholesale prices, which emphasises the need to regulate settings regarding disclosure of important information to the market. So\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022560c3a845cc04f708f36cff7ff702136\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: The member and her Government are making it go away and now they want to measure it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e0f84ac8d0c4c8ea46bc298394fe3b5\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, OK. I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll take that into consideration, Barbara Kuriger, but thank you for another couple of seconds. So we did hear from those 11 submitters and also acknowledge that there were some concerns by some of the industry, and that was around they felt that the regulation-making powers went beyond what was required and were heavy-handed\u2014I believe was the language used at that time. And while we hear those concerns, we also believe that this legislative regime is set up appropriately to consider non-regulatory options before we impose any further regulatory options. And we again go back to the fact that we need to have the powers to make sure that we don\u2019t have another episode like 2019.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003ESome of the other submitters, though, were for this bill; for example, Mercury, who were in strong support for this bill. They said \u201CIn the absence of one or more significant upstream exploration discoveries, natural gas in New Zealand will become increasingly scarce over the next decade. As identified by the Interim Climate Change Committee [at the time], these remaining gas reserves are critical if we are to become a low carbon economy as it is the most efficient bridging fuel available to support the electrification of transport and process heat.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c28725eead54da5840495ca05be7109\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Now, that\u2019s true.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d70a8dd9386245059424b2d6ad8dd476\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Oh good, so that is correct! And that is from Mercury. And they also go on to say, \u201CNatural gas may be required further out than this in the absence of a alternative solution to New Zealand\u2019s electricity dry year risk\u201D. And again going back to the outage in 2019, that\u2019s what we are trying to avoid. So really good to be able to have Mercury support that also.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003EWe also, just quickly, had Transpower\u2014and this isn\u2019t as long\u2014that also agreed with the amendments to the regulation-making powers. They say that it was \u201Cnecessary for gas governance on matters that may have a significant downstream impact on, or may contribute to, the risk of critical gas shortage.\u201D, which we know that there is. And they supported the regulatory-making powers of disclosure for production and shortage outage proposed in clause 9(3), inserting new section 43F(2)(e), which is \u201Cproviding, in relation to wholesale or any other markets for gas, for arrangements relating to outages and other security of supply risks, including imposing requirements in connection with those matters on any industry participant or consumer (other than a domestic consumer.\u201D Then the market information proposed in new section 43F(2)(f): \u201Cproviding for the provision and disclosure of data and information by any industry participant or consumer (other than domestic consumer).\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003ESo again, that brings me back to why this bill is so important and also the amendments in that Gas Act which will ensure the regulatory requirements and ensure that transparency and that disclosure of information is strong and is right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002255eb5d478a0e4f25828fd621b4cc84fb\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Really important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fda60b63fed64cd1bce005fe859c44d5\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely. And this bill also made some changes to the Gas Act\u2019s penalty charges. So it took it, from my understanding, from $20,000 to $200,000, and hopefully that will act as a real preventative. In that, the penalty regime for the industry participants increasing the maximum civil pecuniary penalty able to be imposed by the Gas Rulings Panel for breaches of gas governance regulations\u2014and again, like I said, it\u2019s from $20,000 going to $200,000.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed52c3a82fb54505aa236817da39e4ec\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Why is the Government filibustering its own legislation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022db75c783f94b4860920cf27ebb182e7a\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, look, I\u2019m not just filibustering, because it\u2019s been good to be able to have your input as well, Barbara Kuriger, but it is important. We know that there\u2019s a limit\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223bce4a42d7154b6aa95dc455a6c08bfc\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Is there not enough work?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb2c27b2f24c45cf91782111a02d1e85\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Well, look, I know a little bit about gas. This is what I do know. [Interruption] Well, I\u2019ve got children, that\u2019s the first thing. But, secondly\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225350c1b0b5b740a29e393a1945ca3ede\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: There\u2019s gas in \u014Ctaki.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b24ddb1a6fd44c5e889348f5eb6999ff\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Well, when I was in England actually, Simon Court\u2014when I was in England that was the first time I ever cooked with gas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ffdfa223b5b74ebf941b020e5b6e95c6\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Oh!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ae14adebbb8498cbb1a71d948697ec9\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, yes it was. I can\u2019t say that I was a fan straight away. It took me a little while to get used to it, but I understand now the need for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022065ed78a0b4d4f55907ba01b7273d44c\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s the best.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d9bbe887043a4086b2d438bec56f2454\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Well, yes, but I also understand the limitations now that we have. We are not just going to be going\u2014you know, just\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262828428-6565-42b4-bd4d-fa3b12531f88\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c4cef463b0ee47acbad22c85c4c58b29\u0022\u003ESimon Court\u003C/span\u003E: Simply the best\u2014better than all the rest.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e44220fe1be44a3a133b54891647a0d\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: I think\u2014was it 2006 the last time that gas was discovered, Simon Court? So, you know, we have to be, I guess, tapu or scarce with our use of gas and how we\u2019re using it. And it\u2019s also making sure that we regulate that market too, to make sure that again when things like 2019 happened\u2014that there are penalties around that and that they can\u2019t hold on to the gas that is so scarce already. So that\u2019s part of the purpose of this, Simon Court.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228cdc7353ba7b40abbbce659eb0451ea5\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: They\u2019re sharing it right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221bc1465e0c2c4765a652e9ed6e7cd1ba\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, am I?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e8c8c8b51964ff1aa7011d98530bdff\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: To keep the lights on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b5a7ff9cdb64f0495e13d8d232d0c10\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s right. It\u2019s about keeping the lights on, I know. And we\u2019re going to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002236861a6e5f864a24b50eaf8834c93a1e\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: They\u2019re sharing it right now with this Government to keep the lights on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225a797c9e-cc29-454e-b348-6a415e930295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022620912b2ebc44f70a83fdd69f252897a\u0022\u003ETERISA NGOBI\u003C/span\u003E: Well, listen, the Government\u2019s doing more than keeping the lights on for New Zealanders. It\u2019s making sure that New Zealanders are able to keep their lights on by increasing benefits so people have enough money to pay for the lights on, and also this Government has also introduced winter energy payments so we\u2019re able to afford to run our gas heater if you\u2019re lucky enough to be able to afford one and you\u2019re also able to make sure that you can pay the power bill if you\u2019re able to, if you are on the benefit now, because of this Government with its winter energy payment. So yes, Barbara Kuriger, this Government is definitely helping New Zealanders to keep the lights on and it\u2019s also making sure that it\u2019s fair and that we don\u2019t have another episode like 2019 and we\u2019re making sure that we regulate the information that goes out and we make sure that we take care of the little gas that we\u2019ve already got while we also take care of the rest of New Zealand. With that, I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u0022184a61a5a2c04bdca440ddfddfb98968\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022184a61a5a2c04bdca440ddfddfb98968\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, and it\u2019s my pleasure to speak on this bill, the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill. I have to confess I haven\u2019t been on the select committee which has dealt with this bill, but, like all New Zealanders, I\u2019m deeply concerned about the effective running of the gas industry, which, of course, has been thrown into chaos by this Government\u2019s hasty oil and gas ban. Apparently, New Zealand is so rich\u2014so rich\u2014that we don\u2019t need to look for oil and gas, and that comes as a surprise to people. There\u2019s only two countries in the world that we\u2019ve been able to find who think they are so rich that they don\u2019t need to look for oil and gas. It\u2019s us and one other place. I wonder whether people would know where the other country would be that is so\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228e1d17ef01494f99b01b234328a17e3e\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: France.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223236485b0199459882a573a27fbb8e0f\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: France. France is the one. But of course, the French have nuclear energy and a pipeline from Russia. But everybody else think it\u2019s a reasonable idea to look for some stuff in order to get around, but we are so rich that we don\u2019t need to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EHaving said all that, the direct genesis of this bill was in relation to the Pohokura outage in 2018. That, as people who are tuning into this debate on their wirelesses back home will remember, was an outage of that oil rig in particular, which led to a shortage of gas supply and high electricity spot-market prices in 2018. There were complaints made at that time to the Electricity Authority, the regulatory body, which raised concerns about whether gas supply outages were being fully disclosed to the market. As a result of that, a policy decision was made by the Government\u2014and we broadly supported it\u2014to put out a discussion document across the sector to get an opinion about whether further transparency, information transparency, was required. That\u2019s what this bill seeks to do: to strengthen the regulation-making powers in the Act to provide for enhanced information disclosure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ENow, so far so good. That sounds all very well and good. We should do that. But then I asked\u2014and we broadly support this bill, but there is widespread concern, however, across the sector about what is becoming very much the fashion within this Government. That is to say they come up with a bill which gives it the power to make regulations requiring all sorts of information in a particular industry, and when they pass their bills, they always give themselves plenty of opportunity to pass plenty of regulations. So they go broad, and the result of that is to give themselves every bit of room that they need to make whatever regulations they feel that they need to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe problem with that is that the people who are trying to make a living in the sector look at that and say, \u201COh, well, we don\u2019t know what\u2019s coming down the road next, and will this Government abuse that power?\u201D They look across to Megan Woods. They look at Megan Woods, and they look at Kelvin Davis, and they think of Phil Twyford, and they look at Jacinda Ardern, and they think about the possibility of another UN speech coming up, and they worry\u2014and they worry. They think of Judith Collins and\u2014not Judith Collins. They think of Jacinda Ardern, and they think of a UN speech coming up, and they\u2019re worried that she might do something else that will have a massive impact on their livelihood and their ability to make a living and create jobs and provide for their families and for the communities\u2019 families.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThat uncertainty, unfortunately, has been one of the things that this Government has introduced into our economy in a shocking way over the past few years, because who can make the capital or is going to be likely to make the capital investment that we need to grow our economy and to become more productive if we don\u2019t know what\u2019s coming down the track, if Megan Woods decides one day that she\u2019s just going to impose a ban on your particular industry or that she\u2019s going to require a whole lot more information\u2014commercially sensitive information, potentially\u2014to be disclosed? So it\u2019s that uncertainty that fills the minds of many with dread.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve seen another example of that. I was in the select committee yesterday on education. I\u2019ll diverge very briefly from the topic, around early education, where, again, this Government has come in, in the dead of night, introducing urgent legislation, changing that sector dramatically, and the consequence of all that is that anybody investing in any sort of business in this country feels unnerved and wonders who\u2019s going to be next to feel the cold, dark hand of this Government on their shoulder\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002238cdaabe907a42b399f9226b63e31538\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Dark, hairy hand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e91bdc97400848288382aacf60669b64\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014dark, hairy, cold hand on their shoulder\u2014in the middle of the night, imposing new regulations and new requirements, or telling them that they don\u2019t like their business, and they don\u2019t like it. Fundamentally, what we\u2019ve just had in the last month is a Budget\u2014a big-spending Budget, one of the biggest-spending Budgets in the history of this country. Nothing about\u2014[Interruption] oh, and they applaud.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f99b517e1a14420aadebda969d9f8a5\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245319ae1de504ae5a4ed7ae243a9a4d8\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, why not? I mean, it takes enormous skill. It takes enormous skill\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b946d6e314e412fbc4e54fd284fc800\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member will resume his seat. Thank you. This is the second reading speech. I\u2019ll ask the member to come back to the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b6db9ac1bf1f4a58b39dd444462163e8\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Indeed, and it takes enormous skill to spend money wisely.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EAnyway, so I looked for the regulatory impact statement on this bill, and it\u2019s an interesting one. When you introduce legislation that imposes new regulations on particular industries, one of the disciplines that, thankfully, this Government has retained from the previous Government is that it\u2019s supposed to go through a regulatory impact statement. So one of the basic sort of questions was: was there a regulatory impact statement to inform decisions around this bill? And the good news is there was. The second question is: if so, did the regulatory impact assessment team in the Treasury provide an independent opinion on the quality of that regulatory impact statement? The answer to that was no. No, they didn\u2019t.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThen they said that the regulatory impact statement identified above did not meet the threshold for receiving an independent opinion\u2014it wasn\u2019t anywhere substantial enough. And has any further analysis been offered for this bill? All we\u2019ve seen is just another example of the Government coming in, putting out a discussion document, getting feedback from the stakeholders, they say \u201CYes, we agree that there should be some more information being made available.\u201D, and they develop a voluntary code and it happens. All the information is being made available, but the Government decides they need to legislate anyway on top of that, and then they come in with very broad legislation which leaves that uncertainty within the broader sector about what\u2019s coming next and how will their shoulder be tapped, in what way, for new information.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe only point of reference that I make to the previous decision around the banning of oil and gas explanation is the link between the two is this bald assertion that we\u2019re so rich that we don\u2019t need to look for oil and gas, and somehow we\u2019re going to make a living in this country and we\u2019re going to maintain the high living standards that we all aspire to in order to provide for our families, but every few months we\u2019ll just chop off another limb of our economy, and everything will be fine. So oil and gas goes because we don\u2019t really like that. International education goes because we don\u2019t like that. We don\u2019t really like the farmers, so we\u2019ll give them the bum\u2019s rush. We don\u2019t like mining, so we\u2019ll do that. And somehow\u2014somehow\u2014we\u2019re going to still continue to make the living that we make.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ESo it\u2019s the cavalier way in which the Government chops off arms of our economy that worries us, but, secondly, it\u2019s the capricious way in which they make their decision making and announce it on the basis of no independent analysis. It\u2019s that uncertainty around decision making that has that inhibiting effect on investment, because, ultimately, how do we make the economy more productive? It comes back to private sector investment as one of the great drivers of productivity increases. You only get improved productivity if people are prepared to invest, but who would feel confident to invest in a sector like this when, at any given moment, Megan Woods can hove into view and bring new regulation into place and change the rules and pull the carpet out from underneath you? That concern is what we\u2019re worried about, and I can very much sympathise with the industry on that score. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EBut I\u2019m conscious that time is racing by, and I haven\u2019t had a chance to deal with some of the specifics in this electorate, but I will when I get a chance. One of the elements that I do want to draw attention to\u2014oh dear, I\u2019ve run out of time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022 data-id=\u0022dfba77ebe62543bb998774d8c40601b2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dfba77ebe62543bb998774d8c40601b2\u0022\u003ENAISI CHEN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E This afternoon, we\u2019ve heard many things on this bill that I did not expect to hear. This is the bill on gas information disclosure and penalties and we\u2019re going to talk about what we\u2019ve heard in this House but I\u2019m only going to talk about the points that are related to this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003ECould I say to the members opposite that they need to wake up and smell the roses because\u2014do they know what\u2014when we asked for submission on this bill, guess what? The major drivers in our economy\u2014one of the biggest companies in our economy: Mercury\u2014expressed strong support. Todd Energy and Nova Energy support amending the Gas Act of 1992. Vector generally agrees with the information disclosure and penalty provisions of the bill. There\u2019s more: Firstgas Group endorses the information disclosure provisions of the bill. Haast Energy Trading overall supports the information disclosure. Transpower, emsTradepoint, Major Gas Users Group, Gas Industry Company, and Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand accept and support the overall direction of this bill. These are major players in our gas sector and they support this bill. Do you know what? This Government on this side of the House has worked hard to support the market. They\u2019ve worked hard to build the infrastructure of this market so that the market can be the market\u2014i.e., that it can actually run smoothly so that a market economy can happen and that we can actually compensate when failures happen in a market. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003EWhat happened in the market was the market did fail. We had an outage in 2018. We had an outage where people were left in the dark and the cold. There were companies that couldn\u2019t actually operate. There was a huge cost on our economy. Those were significant failures of the market and what this bill is able to do is support the market so that the market can continue to function the way that it was designed, that way that it was supposed to. When markets fail, it costs the economy and let me tell the House that that cost was $2 million a day\u2014$2 million a day of cost to the market, to the economy. Look, when we are talking we need to recover from COVID, when we need to grow the economy, we\u2019ve got to stop avoiding costs like this to the economy, right? Two million dollars a day\u2014that\u2019s a huge cost and, not only that, but it actually puts other industries at risk. It\u2019s not just about the energy sector but all we know that the energy sector is interconnected with all aspects of our community. We know that our health sector relies on it; our transport sector relies on it; our elderly in their homes, our children in their homes all rely on it. So that\u2019s why we owe it to the people of New Zealand to have a properly regulated gas market so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of having clean energy, to make sure that we actually provide the amount of energy that is needed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003EToday, I really was looking into this bill and I\u2019ve really learnt another lesson in market economy. We all know that in a market there\u2019s a supply and a demand side. In the supply side of the gas market, it\u2019s the changes in our natural gas supply level and then, obviously, you have to peg that against the different changes in our export and import as well, but also our storage levels as well. When the storage level gets low and when the demand gets high, the fact is that affects our demand side of our gas market here in New Zealand\u2014the economic growth, and we\u2019ve all seen that in New Zealand; even in a post-COVID climate we\u2019ve seen economic growth getting better. The weather\u2014so when we have a dry year, and right now we\u2019re seeing that there has been a drier than average period that we are going through right now, and also the cost of competing fuels and we\u2019re seeing that with fossil fuels as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003ESo we\u2019re seeing that the market has to readjust and the market has to go\u2014I remembered today during the debate, my colleague here, Glen Bennett, member for New Plymouth, has told us that the industry chases the money. That\u2019s something we\u2019ve heard in this debate and that is exactly what happens. The market chases the money and so when Government doesn\u2019t provide the right infrastructure for the market, they just go to wherever the money is. But we know that doesn\u2019t always work for everyone. It doesn\u2019t work for the country of New Zealand, so we need to make sure that there is a regulation in place to make sure that this market is actually running smoothly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003EWe know that 26.5 percent of gas is used to generate electricity in our country so this has a follow-on effect, almost like a supply chain within our economy and within our energy market, where gas and the level of natural gas we have in the country actually affects our energy and our electricity prices. As this Government\u2014and I want to recognise the Hon Julie Anne Genter here, who had a brilliant speech in this House this afternoon talking about the importance of waking up and smelling the roses in terms of the emergency we\u2019re in in terms of our climate, in terms of the importance of looking after our natural resources\u2014the importance that we need to have a just and an equitable transition into the economy or into our industry that\u2019s based on clean energy, based on electricity. But we know here that gas is a very, very important fundamental crux to that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7db45b57d65446e93b1ba9d4a8dcbcf\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: So why ban it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dde54374a3354a87886eded4fe45422e\u0022\u003ENAISI CHEN\u003C/span\u003E: So we need to make sure that the gas that we have in this country actually supports the electricity ambitions that we have for this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fef95868d9fb40a5b632a18ea2682771\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: So fundamental the Government\u2019s banned it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a7331b5773fe490480a57c854f30a8fe\u0022\u003ENAISI CHEN\u003C/span\u003E: Can I just put on record that we are still right now looking at gas at the moment. We just have to go to the electorate of my colleague here\u2014Angela Roberts, right\u2014and we can see that the farmers in Tikorangi are still looking at gas and we know that we are still looking at the fission and the right mix within our economy, at how our energy should be supplied. So it\u2019s very important, I think, that we find the right balance. We need to make sure that we look after this nation, the land that we stand on, the globe in terms of our carbon emissions, in terms of our clean energy. But at the same time we need to make sure that that transition to clean, green energy is just. And this is why we are passing through bills like this. It is to make sure that our infrastructure for our gas market is the right one. It\u2019s to make sure that people actually disclose their supply levels to that we can actually plan ahead, and planning ahead and information, symmetrical information, is so important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003EI feel like I\u2019m going back to my economic study days where these things are the fundamentals of our economy\u2014of the study of economics, where we have to look at the symmetrical information when the market fails; when we as a Government have to intervene to make sure the information is right, and make sure that we actually make good decisions for the future, that we can actually futureproof our energy sector to make sure that we are able to actually for outages to back up our electricity supply, to make sure that there won\u2019t be increased price spikes, to make sure that we won\u2019t have sudden $2 million a day losses in our economy because, God knows, that that is so absolutely detrimental to this economy if it ever happens, especially during a post-COVID phase.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003EI\u2019m proud to endorse the new penalties that we have in this bill as well, that were mentioned during our select committee stage, increasing the $20,000 penalty into a $200k penalty as well so that we can actually regulate a market which largely burns the other players in a market, rather than criminal penalties that we had in the past. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc477162-e622-4c94-add7-36a586729e51\u0022\u003EWe also looked at information disclosure and we note that there has been concerns about information and how it might be something that\u2019s commercially sensitive. So we want to make sure that the market\u2014the infrastructure is right for the market so they can actually disclosure feeling assured that this is for the benefit of all New Zealanders to make sure that all New Zealanders get the power supply to get the energy levels supply that they need, that they deserve to keep their good living standards here in this nation. I would also love to thank not only the Hon Megan Woods for actually introducing this bill into the House but also my colleagues on the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee, and our great chair, Jamie Strange, who actually had to reopen submissions this side of the election just to make sure that we\u2019ve captured every single voice out there and we did. [Interruption] That\u2019s right. And obviously my good colleague here, Glen Bennett, and I see the members opposite, Barbara Kuriger and Melissa Lee\u2014I think we\u2019ve done great work on this bill and I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022d561c5586c3e4557bd6fcad6dc3492ce\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 Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 108\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 65; New Zealand National 33; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 10\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EACT New Zealand 10.\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=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000370\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\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=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022238dc8e2a70042be943894eb634f9c30\u0022\u003EFinancial Markets (Conduct of Institutions) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002281209284f9b949ccb410e29d4e34b02d\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u0022009851e5c414459c850cb32039241243\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022009851e5c414459c850cb32039241243\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister for Building and Construction) \u003C/span\u003Eon behalf of the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: I present to the House a legislative statement on the Financial Markets (Conduct of Institutions) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002224487dfa03a944b088b30f44d7db0980\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean)\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=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022434e255b5a6b4c2db5f1999513adb5b7\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the Financial Markets (Conduct of Institutions) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to acknowledge my colleagues the Hon Kris Faafoi and the Hon Dr David Clark for their work in guiding this bill thus far. The bill has been reported back by the Finance and Expenditure Committee (FEC) with a majority recommendation that it be passed with amendment. I would like to express my appreciation to the members of the committee in the last term of Parliament for their careful consideration of the bill. The committee considered 59 submissions from industry groups and individuals covering a range of matters, and I\u2019d like to thank those who spent time and effort in preparing their submission to the select committee. The majority of those submitters supported the policy intent of the bill, but the committee has recommended some important changes aimed at ensuring that the bill achieves its policy intent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EBefore I go into the changes that the FEC recommended to the bill, I want to take a step back as to why we are here today. The purpose of this bill is to improve the conduct of financial institutions so that consumers are fairly treated. If consumers are treated fairly, this will help build trust and confidence in our financial sector. Financial institutions like banks and insurers are crucial to New Zealanders\u2019 everyday lives, whether it\u2019s things like saving for a rainy day, getting a mortgage, or getting insurance for your car. Financial products and services are typically complex and often high value, and there is often an imbalance of power between the financial institution and the customers they serve. This creates a particular and acute risk of harm to customers. When things go wrong with financial products or services, it can be catastrophic at the individual level and cause significant harm at the broader societal and economic level. It is vital that New Zealanders can trust these institutions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EIn particular, during times when New Zealanders are feeling the financial impacts of COVID-19, this piece of legislation is important to ensure that banks, insurers, and non-bank deposit takers are serving the needs and interests of their customers. The bill fills a gap that exists in New Zealand\u2019s current law in that there is currently no explicit law to regulate the general conduct of financial institutions. There have been several recent reviews that have highlighted this gap, including the reviews undertaken by the Financial Markets Authority and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand into the conduct and culture of banks and insurers. These reviews showed that there are weaknesses in the conduct and culture of institutions in New Zealand\u2019s financial sector, particularly in respect of the governance and management of conduct risks and ensuring a focus of good customer outcomes. These weaknesses risk eroding customers\u2019 trust in financial institutions, and it is therefore vital that we fix the gap in the law. The bill fixes this gap by establishing a new regulatory regime for the conduct of financial institutions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EI will now cover some key aspects of the bill and the work of the select committee on the bill. Fairness is essential to building trust in the financial sector, which is why the bill introduces a fair conduct principle\u2014that is, for financial institutions to treat their customers fairly. The fair conduct principle lies at the heart of the bill. Some submitters requested further clarification of what it means to treat customers fairly. In response, the committee recommended inserting a non-exhaustive list of factors into the bill of what treating customers fairly can mean, and this includes \u201Cacting ethically, transparently, and in good faith; \u2026 assisting consumers to make informed decisions; and \u2026 not subjecting consumers to unfair pressure or tactics or undue influence.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EIn order for the fair conduct principle to be operationalised, the bill requires financial institutions to have and maintain an effective fair conduct programme to turn the principle to concrete actions within their businesses. The conduct programme will require financial institutions to have policies, processes, systems, and controls in place that are designed to ensure they\u2019re considering consumers\u2019 interests and treating them fairly in all respects of their business and in their interactions with consumers. The select committee has recommended that minimum requirements for fair conduct programmes be clarified and included in the bill. This is in response to submitters\u2019 feedback that leaving the detail of conduct programmes to regulations would leave the regime uncertain.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EIncentives offered by financial institutions to their front-line sales staff or through their intermediaries can create conflicts between the interests of those who are selling or advising on products and services and the interests of consumers. These conflicts can cause sellers or advisers to prioritise their own interests over the interests of their customers in the pursuit of a reward, and this means that products or services can be mis-sold to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b90d0a9dafde4f1ea1f0f03aa07f26ef\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! I just interrupt the member. I know this is not the main event for most people who are in the galleries, but there is still a requirement to be silent while you\u2019re in the galleries, not murmurs of anticipation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ad7992b4147544639dfae82c1de2b70a\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This means that products and services can be mis-sold to consumers. The first way the bill deals with risks associated with incentives is through the fair conduct programmes. There is an obligation on financial institutions to have effective processes for designing and managing the adverse effects of incentives on the interests of consumers. This will ensure that financial institutions are turning their mind to the risks that these incentives pose to good consumer outcomes and mitigating any adverse effects on consumers\u2019 interests.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EThe second way the bill deals with incentives is via the creation of a regulation-making power which allows for the prohibition or regulation of particular incentives and practices. Cabinet has already agreed to prohibit incentives based on value or volume targets. I\u2019d like to take a moment here to provide an example of what we mean by value- or volume-based sales targets and the potential harm of them. Say an adviser will receive a thousand-dollar bonus for selling 10 insurance policies. The conflict of interest for the adviser to sell an insurance policy at the start may well be very low. However, at the point where the adviser has sold nine policies and only needs one more to get the thousand-dollar bonus, the conflict of interest between the adviser and the consumer is high. At the point of sale, the adviser has their own interests to consider as well as the consumer\u2019s. This conflict can lead to harm such as consumers having less favourable policy terms than before or consumers being sold products they didn\u2019t need. People are still able to be remunerated for sales and advice. However, these two constraints will address particularly problematic, conflicted remuneration and ensure that risks to consumers are mitigated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003ESome concerns were raised in select committee that this regulation-making power was too broad and could be used to ban all incentives or commissions. In response, the committee has recommended narrowing the range of intermediaries to which the incentive regulation-making power can apply and inserting a list of matters that the Minister must have regard to or be satisfied of before recommending regulations under this power.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EAnother concern raised at select committee was how the framework of the bill works in relation to the intermediaries of financial institutions. The committee recommended that intermediaries\u2019 obligations in the bill be reduced by removing the duty for intermediaries to comply with financial institutions\u2019 fair conduct programmes and removing the duty on financial institutions to ensure that intermediaries comply with their programme. The change will help to ensure that the new regime is not placing unnecessary compliance costs on intermediaries while also requiring financial institutions to take greater responsibility for customer outcomes regardless of the sales channel. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is currently publicly consulting on the intermediary provisions in the bill to ensure that the intermediaries\u2019 obligations are right-sized and will work in practice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EIn closing, I would like to thank the Finance and Expenditure Committee again for their careful consideration of the bill. This bill will ensure that customer rights are at the forefront of financial institutions\u2019 activities and they are treated fairly. This will serve the interests of everyday consumers, help to build trust in the sector, and lift wellbeing across the board. I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022a5432cb823c942abb917d4f344f1fcf7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a5432cb823c942abb917d4f344f1fcf7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to. I\u2019m going to call Nicola Willis for a very short time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u00223b6ab1b64a6f475398f4426107844c4c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223b6ab1b64a6f475398f4426107844c4c\u0022\u003ENICOLA WILLIS (National):\u003C/span\u003E National opposes this bill. Yes, financial institutions, banks, insurers, and the like should have controls in place to ensure they are focused on the best interests of their customers, but this bill risks imposing a compliance-heavy, box-ticking exercise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EMr Speaker, may I seek your indulgence to acknowledge my colleague the Hon Dr Nick Smith whose 30 years in this House have had a profound impact on the governance of our country. I first worked for Nick in 2003. He has been a source of wisdom and advice to me ever since, and I will miss him from this House. Farewell friend.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002262ed24104c234b9092ab65c9ed0a2c97\u0022\u003EValedictory Statements\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c195aa2c3c5b40c594c7f89173c7f844\u0022\u003EValedictory Statements\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022fcea0248df5440ee8bba281a48b2488a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fcea0248df5440ee8bba281a48b2488a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Members, it is my intention, at the conclusion of the Hon Dr Nick Smith\u2019s valedictory speech, to move from the Chair, and that will indicate that the House adjourns until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 June. I\u2019m doing it this way so that I don\u2019t have to interrupt the celebrations that are occurring at the end of the speech. I now call on the Hon Dr Nick Smith to make his valedictory statement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u00226e5b3d890c24450db31ccac1294c7282\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226e5b3d890c24450db31ccac1294c7282\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. Last month I saw this quirky cafe sign that appealed to my nerdiness: that 31 years equates to a billion seconds. Bar a few thousand, it\u2019s been a blast and an enormous privilege to be part of governing this amazing little country we share. My time here has had many ups and downs\u2014in fact, as many as the southern mountains that I studied in my PhD thesis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI acknowledge you, Mr Speaker; past and present National leaders from Jim Bolger to Judith Collins; all my parliamentary colleagues; and my family and friends in the gallery. I also want to acknowledge the many good MPs who post - election 2020 did not have this opportunity. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI came to this Parliament 30 years ago with a passion for enterprise, for science, and for nature. I wanted New Zealand to be prosperous, where hard work was valued, and where every Kiwi has the opportunity to succeed. One of my first duties as a 25-year-old MP was attending the Waimea College prize-giving, where I was dutifully asked to present the academic awards. All miked up, I made the standard congratulatory comments as each student crossed the stage: \u201CWell done. Good effort.\u201D It started to feel tedious, so I changed my message: \u201CWhat uni are you thinking of attending?\u201D I asked an attractive young woman, \u201CWhat are you doing after school?\u201D Quick as a flash and loud enough for everyone to hear, she responded, \u201CIt depends what you had in mind, young man.\u201D I have since kept my congrats to the safe and boring in the hundred or so prize-givings I\u2019ve attended since.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EIn my maiden speech I talked of a nation that had lost its confidence and its way. Our economy was a basket case with high unemployment, rampant inflation, and high debt. Our best and brightest were leaving in droves. I do not wish to diminish our current challenges, but we are a much better country today. I caution those in Government who wish to decry the reforms of that era when they\u2019ve been the foundations for the much more successful and resilient nation we are today. I worry that this year\u2019s Budget has public debt ballooning out to $200 billion and back up near 50 percent of GDP, as it was when I was first elected. Imposing the workplace policies of the 1970s is not the answer to the challenges of the 2020s.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI came to Parliament when the seniors were David Lange and Rob Muldoon. I will never forget Sir Robert gruffing at me in the lift: \u201CSo you\u2019re a doctor. Are you one of the ones that make you well or are you one of the ones that make you sick?\u201D Sir Robert would be much happier with our deputy, Dr Reti.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe luckiest fortune of my first term was the friendships I forged with what began as the under-30s caucus, but got branded the \u201Cbrat pack\u201D. Roger and Shirley Sowry, Bill and Mary English, Tony and Kara Ryall have become the closest of friends. Many wrongly assumed the strong friendships between the four of us meant that we agreed. We have been on opposite sides of many of National\u2019s policy, conscience, and leadership debates. Our annual week-long shared holidays rotating between the upper and lower of the North and South Islands over 30 years have enabled us to enjoy watching our 16 children grow up together.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EMy first ministerial job was Conservation. I know all in this House would want to wish the current Minister Kiri Allan a full recovery. Conservation is the best job in the Cabinet room. To get it once is lucky; to get it twice is to be truly blessed. My appointment to the role was in the aftermath of the Cave Creek disaster. My job was to put in place the systems with director-general Hugh Logan to ensure the Department of Conservation\u2019s (DOC) thousands of structures and facilities would be safe. We also established in 1999 a conservation ranger programme that has since trained over 600 to do the school DOC fieldwork professionally and safely.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EMy first big Nelson project was advocating for the Kahurangi National Park. We opened it in 1996 with Prime Minister Jim Bolger, Denis Marshall, and I tramping the journey between Mount Arthur and the Cobb Valley. It was a joy to mark the 25th anniversary this Easter with Denis and the key DOC staff involved by retracing the same route. The highlight was the noisy dawn chorus in the Cobb that was silent at the opening, a tribute to the pest control work of both DOC and volunteers. During my second stint as Minister, we did the Great Walks partnership with Air New Zealand, then led by Chris Luxon. That has helped enable takah\u0113 to return to this park after an absence of over 100 years. Another highlight in that portfolio was working with Lou Sanson to protect the Lords River on Stewart Island in 1998, then initiating the process for establishing the Rakiura National Park in 1999.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EConserving a good chunk of our landmass for nature was the challenge of last century; the focus needs to shift seaward. I\u2019m a strong supporter of New Zealand\u2019s sustainable fishing industry, and I do not support the Greens\u2019 call for a blanket ban on bottom trawling. It\u2019s no more practical than prohibiting ploughing. But, just as on land, we need to set aside marine protected areas. The Marine Reserves Act was passed by National in 1971, but only one reserve was created by the time I came to Parliament in 1990. This was at Leigh and opened by then fisheries Minister Jim Bolger in 1977. I\u2019ve worked hard all over New Zealand to expand that network. Making the Poor Knights a no-take marine reserve in 1998 was pretty controversial. When visiting the site near Tutuk\u0101k\u0101, I faced a barrage of protest from recreational fishers. I required a police escort after a death threat was made. I was confronted only a few years ago at Whang\u0101rei airport by a cheeky local who introduced himself rather unnervingly as the guy who had made the threat. He jocularly told me not to worry, as he now thought it was such a great idea that he would shoot anybody that would undo the reserve!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve subsequently been involved in creating 17 marine reserves around New Zealand in special places like Kaik\u014Dura, Akaroa, Punakaiki, and the sub-Antarctic. I am disappointed the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, covering an area twice the landmass of New Zealand and 10 percent of our ocean, has not progressed. The commercial fishing there is negligible. The history of customary fishing is minimal. This is about New Zealand\u2014M\u0101ori and P\u0101keh\u0101 stepping up and doing our bit globally to better care for the world\u2019s oceans. My original Government bill got through to the second reading stage and then, post-election 2017, transferred to Minister Parker but has since gone nowhere. I created a further member\u2019s bill for the sanctuary that I\u2019ll pass on to Scott Simpson. I urge progress on either or both bills.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EPrime Minister Jenny Shipley added Corrections to my Conservation portfolio in 1998. I remember the Opposition interjecting that my only qualification for the job was being descended from convict stock compulsorily deported to Australia. Now, my 86-year-old father in Cairns would want me to put the record straight. Our ancestor Jeremiah Smith migrated to Australia in 1791 by choice. It was seven years in Australia or hanging! The Kiwi contingent of my family still think it would have been a difficult choice. Initiatives I took in Corrections were separate youth prisons, the introduction of random drug testing, and expanding drug and alcohol treatment. I remain, unapologetically, today an arch-conservative on drugs and alcohol. Substance abuse and addiction is at the heart of so much crime, hurt, and tragedy. I don\u2019t buy this line that going soft and being more permissive will see less use and less harm. It\u2019s not a choice of enforcement or treatment. We need to do more of both.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI\u2019m also counting on my colleagues Simon Bridges and Michael Woodhouse to continue the campaign started with the Matthew Dow petition in Nelson to get on with random roadside drug testing. Every month of delay costs another six lives. I\u2019m so relieved New Zealand rejected the legalisation and commercialisation of cannabis. Anybody that believes age limits work have not parented teenagers. There is a scourge of vaping sweeping through our intermediate and secondary schools that makes a joke of the regulated age limit. I also fear we\u2019re being sold a pup on vaping with the claim it\u2019s just a healthy replacement for smoking. We\u2019re actually allowing another generation to become addicted to nicotine.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe 1990s were groundbreaking for Treaty settlements, and for a period I was the associate to Sir Douglas Graham during the historic Ng\u0101i Tahu settlement. What was then considered radical became standard, as Chris Finlayson supercharged settlements during the Key years. My involvement was in the natural resources elements. It was particularly satisfying settling the eight Te Tau Ihu claims covering Nelson and Marlborough, completing the process in the South Island.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve introduced 50 bills to this Parliament, and 45 have passed. Two members\u2019 bills I\u2019m particularly proud of are the Royal Society of New Zealand Act and the Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act. Science and technology are key to improving productivity and our environment. I commend the Government and the country on the way that we have embraced the science associated with COVID. The cuts to science funds in Budget 2021 are short-sighted. I strongly endorse the ambitious plans of Judith Collins and Andrew Bayly to have our tech sector recharged.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI also want to challenge this Parliament, and particularly the Greens, on their reversion to biotechnology. The GE-free campaign was a con. None of the scary scenarios predicted 20 years ago have occurred. Our outdated laws are holding back opportunities for innovation on climate change and pests and weed control and also in health treatment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe most satisfying chapter of my career was being part of the Key-English Government. We shared a vision of where we wanted to take New Zealand, and we built a strong relationship in policies in Opposition to work as a team. My work involved creating the Environmental Protection Authority and a fast-tracked but robust consenting process. This enabled us to get on with important projects like Waterview in Auckland, Transmission Gully in Wellington, and Christchurch\u2019s Southern Motorway. I disagree with the Government\u2019s aversion to building roads on the basis of climate change. The answer lies in changing what we drive on our roads, as well as investing in public transport.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EPractical laws I\u2019m particularly proud of are those requiring all rental homes to be insulated and to have working smoke alarms. The ACC portfolio was financially challenging, but our reforms got the scheme to be fully funded for the first time in its history.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe work of the Land and Water Forum enabled significant strides in improving water management, including the first legally binding national policy. We do need to lift our game on fresh water, but doing it with farmers and not to farmers will achieve far more. Water storage is part of the solution, and I\u2019m pleased with the role I played in enabling the central plains scheme from Canterbury and the Waimea Community Dam in Nelson.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe last issue from the Key era, which I wish to note with a word of caution, is that of the Pike River Mine. John Key\u2019s commitment in the days following that tragedy to do everything possible to recover those 29 brave men was genuine and compassionate. We were as gutted as the families and the nation to be told in 2016 that it could not be done. It was wrong, in 2017, for Labour to promise the recovery of those men when, by then, 800 pages of technical reports said it was not possible. I\u2019m proud to have delivered on my commitment to Bernie Monk of the Paparoa Track and the Pike29 Memorial Walk. I hope we can find a way in the future to avoid national tragedies becoming political footballs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThere is an issue I got wrong. In 2013, I voted against gay marriage. The error is all the more personal, with my 20-year-old son being gay. I want to put on the record today my apology to New Zealand\u2019s LGBT\u002B community. I pay tribute to Louisa Wall, Fran Wilde, and Amy Adams for their leadership that has improved the lives of my son and thousands of other New Zealanders. I also acknowledge Jenny Shipley\u2019s courage as the first PM to attend a gay pride parade in 1999.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EMy greatest thanks this evening is to my wife, Linley. She is my rock, my soulmate, and my best friend. I also want to acknowledge my first wife, Cyndy, who supported me through six elections. She jokes that Linley got off lightly, having to only do five. Linley and I are very proud of our blended family of Hazel, Logan, Samantha, and Alex, who are in the gallery. I thank them, as sometimes this job has negative impacts on them. I also thank my wider family, including brother Albert and sister Margo, who have travelled from overseas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI got good training for Parliament as a child. Each dinnertime, our dad would sit up like Mr Speaker and ask each of us eight children to give a report on our day. I am sure this and my mum\u2019s passion for education influenced my three sisters, all of whom have made great contributions as teachers and principals. In later years when retired, dad campaigned full-time for weeks for each of my 10 successful campaigns. COVID proved a bad omen and kept him away in 2020.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe year I was born, he founded a small construction company. Learning to drive heavy trucks, bulldozers, and cranes was just part of my teenage life. I\u2019m proud of the nationwide contribution my siblings have made to our nation\u2019s infrastructure in each of their businesses, with projects like the wind turbines at Scott Base, the Arthur\u2019s Pass viaduct, the Waikato water pipeline to Auckland, and dozens of bridges and walls around New Zealand. My brother Tim did not sleep for three days in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake so he could ensure that every one of his cranes was assisting the rescue effort. He booked to join us today but had to cancel yesterday due to doing emergency bridge repairs in Temuka. It will be good to re-join the family business, doing more and talking less. I\u2019m looking forward to projects like the Turitea wind farm that will help us meet our Paris climate change commitments.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI must, secondly, thank the National Party, its board, and its volunteers. My Nelson electorate chairs, from Dan Strong, Dan Dolejs, John Sandstone, Russell Wilson, Graeme Sutton, to John Wares. My campaign chairs, Murray Borlase, Max Spence, Bill Dahlberg, Paul Matheson, Gary Stocker, Trevor Cameron, and an army of volunteers\u2014too many to name. A special thankyou to those who helped found the Bluegreens in 1998, Guy Salmon and the late Sir Rob Fenwick. Enterprise and the environment must work together. I also acknowledge my Bluegreen buddies in caucus, like Maggie Barry, Nicky Wagner, Hon Jacqui Dean, Stuart Smith, Erica Stanford, and Nicola Willis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ENelson has been a very special place to represent, and I congratulate my successor, Rachel Boyack. It\u2019s the only seat in this Parliament that has retained the same name since 1854. I love Nelson\u2019s entrepreneurial businesses, its stunning environment, its creative arts sector, its rich heritage, and its caring community. My greatest concern for Nelson\u2019s future is the centralisation of core services like education and health, with the loss of local control of our polytechnic and health board. My experience as education Minister was that the closer the funding decisions were made to the children, the more likely they were made in the children\u2019s interests. If more central Government was the answer, KiwiBuild would be a roaring success. I\u2019ve enjoyed the constituency role of getting to know thousands of Nelsonians, often over difficult situations. It\u2019s been a pleasure to help many, but also a disappointment where I could not. This grassroots work was invaluable in exposing the parts of Government that are not working and for advocating reform.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThroughout these three decades, I\u2019ve been supported by numerous talented staff, many of whom have become lifelong friends\u2014Cheryl Hill, who gave 26 years, and Nan Ward. It\u2019s wonderful to see more than 20 of my former staff in the gallery. I sincerely thank every one of them, alongside the back-up staff, the Clerk\u2019s office, select committees, library, travel office, cafe, and security teams, who make this place work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003ENow, the Speaker and I have had our moments, but the worst thing\u2014the worst thing\u2014he\u2019s ever inflicted on me was actually when he was trying to be kind. We were in Turkey on the Speaker\u2019s tour, returning from the Gallipoli Peninsula back to Istanbul. The motorcade consisted of a car for the Speaker, as the head of delegation, a van of MPs and their partners, and motorbikes back and front. Linley and I got a bad tummy bug, and the Speaker took pity on us, offering us the flash Merc for the 400-kilometre return journey. It got complicated when the interpreter decided he had to go in the van with the head of delegation, leaving Linley and I with a driver who did not understand a word of English. My plight was trying to explain to a driver doing 130 kilometres per hour in an escorted motorcade that I was desperate to go to the loo! It was an excruciating three hours. When we finally arrived at Istanbul airport, I tore out of the car so quickly that I caused a security furore. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe thing that struck me most from the Speaker\u2019s trip to Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Turkey is how well-intentioned Governments over time get tired and arrogant. Regular changes of Government are essential for a healthy democracy. Nor should we ever take for granted the importance of free speech and a politically neutral Public Service. I thank the press gallery\u2014you can be a pain, but our democracy would be limp without you. I pay a final thankyou to the hundreds of dedicated public servants who have helped me in my work. My favourite are those hardy DOC field staff, out in the wet and cold in the most rugged corners of New Zealand, repairing tracks, killing pests, and protecting nests.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI want to conclude on four observations of how this place has changed over three decades. Firstly, it\u2019s much more diverse, by age and gender and ethnicity, and that\u2019s a great thing. My hope for the future is that we also diversify the skills mix in this House. The second change for the better is that Parliament is a healthier place, where you are far more likely today to meet your colleagues in the gym than in the bar. The most notable change for the worse is how lame select committees have become today. They\u2019ve become perfunctory rubber stamps. Worthwhile inquiries are blocked. It\u2019s got worse with the distraction of iPhones and laptops. Select committees need revamping to be more collegial, with Government and Opposition MPs genuinely holding Government departments to account for their spending and performance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThere is one last difference I celebrate in signing off from this 53rd Parliament. This morning I woke to the birdsong of t\u016B\u012B from my Hill Street flat, and, on my walk here, saw a beautiful kerer\u016B in Parliament\u2019s trees, something you would have not seen or heard 30 years ago. It\u2019s this stunning wildlife, whether you are M\u0101ori or European, Pasifika, Asian, or whatever, that helps define who we are as New Zealanders. May the birdsong for ever be heard here at Parliament and across our land, to remind us how blessed we are to call these islands home.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E[Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 4.55 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20210610116ac5cb94b74a71beceeabf12ba6d5a000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"