"\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=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a6713ff6c49a4ac59cfcb065c9b5e667\u0022\u003ETHURSDAY, 21 MARCH 2024\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022037dcdb6e3aa47ee9439684ff9348252\u0022\u003ETHURSDAY, 21 MARCH 2024\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000002\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=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000004\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00220c0e818f0ac74ad6bc78b1c3ec736bef\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a7fcb636aae34629b43e09245ab83093\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022 data-id=\u0022fd511fe099f54c7aafa5951b8d92fa5a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fd511fe099f54c7aafa5951b8d92fa5a\u0022\u003ETEANAU TUIONO (Assistant 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 K\u012Bngi, 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. \u0100mene.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022\u003E[Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King, 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=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002230bfc2434a04428fbc4bd79db9bdb8d1\u0022\u003EResignations\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224071c16cf4ae403283b6fec5ea081fbd\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson, New Zealand Labour\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fbb688c1722c422fa4bf92b63cc26e1e\u0022\u003E the Hon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022940464d1ee66409bbedd95e5e25c12a8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022940464d1ee66409bbedd95e5e25c12a8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Members, I wish to advise the House that I\u2019ve received a letter from, resigning his seat in this House with effect at 11.59 p.m. on Friday, 22 March 2024.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00224e9e753d91584f228144f708f05759b6\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226f22afd6da644c2bbadc27acc72d9b77\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u0022e9b7d711cdae40f898061bb46868b9d7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e9b7d711cdae40f898061bb46868b9d7\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Leader of the House: Next week, the House will consider the remaining stages of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill and the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill; the first reading of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill; the second readings of the Appropriation (2022/23 Confirmation and Validation) Bill and the Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Bill; and the committee stage of the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill. If debate on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill is not completed on Tuesday, there will be extended hours on Wednesday, 27 March to complete this bill. There will be a maiden statement on Tuesday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u0022ae9f07c51a1543759d99ea39a867482f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ae9f07c51a1543759d99ea39a867482f\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wonder if the member can tell us when we can see some legislation around the Local Water Done Well proposals, given the parlous state of water in Wellington and elsewhere.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u00221d0ca2e82cd24987a8958f581b5ee964\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221d0ca2e82cd24987a8958f581b5ee964\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance)\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the member will have to wait, and that legislation will come through in due course and it\u2019ll be a much better solution to water issues than the widely condemned three waters proposal of the previous Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022962930b718a14cf287eadc48933fa9c6\u0022\u003EPetitIons, Papers, Select Committee Reports, and Introduction of Bills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022322d424a62b943698fc9140bd8f659a1\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=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00224080e8c49ad44c9894709679910e1ae3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224080e8c49ad44c9894709679910e1ae3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: A petition has 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=\u0022d1576faccb0b4b918af756186c516839\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d1576faccb0b4b918af756186c516839\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: Petition of Jennifer Bolton requesting that the House require police to contact mental health services for advice when a person expresses suicidal intentions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00229f12715432554b0cb60ede53239a21ec\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229f12715432554b0cb60ede53239a21ec\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That petition stands referred to the Petitions Committee. No papers have been delivered for presentation. Select 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=\u002247630a9dee2e4fbd890bb83e6043247f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002247630a9dee2e4fbd890bb83e6043247f\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EReports of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003E2022-23 annual review of the Government Superannuation Fund Authority\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003E2022-23 annual reviews of the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General and the NZ Green Investment Finance Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003Ereport on the Agreement between New Zealand and The Slovak Republic For the Elimination of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003Ebriefing on the December 2023 mini-Budget; Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2023, and\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ESecond Protocol to the Agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Austria with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, done at Vienna on 21 September 2006\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Social Services and Community Committee on the 2022-23 annual reviews of the:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EMinistry for Ethnic Communities\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EArts, Culture and Heritage sector\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EBroadcasting sector\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EChildren\u2019s sector\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ESocial Services and Community sector, and the\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ESport and Recreation sector.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00221c9ad3634fb0487582db09dd8ffbf207\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221c9ad3634fb0487582db09dd8ffbf207\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The reports on international treaties and the December 2023 mini-Budget statement are set down for consideration. The Clerk has been informed of the introduction of bills.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u0022da0451be4f5b41848a8cc08a44176fd4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022da0451be4f5b41848a8cc08a44176fd4\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EInsurance Contracts Bill, introduction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EIncome Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill, introduction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ECrimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, introduction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EPae Ora (Healthy Futures) (3 Day Postnatal Stay) Amendment Bill, introduction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u002264525a72b4eb46f1bbd1c29fd188fd5d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002264525a72b4eb46f1bbd1c29fd188fd5d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those bills are set down for first reading.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229311cb3da02949c499c8f79843bb0af8\u0022\u003ETauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress and Ng\u0101 Hap\u016B o Ng\u0101ti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022db3e787ae5f7486aab2cddf3a7e0e432\u0022\u003ERecommittal to M\u0101ori Affairs Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u002275de2b5870be4fe3a18507fe841afd2d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002275de2b5870be4fe3a18507fe841afd2d\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations):\u003C/span\u003E I seek leave to move a motion without notice regarding the discharge of the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress and Ng\u0101 Hap\u016B o Ng\u0101ti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill, its referral to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, and the instruction to the committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221414\u0022 data-id=\u0022c3bdbb836bb7422c8375006a920fa2da\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c3bdbb836bb7422c8375006a920fa2da\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection to that course of action? There appears to be none. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022424bf03d8a2940958c3ce5199354039e\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the order of the day for the second reading of the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress and Ng\u0101 Hap\u016B o Ng\u0101ti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill be discharged, and the bill be referred to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee for consideration of Amendment Papers Nos. 18 and 19 in my name, and that the committee report back to the House by 8 April 2024, and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, and outside the Wellington area, despite Standing Orders 193, 195, and 196.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u002281cdac45188944e497d57929dfa93653\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002281cdac45188944e497d57929dfa93653\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a438edccabc64819bc341692bd50444d\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002266e3249f05d94f63a3a8289056860472\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f0f9c09e26904c5da433ca1c12276fee\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\u2014Disability Issues\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022 data-id=\u0022131e7d192648448ca7eddefd7637cf9c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022131e7d192648448ca7eddefd7637cf9c\u0022\u003EHon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by her statement regarding funding for disability support services, \u201CThey have been trying to deal with that, and we have been working with them to deal with that since they alerted me in December\u201D; if so, on what date was she first alerted to these funding issues?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022 data-id=\u002267a3636fa8f14cbd8957ad3dedeb65ae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002267a3636fa8f14cbd8957ad3dedeb65ae\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS (Minister for Disability Issues):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, I do. I also stand by my statement yesterday that there has been no reduction in funding for disabled people and no disabled people will lose access to funding for essential services, equipment, or support. The ministry is clarifying what this funding can be spent on to ensure it goes towards the direct needs of the disabled person. Parents and carers will still be able to use the support budget to pay for within-region travel and essential equipment and devices. We have inherited a situation from the previous Government where insufficient funding was provided for the policy settings that were in place. We are taking steps to address that short-term issue, but we will clearly need to address the longer-term issue as well, and I\u2019m taking advice on that. The first I was alerted to the potential issue was 15 December, but, at that time, the ministry believed that they could manage potential overruns. I want to offer my sincere apologies to the disabled community. We absolutely accept that the engagement with the community over this change was inadequate and has created unnecessary uncertainty. We have taken that criticism on board and we will do better in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d139c051190849b9b3402037d6d6b460\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: On what dates did she first advise the finance Minister of a forecast overspend in disability support services that would require a change to the purchasing rules and equipment and modification services?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c2ec5f1e9c448eea5cf68ed948f0310\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: In December, the ministry believed that they could manage this overrun. In subsequent months, that amount continued to trend towards an overspend. The context of this is that since 2018, the number of people accessing disability supports has increased by around 50\u00A0percent compared to population growth of 8.5 percent over that same period. The previous Labour Government was aware of this increase but did nothing to address the sustainability of the disability support service budget, but I assure the community that no disabled person will lose access to funding for essential services, equipment, or support.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a0477b8fe77a4e69960569a1dbf8d0cb\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. The question was very clearly about a date: what date did she advise the finance Minister? Her answer was long but went nowhere near that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bdac7d3e44694c72b576d03d7b738912\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Minister might like to consider the question again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e022ac85140d409bb50be6d2a4aa3b94\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: The Minister and myself have been discussing Budget process over a number of months, and the Minister of Finance has been very clear that there will be additional funding to maintain crucial front-line disability services; she gave that answer in the House yesterday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f6789d1f6a4d45cea51f6757794459ea\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. If the Minister doesn\u2019t know or can\u2019t recall, she should say so, but that again didn\u2019t answer the question, which was very clearly: what date did she inform the Minister of the cost overruns?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa43387d031d4c0ebd0d35bea6d70427\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I think that the addressing of the question is accepted on the basis that she indicated over a number of months they have been talking about increased funding.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc5adecb30a24a218a976163a25de96b\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: On what date did she first request a pre-Budget commitment for additional funding for Whaikaha to retain flexibility of funding for disability support services?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231c21d4796e34ec997ae3367d520747c\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: As I\u2019ve said in my previous answers, 15\u00A0December was when I first was alerted to the issue. This is a matter that had been known by the previous Labour Government, and nothing had been done. The ministry thought that they could manage the overrun at that time. From this year onwards, they have been watching that fund engagement trend upwards and I have been in discussion with the Minister of Finance to do with the budgetary process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e00ea4e578644458463dd67e4ea36bf\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Once again, the Minister gave a long amount of information about the problem but didn\u2019t actually answer the question, which was: when did she seek additional pre-Budget funding?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af8cbb6dd46240f59a64c0d25848cce4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, with all due respect to your position, the question itself makes an assumption about a process, and therefore I think any answer the Minister gave could be reasonable if it talked about matters that would relate to a Budget process, which she did.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221ffd1d8a9cb645ceaf31367d048b8996\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister saying that she first learnt about the cost blowout here on 15 December and that, prior to that, no prior warning had come to any Minister in charge of that portfolio?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229c1b3fcb246b4268ba68828c7e882699\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: I understand that the previous Government were made aware of the issues, and on 15 December I was made aware of the issues. At that time, the ministry felt they could deal with it, but the trend continued upwards and, therefore, I had ongoing discussions with the Minister of Finance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222b49c0908d74eaab536aa13c7da8efb\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: Did she advise Cabinet or the Prime Minister\u2019s office that Whaikaha would be making changes to remove flexibility of funding; if so, on what date did she do so?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002243938747890b4d749d08348daa4b3c5d\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: Whaikaha have been dealing with a fund that the previous Government had no settings and no regulations around. That has left Whaikaha in a situation where they were dealing with a fund that absolutely increased enormously over the last few years. They have been trying to work with this. We are now working with them, and we also will be working with the disabled community around putting settings in place to ensure that the funding is directed and focused towards the needs of the disabled person. It is regrettable that there were no settings put in place by the previous Government to assist Whaikaha with the management of this fund.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200d20298a37441cca6902e6b56cd090e\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: Did she or her office sign out a briefing to approve the changes that took effect on 18 March, and, if so, when?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a8bd6a7723e43ac8422f020e3ee362a\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: Again, I answered this question yesterday. On 14 March, I was advised that these changes would be implemented from 18 March. I absolutely regret that we did not have fulsome engagement with the disabled community and that our communication could have been much better and could have not contributed to some of the anxiety that has occurred in the disabled community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fcc4c1da037945aba245ccb45681ba22\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Again, the question was not when it was brought to her about the changes that took effect on 18 March; it was very specific: did she or her office sign out a briefing approving those changes? It wasn\u2019t addressed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209b04c4e87dc4aec8a1d07e61dd33c6a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think that\u2019s a fair point. The question talks about whether a briefing on the changes\u2014look, ask your question again. It\u2019s not my job to interpret the question. It\u2019s hard enough as it is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022270a4b4bcfc94995a6b7ab1180e8716b\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: Did she or her office sign out a briefing to approve the changes that took effect on 18 March; if so, when?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e9df48c38c54b7c86ce68b24fb0fab8\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: Again, as I said both today and yesterday: on 14 March, I signed the briefing that the implementation would occur on Monday, 18th.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246e640daf303473eb46f44bb9fbd0f3b\u0022\u003EHon Priyanca Radhakrishnan\u003C/span\u003E: What does she say to the mother who emailed her office and said, \u201COnce or twice a year, I have taken myself off for a night when I\u2019ve been able to find someone to come to my house and look after the children. I do not claim carer support for this but have utilised our respite funding. That\u2019s two nights a year I get to sleep undisturbed\u2014that I get to sleep in past 7\u00A0a.m. Is this unreasonable?\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2c4d6c97fbf4f219dbfd7bb5555c1dd\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS\u003C/span\u003E: The access to that funding, under the settings that were there previously\u2014absolutely nothing wrong was done by the person who accessed that. What we are saying is we need to look at the settings to ensure that the funding support goes to the person with the disability.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223ebb9601069e4c959c0e6dabafacd1ad\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022 data-id=\u0022ca45252f6b634fc591d11199dd228aa9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ca45252f6b634fc591d11199dd228aa9\u0022\u003EGREG FLEMING (National\u2014Maungakiekie)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Has she seen any recent reports on the New Zealand economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u00222d6278d00a8247a9b0fcf315e2bba8e1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222d6278d00a8247a9b0fcf315e2bba8e1\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Great question. Yes. This morning, Statistics New Zealand released the latest GDP figures. These showed that real GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December quarter of last year. Looking a little further back, the release also shows that GDP fell in the December quarter of 2022, the March quarter of 2023, and the September quarter of 2023. So 2022 and 2023 were certainly difficult years for the economy and, therefore, difficult years for New Zealanders and their families.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226bab6552d89040639c26978ba826393f\u0022\u003EGreg Fleming\u003C/span\u003E: Where is the New Zealand economy right now?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265113b02fa81411b8b6ded81b395afe5\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The member raises a good point, because GDP is reported some way after the event\u2014the release today is about what happened last year. What I can tell members is that when I talk to people and to businesses around the country, they are definitely doing it hard. But economic conditions will improve. GDP is expected to pick up this year, although strong population growth will limit per capita growth. In next week\u2019s Budget Policy Statement, the Treasury will say more about its current view of the economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022473c92211ac443169480d4819e7b53a3\u0022\u003EGreg Fleming\u003C/span\u003E: Does today\u2019s GDP release have any impact on this year\u2019s Budget?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002294c5262d9faa436fb0918752baa85da5\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The Government\u2019s plans for the Budget have not changed. These include delivering tax reductions to provide cost of living relief to New Zealanders who have seen no change in personal income tax rates and thresholds for 14 years. Can I reinforce to members that those tax reductions will be funded by reprioritisations, savings, and new revenue measures. This package of measures will not add to debt. I make an observation about those who oppose tax reduction. When the economy is going well, they say tax reduction must not happen because it will be inflationary; when the economy is not going well, they say tax reduction must not happen because we can\u2019t afford it. The truth is that members opposite believe the Government can spend money better than New Zealanders can on their own families; well, I disagree.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce89cce390ba4d9ba159aad0b77f0db5\u0022\u003EGreg Fleming\u003C/span\u003E: Does today\u2019s release have an impact on other Government activities?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228b6ff6b41f6f4c9cb8b69982242f3b70\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Declining GDP in the December quarter does reinforce the importance of the Government\u2019s plan to restore fiscal discipline to public spending and to drive more economic growth. I\u2019ve said a lot about fiscal discipline in the House\u00A0recently. Last Friday, I gave a speech to the Auckland Business Chamber setting out the Government\u2019s growth strategy. This Government knows that a strong economy determines our standard of living, job and business opportunities, and the quality of public services. We are focused on rebuilding the economy after years of economic mismanagement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222565c4120bde456b932872703068d461\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Does she agree with Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who said that the Sunday Star-Times is \u201Cright, of course\u201D when they reported that the Government is facing a fiscal hole of $5.6 billion?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220601adb87fd748c38593622dc1978ea1\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the Deputy Prime Minister is right and would prefer that the member opposite, I\u2019m sure, quoted him in the full context, because what is true is that our Government has inherited a fiscal hole from a previous Government who had\u00A0in place a structural deficit, spending beyond the country\u2019s means. What is not the case is that Vernon Small\u2019s figure bears any relation to the affordability of our tax package, and I can reassure the member opposite that when the families in Auckland Central get their tax reduction and get their childcare tax rebate, they can be sure it will be funded responsibly through reprioritisation, and I look forward to her explaining to them why she would stop them getting it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e1e3ab7ecd145acac4e510cc45480df\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can I ask the Minister of Finance as to whether she has received, apart from the 100,000 ways of spending the taxpayers\u2019 money, one idea from over there on how to make the taxpayers\u2019 money? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022144f1fe5429c435bb27bdd7ed405a815\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222ec1882227264d76a4e98877c69fc54f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, yeah, it\u2019s\u2014you\u2019ve got\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e35c632fe5b74fb2b1318e2f9f398483\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Let me give it a go. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022059f5e5c401b4e2a8af73a7aa1937b9c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019d love to give it a go, but you\u2019ve got no responsibility for any ideas that may or may not exist on the other side of the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022628dca72aa1c48128399e387b6bf4359\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. There\u2019s no proscription as to where the Minister of Finance might get advice or submissions from. She gets them from all around the world\u2014she gets them from the IMF, she gets them from the OECD\u2014so why are you proscribing it? It\u2019s a very reasonable question; they\u2019ll hate the answer\u2014that\u2019s the only problem with it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228279c42c23b5485cb3a9f9b0843078f9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, let me hear it again. Ask the question again. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c5e14b509f8474f82dc23690fa57e5c\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can I ask the Minister of Finance: alongside the 100,000 ways that she has received by way of advice to spend the taxpayers\u2019 money, has she\u00A0received one idea on how the taxpayers may make some money from those parties over there? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224b16830326774ee3a5cb26954bc00e82\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the Deputy Prime Minister makes two very good points. There have been occasions where the member opposite and I have shared ideas, and the unit title reform bill is an example of that. But the Deputy Prime Minister also highlights something very important, which is that those who wish to spend a country\u2019s money should probably also be thinking of ideas for making it. On this side of the House, we are resolutely pro-growth, pro-development, and anti - red tape, and I wish the Greens would join us in that mission. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b41e59294ce8462898a290a4033962f3\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Would the Minister consider addressing that structural deficit in the economy, which she just cited, through recommendations from the Treasury, or even the likes of the IMF, whose recent reports stated\u2014and I quote\u2014that we could achieve a more efficient, equitable tax system with a comprehensive capital gains tax? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022208f62a2b03f4852b821ae69aa68fef6\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: No. No country has ever taxed its way to prosperity, and how wrong-headed is it that the answer to every economic problem that member ever sees is always \u201CTax them more.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e0bcee67c604802a18385e9a5264e15\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister, then, disagree with the consistent advice from the Treasury that we would have a more productive economy with the implementation of a capital gains tax, fixing the incentives which currently see far too much money flowing into bidding up house prices?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002224d81a0241294b30ba1e7896c2213ec8\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: I disagree with quite a lot of the Treasury advice and I also agree with quite a lot of the Treasury advice, and what I think the member opposite should be very careful about is cherry-picking Treasury advice, because I can tell her that Treasury don\u2019t agree with her anti-growth, pro-regulation perspective. They know that that\u2019s a recipe for disaster in our economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f478fd35e1ab421ab46f5fc1668bdd6f\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022 data-id=\u0022fd93e19ff85045759adb6aac893cd7e0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fd93e19ff85045759adb6aac893cd7e0\u0022\u003EHon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour\u2014Mana)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u002216b5bcfabffe470794fe249f79d304ca\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002216b5bcfabffe470794fe249f79d304ca\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, I do, in the context in which they were given. I particularly stand by my statement that hard-working New Zealanders deserve tax relief. Given that data today confirms our economy has experienced a double-dip recession, I know those hard-working New Zealanders will be appreciative of soon being able to keep more of their money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ee1aaa3989b48199d3dd941ffcdd793\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: On what date did she decide not to progress a pre-Budget funding commitment for Whaikaha, as she told Stuff yesterday?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e74a95a36cf41429d6450b73a1c314a\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s not what I told Stuff yesterday, but let me clarify the situation for the member. The Ministry of Disabled People had been invited to submit for cost pressures as part of Budget 2024 as we view the services they provide as critical front-line services and intended to provide them more funding in the Budget, and they did so with the Minister. Subsequent to that request, I was advised in early March that there was a risk of the disability services\u2014Whaikaha\u2014exceeding its appropriation. Treasury advised me at that time that this could be dealt with through the usual Budget process, and, obviously, yesterday it became clear there are more immediate issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254f9c5a821aa4e5495664b9a6985548a\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Why did the change to disability support happen without warning or consultation with those affected when she made the decision to progress it as a part of a normal Budget process?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022690310498b7545b5aa68726f8a072d1b\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I can\u2019t speak to that because I was not involved in making those decisions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022becd28203b1444b3b2f5998ea2089a58\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister stand by her comments to Stuff yesterday: \u201COn balance, \u2026 we got to was that we would just make decisions as part of a normal Budget process\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002249a38110d624458a81c0dffc30c66204\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s correct, because what I was advised was that Whaikaha had sufficient funding to make it through, so long as we made Budget decisions on the time line that we were planning and so long as we did agree to additional funding on that time line. We had been clear that we were providing significant additional funding. We were clear that the decision would be finalised by Cabinet in time for that to give Whaikaha security of funding going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d13c1e976224b93bf1d6c78dd78cb5b\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Why did she decide to increase the level of cuts required of Whaikaha to 7.5 percent rather than the 6.5 percent she campaigned on, and is requiring of other agencies, given she received a briefing from the Minister of disabilities in late 2023?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229d9c6d28a5de4cfdb0b43ec750163c8a\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: I would just assure the member that the ministry for disability services is expected to get vast orders of magnitude more in additional funding for front-line services\u2014vast orders of magnitude more than any small changes they make to ensure their back office is more efficient. We haven\u2019t exempted them from the process we are asking all Government agencies to do, because we are conscious every dollar that is saved by not spending it on another policy adviser or administrative person, consultant, or contractor is a dollar that can actually go to support people with disabilities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3a459d98c39433f88ff843d17ad0c35\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Does she stand by her statement that she was \u201Csurprised\u201D by this decision, and, if so, is that because the Minister for Disability Issues never alerted her to the situation, or does she just not read the paper setting out the rationale for an early decision?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e2e989496204b9c9d16572d682475cf\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: In answer to the first part of the question, yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227848cd8ab49a44668ba93136a2da6798\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u2014Immigration\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022 data-id=\u00226fb27f9c63ca4042bbe52c5fb54a7ad1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226fb27f9c63ca4042bbe52c5fb54a7ad1\u0022\u003ERICARDO MEN\u00C9NDEZ MARCH (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Immigration: When, if ever, can Palestinian New Zealanders expect her response to their repeated calls for a special humanitarian visa to bring their family members safely to New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022 data-id=\u0022c230158a6c3d4b0780a1fca77fee65a1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c230158a6c3d4b0780a1fca77fee65a1\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD (Minister of Immigration):\u003C/span\u003E First, let me start by acknowledging the unimaginable humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Our thoughts are with all Palestinian New Zealanders who have family and friends there. The Government, along with our international partners, are closely monitoring the evolving situation in Gaza. I receive weekly updates on the visas issued and have regular conversations with officials on what other countries are doing. At this time, the evidence is that a special humanitarian visa is not a solution to the current crisis. For example, I\u2019m told that Canada, the only country that have created a special visa, has received 986 applications\u2014on 1\u00A0January, they opened that\u2014and only 14 of those people have managed to complete secondary screening. It is heartbreaking to hear reports like the one this morning on RNZ of a man whose ex-wife and two children have visitor visas that we granted in December, who have still not been able to get out of Gaza. I do not want to give false hope to people that a visa will enable them to leave Gaza. As and when the situation changes in Gaza, we will reconsider our position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205e835c882f74bc2b26ee48bbb2c5836\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Which option would enable more lives to be saved: the status quo or creating a special humanitarian visa to reunite family members of Palestinian New Zealanders with those that are still in Gaza?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d057e2d3757b49ff87a6228240f95be8\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll reiterate what I said: New Zealand has already been issuing visitor visas to family members of Palestinians here in New Zealand, and we have not been able to get them out. Unfortunately, the situation is a border situation, and simply issuing visas like the Canadians have done\u2014like we have done\u2014will not mean we can get people out of Gaza. As and when the situation changes in Gaza, we will reconsider our position, and we are monitoring the situation daily.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f1c1d4624c14df6aa880c06c4d4278d\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Is she aware that, since October last year, only 10 visitor visa applications by Palestinians have been granted, whilst 13 have been rejected, and that seven times more visas are still being granted to Israeli nationals than Palestinian nationals when both of them are supposedly prioritised?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200455c46d9df4ed7ad95abb846e29254\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I don\u2019t know if the member has up-to-date numbers. I believe that the numbers of people who have been issued visitor visas are higher than that. The issue that we have, as I\u2019ve said, is that people are not able to get out of Gaza. Many of the visas that we have issued are for people who are still waiting to get out and cannot get out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b684a42e3f74d739f65a77d91955f2e\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Has she requested advice on options to reunite family members of Palestinian New Zealanders beyond just monitoring the situation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d2c6e5b0a224f07aa1bdf9dfeb3e63a\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I have asked for that. I asked for that very early on, and I was advised that we have set up a special, dedicated number of staff at Immigration New Zealand who are processing visitor visas for family members. We have a special, dedicated inbox. We are expediting those, and we are taking the humanitarian situation into consideration when we are granting those visas. But the situation remains, like the man who was on RNZ this morning who has an ex-wife and children in Gaza. We have issued them visas, and they cannot leave. As and when the situation changes, we will reconsider our position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221843980c3ae74eacae1743cf3d1c8214\u0022\u003ETim Costley\u003C/span\u003E: What is the Government doing in response to the situation in Gaza?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dfb9b7722b2a4faaaa70a00112b29a7d\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Immigration New Zealand has, as I said, a specialist team working on applications. Since 7 October, we\u2019ve received 71 applications from Palestinian nationals around the world. Of these, we believe 15 applications are from people who, to the best of our knowledge, may have been in Gaza at the time of their application or shortly before lodging. We\u2019ve issued seven visas to people who are immediate family members of New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, and I would encourage any Palestinian New Zealander who has immediate family members in Gaza that they would like to travel to New Zealand to go to the Immigration New Zealand website to apply for a visa, which will be promptly assessed by the specialist team. Unfortunately, as I\u2019ve said, that does not guarantee them a way out of Gaza. As we have seen, we have already done this, and many of those people we have issued visas to are still unable to leave. The New Zealand Government has also provided a total of $15 million in humanitarian assistance, including through the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to address the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a60385db94e4a6da26062af32756401\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Does she agree with MP Erica Stanford, who said, 14\u00A0days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that \u201CDesperate Ukrainians in New Zealand have been unable to rescue wider family members because immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has not created a [special] pathway to let them come to New Zealand\u201D, and, if so, will she afford the same urgency to Palestinian New Zealanders who are urgently waiting to be reunited with their families?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002279505b07166c4595bbb64b73f8b38fb6\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I do agree with that member in Opposition, and the reason I do is because those people in Ukraine were able to leave\u2014they were able to get on a plane and get to New Zealand. The situation in Gaza is that they cannot leave, and I\u2019m not going to be issuing visas, which is issuing false hope, for people on a great scale who cannot leave. But as and when the situation changes, we will reconsider our position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c70db9846484408c94a1c514dd63db6d\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: What further actions beyond monitoring the situation has the Minister explored?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228cab82110a8e470b929e26bc87584e44\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: As I said in my primary answer: every single week, in my bag I ask for updates on the visas that have been issued to Palestinian nationals. I ask for an update on each individual family situation so that I can see who has been issued a visa and who has been able to leave. I have regular conversations with my officials on what other countries are doing, which is why I was able to tell the member about the situation with the Canadian visa, which is the only country in the world that has issued a humanitarian visa and has not been able to get people out. We are monitoring the situation. We are asking about what other countries are being able to do so that we can closely follow them if and when the situation changes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225dfe1e5fa2df40a6aa78ff7c2c0a4b68\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Does she agree with Minas Al-Ansari, speaking for Kiwi Palestinians with family in Gaza, who said that \u201CRight now, our family members are being killed and we are helpless to save them. One member of our community has lost 120\u00A0members of their family. If Erica Stanford, this National-led government had granted special humanitarian visas early, as was done for Ukraine, there is absolutely no doubt lives would have been saved.\u201D, and, if so, how many more lives need to be lost before she considers a visa?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227258ba0be64d49c2a8f86fad2dca769b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no, the last part of that question is not acceptable. Just withdraw that last part, because you can\u2019t ask someone to comment on a quote and then say \u201Cif\u00A0so\u201D\u2014doesn\u2019t work. So put it grammatically correctly to the House, but don\u2019t repeat the whole question. It\u2019s too long.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022babb7afcf5cf4592b85fa1442297aa67\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: I can cut the quote then, but does she agree with Minas Al-Ansari, who said, \u201CRight now, our families are being killed and we are helpless to save them.\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022240893785e644332b3c112b503824904\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, we got all that; just the last part\u2014just rephrase the very last part of the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224122f1946b42496d9a9c1bb282df106b\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Does she agree with Minas Al-Ansari, who said, \u201CIf Erica Stanford, this National-led government had granted special humanitarian visas early, as was done for Ukraine\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022efa0c865dea74217b6a1e9ce1b18bf49\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, sorry\u2014OK, look, that\u2019s the end of the question. You can\u2019t rephrase it; you\u2019re not carrying on with it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022737ea4f6aafa46deac7b23bdaa843a13\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, there\u2019s a quote here; I\u2019m trying to shorten it as much as I can.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe95d6ae374c46f9b49e5976caf996a8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, this is your fourth go at it\u2014get it right. Just take the last part off\u2014it\u2019s pretty clear; pretty simple.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022176ada12aae3469cb1cce4ea9cb2ef9e\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I\u2019ll just repeat the quote without this last bit then:\u00A0does she agree with Minas Al-Ansari, speaking for Kiwi Palestinians with family in\u00A0Gaza\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222080fa4b70c40149aa162f0c1df6fb3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, sorry, that\u2019s it. Finished\u2014thank you. Move now to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002251b42e18d88445b38ec258927311c7ad\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. How is it that a member is supposed to\u00A0repeat the end of a question by reframing that whilst not offering the question in its full\u00A0context?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b6bdd438688c4f22826f36803480c656\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Because you can\u2019t ask a question for an opinion when in fact you are finishing the question by inferring that the content is irrefutable, which, effectively, the words \u201Cif so\u201D do. I asked him to change it several times.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223caf717b1006421480b81010164f8169\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: I hear that, Mr Speaker, and I guess, just for sake of clarity for the House, then it would be the most, kind of, due process for the question in its full\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022150d33636c4540958452a0af8b2a2411\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s never been a problem for others to correct a small part at the end. I\u2019m just not happy that we\u2019re now trifling with the House when other people are able to comply with those requirements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a76f4b2995d4c41befcafae0b8e5667\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order. Sorry, Mr Speaker; so just to clarify in good faith, what you had asked me was to shorten the quote altogether, which I tried to do. None of the quotes that I had tried to repeat while shortening it were outside of what I had repeated. So I tried to cut the second bit and just repeat the question as it was. My intention is absolutely not to trifle with the House; it is to comply with what was requested of me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002264a96447899e44ecba9050511860b4a6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, your intention is not meeting its intent. So can we just drop the \u201Cif so\u201D part of the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296f6bfc870f74e659143f5432f36647c\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Done\u2014I can do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ece2fba303da480f9647da3882427c09\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Good, thank you. The Hansard will record that; the Minister may like to comment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228aa84c821c764eae9e0bfb2694014565\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Look, I would say that of course the situation is unimaginable, but I would say that, unfortunately, the comments that that man made are not true. We know that people in Palestine who have temporary visas to get out have not been able to get out. We granted visas in December and people still are unable to get out. It is, unfortunately, not a visa issue; it is a border issue, and as I\u2019ve said a number of times, if that changes, we will reconsider our position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002226ee49d7ac24414499b08d75c64b63c4\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u2014Trade\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022 data-id=\u0022e211e1ff32544ba0aab83cfead0e05a6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e211e1ff32544ba0aab83cfead0e05a6\u0022\u003ETIM VAN DE MOLEN (National\u2014Waikato)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Trade: What actions has the Government taken to support New Zealand trade?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022 data-id=\u0022792e696aba4c4224b51c0adc2b7c9843\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022792e696aba4c4224b51c0adc2b7c9843\u0022\u003EHon TODD McCLAY (Minister for Trade):\u003C/span\u003E Today, the House will complete the final legislative process required to bring the New Zealand - European Union free-trade agreement (FTA) into force on 1 May, many months earlier than expected. This legislation is being passed in a record time of seven weeks so that New Zealand businesses can realise benefits as soon as possible. In particular, this early entry into force date means our kiwifruit industry will see $43 million worth of tariff savings this year. We also estimate that 35,000 tonnes of onions will be exported to the EU after 1\u00A0May, saving our onion exporters $3 million per season. Without this early entry into force, both the kiwifruit and onion growers would have missed the season\u2019s exports and paid many tens of millions of dollars\u2019 worth of tariffs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022402fa02e22a14b14a8a72b8d79b31438\u0022\u003ESam Uffindell\u003C/span\u003E: Why has the Government moved so quickly to get this agreement into\u00A0force?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b257a9f684954639a10c0e503e07c9e9\u0022\u003EHon TODD McCLAY\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the Government\u2019s drive to get the legislation passed in record time is to see the immediate tariff savings of $100 million per year on New Zealand\u2019s exports from day one. For the first day of implementation, duties will be removed from 91 percent of goods exported. A wide range of sectors will see these immediate benefits: 99.5 percent of fish and seafood trade will enter tariff-free from day one, as will 97 percent of New Zealand\u2019s wine and m\u0101nuka honey exports. The EU has completed its ratification process last year; it is now up to us to deliver and do our part to bring the agreement into force, and that\u2019s what the House will do today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a00bf4f5-c63a-49a0-b0e1-d3b37311377b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228910283d7e814d4d9153df9680d120c1\u0022\u003ECatherine Wedd\u003C/span\u003E: What benefits will New Zealanders see as a result of this agreement?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022663b385ba0e249c7be35457b0d068ad9\u0022\u003EHon TODD McCLAY\u003C/span\u003E: New Zealand will remove all tariffs on imports originating from the EU. New Zealand consumers and businesses will benefit from access to cheaper products imported from the EU, on a range of goods including footwear, apparel, cosmetics, furniture, chocolate, kitchen appliances, machinery, motorhomes, forklifts, and some agricultural goods. The EU is our fourth-largest services trading partner, worth $4.4 billion. We estimate there will be significant savings, between 10 to 20 percent, in the costs for New Zealand service exporters that trade with the EU. The economic gains from the FTA will help to soften the impact of the cost of living increases for New Zealanders and helps to rebuild our economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225aea5959fdb14cb5b99770d538d0c0df\u0022\u003ETim van de Molen\u003C/span\u003E: How was it possible to get this legislation through so quickly?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b9d9647770944bf9bc5ec2a0a0381829\u0022\u003EHon TODD McCLAY\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the EU - NZ FTA officially enters into force on the first day of the second month after the legislation has passed through the House. Therefore, it was vital we fast tracked this legislation through Parliament as quickly as possible. I\u2019d like to recognise the work done by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee and members from all parties, who worked collaboratively to speed up the process while still hearing the views from all submitted. I\u2019d also like to recognise the considerable efforts of the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor and all parties in this House for agreeing to progress the ratification of the EU FTA legislation so quickly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228d79be2c60f6492aa87e7ed7f1897f5b\u0022\u003EHon Damien O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: To the Minister: given the importance and the value of this\u00A0agreement\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228b54086f884d44eaa794354ae4e8a822\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s not a question word\u2014the member\u2019s been here a long time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281cc4af5e62a4aac8e4980eb1cb86d89\u0022\u003EHon Damien O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, I got it\u2014if this legislation is so important, why did\u00A0the Government prioritise the removal of smoking protection, over the passage of this\u00A0legislation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a53add3a2540414289087a323ea49567\u0022\u003EHon TODD McCLAY\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s no wonder that member is no longer the Minister responsible. But what I would like to do is thank him for his hard work on an agreement that will help deliver for all New Zealanders, and recognise how hard it must be to be a Minister for Trade in a Labour Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224d8b11286bbe47e79d9c74b40fed3b3f\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022 data-id=\u002265e63f3eee81403aa279733da581f0b8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002265e63f3eee81403aa279733da581f0b8\u0022\u003EHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022 data-id=\u0022df227758bcc14be18bf7792d6c1d2478\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022df227758bcc14be18bf7792d6c1d2478\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY (Associate Minister of Health)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Health: Yes, in the context in which they were given, including his action of congratulating the new Minister for Mental Health on his great announcement this morning of rolling out mental health peer support workers in emergency departments.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226a239d92c2e942bc9fab6efb2a275d19\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Why did he issue a statement on 29 November that said Labour\u2019s smoke-free changes would have resulted in an illicit market for tobacco when he had been advised that the evidence did not support that statement?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b7c70083b6544878728766af5af1c69\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister of Health, I take a range of advice, and if that member had read her own regulatory impact statement from the legislation she passed in 2021, she would have seen that advice.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b241b140f0ea4a56a01c2b397d613071\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister recall that the regulatory impact statement said that the illicit market in tobacco was decreasing, at a time when New Zealanders had one of the highest prices of cigarettes in the world, and, if so, how can he justify his decision to make a statement that the smoke-free laws that Labour put in place would increase the illicit market?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022811b1192701a4e87ad01211291c348da\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister of Health, I can justify that statement from the advice in her own regulatory impact statement in 2021 that said, \u201CAny additional actions that will reduce the supply, availability, and appeal of smoked tobacco products will add to the incentives to import illicit tobacco products.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ed1b4d7b598470ead1e6e37b879a812\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: How is it truthful to repeatedly claim that the legislation will grow the black market when, subsequent to the regulatory impact statement and before the Minister made his statement on 29 November, he had been advised that there was no evidence to support that claim?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe88e289e04546b68529ca85f963d530\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister of Health, I receive a range of advice, including another statement from that regulatory impact statement in 2021 that said organised syndicates were involved in illicit tobacco trade.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293b5fad0cd8b47238459247fc8125d18\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll just make the point that it\u2019s not appropriate in a question to infer that any member of the House is less than truthful. There is another process for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200080233e4e64f18b968d76c6fdfa5ea\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Is it correct that documents reveal his office has been involved with undermining smoke-free policies while he has said to health workers this policy has nothing to do with him?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a254825ad83b48609514fd4637da87a9\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister of Health, what is correct is that I\u2019ve received a range of advice from many different stakeholder groups, including submissions from stakeholders during the process when that bill went to select committee, such as the Food and Grocery Council, who submitted to the Health Committee that limiting retail could create significant additional opportunities for organised crime, including gangs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002272e8dee5ad4b4badad8eb69145223824\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Mental Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022 data-id=\u002261d0e17f75ec41c0b7807f1363be80c2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002261d0e17f75ec41c0b7807f1363be80c2\u0022\u003ECARL BATES (National\u2014Whanganui)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made regarding mental health?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022 data-id=\u0022cae224a25e52446b8bc92d3bdbea022c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cae224a25e52446b8bc92d3bdbea022c\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY (Minister for Mental Health):\u003C/span\u003E Today, I\u2019m pleased to announce a new mental health and addiction peer support service in hospital emergency departments (EDs). The service will see peer support workers embedded within EDs to provide additional support for those with mental health needs and their families in a\u00A0time of need. It will also help connect people in crisis to community support. I\u2019ve heard from many in the sector who want to see peer support specialists playing a greater role in helping to address some of the challenges faced by our mental health services, including using their established workforce to start taking the pressure of our specialist services in EDs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0c80b81692b43ccaf44ea6b5b98047e\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: What actions is the Government taking to grow the peer support workforce?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d8fe51251600412c952034d265fed57f\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: Today, I also announced a $1 million workforce fund over two years that\u2019s been set up to provide a level 4 New Zealand certificate in health and wellbeing peer support training and specific training for working in EDs. Peer support specialists play a vital role within this workforce and it\u2019s essential that we put in place specific initiatives to grow and support them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225fbbbca03f434f7d8d8265fc6e00f869\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: What impact will these new services have on emergency departments?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2de9d9f7a2d4d109108d67c59108791\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve been advised that between 13,000 and 14,000 people present annually to EDs with mental health issues. This service will help provide timely mental health and addiction support for those in need whilst helping relieve pressure on ED staff. This service will also support police, who respond to a number of mental health call outs, and, in many cases, have to wait with the patient for several hours in ED before they can be handed over to a mental health specialist. Embedding peer support workers in ED will allow for a warm handover from police, which will mean they can get back on the street faster to keep our community safe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022709fe0041c6e4af18ecfb3fa5fe53632\u0022\u003EIngrid Leary\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minister commit to appropriate levels of care for people experiencing mental health distress from when they arrive in the emergency departments continuously and until after they leave by peer support and medical workers to ensure this programme keeps people safe and can\u2019t be exploited to gain waiting time targets for ED?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a03dec7192c24e4cb314f8f97055917e\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: What I can commit to is this Government will get more money out of the Beehive to the grassroots NGOs that are ready to respond to the needs in mental health. That\u2019s exactly what we\u2019ve done today with uncommitted funding that they left sitting in the Beehive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4d54f2747f64003b043379d23131792\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: What feedback has he received from the mental health sector?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ee649aea-c6fa-4610-9fcf-5c4bb2d3cd33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022740c27fddff2445182cd3172d0a41756\u0022\u003EHon MATT DOOCEY\u003C/span\u003E: Today\u2019s announcement has been described by the sector as a positive move, with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission saying people who are experiencing mental distress who arrive at EDs will be supported while they wait. This will be positive for both the department and people seeking help. The peer support workforce has a lot to offer and it\u2019s encouraging to see the expansion of these roles.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002245be0d84e7724fbe926dee18d579084c\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Courts\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022 data-id=\u0022f811d37f617c4367b70ec37ba0c44386\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f811d37f617c4367b70ec37ba0c44386\u0022\u003ETODD STEPHENSON (ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Courts: What recent policy statements has she made?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258baa209-edaf-42a5-92d6-b2613c144bfb\u0022 data-id=\u0022093b67a495d84194afc171f0ea660b32\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258baa209-edaf-42a5-92d6-b2613c144bfb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022093b67a495d84194afc171f0ea660b32\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE (Minister for Courts):\u003C/span\u003E I recently announced the introduction of the Courts (Remote Participation) Amendment Bill to Parliament, contributing to the Government\u2019s 100-day commitment to enable more virtual participation in court proceedings. This bill enables the use of audiovisual link technology, which proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic to support access to justice and a safer option to attend court for victims.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac79a814e8274cbfbd6c0c8f88e51a45\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: Will introducing audiovisual-link courts contribute to more efficient court proceedings?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258baa209-edaf-42a5-92d6-b2613c144bfb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227367d160b4fe4dc7a206d532fa41fa7f\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. Enabling audiovisual-link technology in court proceedings offers increased efficiency by providing flexibility in how parties participate. This flexibility may reduce the time and cost associated with attending court in person, including travel expenses and transport security costs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293f2773d76de4cfba3a57e7e4810e667\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: Will the introduction of audiovisual in court support victims?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258baa209-edaf-42a5-92d6-b2613c144bfb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e231fdd7b1224f649a3f86bf409c8481\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. The use of audiovisual links in our courts will enable victims of crime to remotely observe criminal trials, if suitable technology is available and remote viewing is deemed appropriate by a judicial officer or a court registrar. This will allow victims to avoid potential re-traumatisation and intimidation often associated with attending court in person.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe43b70f1e874ae18fdf7452696eabbe\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: What will this Government do to ensure the use of audiovisual links in New Zealand\u2019s courts is fit for purpose for the future?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258baa209-edaf-42a5-92d6-b2613c144bfb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dfca1bbfeed3464fa521146c3ea037f9\u0022\u003EHon NICOLE McKEE\u003C/span\u003E: Cabinet has endorsed a first-principles review of the Courts (Remote Participation) Act 2010, given the significant advancements in audiovisual-link technology since the Act was passed in 2010. This review will inform possible ways of enhancing and updating audiovisual link capabilities within our court system. The results of this review will be assessed later on this year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227c92aa3b625f48509d6072d494587ce3\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Veterans\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u00222daa89d18ad14a79b737c0f7ad39ef9a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222daa89d18ad14a79b737c0f7ad39ef9a\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR (Labour\u2014\u014Ch\u0101riu)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Veterans: Does he stand by his statement that the Veterans\u2019 Independence Programme is \u201Ca great thing to be able to do\u201D; if so, does he support Veterans\u2019 Affairs\u2019 move to restrict access to the Veterans\u2019 Independence Programme?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u00222be9e409c35b491280da5b8347c8d180\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222be9e409c35b491280da5b8347c8d180\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK (Minister for Veterans):\u003C/span\u003E To the first part of the question: yes. To the second part of the question: also yes. I strongly support the prioritisation of existing resources that are available, particularly to those ex-service personnel who have been injured or become ill as a result of their service to New Zealand. As the situation currently stands, as we inherited, it takes, for example, 361 days, on average, for a disablement pension claim to be processed and provided. Clearly that\u2019s not acceptable, and anything that we can do to improve the situation for those veterans is not only the moral thing to do; it is the legally required course of action, in accordance with the Veterans\u2019 Support Act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3dbf969511043d39962dd808299d5f0\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with former Minister Craig Foss that \u201CUnder the VIP support is available to all veterans with qualifying service, whether or not they have a service-related injury \u2026 This means that more veterans will be able to access the services and support provided by Veterans\u2019 Affairs than ever before.\u201D; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247112b0d8c4f4208aa856ced71bba2cb\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: I strongly support the idea that, to the greatest extent possible, the New Zealand Government would provide independence-type services to veterans, even those who have not been injured or become ill as a result of their services to New Zealand. That is why, referencing my quote to the New Zealand Herald recently in the first part of the primary question, I stated that it\u2019s \u201Ca great thing to be able to do\u201D. It\u2019s not a thing that we\u2019re able to do, however, at the moment, in the context of the situation we\u2019ve inherited to the extent that those resources are taken away from those who have made claims and are waiting up to a year, on average, to receive the help they need, deserve, and are entitled to under the Act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002250ab3c8839ab4c8e870f54f95ba3849f\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: What action, if any, has he taken to retain entitlements to the Veterans\u2019 Independence Programme?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a70bea18a9074d8c98d8c97bf611fe35\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: The scheme continues to exist, and we will advocate as much as possible for its continuation. However, on the current parameters, the resources available and as appropriated by the last Government, it is not feasible to continue those at the expense of more fundamental core and non-discretionary functions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ba9743a9c6294a1e8f788bcd1a8491aa\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Does he believe suspending entitlements to the Veterans\u2019 Independence Programme is acceptable when his Government campaigned on ensuring veterans receive the care, recognition, and support they deserve?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2ee3407699a4c5992b664326f0e78fb\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it\u2019s more acceptable than the situation that has been allowed to prevail, which many people across the country have raised to me and various local representatives, such that they seek the care that they need, deserve, and are legally entitled to under the Veterans\u2019 Support Act. Clearly there\u2019s a prioritisation that has needed to be made. Obviously, we will improve the situation as best we can, including by improving the processes, potentially working with non-Government agency or organisation partners. For example, I acknowledge the RSA for reaching out and offering such support. That\u2019s work that we\u2019re actively engaged in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022877c53b92d2e43439150e9bfc94c4b78\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022 data-id=\u0022b8ccec997d034a65b52b637a6a058485\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b8ccec997d034a65b52b637a6a058485\u0022\u003EDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader\u2014Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government\u2019s policies and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u00221f7e9c70a2a54053b45940d6f89327bd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221f7e9c70a2a54053b45940d6f89327bd\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fda4e28b856e46649cce80d6b2d94a50\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: What is his response to the Mana Mokopuna report commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and the National Iwi Chairs Forum, and the rangatahi surveyed called for harsher consequences for racism?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e86ed84f10cf455399bc84df12d40df4\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: The Government\u2019s position, and my position as the Prime Minister, is that I agree with that entirely. When people are racist, they should be called out for doing it, because it\u2019s a disaster for democracy. And you know what it looks like and it means, don\u2019t you?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a5f5de549934d3a9ac57a920f176ac4\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Can I, please, seek clarity on what the last comment from the Prime Minister meant when he said, \u201CI know what it looks like\u201D? From my perspective, I didn\u2019t understand that they\u2019re allowed to ask me questions or answer questions with a question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce50d2d5b8a443db94ae66b2f80f3b6b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, it\u2019s not appropriate to go that way. Ask another question, or ask the question again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002220c614187c4c426a9cf6227b7b717ac3\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: What does he see is his role in combating increased racism being experienced by rangatahi according to the Mana Mokopuna report?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237986\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eeea5245e4dd4af38591e53f1b16b69b\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the most critical thing that\u2019s involved, in terms of combating racism, is to point out the fallacy and the deceit and the lie of one people being superior in their DNA to another.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022acf32245604f47a8a7656f6cc16232a6\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. I\u2019d like to bring in Speakers\u2019 rulings 59/2, 59/4, and 121\u2014the personal reflections. Distasteful and disorderly, as far as not addressing the real issue here, which is our mokopuna wanting to see a Government that addresses racism, not to hear from a Prime Minister who believes that it is his role to tell the person asking the question what a racist is. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s what the mokopuna in this report were seeking. If we can just say focused, as the Prime Minister said, and keep the decorum to the kaupapa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022672deb43c40a4cecb19c8c2fed46ec3f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Stay on the point, OK? So your point, essentially\u2014well, the point you quote is not something I can rule favourably on. The Prime Minister, in this case, answered the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022726bb9e42abd4ab6abc265bbecdf44c6\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. The personal reflection is about a reference that was neither made from this person asking the question or this party, and that is the point that I\u2019m making.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227f7d76b7ed243f4847e385eac8581d6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I know that. But my point to you is that he did not make a personal reflection; he made a statement in an answer, and that\u2019s what the Hansard will show.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228bccff7102d94585a803ad5e90082149\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister agree that education-based solutions are key to combating the increase of racism being experienced by rangatahi at school, and, if so, what is his Government doing to improve education in this space?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4faad2ce9a54dee945128ea94237c8b\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: It is the Government\u2019s position that education and every other utility should be used to combat racism in our society, and we\u2019re going to go to the ends of the earth to ensure that that happens.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002205122de0a8f24f1d9296b69014ec654e\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014Revenue\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d4dae97-e385-42a3-9791-5440c8cc9b3c\u0022 data-id=\u0022cdf66f8f9c5e4c31ae18ecfede84736c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d4dae97-e385-42a3-9791-5440c8cc9b3c\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cdf66f8f9c5e4c31ae18ecfede84736c\u0022\u003ENANCY LU (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Revenue: What announcement has the Minister made on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022 data-id=\u0022e8a4f5778dd1456a9496c2f93de68c01\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e8a4f5778dd1456a9496c2f93de68c01\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS (Minister of Revenue):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Last week, I announced with the Minister of Finance that the coalition Government would be introducing an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. The Amendment Paper enacts several changes to the tax system to keep good on our coalition commitments to ensure New Zealanders can keep more of what they earn. These changes include restoring interest deductibility for residential investment properties and reducing the brightline test from 10 years to two.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d4dae97-e385-42a3-9791-5440c8cc9b3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002234db3eee46e547b9895c6913ab8f517f\u0022\u003ENancy Lu\u003C/span\u003E: What other changes are included in the Government\u2019s Amendment Paper?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022032f7e576c96402296bba5042c6ce2ba\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS\u003C/span\u003E: The Amendment Paper closes a loophole that enables offshore online casinos to pay less tax than New Zealand operators. Currently, the only tax that applies to offshore online casinos is GST, where casinos in New Zealand are facing much higher taxes. From 1 July, offshore operators will be required to pay a gambling duty of 12 percent on gross betting revenue, therefore closing this loophole.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d4dae97-e385-42a3-9791-5440c8cc9b3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266de216bf0864d35acf1a81b0565c85a\u0022\u003ENancy Lu\u003C/span\u003E: When will the other changes come into force?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022547f10d1020f492281c77d104ec6b7b5\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS\u003C/span\u003E: Changes to the brightline test will come into force from 1 July 2024 alongside the gambling duty changes. Interest deductibility will be restored in stages, with 80 percent of a deduction allowed from 1 April 2024 and 100 percent from 1\u00A0April 2025.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d4dae97-e385-42a3-9791-5440c8cc9b3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e37f449d49344ccd8df1ae9907760597\u0022\u003ENancy Lu\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister seen any reports on the bill\u2019s treatment of trust tax?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c997b1cae5d4318a1c09390888a7f75\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. Originally, the bill required many lower-income trusts to pay the top tax rate of 39c in the dollar. However, I\u2019m pleased to see that the Finance and Expenditure Committee accepted the Government\u2019s advice for a $10,000 trustee income de minimis to be introduced. This means that around 87 percent of all trusts in New Zealand are unlikely to be impacted by the change to the top tax rate. This is a sensible and pragmatic change, and I thank the committee for their work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d1205eb2b81d437bb4040967d1876bcb\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Why is his Government prioritising a $2.9 billion tax cut for landlords over other election promises that would have helped middle-income families and cost less from Crown accounts, like raising the Working for Families abatement threshold?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af6cc5b2c28c45948ae6dedaae9cac53\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS\u003C/span\u003E: What is a priority for this Government is actually delivering on our coalition agreement and putting downward pressure on rent, and this is what these changes will do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e2d02fd0a67b4ab38c4031be1aed86b9\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u2014Auckland\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022 data-id=\u00222ff36585a24f4065994fc79c8615c694\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222ff36585a24f4065994fc79c8615c694\u0022\u003ESHANAN HALBERT (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Auckland: Does he agree with Christopher Luxon\u2019s \u201Ccommitment to Aucklanders\u201D in the New Zealand Herald today that the Government is \u201Cruthlessly focused on rebuilding the economy and reducing the cost of living so more Kiwis can get ahead\u201D; if so, what actions will he take to deliver cost of living relief for Aucklanders?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u0022fc1c791eb1a0451ab1af0f53e62b131a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fc1c791eb1a0451ab1af0f53e62b131a\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister for Auckland: Yes, the Government is ruthlessly focused on rebuilding the economy and reducing the cost of living. That is why we are axing the Auckland regional fuel tax (RFT) on 30 June this year, and why the transport Minister is in Auckland today outlining the coalition Government\u2019s plan to get Auckland moving again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275b320a8de8e489e9fb4c77d8ef32ea7\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Government\u2019s own analysis of the Auckland regional fuel tax repeal correct that \u201CRemoving the RFT is unlikely to have a substantive impact on households\u201D; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223caf4dc3440a4af1a4e3c2766a4a0a63\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I think the member will be pretty aware that when he goes to the petrol station and people pay less money for the petrol because they\u2019re not paying a regional fuel tax, they will have more money in their pockets. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re setting out to achieve.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c38a51fcb1d645f7b726fe13da5eb794\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: What action is he taking on behalf of Aucklanders, who are facing additional public transport costs, registration fees, and tolls and/or pricing schemes following the repeal of the regional fuel tax?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002250230bc8edeb4c418f185644e7fc3678\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019ll be saying to them that they\u2019ll be very pleased\u2014well, they\u2019ll be very concerned that they\u2019re driving around in Auckland, whether they\u2019re in cars or on buses, crawling around at 30 kilometres an hour and going over speed bumps everywhere because of the strange priorities of the previous Government, and my message to them is: help is on its way. You\u2019ve got a Government that\u2019s going to actually help them move around more quickly. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e7574e7cb9ae4edb9603be35cdb89b92\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just wait\u2014just wait.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2df8e1ac75141079848cc2d3a6ad094\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: What action is he taking\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002220ccf8babd5a415e923d3ede88501ad2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just\u2014hang on. Now you can start.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c28fe50b396e453081a98105305b0edf\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: What action is he taking on of Aucklanders who are facing a proposed 23 percent increase in their water rates?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258e5551c58af40d8ba8ebaa40b2d9f0f\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, he\u2019d be better to ask the Minister for Infrastructure such a question. But we\u2019re very focused on ensuring that all Aucklanders get access to things. That\u2019s why we\u2019re trying to reduce the inflationary pressures in this city by bringing some discipline back to Government spending and by reducing the regulatory burden that many businesses, including the providers of water services in this country, have to deal with. So, long term, we\u2019re going to take the pressure off Aucklanders in that regard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00228ce6cdb72f0c4650abfe55bfad6a6fd7\u0022\u003EUrgent Debates Declined\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ab409b330eda4716ba73ce719facd29c\u0022\u003EBanking Sector\u2014Competition\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00221aad82c7e7154169b2240e9645bdb996\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221aad82c7e7154169b2240e9645bdb996\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve received a letter from Arena Williams seeking to debate under Standing Order 399 the lack of competition in the New Zealand banking sector. An ongoing situation such as the one the member has asked to debate does not constitute a particular case of recent occurrence. I refer to Speakers\u2019 rulings 221/2 and 221/3. The Commerce Commission\u2019s draft report was released today, requesting feedback on its preliminary findings. Such a report does not meet the exceptional standard required for an urgent debate\u2014Speaker\u2019s ruling 225/7. Should the Government announce a response to the final report in the future, it may warrant a debate by this House, but that point has not been reached today. The application is, therefore, declined.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022af576e43250e4ca0a1b28732cefb0eb0\u0022\u003EDEBATES\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221cb7891d2bd24b57b5bcbd5551d86251\u0022\u003EMinistry for Primary Industries, Proposed Cuts\u2014Leave Declined\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u002248ebf5de4dff4f5f8a8eb015c38c1b1d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002248ebf5de4dff4f5f8a8eb015c38c1b1d\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek leave to hold an urgent debate on the proposed cuts to Ministry for Primary Industries staff announced close to noon today that will affect Biosecurity New Zealand, as one of many agencies, and its ability to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis and to protect our primary industries from foot and mouth disease and from fruit fly. I put to you that it is a recent event, it is one that involves ministerial responsibility, and it is important, so, therefore, I seek leave to hold an urgent debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022a32b4cf14f1e4bb19bbaa4f214051210\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a32b4cf14f1e4bb19bbaa4f214051210\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It is a matter for leave to be put and I will put the leave, but I would point out to the member that the timing of that announcement would have allowed for an urgent question, and it would have allowed for the submission of an urgent debate letter. I\u2019ll put the leave. Is there any objection? There is objection. Leave is not granted.\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=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229255b808ac544903b992cf8380183ca4\u0022\u003EEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022642f9c910e4745f9907db4a77b697c2b\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022 data-id=\u00220a07b0d083f849e2aed0925e08623db1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220a07b0d083f849e2aed0925e08623db1\u0022\u003EHon TODD McCLAY (Minister for Trade):\u003C/span\u003E I present a legislative statement on the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226ec2a1862c9e4424abaeefbb4eda3557\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the parliamentary website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f1839d1b3544dada4718a907fec2026\u0022\u003EHon TODD McCLAY\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill be now read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EThank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you to all those who have been involved in progressing the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill this far, from members of Parliament, previous Ministers, select committees, to members of the public, including civil society and business representatives. Your engagement has been crucial in getting us to this point. This is a process which started more than a decade ago when we first launched preparatory talks with the European Union to start negotiating the free-trade agreement. Trade Ministers Tim Groser, Todd McClay, David Parker, Damien O\u2019Connor, and now Todd McClay again have all had input into the formation and delivery of this agreement. Now, after many years of work by successive New Zealand Governments, we\u2019re poised to bring the agreement into effect, and this is an important moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EThe free-trade agreement (FTA) will open up significant new opportunities for New Zealand businesses already trading in Europe but by levelling the playing field with their competitors. What does this mean in practice? Well, for example, New Zealand kiwifruit exporters currently pay a tariff of 8.8 percent on their exports to the EU, while their competitors in Chile pay nothing. From 1 May, those tariffs will be lifted, saving our kiwifruit industry $47 million per annum, and making them more competitive in the EU market. From 1 May, 99.5 percent of our fish and seafood exports to the EU, including hoki, mussels, and squid, will enter duty free, saving the industry $20 million in tariffs each year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EBut it\u2019s not just existing exporters who will benefit. When this agreement enters into force, the proportion of New Zealand exporters covered by our network of FTAs will exceed 70 percent for the first time. This gives our exporters greater choice about where they do business and it opens up new opportunities for these businesses that might\u00A0be\u00A0interested in expanding into the European market. We\u2019ll also be lifting our remaining tariffs on European goods coming into New Zealand, which is great news for consumers and retailers who will have access to quality European product at a more competitive price.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EThis support we\u2019ve seen for the bill from across the House means that we\u2019ve been able to progress quickly through our ratification process. This means that we\u2019re able to bring the agreement into effect from 1 May, earlier than expected. It\u2019s a great result for New Zealand businesses and for New Zealand consumers more generally. From here, we\u2019ll be engaging with the business community to make sure they are poised to take advantage of the agreement and all the benefits that it brings.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EAt this point, I\u2019d like to recognise the work of the House and thank all parties for engaging and agreeing to progress this quickly, and particularly the members who sit on the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee. I had an opportunity to appear before the committee and to speak to a number of them directly, personally, to make the case for why the House should come together in this instance and work as fast as we could. I know the committee met outside of the normal hours, on days when the House was meeting and when it wasn\u2019t, including during recesses. In that, I\u2019m grateful for their help and their assistance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EI also want to recognise submitters who were called to give their views on this and did so. I recognise that the committee ensured that all submitters were afforded the time they wanted and needed to raise their thoughts so that the process\u2014although shortened from the point of view of Parliament\u2014wasn\u2019t shortened or diminished in as far as the opportunity for New Zealanders to have their say.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003ECan I also at this stage, in recognising earlier in my speech all of the trade Ministers who have been involved, and, therefore, suggesting that this House often can do its best internationally, particularly on trade when we find ways to work together and finding solutions, mention the former trade Minister, the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor, who was the Minister that concluded the agreement, went to Europe, and signed it. I know what it\u2019s like to have been involved in an agreement that has landed and then the importance of New Zealanders making decisions means that someone else gets to either sign or put it into law. But I recognise the work of Damien O\u2019Connor and I thank him for that. And whilst not all parts of this agreement have met the level of aspiration that everybody in New Zealand has, this House and Damien O\u2019Connor can go away after this enters into force, knowing that we have helped New Zealanders, that we are growing the economy, that it is a high-quality agreement, and that, actually, we will do better with this agreement with the European Union than we would without it. With that in mind, I commend this legislation in the third reading to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u0022c33c8572500445b8867c559283efe41f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c33c8572500445b8867c559283efe41f\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Can I firstly start and acknowledge the Government\u2019s enthusiasm, I guess, to progress this as quickly as possible and to ensure that benefits do flow through to as many sectors as possible for this coming season. As the Minister for Trade acknowledged, all parties in this House were happy to facilitate that through, and so I acknowledge that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ETrade is a challenging area. We as a nation rely absolutely on it. In fact, there are few other nations in the world\u2014few other developed nations\u2014that rely so much on trade: 85 percent - plus of everything we produce in the primary sectors, and all other areas, in fact, is traded offshore. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EWe are facing some challenging times, and I have to acknowledge Vangelis Vitalis, the chief trade negotiator, who is spending quite a bit of time travelling around this country actually raising the realities of the world in which we face with people in all sectors, not just the primary sectors. It\u2019s a world of increasing geopolitical tension and growing protectionism, and that\u2019s not going to change in the near future. So, as a trading nation, we face some headwinds. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThis negotiation was conducted through some challenging times: COVID, initially, and then, of course, the Ukraine War, which was a huge distraction to the whole of the EU but, in particular, the commissioners. One of them is neighbouring the Ukraine and is acutely aware of the potential for that conflict to escalate and move out into the EU. None the less, in spite of that, they remained committed to work through with negotiators from New Zealand\u2014from a little Pacific nation a long way away from Europe\u2014to come up with an agreement that saw value for both of us. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EIt is value and values, and I\u2019ve said that before in this House: 450 million people negotiating with 5 million would probably seem to be rather unbalanced and unfair, but what we negotiated was a very balanced agreement, in my view. There was some disappointment in the dairy and the meat sectors that we didn\u2019t get everything we wanted; indeed, you never do\u2014not you, Mr Speaker, but us as a nation. Mr Speaker, I\u2019m sure you get most of what you want in this House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe point is that we got an eightfold increase in the volume of high-value beef into the EU market; we got increases in the volumes\u2014significant increases in the volumes\u2014of some of our milk powders and products, and high-value products in particular; and in sheep meat, we\u2019ve got a huge quota allowance that, arguably, we will struggle to fill. So the opportunities are ahead of us, and the reduction of tariffs across the board means that, actually, we will become more competitive and more exporters will look to that particular market, alongside that of the UK\u2014which we\u2019ve opened\u2014as a balance to what is a high reliance on China. We acknowledge that reliance and the value in that market, but none the less, because of geopolitical tension, because of pandemics, because of transport interruptions, or who knows what, we need to have a number of opportunities for our exporters, and, indeed, this goes a long way to open the door to real potential as we move into the future. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EI\u2019m not going to go through the many areas that we needed to change through this legislation. The consumer information standards, country of origin\u2014we acknowledge the EU\u2019s request that anything that comes from any of the 27 member States should say that it\u2019s coming from Europe, which makes it easier for them to produce something within the EU and then sell into our markets. We changed the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act around the quota access there\u2014very important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EGeographical indicators was a particularly sensitive issue at the select committee, where a number of innovators\u2014particularly cheese producers\u2014were concerned about not being able to use some of the traditional terms. That has been acknowledged and legislated for and protected in the EU for a long time. That was a bit of a challenge, but, indeed, the negotiators got it down to just a few\u2014feta being one of them, and I won\u2019t go through the others\u2014terms, or geographical indicators, that we will not be able to use in the future. So we\u2019re going to have to come up with our own ones, and I think that\u2019s quite an exciting opportunity for our primary sectors. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EWe had the Overseas Investment Act, and so we had to extend the quantum from $100 million to $200 million where those people seeking to invest under that level would have right of access, subject to a few constraints, into our market. That was a significant increase, as I say\u2014a doubling of the threshold\u2014which allows investment from the EU into this country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThere are always some poor protections, though, and we\u2019ve had them for farmland. The previous Labour Government introduced protections so that we wouldn\u2019t sell all our farmland off to foreigners, and we\u2019ve had it in core areas of Government infrastructure. But I have to say that I was somewhat concerned to read this morning a statement from the EU ambassador, and I\u2019m hoping that he wasn\u2019t made some promise or given some promise from the coalition Government or any of its partners that this is open slather for investment in our country. He said that the free-trade agreement, of course, was very valuable, but he also said, \u201CWe\u2019re looking forward to the Government\u2019s upcoming privatisation of public infrastructure.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EWe did not negotiate, in Government, this agreement so that there were open investment opportunities into Government infrastructure; it was so that we would have good quality investment into new and innovative things and partnerships. But if the\u00A0Government is going to use this to sell off State assets, then I\u2019m really concerned, and I don\u2019t think those were the values and the aspirations of either party when we were negotiating. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s an area where we, in Opposition, will keep an eye on the Government, but there are many other areas of opportunity for Europeans. In the area of science, in particular, we have a wonderful agreement that, as a small nation, allows us to work with the science fraternity and industry in the whole of the EU in a way that I think is unbelievable. It was something that perhaps we didn\u2019t take on board as one of the key objectives, but it\u2019s one of those things that rolled out of what was a high-quality negotiation because we share the same values. Our aspirations towards open economies, towards democracy, and to the protection of labour rights, the protection of animal welfare standards, the protection of biodiversity, the prevention of deforestation\u2014these are the same aspirations that we have as a nation that the Europeans share, and that\u2019s why they signed the trade agreement with us. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EValdis Dombrovskis, as I say, is someone who was trade commissioner, and before him, the trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstr\u00F6m, who worked earlier on with my colleague David Parker, were both enthusiastic, but more particularly, Valdis Dombrovskis had an absolute commitment to drive this through to conclusion and to a success. So I want to thank him once again, as I have done. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EAs I say, to the agricultural commissioner, who was somewhat squeezed\u2014if you have a look at what is happening in Europe now, farmers are out in the streets doing some pretty outrageous things, really. This, I guess, is a sector that is highly subsidised. The Europeans appreciate the value of food security, and we should understand that. We don\u2019t always agree with the level of subsidisation, but that was something that was put aside, along with not us demanding equal standards, but equal aspirations. So we didn\u2019t want to have the same standards in animal welfare or the same standards around biodiversity protection, because we have different countries and different environments. But to aspire to a better outcome: lower emissions, decarbonising our economies\u2014those are the things that we have committed to work on together through science, through commerce, through Government procurement, and through goods and services trade. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ESo it is indeed an honour to have been part of this agreement and be able to participate as a Government Minister, and now, in Opposition, to sit opposite the Government that wants to pass this through and ratify this as quickly as possible so that our exporters, our importers as well, and those who aspire to grow their goods and services trade with that high-value market can get on and do the job. So Labour supports the ratification of the EU New Zealand free-trade agreement, and we\u2019d like to celebrate its ratification. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u0022858801a6bad84b11bdfdb59781405965\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022858801a6bad84b11bdfdb59781405965\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. During question time today and in his third reading speech, the Hon Todd McClay made a virtue of the speed at which this legislation is passing through the House. I just wanted to take a moment to address this because, whilst it is a faster process than normal, it\u2019s still slower than pretty much any other bill that this Government has passed this year. And it had the luxury of a select committee hearing, which meant that New Zealanders were able to contribute and a select committee was able to review it and to test things, which hasn\u2019t really happened so far in this parliamentary term when it comes to the passage of any of the other bills that this Government has passed. So it is on a slower track, actually, than is this current Government\u2019s general forte.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003ENow, having said that, actually the Green Party did support a truncated process in this regard, because we\u2019ve always said that you should use urgency, or truncated debates and so on, when something is actually urgent and there is a material difference that can be made to New Zealanders as a result\u2014as opposed to \u201CWe just wanted it to go faster\u201D, which is how the Government has been treating the process so far. In this case, we felt that it was warranted to have a truncated process on this bill because it does make a material difference when the agreement comes into effect. So, in this case, we actually felt it was justified, as opposed to pretty much any other bill so far.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EBecause, as a result of that truncated process, we didn\u2019t have a second reading on the bill, I just wanted to make a couple of reflections about what we heard in the select committee and some of the things that we interrogated, because I do think it is important that we put those on record. There were some concerns that were raised, I want to say, by Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori in the first reading debate which we did take some time to test with submitters as well\u2014just recognising that, unfortunately, Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori doesn\u2019t have a seat on the select committee. Nevertheless, we did still try to represent those concerns and to test them with some of the submitters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EThose were around Te Tiriti obligations of the Crown\u2014those were raised in first reading speeches and were raised also by some of the submitters as well. So we wanted to really test\u2014because we also heard from other M\u0101ori submitters that they were strongly in favour of the agreement and also wanted it to get passed very quickly because it makes such a difference to the M\u0101ori economy. Really, what decided it for me when we were interrogating this kind of tension was that both things can be true at the same time\u2014that there is an assessment that the Crown is continuing not to fulfil its obligations fully under Te Tiriti and, at the same time, that the passage of the bill and the ratification of the agreement and its coming into force would also make a huge difference to the M\u0101ori economy. Those two things can be true at the same time. And so, certainly, where I landed was to say, \u201COK, well, on balance, given the potential enormous benefit to M\u0101ori of the trade agreement, it should be supportable.\u201D\u2014even whilst acknowledging that the Crown continues to not live up to its Tiriti obligations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EHaving said that, there were some real breakthroughs here. There were some big advances\u2014not that perfection has been reached, but there were some very big advances\u2014in the way that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade engaged with M\u0101ori. They had a specialist negotiating group called Te Taumata, which provided a lot of advice directly but also hosted hui up and down the country, which hundreds and hundreds of people came to, and this agreement has a specific chapter on indigenous trade and so on, which has never happened before. It\u2019s a new and unique and innovative provision. So it does, in that sense, also represent an advancement in the way that M\u0101ori have been engaged within the development and in the negotiations and in the actual outcome that\u2019s represented in the agreement as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EThe environmental provisions, it won\u2019t surprise you, were an area of particular concern to the Greens. Historically, our trade agreements have tended to pull away from our environmental agreements, and, in this case, there are enforceable provisions in this agreement, particularly in relation to our climate change obligations under the Paris Agreement but also extending into other areas around sustainability and environmental outcomes as well. This is, I think, the first time in any trade agreement that we\u2019ve had enforceable provisions, where, if we fail to live up to our agreements, we can be held to account by our trading partners, and that actually brings\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a5c42169f32048528caffc0b4f868e9a\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: That was the UK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022228f4f3d3a50426c9bb6a6a0db5cf43c\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: Oh sorry, I\u2019m just being corrected\u2014the UK free-trade agreement; I\u2019d forgotten where that was in the process. But, yes, that did sneak through before this one. So this is the second time that we\u2019ve had an agreement like that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EThat is really important because it actually then means that our trade agreements and our environmental agreements are coming together and can be mutually reinforcing rather than pulling away from each other. That is really important because the social consensus around trade had been fraying over many, many years as a result of, essentially, people seeing that trade provisions were being used to undermine our environmental commitments. So to bring those things together in this enforceable way is really significant and quite different from previous trade agreements. So we tested that as well, because, as I said in my first reading speech, I was a bit worried that there might be language that suggested that it could be enforceable, but we wanted to test that with officials. And their view was that, yes, it is properly, fully, legally enforceable in that regard. So that is significant.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EOther concerns that we had around previous free-trade agreements\u2014the most contentious of all is investor-State dispute settlement mechanism, which had been used in a number of cases overseas to undermine environmental provisions and outcomes. Those are not included in this agreement. So something that had meant that, essentially, for us previous trade agreements hadn\u2019t been supportable\u2014that barrier was removed there. Some of the concerns we had, in previous trade agreements, around needing to ensure that the Pharmac model was protected\u2014that\u2019s kind of safe here as well. The previous concerns around intellectual property, and so on\u2014that was quite well aired in the select committee. So, ultimately, where we land in the Green Party is that this agreement is substantially different from previous trade agreements that our country has entered into, in a number of ways that are very, very favourable. So it\u2019s a breakthrough not just for New Zealand exporters and people who want to buy in goods and services from the EU but it is also a breakthrough in the nature of free-trade agreements here in this country and, potentially, around the world as well. It\u2019s a good model for others to follow.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003ENow, the Hon Todd McClay said, and the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor said, it\u2019s not perfect. No one gets everything that they fully want in any agreement, and there are certainly areas that we would like to push out in future free-trade agreements as well. But, ultimately, this is a very different agreement, and that is because\u2014and I do want to acknowledge the Hon David Parker, who\u2019s here as well, because, when he was the Minister for Trade in our first term in Government, he put an enormous amount of work into the Trade For All programme, talked to New Zealanders the length and breadth of the country to say, \u201CWell, what do you want from our future trade agreements? What are your concerns and your worries about them?\u201D And that was then pulled forward into these negotiations in a way that means that you have almost complete unanimity in the House, for the first time in years, on this agreement. So I want to commend that work. I hope that the current Government continues on with that work, because you can see the value of that reflected here in the quality of this agreement. So we do support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022 data-id=\u002232f58dab56a5401e816931247b6e347f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002232f58dab56a5401e816931247b6e347f\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I\u2019m taking this call on behalf of ACT in support of this bill. We all know the importance of free-trade agreements for New Zealand, especially us being a small nation of only around 5 million people. We want to see that our small businesses are growing and becoming medium-sized businesses, medium-sized businesses becoming big sized, and big sized becoming even bigger sized. That will happen only if our businesses are able to offer their goods and services to bigger populations around the globe, and that is what this free-trade agreement is about. It is about giving those export opportunities for our businesses here in New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EDespite this agreement not being exactly what New Zealanders would have desired to see in this agreement, the importance of this cannot be undermined. We can see the potential that this agreement offers by looking at the current two-way trade that is there between EU and New Zealand for goods and services at the moment; that just gives us the potential, the imagination of the potential that this agreement offers. And, as I said, we are a small nation of only 5 million people, and this gives us access to that high-value $450 million market. That is huge for us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003ELike previous speakers, I also want to acknowledge that, yes, the dairy and the meat sector didn\u2019t get exactly what they wanted. I also wanted to acknowledge that there were some concerns about geographical indicators, the regime, how that would be handled, and some of our names\u2014brand names losing that ability to carry on under the names that they have been trading under, but we cannot underestimate the opportunity of economic diversification that this free-trade agreement offers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EIn one of the opinion pieces that I wrote and was published in National Business Review in August 2022, I said something like this\u2014these are not the exact words, but something like this: that currently most of our eggs are in two baskets; that is, Australia and China. So it\u2019s not just about looking for more baskets but it\u2019s also looking for demand for more eggs. So what I mean there is that it\u2019s not about just looking for more markets but it\u2019s also about looking for opportunities for the sectors that we have through these free-trade agreements, giving them the opportunity to grow. So I\u2019m really hoping that, yes, while I fully acknowledge that our dairy and meat sector is not that happy, there are other sectors that are getting quite reasonable and favourable terms in this free-trade agreement and there is this opportunity for these sectors to grow through this free-trade agreement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EThe ACT Party supports trade deals which are well thought through and as we have heard from the Minister, the Hon Todd McClay, this has taken over 10 years, and I want to acknowledge everybody who has been involved in this trade deal, and it started under National Government but given final form by the previous Labour Government. I want to acknowledge that, and we all can be sure that all sides involved in getting this free-trade agreement signed did their best to get the best deal that was possible for the time the negotiations were going and for the time being for New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003ESo we need to acknowledge that and this bill is to align New Zealand\u2019s legislations and regulations with what has been agreed in the agreement so that these changes can be implemented to meet our obligations under the agreement so that FTA can come in force. I also want to acknowledge that there are some sectors\u2014they can take advantage of this bill going through Parliament in this speedy manner. And we want to make sure that these sectors\u2014our fresh produce sectors\u2014because of the remaining season in this year, those who can take advantage should be able to take advantage. And that is why I want to commend the way the select committee and everybody involved has supported the speedy manner of this bill going through Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EWe cannot underestimate the impact of COVID on businesses. Because of COVID, businesses suffered. It wasn\u2019t just the domestic market but international market as well. So it was the export opportunities that also suffered and there are so many businesses we know they have managed to come back on their feet, but there are many businesses, though, who are still trying to work their way back, and this bill will facilitate us to tap that untapped potential. It will improve that interconnectedness between New Zealand and EU and also it will provide the opportunity of this environment to have that trade environment which is going to be beneficial for our businesses. And I\u2019m really hoping that this bill will help our businesses position themselves for that long-term success and prosperity. So we support and commend this bill to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022 data-id=\u0022056b0e1034ad47158e457f26195bba5f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022056b0e1034ad47158e457f26195bba5f\u0022\u003EJAMIE ARBUCKLE (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to take this call on the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill. It is quite a pleasure to stand here today where the House is in agreement on something. Being a new MP, it\u2019s probably one of the first times that we can actually stand together, and it\u2019s actually a congratulations across the House for the hard work in facilitating the progression of this process and the important legislation that\u2019s in front of us. New Zealand First expresses support for this bill, reaffirming our commitment to a cooperative and integrated approach to foreign affairs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003EThe intent of this bill is to align with increasing access for our products in large markets and unlocking new opportunities for New Zealand exports. New Zealand is a trade- and export-driven country. New Zealand First believes our approach to international relations should focus on independence, resilience, and good relations of a diverse group of trading partners. To have greater access to the EU market will bring significant benefit to the New Zealand economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003EWe are seeing exporters and producers in this country struggling with the cost of living, and facilitating greater access to a market of 450 million consumers will mean good news for many. The new quotas in this agreement represent the improvement on the status quo for New Zealand businesses exporting into the EU. Our world-class products, coming from the hard-working communities in this country, will be enjoyed by a magnitude of new consumers. This is a very, very good thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003EAs we know: until now, many of New Zealand\u2019s products have been, effectively, locked out of the EU market as a consequence of high tariffs and restrictive quotas. This free-trade agreement (FTA) with the EU will immediately level the playing field for New Zealand exporters. Achieving this agreement is the result of a longstanding bipartisan effort by successive New Zealand Governments, which started almost a decade ago. It is also a testament to the work of our offshore network, that works day in, day out to maintain and expand our international relationships\u2014relationships that are crucial to our country realising its potential.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003EThis agreement is also of strategic importance to New Zealand. The EU is a close and like-minded partner with which we have longstanding historical, cultural, political, and economic ties. The absence of the fair trading agreement has been a major gap in this otherwise substantial relationship. It is a significant outcome for New Zealand businesses, big and small, which will be able to start taking advantage of the benefits under the agreement in just over a month\u2019s time. This fair-trade agreement will also promote trade diversification and build economic resilience, as well as helping to address the rising costs of living for New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003ELike the Minister for Trade, we seriously look forward to celebrating the agreement entering into force on 1 May. With a GDP of around $27 trillion, and a population of 450 million consumers, the EU is an important market for New Zealand businesses looking to sell overseas. When finally implemented, the fair trading agreement is set to provide an annual boost to our GDP by up to $1.4 billion and increase our exports to the EU by up to $1.8 billion per year. That will provide tariff savings to New Zealand exporters of $100 million from the first day the agreement enters into force, the highest immediate tariff savings achieved under any New Zealand FTA to date. From the day the agreement enters into force, that 91 percent of New Zealand current trade into the EU will enter duty-free\u2014a combination of tariff elimination and duty-free quotas, rising up to 97 percent over a number of years. There is also significant new quota access for meat and dairy products worth hundreds of millions of dollars if filled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003EThe 27 countries that we will now connect into, into the EU, that is significant. These negotiations, as we have said today in the House, have been over a long period of time, and we acknowledge all those negotiations that have taken part; over 12 rounds\u2019 worth of negotiations, I think, over the years. What we are here today doing is unlocking economic growth, and that\u2019s something New Zealand First, back into Government, is very supportive of, building our exports and unlocking economic growth opportunities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve heard today from the Minister, and something that I\u2019m very connected to is the horticultural industry, things like kiwifruit and onions being able to earn millions of extra revenue very much right away from this deal taking place. But it doesn\u2019t just affect onions and kiwifruit; it\u2019s fish, it\u2019s wine\u2014another thing that I\u2019m connected with in the Marlborough region; the wine industry will benefit hugely from this\u2014m\u0101nuka honey, seafood, our aquaculture industry that we want to grow so much, and industrial products. But there is also benefits to New Zealanders as well, as we access better things such as machinery and, I hear, footwear as well and all different other products.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003EIt is ironic that in this House we are able to act fast on this legislation, because, obviously, there is concern on the other side of the House on fast-track legislation around the Resource Management Act, but some things need to be acted on fast, and this is something today that is good, that we celebrate together, that we can all agree that this is a good way forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003ESo, Damien O\u2019Connor, I also want to acknowledge your work, and Todd McClay and everyone who\u2019s worked on this to get this to this point. It is a modern, high-quality agreement, and I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u00225f1ced2a3eb34f77906313d44d989af0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225f1ced2a3eb34f77906313d44d989af0\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Members, this is a split call; this is the M\u0101ori Party\u2019s call, I understand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022 data-id=\u00227c18132657b144bca780ed7460e16f4b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227c18132657b144bca780ed7460e16f4b\u0022\u003ET\u0100KUTA FERRIS (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te P\u012Bka. E tu ana ahau ki te whakapuaki i ng\u0101 whakaaro o Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori m\u014D t\u0113nei o ng\u0101 pire e k\u012Bia nei ko te European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill. Ka h\u0101ngai taku titiro ki te rangatiratanga o te iwi M\u0101ori, me te takenga mai o taua rangatiratanga i te Tiriti o Waitangi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Madam Speaker. I stand to express the opinions of the M\u0101ori Party about this bill known as the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill. My perspective focuses on the sovereignty of the M\u0101ori people, and the origin of that sovereignty in the Treaty of Waitangi.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003ELet me start by acknowledging Mr Shaw\u2019s comments with regard to the issues that we raised last time. Whilst I recognise there will be many financial windfalls to celebrate in this agreement, I\u2019m going to focus on some of its constitutional shortcomings. Whilst the agreement includes a M\u0101ori trade chapter and a Treaty of Waitangi exception to, and I quote, \u201Censure the Government can meet its obligations to M\u0101ori\u201D, much like the United Kingdom free-trade agreement that that we opposed last term, the Treaty of Waitangi exception clause remains unchanged from previous free-trade agreements dating back to 2001, despite recommendations from the Waitangi Tribunal that more effective protections were needed. So, yet again, when it comes to the Crown meeting its Tiriti obligations, it continues to fall woefully short.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EThe M\u0101ori trade chapter focuses only on the commercial interests of M\u0101ori but ignores wider concerns about the protection of our rights and interests. There are also no provisions to protect m\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori from exploitation. For example, it does recognise m\u0101nuka honey with a macron as a uniquely M\u0101ori product, yet allows the importation of Australia\u2019s manuka honey, actively undermining the m\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori, the intellectual property, and the provenance of M\u0101ori products, and all of this was purporting to be upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EAlthough this may be a good deal for New Zealand as a whole, M\u0101ori continue to be constitutionally marginalised, and it is a failed opportunity to reimagine Tiriti-centric trade policy. Like every free-trade agreement, M\u0101ori have been shut out\u2014shut out and had no rangatiratanga over the negotiations. Vague statements by Governments about how M\u0101ori will be better off under this trade agreement is not partnership. It is not what Te Tiriti o Waitangi envisaged or intended. They alone decide the negotiating mandate, what compromises are acceptable, and what the final text will be, with no role at the table for M\u0101ori that reflects the constitutional relationship embodied in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003ELast term, we opposed the UK free-trade agreement because M\u0101ori were completely shut out of the negotiations and it failed to adequately protect our rights and interests, particularly over m\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori and intellectual property. The M\u0101ori trade clause in this agreement is unenforceable, and it hasn\u2019t been updated for 23\u00A0years, since 2001. This is of particular concern for Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori, given many of the actions taken by this Government in their first 100 days have been ruthlessly focused on undermining M\u0101ori Tiriti rights.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira, until tangata whenua are properly recognised as the underwriter, the principal partner in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the constitutional relationship agreement that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is, and the enabling authority it affords this House to exist, we will continue to hold the line for te iwi M\u0101ori and our constitutional rights, as declared in He Whakaputanga, the declaration of independence, and subsequently in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. On this basis, we do not support the bill. T\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022 data-id=\u00220d853af0d29d48349c70fde87b13cb54\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220d853af0d29d48349c70fde87b13cb54\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to mark that this is my first speech in the House, so please do bear with me. The Green Party has been clear about principles that we think underpin any free-trade agreement, which includes strong safeguarding for human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, climate justice, and Ti Tiriti o Waitangi. The provisions that we see in the EU free-trade agreement (FTA) are all significant steps towards these principles, compared with previous trade agreements. Like the Hon James Shaw has mentioned before, this is something that the Green Party supports.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003EIn particular, there are few additional points that I would like to highlight. The EU FTA is the first trade agreement to be negotiated under the Trade for All agenda, and this is something that I would like to echo the Hon James Shaw in commending the work of the Hon David Parker as well as the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor. The Trade for All agenda includes the democratic scrutiny of trade agreements, and, in fact, democratic scrutiny overall. Isn\u2019t it amazing the kind of collective agreement that we can achieve as Parliament, as the House, when we allow for public consultation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003EIn this particular case, we are looking at, from a process perspective, the regular engagement that we see, that the EU FTA includes a new mechanism for public consultation and engagement on matters related to the implementation of the agreement. That is something that we are hoping to see carrying forward. And that includes the creation of the domestic advisory group as well as a civil society forum.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003EParticularly when we\u2019re looking at something like this, I would also like to echo what others have mentioned in terms of the benefit that it provides to Aotearoa from the primary sectors. However, I would also like to mention that it also provides opportunities for trade diversification, particularly when it comes to new and improved access for education service providers, including language education.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003ESo, with that, the Green Party has been incredibly vocal about the need for Aotearoa to ensure that our trade policies put people and planet at its centre. We would hope that this free-trade agreement will, in particular, uphold our commitment to human rights and labour standards, to indigenous cultural values for both Aotearoa and those in the European Union, for animal rights and welfare, as well as continuing to uphold the importance of food sovereignty and food security. With that, we look forward to how this agreement will eventuate that. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022 data-id=\u0022f5ad48b829484ce08b1d76ba23918db1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f5ad48b829484ce08b1d76ba23918db1\u0022\u003ETIM VAN DE MOLEN (National\u2014Waikato):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. Look, it\u2019s a pleasure to take a call on the final reading of the legislation to enact the free-trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand. Now, I\u2019m very pleased with the efficient consideration the House has been able to grant for this piece of legislation. It has proceeded through from first reading right at the end of January until now, the third reading, in a very efficient and effective manner\u2014and I say effective because we still conducted the select committee process. We enabled submitters to come to share their views, to raise concerns, we made some tweaks with officials as well, and I would really like to acknowledge the work from all parties that helped to achieve the deadline we set for ourselves. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003EThe Minister, the Hon Todd McClay, generously gave us a deadline of 4 April; we soon discovered that with efficient consideration, we could actually bring that forward 10 days, which would then enable the agreement to come into effect a month earlier than it might have, which indeed was still a month or two earlier than it could have prior to that. And so the end result is, by being able to complete the third reading today, we will see this agreement come into force on 1 May. And that\u2019s significant particularly for those groups that will be benefiting, such as the horticultural sector\u2014kiwifruit, onions in particular; right in the peak of their export window through that period. And so, simply, that one month increase, let alone the additional couple of months that we\u2019ve gained, has a direct financial benefit. It is one of the more satisfying things we can achieve in this House where we can pass a piece of legislation and we can directly see the tangible benefit it has for New Zealanders. This is particularly pertinent at a time where we see increasing pressure economically in New Zealand. We are facing some headwinds. We\u2019ve just seen GDP figures out today showing we are now in recession. And so the impetus we can gain from this, an extra 100 million per year, on day one, once it comes into force, that annual improvement will absolutely be welcomed and accepted within the economy here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003EBut it\u2019s not just that; it\u2019s the opportunity that\u2019s presented by an agreement like this as well. Of course, it benefits existing exporters from New Zealand to the EU and vice versa, but it also opens new pathways, new opportunities for businesses here in New Zealand and in the EU to open, broaden, expand, create opportunities to export into their respective markets and to grow their local economies off the back of that. That aspiration is something we are very proud of and I do want to acknowledge, particularly, the members on this side of the House, and that side of the House\u2014everyone came together on the select committee to achieve this progress.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003EI also want to pick up on what the Minister said in his speech around the collaboration across successive Governments to deliver on this outcome today, because it has been a long process and that\u2019s always the case with free-trade agreements. They are never easy pieces of legislation or agreements to get in place and then enact. It does take time. Understandably, there are a lot of negotiation points across a whole raft of areas, and I really want to acknowledge the team that contributed to the outcome that was reached last July, and, of course, the team on the select committee and the officials we had that helped our prompt consideration through that as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003EAs I touched on, submitters shared their views. We heard a range of considerations within that, some to do with dissatisfaction of what the agreement achieved. Obviously, that\u2019s outside the scope of what we were considering and the legislation that enabled the free-trade agreement to come into place. But we do hear those concerns and, you know, to my earlier point, you never get everything you want as well. There will always be give and take. That\u2019s how it should be in an agreement, but, at the same time, it\u2019s also important to note that we are always looking to improve, for New Zealanders, the opportunities that they have to export.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003ESo this is an exciting step as the new Government is able to complete a process that has taken many years, but is going to be a direct benefit in a time where it is certainly needed, and I think is a great reflection of the strong increased focus we\u2019ve seen under the new Government to dial up that level of external engagement. It really is critical for us as a small country at the bottom of the world with a very strong export focus to be out engaging on a regular basis, to be constantly building, enhancing, and expanding those relationships we have with other countries and groups around the world, such as the EU. So, on that basis, it\u2019s fantastic that we are here only a few months into this 54th Parliament, able to enact this legislation. I think, as well, given that we are seeing increasing geopolitical uncertainty globally, it\u2019s a fitting time for us to deepen those relationships with partners with which we have shared values. And this is a clear reflection of that as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003EI was fortunate enough just yesterday to be having a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to New Zealand, His Excellency Lawrence Meredith, who\u2019s been a strong proponent of this agreement in only the short few months that he\u2019s been here, and we\u2019re talking about the benefits that it would offer to both parties and the ability to grow that relationship to the next step. And that\u2019s something we\u2019re very much focused on in this Government and this agreement, but also with future ones that we\u2019ll be looking to explore over the course of this term and beyond. So it\u2019s a real pleasure to be able to commend the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill to the House for its third and final reading, to come into force very soon for the benefit of New Zealanders. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022 data-id=\u0022c6263b958f72494bbe9009f1b4544966\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c6263b958f72494bbe9009f1b4544966\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I join other members in promoting this bill for its passage and its third reading. I want to make a number of comments as to its contents, and then also share with the House and, perhaps, listeners another matter of negotiating strategy that related to our desire in the Labour administration to achieve an artist resale royalty, which we couldn\u2019t get agreement for in this House, except as an adjunct to a trade agreement, which is an interesting bit of history.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003ECan I acknowledge the Minister Todd McClay for bringing this bill to the House and for the comments he made acknowledging the role of earlier Ministers, particularly the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor. I played a small role earlier when we tried to launch negotiations with the European Union. It\u2019s long been a source of disquiet in New Zealand that we haven\u2019t been able to reach free-trade agreements with some of our closest like-minded partners. We still face prejudice on a trade sense in the United States. Not so long ago under the Trump administration, they whacked New Zealand exporters with tariffs on steel and aluminium, which still stand there, unfairly prejudicing the New Zealand economy because the Americans won\u2019t walk the talk when it comes to a fair trading relationship with New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve had a similar concern for a long, long time with the European Union, but, in recent years, the European Union reached the view that they needed to actually have a look at political economy matters, not just economic matters, in determining who they should have free-trade agreements with. This came to a head under the leadership of Cecilia Malmstr\u00F6m as the European Union Trade Commissioner, and we saw a gap, we saw an opportunity to get agreement within the European Commission to actually launch negotiations. And we tried to do it while she was still in that position. Unfortunately, she couldn\u2019t quite get it across the line at that time, and we had to wait a little bit longer to launch negotiations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003ENone the less, New Zealand saw the opportunity to take the gap and took a quite strategic approach to what would be within the ambit of that negotiation so that if agreement could be reached in principle, it didn\u2019t run into a complicated endorsement process, requiring the approval of individual countries or parliaments of individual countries within the European Union. So the scope of this was designed to be within the remit of the European Commission, rather than requiring ratification by individual countries.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EThere are a lot of very good points to this agreement that have been covered by other speakers. Obviously, there are some very meaningful reductions in tariffs. In addition to that, there is the security of the free-trade agreement preventing rules being changed to our disadvantage, related to the status quo. So there\u2019s not just an improvement from the status quo, there is the prevention, or it makes it much less likely, that the status quo could be changed to the disadvantage of New Zealand, which it could have been more easily before this free-trade agreement was entered into. That\u2019s a very, very important level of security for New Zealand exporters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003ENew Zealand does have a strategy of diversifying our export markets. The benefit of this won\u2019t be just in the tariff reductions, which save, for existing exports, about $100\u00A0million a year on coming into force. They will increase the volume of exports in addition to those existing exports, on which we will save $100 million. There will be more exports as a consequence of this, and the benefits to the New Zealand economy will be greater than that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003ESome of the non-tariff - related benefits include cooperation around matters that are very important to New Zealand. The world has a problem with many countries in the world subsidising fisheries in a way that actually makes it harder to attain the sustainability of those fish stocks in the ocean. And if countries are subsidising their fishers to go out there and plunder fisheries, it\u2019s more likely that those fisheries will be fished in an unsustainable manner. We\u2019ve had great difficulty in New Zealand getting progress on that issue, despite New Zealand leading on that particular issue for many decades, so long, in fact, that the original proposal that was taken into the World Trade Organization (WTO) was taken into a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva by a then very young trade official in his first official job in Geneva. He\u2019s now the head of the trade, Vangelis Vitalis, and he\u2019s only just got it across the line in the WTO setting recently, but it\u2019s reinforced through the provisions in this agreement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EThe Hon James Shaw made reference to the fact that the investor-State dispute (ISDS) clauses that were one of the causes of dissatisfaction in society, not just in New Zealand but around the world with trade agreements, are absent from this. And when we were in Government, we reversed the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and told them to oppose ISDS clauses rather than support them, and that\u2019s been carried forward into this agreement. There is no ability for corporates to enforce this agreement by suing the New Zealand Government, alleging breaches of the agreement. It has to be Government-to-Government enforcement. That at times is necessary, as we have found recently in respect of the New Zealand Government action against the Canadian Government for their failure to properly bring into force the provisions relating to dairy access into Canada under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EI won\u2019t repeat my disagreements with the M\u0101ori Party in respect of the Treaty clause in this legislation, which I covered in an earlier reading on the legislation. Suffice it to say that our Treaty clause protecting the Government\u2019s right to do what\u2019s necessary in the name of the Treaty in New Zealand is the best in the world. It cannot be improved upon in practice because, if we reopen it in those negotiations, we won\u2019t get it. So it\u2019s very good. It may be imperfect but it\u2019s very, very good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EOne of the last points I was going to make was on the artist resale royalty. Since the Helen Clark - led Labour Government, we have wanted to have a resale royalty where artists\u2014and in New Zealand, because we\u2019ve got a very small art market, there aren\u2019t many people who manage to make a living from their art that is comfortable, even though they work hard at it. None the less, when the occasional ones succeeds, it\u2019s generally years after they\u2019ve sold their artwork. The commission agent or the art house that\u2019s auctioning the artwork takes a margin or 40 or 50 percent and the artist gets nothing on the resale. So we\u2019ve always thought that was unfair and that there should be a resale royalty paid back to the original artist. We\u2019ve never been able to get it through in a policy sense until we actually acceded to it in the UK agreement and in this agreement, and on the back of both of those agreements, we actually achieved the approval of Parliament to the passage of legislation to impose an artist resale royalty. So, on that issue, I would say that I actually had a political strategy that that was the way to achieve it, and it worked. I\u2019m quite pleased to record that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EOur political strategy on the other side of those negotiations was that if we gave way on that\u2014and I wanted us to give way on that because I wanted to achieve it at home\u2014it meant that we didn\u2019t have to give way on things like extending the term of patent rights, which would have meant a delay to the date on which you can use generics in substitute for patent-protected medicines. Because if we had given way on that, we would have increased the cost of medicines to New Zealanders, including in the public health system as well as for people who acquire those things privately.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EThe last point I\u2019ll make is that free-trade agreements aren\u2019t the be-all and end-all\u2014well, second to last point\u2014of economic policy. The misallocation of capital in New Zealand is a more pressing problem, in my opinion, than imperfect trade access abroad, and it does pain me to see that, once again, we\u2019re lurching backwards in respect of interest deductibility rules. In my opinion, whilst there can be a legitimate economic argument as to whether the real component of interest ought to be deductible, the non-real, the inflationary compensation part of an interest payment, ought not to be tax deductible because it is compensating the lender of the money for inflation. At the end of the year, the borrower owns, in real terms, a lower amount by virtue of the inflationary discount that they effectively get a tax deduction for. That\u2019s unfair to both the person who makes a bank deposit and is overtaxed, and it\u2019s not right that the borrower gets an excessive deduction. This is one of the things that leads to the misallocation of capital in New Zealand. It\u2019s one of the reasons why our housing prices are so high relative to income, and addressing that would be a very good thing in order to direct investment into the productive sector, which drives the sorts of exports that we then get access to overseas markets through free-trade agreements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003EWe have taken the gap as a country. It\u2019s good that we\u2019ve pushed this through. One final point: it does, though, put up the price of our export products to New Zealanders who face export price parity. It\u2019s something we don\u2019t talk about, but you can\u2019t fix that\u00A0through trade policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022 data-id=\u0022a4ce075d92104824a999730914edfd45\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003E\u2014\u2014\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a4ce075d92104824a999730914edfd45\u0022\u003ETIM COSTLEY (National\u2014\u014Ctaki): Thank you, Madam Speaker. There\u2019s been a lot of thankyous and accolades across the House, so I won\u2019t join with themtoo manythough, I would like to just make one minor correction to my contribution to the first reading, where I thanked all of those in the Belgium embassy in particular for their work with the EU, and I thanked Emma twice, but Andrea not at all, so I would just like to acknowledge Andrea.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003EWhat I would like to do\u2014rather than focus just on the benefits of the free-trade agreement, which has been well covered by many speakers so far\u2014is just capture one of the key points of discussion that came up through the select committee process, and that was around enforcement provisions. We heard from organisations like the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand and the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association, and we heard their concern that perhaps the enforcement provisions might go above and beyond what was required by the free-trade agreement, and their concern that that would not just add layers of bureaucracy but could ultimately end up punishing New Zealand farmers, New Zealand growers, New Zealand fishers, and New Zealand producers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003E It was a topic of a lot of interest and debate during that select committee process, and we certainly pushed officials on that, in response to those submissions that we heard. It was great to give those people the opportunity to be heard, and to consider those issues more carefully. What we heard was, from Ministry for Primary Industries, that this was the most effective and efficient way that this could be resolved, using food safety officers but giving them the ability not to create a new position, and bring in another whole army of inspectors that would go on to farms and into factories, but to also give them the additional title of a Geographical Indication officer (GI officer). Those staff are already in businesses for a range of reasons, and this gives them the extra provision so that we can meet the requirements of the free-trade agreement without burdening Kiwis that we want to see get ahead.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003E We can, we must, we will meet the provisions, particularly\u2014we\u2019re talking about article 18.38 of the free-trade agreement, and ensuring that there are \u201Cappropriate administrative and judicial steps\u201D in place. But the concern was that perhaps this was going above and beyond, and it could be just left to the courts. We heard from officials that it can\u2019t be solely left to the courts, that we have to have this additional measure, but it has to be done in the most efficient\u2014I want to be careful with words like minimalistic\u2014but to meet the intent of the free-trade agreement, ensure that we\u2019re letting Kiwis get ahead, get their best competitive advantage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003EIndeed, as we pressed the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on this\u2014you know that ultimately their role is to ensure New Zealanders get the best competitive advantage from this without being burdened down. That\u2019s how we get ahead. We don\u2019t want to see extra jobs in Wellington; we want to see the growth on the farms and the factories. That\u2019s what this is about. It\u2019s about growing our trade sector, and, in particular, the benefit to the primary producers is a significant part of this free-trade agreement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003ESo I do want to just record here that we did consider that. The intent behind this is to meet the requirements of the free-trade agreement but not to burden ourselves with regulation, with whole teams of people. In fact, we were told that it could be done at, effectively, minimal additional cost. I think that is an important point to remind ourselves with. So without going into the additional benefits, the millions that we\u2019re going to gain for Kiwis, it is a fantastic thing to see this free-trade agreement come into force. I think we have got the best of what we could get from this process and through this select committee process, and so I commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022 data-id=\u002205dca3e1452044f1a32e8674995450a6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002205dca3e1452044f1a32e8674995450a6\u0022\u003EHon JENNY SALESA (Labour\u2014Panmure-\u014Ct\u0101huhu):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora koutou e te M\u0101ngai o te Whare. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the third reading of the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003EI would like to begin by congratulating the Minister for Trade, the Hon Todd McClay, for all of your work, and with your officials, on ensuring that this trade agreement is ratified earlier than originally scheduled. In June of 2018, New Zealand and the EU formally launched negotiations, and I would like to also acknowledge and thank the former Minister for Trade and Export Growth the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor, as well as Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials for everything that you did over the years to ensure that this agreement was actually finalised. We know\u2014just by looking across the Ditch, for instance\u2014just how challenging and hard these negotiations can be. There are not that many things that we can actually be really proud of, that we can say we were first across the line before our neighbours\u2014this is one of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003EThe EU is a close and like-minded partner for New Zealand. We have long historical, cultural, political, and economic ties with Europe, and this actually provides a good foundation for the relationship that we have with the EU and for its 27 partner States. The EU is our fourth-largest trading partner, and with a combined population, as covered by former trade Ministers, of 450 million. It is really amazing that such a huge block\u2014450 million\u2014have actually decided to have an agreement with us. Not only are there just over 5 million people here but we\u2019re on the other side of the world. It is really fantastic to see that this actually happens.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003ECan I also just say to the Minister for Trade as well as the chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee and all members\u2014well, actually, most members of the House. It is really good that on this issue\u2014trade\u2014we usually agree. When we sit in the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee\u2014the current Minister and I were members of that committee last term\u2014most things that come across our committee, we actually agree on. Long may it last\u2014the fact that we always agree that trade is so important for our country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003ENow, one of the submissions that came through to the select committee was from Zespri\u2014which is, as many of you know, especially those of you from rural New Zealand, 100 percent owned by New Zealand kiwifruit growers\u2014strongly supporting this bill. Zespri exports to more than 50 countries across the world. They have over 2,800 growers, and the EU is one of their largest markets, with $1.2 billion sales in 2022-23. Zespri has incurred $47 million in tariffs on sales to the EU in the season before last, so when this agreement goes into effect, and 8.8 percent of the tariffs are removed, that would deliver significant benefits and values to those growers, as well as to Aotearoa New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003ENow, in my last minute and a half, I\u2019d like to highlight two provisions in this agreement. The first is the trade and labour provision, which states that New Zealand and the EU have both committed to respect, to promote, and to realise the International Labour Organization\u2019s (ILO) fundamental principles and rights at work, as well as to making continued and sustained efforts to ratify the fundamental ILO conventions that they have yet to ratify. Now, both New Zealand and the EU have also agreed to promote the strategic objectives of the ILO\u2019s Decent Work agenda. The last provision I\u2019d like to highlight is the trade and gender equality chapter, which includes binding commitment to implement the relevant UN conventions that address gender equality and women\u2019s rights. Both the EU and New Zealand have also agreed to strengthen their cooperation on trade-related aspects of gender equality, and this includes CEDAW\u2014which is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d14b1afe-2069-41e4-96fa-c8dc81a991a4\u0022\u003EWe know that the economic modelling suggests that by 2035 this agreement will generate up to $1.4 billion to New Zealand. I strongly commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f4833d76-15d7-484b-8e84-94c4aea8a510\u0022 data-id=\u002220cb381ca7024622aae0d9dbe021b93b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4833d76-15d7-484b-8e84-94c4aea8a510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002220cb381ca7024622aae0d9dbe021b93b\u0022\u003EMILES ANDERSON (National\u2014Waitaki):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m pleased to be taking this call on the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill, and I\u2019m really pleased to see that common sense is residing throughout the House and that most members of the House will be supporting this bill. This bill gives enormous benefits to New Zealand and the economy. As a representative of an electorate that relies heavily on our primary production sector, the feedback that I\u2019ve heard has all been positive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4833d76-15d7-484b-8e84-94c4aea8a510\u0022\u003ENational has always supported our exporters and recognises that one of the best ways to support the primary industries is through free-trade agreements. We\u2019re a small trading nation that relies on our food and fibre sector for 82 percent of our export receipts. I\u2019d like to acknowledge the efforts of successive Governments who have fought hard to open the world to New Zealand, to our produce, and to promote our leading food and fibre sector. I\u2019d like to thank the Minister, the Hon Todd McClay, and I\u2019d also like to acknowledge the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor for his work in getting this across the line. I\u2019d like to thank the previous Government as well for recognising the importance of the EU market and free trade in general, and to the hard-working Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff, without whose efforts none of this would have been possible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4833d76-15d7-484b-8e84-94c4aea8a510\u0022\u003EThere has been some commentary about what wasn\u2019t in the agreement, but I say that perfect is the enemy of good. It\u2019s hard to get anything perfect, and the EU is a challenging environment to develop a free-trade agreement (FTA), given that they\u2019re made up of a large number of independent States. In the Waitaki electorate, we produce world-class wines. The wine and spirits annex to the agreement will help reduce regulatory burdens and costs, including the labelling requirement for wine, winemaking practices and certification, and certain labelling provisions relating to spirits. So it\u2019s a great thought that, through this bill, it will be easier than ever for my son, who resides in Europe, to sip on a Central Otago pinot noir.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f3e3872a2404ca2b06d674b01136923\u0022\u003EHon Todd McClay\u003C/span\u003E: He won\u2019t be sipping.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4833d76-15d7-484b-8e84-94c4aea8a510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f00c06454f9d480dbbc20603b7965254\u0022\u003EMILES ANDERSON\u003C/span\u003E: No, he might not be! The FTA will encourage an increased trade in services, increased access to the Government procurement of contracts across\u00A0EU member States, and reduced barriers to trade, which will be of enormous assistance to service providers both within and outside of the primary sector. So, 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=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022 data-id=\u0022c7b8ad1bcb4e47ceb4e66afd795b0e01\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c7b8ad1bcb4e47ceb4e66afd795b0e01\u0022\u003EHon PEENI HENARE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Speaker, and thank you very much for the opportunity. I, of course, stand in support of this particular bill. We\u2019ve heard reasons across the House of the need for its haste, and I agree wholeheartedly\u2014the opportunity for our traders to be able to get into the market sooner rather later is important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003EThe other important factor, which I think maybe has only been mentioned once, is that, of course, the EU is coming into its election in June, which is why it\u2019s really important to make sure we ratify this before those elections take place. We know that elections can be radical change or upheaval for such a diverse EU, which is the market that we\u2019re looking to enter into.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003ESo, with that in mind, my job here is to endorse the words of thanks right across the House. I sat on the committee\u2014even disclosed that I\u2019m allergic to onions, but we had a great submission from the onion sector and how important that was. But the point was that it\u2019s urgent that we ratify this particular bill so that those hard-working Kiwis who do export and those who do import into this country can feel the full benefit of what\u2019s been negotiated and what\u2019s been included in this bill. I endorse this bill in the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002244967dc4-6cc7-4567-b8ef-cc3a9b354544\u0022 data-id=\u0022f523bb05eadf49bfaa98a88adb550c9e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002244967dc4-6cc7-4567-b8ef-cc3a9b354544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f523bb05eadf49bfaa98a88adb550c9e\u0022\u003EGRANT McCALLUM (National\u2014Northland):\u003C/span\u003E It is a great privilege to take the final call on the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill. Over the years, we have concluded many trade deals, starting the CER Agreement with Australia, the first-ever trade deal with China, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and most recently the UK free-trade agreement. What a fantastic track record for a small country at the bottom of the world, and I want to say thanks to all those trade Ministers and officials who\u2019ve fought really hard over the years to fight for these agreements. They\u2019ve done a fantastic job. This trade agreement, while not perfect, will extensively benefit many areas of our primary industries and the wider economy. From day one, the estimated tariff savings exceed $100 million and with it growing to $110\u00A0million over seven years\u2014and I\u2019m sure it will amount to many more, which makes for the highest immediate savings of a New Zealand free-trade agreement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002244967dc4-6cc7-4567-b8ef-cc3a9b354544\u0022\u003EI now want to focus on the electorate that is miles above the rest and the benefits that are going to flow as an example to the Northland economy. In particular, I think I want to focus on the clause where they talk about the benefits to Ma\u014Dri trade and economic cooperation. Ma\u014Dri businesses in Northland are growing and really stand to benefit substantially from this particularly, and we hope, in time, as we work closely with Ng\u0101puhi, that we get to the point where they reach an agreement; it\u2019ll really help them gain the full benefits of a settlement. The other sector that will benefit clearly in Northland is the horticultural sector, and, in particular, kiwifruit. In kiwifruit, in Northland, we have over 400 hectares planted and growing substantially, 90 percent of which is the gold variety\u2014a very high-value variety. The benefits are going to flow through the whole area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002244967dc4-6cc7-4567-b8ef-cc3a9b354544\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re also developing in Northland at the moment. We\u2019re building dams and so forth which can irrigate more land for horticultural products and which will benefit substantially from these gains from this agreement. Another area which is going to benefit Northland substantially is actually the area of the gains we make in the seafood space. Many may not be aware that most of mussel spat for New Zealand\u2019s mussel economy comes from the North and it comes off the coast up there. So this will make a really big improvement to the Northland economy and help out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002244967dc4-6cc7-4567-b8ef-cc3a9b354544\u0022\u003EThe other area which I\u2019m really pleased to highlight is the benefit it\u2019s going to make to the hard-working beekeepers who go out and harvest the honey and the M\u0101nuka honey. Next time I see the beekeepers who store their hives on my farm at home, I will be able to think, \u201CWell, they\u2019re going to get benefits from a deal like this.\u201D and it\u2019s great to be able to take that news back to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002244967dc4-6cc7-4567-b8ef-cc3a9b354544\u0022\u003ESo, finally, the potential to the Northland economy is huge and it really creates opportunities for our people, and I look forward to working with the Northland businesses to help with this. So, finally, I\u2019d like to say this agreement really highlights the benefits of trade, and I\u2019m really pleased to be able to come and say to the House, we commend this bill to the House and look forward to seeing the full benefits flowing to the people of New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002226ccb0d04e2a464d9b791c87cb09fe02\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 European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill be now read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 117\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 49; New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 15; ACT New Zealand 11; New Zealand First 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 6\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ETe P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 6.\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=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000351\u0022\u003EBill read a third time.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u002225b0a66bac544d6d8d911945ef84e06b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002225b0a66bac544d6d8d911945ef84e06b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I declare the House in committee for consideration of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill.\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=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022caf424c0367e4a10922249bbab7e5d17\u0022\u003ETaxation (Annual Rates for 202324, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000354\u0022\u003E-\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022949db18e654b46848b0353a570277c4c\u0022\u003EIn Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022afd3d449c8884c9284ce55a4d180c50e\u0022\u003EPart 1  Annual rates of income tax\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u0022b7549b28a147444cbd25a5a822e1b5f0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b7549b28a147444cbd25a5a822e1b5f0\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Members, the House is in committee on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. For your information, in accordance with a determination of the Business Committee, the committee will suspend at 4.55 p.m. for the special debate on the report on the petition of Claire Dale. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EMembers, we come first to Part 1. This is the debate on clause 3, \u201CAnnual rates of income tax\u201D. This is where the debate on the tax rates should take place, but the vote on any proposed amendments to the tax rates will take place in Part 2, which amends the Income Tax Act of 2007. Standing Order 352 requires that the annual taxing provision be considered separately. The question is that Part 1 stand part. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022 data-id=\u00226e86fc7d4f7b48ef9860fe462a1659db\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226e86fc7d4f7b48ef9860fe462a1659db\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS (Minister of Revenue):\u003C/span\u003E Well, thank you very much, Madam Chair. I\u2019m looking forward to the opportunity to have a good, free-flowing dialogue and debate in regards to the tax bill. So Part 1 of this bill deals with the annual rates of income tax for the 2023-24 tax year in reference to Schedule 1, Part A, table 1 of the Income Tax Act, which outlines the rates of tax. It\u2019s reasonably narrow in that regard, but I\u2019m looking forward to dialogue in this area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022 data-id=\u002226a701528517489e9756c84ea03e8ecf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002226a701528517489e9756c84ea03e8ecf\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E This is always an interesting debate, the annual rates debate, and although the Minister of Revenue has said that it\u2019s a relatively narrow part of the bill, of course, by tradition, the debate on the annual rates clause is actually quite an important constitutional debate. It\u2019s a free-flowing debate in which a large number of tax issues in relation to the levels that we set our tax at in this country may be raised. So, even though it looks like it\u2019s a very small clause and a very small part of this bill, we anticipate a number of speeches on it from all sides of the committee. It\u2019s actually a constitutional requirement, not just a technical nicety. So I\u2019m looking forward to hearing what members on the other side of the committee have to say about our tax system in general and, in particular, our income tax system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003ESo let me begin, and let me begin by asking\u2014well, actually, I\u2019m going to begin with something that\u2019s quite important to the annual rates, and it\u2019s something that has been discussed in this House in the last day or so, and that is the IMF\u2019s recent report on New Zealand. I wish to draw the Minister\u2019s attention, in particular, to the discussion of the tax system. I\u2019ll read out the paragraph so that the Minister doesn\u2019t have to go and hunt it out for himself. It\u2019s headlined in bold: \u201CNew Zealand would benefit from a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable tax system. New Zealand already has one of the most efficient goods and services tax systems globally. However, tax policy reforms are needed to promote investment, and productivity growth, increase the progressivity of income tax, and mobilize additional revenue in response to long-term fiscal challenges. To achieve these objectives, reforms should combine comprehensive capital gains tax, land value tax, and changes to corporate income tax.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003ENow, that is quite a challenge that has been issued to the Government of this country, and quite a challenge that has been issued to the Minister of Revenue. In fact, it will rest on the Minister of Revenue\u2019s shoulders to respond to some of the issues raised by the OECD. So, in the context of this debate, where we actually really do need to engage in discussion about how our tax system works overall, where we do need to engage in discussion about the progressivity of the income tax scale, where we do need to engage in discussion about what is taxed and what is not, where we do need to think about the sustainability of our tax system\u2014and these are things we ought to consider anyway, but especially in the context of the IMF; that well-known left-wing organisation the IMF telling us that we need a more progressive tax scale\u2014I\u2019d like to hear from the Minister how he thinks that our income tax scale responds to that. Now, I\u2019d just invite the Minister to perhaps give us a little bit of a k\u014Drero on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022 data-id=\u002248608bfe26134cc0a09eb2ef278d5770\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002248608bfe26134cc0a09eb2ef278d5770\u0022\u003EHon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour\u2014Mana):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Madam Chair. Thank you very much for the opportunity to take a call on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. I do want to acknowledge the Minister of Revenue for his work on this bill, because, as I said in a previous reading to the House, this bill has had two fathers and one mother, and so I accept now that you\u2019ve adopted this bill and I acknowledge as well the work that you did to accept the Amendment Paper that we had introduced in relation to the North Island floods.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003EI do want to ask the Minister around his comfort levels in relation to the annual rates\u2014I know we are confirming the 2023-24 tax share\u2014and whether the Minister had actually considered, because I know that very soon in the Budget, they will be tabling their own particular annual rates or changes of tax rates because of the work that they\u2019re doing as part of the Budget. I\u2019m not going to ask the Minister to divulge any Budget secrets, given we still have a couple of months to go, but I do want to ask the Minister around very similar lines to what the Hon Dr Deborah Russell had just questioned around parts of the IMF report.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003EI\u2019m just going to indulge the committee: the reason why we\u2019re here for the annual rates bills\u2014and it happens once a year; sometimes twice if there\u2019s a Budget\u2014is that in order for the Government to actually collect taxes, to be able to impose taxes, it has to be done through this House. It has to be done through an Act of Parliament. There are regulations and sub-schedules for other areas, but, actually, for individual income tax rates, it needs to be done through Parliament. And it\u2019s really important that that particular process is allowed to have a select committee process, and I do want to acknowledge both the Hon David Parker and the new Minister in relation to ensuring that there was a select committee process on this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003EWe did get a couple of submissions in relation to the questioning around, actually, whether these rates were correct or not. And some people had provided out of scope because they actually said that we should just have no taxation. As Madam Chair will know, that is out of the scope for this particular part of the bill. But what I really wanted to just give the Minister time to digest is really the question that the Hon Dr Deborah Russell had around the IMF findings and whether he had given any consideration to whether we needed to change Part 1, clause 3, of this particular bill in relation to that new IMF report. I know it\u2019s only been done in the last week, so I understand if he has not yet come to a position on it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003EThe other thing that I wanted to ask the Minister was: was there any consideration, given that we\u2019re going to have the Budget in a few months\u2019 time\u2014had he actually considered whether this was an appropriate vehicle in order to bring in some of that tax relief, as they would like to say; you know, whether this was an opportunity to have a bit more time for the public of New Zealand to be able to see what sort of tax relief that they\u2019re going to get?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003EBut my question, really, is: how does the Minister respond to the IMF report that has come out quite recently around the progressivity of the rates which the Hon Dr Russell referred to? And just a question as to whether he had actively considered whether the relief changes that they\u2019re going to do as part of Budget, whether they had thought about bringing them a little bit earlier as part of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022 data-id=\u00220010313545ed4e659136316268a3b0bc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220010313545ed4e659136316268a3b0bc\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS (Minister of Revenue): \u003C/span\u003EI\u2019m happy to answer a few of those questions. The first question from the Hon Dr Deborah Russell in regards to the IMF report, which the Hon Barbara Edmonds also referenced in terms of her report\u2014if I look at the IMF report, what it actually says as well is it informs and suggests to Government to ensure that it gets its spending under control. What I can say is that this coalition Government is very focused in order to remove wastage of spending, and that was in the IMF report. We\u2019ve got a large-scale programme in order to do that and ensure that we have fiscal sustainability in order to fund our programme of changes that we will be undertaking.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003EThe reduction in spending that the IMF report indicates will, obviously, help us to get\u00A0inflation under control and other economic factors, and so we\u2019re working through that\u00A0in\u00A0a very careful and diligent manner, but also at a degree of pace, because this has a\u00A0big\u00A0impact.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003EThe second question in regards to the annual rates in any Budget changes will, obviously, as the Hon Barbara Edmonds has noted\u2014I\u2019m not going to be talking about any aspects in regards to that. The practicality of considering or using this bill to actually put in place any of those personal income tax changes which will really benefit middle-income New Zealand will be an announcement that we will be doing as part of the Budget process, and it wasn\u2019t timely or appropriate for us to put it into this bill, because it\u2019s already a very, very comprehensive bill. It\u2019s got a lot of elements to it, and I do acknowledge its source of where it\u2019s come from. I think, in this case, we have been reasonably considerate around the fact that the elements within this bill are areas that we believe will bring more certainty to the overall tax system, and hence why we\u2019ve incorporated many of the changes that we did inherit. That\u2019s pretty much all I want to say around the IMF report.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003EI thought the member might have asked\u2014and I\u2019m not wanting to probe any questions\u2014why we didn\u2019t have any capital gains tax included in the tax bill. And then\u00A0I remember that this is actually a bill that was put on the Table by the Labour\u00A0Party, and I didn\u2019t see anything about capital gains in here, which is an interesting signal\u00A0itself. Of course, we don\u2019t support capital gains tax, but I thought that was\u00A0also\u00A0something that the IMF referred to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022 data-id=\u0022cae5278570e443d28fa8ea93a00a6521\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cae5278570e443d28fa8ea93a00a6521\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m just very grateful that the Minister himself raised the issue of a capital gains tax. So it gives us a wee bit of space to talk about that now, too. I really appreciate it, Mr Watts, good on you. Well played.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EWe are laughing, but it\u2019s a serious matter. And it\u2019s a serious matter because many people in the tax community and working in tax have been inclined to say that we have a broad based - low rate tax system in this country. Looking at our income tax rates alone, perhaps one might conclude that. In fact, the top tax rate\u2014and it only cuts in at a threshold of $180,000\u2014is 39 percent and, other than that, our tax scale is actually comparatively low. In fact, our tax take overall sits below the OECD average.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EBut there are some issues along this. You see, there is quite a serious issue\u2014and this is an issue that was raised in the Treasury briefing to the incoming Minister of Finance. I\u2019m sure you will all have the slide pack right there in front of you. If you turn to page\u00A09 of that slide pack, there was quite a serious concern about the forecast gap between core Crown expenses and core Crown revenue\u2014so a gap of 1 to 2 percent over the forecast period.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003ENow, clearly we disagree about how that should be met. That side is going to cut spending on critical front-line services, amongst other things; this side would have a different proposal. But, and here\u2019s the real problem, it says the gap between Crown revenue and Crown expenses is predicted to go to about 5 percent of GDP by 2061, and that was based on current fiscal settings. Sitting in that Treasury briefing to the incoming Minister was a proposal that the Government needed to consider capital gains taxes. Now, interestingly, we do have a capital gains tax of sorts in New Zealand already. We\u2019ve got various sittings in the\u2014all sorts of reasons, but introduced by that that Government, of course, in the brightline test. Now, that is the starting of a capital gains tax. Of course, there\u2019s other capital gains taxes sitting in the financial arrangements rules and so on. There are various times when capital gains are actually taxed\u2014we don\u2019t have a comprehensive capital gains tax.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003ENevertheless, Treasury has suggested that we need a capital gains tax in order to meet this ongoing gap between Crown revenue and Crown expenses. The IMF has suggested that we need a capital gains tax in order to balance what we\u2019re doing and, in our tax system, have a sustainable tax system. And the Minister here\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3d32c1c5dc94502bd7f626d0b53f05a\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Can I remind the member that this debate is around tax rates, not\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228e6c269c3ec64109a13ec729584a499a\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL\u003C/span\u003E: Indeed. Indeed. But I would remind, also, Madam Chair, that this is the annual rates debate and, by tradition, it is supposed to be a free-ranging debate around tax, because it\u2019s the one opportunity we have every year to have that free-ranging debate around tax\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200e746a1f15043d38e072f42370dbe4f\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: In Part 2.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f7f8580733e47aca471308ed7c711fb\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL\u003C/span\u003E: The free-ranging debate around tax.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a362d72409334b3cbe528bec57ee4a5f\u0022\u003ECamilla Belich\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Madam Chair. Sorry to interrupt the member. I just wanted to clarify that, from my understanding, the member was referring to the capital gains tax as a result of comments made by the Minister, which I understand is permitted by Standing Orders in a committee stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220bc0d0f57fc34312b4806c643bceba83\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: And I\u2019m just reminding the members that this part is around tax rates.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002261d2f08262794b709cdceca149403759\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Chair, I\u2019m happy to\u2014we\u2019ll see how we go on that one because it is, as I said, one of the constitutional requirements: to have an annual debate on the setting of the tax rates. This is the annual taxing Act. It can be done as a separate Act altogether. In this case, it\u2019s done as one clause within one part within this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003ESo, getting back to it, the second part of this bill does reverse out all the capital gains taxes. The first part of this bill sets the annual tax rates around the income tax scale, and we have an ongoing worry that the income taxes we collect will not collect enough revenue, over time, to sustain the types of goods and services, the infrastructure, the health system, the welfare system, and so on that we expect in this country. In fact, that was growing to a 5 percent gap in GDP by 2061.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003ESo I\u2019m going to ask the Minister as to how he thinks he will respond to that challenge. How is he going to meet that challenge that we have, that is now his responsibility? Part of what a good tax system needs to do is to deliver the tax revenue sufficient to meet the needs of the Government. And that, by Treasury\u2019s prediction, is\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca7a76c0a48241f8945ef3e82abf1b78\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: The member\u2019s time has expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022 data-id=\u00225ba977cc86234a07bc08c4a7805b1c0d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225ba977cc86234a07bc08c4a7805b1c0d\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS (Minister of Revenue):\u003C/span\u003E Well, I could not but help myself to make some comments in regards to what I think was a question there around capital gains tax. It was interesting, I was reflecting on the Labour Party leader\u2019s comments on 12 July 2023 when he said that with so many households struggling with the cost of living crisis, now is not the time for a shake-up of the tax system, and ruled out the implementation of a capital gains tax. But it seems that maybe that message hasn\u2019t got through in regards to the question that I was being posed by the member, at that point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003EThe point raised in regards to the sufficiency of revenue that the tax system derives\u2014well, as of 2022, the tax system collected just over $120 billion of tax. As many people will know, there\u2019s two ways to close a gap: one is to increase revenue through taxation; the other way is to reduce expenditure. On this side of the House, this coalition Government is absolutely committed to reducing wasteful spending, cutting expenditure, and not taxing New Zealanders more. That\u2019s the pure difference. You\u2019ve seen this play out. The question just asked reinforces that not only is there fragmentation on that side of the House around what they\u2019re planning to do but, actually, the ideological point around how we get ahead as a country is not through taxing more; it is through growing our economy and reducing wasteful spending.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u0022230e7e9dfc7f4b45868d02e846ac430c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022230e7e9dfc7f4b45868d02e846ac430c\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green\u2014Rongotai):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Chair. I\u2019m happy to take my first call in this debate. In responding directly to the comments of the Minister of Revenue, I think he, right there, struck the very heart of it, which is that his Government has an ideological belief that people should pay less tax, and I think that that\u2019s completely at odds with the outcomes that they say they want for New Zealand and that New Zealanders want. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThe reality is that in most of the countries we aspire to be like that have excellent infrastructure and public services which support the wellbeing of people and, by the way, better economic outcomes, it is funded through taxes, and that\u2019s why the kinds of countries that we aspire to be like almost universally have higher rates of Government expenditure as a percentage of GDP, because it makes sense for Government to invest in infrastructure and it makes sense for Government to invest in public services. But the problem\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a23c105f726c43a9ac8e41947da7cf7d\u0022\u003ECarl Bates\u003C/span\u003E: Roads of national significance\u2014great infrastructure. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c91f3cdc875d46ada360c86ac6bb56f0\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, interestingly enough, it makes sense for Governments to invest in public transport in our largest cities. Every person on the Government benches right now seems to be completely in denial about the actual numbers, and I think it\u2019s because they don\u2019t actually know what they are. The reality is that the rates that are laid out in this part of this bill\u2014if we were to examine them and ask are they sufficient to invest in the things that New Zealanders aspire to have in their country, like first-class infrastructure that supports people to move around the country and that supports businesses to move their goods\u2014[Chairperson gestures] So the question is\u2014and I am responding directly to comments that the Minister just made, which just said, \u201CWell, we think Government should spend less, and therefore we don\u2019t need to have higher rates.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EOf course, the distributional question around how the rates affect people, so whether or not we have a capital gains tax, which would actually directly support a much more broad-based and productive economy, or whether the rates are more progressive so that those who earn more, contribute more\u2014because if we pay it forward like that, we will have a more prosperous society. But I realise that members opposite are of a very\u2014I just think that generosity is not something that they understand. The idea that manaaki, or being generous\u2014if we have done well, we want to give back to our country and ensure that more people can do well\u2014is something that those members just have no concept of. They are just stuck in a kind of religious zealotry around the idea that rich people should pay less tax and that we should spend money on roads, not on things that move more people and goods at lower cost, and that\u2019s the heart of it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThe sad thing here is that I genuinely believe many of them want better outcomes for New Zealand, but the reality is that when you look at the evidence of what works and what will deliver the outcomes we want, which is good infrastructure, good public services, and good support for the disabled people and their wh\u0101nau in our country, then we need to spend more money for public good, and the fair way to do that is to have higher rates for those who have more, because allowing incomes and wealth to be concentrated in a smaller and smaller group of people does not result in a country that does better overall. It is just simply not true and it has been refuted by all of the data of the last 30 years, globally, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re such an outlier. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThey lament the lack of productivity in New Zealand? If we want to be productive, we should have more broader-based tax and we should have higher rates, like Australia does, for those who earn more. Australia has a capital gains tax. Australia has higher rates and a stamp duty. Australia has a much more progressive tax system with a tax-free threshold on the first, like, 10 or 20 grand of income, and they have higher rates for higher-income earners, and, universally, almost every country in the world that we would aspire to be like does exactly that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EBut, instead, you just hear this empty rhetoric of absolutely meaningless soundbites saying \u201COur country and the world must tax itself to prosperity.\u201D I call rubbish on that\u2014you know, show us the numbers. Show us the numbers, because most countries that have flatter taxes and lower taxes than New Zealand have worse outcomes in terms of inequality, and that affects the wellbeing of everyone in the country. We end up spending more money on prisons, rather than investing in people to be the best they can be. We end up with a kind of weird, divided society of people living behind walls and being fearful for their security because they\u2019re allowing their fellow countrymen to live in poverty. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022 data-id=\u0022f7661ff350ab4e27b6c4d65d1bd018e2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f7661ff350ab4e27b6c4d65d1bd018e2\u0022\u003EINGRID LEARY (Labour\u2014Taieri):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. I\u2019m really just taking note, Madam Chair, of the interjections and the enthusiasm of the Government members to continue this debate\u2014it\u2019s great to see them so engaged in it, and I\u2019m really looking forward to you allowing this to be free-range. I\u2019d like to ask three questions, if I may; two of them have come from the Minister of Revenue\u2019s own comments, actually. One is around capital gains. He has raised the issue of capital gains, and so I\u2019m wondering how he can reconcile the fact that landlords would be able to get interest deductibility and get the interest deductibility off the interest, but then also not pay any tax on the capital gain\u2014It would appear that it either has to be one scenario or the other\u2014so I do hope the Minister can just tell us, when he\u2019s been thinking about the fairness of the tax system, how he reconciles that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u002264b9f9ca32354d2fa77960e0e919bc2b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002264b9f9ca32354d2fa77960e0e919bc2b\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: My apologies for interrupting the member, but the time has come to report progress.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EProgress to be reported.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EHouse resumed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u0022af774cf2654746afb70e241b44262ec4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022af774cf2654746afb70e241b44262ec4\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, the committee has considered the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill and reports progress. I move, That the report be adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003EReport adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b35c575036314e0aa223c3a520ead0cf\u0022\u003ESpecial Debates\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022900c6a8a0d2d4653b5a80fc4df549509\u0022\u003EPetitions Committee, Report\u2014Make mobility parking enforceable on all public-use property and increase fines\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022f80cfa90447449988200996bacd7a4ff\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f80cfa90447449988200996bacd7a4ff\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Members, we come now to the debate on the petition of Claire Dale to make mobility parking enforceable on all public-use property and increase fines. I call on the chairperson of the Petitions Committee to move that the House takes note of this report, but I would say that this is a tight debate, related entirely to the matters canvassed in the petition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u002255389d02e2214eb0b35e9c9eb55db8f5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002255389d02e2214eb0b35e9c9eb55db8f5\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR (Chairperson of the Petitions Committee):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I move, That the House take note of the report of the Petitions Committee on the Petition of Claire Dale: Make mobility parking enforceable on all public-use property and increase fines.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EAs the chairman of the very hard-working and omnipotent Petitions Committee, it gives me great pleasure to be here today to speak on this petition. Now, this is a petition that the work was done by, I understand, an equally hard-working and omnipotent committee in the last Parliament. Having done the work, the mahi, they recommended that we have this debate, such was the interest in the issues raised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003ENow, the petition was presented to the House on 28 February 2022, requesting that the House of Representatives change the law to substantially increase fines nationally for misusing any mobility parking spaces, including on privately owned land that is used publicly, and urged the Government to run an education campaign to desist able-bodied people from misusing mobility parking spaces for public use.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EMs Claire Dale, the petitioner, is concerned about able-bodied people parking in mobility parking spaces. I have to say, I think many of us have probably been guilty of driving around looking for a park and tantalisingly seeing a mobility park, but 99 percent of us have the common decency and understanding of the issues faced by those of the disability community and don\u2019t park in them. But there are always those in our community who think that, firstly, they can get away with it, or they think that the law doesn\u2019t apply to them, or are just lazy and do park in those car parks\u2014and that, for members of the disability community, is extremely frustrating.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EThe committee brought together, as the committee does, the New Zealand Police, the Ministry of Transport, and Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People with the petitioner to discuss the issues. The extent of the problem: the disability survey of 2013 found 24\u00A0percent of New Zealanders identify as disabled, and 64 percent of disabled adults have a physical impairment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EWhaikaha is aware of instances where mobility parking spaces have been misused but the rules were not enforced. Surveys undertaken by CCS Disability Action indicate that although there had been a decrease in the number of vehicles parking in mobility parks without displaying a permit, few illegally parked cars are ticketed. The enforcement rate is particularly low for mobility parks located on private property. Of course, many of those mobility parks on private property are in supermarket and shopping centre car parks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EThe legal framework around such things, the Building Act 2004, does not require a specific portion of car parks to be set aside as mobility parks; however, section 119 of that Act provides NZS 4121, designed for access and mobility. The standard requires at least one mobility park for one to 20 parks, two mobility parks for 21 to 50 parks, and one additional mobility park for each additional 50 parks. Under clause 6.4(1A) of the Land Transport (Road User) Rule, it is an offence to stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any parking area reserved for disabled people unless the driver or a passenger is disabled and displays a disabled parking permit. Currently, the infringement fee is a mere $150.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EAlso, the petitioner brought to the committee\u2019s attention the United Nations convention and also the New Zealand Disability Strategy, which also addressed the issue. The committee, having heard that evidence, then subsequently brought back the follow-up submissions from the Government agencies, after having asked them to head away and actually look at this issue together, rather than separately. They came back with a number of recommendations, and just this week, the committee has received a report from the Government on the progress of those recommendations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003ENow, my time is coming to an end, but I\u2019m confident my fellow speakers will go through the rest of the contents of this. So a very real issue that will affect us all eventually. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022 data-id=\u0022d4f2d7319dc449489a9f89de35ba7234\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d4f2d7319dc449489a9f89de35ba7234\u0022\u003EHon PENNY SIMMONDS (Minister for Disability Issues):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mobility parking is important to the New Zealanders who rely on it for access to everyday facilities and services, like grocery shopping and visiting the doctor. When mobility parking is misused, the lives of those New Zealanders are considerably disrupted. In a recent survey, lack of access to suitable car-parking was the most common reason respondents gave for not being able to take trips away from home for day-to-day activities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003EWe welcome the petition by Claire Dale to make mobility parking enforceable on public property and to increase penalties. And we thank the Petitions Committee and those who made submissions to the committee, and we welcome the committee\u2019s final report on this topic. Inconsistent enforcement reduces the likelihood that people will actually follow the rules and may lead some people to believe that they can park in these spaces. We know this misuse of mobility parking spaces was reported repeatedly in the submissions that came to the Petitions Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003EWe also acknowledge many of the challenges and concerns that were raised by businesses and enforcement authorities in relation to the enforcement of mobility parking law. They raised that they have limited staff availability for enforcement and that they have concerns for the welfare of their staff from aggressive drivers. For the recommendations that were included in the final report from the Petitions Committee, the Government has now had an opportunity to review them and consider what actions we should take. We agree with many of the submissions that the use of new technology could be a vital tool to improve enforcement. Cameras are increasingly providing an affordable option for monitoring mobility parking spots while also being able to document the offences and keep staff safe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003EI will now outline these recommendations and the Government\u2019s response to them. The first recommendation was to significantly increase and index to inflation the fine for illegal parking in mobility parking spaces. The Government agrees that the cost of mobility parking fines is insufficient, with the fees not having been updated since 2008, and this is part of a broader issue with outdated fees that we\u2019re seeking to address. The Minister of Transport has directed the Ministry of Transport to undertake a full review of parking fees, and this will include consideration of a mechanism for regularly reviewing the fees so that we don\u2019t get that outdated situation again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003EThe second recommendation was to review current mobility parking requirements and research future needs to ensure that an appropriate number of mobility parks are available. It is important that there are sufficient mobility parks to meet current and future demands. Mobility parking requirements are reviewed periodically by local government, and this is often based on the NZ Standard \u201CDesign for access and mobility\u201D, which is developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This standard provides good guidance to those reviewing mobility parking requirements, and the Government doesn\u2019t see the need for a fundamental review of approach at this time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d2995873-613f-4202-a773-5ea2d57cc953\u0022\u003EThe third recommendation is to consider support for road controlling authorities to develop technology for enforcing mobility parking. The Government agrees with the committee that technology is a key tool for greater and safer enforcement, and we are exploring general options for new enforcement technologies, particularly automation of infringement offences. Specifically for this issue, we are encouraged to read one example in the Petitions Committee\u2019s report from Queenstown Lakes District Council. The council uses cameras to monitor mobility parks, bus stops, and taxi stands, and the cameras are on at all times. Given the concerns about coverage and staff safety, we encourage local councils to explore and develop these. There will be further work needing to be done with Local Government New Zealand to support road controlling authorities to increase uptake of enforcement technologies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u0022b1f41d8b1faf4f31a3f34747899120f7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b1f41d8b1faf4f31a3f34747899120f7\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green\u2014Rongotai):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e te Whare. I didn\u2019t have the privilege of sitting on the Petitions Committee that heard this last term, but, as some people might know, I was a public transport and urban planner before entering politics, and one of my specialties was in parking management. It turns out that better parking management is one of the key ways that we can get better outcomes in our towns and cities. Of course, ensuring that there is sufficient provision of mobility parking and that there is sufficient enforcement of mobility parking is essential to ensure that everybody has access and is able to move around our towns and cities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI wholeheartedly agree with the recommendations of the Petitions Committee that considered the petition of Claire Dale. The main point is, of course, to make mobility parking enforceable on all public-use property, and increase fines, and recommends that we do more to ensure that we\u2019re policing the use of mobility parking and that mobility parking is provided.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI think it\u2019s really important, because, previously, like many other English-speaking countries, we\u2019ve had planning rules that required developers to over-provide large off-street car parks, which had a huge cost and reduced the amount of land in our towns and cities that was available for the things that people want to be there, like homes and businesses and green spaces and schools and all of the other reasons that people come together and live in towns and cities. Getting rid of those harmful regulations\u2014which was supported by National, of course; the National Policy Statement on Urban Development got rid of minimum parking requirements\u2014was a key opportunity to ensure that we were providing the right amount of parking and not tying up, you know, huge amounts of our urban land in car parks that were underutilised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EHowever, in getting rid of those minimum parking requirements, it is essential that we have provisions in place to ensure that we are providing for mobility parking in a different way. So providing mobility parks simply as a percentage of the car parks that are provided doesn\u2019t work if we\u2019re not providing car parks for anyone but mobility car parks. So it is important to have a minimum amount of mobility car-parking, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be site by site. What\u2019s important is that the mobility parking is provided around a given area and that it\u2019s accessible, that it\u2019s available, and that we have good design between the mobility parks, the footpaths, and the crossings that make it easier for those who are have mobility impairments to cross the road, to get from the car park to wherever they might be going in the nearby vicinity, because there\u2019s not always going to be a car park directly in front of the building that you want to access or the open public space or whatever it is that you\u2019re trying to access.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003ESo while I completely agree and support the recommendations of the Petitions Committee, and I hope that the Government will take it seriously and will support looking into that, I do think that we need to go a bit beyond that to ensure that there\u2019s proper access. Sometimes it\u2019s said, \u201CWell, we don\u2019t want to get rid of car-parking in our urban areas, because there might be people who need mobility parking.\u201D, but, oftentimes, the way the car-parking is provided is fragmented, it can be very far away from a destination. That is also of interest and note, because it doesn\u2019t provide good access\u2014some people with mobility issues can\u2019t actually drive. So making wider, more accessible footpaths, raised pedestrian crossings\u2014all of those things actually make it much easier for those with mobility issues, who may be in wheelchairs or who may have other mobility issues, to get around our towns and cities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThe enforcement of parking\u2014I particularly like the recommendations in here, because the enforcement of parking rules is really important. Of course, nobody likes getting a parking infringement\u2014it doesn\u2019t feel good. But, then, the whole point of the infringement is to incentivise people to follow the rules. So it is really important that we have good, well-signposted rules, and that we have fair and equitable enforcement of those rules.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EWhile I can understand wanting to increase the fine\u2014and, in some cases, that is important to make sure it\u2019s a sufficient deterrent\u2014it is important that we look at the\u00A0way that we apply fines for traffic infringements and for parking infringements, so\u00A0that it\u2019s not penalising those who have less money and who are on lower incomes. There are other countries in the world that have infringements as a percentage of\u00A0someone\u2019s income, and I think that\u2019s something New Zealand should be looking to, to ensure that those who are very wealthy don\u2019t just choose to pay the infringement, and those who are poor are really crippled by making a mistake. We need to ensure\u00A0there\u2019s support for people with the disparity in incomes that we have. With that, I\u2019m\u00A0very happy to finish my contribution to this debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022 data-id=\u0022d09eac6c3f2f42e39dba0812959bfd13\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d09eac6c3f2f42e39dba0812959bfd13\u0022\u003EHon KAREN CHHOUR (Minister for Children):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure to stand today and speak to the petition of Claire Dale. I\u2019d first like to start off by thanking Claire Dale for bringing this to the Petitions Committee, because, often, these kinds of petitions can create real change and create the conversation that we need to have to create further legislation. For the disability community, the main thing you hear of the barriers to living their best life is accessibility. So it\u2019s really important to acknowledge that and the hard work that it takes to bring a petition, as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003ESo Claire Dale was concerned that able-bodied people were parking in mobility parking spaces and taking away the opportunities for people with disabilities to access basic needs, like grocery shopping, seeing a doctor, or even being able to go to a movie. Sometimes just being closer to those front doors is quite important. Sometimes it can be embarrassing for somebody who cannot make that distance. I know of someone personally who has a disability, and if they can\u2019t park close enough, they just won\u2019t bother. They shouldn\u2019t have to make that decision: \u201CDo I or don\u2019t I bother to go in and get my groceries? Do I or don\u2019t I bother trying to get to the doctor today, because somebody may take up that space?\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EThe other concern is that when it is not enforced, people can get quite aggressive towards somebody who just wants to use a space that they\u2019re entitled to use. In the notes, I see that there were problems around enforcement, there were problems around people becoming abusive and threatening when asked to move out of the disabled parks. This just is not OK. Actually, one of the recommendations is around a campaign to the public, to let them know what their actions are actually causing for the disabled community. There shouldn\u2019t be a fear of saying, \u201CI have a disability and I need this park.\u201D There shouldn\u2019t be a fear of being abused when you are trying to use something that you\u2019re entitled to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003ESo I really think we should consider a public education campaign to improve the understanding around someone accessing basic needs. That\u2019s what this is about. This is making sure that we enable the disabled community to live their best lives. I\u2019m actually quite proud to stand here and speak to this, because, whilst in Opposition, I heard a lot from the disability community, and accessibility is their biggest issue; it is a barrier to doing basic, everyday life things that they need, and we need to take that into account.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003ESometimes we take for granted how easy it is to just park in a disability space and say, \u201CI\u2019m just popping in for a moment.\u201D That was mentioned quite a bit as well. It\u2019s like, \u201CI\u2019m just ducking in for two seconds.\u201D But that two seconds could take away somebody\u2019s ability to live their best life. If we look at it like that and we educate people to know that they\u2019re actually affecting somebody living their best life, I\u2019m sure that that will help.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003EI appreciate the recommendations that have been put forward by the Petitions Committee and I really look forward to the future discussions that this petition has enabled to happen. I hope that it actually directs future legislation and makes people understand how important this small issue is, because sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference in somebody\u2019s life, and sometimes we need to stop thinking so complicated and realise that these simple, little changes will make a major difference in somebody\u2019s life\u2014in your grandmother\u2019s life\u2014especially with the ageing population right now, which was a concern that was brought forward to the Petitions Committee. We have an ageing population who need to be able to access these car parks. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002286ae9a20-33bd-4912-8dc1-5b4eb670be44\u0022\u003ESome of the solutions may be as simple as: \u201CIf there\u2019s not enough car parks, how about we open up the parent and pram car parks to be able to be disability car parks too? Share them alongside the disabled community.\u201D There are solutions and I am really appreciative of the fact that this has been brought forward for us to discuss so that we can make a real difference in the disability community\u2019s lives. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022 data-id=\u002281aca767ed4146ada289f49c95e006e6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002281aca767ed4146ada289f49c95e006e6\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Look, I want to join with the other members who\u2019ve spoken in congratulating Claire Dale on the petition, and I also want to congratulate the members of the committee that considered this. What is good to see is the House working collegially on this issue, which is actually really important to many members of our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EI think this is really, really important because it\u2019s about helping facilitate the ability to\u2014as we\u2019ve just heard\u2014live people\u2019s best lives to some of the people who are most\u00A0struggling with doing that: people who are suffering from disabilities. Mobility parking is a really, really important part of disabled people being able to access the facilities and the services that are needed to be a full participant in our community and to live our best lives.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s interesting, when I look at the documentation we\u2019ve got here in front of us and the considerations, to see that there is a juxtaposition sometimes between the objectives that we try to achieve and certainly those ones around saying, \u201CLook, we want to have more people using public transport and cycling and those sort of things.\u201D and then say, \u201CWell, we\u2019ll take all these parks out.\u201D and suddenly you find\u2014whoops-a-daisy\u2014the disability community and the aged community are sort of pushing back and saying, \u201CHang on a moment, we need you to leave some car parks there because we cannot all use public transport, we cannot all get on a bike, and we need to get that balance right.\u201D So that\u2019s an important thing to consider.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EBut it is good to see the careful and thoughtful consideration that the committee has given to this, and now I think it behoves us to make some progress on this. The wheels sometimes grind slowly\u2014this has come from 2022\u2014and I think we should be trying to make sure that we get some progress now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003ESo I want to turn to the six recommendations that we\u2019ve got in front of us there. The first one of them is to significantly increase and index to inflation the fine for illegal parking in mobility parking spaces. I was really encouraged to see that the Ministry of Transport had been doing some work on exactly this issue across all parking fines. I think that\u2019s the key bit there: they\u2019d stopped that work for other work, and it\u2019s really good to hear that the Minister is now going to say, \u201CHey, look, I want you to get back on to doing that work, to get back on track to doing that work.\u201D [National members cheer] I\u2019m sorry, what did I say there?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EBut I think what we should take there is it\u2019s actually important not to take the fine for parking in disability space in isolation. We\u2019ve got to actually take the rest of those fines. So you\u2019ve got the fines for overstaying a park, that\u2019s one lot. But you\u2019ve also got the fines there, and I looked up the numbers there for parking in a way which is unsafe for pedestrians and other vehicles\u2014i.e., parking on a broken yellow line, for example. That is deemed to be unsafe. The fine for that is $60. So you can say, \u201CWell, OK, we\u2019re really inconveniencing and we\u2019re annoying the disability community; we\u2019re upsetting people.\u201D\u2014it\u2019s $150; \u201CWe\u2019re being unsafe.\u201D\u2014it\u2019s $60. What\u2019s the fine, for example?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EThen you look at other infringements that there are. In the mobile area, it\u2019s $150 if you go through a red light. Now, when somebody goes through a red light, you know, there\u2019s an amber light that\u2019s there first. They have every ability to stop, and yet going through, that is really unsafe behaviour. So I think the message I would say is, yes, we want to have a look at the mobility fine; yes, that may well need to rise; but, hey, let\u2019s look at all these things and let\u2019s make sure that we look at them together so they are coherent. Otherwise, you\u2019re going to end up with an infringement regime across both parking and mobile offences, which is completely incoherent, and that would not be particularly helpful or in anybody\u2019s best interests at all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EThe other point that\u2019s made there is about indexing in line for inflation. From my local government experience, one of the things I can say is that Parliament is really, really bad at setting fines and infringements and all those sorts of penalties, because what it does is it sets them\u2014in this case, in 2008\u2014and then puts them away and says, \u201CLook, one day we\u2019ll consider them again.\u201D That is not very helpful. Indexing to inflation would be a much better approach right across the board for so many of those areas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EIn the last minute I\u2019ve got available, what I would like to say is that I think all the recommendations there are very sensible ones. I think some flexibility built into the way in which those are dealt with and have some guidelines rather than exact, definite requirements in public and private land, because every circumstance will be slightly different. But the one thing I did want to say: education\u2014really, really important. But I did note that there\u2019s a thought there about actually going and doing enforcement on private land. The Crown advice there is that\u2019s a big, big step which may not go down too well. I was disturbed a little bit to then say that maybe local government should go and do that, which I think will be just as big a step and probably just as unwise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003ESo I commend this work and suggest that we do really need to get on with doing it and respond to the needs of our disability community. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022 data-id=\u0022c297837bdf364547a44ac68b612ea034\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c297837bdf364547a44ac68b612ea034\u0022\u003EHANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Hauraki-Waikato):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 koe e te P\u012Bka, otir\u0101 t\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 t\u0101tou e te Whare. E t\u016B ana ahau ki te waha i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero m\u0101 Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori. E kaha tautoko ana m\u0101tou i t\u0113nei petihana. E tuku mihi ana, e tuku ana i te reo owha ki a Claire Dale me \u0101na mahi i roto i t\u0113nei petihana.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EAn\u0101 ka t\u012Bkina e au te kupu, ehake i te mea ka whakamahia e au i te kupu \u201Cwhai kaha\u201D n\u0101 runga an\u014D i te mea ko \u0113tehi o aku whanaunga k\u0101ore i te tino rata ki te kupu \u201Cwhai kaha\u201D. Ko te kupu \u201Cwhai kaha\u201D he \u0101hua takahi i \u014D r\u0101tou mana n\u0101 runga an\u014D i te mea k\u0101ore he tangata me whai i te kaha. I roto i te reo o Waikato, ko te \u201Cmana hau\u0101\u201D k\u0113.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EAn\u0101 ka tautoko m\u0101tou i ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata mana hau\u0101 e whai ana i t\u014D r\u0101tou nei mana motuhake i roto i te t\u016Bnga waka. Engari ehara i te mea e tautokotia ana t\u0113n\u0101 kaupapa anahe, engari kia whai mana motuhake ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata mana hau\u0101 huri noa o Aotearoa, otir\u0101 te ao wh\u0101nui m\u014D ng\u0101 take p\u0113nei i te haere ki te wharepaku, ng\u0101 mea e haere atu r\u0101 ki roto i te whare, i roto i t\u0113nei Whare hoki, o t\u0113nei Whare P\u0101remata.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EAn\u0101 ka kaha tautokotia e m\u0101tou o Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori i roto i t\u014D m\u0101tou nei manifesto, our policy, e kaha tautoko ana i ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata mana hau\u0101, an\u0101 ki te whai i t\u014D r\u0101tou tino rangatiratanga. K\u0101ore an\u014D au kia whai p\u0113hitanga ki te kore au e haere ki te wharepaku, kore au e haere ki t\u0113tehi t\u016Bnga waka. K\u0101ore au e m\u014Dhio ki t\u0113n\u0101 momo p\u0113hitanga, an\u0101 ka tino p\u0101 mamae au ki t\u0113nei momo \u0101huatanga.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EKua kaha p\u0113hia nei, kua kaha t\u0101mitia t\u014D t\u0101tou nei ao hurihuri ki a r\u0101tou, te mana hau\u0101. N\u014D reira ehara n\u014Dku ki te pahupahu m\u014D \u0113nei momo k\u014Drero. Kua tino tau i roto i a m\u0101tou te tautoko i t\u0113nei o ng\u0101 petihana, engari kia kaha tautokotia e m\u0101tou i roto i ng\u0101 wharepaku, i roto i te Whare, i roto i ng\u0101 momo \u0101huatanga katoa e p\u0113hi nei i ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata mana hau\u0101.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Speaker, indeed greetings to all of us of the House. I stand to voice the statements on behalf of the M\u0101ori Party. We strongly support this petition. We thank and send the voice of welcome to Claire Dale and her efforts in this petition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003ENow, I will take the word, I will not deem to use the word \u201Cwhai kaha\u201D due to the fact that several of my own relations aren\u2019t enamoured of the word \u201Cwhai kaha\u201D. The word \u201Cwhai kaha\u201D is something of a violation of their mana because they aren\u2019t people who need to acquire strength. In the regional variation of Waikato, it is instead \u201Cmana hau\u0101\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EAnd thus we support the disabled people that are attempting to maintain their self-determination within car parks. But it is not that this topic alone is supported, but instead that disabled people across New Zealand, indeed the wider world, retain their independence for issues such as going to the ablution facilities, those that are entering into buildings, and into this very House also, this House of Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EAnd so this is strongly supported by us, by the M\u0101ori Party, within our manifesto, our policy, we strongly support disabled people to pursue their independence. I have yet to experience such suppression should I not go to the toilet facilities, or not approach parking facilities. I do not know that type of suppression, and such circumstances pain me greatly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EThey, the disabled people, have been greatly suppressed, highly oppressed by our ever-changing world. So it is not for me to prattle on about these statements. Our support for this petition is resolute within us, nevertheless it will be strongly supported by us in the ablution facilities, in the House, and in all situations that disabled people are being oppressed.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira, thank you, Mr Speaker. That is my contribution to the House today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022 data-id=\u0022de754fa48dfc4d24949611325eb58126\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022de754fa48dfc4d24949611325eb58126\u0022\u003EGREG FLEMING (National\u2014Maungakiekie):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te M\u0101ngai. Tuatahi t\u0113n\u0101 koe kei te mema n\u014D te P\u0101ti N\u0101hinara. Te mutunga k\u0113 mai o te tangi o te reo i t\u0113nei Whare.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Speaker. Firstly, I acknowledge the member from the National Party. Your voice sings incredibly in this House.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003ESaturday night, I was out with Community Patrols of New Zealand in Onehunga. In my electorate of Maungakiekie, we\u2019re privileged to have three excellent branches there from Mount Wellington to Ellerslie to Onehunga, and I was in the latter one when we came across, just a half an hour into a patrol, the sight of a vehicle carelessly and flagrantly parked across a mobility parking space. The young man that came out, when we got his attention down there on the Onehunga waterfront, was very pleasant, but he was completely unapologetic. There was absolutely no fear of his consequences there. I must also note my colleague from Whanganui apparently was out the same night\u2014Carl Bates, who\u2019s now more popularly known as \u201CCaptain Everywhere\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EWhen I saw the unapologetic nature of this young man, I was cross. In fact, my thoughts immediately went to Raul Alejandro, the deputy director of Venezuelan parks. And to paraphrase his response in this context, it would have been \u201CThis is outrageous. Where are the armed men who come in to take the mis-parkers away? Where are they? This kind of behaviour is never tolerated in Boraqua. You park like that, they put you in jail right away, no trial, no nothing.\u201D But here in New Zealand, I thought, \u201CWhat could be done?\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EI was at a loss, but only for a short period of time, because when I arrived in on Tuesday and saw the speaking list for this week, I saw the special debate set down, my heart leapt. I have the privilege of sitting on the Petitions Committee, and I have come to love that committee in my short stay in Parliament, because it provides open access to our democratic process across the country. During my time there, I\u2019ve seen dozens of great ideas, but perhaps none as strong as this. So can I start by adding my thanks to Claire Dale for your relentless advocacy on this front.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EI eagerly read the reports, the responses, the counter-responses. I particularly appreciated the passion and clarity of you, Claire. I felt like you were advocating for my mother and my mother-in-law, who are both regular users and dependants of those mobility parking spaces. In fact, right now my mother-in-law will be driving down Thorndon Quay, looking for a park to attend my father-in-law\u2019s 84th birthday, and as soon as we get out of this, that\u2019s where I\u2019ll be heading to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003ESo I shall get to my point. And my point is this: the frustration that I felt on Saturday night and that\u2019s been well-articulated here by many members already. A law that is not enforced is no law at all. We all know people who do the math and work out that parking fines in this country are so poultry that they may as well never pay them. They\u2019re better to just take the risk that one in 20, one in 30 times they receive an infringement notice and they pay that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EThe reality of it is that that has to change, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s going to change under this Government, because we\u2019ve listened to the recommendations on Claire\u2019s petition and we\u2019ve said six clear yeses. Yes to recommendation 1, the Minister of Transport will direct the ministry to undertake a full review of parking fees and fines. Significant change is coming. Recommendation 2, yes. Recommendation 3, consider support for road controlling authorities to develop technology for enforcing mobility parking. We heard the Minister direct councils around the country already to look at the example of Queenstown. We\u2019ve got them in Onehunga as well. Change is coming. Recommendation 4, work with private sector car park operators to develop a code of practice for enforcing mobility parking. Again, a resounding yes. As with recommendation 5, look at using technology from public parks and private car parks. Finally, recommendation 6, undertake a public education campaign to improve understanding of mobility parking and why compliance matters\u2014yes. In fact, the Minister of Transport, in the Government\u2019s review, has already instructed road control authorities to do exactly that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EI repeat: a law that is not enforced is no law at all. It\u2019s a foundational belief and principle of this Government, and that\u2019s why we say, \u201CYes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.\u201D We have listened to your advocacy, Claire. We will make the changes. Justice is coming. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022 data-id=\u002239d7ed37c43d4d138a1797b1347dfc4f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002239d7ed37c43d4d138a1797b1347dfc4f\u0022\u003EHon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given that the issue that we\u2019re discussing during the special debate today is one that disproportionately impacts our disability communities, I just want to take a moment to also recognise and acknowledge the fact that today is, in fact, World Down Syndrome Day\u2014the 2024 theme is to end the stereotypes, and that is incredibly relevant also to the issue that we are discussing here today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EOf course, also, this is a week that has seen a fair bit of debate in this House already around disability issues in Parliament. Unfortunately, most of it has been rather negative and in opposition to some of the sudden changes that were brought about on Monday, announced, and implemented that take away flexibility of funding for many within our disability communities. And that is relevant to this debate because one of the main issues that I heard about as the former Minister for Disability Issues was that of barriers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EThis is a community that is incredibly resilient and incredibly strong just because they\u2019ve had to be. They\u2019ve had to advocate and fight for a number of barriers to be removed. The ones that we\u2019re discussing in this special debate today, of course, are around mobility parking. And I do want to just take a moment to acknowledge Claire Dale and to thank her for bringing this petition to the notice of the House, and also to acknowledge the work of the former Petitions Committee in terms of the very thorough and thoughtful, I\u2019d say, examination of this issue, and the various stakeholders they have spoken to about this as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EThe crux of the issue or the matter here today is that the petition was calling for legislation to substantially increase fines nationally for misusing any mobility parking spaces, including on privately owned land that is used publicly, and also to urge the Government to run an education campaign. I am heartened to hear quite emphatically from the member who just resumed his seat, Greg Fleming, that the Government will indeed move on all of those, because I was listening intently to the contribution by the current Minister for Disability Issues, the Hon Penny Simmonds, that was, unfortunately, incredibly lacklustre, and I thought didn\u2019t really commit to any of those recommendations, except probably increasing fines. There was no mention from her about the need for a public education campaign, which would remove some of the stereotypes that many within the disability community, unfortunately, are marginalised as a result of.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EIn fact, that was something that Whaikaha supported as well in terms of both stricter enforcement measures and also an education campaign that could help to reduce the misuse of mobility parks. And this is actually an issue that I do feel pretty strongly about. I remember just recently, probably at the end of last year, or early this year, taking a bit of a holiday in Raglan, sitting outside their bakery, eating a pie, as one does occasionally, and for the 20 or 25 minutes that I was sitting outside right in front of the mobility park, I saw about five people without a mobility permit parking in that park just to pop into the bakery. So I feel that it is something that is misused. There is, in the report back from the Petitions Committee, a point made by one of the stakeholders that it is reducing\u2014there isn\u2019t a huge amount of evidence, I think it was the supermarkets that mentioned there aren\u2019t often complaints about it, but people don\u2019t complain when they can\u2019t actually park and get out and go about their business that they are there for. It\u2019s hardly likely that they\u2019re going to be complaining about it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003EThe other quick point that I wanted to make on that that I realised from the report of this committee is that one can actually report it to 105. It could be looked into if police have the ability at the point to do so, but there\u2019s also an access app that people can use to report the misuse of mobility parks. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022872744a3-2256-4cdd-a4cc-939836dc2b11\u0022\u003ESo, just in in closing, what I\u2019ll say is that this is an issue that impacts the ability for disabled people and also our ageing population to have the dignity of being able to go about their daily business by being able to park somewhere easily and conduct said business. So this is something that should be taken seriously. I\u2019m pleased to hear the Government\u2019s going to act on pretty much all of those recommendations and I\u2019ll be looking out to ensure that they do. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022 data-id=\u0022a9076bb4776f4fcf880613a16df6176a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a9076bb4776f4fcf880613a16df6176a\u0022\u003ECARL BATES (National\u2014Whanganui):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u2019d like to, firstly, thank the work of Claire Dale in putting this petition together and for the work of the previous Petitions Committee\u2014and, of course, the work of the current Petitions Committee\u2014as we stand here in the House today and speak on the action being taken on the recommendations out of this petition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s pretty unfortunate and interesting to hear the focus of Labour this week on disability issues when, in July 2023, the then Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, said that the Government had stopped work into the parking offence review because they had other issues that had taken priority. I stand here today thinking about people like my grandfather, who\u2019s a regular user of mobility parks; and my dad, who had a major stroke 12 years ago, struggles to walk, and uses mobility parks on a regular basis; and all mobility park users. And I am excited that the Government has made a commitment to take action. The Minister of Transport will direct the Ministry of Transport to undertake a full review of parking fees and fines. This Government is a Government that will get stuff done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EThe Government\u2019s response also notes that the cost of parking fines is insufficient. We\u2019ve heard that\u2014that they\u2019re insufficient\u2014so I thought I\u2019d just take a look at what insufficiency meant in 2024. And so I took the time period 2017 to 2024\u2014I thought that was an interesting period to look at in terms of what the value of these parking fines has, essentially, gone down by\u2014and, in that period, which happens to be the period of the last Labour Government, a $150 fine would have had to go up to $187.94 due to outrageously high inflation to have the same value. So I\u2019m excited by the fact that this Government has made a commitment to ensure there is a good full review of parking offence costs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s also great to see recommendation 3, which says the Government is also exploring general options for new enforcement technologies. Not only does this look to ensure the safety of the parking officers and workers who go around our cities\u2014middle-income New Zealanders that voted overwhelmingly for a Government that would get stuff done, and ensure they had tax relief as well\u2014but we are looking after their safety at the same time as thinking about the idea of localism, and rather than prescribing what these enforcement technologies could be, allowing local councils and private parking spaces to adopt these technologies to ensure that there is a more immediate and reactive approach\u2014or immediate and active, I suppose, approach\u2014to ensure that people who park in these spaces get held accountable for not taking personal responsibility.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EIt is great to see the action being taken by this Government, and I have to thank, as I say, the Petitions Committee for their work in bringing this before the House and highlighting again for us\u2014once again for us\u2014that inflation kills the value of the dollar, and we need to change these parking offence rates in order to keep up with that sort of hectic inflation we\u2019ve had in the last six years. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022 data-id=\u0022d3db4cea070840ca8802f93e5f3aba9b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d3db4cea070840ca8802f93e5f3aba9b\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I too want to congratulate and thank Claire Dale, who happens to be a constituent of mine in the Western Bay of Plenty, part of the very beautiful Coromandel electorate, and I\u2019ve had the opportunity to spend time with Claire talking about her petition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EI want to just acknowledge the petition process, because here we are, in the Parliament of New Zealand, discussing and debating an issue that a citizen decided was important enough to raise to gather together signatures to present a petition to the Petitions Committee, and here we are, ending up debating seriously that issue. Now, to me, that speaks of participatory democracy in action, and I think that\u2019s an important part of what we do here as legislators. And it\u2019s, I hope, something that will encourage others to equally petition the Parliament on issues that they think are important to them, their neighbours, their communities, and their families.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EI want to\u2014sorry, Mr Speaker, other participants in this debate have covered off some of the detail of Claire\u2019s petition, but I particularly just want to remind the House of what was, I think, in essence, the simplicity of her petition. The intent of her petition was simply this: to increase the fine and standardise the final penalty for using a mobility parking space, no matter whether on public or private property.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ENow, it\u2019s this distinction on what happens between private and public property that is actually quite a stumbling block when it comes to mobility parking. Because if you are a private property owner\u2014let\u2019s say that you are a big box retailer, Mitre 10 or Bunnings or Countdown or one of those sorts of organisations\u2014the parking facilities that occur on those sites are privately owned. Yet there is no standardisation of how those private property owners should actually apply any rules at all, other than maybe, perhaps, marking out, as is required by the consenting territorial authority, a number of mobility parking spaces when the supermarket or the hardware store is built. But, after that, there\u2019s actually no compulsion, then, or ability for the landowner, the retailer, to actually consistently and appropriately then apply any kind of rules or regulation around that private property stuff.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESo most of the debate today has been in relation to mobility parking that occurs in public places\u2014parking provided by councils or that sort of thing. So this issue of consistency, I know, is important to Claire, who is watching this debate this afternoon. I know that she would want me and others to make that point. It\u2019s as much about the fine and the actual appropriateness of the fine and the sort of discipline of having a mobility space, but it\u2019s about the consistency between public parking mobility spaces and those that occur on private property as well, that are often administered by big box retailers nationwide.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003ESo, on that note, I want to thank again Claire; I want to thank members, on her behalf, for participating in this debate; and to wish Claire well and to let her know that the Government response has been, I think, quite fulsome and will be taken seriously. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022 data-id=\u002283ce330b35b64a1ebddd0c0278300376\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002283ce330b35b64a1ebddd0c0278300376\u0022\u003EINGRID LEARY (Labour\u2014Taieri):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m glad that we all seem to be sitting around, holding hands, and singing \u201CKumbaya\u201D. I apologise if I\u2019m deeply cynical about what the members opposite have said they are committing to, because this is a week where we\u2019ve seen the disabled community traumatised by the lack of championing of their cause by their Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EWhen I heard her speak today, I did not get the commitment to the recommendations as set out in the petition by Claire Dale that she has said and that the other members have said were there. What I heard, in fact, was that, in recommendation number 1, it says \u201Csignificantly increase, and index to inflation, [fines] for illegal parking in mobility parking spaces\u201D. We did not hear a commitment to that; we heard a commitment for a review by the Ministry of Transport\u2014that is quite a different proposition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EOn the second point, we heard about reviewing current mobility parking requirements and researching future needs. I heard the Minister say that she was satisfied that the status quo was suffice and that there was no need to do that. I then heard Greg Fleming say, \u201CNo, there is an unequivocal commitment to that.\u201D I\u2019m really heartened to hear that. I would like to see the actual wording of the recommendation on that, and I do hope that the Government members will table the list of recommendations as they have just committed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EOn the third one, we have heard things around car park operators. I\u2019m really pleased that the previous speaker, the Hon Scott Simpson, discussed the importance of private parking. But I didn\u2019t hear the Minister herself also talk about the education campaign, because what we are seeking here is a culture change. So she highlighted using cameras and using new technologies; I didn\u2019t hear about the more significant work to educate people and to change behaviours. This is really indicative of, in my view, the lacklustre\u2014as my colleague said: the lacklustre\u2014contribution of this Minister to champion the cause of the disability community. If she is indeed going to make all of these six recommendations happen, which I really hope she does, then let\u2019s hear that loudly and clearly, because we did not hear that from her; we heard that far more clearly from the member over there\u2014Greg Fleming\u2014who very proudly said that those commitments would be made. So I apologise if I am confused.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EThe need for this to be taken seriously is really important. It\u2019s not enough for us to sit here and discuss it and say that there will be reviews or there will be future actions. Action needs to happen quickly\u2014I would like to hear time frames from the Government as to when they are going to make these commitments. I know that when my mother was very ill, in her final stages of her terminal cancer journey, she relied very heavily on the mobility packing ticket that she had that enabled her to be able to get out of the house. She was very lucky in Taranaki that people there did seem to respect it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003ECertainly I know people in my own electorate of Taieri, where we have high levels of disability, do have a culture of understanding. Now, I\u2019ll probably get emails correcting me about that tomorrow, but, by and large, I do see disability parking spaces respected and honoured, because we have a culture in my electorate where there\u2019s high levels of visibility of disabled people. Many of us have disabled people in our neighbourhoods, so we understand the importance of enabling our communities to be able to get out and have the best quality of life. But I know in the big cities that is not necessarily the case, and we have heard that today from various members around this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EBut I just want to say, again, it\u2019s great that these recommendations appear to have been adopted. What I\u2019ve heard from members opposite is not the wording of the petition. That is what makes me cynical, because I have heard them say that they will go to review, they will go to the transport Minister, they will go to other places. I have heard the Minister herself say in her own words that she thought the current settings for planning were adequate and, therefore, there was no need to do anything about that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003ESo I would really like the last speaker in the debate, from that side, to be able to clarify all this for us so that we can hear unequivocally these commitments, and to put some time frames around them, please, because the disabled community has been, sadly, let down this week. They will be feeling as cynical as I am about this. They need reassurance. So, in honouring Claire Dale, please provide some time-down commitments where they can start to trust again that this House is serving them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229188988b-e79b-4381-969a-982d0ebdb3ca\u0022 data-id=\u00223869ba5048ff4809be876ac5d577749b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229188988b-e79b-4381-969a-982d0ebdb3ca\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223869ba5048ff4809be876ac5d577749b\u0022\u003EPAULO GARCIA (National\u2014New Lynn):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m lucky last. Firstly, thank you to Claire Dale for her initiative and taking the time to bring this petition to the House and to the Petitions Committee\u2014thank you for taking it through up to this point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229188988b-e79b-4381-969a-982d0ebdb3ca\u0022\u003EI echo the words of the chair of the Petitions Committee, honourable Greg O\u2019Connor, when he said at the start of this debate that we would all be using mobility spaces at some point, some probably earlier than others in this House, clearly. So I\u2019m pleased that this is happening now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229188988b-e79b-4381-969a-982d0ebdb3ca\u0022\u003EIn this joy of being able to discuss this petition, I am saddened, actually, that we are here having to discuss how best to get people who do not deserve, or are not eligible, to park in mobility spaces from parking in mobility spaces. We are having to enforce this requirement\u2014it\u2019s a sad day. But the facts are there: the spaces are few, they are very attractive, and we want to park where we want to park and we want to be up close. But the fact is that the cost of infringement is also very low, making it all the more tempting. But the object of this petition is clearly to ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to park where they are supposed to park. Unfortunately, we have to regulate this. I commend this petition to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229188988b-e79b-4381-969a-982d0ebdb3ca\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229188988b-e79b-4381-969a-982d0ebdb3ca\u0022\u003EReport noted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022d4b1f08d8c0e43dba335e3e139d379f5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d4b1f08d8c0e43dba335e3e139d379f5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Members, that concludes business as set down by the Business Committee. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 26 March 2024.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 5.50 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240321da7a58bec7a6463fa237313fc667eba2000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"