"\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=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002292a3fd594bb04c238e359c1c40740128\u0022\u003ETUESDAY, 9 APRIL 2024\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002203889ea98e2a4da4a45c210ba9de411c\u0022\u003ETUESDAY, 9 APRIL 2024\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000002\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=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000004\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022daa831f1a06e4c358158986c8c3ee715\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e4ae13ba55b2400ea618363091a8709b\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022cc34748a7aaa441cb138f9fd28027b99\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cc34748a7aaa441cb138f9fd28027b99\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\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, justice, mercy, and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c0d634f4d1b640ddad3cc34d346803b4\u0022\u003EVisitors\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c71a85464f5943a8928f2719af9e5cdf\u0022\u003ESamoa\u2014Speaker of the Legislative Assembly\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022cb59c49420fe4b2cbb57438e3a491ec7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cb59c49420fe4b2cbb57438e3a491ec7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sure members would wish to welcome the Hon Pap\u0101li\u2019i Li\u2019o Oloipola Ta\u2019eu Masipa\u2019u, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa, who is on my left, and his delegation, who are present in the gallery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f2f0404627bd4ca9b00e86d2509cd552\u0022\u003EPapers, Petitions, Select Committee Reports, and Introduction of Bills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002295e1095418b8475f824d2c796a63e2b4\u0022\u003EPapers, Petitions, 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=\u0022508d7f8e3bb648faa2da516f8d94dd43\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022508d7f8e3bb648faa2da516f8d94dd43\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Petitions have been delivered to the Clerk.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u0022edd73440a7db45d29e7c0f0816c17343\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022edd73440a7db45d29e7c0f0816c17343\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EPetition of Deb Hayes requesting that the House inquire into the Midwifery Council\u2019s decision to use the word \u201Cwh\u0101nau\u201D and not the words \u201Cwomen\u201D or \u201Cbaby\u201D in the Scope of Practice of a midwife, and whether the Midwifery Council is discharging its Regulatory Authority duties appropriately\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Christian van der Pump requesting that the House introduce a bill that amends section 182 of the Building Act, so that a person can commence proceedings to challenge the administrative decision of a council without first applying for a determination\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Veronica Turketo on behalf of the Kensington Development Group requesting that the House urge the Government to halt all proposed K\u0101inga Ora social housing for Kensington, Whang\u0101rei in order to review scale and density\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Epetition of Lucy Mullinger requesting that the House urge the Government to provide funding to Pharmac for the medication Pemigatinib.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u002276c882c96fe149439cc64a53ac592ca0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002276c882c96fe149439cc64a53ac592ca0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those petitions stand referred to the Petitions Committee. Ministers have delivered papers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u002290757adc805f44ea86f38acbe9556077\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002290757adc805f44ea86f38acbe9556077\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: Government responses to the interim report of the Environment Committee briefing on Environmental Outcomes Freshwater, and to the report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of Eye Health Aotearoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00226a082a566a0740ecb31e770fbf26d5ee\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226a082a566a0740ecb31e770fbf26d5ee\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. Select committee papers have been delivered for presentation. There is a long list of them. I just ask for members\u2019 indulgence as their own work is referred to the Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u00223c3544b863574a2dbb7511e186ddee99\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223c3544b863574a2dbb7511e186ddee99\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EReports of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee on the 2022-23 annual reviews of:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EAgResearch Ltd, Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd, the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd, and the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ECommerce Commission and the Financial Markets Authority\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EBroadcasting Standards Authority, the External Reporting Board, Kordia Group Ltd, and New Zealand Post\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ECrown Regional Holdings Ltd, the Accreditation Council, the Real Estate Agents Authority, and the Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Ltd \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EInstitute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd, the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd, and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Capital Growth Partners Ltd, the Retirement Commissioner, and the Takeovers Panel\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport of the Education and Workforce Committee on the 2022-23 annual review of the labour sector\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Environment Committee on the 2022-23 annual reviews of:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EPredator Free 2050 Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EClimate Change Chief Executives Board\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EClimate Change Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EDepartment of Conservation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EEnergy Efficiency and Conservation Authority\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EMinistry for the Environment\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EParliamentary Commissioner for the Environment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ESpatial Planning Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on the 2022-23 annual review of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Governance and Administration Committee on the 2022-23 annual reviews of:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EDepartment of Internal Affairs, Digital Executive Board, Office of Film and Literature Classification, and Taumata Arowai\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EFire and Emergency New Zealand Ltd\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EStatistics New Zealand\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EDepartment of the Prime Minister and Cabinet\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ENational Emergency Management Agency\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EOffice of the Ombudsman\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport of the Health Committee on the 2022-23 annual review of Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Justice Committee on the\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003E2022-23 annual reviews of the Department of Corrections and of the Ministry of Justice\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ESale and Supply of Alcohol (Cellar Door Tasting) Amendment Bill\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee on the\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003E2022-23 annual reviews of Te Puni K\u014Dkiri and the Office for M\u0101ori Crown Relations - Te Arawhiti\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ENg\u0101 Hap\u016B o Ng\u0101ti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ETauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress Bill\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Primary Production Committee on the 2022-23 annual reviews of:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EAsureQuality Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ECrown Irrigation Investments Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EOutdoor Access Commission\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ELand Information New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ELandcorp Farming Ltd\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EMinistry for Primary Industries\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereport of the Regulations Review Committee on the Parliamentary Counsel Office Annual Report on Legislative Practices 2022/2023\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee on the 2022-23 annual reviews of:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EGenesis Energy Limited, Mercury NZ Ltd, and Meridian Energy Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ECrown Infrastructure Partners Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EMinistry of Transport\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Infrastructure Commission\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EWaka Kotahi\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003EElectricity Authority and Transpower New Zealand Ltd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBItemSL1\u0022\u003Etransport, energy, and infrastructure entities.\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f34a7fe87f3494da65508b39b87ff30\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Well done. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022e250a51ed06749c8b26fe0fbd8a24450\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e250a51ed06749c8b26fe0fbd8a24450\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, good work. The bills are set down for second reading. No bills have been introduced. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022cd4e1a247bc94654a525a5efbc43c14b\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002251e8165a132b48f28edf7b21ca26457c\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002267c33c5b99264d34b56e00385b9769a4\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\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=\u0022bd07f9320f9247c3b9d7fc68f5677ebf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bd07f9320f9247c3b9d7fc68f5677ebf\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=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022 data-id=\u0022939caf53158b458287cfa1b9b59cb569\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022939caf53158b458287cfa1b9b59cb569\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, and especially my announcement yesterday of nine ambitious Public Service targets to help get New Zealand back on track. This Government owes it to Kiwis to focus on delivering on the things that matter most to them, like shorter wait times for emergency care and elective treatments, safer communities with less violent crime, and more kids at school and achieving the skills they need to live a better life. This is an ambitious Government that wants the very best for all New Zealanders. We\u2019re not here to manage decline; we\u2019re here to get things done and deliver better outcomes. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b65327527d5b4dc08b94e8ea97a601e0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just wait. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225936818c3881451e8eb13e6ebd666cb8\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Kia ora. What is his response to the Iwi Chairs Forum withdrawal from the national plan of action against racism due to what they view as this current Government\u2019s commitment to \u201Ccolonial racism and in particular, targeted racism against M\u0101ori\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022255f9e799af4486c9ed9719c46c1e387\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019d completely disagree with that question. We want to see M\u0101ori do much better in this country, and that\u2019s what this Government is working hard to do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a5a8ab1538943ddbf5862a0161d2ac5\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: What is he doing to regain the trust of the Iwi Chairs Forum, following their withdrawal from the national plan of action against racism? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022800f3324427e43468fb3e7c0a6a85ce4\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, what we are doing is we\u2019re making sure we rebuild this economy, we restore law and order, and we deliver better health and education for M\u0101ori and non-M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002211e78fb9a76440e3bc5fc48d1dd481a5\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: What is his view on the impact that policies such as the Fast-track Approvals Bill, the Treaty principles bill, the removal of section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act, as well as the dismantling of M\u0101ori wards and the M\u0101ori Health Authority have had on our iwi authority\u2019s mistrust of this Government? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002282612b9d999a4237b488b48888e485aa\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: I disagree completely. We may disagree with the previous administration and the way they went about things, but we are here to make sure we improve outcomes for M\u0101ori, because you can talk about it, as the previous Government did, but outcomes for M\u0101ori went backwards under the last six years across a range of measures. We\u2019re saying enough is enough, and I look forward to that member\u2019s support for many of the programmes that we have. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c23049ca3be7426787cdae465d9fb068\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: What will he do to alleviate the concerns of the acting Race Relations Commissioner, who has stated that his justice Minister\u2019s attempt to remove some M\u0101ori experiences from the action plan would deny many M\u0101ori\u2019s lived experiences with racism, which studies show occur daily for 93 percent of M\u0101ori? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022084cf4ee4d1c4f869f7a6a16419274b7\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: I disagree completely. We don\u2019t stand for racism in any form in this country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a312503bd80e40128822e5927eac9fe7\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the justice Minister that focusing on colonial racism is unfair to migrant communities, or does he agree with the documented experiences of migrant communities in the Ki te whaiao, ki te ao M\u0101rama report, who overwhelmingly affirm that the experiences of racism in Aotearoa stem from the fact that Aotearoa is a colonised country? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb06cd4904a8464ba303a99426a3aac3\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Again, what I\u2019d say to you is there is no place for racism in New Zealand\u2014period\u2014and whether you are a new New Zealander or you\u2019ve been here for some time, the same standard holds for everybody. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f7f95f70f8c64292844f1b1c82c42d06\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u0022e920254ba64f4b908787ff407180072d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e920254ba64f4b908787ff407180072d\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Co-Leader\u2014Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government\u2019s statements and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022 data-id=\u002260064b14b0094b6a8c538b659e0e0630\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002260064b14b0094b6a8c538b659e0e0630\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, and especially the target that I announced yesterday to reduce violent crime and to make our communities safer.\u00A0One of this Government\u2019s key priorities is to reverse the increase in violent crime,\u00A0making Kiwis feel safer in their own homes, their businesses, and their communities. We\u2019ve already made progress to return the rights of victims instead of criminals to the centre of our justice system, and we look forward to implementing many, many more actions to restore law and order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e99a98c0e04463886add5d328b42e10\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Prime Minister aware that there is already a legally required independent expert review of the methane target among all emissions targets,\u00A0and, if so, why has his Government announced that they will do their own new independent secondary review?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227bb7ff397b0240c3a82f311b75290724\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it\u2019s something that we\u2019ve talked about in Opposition for some time, it\u2019s something that we\u2019ve campaigned on, and all we\u2019re saying is we\u2019re making sure we\u2019ve got complementary work going on to make sure we have the latest knowledge around methane science. From there, we can set targets. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022412008d8cb6b4ceb9f2a1e6ca97fc9aa\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just before the member\u2014interjections are fair; nothing wrong with that, but it\u2019s getting pretty loud, so just keep it as rare and, as an Assistant Speaker once said, as witty as possible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f60d1d0fd4d345a3b1a0a5a04afc91ed\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Is the Prime Minister aware that the Climate Change Commission appointments are legally required to be consulted across political parties, and, if so, is he concerned that his Government\u2019s second review is therefore inherently less politically independent and more politicised?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ee521f8370a343c2beb082c41cb13708\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I agree with the first part of the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022409601dd043c4f718caabca4bea4310e\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: What does\u2014and I quote\u2014\u201Cconsistency with no additional warming\u201D from agricultural methane emissions mean in the context of the National-ACT coalition agreement?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2a5ddf87a0d4dae8f8822ed68fa1c3a\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, what I\u2019d say is that we want farmers to have to play their part in driving our emissions down. We can\u2019t just shut down the world\u2019s best farmers and send agricultural production offshore, making global greenhouse gas emissions worse in the process. We believe \u201Cno additional warming\u201D is a fair basis for methane targets in particular. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002269ecb27ae03a4a8aaa748c4cce8fd3f4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I might just say to the Government side that if the Prime Minister is giving an answer, it\u2019s not particularly helped by the added comment from his own team.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a7c581128e4c4830bed50a7c836b7fda\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the Climate Change Commission, who yesterday said\u2014and I quote\u2014\u201CChanging the biogenic methane target from the current range to \u2018no additional warming\u2019 and keeping the [current] net zero component of the \u2026 [targets] as [it] is would mean higher emissions and an increased amount of warming than the current target.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b3c4909238c46fab655036b04834bc7\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, what I\u2019d say to you is that is speculation, because we haven\u2019t had a discussion around\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002273e81842ebb3457c9e2fd8cd279842d8\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s science!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220b30be85ae834874a13090709d15e5bb\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: No, no\u2014would you like to listen to my answer? Let me finish my answer. What I\u2019m saying to you is you\u2019re jumping to targets. What we\u2019re saying here is we want to update the science base and make sure that we have the latest methane science in place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022934c1d0631444f968bbac350259b4244\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister agree with the Climate Change Commission that if the Government seeks to reduce methane emissions targets, it would be requiring households and businesses across this country to do more?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221548f77f49e44cfa9e091dbcaec39c02\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s not what we\u2019re saying. What we\u2019re saying is we\u2019re reviewing the science base on methane to make sure we do that. I\u2019d just say to the member I really look forward to her adjusting the Green Party website to come out in support of our GE policy so that we can actually drive emissions down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022338e35f2257e40669c9ee24ac831d05a\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u002264f9f3a6dac04391b3e4067833809435\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002264f9f3a6dac04391b3e4067833809435\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the Opposition)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government\u2019s statements and actions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022 data-id=\u0022782d02ee6efe4961af458e2bb33a14eb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022782d02ee6efe4961af458e2bb33a14eb\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, I do, and I\u2019m particularly proud about what we announced around getting our kids back into school and also driving up academic achievement. It is an absolute travesty that only 47 percent of our kids go to school regularly in this country\u2014a legacy of the previous Government. And the consequence of that is kids are missing a year\u2019s worth of school. We\u2019re proud of our target of making sure we have 80 percent of our kids ready to go, at high school, so they can actually live the lives and the dreams that they want to have.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022787836347cbb4d23858f7260fc252137\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Were all aspects of this morning\u2019s announcement on truancy approved by Cabinet; if not, which parts have yet to be approved?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223894c6fe673b4469b2aa699f736176db\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, as I said, we have an ambitious Government, and that is fantastic because what we observed over the last six years was a Government that spent more, borrowed more, taxed more, and delivered worse outcomes. Your Government had six years. You did very little; you failed at it. What we\u2019re doing is declaring nine key targets\u2014two in the education space\u2014we\u2019re marching hard towards it, and every quarter, we\u2019re going to be doing things to make sure we make progress on it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226a2f68ff6c4443aaaccd0a2fa4b69ad6\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. It was a pretty straight and simple question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d9acace816fa48cfae5fdaadcde75816\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll call you for the point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ed1caaa1a424ec9bc3cbd26fc730955\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: What was that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4c95303b95f4232977b9bec4bc01ecf\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022858099730bb54bd9809265074d4a59cf\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Oh\u2014point of order, Mr Speaker. It was a pretty straight and simple question, and the Prime Minister has given a diatribe on the previous Government\u2019s record. He hasn\u2019t actually either answered or addressed the question that I asked him.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002204f6d1c12a834372b21f1e03e36367f1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think he could probably say something more, but I think he had addressed it\u2014the Prime Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227d78e93bb6646d282136f2072320d3d\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, I didn\u2019t hear the\u2014would you like to ask the question again?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dcd08467c0ad4b1cabade49163611bf1\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m happy to repeat the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ff7d05225eb4b128e88e24f27fcb201\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, please do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dbcbe6a9f6f14ca5ab540bb2302fa198\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Were all aspects of this morning\u2019s announcement on truancy approved by Cabinet; if not, which parts have yet to be approved?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227dd7ec9e80c7467fa85944fe06a4815e\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: As we said, the announcements that we made today have been approved by Cabinet.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ad287f9406794ddda65970aea4745b11\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Have the details of the traffic light system he announced this morning been approved by Cabinet?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002297d1df66acb14c9db6e7482ab9c5a505\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: No. Again, what the Minister announced was that was our proposal, and there\u2019s more work to be done on that, and that will come towards Cabinet in due course. But what is exciting is that we are a Government that is actually wanting to do something about attendance rates. We care deeply about our kids being in school so they can learn, so they can achieve more.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a70a2722c544405a3d55cc1f095a4b6\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: So how come Penny Simmonds was reprimanded\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ddd612648214349a6e0e60f9b27209d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Wait on, wait on\u2014wait on. Sorry. Supplementary, the Rt Hon Chris Hipkins.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207ae3abec04f42208513a381ceea51e3\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: How come Penny Simmonds was reprimanded for a decision being announced that wasn\u2019t approved by Cabinet but David Seymour was allowed to make decisions that haven\u2019t been approved by Cabinet?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022caa28052630a4e0a98894c139b018cb5\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: I mean, I reject the premise of the question. We have a fantastic plan to tackle school attendance in New Zealand\u2014something the previous administration, the previous Minister for 5\u00BD years, didn\u2019t seem to care about. We care about\u00A0it. We\u2019re getting our kids back to school, period.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e24b946ca5894fcdb60905dce74a17ed\u0022\u003EHon David Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister trust his capable Ministers enough to announce details\u2014such as, the colours of the traffic light will be green, yellow, and red, and that each colour will have differing consequences, differing in severity\u2014as I did just this morning?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228949aab07c404197a0c08f90884045d1\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Can I just say, well, I think we have a fantastic Associate Minister of Education, who is very fixated and bringing thoughtful leadership to how we get attendance up in this country, so I want to thank him for his great efforts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220df27d022d144197859d4274fca2ee0e\u0022\u003EHon David Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a small correction: I\u2019d actually said the colour was orange.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022afa9ac728b81493d883668823217f099\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I\u2019m sure that\u2019s incredibly helpful to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab274eceee004e7c91f999e433a3daf1\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Was either the Minister of Health or the Minister for Mental Health consulted on the proposed cuts to the Suicide Prevention Office?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221db5027de4984cb8ab3922baa559dcd8\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, again, that\u2019s not happening. What has happened is that you had the Ministry of Health say they didn\u2019t adequately brief the Minister. In a very quick period of time, the Minister said that he wants the functions of the Suicide Prevention Office to continue. And I can tell you I have great faith in that Minister to deliver and to continue to make sure what is an absolutely tragic record here in New Zealand is continuing to improve.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2d4e1d62f1b4b78a5f030db1837d028\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Was either the Minister of Health or the Minister for Mental Health consulted on the proposed cuts to the Suicide Prevention Office?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002217186439316648e18aaacf6161ab0e6b\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Again, you heard the public comments where the Ministry of Health said that they did not adequately brief the Minister. The Minister\u00A0directed very clearly that he expects that function of the Suicide Prevention Office to\u00A0continue, and it will.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f941b8817bc34ca3a1a928d99ef6e535\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Well, does he agree with Matt Doocey, \u201CI\u2019m responsible for the $2.5 billion that we spend for mental health and addiction ring-fenced funding\u2014I\u2019m\u00A0going line by line, by line, by line, through that\u201D, and, if so, how did the Suicide Prevention Office almost close without its Minister even noticing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227e50c5fad6647019f4a4b69edb2d76c\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Again, I\u2019ve addressed the question. The Ministry of Health said that they did not adequately brief the Minister. And the Minister made it very clear that he expects the functions of the Suicide Prevention Office to continue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5be5a2ca86a40fdb3bc2f4ee183bddf\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Is the reason that the Suicide Prevention Office was being considered for closure because his Government is requiring the Ministry of Health to cut\u00A06.5 percent of its funding?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220cc8ac29c88148a7ad914f646c4794b1\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019re going to see a further increase in spending on healthcare. But what we are not tolerating is what that member did with his Government for six years, which is he didn\u2019t actually\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a27cdea5baad44baaa1ba84df9de0a3f\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002225a232560dea4160a62a65594e49f418\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019re moving money from the back office\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221133bfbf0b6d4d73a37410ac8159c895\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I note the point of order\u2014point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022465754cb4d4d4ead9caa465ea9ba75ad\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, almost every question that I\u2019ve asked the Prime\u00A0Minister today, he\u2019s resorted to an attack on the previous Government without actually\u00A0answering what are relatively direct questions on his Government\u2019s current announcements and decisions. The cutting of the Suicide Prevention Office is not a non-controversial matter. The questions that I\u2019ve asked have been very straight questions; I\u00A0don\u2019t think it\u2019s too much to ask that the Prime Minister takes them seriously and gives\u00A0serious answers to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4281532a23d4e8cbb571c077b38a29d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I think he has given serious answers\u2014if I\u2019m listening to them. But I would also say to you that it is not inappropriate for Ministers to refer to programmes of a previous Government. The difficulty comes where that reference becomes an attack, and I\u2019d ask that all Ministers, including the Prime Minister, think carefully about those comments in an answer. Prime Minister. Oh\u2014are you finished?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002294fc42e1c4954b8680eae20b21394c09\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m finished, yeah.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b2c3ba896374f37be928b939ec056e3\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m waiting for him to answer that question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b53bc4c08b64941903197dd3c2eeb8f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah\u2014ask the question again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225ff2a1430e6e42afb3372d8cbf4a5ffd\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Is the reason the Suicide Prevention Office is being considered for closure that his Government is requiring the Ministry of Health to cut 6.5\u00A0percent of its spending?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d32b33b1d5043b0944b82c8c44a8e27\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: The Suicide Prevention Office is not being considered for closure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b30970afae20442592d39e55b478a36e\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022 data-id=\u002217e641afdb494bcc9c98aeaf925577e9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002217e641afdb494bcc9c98aeaf925577e9\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made about the Government\u2019s fiscal policy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u00226b885fd1c5bb49978b17a9a18732dea4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226b885fd1c5bb49978b17a9a18732dea4\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Two weeks ago, I released the Budget Policy Statement, where the Government sets out its short-term intentions and long-term fiscal objectives for fiscal policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227535d92-0798-4e04-be80-9e91b53610e2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002217bf874d2b394f06970f9be58d8a308d\u0022\u003EHon Rachel Brooking\u003C/span\u003E: How many pages?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022467f2c5b8bb44458af1876c5835f8f5f\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: In summary\u2014Mr Speaker, isn\u2019t it funny that we have members opposite us who interject to ask us how long the statement was, as if the definition of success is how many pages you can put in your document.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221c2e3b7b26cf4edca9fba1b1cdbffbb7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, good. Just\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022890e8568675b45749acffd5d3478ee1d\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, here on this side of the House\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200782cf4db6840e3a9f59fe02a628175\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No\u2014that\u2019s enough. Don\u2019t talk while I am. Just go back to your answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e9805afa6c5b4507a57fdd57c04544bb\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: What our fiscal intentions and objectives are, are to return to surplus; to get debt heading down as a percentage of GDP, rather than going up, as it has been over the past five years; and to reduce Government spending as a proportion of the overall economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022840eb20af090464290454b4f05d728d7\u0022\u003EHon Scott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: What is Government spending as a proportion of GDP?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002253ade0c8e27f4d479f8830764ead25d4\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, the half-year update, in December, forecast that core Crown spending in the current 2023-24 financial year will be 33.4 percent of GDP. Now, to put that in context, core Crown spending in 2018-19\u2014just five years ago\u2014was only 28\u00A0percent of GDP. Now, clearly, COVID disruptions were a factor in this increase, but the crucial thing is that unlike in other countries, there was no attempt to bring Government spending back down again after the temporary disruption passed. Spending was deliberately kept high, and this Government is committed to bringing it down to ensure it is effective, targeted, and within our means.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c50f40e760ea48569c9fe5b9821a3900\u0022\u003EHon Scott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: What is the Government\u2019s objective for spending?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002248c6387e8ea64713898d585fe44958f0\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: New Zealand currently has a structural deficit, and there are only three broad options to deal with that: borrowing to cover that deficit, which is unsustainable; taxing New Zealanders more, which most of the members opposite think\u2019s a great idea, but which we\u2019re not big fans of; or reining back on spending. We will do the last of these. We intend to control growth in core Crown spending so that it reduces as a percentage of GDP, and, over time, our objective is to bring spending down towards 30\u00A0percent of GDP.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ce7d005ae634ca6899c01e1f628b2f4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It helps, for order in the House, if general statements about everyone\u2019s views are not made; only those of the Government who is being held to account here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002215c53c03f7d8485abead7628faf138b7\u0022\u003EHon Scott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: How does the Government intend to reach that objective?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002273e8317d23af482fbef6530fdb1246d2\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, this right-sizing of the Government\u2019s footprint will be achieved through ongoing restraint and reprioritisation across multiple Budgets. We cannot, on this side of the House, undo in one Budget what was created in six. The Government will be charting a medium-term course of fiscal consolidation and not overreacting to movements up or down in economic forecasts. We are ending the approach of recent years which confused spending money with achieving results and which doesn\u2019t believe that money can ever be saved within the public sector\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022408390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ccd595efa8c4a0d9c33f9348d844f84\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d06cf592f079411ab88504840f76bb17\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014or ever be put to better uses.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225cc5b454187a4efb9f01ae4165b6beb6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re probably only slightly ahead of me, but point of order, the Hon Kieran McAnulty.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a469382bf94412c8f7b814b2aa14437\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Well, Mr Speaker, you\u2019ll note that this side of the House stayed silent for the majority of that exchange. We left it to you, and you responded appropriately, but the Minister appears to have ignored your advice and continued with her intent regardless.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220924c71128a341bebcccbb40a8980ec9\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, only from the point of view that it was an incredibly lengthy answer\u2014too long\u2014and, secondly, as I said before, it\u2019s not inappropriate for Ministers to\u00A0refer to situations that they have inherited, but I am watching very carefully for the attack\u00A0aspect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fb86f800e30048acbf8d366756f28eb0\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022 data-id=\u00221e6be81c3d8042e6b50d69770ab1fe15\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221e6be81c3d8042e6b50d69770ab1fe15\u0022\u003EHon MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader\u2014Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government\u2019s policies and statements?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022 data-id=\u0022b3a64f66b9ea4515bba98a981c71f3ce\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b3a64f66b9ea4515bba98a981c71f3ce\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, and especially the target that I announced yesterday for 75 percent fewer households in emergency housing. Too many children are being raised in motels, and my Government is focused on reversing the huge growth seen under the previous Government and its homelessness Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d9c0508465814cc484f0ac2bf732acc8\u0022\u003EHon Marama Davidson\u003C/span\u003E: Will he guarantee to the representatives of Ng\u0101ti Tama, Ng\u0101ti Mutunga, Taranaki Iwi, Te Atiawa, Ng\u0101ti Maru, Ng\u0101ruahine, Ng\u0101ti Ruanui, and Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi in Parliament today that the Trans-Tasman Resources seabed mining project will not be included in the listed projects in the Fast-track Approvals Bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b01ba482c00b48fba5eb854ff37db97f\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d just say to you that the Government supports mining on a responsible basis, and there\u2019s a process under way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022485ecc4116af40678c36de1154f8e501\u0022\u003EHon Marama Davidson\u003C/span\u003E: Does he share the concern of Ng\u0101ti Ruanui that the Fast-track Approvals Bill will be used as a \u201Cbackdoor to gain consent for the mining operation\u201D after Trans-Tasman Resources withdrew from the process to determine whether its application for seabed mining is environmentally safe?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022305c486e9f65433684c6748fb5bd2eb1\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: No, I\u2019m proud of the fast-track process that we\u2019re bringing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002269216abf073641d0ae3e0271eafc8873\u0022\u003EHon Marama Davidson\u003C/span\u003E: Is it appropriate for the Government to enable mining companies to bypass court-directed consenting processes through which iwi, environmental experts, local government, local communities, and the fishing industry have been fighting for 10 years to prevent extractive industries destroying our marine environment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5c76228d55b4453a216c41fe59e980a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just make them questions, not speeches. The Prime Minister may respond.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223cd7a84a83c84db49d64d9f3ad7883e4\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, to be honest, I struggled to find what the question was.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227a46b54bb8f940208036de5217021949\u0022\u003EHon Marama Davidson\u003C/span\u003E: Does he have confidence in the impartiality of Minister Shane Jones and his ability to balance responsibilities under different portfolios, including resources, regional development, and fisheries, in relation to decision making under the proposed fast-track legislation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b73a4ca47ad24b2699c2df4c09450943\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely. That is a Minister that is determined to grow this country, to do the right thing by this country, who thinks deeply about where it\u2019s going, and he has my total backing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a88666353fae4e9cb6d18ea0ce765eae\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257c0c650-e6a0-4475-b66d-5281ede8b1e3\u0022 data-id=\u0022dd7ec3d4fefa46fba3344680dc6378ae\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257c0c650-e6a0-4475-b66d-5281ede8b1e3\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dd7ec3d4fefa46fba3344680dc6378ae\u0022\u003ESUZE REDMAYNE (National\u2014Rangit\u012Bkei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Why has the Government set a target to have 50,000 fewer people receiving the jobseeker support benefit by 2030?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022 data-id=\u002212906a4b3f544e3da364b9d2374701f4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002212906a4b3f544e3da364b9d2374701f4\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment):\u003C/span\u003E Because the coalition Government wants to help New Zealanders live better lives and reach their full potential, and the best way to do this is through work. There needs to be a greater focus on supporting people off welfare and into work, because the previous Government failed to capitalise on long periods where employers were crying out for staff\u2014and when they left office, there were 70,000 more people on the jobseeker benefit. We now have almost 190,000 people in New Zealand receiving the jobseeker benefit, and that\u2019s approximately the size of Hamilton. We aren\u2019t prepared to sit back and let people become dependent on welfare, because we know that having a job is the pathway to a better life for them and for their children. While the welfare system will always support people in need, our Government will do more to ensure New Zealanders can reap the rewards and opportunities that having a job brings.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229dda37e753dc4ae590f8abb59e87f6c3\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That was a very, very long answer, so I\u2019d ask people preparing questions to keep them a little more concise. They\u2019re getting very long.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257c0c650-e6a0-4475-b66d-5281ede8b1e3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b37c2c529b3e4173ad059c1db65fec42\u0022\u003ESuze Redmayne\u003C/span\u003E: How long are people predicted to spend on benefits if we continue with the previous approach to welfare?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c3a88c42-f60b-4cf9-8065-8bfb80a020eb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d1e6f15c61f445f9b391600fa7b69b92\u0022\u003EHon Carmel Sepuloni\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s not the previous approach; it\u2019s the economic forecast.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002214c67a093b3b4057b3c5a17908e6e302\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just going to\u2014[Interruption] When we get a moment\u2014just going to ask the member to re-ask that question. It is, effectively, setting the battlefield for an attack, and it\u2019s not on. So ask it in a different way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257c0c650-e6a0-4475-b66d-5281ede8b1e3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2f9400ad83f4c69807e63506a72e8fa\u0022\u003ESuze Redmayne\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Ask in a different way, did you say, Mr Speaker?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b47cbd9d81c400fb5ac509d235e9c25\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, this is a think-on-your-feet moment. [Interruption] Yeah, just a minute. A question is being asked. Just wait till there\u2019s a bit of quiet.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257c0c650-e6a0-4475-b66d-5281ede8b1e3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227cbedc38ecbb4ebdb6c1d7f415a6c895\u0022\u003ESuze Redmayne\u003C/span\u003E: How long are people predicted to spend on benefits?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f62d7bc9c1a4d039a2fc0c5d1d7dbac\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: The previous Government\u2019s approach saw a substantial increase in the amount of time people would spend\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002287b4eb853ad7489881956ace7cb84c25\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, no. No, sorry. Sit down. Sorry, take your seat. You can\u2019t start an answer like that. You could perhaps mention a date and a time and a figure, but you can\u2019t start with an answer like that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be3b06a0ddd943388e5c496d13ffcb68\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: The Taylor Fry report that was published in December last year showed the forecast of the future years expected that people would spend on welfare. For a jobseeker benefit, they are estimated to spend, on average, 13 future years on welfare. For those who move on to welfare under the age of 25, they are forecast to spend 19 future years on main benefit. No one would want this outcome for their child, and we\u2019re unwilling to sit back and watch it happen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257c0c650-e6a0-4475-b66d-5281ede8b1e3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e66f34ff84ae476981e9af5b8c9c799e\u0022\u003ESuze Redmayne\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary, Mr Speaker? [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e503f0ac26e4cd0883264f9b25170d2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Hold on. OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257c0c650-e6a0-4475-b66d-5281ede8b1e3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260e733bddd8142acb8125cd1dda40687\u0022\u003ESuze Redmayne\u003C/span\u003E: What actions has the coalition Government already taken to reduce welfare dependency?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229dc37c42d8ee48068b960e19e2e1e15e\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: In February, we announced the first two actions to reset the welfare system. Firstly, work check-ins will begin for people who\u2019ve been on the jobseeker benefit for more than six months to ensure that they are taking action to find work and getting the support they need. Secondly, we reversed Labour\u2019s light-touch approach to benefit sanctions and made our expectation clear: those who can work should work, and job seekers have responsibilities to become work-ready and find a job. Our Government is committed to giving beneficiaries the help they need to find work, but there will be consequences for those who don\u2019t fulfil their responsibilities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219ed20db-5d6c-4464-9327-6cdd072bb4fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b4a738a951244d1098d3ee66e5ea9192\u0022\u003ERicardo Men\u00E9ndez March\u003C/span\u003E: Will she commit to ensuring the 50,000 people who she wants to get off income support get into employment that pays at least a living wage and matches their skills and aspirations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4918211781c4823b1fd6a37c771d71e\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: Our Government is focused on reducing the number of job\u00A0seekers by 50,000, and we believe that a job is better than no job and that a job is a path\u00A0to\u00A0a better job.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257c0c650-e6a0-4475-b66d-5281ede8b1e3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d95cf519ce714b3bacce3ffb50c9c08d\u0022\u003ESuze Redmayne\u003C/span\u003E: What are the forecasts for jobseeker benefit numbers in the short\u00A0term?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cfb96be8d76b49f69ad580a8d8be6399\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: The number of people on the jobseeker benefit is, unfortunately, expected to increase in the coming months due to the challenging economic circumstances: jobseeker benefit recipients are expected to peak at 198,500 in January 2025. That means it will be difficult to reduce the number of people on the jobseeker benefit immediately, but we owe it to those New Zealanders who find themselves without a job to do all we can to help them to get back into work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221c5fa8a77aac4d9ebfd3d2355192fe00\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\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=\u002274e3544dfac042fc8f884e3eab577cfb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002274e3544dfac042fc8f884e3eab577cfb\u0022\u003EHon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour\u2014Mana)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Fa\u2019afetai lava lou afioga. Does she stand by all of 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=\u0022f575124528e047bfa5cbe7406eb7c4dc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f575124528e047bfa5cbe7406eb7c4dc\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, in the context in which they were made. I particularly stand by my statement that hard-working Kiwis deserve personal income tax relief. Given that they\u2019ve been waiting 14 years for it, the coalition Government will be delighted to deliver it to them in the Budget in May.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f4595e15b649434da66b4ead0563ca80\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Does she stand by her statement, in the context of her fiscal savings programme, \u201CMinisters will then consider those proposals. We might reject some of them, we might ask some of them to go a bit further and then we\u2019ll take all of those together and assess the implications for headcount from there.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002270958b5d0a5044129ddd6fb3aaadba87\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293742d6e25e54c69ae008a4d9db1f9bf\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Is it her expectation that vote Ministers will review and approval cost-saving plans prior to Cabinet considering the full Budget package?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ef0fed2a9d54044881a39b533ad4eab\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002287b2dc4bed9a4bdbbd5470deb3f55447\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Has she sought or received advice from Treasury on the implications of the fiscal savings made in each agency?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252aaed8d6e38419490138e7a2bd07c9c\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227ca8c3a39a740bca8a5d8882c335942\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Why, then, is she and her ministerial colleagues claiming to\u00A0be surprised by the impacts of her savings targets, when she has confirmed that Ministers\u00A0will approve these proposals?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022936c04bdeebe4d17a347720f1212bf44\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, if the member had actually looked at her own questions, she asked whether all of this would be subject to final Cabinet approval. Well, Cabinet has not given final approval to the Budget yet.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d7c4f1349e9f4e91b0681faadf8cc31c\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Building and Construction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002294b52412-f97b-4bbd-8009-5dc49520f7f4\u0022 data-id=\u0022052f1adcc1aa4c8a995a95d84fa3875e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002294b52412-f97b-4bbd-8009-5dc49520f7f4\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022052f1adcc1aa4c8a995a95d84fa3875e\u0022\u003ERYAN HAMILTON (National\u2014Hamilton East)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Building and Construction: What announcements has the Government made around making it easier and more affordable to build in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u00225c873ec1a6a34c15b626af06f005d439\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225c873ec1a6a34c15b626af06f005d439\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK (Minister for Building and Construction):\u003C/span\u003E This Government has a plan to rebuild the economy and lower the cost of living. A crucial part of this is making it easier and more affordable for Kiwi families to build homes. That\u2019s why the Government is amending the Building Act to remove artificial barriers to the use of building products from overseas by recognising overseas building product standards from trusted jurisdictions and requiring building consent authorities to accept products that are equivalent to, or better than, those already in use in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002294b52412-f97b-4bbd-8009-5dc49520f7f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cfcefb9015fc41399c4a7ba0a8022804\u0022\u003ERyan Hamilton\u003C/span\u003E: Why are these changes required?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd1e1f9910b64c60b593a24d71b4133c\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: What a constructive exchange. It is too difficult and expensive to build in New Zealand. The cost of building a house has increased by 41 percent in the\u00A0last five years, and it is around 50 percent more expensive to build a stand-alone house in New Zealand than Australia. It is almost impossible to use new building products in New\u00A0Zealand without facing huge delays and compliance costs. This entrenches the use\u00A0of well-known products, thereby lowering competition, increasing the risk of supply chain disruptions, such as during the recent Gib shortage, and, ultimately, makes it more\u00A0expensive to build anything.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002294b52412-f97b-4bbd-8009-5dc49520f7f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002238e9337237cc4ababc037fbb49794535\u0022\u003ERyan Hamilton\u003C/span\u003E: What feedback has he received on these changes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e8070a31e184ef3a988f6ab467d51f8\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: The feedback has been extremely positive. The chair of the New Zealand Construction Industry Council, Malcolm Fleming, said that he is \u201Creally pleased\u201D and that this is \u201Cthe industry\u2019s biggest issue starving demand for new construction.\u201D Julien Leys, CEO of the New Zealand Building Industry Federation, meanwhile, agreed that this policy is a game-changer that will allow more building products into New Zealand, bringing down costs. While, finally, Shane Brealey, managing director of Simplicity Living, said, \u201Cwhat\u2019s good in Australia or Japan or Korea should be good here. They should have done this years ago.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225c762eab67b04729849610fae5838741\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll just ask the speaker to speak into the mike if he asks a question. Thanks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002294b52412-f97b-4bbd-8009-5dc49520f7f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c530e4410cf4b9cbaba5d69b43a9fd5\u0022\u003ERyan Hamilton\u003C/span\u003E: What else is the Government doing to make it easier to build?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200472a9cba86410896540cadd82da88b\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: This Government has a busy work programme in construction. You could say we are really building building momentum\u2014you could say that, but you probably wouldn\u2019t want to. In addition to improving competition for building products, we are also putting the spotlight on building consent delays by requiring councils to supply building consent time frames, lowering the building levy threshold, meaning Kiwis doing small renovations don\u2019t have to pay it. Finally, we have provided relief to rural New Zealand by exempting dams from under 4 metres from additional compliance costs, and there is still much more to come.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222a5ff7ea6f43416698f6394dc6ede828\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Education (Partnership Schools)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022 data-id=\u0022af4d8fc18f154ced9f10a3410ccc81ad\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022af4d8fc18f154ced9f10a3410ccc81ad\u0022\u003ELAURA TRASK (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E My question is to the Associate Minister of Education\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022487b6c974a0348b99781aa5301240d54\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, look, I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on with the mikes, but you might need to just lean into it a little bit. The sound is pretty low today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022804c872eb0104d669416650c3f894d46\u0022\u003ELAURA TRASK\u003C/span\u003E: Is that better?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246d29aedaa474993b7c7b48068568209\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, it is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022 data-id=\u0022fffda63ef4b6412baa64454bd5db1683\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fffda63ef4b6412baa64454bd5db1683\u0022\u003ELAURA TRASK (ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Education (Partnership Schools): What recent announcements has he made regarding school attendance?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u002200c4e094ad494393bf6e91b0b65f6f3f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002200c4e094ad494393bf6e91b0b65f6f3f\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR (Associate Minister of Education (Partnership Schools)):\u003C/span\u003E New Zealand\u2019s shocking student attendance at schools is an absolute priority for this Government. The target that we\u2019ve set, 80 percent of students present more than 90 percent of the time, is ambitious; it\u2019s a full 7.2 percentage points higher than has been achieved at any time in the last decade. Attendance is a complex issue, and it\u2019s critical to use improved data and analysis to understand the reasons people don\u2019t attend so that we can target the interventions effectively. Almost two months to the day since I received the education portfolio delegation, I was proud to stand with the Prime Minister as part of this coalition Government and release an attendance action plan at the\u2014I have to say\u2014wonderful Cardinal McKeefry School here in Wellington this morning.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f7494acae4247928df1c23ea0002192\u0022\u003ELaura Trask\u003C/span\u003E: What actions will the Government be taking to improve student attendance?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022812b0639d8f24983a6cd8829e399dd18\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: First of all, we\u2019re going to see a lot more data. This Government\u2019s view is that we should tell the people and trust the people, rather than try and obscure the facts from them. We\u2019ll be rolling out a communications plan to improve awareness of the importance of attendance from term 2 this year onwards. We\u2019ll also be updating the public health guidance to help schools and parents decide if a student is well enough to attend\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022267327b4ac444955b134cd456447f57e\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, they don\u2019t trust the parents, eh? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022499e159eb56849d4b1a036e4b9be60d2\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and we\u2019ll be clarifying the expectations around attendance to school boards. I\u2019ve just heard from Willow-Jean Prime, the member for Northland, that somehow we don\u2019t trust the parents\u2014this from a member who was in\u00A0a\u00A0Government that propagandised and blasted New Zealanders and didn\u2019t trust them\u00A0even\u00A0to go outside for weeks at a time. That is not a member who should be heckling about trust.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b9d52ee4bec14a75a3ee84e12a3827ca\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, sometimes interjections so clearly heard will result in that kind of\u00A0response.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002276e38f76a54746f1850f2798df1ae5b9\u0022\u003ELaura Trask\u003C/span\u003E: How will this Government improve reporting and attendance data?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295578c8c57c94969805875a2019b83dd\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Well, through a number of medium-term initiatives throughout the rest of this year and next\u2014from the start of next year, we\u2019ll be mandating daily attendance data to be reported by all schools, and, again, reported\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b339fd57ecc64f5d828811b78bf38f53\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: And a fun, new back office for that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c2dac68e16a47488a4fde40230d993e\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014to the people, because we tell the people and we trust the people. Now, Willow-Jean Prime has just said, \u201COh, you must need more back office for that.\u201D Well, let me help Willow-Jean Prime: actually, the Ministry of Education has been upgrading its IT software so that the student management systems from the school can automatically push the data each day. This is an object lesson for the Labour Party. You see, we\u2019re actually going to able to do more with less money, using innovation and\u00A0technology. Anyway, as I was saying, we\u2019ll also be developing a traffic light system\u00A0to set out the requirements and expectations for students and parents at each level of attendance. We\u2019ll be making attendance a strategic priority for school boards so they have clear expectations, but we will also be sharing best practice from schools that are\u00A0effective in order that they don\u2019t have additional burden, but rather better information about how to get kids to school.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd5714f76444424b99d62e25352c1860\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That will do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022896d6721b5f9454b980df2333fdd5acf\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, I could go on\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002212213cb0d542467aa72158f26f3b2651\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, you could but you\u2019re not going to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296b1b9dc2186413584abad6c9bac8f22\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014but needless to say, we\u2019ve got quite a lot of policy to get kids back to school.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226993cc7871ef4ac5920526c0f8c2c0f9\u0022\u003ELaura Trask\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f0c1874342f847f7b9dd1d55fb6b4224\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, we might just end that question right there. Thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bcd6bd10f068439284e402ba704d3372\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. It would seem a terrible thing to penalise a hard-working member like Laura Trask for the heckling of Willow-Jean Prime and my response to it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af3bb19dca7243dcbea2595ee810938f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, that\u2019s not for her; it\u2019s for what was an excessively long argument that\u00A0strayed well away from the point that was originally being asked. That\u2019s quite a reasonable decision on my part.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002299a11013155643acbab7582adc9e68f6\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Climate Change\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022 data-id=\u0022c2c5846494aa45b0b01698d12d920c87\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c2c5846494aa45b0b01698d12d920c87\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour\u2014Wigram)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Climate Change: Has he received advice that the science of biogenic methane\u2019s impact on climate change is already settled; if so, does he agree with that advice?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022 data-id=\u0022747a677e981742a4b3c5b7816ebb49ac\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022747a677e981742a4b3c5b7816ebb49ac\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS (Minister of Climate Change):\u003C/span\u003E As the Minister of Climate Change, I have not received advice from officials saying the science of methane\u2019s impact on climate change is settled. However, I do meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, who shares their reports with me on a regular basis. This Government has commissioned a review to ensure that we have the latest science as part of our coalition agreement. I\u00A0look forward to seeing the results of that review.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e0ba9d2ee2b477d95630f3d9df8582e\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree, then, with the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment\u2019s chief economist when he said the \u201Creal debate was not [about] the science but what was fair for farmers to do\u2014and that was a question for politicians to solve\u201D; furthermore, and \u201CIf the government is looking to save money, the science is done and was done pretty comprehensively, so they should be looking at our work before commissioning anything new. They\u2019ll just be dealing with all the same scientists, again.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022990cdd3867114d2e8b6c0d6903279ea8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, that question rivals the answer just given by the Hon David Seymour for its length and its relevance to the initial question. However, the Minister may choose to respond.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288fe235db63d40eaa47ea90125f5bf66\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS\u003C/span\u003E: The review that the member is citing was undertaken nearly five years ago. It is an imperative for this coalition Government to use the latest science available, and that\u2019s what our review will undertake. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa1ef1f0709d450c9e17c217ffef7332\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Is he aware that the rest of the economy will pay a higher price than otherwise if agricultural methane emissions are not required to assist with reducing the rise in global temperatures\u2014a price that one report has estimated equates to a 1 percent change in our methane targets and will require 40 megatons of extra reductions or removals in long-lived gases, and that will put an undue strain on our economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2b2883fd5b74918bbcbf3852c88ab13\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS\u003C/span\u003E: What I can say is that I\u2019m acutely aware of the significant role that our primary sector plays in driving our economy, and, on this side of our House, the coalition Government is wanting to work with that sector, not against them, to ensure that the review of methane that they undertake in their part of it is based on the best available science.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa8b10d91faf4b3bb62e057c6da472a7\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Will he guarantee this House that if he were to make any changes to targets or the Act, he will continue the previous Government\u2019s approach and do this via cross-party consensus?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022daf85fe379d1449db3025c9b5bcedf33\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not going to pre-empt a review that hasn\u2019t actually started yet, but what I can be clear about is this review will be comprehensive, it will have integrity, and the results, once received, will be in addition to the work undertaken by the Climate Change Commission, and we\u2019ll go from there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b70b3e61fa140e899fde5c384d6e478\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The point of that question\u2014of what I asked the member, and it was a straight question\u2014is whether he will commit, once receiving that report, if there are to be changes, to do that in a cross-party manner as the previous Government had done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022205689247aac46f8af29f1cd125e2933\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, but you asked him if he would guarantee something that he said is not yet even a decision, and I think that\u2019s quite a reasonable answer on his part.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c15b12b55c94fc3bf7e1aa79fc922ca\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: Will he rule out using the findings of the review as a justification for his Government making a choice to have less ambitious reduction targets than those signed up to in the Paris climate change agreement in 2016?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022713ccc5b-7ff0-4fa5-ab58-4780620184fe\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a03e86977a84c99b54d36008cc7fa86\u0022\u003EHon SIMON WATTS\u003C/span\u003E: Once again, the review hasn\u2019t actually been started yet, so I\u00A0am unable to make comments in regard to what that review will indicate. But what is clear is that all industries within this country need to play their part in order to reduce emissions, to enable us to hit our targets. On this side of the House, we are committed to\u00A0achieving those targets, and we\u2019re committed to working with the primary sector and the important role they provide with our economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229aee5cd87024407ea6151bc4e0539412\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014Resources\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022 data-id=\u0022a0a58d22cbf24f05aa128d73d224a0ca\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a0a58d22cbf24f05aa128d73d224a0ca\u0022\u003EJAMIE ARBUCKLE (NZ First)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Resources: What recent announcements has he made?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022 data-id=\u0022e151dcaae8af4ee985648436142d9472\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e151dcaae8af4ee985648436142d9472\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (Minister for Resources):\u003C/span\u003E Resources will play a critical role in our export-led recovery, and as part of my strategy as the climate-smart mining Minister, I have announced that settings will be developed to enable investors and other\u00A0stakeholders to explore the potential of naturally occurring hydrogen as a contribution to lessening our reliance on overseas hydrocarbon fuels, boosting our resilience, and ensuring that there is a suitable framework enabling people to find this potential sooner rather than later.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cb3610e099cc435e80c1870da5490762\u0022\u003EJamie Arbuckle\u003C/span\u003E: What work is he doing on unlocking the potential of critical minerals in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221d176e98329f4f9fa640ccebebcbcf0e\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: Minerals are about to enjoy a resurgence in terms of contributing to our strategy of turning our economic fortunes around. Not only will a critical-minerals list and associated strategies be delivered, not only will studies be completed, but we will ensure, where people want to invest in the minerals sector in New Zealand, there is certainty and no more of this nonsense, such as no more mining on Department of Conservation land.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f46223e850bc45b5bdd1482c4f0cb593\u0022\u003EJamie Arbuckle\u003C/span\u003E: What work is the Government doing to enable regional and national significant mineral exploration to occur in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a11c543a03974f09b0818a121de0ad91\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Tearing up the environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2002ee3375847379caa152a1f118edb\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: Led by my colleague\u2014oh, hoihoi; \u201CJeremiah was a bullfrog\u201D\u2014Minister Bishop, the Government has introduced the fast-track legislation. It is evident that the Resource Management Act, conservation, Crown minerals legislative regime needs refining. This is an opportunity where the bill will facilitate the delivery of infrastructure development and regions will no longer be caught in protracted processes which are causing projects to be not only overcapitalised but for investment to dry up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a910e826-1964-4e6b-bdb6-958820a11514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222902b51eb3a64a629069f867c0dbbeaf\u0022\u003EJamie Arbuckle\u003C/span\u003E: What are his ambitions for the resource portfolio over the next three\u00A0years?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224f2aa94da6914e90a72c3442b56997ec\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: In keeping with my personality\u2014judicious and modest\u2014but let me elaborate\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e7a2055d94d041fda764bb75682589a5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, it\u2019s probably enough.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e3b565586e949aeabbbcf1e0ba0ed45\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014we are telling global investors, we are telling Kiwi investors, our country is moving from \u201Ccancel economics\u201D to \u201Ccan-do economics\u201D. We are open for business. We will have a legislative framework that rewards risk taking, rewards investment, and restores the place of the extractive sector to a place of pride that it enjoyed with the development, originally, of the party sitting on the other side of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e1b85a07bbe04605b81138add096afa7\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u2014Housing (Social Housing)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022 data-id=\u00225f2c2d1ed92a46cab7bca8992318f36b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225f2c2d1ed92a46cab7bca8992318f36b\u0022\u003EHon KIERAN McANULTY (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing): 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=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022 data-id=\u002231c693ed7f004df3b2e65d69c1a09187\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002231c693ed7f004df3b2e65d69c1a09187\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing)):\u003C/span\u003E \u0100na, \u0101na, kei te tino tautoko au i aku k\u014Drero, i aku mahi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E[Yes, yes, I very much support my words, and my actions.] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dcfadadb2eb44d6581fd80dd6ac13718\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with Tama Potaka that National will build more social houses than the previous Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aad596847f4d437688d4d5c81f5d745a\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: I te w\u0101 i a au e Minita ana, \u0101na, e tika ana aku k\u014Drero, engari t\u0113n\u0101 pea koir\u0101 te w\u0101 a Tama Potaka e mema P\u0101remata ana m\u014D Kirikiriroa ki te Uru. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E[At the time that I have been a Minister, yes, my statements were correct, but perhaps that is the time when Tama Potaka was a member of Parliament for Hamilton West.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e902d994f47484a87076db971f5c16f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Do you want to hear that translation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252fe53a7f97b440485a24d01bc087313\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Do you?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4211e55042244e5a721a22b604fcb2b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m OK with it, but there is that delay when you can require\u2014you\u00A0can use that delay if you want to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022006fc744498e4853b2a24193108ee1b2\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. My point is that I\u2019m interested in how you can receive that translation at the same time, so that you can deem whether the answer was in line.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022110d728fb55e4d13b34310426d6a81a0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I wasn\u2019t relying on the translation. It\u2019s pretty simple. His body language\u2014it\u2019s really quite\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ebec0275dc943528f0dcf0cda624d3b\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister stand by his statement that he will deliver for M\u0101ori communities, and, if so, how will he deliver more homes for M\u0101ori when his Government disestablished the ministerial M\u0101ori associate housing role?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022030aa860339b40b5829f1e5ef4bafaa0\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: As you have heard through the last few months, we are ruthlessly focused on delivering on the genuine needs of M\u0101ori: education, health, and housing, particularly the over 1,500 M\u0101ori wh\u0101nau who are living in the emergency housing disaster that the malfeasance of the previous Government created.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002204d6b58527cf4843b813e469fea07121\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288884e559e164a959ba5ec373a4e22fa\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b567b2fd95ef43dc919f399e6c141458\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just hang on. I\u2019ll just make that you can\u2019t make that final comment. You\u00A0can talk about a situation you inherited, but not the attack that\u2019s just been launched. Just watch that\u2014if that\u2019s all right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223fe81bf4c2a8407caded1a744c488969\u0022\u003EHon Chris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. This is a robust place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e256cc612b57401bbcc5b9e7929749c5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, it is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231559e87d6dd42ff82dc259465c3cee3\u0022\u003EHon Chris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: It has got to be possible for the Government to make commentary about previous Governments, because there has to be a bit of back and forth to contrast and compare records. I accept that supplementary questions should not be used with the\u00A0sole\u00A0purpose of attacking the Opposition or the previous Government, but it has got to be possible for the Government to compare and contrast what they are doing with the record of previous Governments, otherwise the place will become so sterile we may as well not bother turning up. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a886a0674bf14e75806cc19d073d1173\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just when you\u2019re ready. No, no, Willie, I\u2019m responding to that. The point I\u2019d make is that I think it is possible to do exactly what you\u2019re saying without making an\u00A0accusation of, for example, malfeasance. And I think it is that stepping point between\u00A0talking about a situation you\u2019re dealing with and an outright attack on another party\u2019s policy. I call the Hon Willie Jackson, who will, of course, keep his question in the\u00A0same\u00A0bounds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f148b3d010ce488981065b4ad7fbccaa\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Minister match the $750 million targeted investment for M\u0101ori housing that was delivered under the previous Government, and, if not, why\u00A0not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f1624bfa1daf4e3daa0c23cb16f67e31\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: What we will have are targets that reduce the number of children and wh\u0101nau in emergency housing. We\u2019ve established that target and announced it yesterday through the Prime Minister, rather than sitting by and talking about how we\u2019re\u00A0going to help wh\u0101nau M\u0101ori in emergency housing and to see those numbers go up\u00A0by several hundred.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3a4d84f50d644a1b4e80b1cc148e2fd\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with K\u0101inga Ora that they will continue to increase the number of public housing places as long as it is funded to do so, as stated during the annual review hearing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246c0ae5d8ad040fca3027f63d0217643\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: We are absolutely committed to delivering on the genuine needs of all New Zealanders, to ensure that there are sufficient houses to accommodate people, unlike the previous Government, which curated a situation where there are now five times as many wh\u0101nau on the social housing wait-list as there was when they started.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002257818af9be7a4d4d91128e8579ceee8d\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with K\u0101inga Ora interim board chair John Duncan that if the Government doesn\u2019t provide the required funding past 2025, up to 10,000 houses may need to be sold? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c490650abda1456fb99134c96106241b\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: As we are all aware, we have inherited a significant fiscal cliff, left behind for us by the previous Government. But we are absolutely committed to actually delivering on the housing needs of M\u0101ori and all New Zealanders, unlike the development aspirations of the previous Ministers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002284ac51ad700d4c12b0683b47b13eaa25\u0022\u003EHon Nicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that despite having borrowed billions upon billions of dollars for K\u0101inga Ora, the last Government managed to quadruple the State house waiting list? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cda02876a54f408d9c7c7810fbb6ed93\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: I can absolutely confirm\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e595bdba59d6415280c2eb19b881a609\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, sorry, that question could easily be in order but for one particular phrasing in it, and I\u2019d ask the Minister to\u2014because we\u2019re in a learning situation here\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022deb91ec0c5c94dfa9d4ff8d44b08e144\u0022\u003EHon Nicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I\u2019ll try again. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bab1ec952bd44c5fa05ae52729a19efb\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Wait a minute\u2014wait on. Ask the question, but keep it in bounds. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d42d6ce64dca41bbb93960833b3b2538\u0022\u003EHon Nicola Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that between 2017 and today, billions upon billions of dollars have been borrowed to put into K\u0101inga Ora and, despite that, the number of New Zealanders waiting for a State house today is four times as many as it was in 2017? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d254912dd0af4ff7b1c56d0485ac168e\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: \u0100na, I can confirm that. Kia ora t\u0101tou. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228a99e46b39f49ea91df2de4028437c7\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the Salvation Army\u2019s Greg Foster, who said that they are having to pause future social housing developments because \u201Cwe\u2019ve been told that there\u2019s no funding for us to build\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022029caf45bad04e3db0ff366eebc44b0b\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: I cannot confirm that I have heard or seen that quote, but what I can\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227eadd1ff1a12444daba596e934abe2e3\u0022\u003EHon Dr Megan Woods\u003C/span\u003E: It was on the 6 o\u2019clock news last Sunday. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e3471eee9a24e0f88566831115f3c0a\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: Well, some of us are working very hard on our ministerial portfolios at 6 o\u2019clock. But what I can confirm is that we are committed to ensuring that the housing that we tautoko\u2014support\u2014both public and private housing, will accommodate M\u0101ori and all New Zealanders. Tihei mauri ora! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207976a19c6324e85b709eded62da427b\u0022\u003EHon Chris Bishop\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that advice provided to the incoming Government in December 2023 from Treasury said that on the current track, K\u0101inga Ora is forecast to sell over 10,000 public houses in the next few years? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa25f8bf56b343cdaad18ce9c02df701\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: I can confirm that, and what a surprise it was for me to read it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a13a44958b14bf3af1bd29f60144908\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked a question on that exact\u00A0piece of advice and the Minister refused to respond to it and refused to confirm\u00A0it. But, lo and behold, he\u2019s happy to confirm it when he\u2019s asked it from his own side, and that\u2019s interesting. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022269582c7dd78498895cce593bd3857c0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It is, and it\u2019s\u2014I\u2019ll have a good look at that in the Hansard. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a12125a2114f4b2285c73d30c739d227\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022189cd07663f445e9af852d6484fe8ca6\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just when the House goes quiet, you can ask a supplementary. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022391e68a5dcbe417086602d0bf35b6759\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: Why, then, with community housing providers stating they are cancelling or pausing housing developments due to no funding certainty, won\u2019t he simply announce the funding they need so that community housing providers can get on with building the houses that that Minister promised? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259c36ec1b5b2475082720cd48e1c5a9b\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA\u003C/span\u003E: T\u0113n\u0101 pea me p\u0101tai koe ki taku hoa nei, t\u014Dna minitatanga. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E[Perhaps you should ask my colleague here; it is his ministerial responsibility. Thank you.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f8ecbce59b984783b122e6ad6d7edd16\u0022\u003EUrgent Debates Declined\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a21ab98940394138a10467c10f6d3d71\u0022\u003ETVNZ\u2014Loss of Jobs and Removing of Shows\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022d265c105676449debef2444df7f93011\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d265c105676449debef2444df7f93011\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I have received a letter from the Hon Willie Jackson seeking to debate under Standing Order 399 the loss of jobs and removing of shows at TVNZ. Standing Order 399(1) requires that an application be delivered \u201Cat least one hour before the time fixed for the House to sit\u201D. The Speaker may allow for a lesser notice period if the matter for debate occurs after that time. In this case, the news of the event at TVNZ was reported before 1 p.m. and the application was received at 1.10 p.m. In addition to the application being late, I do not believe that the programming or staffing decisions of this nature warrant setting aside the business of the House. The application is declined.\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=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221fef9816b4354ee6843e21167df0ef6c\u0022\u003ETe Pire Whakatupua m\u014D Te K\u0101hui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022fbcde561089d4432982a2ec6956f692f\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u0022d44e700bbe9041b6b1cff5fa6d374760\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d44e700bbe9041b6b1cff5fa6d374760\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations):\u003C/span\u003E I present a legislative statement on Te Pire Whakatupua m\u014D Te K\u0101hui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222a1233f3d56d45ad892e422440311f94\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Members will respectfully leave the House in silence. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EKua t\u0101ngia taua tau\u0101k\u012B \u0101-ture i raro i te mana o te Whare, \u0101, ka kitea ki te pae tukutuku a te P\u0101remata\u2014that legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228fa7554dbaef4a0a828f8a64501f6817\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That Te Pire Whakatupua m\u014D Te K\u0101hui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee to consider the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ETihei mauri ora. E te Atua, n\u014Du te kor\u014Dria. Te Whare e t\u016B nei, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Te papa i waho nei, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Te mana whenua o t\u0113nei rohe, kei te mihi. E ng\u0101 mate, haere, haere, haere. Haere ki te w\u0101hi ngaro, haere, haere. E te hunga ora, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EE Koro Taranaki, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. E te K\u0101hui Tupua, e mihi ana.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E[The breath of life. O God, yours is the glory. The House that stands here, I greet you. The land outside, I greet you. The host iwi of this region, I acknowledge you. To the dearly departed, pass on, pass on, rest in peace. Go on to the place of the unseen, pass on, pass on. To the living, greetings to all of us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ESire Taranaki, greetings. To the Clan of the Powerful, greetings.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ENg\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki, thank you for making the journey from across the motu to join us in Wellington for this significant milestone. I\u2019m honoured to host you here in Parliament, particularly your negotiators, who have worked tirelessly to craft arrangements befitting your t\u016Bpuna Taranaki maunga. Welcome. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EI acknowledge the members of Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki in the gallery this afternoon, and we join them in remembering their leaders and loved ones who have passed on before they were able to bear witness to today\u2019s milestone. The arrangements within the bill are attributed to the dedication of those individuals who have worked so tirelessly to finally see justice after all of these years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EI acknowledge the Hon Chris Finlayson, who signed the terms of negotiation with Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki in 2017 and began the process of negotiation. I also acknowledge my immediate predecessor, the Hon Andrew Little, who concluded negotiations last year, after six years of discussion. I acknowledge the previous Ministers of Conservation who have been part of these negotiations since the beginning. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThis Parliament will continue a bipartisan effort towards Treaty negotiations. Given the significance of this bill for all New Zealand, it is my honour to begin today\u2019s reading. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EToday\u2019s reading marks another milestone for the eight iwi that make up Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki in their journey to right the wrongs of the past: Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, Ng\u0101ruahine, Ng\u0101ti Maru, Ng\u0101ti Mutunga, Ng\u0101ti Ruanui, Ng\u0101ti Tama, Taranaki Iwi, and Te Atiawa. Through the eight individual settlements for the iwi of Taranaki, the Crown promised it would return to negotiate collective redress over their maunga. Today is a key step towards the Crown fulfilling that commitment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe relationship between Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown in the past has been characterised by the loss of land, life, and identity. These arrangements acknowledge this hurt. For the Crown, the most solemn part is the apology to Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki. The Crown formally and publicly recognises the hardship and heartache it has caused your wh\u0101nau and hap\u016B, and recognises the resilience of your iwi in the face of such adversity. We must acknowledge the hurt that has been caused by past wrongs so that we can look to the future to support iwi to realise their own aspirations and opportunities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EI understand that Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki asked that the Crown apology not be read out\u00A0at the signing of Te Ruruku P\u016Btakerongo\u2014the Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed\u2014in September last year. The reading of the Crown\u2019s apology is a significant moment for Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown. It\u2019s a responsibility I will take very seriously at the\u00A0point where Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki wish for the apology to be read. The apology will not be read today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe Crown apology builds on the understanding Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown have reached about our shared history. It will reflect on that history in my speech to support the third reading of the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EToday, I will outline the arrangements for the record. At the core, these arrangements will recognise the mountains within the national park as a legal personality, to be named Te K\u0101hui Tupua. The land of Egmont National Park will also be vested in Te K\u0101hui Tupua. Once the land is owned by Te K\u0101hui Tupua, the national park will be renamed Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki\u2014the highly regarded and treasured lands of Taranaki. The highest mountain will also be granted a name change to a sole te reo name, Taranaki maunga. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EImportantly, these arrangements preserve the land as a national park, meaning that the public will continue to have freedom of entry and access. This is important, given the number of New Zealanders that respect and enjoy the beauty of the maunga. Scaling the peak has been a rite of passage for many a mountaineer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EFurthermore, the Department of Conservation will continue its operational management role with Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. However, within the national park, all decision making will be guided by a set of core values known as Ng\u0101 Pou Whakatupua, which represent the essence of Te K\u0101hui Tupua and reflect the cultural, spiritual, ancestral, and historical relationships between Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki and Te K\u0101hui Tupua. These values will sit alongside the core purposes of the National Parks Act.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe arrangements include the establishment of Te T\u014Dpuni K\u014Dk\u014Drangi as a statutory body to act as the human face and voice of the legal person. This board will be made up of 50\u00A0percent Crown and 50 percent iwi appointees. Te T\u014Dpuni K\u014Dk\u014Drangi will also perform key statutory functions in relation to the national park, including development of the national park management plan. The arrangements will include the ability for Te T\u014Dpuni K\u014Dk\u014Drangi to establish an asset management company to manage any assets owned by Te K\u0101hui Tupua other than the national park land. Along with the change of the ownership of the national park land, certain Crown-owned minerals of high cultural significance to Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki will be owned by the legal person Te K\u0101hui Tupua. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe Taranaki M\u0101ori Trust Board will also be dissolved as part of these arrangements. A new entity known as Te T\u014Dpuni Ng\u0101rahu will instead fulfil statutory functions for these arrangements on behalf of Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki. Finally, these arrangements provide for the repeal of the Mount Egmont Vesting Act 1978, which has been a significant source of pain for all uri of Taranaki.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EIt is the Crown\u2019s wish that through these arrangements, it can restore its honour and atone for the injustices it has inflicted on Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki. No settlement can ever compensate for the true measure of what Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki have lost; all that they have suffered cannot be remedied. However, through these arrangements, the Crown takes a step closer to lifting the burden of Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki\u2019s heartache, and begins to build and reinforce the foundations of a relationship based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We\u2019re here today to advance these arrangements, which will take Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki forward while recognising the past. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ENg\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki, there are still a few steps left to walk. Today is the first reading of three. I look forward to hosting you here back again to support the passage of your legislation through the House. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u0022fa553a1d52a74cf4865f8bc6f253bc19\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fa553a1d52a74cf4865f8bc6f253bc19\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Ko te p\u0101tai kia whakaaetia te m\u014Dtini.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E[The question is that the motion be agreed to.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022 data-id=\u00224084dceae51346c4b120e739ab93374d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224084dceae51346c4b120e739ab93374d\u0022\u003EHon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E E te M\u0101ngai, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. E ng\u0101 mana, e ng\u0101 reo, e ng\u0101 hap\u016B, e ng\u0101 iwi, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou ng\u0101 iwi o Taranaki kua tae mai ki roto i te Whare P\u0101remata i t\u0113nei r\u0101 m\u014D te p\u0101nuitanga tuatahitanga o t\u014D koutou pire m\u014D te k\u0101hui m\u0101unga, \u0101, m\u014D te tupuna m\u014D Taranaki. He h\u014Dnore t\u0113nei m\u014Dku te t\u016B ki mua i \u014D koutou aroaro ki te tautoko i te p\u0101nuitanga tuatahi o t\u0113nei pire. Ka hoki \u014Dku mahara ki te w\u0101 i a m\u0101ua ko Andrew Little i te marae o Aotearoa i te marae o \u014Cwae hoki m\u014D te h\u0101inatanga o t\u0113nei kawenata me t\u0113nei pire kua uru mai ki te Whare P\u0101remata i t\u0113nei r\u0101. E rongo ana ahau i ng\u0101 waiata ng\u0101 karanga ng\u0101 k\u014Drero i runga i te marae, te poi. W\u0113r\u0101 \u0101huatanga katoa i runga i \u0113r\u0101 marae i aua w\u0101. I au e whakarongo ana ki te Minita, e \u0101hua p\u014Duri ana ahau n\u0101 te mea kei konei t\u0101tou i te r\u0101 nei ki te tutuki i t\u0113nei kaupapa m\u014D te maunga, \u0113ngari e rongo ana i te w\u0101 o te p\u0101tai ng\u0101 uiui i t\u0113nei ahiahi, t\u014D koutou moana. Ka waiho t\u0113r\u0101 ki te taha, n\u0101 te mea kei konei m\u014D t\u0113nei, \u0113ngari ko taku wero ki te Minita, ki ng\u0101 Minita, whakarongo ki \u014D ake k\u014Drero i roto i te Whare i t\u0113nei r\u0101 e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei, n\u0101 te mea e takatakahi tonu ana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, i ng\u0101 iwi o Taranaki. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E[To the Speaker, thank you. To the mana, to the languages, to the nations, to the people, salutations to the people of Taranaki who have arrived here to the Parliament House today for the first reading of your bill about the mountains, and, in particular, for the formidable Taranaki. This is an honour for me to stand before you to support the bill\u2019s first reading. I reminisce to the times I spent with Andrew Little on the marae of Aotearoa and \u014Cwae, as well, for the signing of this agreement, and this bill that has been presented here at Parliament House today. I hear the songs, the calls, the speeches, the poi on the marae. All those memories on the marae at that time. As I listened to the Minister, I am quite saddened because we are here today to fulfil this kaupapa about the maunga, but I hear during question time this afternoon queries about your moana. All that aside, because we are here for this, but my challenge to the Minister, to the Ministers, is to be mindful of what you say within the House today in regards to this, because it is violating Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the people of Taranaki.] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003ETaranaki maunga was first confiscated in 1865 by the Crown as a punishment for the so-called rebellion of M\u0101ori during the Land Wars. As I said in my introductory remarks, it was one of the proudest moments for myself to stand alongside Minister Andrew Little at the initialling of the deed as well as the signing at Aotearoa Marae and Owae Marae. So I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to the first reading of this bill this afternoon and to offer our support for this. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge the iwi and the hap\u016B of Taranaki who are in the audience and who are back home, perhaps listening online\u2014some people do tune into Parliament TV. To Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, Ng\u0101ti Mutunga, Ng\u0101ti Tama, Ng\u0101ti Maru, Ng\u0101ruahine, Ng\u0101ti Ruanui, Taranaki Iwi, and Te Atiawa\u2014and I want to acknowledge the negotiators, who are here in the gallery this afternoon. I won\u2019t name them in case I leave any out, and I also want to acknowledge those who are not here but who were acknowledged and recognised when we had the ceremonies at Aotearoa Marae and Owae Marae\u2014you know the auntie that I am referring to\u2014as well as the other t\u016Bpuna whose photos were displayed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EWhat we have in the redress today is unique: recognising the maunga as a legal personality having personhood, and setting up a r\u014Dp\u016B who will be responsible for its care and its administration. I\u2019m really proud, as the former Minister of Conservation who has put my signature to these redress arrangements. I want to acknowledge the long time it took to negotiate\u2014over six years to get to it\u2014and to come in, I think I said, at the last minute and put a signature on it, but I\u2019m also proud of the work of the negotiators of the iwi and of the Crown to come up with this unique arrangement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EThis national park is the first and only one in Aotearoa to have a full te reo M\u0101ori name, and I hope that we will see more of that in the future. I said in my speech at the signing that actions are important, so we now need to take what is in that agreement and put it into action\u2014a great wero for Tama Potaka. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002290f0f2344b8d4867939f145a9e0682f0\u0022\u003EHon Tama Potaka\u003C/span\u003E: Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ffe1197496db40d9bf2b3b8dd684d4f5\u0022\u003EHon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME\u003C/span\u003E: An\u0101! Tihei mauri ora!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022 data-id=\u0022acacc803d4014ecdb799280eb1f1e4f9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022acacc803d4014ecdb799280eb1f1e4f9\u0022\u003ESTEVE ABEL (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora. We\u2019d rather have five more minutes of you than five minutes of me. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EKia ora. Ng\u0101 mihi, ng\u0101 uri o Taranaki.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003E[Thank you. Greetings, the descendants of Taranaki.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EIt was a profound honour for me to stand for my first time in this House for a Treaty settlement, and for it to be Taranaki iwi. The p\u014Dwhiri today\u2014thank you for the power of that and the power of your words.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EThe delay, the delay; the patience, the patience. It blows my mind when I think about the infinite patience of you in this settlement. \u201CTaranaki Maunga, Taranaki Tangata\u201D, as your whakatauk\u012B says. Justice delayed is justice denied, and if there is not justice for M\u0101ori in this land, there can be no legitimate place for tauiwi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EI speak as tangata Tiriti, and I speak to say that we must have justice for M\u0101ori, because none of us can be content here. When we reflect on Taranaki, no one with a heart cannot feel the bitterness of the history of what has befallen the people of Taranaki. We reflect on the raupatu, the force, the violence by which lands were taken, by hook or by crook. It is a terrible injustice. There can never be too many acts to correct that injustice. To paraphrase Matua Ruakere Hond when we visited him at Parihaka, he said, \u201CThe winds of war still blow through our minds and through the generations.\u201D, and to recall Dayle Takatimu at the constitutional conference just this weekend, she said, \u201CIt is the indigenous people of this land who have kept the peace.\u201D I salute you, Taranaki, for you have kept the peace in the face of unimaginable horror.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EIt is right that your maunga be recognised for its personhood. The desecration of nature is another pathology of colonisation, and part of that desecration requires that we depersonalise nature, that we cease to see it as the source of all life, and that we cease to recognise it as the thing from which all of us originate. So, for me, my deep hope in this bill is that in recognition of the personhood of the maunga, we begin the reorienting of the world view towards a recognition of what has been understood across traditional cultures across the world in pre-Christian times\u2014that nature is divinity; nature is the God and is the cause\u2014and so this is what we hope can begin to be done. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EThe desecration of nature is still an ever-present issue in Taranaki. The first oil well was drilled on confiscated land in the 1860s in Taranaki. The fracking and the mining and the drilling and the proposed reopening of seabed mining and of offshore oil and gas drilling by this Government\u2014these are continuations of that desecration of nature that goes against what is in the best interests of the people, and it is certainly what has caused the most harm long term to tangata whenua M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EWe will continue to stand for that honouring of the integrity of indigenous place in\u00A0this land, and we will continue to stand in support of those reparations and those\u00A0corrections and that upholding of te ao M\u0101ori and its deep wisdom in its relationship with nature, with the maunga of Taranaki. As Te P\u0101ti K\u0101k\u0101riki, we commend this bill to the House. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022 data-id=\u0022fd84caa53cb945d98cc04fa56d529c23\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fd84caa53cb945d98cc04fa56d529c23\u0022\u003ELAURA TRASK (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora. Firstly, I\u2019d like to acknowledge the eight iwi that make up Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki, hap\u016B, wh\u0101nau, and negotiators present today. I stand in support of this bill. ACT supports historical Treaty settlements and has traditionally supported the personhood of historical and culturally significant bodies such as Te Awa Tupua\u2014the Whanganui River. This bill ensures the finalised settlement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge the spiritual, cultural, and historical significance of Te K\u0101hui Tupua\u2014Taranaki maunga\u2014to Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki as a taonga to be treasured and protected. I acknowledge the horrendous injustices when in 1865, the Crown unfairly punished M\u0101ori by confiscating 1.2 million acres of Taranaki land, including Taranaki maunga. The Crown further acknowledges the challenges that the Taranaki M\u0101ori Trust Board faced in the 1970s when it attempted to negotiate the return of Taranaki maunga, M\u0101ori representation on the Egmont National Park Board, and the restoration of the name \u201CTaranaki\u201D to the maunga. The Crown acknowledges a breach in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the immense, long-lasting impact of land confiscation, and the displacement of Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003EThis bill will provide an outline for the legal personhood of Te K\u0101hui Tupua\u2014Taranaki maunga. In doing so, this will acknowledge the injustices, land confiscations, and other historical wrongs suffered by Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003EThe Crown\u2019s continued commitment is to working together with Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki in partnership to enhance the health and wellbeing of the legal person of Te K\u0101hui Tupua. Te T\u014Dpuni K\u014Dk\u014Drangi will function as a statutory body with the purpose of being the human face and voice of Te K\u0101hui Tupua, consisting of four members appointed by Te T\u014Dpuni Ng\u0101rahu, the collective governance entry for Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki, for any matters pertaining to the collective redress and arrangements, and four members appointed by the Department of Conservation. These maunga have existed as ancestors, guides, and central pillars to the iwi, hap\u016B, and wh\u0101nau of Taranaki maunga.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003EThis bill acknowledges the harm and injustices against Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki, protects Te K\u0101hui Tupua, and fosters a positive future relationship between the Crown and iwi. I commend this bill to the House. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022 data-id=\u002272c1acad17a84a9dac4c8ee32dcb8b15\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002272c1acad17a84a9dac4c8ee32dcb8b15\u0022\u003EHon TAMA POTAKA (Minister for M\u0101ori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti):\u003C/span\u003E Hikihikitia riaria ki ng\u0101 h\u0101paihanga hapainga rangarangahia. K\u0101hui tipua, k\u0101hui maunga, k\u0101hui tupuna, k\u0101hui rere, k\u0101hui kaika. Tomo mai ki t\u0113nei Whare. Ki te Whare i whakarurehia te ture raupatu i \u014Dn\u0101 w\u0101, me \u0113r\u0101 o ng\u0101 \u0101huatanga i p\u0101 kino atu ki t\u014D t\u0101tou k\u016Brae te \u0101tanga k\u014Dhatu e m\u014Dhiotia nei i t\u0113nei w\u0101 tonu ko Maunga Taranaki. K\u0101ore aku poroporoak\u012B te whakat\u016Bpapaku i te ingoa Mount Egmont\u2014haere atu r\u0101. T\u014D t\u0101tou ingoa t\u014D t\u0101tou tauheke ko Maunga Taranaki i t\u0113nei w\u0101 \u0101kuanei ka rangona e te ao katoa. Ko t\u0101 te whakahaere o t\u014D t\u0101tou maunga, kei a ia an\u014D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003EKei te k\u0101hui atua, kei te k\u0101hui tupua. Engari kua riro an\u014D m\u0101 koutou me k\u012B te t\u014Dpuni i Ngarahu te kawe mai te p\u014Dtae Rangatira ki te p\u014Dtae Karauna kia t\u016B hei p\u014Dtae k\u014Dkorangi. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou. T\u016B mai r\u0101 t\u0101tou t\u014D t\u0101tou tauheke kaitiaki i te t\u014Dnga o te r\u0101, t\u0113nei r\u0101 te tuohu ko te p\u014Dtae Karauna, te mihi matakoakoa i ng\u0101 take o te w\u0101. E tika ana te k\u014Drero, he rangi mokopuna, he rangi tupuna, he rangi paki t\u0113nei. Ki te rongo ki ng\u0101 k\u014Drero a te tangata nei, e whakateuta t\u014D t\u0101tou waka ki te whenua. N\u0101 Kiritopa Finlayson hoki i rongo ki ng\u0101 k\u014Drero ki te whakamaunu i t\u0113nei waka, \u0101, ka riro hoki m\u0101 t\u014D t\u0101tou mareikura a Willow-Jean Prime me tana hoa te tung\u0101ne a Anaru Paku ki te whakaputa ki waho moana ki kore e riro ki te koroirangi, \u0101, kia ariaring\u0101 a mohi m\u0101 kia hoki mai ki uta, \u0101, m\u0101 P\u0101ora Goldsmith hoki, t\u014D m\u0101tou kaihoe o te waka te waka o te Karauna, mahi tahi, h\u0101pai hoki i t\u0113nei ture kei te aroaro o te tangata i t\u0113nei w\u0101. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003EN\u0101 reira kua kite hoki i ng\u0101 takahitanga o t\u0101tou m\u0101tua tupuna ki te p\u014D, \u0101, ko te Whiti t\u0113r\u0101 Te Ua Haum\u0113ne, Matak\u0101tea, Te Rangit\u0101ke, Tohu K\u0101kahi, T\u012Btoko Waru me \u014Dna k\u014Drero, \u201CE kore au e mate, k\u0101ore an\u014D au e mate, ka mate an\u014D te mate, ka ora an\u014D ahau.\u201D T\u0113nei au te uri whakaheke, e ai ki te k\u014Drero a Te P\u0101hunga Davis \u201Cuki whakaheke\u201D, a Kura Mahiao, a Ng\u0101one P\u016B me Te Rongotoa, a Tarawanake, noho P\u0101pere Robertson me taku wh\u0101ene a Sena James ki te tuku i aku roimata ki t\u0113nei kaupapa me te mea nei kua kite i ng\u0101 werawera ki te r\u0101e \u0101 t\u0113n\u0101 \u0101 t\u0113n\u0101 i ng\u0101 rau tau i ng\u0101 tekau tau ka huri, \u0101, i t\u0113nei w\u0101 ko te baton kua tuku atu ki aku t\u0101tarakihi, ki a Jamie ki a H\u0113mi, ki a Whareoka ki a Liana m\u0101. Koutou te r\u0101ngai m\u0101tanga i k\u014Dkiri nei i t\u0113nei kaupapa m\u014D te takitini, m\u014D ng\u0101 iwi e waru \u0113hia r\u0101nei, o te k\u016Brae o Taranaki. N\u0101 reira e aku karanga maha, nau mai hoki mai ki roto ki t\u014D koutou Whare, t\u0113nei au e mau nei i te p\u014Dtae Karauna e tuku ana i aku mihi me t\u0113nei \u0101huatanga hou e kite ana i t\u0113nei w\u0101, t\u0113nei t\u0113tahi \u0101huatanga hou ki Aotearoa nei, te t\u016B, t\u014D t\u0101tou tauheke hei tangata, hei tangata i roto i te ture. Engari hei tangata hoki i roto i t\u014D t\u0101tou h\u012Btori i t\u014D t\u0101tou h\u012Btori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003EN\u0101 reira t\u0113n\u0101 koutou me te m\u0101nuka takoto a taku hoa a Willow-Jean Prime, kia riro m\u0101ku hei Minita m\u014D Te Papa Atawhai kia noho, whakarongo, kia noho, titiro, kia noho w\u0101nanga hoki i ng\u0101 wero me ng\u0101 manuka kei mua i a t\u0101tou, ar\u0101 koir\u0101 te tiaki, t\u014D t\u0101tou maunga me te whaiwhai hoki i t\u0113r\u0101 kaupapa a kawa ora i t\u0113r\u0101 kaupapa a Project Maunga Taranaki. N\u0101 reira kore t\u014Droa aku mihi te whakakik\u012B i ng\u0101 h\u016B a taku matua tarar\u0101 kua ngaro i te tirohanga tangata i t\u0113nei w\u0101, \u0101kuanei ia ka hoki mai ki te mihi atu ki a koutou katoa, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E[Revered deities, formidable rangers, esteemed ancestors, respected forces, salutations. Welcome into this House, the House in which confiscation took place in its time, and all else that negatively impacted our beautiful standing rock known as Mount Taranaki. I will not acknowledge the name Mount Egmont\u2014be gone. Our name, our respect is to Maunga Taranaki which will be seen by the whole world. What our mountain decides to do is up to him. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003EDear revered deities, dear revered forces. The responsibility is yours, T\u014Dpuni i Ngarahu, to bring forth your leadership hat and speak with the Crown hat so that we see the enlightened hat. Salutations, stand forth, our formidable guardian at the setting of the sun, I take my Crown hat off to you. I support what has been said about this beautiful day, this flawless day, this day to cherish. It\u2019s a day we have come to listen to the speeches of this person who is berthing our canoe ashore. Christopher Finlayson also is in support to fly this ship, and also our esteemed friend Willow-Jean Prime and the equally well-respected friend of hers Andrew Little, who is in support of flying this ship so that it doesn\u2019t become a ship without sails and ensure that the ship arrives safely in its correct destination. There is also Paul Goldsmith as well, our ship captain for the ship of the Crown, working together to put forth this bill before us here today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003EAnd so we have also seen how our ancestors fought, that was Whiti, Te Ua Haum\u0113ne, Matak\u0101tea, Te Rangit\u0101ke, Tohu K\u0101kahi, T\u012Btoko Waru and his proverb which states, \u201CI will not die, I have not died, death is indeed death, I will live on.\u201D I am the uri\u2014actually, according to Te P\u0101hunga Davis, it is \u201Cuki whakaheke\u201D, of Kura Mahiao, of Ng\u0101one P\u016B, Te Rongotoa, Tarawanake, P\u0101pere Robertson, and my aunt Sena James, sharing my sympathies towards this matter at hand, and to also acknowledge the hard efforts made within the last century, and now the baton has been given to Jamie to H\u0113mi, to Whareoka and Liana, to name a few. You are the experts who set out to make this work on behalf of everyone, for the eight nations or so of the prestigious Taranaki. Therefore, my dear friends, welcome to our House, in which I wear my Crown hat and acknowledge you in my uniform, although this may seem like a first here in Aotearoa, to stand as a part of the law. Despite that, I am firmly a man of our history. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003EAnd so, acknowledgments to my good friend Willow-Jean Prime, challenging me as Minister for Te Papa Atawhai, to sit, to listen, to observe, to learn the challenges and difficulties before us in regards to guarding our mountain and pursuing Project Maunga Taranaki. Therefore, I will not speak much longer, I am here to fill the shoes of my father tarar\u0101 who have passed before me, and will soon return to acknowledge you all, thank you once, thank you twice, thank you thrice.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022 data-id=\u00220527270b73c747749f34ce628feeaf18\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220527270b73c747749f34ce628feeaf18\u0022\u003EDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader\u2014Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori):\u003C/span\u003E Matua, Tama, Wairua Tapu me ng\u0101 Anahera Pono, me te M\u0101ngai, \u0101e.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E[Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the Faithful Angels, and the Holy Mouthpiece, Amen.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003ETo our mokopuna of our maunga, from a mokopuna of our maunga, I actually want to speak to our Minita and to this coalition Government on behalf of my humble w\u2019\u0101nau who sit above and who sit at home. This House, time after time, has legislated and made horrific decisions that have impacted on our people, and, as a consequence, in the 1870s, we saw passive resistance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EI want to take you on a journey of who is upstairs and what our maunga has created and what it is that we have before you as a nation. Passive resistance, Parihaka, and the k\u014Drero of \u201Cpatua te h\u0113 ki te rangim\u0101rie\u201D, or \u201Clet peace combat the errors of our ways\u201D\u20141.2 million acres were stolen; our language, our marae, our culture. In fact, the land that many of these descendants up here have ownership to as uri contributes to this country\u2019s GDP, and what do we have? Instead, we have the love and the aroha of our people who arrived today. Patua te h\u0113 ki te rangim\u0101rie\u2014let peace combat the errors of our ways.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EThe love and the compassion and the generosity that the people above us and the\u00A0people at home in Taranaki have for this nation is so huge that eight iwi agreed to 1\u00A0to 2\u00A0percent as settlement in recognition of the h\u0113 that the Government had done to\u00A0them because they wanted this nation to grow, they wanted their mokopuna to prosper, and\u00A0they wanted to live as one. That is the wairua of the people who arrive here, who\u00A0were raised by our maunga. Patua te h\u0113 ki te rangim\u0101rie\u2014let peace combat the errors of our ways.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EThey love you all so much; even you, David Seymour, who\u2019s not here. But they love you all so much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2f5f65b430c4097b010ee2157516a4f\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You can\u2019t refer to members who are not here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed21432e676e4f9589632b5d9f0ded46\u0022\u003EDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry\u2014n\u014Dku te h\u0113. Generation after generation, our grandparents of the negotiators today have walked across the threshold in Parliament seeking the Crown\u2019s honour, seeking the Crown\u2014even though we had our maunga named after an Englishman who had never set foot in Taranaki. Patua te h\u0113 ki te rangim\u0101rie\u2014let peace combat the errors of our ways.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EPests populated our maunga. Birds that used to sing\u2014tens of birds came down to three or four. We can see the sky when you walk in. The ngahere that used to exist has gone, but still, in good faith, Taranaki turn up here. Patua te h\u0113 ki te rangim\u0101rie\u2014let peace combat the errors of our ways. Minister, that is the essence and the wairua of how they have come to you with humility today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EThere are so many other ways that things could have been negotiated, but what does Taranaki do? What our maunga t\u016Bpuna taught us to do was to stand with humility, to stand with vision, and to practise peace. That is the opportunity that the coalition\u2019s partners are missing with us. We are not the enemy. They have arrived here today to restore your mana; to restore this House\u2019s mana. Our t\u016Bpuna never lost mana. Our mokopuna and our w\u2019akapapa never lost mana. The love that they have for you, and for you as a nation out there, is to arrive here and to help you fix your mana and to help you to remember your memory of where our t\u016Bpuna and our mokopuna belong: side by side. We never left the table. We never left any of these relationships. Your t\u016Bpuna and, today, you risk forgetting who we are. Patua te h\u0113 ki te rangim\u0101rie. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EThe generosity of our people continues with the negotiations we have here. I think about all the success and the opportunities we have, and they will be realised, with or without you. Minister, that\u2019s the opportunity. That\u2019s the opportunity afforded to you today. It is to see and appreciate the value of what peace and what relationships, and the connectivity of how Taranaki arrives here today to connect with you. We will love you even when you hate us. When you berate us, we will still love you, because that is the \u0101hua of how we\u2019ve been raised. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003EPatua te h\u0113 ki te rangim\u0101rie. Nowhere else will we be Taranaki. We go nowhere else where we\u2019ll be indigenous, and I ask you, Minister, as we go through these relationships and as you take your very first time that you\u2019ve been a Minister in a settlement, that you remember that. Nowhere else can we come and share our love for you, for our nation, and the peace that Taranaki brings today. E te rangatira, it\u2019s good to see you in that seat. You might need to take that seat back again. N\u014D reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022 data-id=\u00224e632c13536f49a6a21e132bf5336750\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224e632c13536f49a6a21e132bf5336750\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Taranaki wh\u0101nui, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. It\u2019s humbling to stand here and to look at the gallery here and to recognise the representatives of the eight iwi of Taranaki wh\u0101nui, to see you here on this important day. I want to acknowledge not only you who are here today but also those who have gone before. Obviously, this has been the result of many, many years of work, and I particularly want to acknowledge those who have passed on who are not able to be here at this historic day, and to recognise them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EI also want to acknowledge the long and the painful history that has been behind this that goes back more than a century and a half now, to the confiscations of the 1860s, and to recognise generation after generation of Taranaki wh\u0101nui over that period of time. This is about saying that that was wrong and we are here, as the representatives of the people of this country, to say sorry, that was wrong, and we need to put that right. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EThat is what this legislation is all about. It is about putting right generations of doing things wrong, and it wasn\u2019t just about the taking of land; it was also, on reading the history, about the preventing of reconnection to the land and reconnection to the maunga. That was wrong. So it wasn\u2019t just that one-off wrong but wrongness over generation after generation after generation, and the connection\u2014I know we all feel that. The connection to our mother Earth, to Papat\u016B\u0101nuku, is a powerful thing for all human beings. To be disconnected from that land that you value the most, that you love the most, that you connect with the most\u2014that is a painful thing. So, again, I say on behalf of my party\u2014on behalf of New Zealand First, who stands here to support this legislation\u2014that we are sorry for that disconnection and for that pain that has been caused over so many years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003ELook, even as a P\u0101keh\u0101 boy, I know that if you talk about the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand, there are some landscapes which are particularly special, which we all know the stories of, and the story of Taranaki is absolutely one of those stories. The idea of\u00A0personhood for Taranaki is a really, really important one, and it\u2019s the personhood, in a\u00A0sense, that goes after the personhood and the recognition that was granted to the Whanganui River, because it was Taranaki that made that long journey from the central\u00A0North Island, down the Whanganui River, to be where Taranaki stands today. So I think it is appropriate that we do that together: the connection between Whanganui River and Taranaki maunga.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s a privilege to be able to just say a few words here as we take this important step\u00A0forward to correct wrongs of the past and to be able to walk forward together on this\u00A0journey as this bill goes through the House over the next few stages. I don\u2019t think\u00A0there\u2019s a lot more that I wish to say, other than that I think the summary of the historical background says it very, very, poignantly and pointedly. For generations, Taranaki maunga and its surrounding ranges have been the central pillar for the iwi, the\u00A0hap\t\u016B, and the wh\u0101nau of Taranaki. The mountain has long been an honoured ancestor, a source of physical, cultural, and spiritual sustenance, and a final resting place. So it is not just a mountain; it is a spiritual ancestor, and I think that makes it so, so important that we come to this point to fix the wrongs of the past and be able to walk forward together. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022 data-id=\u002289c8b5078dd743d89051b8953d4ca391\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002289c8b5078dd743d89051b8953d4ca391\u0022\u003EHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te M\u0101ngai. Ko te mihi tuatahi ki te Atua, n\u0101na nei ng\u0101 mea katoa. Ko te mihi tuarua ki te Whare e t\u016B nei, t\u0113n\u0101 koe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EE te maunga tapu Taranaki, t\u016B tonu. E ng\u0101 iwi, e ng\u0101 hap\u016B, e ng\u0101 mana, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou e huihui mai nei.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ET\u0113n\u0101 koutou e Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki: Ng\u0101ti Tama, Ng\u0101ti Mutunga, Taranaki Iwi, Te Atiawa, Ng\u0101ti Maru, Ng\u0101ruahine, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, Ng\u0101ti Ruanui, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EN\u0101 reira kia hiwa r\u0101, kia hiwa r\u0101, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E[Thank you to the Speaker. The first greeting is to God, to whom all things belong. The second greeting is to the House that stands here, greetings.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ETo the sacred mountain Taranaki, long may you stand. To the iwi, the hap\u016B, the authorities, greetings, greetings to you who have assembled here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EGreetings to the people of Taranaki: Ng\u0101ti Tama, Ng\u0101ti Mutunga, Taranaki Iwi, Te \u0100tiawa, Ng\u0101ti Maru, Ng\u0101 Ruahine, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, Ng\u0101ti Ruanui, greetings to you all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EAnd so be alert, take heed, greetings and thanks to us all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EWhen I reflect upon the journey that has taken us to this moment in time, it is a long, long road. When I think back upon what has brought us here and the wrongs done by the Crown, particularly the harm caused by raupatu, some of the most severe raupatu in New Zealand\u2019s history occurred in Taranaki for Taranaki iwi. I reflect upon not only the loss of lives but also the devastation caused from separating a people from their land. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI think about the hours and hours, weeks, months, and years of negotiations with all of those different iwi. I think of all of the negotiators. I think of people who I know personally who were rangatahi\u2014Liana Poutu and Jamie Tuuta\u2014when negotiations started. It has been a long road to bring us to this pathway now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6a5369762664e41978a9ef29c290ee5\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: \u201CRangatahi\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d3526033efb546cf897a7fa2bd447792\u0022\u003EHon GINNY ANDERSEN\u003C/span\u003E: I think\u2014I was about their age, so, yeah, I\u2019d say I was a rangatahi. So I think of all of those negotiations and I think how important this bill here today is to bring that all together and to give a legal entity to Taranaki maunga, and how important it is to recognise that and to give it its own autonomy as a legal person. That only seems right and fitting for New Zealand today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EThe bill establishes and recognises Te K\u0101hui Tupua as a legal person, giving it rights, powers, and duties, and giving it the ability for those to be exercised and performed on its behalf and in its name by the joint governance entity Te T\u014Dpuni K\u014Dk\u014Drangi. I\u2019d also like to acknowledge the fact that the bill provides that Te T\u014Dpuni K\u014Dk\u014Drangi is a statutory body with the purpose of being the human face and voice of that legal person so as to be able to carry out the conservation, governance, and some decision making within the national park. How important it is for that to be able to take place today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI would like to point out too that this bill in the House today, and its passage\u2014the Treaty relationship does not finish when this bill is passed. It is an ongoing relationship. It is not a switch that we can flick on or off, and, like the words that have been echoed by my colleagues, it is important that when we come into this House and acknowledge the wrongs of the past, we also, rightfully, remember that we do not want to create wrongs going into the future. As part of this bill, we acknowledge the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and, as all of the parties here today speaking on that bill, we acknowledge that mana. It is my view that that continues a commitment forward in terms of how we work together to make sure that that relationship is kept warm and breathing and alive and that there are clear obligations on both Treaty partners when we do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI would like to finish by simply stating that one of my first memories of learning about M\u0101ori culture was when my father pulled a book off his shelf and sat me down and taught me about Te Whiti-o-Rongomai and what had happened in Parihaka. I grew up learning the importance of passive resistance, and the lessons that Taranaki iwi have taught to all New Zealand will, I hope, always be remembered. He mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa. N\u014D reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u0022fb0200c3b307483d88c24f8918e3731f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fb0200c3b307483d88c24f8918e3731f\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora e te M\u0101ngai. Tihei mauri ora! E ng\u0101 mana, e ng\u0101 reo, e ng\u0101 iwi, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. Te Whare e t\u016B nei, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Te papa e takoto nei, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Ng\u0101 mate, haere, haere, haere.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EKa mihi ki te iwi k\u0101inga, Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki. Nau mai, haere mai, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E[It is the breath of life! To those with authority, the representatives, the people, greetings to you all. The House that stands here, greetings. The land that lies here, greetings. To the deceased, rest in peace.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EI acknowledge the home people, the people of Taranaki. Welcome, greetings, and thanks to you all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s a great privilege to rise and make a contribution on this important occasion, and it is a very important occasion for us today because the eight iwi of Taranaki have been waiting 160 years for this moment. It\u2019s a historic moment for the eight iwi, in acknowledging the wrongs that have been done in the past but also in giving legal effect to the maunga and the status of the maunga amongst the tangata whenua and, hopefully, focusing them and the maunga in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s also a historic moment because this is the 100th deed that successive Governments have signed as part of the Treaty of Waitangi redress negotiations. I say this in the guise of understanding that there were many wrongs done across those 100 iwi and more, and I think that this is an important occasion to certainly acknowledge all the wrongs done in New Zealand to this date.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThe purpose of this bill is to give effect to the Treaty deed that was signed last year, and that signing acknowledged the redress, the land confiscated, the rights of tangata whenua that were ignored, the atonement of injustice, and a formal apology, which the Minister acknowledged will come later on,\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThere are a number of important provisions in this bill. The most important, of course, is giving legal personhood to the maunga, and it is a beautiful maunga, I must say. Every time I fly past the maunga, I just acknowledge how beautiful it is. It\u2019s probably the best maunga in Aotearoa\u2014I said it here, ladies and gentlemen. The second aspect is to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022616d4d51b5e343b78f13f6f2b0549b6b\u0022\u003EHon Willie Jackson\u003C/span\u003E: They\u2019re still not voting for you, though! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e0a42f888224d7d84cafa31d9e8fa3a\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS\u003C/span\u003E: And I\u2019m happy to say that, coming from T\u0101maki-makau-rau. It also renames the national park and the maunga. Gone are the days of calling it Mount Egmont. We can put that behind us, and now we\u2019ve got a new name. The third aspect is the protection against commercial mining, which is clearly important to the eight iwi. The fourth area is around the acknowledgment of the historical injustice that has been forced upon these iwi over many generations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EI rise today as the chair of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, and I\u2019m looking forward, as part of the select committee process, to hearing submissions on this bill from the eight iwi involved. I\u2019d encourage you to make a submission, and I am particularly looking forward to hearing your aspirations about the future and what that looks like, and to understanding your aspirations. I\u2019m also looking forward to getting more understanding of the significance of this maunga for the eight iwi. So I look forward to that select committee process, as do my colleagues here in the House today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EA lot has been traversed, but this is a great day for the House, it\u2019s a great day for the\u00A0eight iwi that are here, and I\u2019d like to acknowledge you all for coming down for this\u00A0occasion today. I commend this bill to the House. N\u014D reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u00229c16c00bb09040cf94974f1fa11c3895\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229c16c00bb09040cf94974f1fa11c3895\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. The next time the member is flying over Taranaki, I\u2019m sure Taranaki would invite you for a stopover. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022 data-id=\u0022504a650cbb2c43ab900b472b06412c41\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022504a650cbb2c43ab900b472b06412c41\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s about all he\u2019d get, too, Madam Speaker!  Engari tuatahi e mihi ana ki a koutou, ng\u0101 whanaunga i tae mai nei i t\u0113nei w\u0101, i whakarangatira i te kaupapa. He mihi nui ki a koutou. He h\u014Dnore nui ki te k\u014Drero e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei kaupapa i t\u0113nei w\u0101, n\u014D reira t\u0113n\u0101 koutou. Haramai, haramai, nau mai.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E[However, firstly, I acknowledge you, our relations that have arrived here at this time, who have honoured the occasion. Many greetings to you. It is a great honour to speak on this initiative at this time, so greetings to you. Welcome, welcome, welcome.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EWell, we got there, and I know that there\u2019s a lot of shock in the audience there. I was having a bit of a k\u014Drero with my old friend over here: Mahara Okeroa. He said to me\u2014he\u00A0didn\u2019t want me to say it, but I\u2019m breaching our confidence\u2014\u201CIs everyone supporting this\u2014the katoa? Is everyone?\u201D I said, \u201CYou wouldn\u2019t believe it, would you, Mahara. You just wouldn\u2019t believe it.\u201D\u2014and I want to mihi to my old mate. He and I came into Parliament here 25 years ago. He\u2019s a lot older than me, though, as you can see. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EWe came here 25 years ago, in 1999, and here we are, Maha, supporting our whanaunga, our relations. Lovely to have you here\u2014mihi nui ki a koe. We know the mahi you\u2019ve done for your people, and I don\u2019t say that lightly, because there was a lot of angst amongst our whanaunga and people who are here. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EI just want to be clear to the National Government here: when this coalition came in, there was you know, huge angst. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer over here was one of the most vocal kaik\u014Drero for her people in terms of what was happening\u2014you know, the k\u014Drero about white supremacy and all that. It wasn\u2019t just Debbie Ngarewa-Packer; it was a number of our people here who were saying, \u201CJeez, is this going to go through?\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo it\u2019s ironic today\u2014and I mihi to National. I mihi to everyone today, and to Minister Goldsmith, because you wouldn\u2019t have put any money on it. You wouldn\u2019t have put any\u00A0money on it, not when you hear that they wanted to get rid of the reo in Government departments. Not when you hear that you\u2019re not going to reward kaiako for their work\u00A0in terms of te reo M\u0101ori. But\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa52dea906a541eb90a0f092964e9c63\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: Milk mother Nature. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f128a55f9d284e6ba58d932abf0ecd9b\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, that\u2019s another kaupapa, isn\u2019t it? That\u2019s another kaupapa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EWe think, \u201CWhat happened to the old National? The Doug Grahams, the David\u201D\u2014I was going to say \u201CDavid Seymour\u201D, but, you know, that was one of the problems, I think. But I\u2019ll say to him and to his party that they\u2019re all supporting this, which is, I think, terrific because we need to come together. He should know better than anyone else that we need to whakakotahi for kaupapa like this. We need to stop our wars and whatnot, and realise how wonderful this is for our people. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EBut our people, they were very worried. As I said, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Wharehoka Wano\u2014Whare, up there, was worried. Mind you, he\u2019s a pretty worrying sort of bloke, but Whare is up there. Jamie Tuuta\u2014even Jamie Tuuta, the \u201CChairman of Everything\u201D, he was worried. He\u2019ll probably get a few more jobs under this Government. I haven\u2019t had a phone call from him since the campaign finished and I haven\u2019t been invited to anything. Oh no, move on, Jamie, move on\u2014yes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EBut, you know, Jamie\u2019s working with the Minister\u2014ka pai. That\u2019s what we want, because, as M\u0101ori, the reality for our people is we have to play a couple of games\u2014that\u2019s the reality. One game is we have to hammer the Government, and then the other game is you\u2019ve got to tono to the Government and find a way to strategise and work with the Government. That is the reality for our people. I support our people with those types of strategies, even though some days we want to strangle the Government. You know, that is the reality. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EBut to have a Government who recognises what we recognise in terms of the maunga having a legal identity is, I think, wonderful. I think it\u2019s wonderful to have those types of things be recognised as a legal personality\u2014Taranaki maunga\u2014with a similar legal personality being delivered in Treaty settlements. Ng\u0101i T\u016Bhoe with Te Urewera, and Whanganui River\u2014you know, that stands out. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo I want to mihi to this House, to everyone here, for supporting this\u2014seriously. This is what it\u2019s all about. To the ACT Party, to New Zealand First, to National, and to\u00A0ourselves: this is the way to go. This is the Aotearoa we want, where we come together and whakakotahi for kaupapa like this. The overwhelming message we\u2019re getting from our people is to stop using us and stop abusing us when it comes to everyday things, and whakakotahi for kaupapa like this more often. That has to be the way forward. Kia ora an\u014D t\u0101tou katoa. Kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u00227b9ab954c8e6426f83f923bf2574bcdd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227b9ab954c8e6426f83f923bf2574bcdd\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think the Hon Willie Jackson would welcome a stopover as well at some stage in the future, following that speech. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022 data-id=\u0022f905ccac853f4efcbb3b0e27db462f72\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f905ccac853f4efcbb3b0e27db462f72\u0022\u003EGREG FLEMING (National\u2014Maungakiekie):\u003C/span\u003E Ko te kupu mutunga [This is the last speech]\u2014I get the final word. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EHe tino h\u014Dnore te t\u016B ki t\u0113nei Whare ki t\u014D koutou aroaro ki te whakah\u014Dnore te Maunga Taranaki. I whang\u0101ia au e ng\u0101 iwi o Taranaki, ng\u0101 marae o Taranaki, te k\u014Drero o Taranaki, ng\u0101 p\u016Brakau o Taranaki. Hoki mahara ki te w\u0101 tuatahi e noho ana au ki te marae o \u014Cwae Whaitara ki te taha o taku hoa Te Waka McLeod. Ka kite koe ki reira. Whakak\u012B \u014Dku moemoe\u0101 m\u0101 ng\u0101 p\u016Brakau o t\u014D koutou tupuna. Ka kite \u014D r\u0101tou mata ki roto \u014Dku moemoe\u0101, n\u014Dreira koir\u0101 te t\u016B\u0101papa o t\u0113nei h\u014Dnore nui te t\u016B ki konei.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E[It is a huge honour to stand in this House before you to honour the formidable Mt Taranaki. I was raised by the people of Taranaki, the marae of Taranaki, and the history and stories of Taranaki. I reminisce to when I first sat at the marae of \u014Cwae Whaitara with my dear friend Te Waka McLeod. I see you there. My dreams were nourished listening to the stories of your ancestors. I see their faces in my dreams, therefore, that sets as a foundation for why I stand here in honour.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EI remember also when Te Waka invited me to her home marae near Waitara to receive her moko kauae, and my thoughts and my dreams often return to that time. The way in which I, an outsider, was welcomed; the way I, an outsider, was fed; and the way I, an outsider, was shown nothing but aroha noa\u2014grace\u2014that is the \u0101huatanga o t\u014D koutou iwi [way your people do things.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EJamie Tuuta said i waenganui te mihi whakatau i mua t\u0113nei taupatupatu [during the formal welcome prior to this debate]\u2014although it\u2019s not really much of a taupatupatu, is it? It\u2019s great. He k\u014Drero kotahitanga. [A speech of unity.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EJamie said that this process is not about restoring or giving mana to Maunga Taranaki. He said that his mana is secure and always has been. This is about the Government\u2014this unified Government\u2014recognising in statute that which has always been, and we have spoken about it already this afternoon, about the sense that we all have when we have the privilege of flying over or walking past or driving past your mountain. His honour, his strength, his pride\u2014it\u00A0speaks to us all. Whenever I\u2019m flying over, I always snap a little pikitia, and then, on landing, I send it to Te Waka and I say, \u201CHe ataahua a Taranaki i t\u0113nei r\u0101. I t\u0113nei rangi, i ng\u0101 rangi katoa.\u201D [Taranaki is beautiful today, tomorrow, and every day.] And he is. He stands tall, he stands strong, he stands proud, as do you all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EAs has also been said, this is the beginning of a process that will go through this House\u00A0over the coming weeks and months. This entire process is about recognising the mana of Ng\u0101 Iwi o Taranaki about ng\u0101 mana o Maunga Taranaki [the spiritual forces of Mt Taranaki.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EIt is my absolute privilege to stand in support. Tino tautoko i te whakaetanga o t\u0113nei pire. [I very much do support the approval of this bill.] Kia ora koutou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EBill read a first time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u0022f8f3d33a3e73404ebead737d4f0f0f13\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f8f3d33a3e73404ebead737d4f0f0f13\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is, That Te Pire Whakatupua m\u014D Te K\u0101hui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill be considered by the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003EBill referred to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u002238caee38d68c4252b774c310befd041d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002238caee38d68c4252b774c310befd041d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Permission has been granted for a waiata. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003EWaiata\u2014\u201CHe Pikinga Poupou\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003EHaka\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u002204c295e016f5440aafedeb9d91284d43\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002204c295e016f5440aafedeb9d91284d43\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Beautiful\u2014thank you. Perhaps we\u2019ll just wait for a couple of\u00A0moments just to give the group in the gallery a chance to move. It might be helpful\u00A0for\u00A0the next speaker. I\u2019m happy for you to retain your seat, Minister\u2014you won\u2019t lose your call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fe5f84c2351d4b5a869fcc346757c18f\u0022\u003EHon David Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker, the microphones only pick up who is speaking right in front. I\u2019m happy to start.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227791f37bd86d46fc9e4ada9432a3be4d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, no\u2014that\u2019s fine. It\u2019s for the benefit of those others in the House\u2014just making sure we can all hear. Right, I think we\u2019re all good to go. I call on the Hon David Seymour. \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=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d380c752552c42ad965fa564f1da9326\u0022\u003EMisuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b2d750040a3a441b92f692161c04bed1\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u0022d6a369d24ac443e7815763a9f1afcda9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d6a369d24ac443e7815763a9f1afcda9\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR (Associate Minister of Health (Pharmac)):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill be now read a third time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EI want to first of all start just by acknowledging the group that have been here for the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill. These bills are something that I\u2019m proud ACT has always supported as our country moves to heal any past wrongs, and this particular redress bill in the Taranaki region is a very fine example of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EHowever, we\u2019re now here to talk about pseudoephedrine. In particular, as winter comes\u2014and it feels like it\u2019s been approaching at an accelerating rate in recent weeks, wherever you\u2019ve been in New Zealand\u2014people are going to get those winter ills and chills, and I\u2019m very proud that our Government is taking action to rapidly liberalise the supply of pseudoephedrine-based cough and cold medicines. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThe background to this is that over a decade ago, the then National-led Government banned pseudoephedrine-based cough medicines on the basis that if only we did so, we would cut off, or at least severely constrain, the supply of P, which at that time was being manufactured in clan labs by criminal agents who were buying up the pseudoephedrine and then using that to manufacture P. So, as logic went, it wasn\u2019t the worst idea in the world to cut off the P supply of source, given the absolutely horrific harm that P does to so many people in New Zealand and continues to do today, and that is the sad clue\u2014\u201Cit continues to do today\u201D\u2014because what happened when pseudoephedrine cough and cold medicines were banned was not that we ended the P epidemic and it\u2019s not that we reduced the consumption of P. What actually happened was that those people in the business of selling it started to connect with criminal elements offshore and created more sophisticated ways of sourcing P from bigger, badder criminals and managed to bring it in at a lower price and make it more available to P addicts than ever before. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThat is a real tragedy, but it has a couple of implications for us here in New Zealand today. The first is I\u2019m proud to be part of a Government\u2014even though some people in the Government were associated with the ban\u2014that says that if something isn\u2019t working, we\u2019ll stop doing it and do something better. We actually need more of that in New Zealand politics. There is far too much of people refusing to change course when the facts change, and, as Sir John Maynard Keynes once said\u2014an economist more popular on that side of the House, I\u2019d have to say\u2014\u201CWhen the facts change, they change my mind. What do you do?\u201D Here, the facts are not as hoped, and so we\u2019re changing the policy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EBut the second implication of these facts is that we still have an enormous problem with P, but it is incredibly unlikely that those people sourcing it cheaper and faster and purer than you could ever get it when it was manufactured from buying up pseudoephedrine tablets are going to return to a less efficient, more expensive way of manufacturing P that involves going around pharmacies and buying up as many tablets as you can. That is the second fact. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThe third thing that I think is important is that for a long time, New Zealanders who\u2014to quote the old advertisement\u2014try to soldier on through the winter find that one of the most valuable pieces of medication that is available on the market has been denied them. Yes, in theory, right now, before this law passes, you are able to get pseudoephedrine-based cough medicine if you go to your GP and get a prescription. The sad reality is that due to the running down of primary healthcare in recent years, you\u2019re much more likely to recover sooner than you get a GP appointment in order to get the prescription and get it, and because of that, no pharmacy I\u2019m aware of in New Zealand stocks pseudoephedrine-based cough and cold medication because no one\u2019s actually going to get a prescription to have it. That means that New Zealanders have been left worse off.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EThis is something I think we need to talk more about. In a lot of parts of the world you travel today, you kind of get the feeling that they\u2019re there to make life easier and more enjoyable wherever it\u2019s possible to do that without harming others, and when you come back to New Zealand\u2014particularly the way it\u2019s been in the last few years\u2014you get the feeling that the Government is there to regulate and spite you and to make life harder just because it can. That is a fundamental change that is needed in New Zealand if we are to get our mojo as a country back. It\u2019s initiatives like this, while I freely admit it\u2019s not the biggest thing that the Government is doing\u2014it\u2019s not the most important thing that the Government is doing, but it is a gesture towards making life easier and more enjoyable for New Zealanders where it\u2019s possible to do so without harming others.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003ESo if and when this bill is passed by the House in an hour or two\u2019s time, it will eventually get the Royal assent from the Governor-General, and we will reach a stage in this country where we can honestly say that we\u2019re on the path to getting pseudoephedrine medication back on the shelves. It will no longer be a class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act; it will be a class C drug, which is legal to have, but it\u2019s still illegal to import large amounts without a licence. So we\u2019re still maintaining controls around anything that might be turned into P manufacture perhaps.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EWe will then\u2014as the Minister responsible for Medsafe\u2014be seeking applications from pharmaceutical companies who would like to send pseudoephedrine-based cough and cold medicines to New Zealand and sell to New Zealanders, and I suspect that we\u2019ll have good news to deliver about that quite shortly. Once those applications have been made, it will be up to New Zealand\u2019s businesses\u2014for the pharmacies and for the retailers\u2014to actually decide if they want to be part of this business. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EIf they do want to be part of it, then they will be able to import any particular types of pseudoephedrine-based cough and cold medicines that have been consented by Medsafe and sell them to the customers, and what that ultimately means is that for those people who have battled through about 14 tough winters with no decent cough and cold medicine in this country, we will now have rules that put us in the same place as in Australia, Canada, the United States, and Britain. They are other countries that don\u2019t seem to have a massive problem emanating from their cough and cold remedies, but, none the less, people are allowed to do things that don\u2019t harm anyone else, and yet are beneficial to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EI hope that as this Government goes about deregulating rules that don\u2019t make sense and that seeks to put the ability of a person to flourish and make a difference in their own lives, no matter what their background or where they\u2019re from, we will gradually see people start to just open up a little bit and see the world as being a little bit sunnier, because we no longer have a Government that regulates in haste and repents at leisure. That is what the project of this Government is ultimately about: getting our mojo back and, in the case of pseudoephedrine-based cough and cold medicines, getting our bounce back just a little bit sooner if we happen to be afflicted by one of those terrible illnesses this winter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003EFor all those who do get sick this winter, I\u2019m sorry to hear it. I hope you get well soon, and I hope you remember that this Government has actually done just a little bit to make a difference to make life easier and more enjoyable for you in those difficult times. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u0022fe3505a48e044638a5f4a793c5178ffa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fe3505a48e044638a5f4a793c5178ffa\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the motion be agreed to. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022 data-id=\u00225eadfe5510414cd6b884850b19ea0b3e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225eadfe5510414cd6b884850b19ea0b3e\u0022\u003EHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. Well, Labour supports this bill. But I would just like to put on record some of the work that Labour has done to improve the management of winter ailments over the last several years, because I thought the remarks of the previous speaker, the Hon David Seymour, were perhaps casting far too negative a gloss on the availability of effective medicines for winter ailments in New Zealand, and I would like to remind the member that that Government over there has reduced the access to the flu vaccine this winter for New Zealanders, which is a shame because that actually prevents winter illnesses, unlike one that just treats the symptoms. I\u2019d also like to remind that member of the extensive work done by the last Government to increase the role of pharmacies in providing medicines and treatments over winter. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003EWe in the Labour Party support the opportunities for New Zealanders to have greater access to medicines, and that\u2019s why we will be voting for this bill, but I also think it is worth noting in this third reading some of the concerns that we have about it that we have sought to raise throughout the truncated process this bill has been through in the House. We have had a shortened select committee process, with only approximately a week for\u00A0submitters to submit, and a very short period of hearings. We also heard from Ministry of Health officials that advice from pharmacists on how this would be implemented in\u00A0the\u00A0real world was only really from a handful of pharmacy representatives. So it is worth bearing that in mind when we consider the Minister\u2019s reassurances on the safety of\u00A0this approach.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003EI feel the risks that we have raised have not been taken seriously, and I guess, at one level, it comes down to a disagreement on the economic framing that the Minister puts. Fundamentally, while it might be that rational actors in the drug market can secure cheaper methamphetamine from overseas suppliers, I can tell you that one reality from working in the health system is that drugs make you act irrationally, and that is the is the challenge. There will be desperate people who will now have a new opportunity for how to procure meth via cooking it from P, and we have introduced a new risk for addiction into our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003ENow, we are not puritans about this. There would be safe ways to mitigate that, and, unfortunately, our proposals for those mitigations have not been taken seriously.\u00A0I\u2019m particularly disappointed that the proposal that pseudoephedrine be treated like codeine and be required to be kept in a locked safe in pharmacies has not made its\u00A0way into the bill in its final form. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003EAt the Health Committee, we also discussed multiple other mitigations: the importance of providing treatment for meth addiction and scaling up those services, the importance of improving treatment pathways for ADHD\u2014because many people who have untreated ADHD may find their way into illicit drug use, as well\u2014and also the opportunity to improve monitoring of sales so that there could be faster recognition and investigation of people doing so-called smurfing, where they shop around to get pseudoephedrine from multiple different stores so that they can then cook up methamphetamine. So these are the risks that we have identified. We as the Labour Party believe that we have proposed pragmatic solutions to mitigate these risks. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003EThe Government could have had the benefit of a more fulsome select committee process. It could have shown greater respect to the concerns that were raised. Instead, at committee stage, the Minister described these proposals as \u201Cparalysis by analysis\u201D. I suppose he\u2019s got no one to blame but himself if some of these risks eventuate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u00223544ed12ed9249e698ff0acc8685c3d2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223544ed12ed9249e698ff0acc8685c3d2\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E E te M\u0101ngai, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e te Whare. The Greens stand in support of this legislation today, as we have consistently throughout every reading. The reason for that is that this is relatively consistent in the direction towards a more evidence-based approach to drug policy in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EHowever, in this third reading speech, I\u2019d like to draw some attention to some of the commentary that Minister David Seymour has given in his third reading speech and, actually, throughout each reading of this bill, because I believe that it very strongly applies\u2014if we were to be logically or evidentially consistent in this place\u2014to a complete overhaul of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. I\u2019d also like to make the point and refer to some of the statements by the former Minister of Health the Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall with regard to ADHD, and also speak to some of the other interventions that are available to us when it comes to reducing methamphetamine harm in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EOne of the first things that the Minister said just before\u2014and I wrote it down\u2014is \u201CIf it\u2019s not working, we should change it.\u201D\u2014absolutely. The Green Party agrees with that. We should change it in an evidence-based manner, and that logic applies to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. We have seen consistently that for decades and decades, drug harm has consistently gone up; meanwhile, we have continued to ratchet up criminal penalties associated to those substances, and one of the logical inconsistencies that we\u2019ve attempted to tease out in the debates on this legislation\u2014particularly at first and second reading, and also at committee of the whole House with the Minister\u2014is the fact that inherent within the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 is the way in which it self-perpetuates in an anti-evidence manner. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EOne key example of this is the fact that if you are to introduce a new substance for classification and, therefore, with penalties associated to it, or if you are to increase the classification for a substance within the Misuse of Drugs Act and, therefore, ratchet up the penalties associated to that substance, all you need to do is pass an Order in Council, which, in this place, tends to happen within the blink of an eye. It\u2019s a relatively rubber-stamping approach. But if you are to down classify a substance or to declassify it entirely\u2014and down-classification is the point of this legislation with regard to pseudoephedrine\u2014you need an entire amendment bill, and that, typically, takes in the order of nine to 12 months. However, of course, we know that with this legislation today, the Minister has sought and the Government has sought to push it through with relative urgency and, therefore, to curtail the usual select committee process. The point I\u2019m making here is that there are inherent within the primary legislation that this bill seeks to amend inequities in the approach that it takes, let alone a deeply baked - in anti-evidence type of approach.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EWe also heard from the Minister that he and the Government will be seeking to be\u2014and I quote\u2014\u201Cderegulating rules that don\u2019t make sense\u201D, and I\u2019d say that that same logic applies to other substances that are currently classified within the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. Actually, other substances that this Parliament relatively recently has recognised can be used for medicinal purposes, such as the likes of, for example, medicinal cannabis. To that effect, we have some of the most strict rules and regulations and legal frameworks in the world when it comes to medicinal cannabis, and I\u2019d note, in relation to parliamentary written questions that I\u2019ve put to Dr Shane Reti, now the Minister of Health, that there is a work programme from the former Government that has been, apparently, completely thinned.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EBut to the broader point of methamphetamine, with which, of course, pseudoephedrine, has frequently been discussed, given that this is a precursor and it can be used in the cooking up of methamphetamine, there are interventions that have worked\u00A0very, very well in this country which we have a plethora of evidence upon. The likes of Te Ara Oranga, for example, is a collaboration started in Northland between the DHB and police several years ago now, and there has been an immense amount of work in trying to unpack from a research and academic basis just how effective this has been if\u00A0you don\u2019t trust the anecdotes from the people whose lives have been changed. What it does in practice is, effectively, decriminalise those who are found with small amounts\u00A0of methamphetamine and work on proactively improving their lives, and guess what!\u00A0The programme\u2019s research has shown that, for every dollar invested, there is a return of $3 to $7 and an approximate, I believe, off the top of my head, 34 percent reduction in interactions with the criminal justice system from those wh\u0101nau who are\u00A0involved within it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003ESo I guess the key point here from the Greens is that, yep, this legislation is good. It\u2019s more in the direction of evidence-based drug law, but why are we not applying that same logic when it comes to the entirety of the primary legislation, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, because it seems as though we are just unwilling to do it when we\u2019re looking at cannabis or alcohol or even tobacco on this Government\u2019s agenda. So we support this bill, but, once again, we see it as a massive lost opportunity. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022 data-id=\u00224a8c4c2a3eae413fb9a8ae5ed77d5e8b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224a8c4c2a3eae413fb9a8ae5ed77d5e8b\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL (National\u2014Tauranga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to support this reading of this bill, the third reading of the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill. This is a relatively simple change. It is a reclassification of pseudoephedrine from a class B2 to a class C3 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWhat it will, effectively, do is reverse the blanket ban on pseudoephedrine that came into effect following the National Government\u2019s decision in 2011 to remove the sale of pseudoephedrine. That\u2019s had a lot of issues for people, and I think that the previous speaker and, in fact, the Minister in charge of this bill, the Hon David Seymour, talked about how Kiwis have struggled over numerous winters with the impacts of colds and flu without having any useful medication\u2014or anything as useful as pseudoephedrine\u2014to help manage those symptoms, alleviate their cold and flu conditions, and then allow them just to get back to living their lives and going to work and going about their daily business. So we are very supportive of this bill and the availability it will give to people to use pseudoephedrine when they most need it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EAt the moment, you can\u2019t get it over the counter. There are no alternative medicines that work as well as pseudoephedrine does, and it\u2019s been noted that there are some other\u00A0options there in the market, but their impact on reducing cold and flu symptoms isn\u2019t as effective. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWe also note that there are other jurisdictions out there. When you look at, say, the United States or when you look at the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, there are a range of other countries similar to New Zealand that do allow the over-the-counter sale of cold and flu medications such as pseudoephedrine. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s not without any controls at all, and I think that we\u2019ve heard a bit of commentary that there are significant risks around that. Look, pharmacies don\u2019t have to opt in to selling pseudoephedrine\u2014they don\u2019t have to. It is their choice. As a business, they get to make that decision on whether they want to stock and sell pseudoephedrine. So the risk that the pharmacies may then be raided\u2014look, if they don\u2019t want that risk, then they don\u2019t have to stock pseudoephedrine, and that is quite simple. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EIf pharmacies do choose to sell it, people will have to buy it face to face, and we have it in here that the pharmacist will need to note down the names and the details of people that are purchasing pseudoephedrine and talk to them about it. It\u2019s not going to be something where you can just submit your orders online and it turns up in your house. You have to go in there, and your information and what you\u2019re purchasing will be collected because you do need to have some safeguards in place around that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EI did hear the Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall talk about her desire for pseudoephedrine to be stored, such as codeine is today, in locked safes, and the feedback\u2014I mean, that\u2019s a nice thing for her to want. But the pharmacists have come back and said, \u201CLook, that just isn\u2019t practical. We don\u2019t have the ability to store pseudoephedrine supply in locked safes.\u201D, because the quantities would be considerably larger than what they hold of codeine. Therefore, it just isn\u2019t a practical measure, and that takes me back to that point I made a minute or so ago. Look, if the pharmacies don\u2019t want to wear the risk of storing pseudoephedrine, then, simply, they don\u2019t have to store it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThere has been some commentary too around the impact this will have on methamphetamine use, supply, and consumption. That\u2019s why we\u2019re in this situation, because the National Government back in 2011\u2014quite rightly, on the evidence that they had before them at the time\u2014thought that if we wanted to reduce the P epidemic in New Zealand, then a good way to do that would be to stop the sale of pseudoephedrine over the counter in pharmacies, because that was being used a precursor in the manufacture of methamphetamine. We are here now, 13 years later, and the sale and supply of methamphetamine is up, the price of methamphetamine is down, and so, in effect, it hasn\u2019t made any difference. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EIn fact, the people and criminal organisations who want to procure methamphetamine have found different ways to do it. Instead of cooking it up at home, they are tapping into international drug markets and black markets and importing it into New Zealand, which is effective in getting the supply of meth that they need into the New Zealand market. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003ESo to say that this is going to lead to real problems around the availability of meth isn\u2019t true. It is already quite readily available for those people who want to go out there and seek it, and the advice that we received back from the numerous people that we talked to throughout this process said just that. Yes, it was noted that there will be some small-scale use of pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine. It is likely to be on a non-commercial basis, with very small quantities for personal use, and manufacturing meth does have a lot of risks attached, as people in this House are probably aware. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003ESo we went through this. It is a relatively simple bill, as the Minister has said, and it was quite pleasing\u2014and I\u2019d like to take a moment to thank members on the Health Committee who are present\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5eec77178f94cda83ecd6b920ccadfe\u0022\u003EDan Bidois\u003C/span\u003E: Hard-working committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9dd4c60c2d548318049078b8548f78c\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014hard-working select committee\u2014including those who have left the House, including the Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, who I found very easy\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f10f7585b6da4bdcbb20b7e53931cd09\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re not allowed to mention a member who is not here. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c4bb99f45774039b721c3627f1a3659\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL\u003C/span\u003E: Apologies, Madam Speaker. I thank all members, whether they are here or not, for being supportive. The committee did not recommend any changes to this bill, which reflects the relatively straightforward policy we are discussing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWe received submissions from 169 individuals and nine organisations, and most of the organisations were supportive of this. That included the pharmaceutical industry bodies and it included the drug harm prevention groups, and they indicated their support for the bill in their submissions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003ENow, I want to read you some notes here from some of the submitters that were noted in the select committee process. They said that \u201Cpseudoephedrine products are of little value to people interested in commercially supplying methamphetamine, as there are now cheaper and easier ways to manufacture it.\u201D, and another quote here\u2014I\u2019ll only read two\u2014\u201CThis position was supported by advice we received from the Ministry of Health, which consulted with the New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Customs Service, and the National Drug Intelligence Bureau.\u201D So what we are getting back here is that the major agencies\u2014the New Zealand Police, Customs, the Drug Intelligence Bureau, and the Ministry of Health, in consultation with those bodies, saw that the risk of meth manufacture and supply as a result of this bill was fairly minimal. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThe channels for getting P into New Zealand and supplying it to the local market are already well-established and the consumption of P in New Zealand has continued to trend up, which is incredibly unfortunate. As a society, we need to continue to be doing all that we can to make sure that we get on top of these criminal organisations that are supplying methamphetamine\u2014we really need to\u2014and we need to make sure that there are treatment options available for people who are addicted to methamphetamine. We need to tackle it from both sides\u2014that is, making sure that we get people who are addicted to meth off through treating the addiction that they face, and also making sure that we make it increasingly harder for criminal organisations to supply it into the domestic market. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EBut, all in all, we see this bill as a very good bill, which is why we have supported it throughout, and we are happy that the members in this House have supported it, and have supported through select committee without any amendment. I can feel myself having a bit of a sore throat and a cold coming on. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280f2e689a54a40a1875fa870b42bda55\u0022\u003ETom Rutherford\u003C/span\u003E: Do you need some\u2014do you want some? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d16077523ca94cd990cb770f7f7acaeb\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL\u003C/span\u003E: I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s available yet, Tom. We need to get through this third reading first. But I know that there will be a lot of New Zealanders out there who have not been able to get through winter or get to work or enjoy life to their potential because they have been hit down by the cold and flu symptoms that go through New Zealand communities during the winter. Well, good news for all of them: help is on the way, and with the passing of the third reading of the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill, we come one step closer to having pseudoephedrine available to New Zealanders over the counter from pharmacies. Thank you, Madam Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u00221185a973e7014885b09c02d03e25249c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221185a973e7014885b09c02d03e25249c\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. Now, I\u2019m just going to say to the Hon Casey Costello that the debate is going to be interrupted at 4.30 for a local issues debate. The member is welcome to start and have 10 minutes, but the remainder of the speech would be after the dinner break. If the member\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b29d4360294b4d72aa9e66f83623d8f1\u0022\u003EHon Casey Costello\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll be guided by you, Madam Speaker, as to how you want to\u00A0do\u00A0it. I\u2019m happy to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce8653087ad24b7f817f212e2cb8bf63\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I think\u2014it\u2019s actually 4.29. If the member is available after the dinner break, we may\u2014actually, it might be a better idea to let you have your\u00A0full\u00A0speech then. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207b5e69225f246e281d10d9238208994\u0022\u003EHon Casey Costello\u003C/span\u003E: Yep, that would be fine. Thank you, Madam Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002276826c1a9d154485ad5a84d83674b6be\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, OK. Thank you. For the House\u2019s purposes, I\u2019m just going to wait until the designated time of 4.30\u2014thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022713acb6b137d41579e6421847bae3a8d\u0022\u003ESpecial Debates\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022699f3e5efb8b42809a237d5e1c727b06\u0022\u003ELocal Issues\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u00224143b82656684c22884366d0ea9bc866\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224143b82656684c22884366d0ea9bc866\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Members, we now come to the debate about local issues arranged by the Business Committee under Standing Order 80. Would some honourable member care to move that the House take note of local issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u0022eb20608a0af6429699c5de2c8972f161\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eb20608a0af6429699c5de2c8972f161\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR (Labour\u2014\u014Ch\u0101riu):\u003C/span\u003E I so move. Thank you, Madam Speaker. The issue I\u2019m going to speak about today is very local, although members in this House will be very aware of it. I come here representing the \u014Ch\u0101riu electorate, which members who fly in and out of Wellington pass through on a weekly basis. In fact, those on planes contribute to the noise which is an issue there, which I\u2019ve spoken about here before. A very good group, Plane Sense, have brought that\u2014since there has been a change to the airport flight path, that has actually become quite an issue, where the gentle hum of air traffic, which is part of the urban noise, has actually become a cacophony of noise. But that\u2019s another issue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s actually been another issue\u2014and it\u2019s a very community-minded electorate. Just in the weekend, we had a great community meeting over saving the local pool, which is very nicely situated at the base of Mount Kaukau and is well worth saving. I\u2019m hoping as a result of the turnout of the councillors and the community, we can save that. But, no, that\u2019s not the issue I\u2019m here to speak about. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EA much bigger issue\u2014very local\u2014is the Johnsonville Shopping Centre. Now, any member here who has any relations or friends living in the area will be well aware of this. During the recent campaign, when I\u2019d knock on doors and say, \u201CWhat\u2019s the issue?\u201D, people would blankly look at me and say, \u201CWell, of course it\u2019s the mall. Of course it\u2019s the shopping centre.\u201D Even the local Salvation Army did a survey expecting to be told that there were social issues\u2014and there were some\u2014but, no, the first issue that arose was the local shopping centre. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s more than somewhere where people just shop; it\u2019s somewhere where they gather. It\u2019s something of a dormitory electorate, where most people live and work around this area\u2014in fact, many of the very officials that come to this House are privileged to live in the mighty \u014Ch\u0101riu electorate. So what is lacking there is a place, a centre point, that people can be proud of. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EThe Johnsonville Mall was once that place. In 1969, it was one of the very first shopping malls in New Zealand. You couldn\u2019t get a car park there, but slowly, and it\u2019s probably its demise, it\u2019s been\u2014and I\u2019m not here to blame any Government or to blame any council. This is something that is actually very much a private sector issue. It is owned by a company called Stride Property Group, listed on the stock exchange. They have shareholders. One of them is a very big Australian shareholder, HESTA, which is a big superannuation fund. It\u2019s the medical superannuation fund over there, who, unfortunately, have quite a big say in where and what money will be spent there, and I don\u2019t think the Australians are as focused on Johnsonville or on \u014Ch\u0101riu as they could be.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve been working closely with the mall owners, Stride, and I know that over the years they\u2019ve had plans to actually do something about the place. But many of those plans have come to nothing, to the extent that it\u2019s almost become part of local legend\u2014\u201COh, the mall.\u201D Generations have grown up hearing their grandparents talking about the mall, and they too will roll their eyes at any thought of the mall.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s some very good businesses in there and there\u2019s some very good people who are doing their best to keep the place alive. They\u2019re places like the local coffee shops. Scheckter\u2019s Deli is a great recent addition. But slowly, many of the national providers\u2014many of the chains\u2014have gone, the banks have gone, and we\u2019re left with something that really is something of a disgrace. I mean, Tripadvisor have called it the worst mall in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EOf course, it\u2019s not just a matter of standing here and being critical; it\u2019s asking what can be done about it. What can be done about it is actually the newest proposal, and the council, after initially having been a little bit reluctant to provide for the traffic flow around there because they were worried about the \u201Cgolden mile\u201D out here and that it might do what, say, Christchurch has done, where the suburban shopping malls might suck the life out of the city centres\u2014they\u2019ve actually been on board recently. The proposal\u2014and the council have been very good with this\u2014is to allow the developers to go higher and to have a mixed model: to have offices, and to have accommodation, retail, movie theatres. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EAgain, this is what the community is screaming out for, crying out for. But, again, every time a proposal comes up\u2014and there have been things like the Kaik\u014Dura earthquake, the global financial crisis, and the change in the retail environment. But every time the community has been ready, thinking they\u2019re going to have a centre they can be proud of, their hopes are dashed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003ESo it\u2019s time now for Stride Property to put up or sell, because it is just now unacceptable. The impact that it has on my local community, on the whole of the northern suburbs, by having this pretty ugly sort of edifice in the middle of it, non-functioning\u2014it\u2019s time to go. It\u2019s time for Stride to sell.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022 data-id=\u0022165c088094f049aabee808321b39abc4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022165c088094f049aabee808321b39abc4\u0022\u003ETIM COSTLEY (National\u2014\u014Ctaki):\u003C/span\u003E Can I start by just taking a moment to wish the Rev. Hector Davis a happy 100th birthday today, resident in my hometown, Waikanae. To you, Rev. Davis, happy 100th birthday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003EIt was 2 January 2008 and most Kiwis were relaxing on the beach, maybe recovering from New Year celebrations. In East Timor, for the 35 of us with the Air Force\u2019s peacekeeping contingent, the call came in midafternoon: a UN police station in a small town called Ermera was under attack. Over the next few minutes, I watched as the men and women around me leapt into action, ripping off the covers, fitting door guns, servicing the aircraft. By the time I strapped in, the copilot had the rotors turning, the maintenance chief had the technical log ready for me to sign at the door, and the boss was running over with the approval to go flying. We were airborne 12 minutes after that call first came in, Australian soldiers from Bravo Company of 2 RAR in the back, and able to hold off the attack until further help arrived on the ground.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003EI tell that story for two reasons. Firstly, for me, it puts into perspective the service and the sacrifice of those who left these shores 110 years ago. And that was, in 2008, about as exciting as East Timor got. But I also tell that story because it reminds us that the indelible Anzac spirit lives on today, and that Anzac spirit is a unique and defining quality, one that sets us apart, I believe, from the rest of the world, and something that we should all be justifiably proud of. I saw it in East Timor as a dozen Kiwis scrambled over a helicopter to get it airborne in record time to stop a riot. I saw it in Afghanistan as a dozen Kiwi special forces soldiers rolled out of the gates to stop a terrorist attack on a local hotel. And I saw it here in New Zealand as helicopter crews raced to get airborne to winch to safety people from rooftops in Hawke\u2019s Bay.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003EI\u2019m proud that, no matter what the challenge, our Defence Force is always willing and able to respond. Be it a cyclone in Fiji, a volcanic eruption on White Island, a humanitarian evacuation in Kabul, or training soldiers to fight in Ukraine, that same Anzac spirit that saw 100,000 Kiwis march off to Europe in 1914 lives on in the women and men who serve today. They do not seek conflict, but they are ready to serve in conflict zones around the world if that\u2019s the only way to bring about a lasting peace, to be a light in the darkness and a beacon of hope in a hurting world. That same Anzac spirit lives on today, and today I want to honour the selfless service of all those who put on a uniform, whether in our military, our police, or our emergency services, to serve at home or abroad as we lead up to Anzac Day this year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003EBut if I\u2019m really honest, I always feel a little bit inadequate on Anzac Day as I line up with my medals on. I wasn\u2019t brave enough to wear them today. I feel a bit inadequate as I think about my grandparents\u2019 war service and what all our servicemen and women went through in World War I, World War II, conflicts like Vietnam. How can I compare my time in Afghanistan or peacekeeping around the world to what many of them must have gone through? I am in awe of their service, humbled by the price that so many paid, and grateful for all those who served and returned, most with scars, some with visible scars, none of them ever to be the same again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003EWe also must remember those who have lost their lives in more recent times. Two of those who were racing to get that helicopter airborne with me in 2008 lost their life a couple of years later, a third seriously injured. So this Anzac Day, as we approach it, we do not celebrate war but rather we honour the service and the sacrifice of those who went to war, those who went in the hope of saving our country, and indeed the world, for future generations. To quote my late father, we must remember the mateship, agony, courage, and compassion of war service, but save us from ever glorifying the horror and the tragedy of war. You know, to me, Dad has captured the very essence of Anzac Day. It\u2019s a day to celebrate service and sacrifice, not the wars and the conflicts in which those sacrifices were made.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b9dc1924-4df4-4d8f-91ec-8a0f29348308\u0022\u003EI will for ever be proud to have served and immensely proud of those who served alongside me, but I will always be in awe of the service and sacrifice of those who went before me, and in particular those who never returned home. Ka maumahara tonu t\u0101tou ki a r\u0101tou\u2014lest we forget.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u002268bff0d9e33149d5ace17fa5e74e869f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002268bff0d9e33149d5ace17fa5e74e869f\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E E te M\u0101ngai, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e te Whare. A lot of people think about Auckland Central as just Auckland central city and the surrounding suburbs, but I do have a story for you. The electorate extends far beyond that amazing place across the Hauraki Gulf, all the way out across Waiheke Island to Aotea Great Barrier Island.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s where this story starts, because that is where in mid-2021, a pair of kayakers first discovered Caulerpa brachypus. I\u2019m a little bit gutted that there has been a changeover of Speakers in the Chair just now\u2014not to, in any way, intimate your skills, Mr Speaker, but I did want to shout out to the former Speaker in the Chair, the honourable Barbara Kuriger, for the work that she and I did in trying to get cross-party understanding on Caulerpa brachypus and the potential threat that that posed to our particularly marine ecosystems. Caulerpa brachypus looks like this\u2014[Holds up a photograph] to those who are unfamiliar or uninitiated with it. It is an invasive seaweed that grows at approximately 3 centimetres every single day and is posing a massive threat to the smothering of our seafloor in the Hauraki Gulf.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003ENow, there\u2019s been an immense amount of work by a number of local champions, and I just want to list a few here today in this very brief speech: Ng\u0101ti Rehua Ng\u0101tiwai ki Aotea; Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board, particularly the chair there, Izzy Fordham, who\u2019s been phenomenal in leading some cross-agency work here; as well as the Waiheke Local Board, and the chair, Cath Handley, there. I also need to put on the record a shout-out to deputy chair Bianca Ranson, who also wears a hat with Mauri o te Moana and is quite heavily involved in the Waiheke Marine Project. I need to shout out to Ng\u0101ti P\u0101oa, as well, on Waiheke Island; to the Hauraki Gulf Forum; particularly to Kate Waterhouse of the Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, who has been doing a lot of the work in driving policy understanding behind the scenes here; also to the likes of Revive Our Gulf; and even to the rec fishers LegaSea and NZ sport fishing, who have been trying to ensure that there is greater political understanding of the threat that this invasive seaweed poses to our marine ecosystems.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EWe could talk about a lot of the threats that are facing the Hauraki Gulf\u2014namely, bottom trawling, which, of course, the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has put abundantly clear on the record that we support the full ban of in the Hauraki; as well as the need for greater marine protected areas, and, of course, there\u2019s a piece of legislation making its way through select committee at present, but the Greens support that marine protection extending to at least 30 percent of the Hauraki Gulf.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EWe also have massive challenges with regards to biosecurity. Just to give a sense of the threat here: in the Mediterranean, where Caulerpa brachypus was studied, it was found that there was a, I believe, 30 to 60 percent reduction in biomass of fish as impacted by the smothering of the seafloor.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EWe are having this discussion at a point in time when the Government is not only slashing jobs across the Public Service but also in Biosecurity New Zealand and in the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd\u2014two agencies that have been at the forefront of trying to get a handle on this kaupapa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EBut particularly to that connection or lack of parallel approach that we\u2019ve seen with other biosecurity hazards and issues in this country, I just wanted to create the parallel to Mycoplasma bovis, which, of course, posed huge issues with regard to agriculture particularly. There we saw that there was cross-party support for the better part of a billion dollars to be invested in eradicating Mycoplasma bovis\u2014heck, we saw the same kind of approach when it came to a fruit fly in the outer Auckland Central suburbs. But we have not seen that same impetus and that same political galvanisation on the issue of Caulerpa brachypus, and that is the plea that I am making to the House today. In conversations that I\u2019ve already had with the Minister the Hon Tama Potaka, obviously with his conservation hat on, I\u2019ve made this plea. But we need to see far greater resourcing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003EThere are three key things here that this Government\u2014and, I would hope, with the cross-party support of this Parliament\u2014can do. The first is for a whole-of-agency, whole-of-Government strategy for the eradication of Caulerpa brachypus; the second is to resource a team specifically dedicated to eradicating Caulerpa brachypus within the Ministry for Primary Industries, Biosecurity New Zealand, or, actually, potentially, even a cross-agency piece of work; and the third is the p\u016Btea, the funding, and the resourcing to make this happen. So far, all we\u2019ve seen is approximately $5 million\u2014a drop in the bucket\u2014and this invasive seaweed continues to expand, smothering the seafloor and actually a posing massive threat across the entire East Coast of Aotearoa New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022 data-id=\u0022a2a0364e555f40838679fa5cdc6df4ea\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a2a0364e555f40838679fa5cdc6df4ea\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak in this debate on local issues. I am based in Pakuranga, which is east of Auckland, and there is this issue that is causing a huge amount of concern not only to local people but people who go through that electorate or that suburb as well. I want to talk about the issue of speed limit reductions. Speed limit reductions were imposed by the previous Labour Government. Since those speed limit reductions, people are feeling really frustrated and this is for several reasons.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EI want to, at the start, acknowledge that nobody wants to see any kind of harm or injury or fatal accidents happening on our roads. But speed is just one contributing factor. One would sit and think \u201CWell, how do we reduce those incidents happening on our roads? Well, reduce speeds.\u201D\u2014yep, one might think that is a logical thing to do. But it is not a logical thing to do if we do not consider other factors that contribute to these incidents that happen on our roads. So that is a very lazy approach, I would say, to just reduce speed and not look at the condition of the road. We also need to keep in mind that other contributing factors\u2014as I said, condition of the road, weather conditions, condition of people\u2019s cars that they are driving, and also drivers\u2019 behaviours contribute to accidents that happen on our roads. So we need a comprehensive solution when we are trying to target incidents that happen on our roads.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EWe want to do things which actually improve efficiency. To improve efficiency, of course, we need to look at our systems, structures, and infrastructure\u2014but can I say that this line applies only to this side of the House, because we are keen to improve efficiency, not that side. What they did\u2014they slowed everybody down and, obviously, there is a flow-on effect on the economy of not just the local area but Auckland and the whole of our country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003ETime is precious. What happened because of the change by the previous Labour\u00A0Government? People are stuck in traffic. They\u2019re just looking at their clock ticking,\u00A0ticking, ticking\u201415 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes added to one-way traffic. That is\u00A0hurting people at so many levels\u2014people\u2019s personal lives, people\u2019s work lives, are\u00A0being hurt.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EI\u2019m really glad that we campaigned to reverse those speed limit reductions, and the coalition Government has already announced that those speed limit reductions will be reversed. Because of that, the main roads\u2014which are Pakuranga Road, which has been dropped from 60 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour; part of Ti Rakau Drive dropped from 60 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour; Botany Road, parts of that have been dropped from 60 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres; and Te Irirangi Drive, which is again a very busy and important road, there are three speed limits now, from 60 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour, 80 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour, and one part is from 80 kilometres per hour to 60\u00A0kilometres per hour.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003ESo with these roads becoming slow, what is happening is, obviously, during peak time there is more traffic, and people follow GPS, so there is more traffic going on to small roads, the residential roads, creating a lot of anxiety for these people who live locally, because of the traffic congestion that they are seeing\u2014and off-peak. What this is leading to is inefficient use of road capacity, because people see there is so much space but they cannot use those roads to its efficient capacity. We need to see that the speed is optimal\u2014optimal according to road conditions. But, instead of looking at what other conditions can be improved, they just decided to slow everybody down. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EWe know that, in East Auckland, we have had this issue of street races. When people do those kind of things\u2014and, yes, there was media coverage as well, and my heart goes out to those victims and the families of that victim. But when people adopt this kind of behaviour, they are not going to change that behaviour just because the speed limit has been reduced. So if somebody is racing at 160 kilometres per hour when the speed limit is 80 kilometres per hour, it\u2019s not like if you reduce the speed limit to 50 kilometres per hour, somehow those people will start speeding at 120 kilometres per hour, because that is not how they are thinking.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003ESo, on this side, we want to see that things are done in efficient manner. We want to see that things are done in a speedy and also safe manner. We want to see progress, not, like them, slow everything down. And that is why I\u2019m really glad that this coalition Government has announced that we will reverse those speed limit reductions that were imposed by the previous Labour Government. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022 data-id=\u0022eee59b8551da4656b07de470129c99a0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eee59b8551da4656b07de470129c99a0\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Good local government is a beautiful thing. I know that because I\u2019ve been there and done it, and sometimes it\u2019s been beautiful and sometimes a little bit less so. Good local councillors\u2014and I look at Cameron Brewer there\u2014should be deeply connected to their communities, really know their issues and their people, listen to their people\u2019s diverse viewpoints and be responsive, show wisdom, show that sort of calm, measured decision-making, and be balanced and thoughtful. Now, of course, this is not about being a councillor; this is about being a list MP, and we\u2019re talking about constituencies, and our constituency, as list MPs, starts somewhere up around North Cape and ends somewhere down Stewart Island way\u2014and that is all of our constituency. And let\u2019s not forget the Chatham Islands and the offshore islands as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003ELook, that doesn\u2019t stop me from being interested in local issues. I have to say that every day I get people from the local community around Wellington asking me about various different local issues and about making observations about the local council. But I\u2019m not going to talk about Wellington, because what I did recently, as a list MP, was to visit the beautiful top of the South Island, talking to councils, businesses, educators, infrastructure providers, developers, tourism organisations, and so on. I just want to make a few observations about that visit, because I think there\u2019s some useful things to mention there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EFirst of all, there were many different Provincial Growth Fund projects that I heard about. So Blenheim\u2019s beautiful new library\u2014a fantastic facility, two-thirds of which was funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, one-third by the local council. And I might make a point that Wellington often feels left out by some of these things: it\u2019s \u201Cneither a Provincial Growth Fund; never got any money from start-up projects either\u201D\u2014and so that was a little bit of a sore point there. So I\u2019ve got to bring Wellington in. But Blenheim\u2019s new library is beautiful; Wellington\u2019s got a $250-odd million-dollar library, and it would be nice to have a little bit of support for that\u2014anyway!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EAlso, it was great to visit water treatment plants in Motueka, water storage reservoirs for the M\u0101pua-Moutere area, and stopbank refurbishments. Together those projects are less than $15 million; huge value for those local communities. They look like outstanding projects. I also heard about the Waimea Dam, which has probably now been commissioned\u2014it was about to be commissioned when I was there\u2014and the benefits that that will bring both to the urban community and resilience of water supply but also to the rural community in terms of productivity and the ability to grow all sorts of products that of course we need.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EI really wanted to say that there are huge opportunities. These things illustrate huge opportunities to partner between local government, local communities, and central government. For example, all three of the councils that I talked to across the top of the South mentioned a report called Before the Deluge, which has been put together by all the regional councils and the unitary councils of the country. They\u2019ve identified the areas where we could get the best bang for bucks by putting stopbanks there to protect our property, to protect businesses. I would encourage the Parliament to have a look at that report and to consider whether there is a co-investment opportunity there, because, clearly, that is what they are looking for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EWe hear a lot about an infrastructure deficit, and when chairing the Transport and Infrastructure Committee we began our annual reviews hearing from the Infrastructure Commission. I have to say they are a breath of fresh air, thinking about the really big picture. The key point that they made is that we\u2019re actually investing enough in infrastructure; what we\u2019re not doing is investing in the right way. We\u2019re investing in dumb things sometimes and our processes are really expensive and slow, and we need to do something about that. That would probably save us at least 4 percent on GDP just like that, if we were to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d5d34f2effd94e33a081d9d28306098f\u0022\u003EHon Mark Patterson\u003C/span\u003E: Fast track\u2014fast track. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f0b4db78c58b42e28d7c25e31d1bf613\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER\u003C/span\u003E: Fast tracking is part of that. When we visited, one of the examples was the example of marine farms. The cost of being able to re-consent what is already there is really, really expensive, and that\u2019s not just marine farms; it\u2019s dams, it\u2019s sewage treatment plants, and so on. When they need to be re-consented, it is really expensive, and two of the councils also raised those issues as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EThey also raised issues around the consenting of tiny houses, which, of course, this Government is moving on\u2014or small houses, I should say. Because what\u2019s happening in those jurisdictions is that instead of going for small houses, they\u2019re actually going for tiny houses because you don\u2019t have to go through the consent process\u2014and, of course, they don\u2019t pay rates either. So there are ways in which we can make the boat go faster in those areas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003EIt was also really, really great to visit some community facilities and operations as well, particularly the Kaip\u016Bp\u016B Sanctuary in Picton and to hear about the support that they\u2019ve had from the Jobs for Nature programme. I would say that that, I think, has given us some real value and I think we should think very, very carefully about its future and be able to share the experience\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022babd261a9c3d499d9ad017e247010b98\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, don\u2019t cut it!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002298528c3023784998912f9ee476919862\u0022\u003EANDY FOSTER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m making these points because it\u2019s worth making these points, Chl\u00F6e, and I have the opportunity to do so\u2014and share the opportunity or the experience that I\u2019ve had from Zealandia, which of course is the mothership of all of these sorts of\u00A0facilities. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003ESo all I would say is that there are a lot of great things that you can learn from visiting communities, from listening to communities, and if we work together\u2014Government, local government, and communities\u2014we can make our boat go faster.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022dc0741fccc854404bad17309a2eaca3d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dc0741fccc854404bad17309a2eaca3d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That would have made a great general debate speech, but it\u2019s a local issues debate and I\u2019d ask members to stick to that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022 data-id=\u002277b727e1f5484796b58e31bdd951add4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003ETe P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Te Tai Tokerau\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002277b727e1f5484796b58e31bdd951add4\u0022\u003EMARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI ():\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, e te M\u0101ngai, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. I stand here to debate the absolute necessity to have M\u0101ori wards, to have M\u0101ori representation within the political sphere\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e8916d647ee4f2494013b4e9130c9c5\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Is that local?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228849a5e7c7d040f494a59de94967e416\u0022\u003EMARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014of this country at a local and regional level. And I\u2019ll leave the cheerleaders for later. Excuse me, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003ETai Tokerau is home to one of the largest populations of M\u0101ori within the country. Over one-third of our demographic identifies as M\u0101ori and, fortunately, so do I. I\u2019ve been a M\u0101ori for a while, so I\u2019m good for this debate. So it is vital that our community is represented at the decision-making table. M\u0101ori wards ensure that we as M\u0101ori and us in Te Tai Tokerau, and even Grant for that matter, are represented in local government decision-making processes; not just to stand up and have a little karakia and a waiata. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003EFor Te Tai Tokerau, M\u0101ori wards have only recently been introduced. And much like any of these other initiatives, they just don\u2019t get the opportunity to give it a real go. They\u2019ve barely had the opportunity to flourish. The current Government has attempted to withdraw or cut what is both essential and necessary for us\u2014and I mean the M\u0101ori \u201Cus\u201D, and I mean the Treaty partner \u201Cus\u201D. What is most important right now is that M\u0101ori maintain the absolute right to actively participate in decision-making processes when it comes to both local and regional government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003EGiven the historical barriers such as M\u0101ori continuing to negotiate intergenerational harm, which is oppression, colonisation, and de-culturation, M\u0101ori engagement with political institutions is limited and hard and difficult to break through. This often leaves M\u0101ori under-represented in political spaces and, by extension, vulnerable to racism\u2014the misconstrued perspectives that those in decision-making positions hold toward M\u0101ori. M\u0101ori wards are designed to bridge the gap between M\u0101ori and bring our own voices into that debate and into that discussion, and particularly into the decision-making spaces. So, dang, it\u2019s a good idea and it\u2019s going to be chucked out, but, again, that\u2019s not surprising, given the current climate that we\u2019re having to deal with.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003EThese wards are therefore designed to support M\u0101ori in their\u2014and I really want to\u00A0be clear on this one\u2014tino rangatiratanga, as guaranteed in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It\u00A0won\u2019t be the last time that I\u2019ll ever use those words. This Government has shamefully voted to uphold P\u0101keh\u0101 dominance and undermine M\u0101ori rights to representation in local government. Once again, we have a P\u0101keh\u0101 majority deciding that they know what\u2019s better for me and M\u0101ori and M\u0101ori in Te Tai Tokerau, and not even Grant can support that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003EThis type of thinking is outdated and systemically racist. Far North District Council\u2014getting to the good bit\u2014illustrates just how outdated this thinking is. In March 2021, they collected the community\u2019s feedback on M\u0101ori wards in their representation review. Of those who submitted responses, 81.76 percent supported M\u0101ori wards. Please let that sink in, t\u0101tou m\u0101, kei t\u0113r\u0101 taha o te Whare. [all of us, and that side of the House.] Please, let that sink in, and comprehend is probably the other thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003ESo the Far North district councillors voted to establish M\u0101ori wards for the 2022 and 2025 local body elections. Moko Tepania\u2014if you don\u2019t know him, great guy, perfect mayor, and knows exactly what his people in Far North District Council are about. The mayor for Far North has openly expressed his contempt towards the ridiculous actions this Government has taken.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003EAnd much like our policing community in their responses to Government actions, we hear the same rhetoric from local government: \u201CWe don\u2019t need Wellington to tell us what to do.\u201D Additionally, to hold these referendums, it will cost communities. It\u2019ll cost Far North District Council more than it absolutely should, given there\u2019s not a lot of funding and investment in the Far North in any case. This type of expenditure is incredibly wasteful for vulnerable communities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002227600399-0a88-4371-a784-b5a7bc7afc37\u0022\u003EA lack of education inspires a lack of understanding and, by extension, creates fear. This is exactly what our current Government illustrates to us is, that their lack of education in issues regarding our people inspires the lack of understanding and creates their fear of us being equal with them. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Kia ora t\u0101tou e te Whare.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022 data-id=\u002221ad83a1492c4d6686f1f4d1442a1e3b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002221ad83a1492c4d6686f1f4d1442a1e3b\u0022\u003EDANA KIRKPATRICK (National\u2014East Coast):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s a privilege to rise and speak in the House on the local issues debate. I thought I\u2019d take a slightly different approach to this: my local issue is that we need to change the dial. We want to change our media narrative\u2014if you like\u2014from the negative events and the tragic and awful circumstances that parts of my electorate have been subject to over the past year or two. So we\u2019re about to go on a whistle-stop tour around the East Coast electorate to talk about some of the great things that are happening.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003ESo let\u2019s start. I can\u2019t go past it without mentioning the cyclone, of course, but the cyclone has done something for us: it\u2019s created a catalyst. A catalyst for change and a catalyst for positivity, and we are about that. The East Coast is ready to go. We are tired of being called \u201Cresilient\u201D and tired of being in clean-up mode, so it\u2019s time to get cracking. We\u2019re going to start in \u014Cp\u014Dtiki, the wonderful town which we visited not that long ago\u2014and the Whakat\u014Dhea mussel factory, the harbour entrance, and the marina development: a group of projects that will absolutely change the way \u014Cp\u014Dtiki is and will be into the future. The brainchild of Whakat\u014Dhea and the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), bringing in jobs\u2014they currently employ about 200 people\u2014and the income diversity and the changing of how that will focus them into the future is a fantastic opportunity, and one that we look forward to. Whakat\u014Dhea, just recently, were also a finalist in the Ahuwhenua farming awards, so they will be heading to the dinner on 17 May in Hamilton and we wish them all the very best for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003ERaukokore, a little place way up at the top of the East Cape\u2014just went up there this week. They just opened a $10 million freshwater storage project, which will unlock the potential for 300 hectares of horticultural land and provide ongoing diversified income for that iwi, Te Wh\u0101nau-\u0101-Apanui, and jobs for the future. No mean feat by them and a sensational project.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003ELet\u2019s just go down the road a little bit to Kawerau. In Kawerau, the mayoral task force is doing incredible work getting our rangatahi and young people into work: 260 placements in three years of young people into jobs. This year\u2019s target was 38 people. They tell me they\u2019ll double that, and yet their funding has been reduced every year for three years. Heartland, Eastbay REAP\u2014Gloria and her team\u2014are feeding people, setting up courses, rattling people\u2019s cages, and getting things done. They\u2019re a fantastic bunch of people in there providing access to services and support for their community. Kawerau is the industrial heartland of the country, and we look forward to the new development from Forrester: $300\u00A0million investment into geothermal and renewable energy sources. Fossil-free fuel to replace coal, so we look forward to seeing what they can do for us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EThen we\u2019ll move on\u2014we\u2019ll go around the way a little bit to Murupara, where Jamie and JD are giving their all for the rangatahi of the region and are now working on a project to get all the families in Murupara to get a vegetable garden, to learn to grow their vegetables, and for the pakeke they are raised vegetable gardens so they don\u2019t have to bend down and get that. They believe that getting down there and getting into that dirt and that soil is great for them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EA little further south in Minginui, a movement is afoot to get the remotest parts of the region connected to the internet. They did some work in Kawerau, where they connected more than 1,630 students, and the wh\u0101nau there paid for 1,110 devices themselves with no-default payments. The students from Te Whata Tau o Putauaki in Kawerau taught themselves to build robots and won regional and national competitions, and just recently placed second in an international competition where they built robots. And all due to being able to be connected to the internet.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EIn Gisborne, of course, the Toha Network and the East Coast Exchange\u2014if you don\u2019t know about them, look them up; they are fantastic. These people are the future of climate change action and our communities\u2014born out of the cyclone crisis and self-funded with significant private investment. Mr Speaker, if you eat salad in this country, it most likely came from LeaderBrand in Gisborne, a fantastic organisation and just about to open their 11.5 hectare environmentally sustainable covered crop production with help from the PGF. And, of course, the M\u0101tai research world-leading MRI scanning is leading the world in brain injury or concussion treatment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EThe East Coast has much to offer, but I can\u2019t go past Whakat\u0101ne, voted best small town for 2023; and \u014Chope Beach, the best beach in New Zealand. It\u2019s official; it is absolutely the best electorate in the country [Interruption] and I won\u2019t take any argument from you lot on that one. Can I go past the parliamentary game just to finish off: the parliamentary game in Gisborne, Tair\u0101whiti, on 25 May where the parliamentary rugby and netball teams will compete against Federated Farmers at the wonderful institution of the Ngatapa Rugby and Associated Sports Club.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u002217d9365b2cd6446b91d3e5df6996256f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002217d9365b2cd6446b91d3e5df6996256f\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u2019d like to take a moment to talk about a truly local issue in Christchurch, in Christchurch Central in particular. I mean, it\u2019s one that\u2019s actually hit the news, and I\u2019ll take this opportunity to advocate for the Christchurch Cathedral. You know, I was there, and, in my maiden speech, actually, I spoke about looking out of the window of the office I then occupied and, out of one window, one building collapsed\u2014the PGC building\u2014and out of the other I saw the spire of that cathedral topple. It\u2019s worth just thinking about the reality of earthquakes here. You know, the last member Dana Kirkpatrick talked about the disasters in the North, and I recognise that as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EThe cathedral\u2019s arguably the last significant building that remains as, essentially, an indication that things aren\u2019t finished. I\u2019d invite every member here to come to Christchurch and look at the amazing\u2014and I can\u2019t help, I must mention that the current Speaker had something to do with the planning of the city rebuild, and I acknowledge that and the work that the prior Government before the Labour Government did there, and the further delivery that people like Megan Woods did as well. But the cathedral remains a problem. It\u2019s fundamentally a private building\u2014it is a part of the Anglican Church\u2014but public funds have gone into it already. In my view, the church will hold it on trust for the people of Christchurch, and when it is rebuilt, because it will be rebuilt, it needs to be an open and community space. But the problem that we are facing now\u2014and it\u2019s a problem that\u2019s been faced with a lot of earthquake repairs and rebuilds, especially of heritage buildings\u2014is the fact that it\u2019s clearly going to cost a lot more than was initially anticipated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EThe trust entity, the cathedral entity, has, essentially, gone cap in hand to the public, to the ratepayer, to the taxpayer, to the church, to philanthropists, and said, \u201CLook, we need to get together because leaving it there in the current state is really not an option. We\u2019ve come too far to turn back now.\u201D I absolutely endorse those people who, in the public arena and on social media and elsewhere, say, \u201CWe can\u2019t just tip public money into projects like this, willy-nilly.\u201D\u2014there absolutely has to be a limit. But I know the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage\u2014I think he\u2019s nodding because he has received a plaintive email from me saying, \u201CWill you look at this?\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EI hope that all of the members of Parliament who are in Christchurch will do that. And I absolutely hope that the members of Parliament who are part of the National Party and in Christchurch electorates will be speaking loudly in their caucus to say, \u201CWe need to look at this, we need to advocate for this.\u201D Leeann Watson, who might not be a likely ally, who is the CEO of the chamber of commerce, has said, \u201CWe do not want this building to remain as a symbol of the past of Christchurch.\u201D Christchurch, for a long time, was kind of branded by the cathedral, and there was nothing wrong with that. But the brand of Christchurch now is the amazing vibrancy that the Avon River / \u014Ctakaro River makes, the amazing things that go on in our university and in our wider city.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EWe do need to tidy up the cathedral. We absolutely need to engage with the wider community and have a mandate to do that. But my case today is that Government also has a part to play. It has put money into it. The Government, under my predecessor the MP for Christchurch Central and Megan Woods, have put $25 million into this project, which is now going to cost $248 million. The city\u2019s put $10 million into it as well, the church has put in their insurance funds, and there are philanthropists out there who have put their hand in their own pocket for tens of millions of dollars as well. Now, I\u2019m not suggesting that the Government should bear the lion\u2019s share of that burden, but I think the funding ratios that have gone on in the past are a good way to look forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EI hear the naysayers, that this is a church and we shouldn\u2019t be funding religion, or it\u2019s just a quaint\u2014I\u2019ve seen better buildings in English villages. But, at the end of the day, it\u2019s a landmark in the centre of Christchurch and we need to see it restored and we need to see it open and a public and community space for all. I hope that this Government will consider that carefully. Kia ora, 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=\u002263b78e17528e4240a29a02f572e576ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002263b78e17528e4240a29a02f572e576ed\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Thank you to yourself and the House for the opportunity to pisser\u2014to participate in this local debate\u2014and it\u2019s not even after the dinner break yet! So I want to talk about a local issue in my beautiful electorate of the Coromandel. Members and people watching this debate at home will know that we are coming to the end of what\u2019s been a pretty good summer around the country, but it\u2019s been a particularly good summer in the beautiful Coromandel. It\u2019s the first summer in four seasons where we have had an uninterrupted opportunity to explore, enjoy, and make the most of everything that the beautiful Coromandel has to offer, and particularly so for our visitors.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EWe had two summers that were ruined by COVID and then, of course, the summer of Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle, which impacted not only the Coromandel but many other parts of the country. We thought that when State Highway 25A was closed for almost a year and reopened quickly, thanks to the great work of the New Zealand Transport Agency\u2019s (NZTA) contractors ahead of the time frame that NZTA had set and under budget, it would be the end of our major issues from Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle. But, sadly, it\u2019s not. Here we are almost 15 months after those devastating cyclones, and one of New Zealand\u2019s most iconic tourist destinations\u2014Cathedral Cove in the beautiful Coromandel at H\u0101hei\u2014remains closed. Now, yes, there was some cyclone damage to the pathway that takes people down to the beach from the lookout, down quite a long and windy walk, and some damage has occurred, but, by engineering standards and by any other measure, it\u2019s not that big a job to get it fixed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EI want to talk today about why it is that the Department of Conservation, in my view, has been so slack, so slow to get that track open. It\u2019s a\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f414560562a44a459257525588acab28\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Talk to your Minister: Tama Potaka.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022606b49b29f5949c89e09eb4ff9a3b7f0\u0022\u003EHon SCOTT SIMPSON\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014well, the member for Christchurch Central talks about Tama Potaka. I want to talk about Tama Potaka, because he is the new Minister of Conservation, who is as good as his word. When I was in his ear before Christmas, saying, \u201CMinister, you\u2019re the new conservation Minister; you need to come and have a look at Cathedral Cove and see for yourself.\u201D, he said, \u201CYes, Scott, I\u2019ll be there early in the new year.\u201D Well, I got a call from him on 1 January, saying, \u201CI\u2019m in your rohe. Would you like to have me visit tomorrow on 2 January?\u201D So, as good as his word, he was there, early in the new year on 2 January, and he came and had a look for himself. We went and had a look and then about a week or so later, also as good as his word, we had the Minister for tourism, the Hon Matt Doocey, come to visit and have a look for himself. Those Ministers understand how important that track is not only to locals in the Coromandel, in H\u0101hei, but how important it is to our international tourist reputation and our total international tourist package. There are literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people who want to come and walk that track and experience the beautiful Cathedral Cove experience, who currently cannot do it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EWell, the Department of Conservation had a very slow timetable. It wasn\u2019t going to be until September of this year that they were even going to make a decision about what might eventually happen at the cove. Well, thanks to the good work of Tama Potaka, the new Minister of Conservation, I was delighted, on behalf of local businesses, tourist operators, and also the hundreds of thousands of visitors who want to come and see Cathedral Cove, that he has now committed to ensuring that his Department of Conservation officials have on his desk, in June, their plan for getting the track reopened for the coming summer season. Why is that important? Well, it\u2019s important because many of those local businesses have to do sometimes up to about 80 percent of their annual turnover over a summer period. When we don\u2019t have a good summer period, there isn\u2019t an opportunity for those businesses to make that revenue up any other way. So having the track closed is a real problem.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003EI want to, in this debate, also make the point that this is land that was gifted to New Zealand, to all New Zealanders, by the Harsant family at H\u0101hei generously for the benefit of all New Zealanders. I think it\u2019s beholden upon the Department of Conservation to actually get their act together, to pull finger, and to actually get ahead of the Minister\u2019s timetable and see if we can get the track open sooner.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022 data-id=\u0022980d29417ed04a24aa13cc0d3d7e6ce3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022980d29417ed04a24aa13cc0d3d7e6ce3\u0022\u003EINGRID LEARY (Labour\u2014Taieri):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Speaker, is Invercargill the most dangerous place in New Zealand or is it actually an opportunity for collaboration, community development, investment, and youth leadership?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022262ed4504c1f41b6a1d9d16e630aad4c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I don\u2019t know. Would you like me to speak on that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0d186e8422f4ab595b10a9b2dbbf5a5\u0022\u003EINGRID LEARY\u003C/span\u003E: Well, Mr Speaker, if you\u2019ll indulge me, I will help you unlock that. If you have been reading the Southland Times or the Otago Daily Times or listening to Radio New Zealand, you might be left with the impression that Invercargill is a very dangerous city; that there are kids running rampant; that they burn cars and they have standover tactics and they hang around in the mall, some of them as young as 10 or 11. We\u2019ve seen headlines, actually, from the Mayor of Invercargill wanting these children to be treated as adult criminals, and, actually, he called a public meeting, which I attended on Saturday night as the buddy MP.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EI wasn\u2019t sure what I was walking into, because my electorate of Taieri is up the road, and I was really concerned that I was going to walk into a massive problem of this huge youth problem. And, indeed, when people stood up, there was a whole parade of people appointed from the panel, handpicked in the audience, to vindicate the mayor\u2019s stance that this is a very dangerous city and that these youth need real consequences. There were some harrowing stories. There were people who had had cars stolen, set fire to, and so on. And I don\u2019t want to diminish their angst. But the one good thing that happened at this meeting\u2014apart from the fact that there were about 150 people, so we had to move from a small room upstairs to downstairs, where it was fuller\u2014was that the mayor did let every single person that wanted to address the audience speak. And there was some incredibly rich and authentic and generous sharing that went on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EWhat transpired was that there are many community groups there working with youth; that the Invercargill Initiative has shown that 23 percent of youth in Invercargill live in deprivation, which is much higher than the national average; that there are parents who work multiple jobs who find it very difficult to be at home; and that there are intergenerational issues around parenting, around violence, around poverty. There are sports interventions where kids can go and play sport to keep busy, but they happen to happen in the north of the city, and where the kids in the south who are wanting to play sport would love to join in, they can\u2019t afford the transport to get up there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EThere was only one youth voice in the room, and that was a really brave young woman called Paige. She was challenged about what she said, and she made the point that youth don\u2019t feel safe to speak in those spaces. Now, I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s a general observation or if that\u2019s particular to that meeting and to the way it was set up by the conveners of the meeting, but Paige insisted on evidence-based solutions. She talked about the link between the small number of people who commit youth crime and the high incidence of domestic violence and family violence. People spoke about the need for resourcing, about making sure that we tackle family violence. There were issues raised around public cuts: how is this investment going to happen? How are we going to prevent youth offending when there are cuts to the Public Service? The point was made that the earlier children are put into the criminal justice system the more likely it is they will go on to become recidivist offenders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003ESo as much as the council and the mayor and the local MP, Penny Simmonds, would love to have had a silver bullet to resolve this issue, it is multifaceted. The impression I was left with was that this is a community that really, deeply cares about the issue. It was such a shame that there wasn\u2019t a safe space for youth to come in and contribute. But there are really active groups working there. There are churches. There were security guards. The council has said it is spending $2.2 million on security cameras. Paige made the point, \u201CWhy don\u2019t you put that into prevention? Why don\u2019t you put that into youth development?\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EIt was a 3\u00BD-hour meeting in Invercargill. I got to learn a lot about the community. I got to learn about the diversity there, the fact that people have families that have lived there for generations, and that they are a community that deeply care. I\u2019m so proud to be the buddy MP, and I do hope that the next time this issue is reported on, the reporters do listen to all the voices and not just take the easy line, which is making the youth the fall guys for a problem that really belongs to the whole of our communities. This is a problem that\u2019s not going to go away quickly. I can feel the passion and the commitment from the community. I am there to work alongside them, and I really look forward to seeing what steps we can make to ensure that everybody knows that Invercargill is a fantastic little city. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022 data-id=\u0022a19cbeaa75fb4d569f372d3bbc235f00\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a19cbeaa75fb4d569f372d3bbc235f00\u0022\u003EJOSEPH MOONEY (National\u2014Southland):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity to speak in this debate. I rise as the member for Southland. Just to quickly put it in a framework, Southland is the size\u2014well, it\u2019s bigger than Belgium. It covers a region which has five district councils covering different parts of it and two regional councils, so a huge area that stretches from Queenstown down to \u014Cwaka, Pounawea, Papatowai at the bottom and has much of Fiordland National Park in it and a good chunk of Central Otago. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EWith that, I have the Queenstown Lakes District\u2014a good chunk of it is in my electorate, including the city of Queenstown. The Queenstown Lakes District, between 1996 and 2020, had an average annual population growth of 5.3 percent. That\u2019s an annual average growth of 5.3 percent. To put that in perspective, that means the population doubles in just over 13\u00A0years. Not only that, in addition to the resident population, we have one of the highest numbers of visitors in New Zealand. In fact, in January this year the numbers at the airport hit record numbers, so more than we had in 2020. What that means, in real terms, is that the Queensland Lakes District is growing incredibly rapidly and has a lot of growing challenges that come with that. I was very proud to see the Minister Simeon Brown down in Queenstown last week to announce a $250 million transport package, that the coalition Government had agreed, to up the funding by $120 million to address some of those needs, although I would say that there is a lot more that needs to be done in that region, but I\u00A0appreciate that we are in a challenging fiscal time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EWith that growth, I also have a good chunk of Central Otago. If we look at the combined population of Central Lakes, that\u2019s a resident population of 79,000, which is nearing the size of Palmerston North city. The peak day population\u2014that\u2019s resident and visitor\u2014is 177,746, which is near equivalent to Hamilton city. So this is a very big population that we have that has rapidly grown and will continue to rapidly grow into the future, and, with that, we need a lot more roading infrastructure, we need three waters infrastructure, and we need a lot more housing and energy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EI\u2019m going to, in the short time available to me, touch on farming. Farming is an incredibly important part of my region. I have sheep and beef farming, dairy farming, grain, and a lot more. I\u2019m just going to touch on sheep and beef farming, because I\u2019m hearing repeatedly from very experienced farmers that this is the toughest time they\u2019ve seen in their sector since the 1980s. That has been confirmed by the latest Beef \u002B Lamb report, which said the updated forecasts for profits will be down 54 percent, to an average of $62,600 per farm. That\u2019s a 67 percent fall in farm profits from the 2021-22 year to levels not seen since the 1980s, except for the global financial crisis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EThere has been no real recovery from China in terms of our demand for our products and the exports of red meat out of Australia have been bigger than forecast. On top of that, the on-farm costs as well as the inflationary impact of interest rates have been significant, so this is a very, very challenging time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EI\u2019m proud to be part of the coalition Government that is working hard to reduce the red tape on farmers, that is working hard to develop its relationships around the world for alternative markets that we can sell our goods into.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EI will also, in the time available, touch briefly on Southland roads. So Southland has the second-biggest roading network in New Zealand. We have a roading network that is a total of 4,969 kilometres in length. Just under 2,000 kilometres of those are sealed, and just under 3,000 kilometres are unsealed. We have 1,121 bridges, and, of those, at present, 68 bridges are either closed or weight restricted, and 134 of those bridges will require replacing by 2034. Again, recognising that there are big roading challenges across the country, there have been, obviously, big weather events, but I just want to signal that we do have some significant challenges with our bridges, which is also reflected in the Central Otago District Council, which has at least 30 bridges\u201417 percent of the network\u2014that will be near the end of their useful life within the next 10 years, and roading costs have increased 10 to 20 percent within those years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003EThe last thing I\u2019ll just touch on is Department of Conservation concessions\u2014an incredibly important issue and I\u2019m proud to have a conservation Minister who is focusing deeply on and has already been to Milford Sound to address our issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022 data-id=\u0022ec3ee1b394f748efab5c93e49ec8eb01\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ec3ee1b394f748efab5c93e49ec8eb01\u0022\u003ETAMATHA PAUL (Green\u2014Wellington Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to talk about my electorate P\u014Dneke, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington Central, and the housing emergency that has become far too common here in our capital city.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EWellington\u2019s rents are among the highest in the country. The average house price in Wellington is about $1 million, far out of reach for most people who live here. We have 2,395 people waiting for a home on the public housing wait-list, and homelessness is increasing, particularly at both ends of the age spectrum where you see more young people, more rangatahi sleeping on our streets, on Lambton Quay and Courtenay Place. But we\u2019re also seeing more kaum\u0101tua and more older people represented in homelessness, sleeping in cars, overcrowding. That, to me, is a deeply shameful thing for our city.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EThe experience that renters in Wellington have of being too sick to work or study because of the old, mouldy, heritage-protected flats that we have to live in is far too common in Wellington. The experience of waiting in line with 100 others at every single flat viewing that you go to is far too common in Wellington. Having your landlord or property manager suck every single cent out of you that they can for supposed damages, not being able to do something as simple as use Blu Tack on the wall in your rental home without inciting absolute fury and rage from your landlord, having your rent put up despite no improvements to the home that you live in; these experiences are far too common in Wellington. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EThat can be attributed to the lack of public housing that we have here in Wellington. It\u2019s been a long and fast abandonment and degradation of public housing here in Wellington, and the provision of public housing by our council and by K\u0101inga Ora has\u00A0been an important part of the whakapapa of this city, acknowledging how important it is to have mixed communities where people from all different backgrounds are represented. We have the Gordon Wilson Flats sitting derelict and empty on The\u00A0Terrace, which we can\u2019t do anything about because they\u2019re heritage protected. We have the Dixon Street Flats, home to over 100 public housing tenants, that has been closed and emptied due to its designation as an earthquake-prone building. We have the\u00A0Granville Flats, owned by council and operated by K\u0101inga Ora, home to 144 tenants; that has been closed and soon to be demolished. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EOur supply of public housing in Wellington has been in decline for a long time, and that means that all of the wh\u0101nau and all of the children who are just waiting for the opportunity to start their lives and have a good life, with that home as the foundation to that start of their life, will be waiting even longer. So I want to use my five minutes today to encourage the Minister of Housing, who has paused the Arlington development in Mount Cook, which is 350 new public homes to be delivered\u2014we desperately need those public houses, and my plea to Minister Bishop is that he will make sure that project is delivered, because there are high expectations from the city\u2019s MPs, from the city council, from the regional council, and from our communities that that project will be delivered\u2014and I will be focusing my energy and attention on making sure that is delivered. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EWe are a city that embraces public housing, which is a big flex given many communities around the country often oppose the presence of public housing in their neighbourhood. But we are a city that embraces the presence of public housing in our community. But we realise that there is money to be made in the absence of public housing, which is why there has been such a degradation of our public housing offering here in Wellington. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EWe can be the first city to end homelessness and to not have it in our streets, but, in order to do that, we need more public housing, we need to have the wraparound care that people need to live the best lives possible, and that is something that I know we\u2019ll be very proud of into the future. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022d3e7a18588814758942fa8d1ff62f61f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d3e7a18588814758942fa8d1ff62f61f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I call Dan Bidois.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a4677e73b004d93a96f62921a90f9eb\u0022\u003EDan Bidois\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022520a3463ee01497b9c69c223bd52eb7d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, hang on, sorry, my apologies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f3ee87c4c3e4f4e9bacadc77c3e8ed5\u0022\u003EDan Bidois\u003C/span\u003E: No, it\u2019s Cameron Luxton.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225bdae306f57444e4966c6141573df31a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I call Cameron Luxton, sorry, who was calling when Dan Bidois was sitting there quietly not calling. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022 data-id=\u002284648025a617488c9da16bf339b42dfb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002284648025a617488c9da16bf339b42dfb\u0022\u003ECAMERON LUXTON (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E I appreciate that\u2014thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227207d6164e8e42539363f2a1e4da22dc\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think the two of you look alike; that\u2019s all!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022759591989e924a9daa704b54fad23be1\u0022\u003ECAMERON LUXTON\u003C/span\u003E: Both handsome gentlemen, I hope you mean! Mr Speaker, I appreciate you giving me this call because this speech has been a long time coming. I\u2019m based in the Bay of Plenty electorate, and a large part of that electorate is in the Tauranga City Council area. We have gone a long time without democracy at our local government level. Government is better when decision makers are close to the ground and accountable to the public. And the decisions that have been made in Tauranga to the people living in the beautiful area Tauranga Moana do not feel like they have had accountable government. There have been many issues raised; in a five-minute call, I couldn\u2019t possibly traverse them all, but it has been a great relief of mine to be part of a Government that is going to restore democracy to Tauranga\u2014full democracy\u2014on 20 July 2024. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003EDemocracy was denied to Tauranga. In February 2021, the previous Minister of Local Government\u2014oh, a few ago\u2014was Nanaia Mahuta. She installed four commissioners. These commissioners were given a mandate\u2014and I\u2019m going to get to whether they achieved some of their terms of reference or not. But she extended their term, cancelling local government elections in 2022 for the people of Tauranga. We had no democracy. We watched the rest of the country vote. We wondered when we were going to get a chance to actually have a say.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003EI took part in a by-election, and this by-election for Tauranga was a great experience. I met many people of the Bay, and I talked to so many people who had each had a different concern, but the concern was growing about what the commission was up to. And it has come to pass that we have now got huge debt loads. We have got\u2014you might like this one, Mr Speaker. The people of Christchurch, God bless them\u2014a highly indebted council, unfortunately; I think it\u2019s about $9,300 per ratepayer. Well, in Tauranga, we\u2019re at $17,000 per ratepayer. We have the highest city rates for residential property and our commercial rates are growing rapidly. We have now, under the auspices and the decisions of the commissioners, agreed to hundreds of millions of dollars of infrastructure which is a \u201Cnice-to-have\u201D, not a must-have. We have got a long-term plan which has got\u2014you know, you can love and hate either part of it, but people didn\u2019t feel like they were properly consulted, that they had a chance to put in what they thought should be done in their city. This is the sort of thing that happens when you don\u2019t have decision makers close to the ground.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003EWe saw this go to the head of some of the commissioners. Now, what happened recently is the chair of the commission\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b464a62e-d900-452a-b842-e3cf4ccc6149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e386be52a12945f4abab5e20f547f357\u0022\u003EArena Williams\u003C/span\u003E: Great commissioner!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258a860311c9a4a6b8ce7ae119c7bf920\u0022\u003ECAMERON LUXTON\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, well, you might say that, Arena, but she also thought hybrid democracy was something that the people of Tauranga would want\u2014unelected commissioners governing in a co-governance between unelected and elected decision-makers. Now, I would have to say that is an admission of failure. One of the terms of reference was to work with council to encourage quality candidates to stand. Now, that piece of media that the chair gave goes\u2014and to prove that she felt that they hadn\u2019t achieved that. On top of that, they were tasked with taking any other necessary steps to maintain confidence from the community in the council. I would say to you that that has not happened.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003EDemocracy is coming back, but because we have got an out-of-cycle electoral system for our local government in Tauranga, there has been a change which has been asked for in the general election. My colleague on the other side of the House spoke about what she sees is the benefit of M\u0101ori wards. I see them as a divisive and very unfortunate thing in a 21st century democracy. We in this Government have voted to give councils the chance to repeal or have a referendum on local government having a M\u0101ori ward. Well, unfortunately for Tauranga, we\u2019re going to have to wait, because of this out-of-cycle electoral system that has been put in place by the last Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003EWith 10 seconds on the clock, I would just like to say that it is a relief to have democracy back in Tauranga. We shouldn\u2019t have waited this long, but like my neighbours, I will be relishing casting my vote in July.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u00225fcaa20676554f5782006ace602cc3ff\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225fcaa20676554f5782006ace602cc3ff\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E The issue with which I wish to speak about in some seriousness in my community of Northcote is about crime. Nothing typifies the impact that this has had on my community more than the tragic killing of Joshua Tasi, a 28-year-old, 13 months ago and the impact that that had on his family, his loved ones, the first responders that had to deal with him, and those who knew him in our community and the wider community. Crime has had a devastating impact in the Northcote electorate. In addition to this incident, we\u2019ve had kidnappings, assaults, shopliftings, break-ins, ram raids, and more.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ENow, I want to speak with some seriousness about the positives that are going on in our community with respect to crime prevention. There\u2019s some great initiatives in my community. For example, the Kaip\u0101tiki Youth Development Trust looks at identifying at-risk kids, or kids that have offended, and trying to provide mentorship and other types of wraparound services to keep these kids on a solid footing. There\u2019s initiatives like Steps to Success, that the Kaip\u0101tiki Communities Facilities Trust organises, that provides youth with some skills and motivation to get out there and apply for jobs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s truancy services that do a wonderful job in our community in making sure our kids turn up to school on a daily basis. There\u2019s initiatives like Community Patrol\u2014which I\u2019m a member of, or try to be\u2014that do a fantastic job volunteering in our community and patrolling the streets, often at night, to make sure our communities are kept safe. And not just in my community but there\u2019s some great initiatives throughout Auckland. For example, the Vanguard Military School, which looks at offering youth who aren\u2019t succeeding in mainstream and may end up actually offending, a way of engaging in education and training and getting ahead in life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ENow, I\u2019m extremely happy that we\u2019ve started down the pathway in our 100-day\u00A0plan\u00A0to address rising crime to make our community safer. For example, two initiatives I\u00A0wish to speak about: the young offender military academy programme, which is going\u00A0to start later on this year and it\u2019s going to be trialled in Auckland. That is based off the\u00A0Limited Services Volunteer programme that is actually in my colleague the\u00A0Hon\u00A0Chris Penk\u2019s electorate up in Whenuapai. That is a great initiative and I look\u00A0forward to that being established.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve also looked at giving police more powers, which is a great start. But I do want to speak to where we need more support. What we need more support to address rising crime and make our communities safe is in two key areas. The first is the reactive actions and the second is in the proactive actions. Reactive ones include restoring consequences for crime, making sure there are, in fact, tougher sentences\u2014we\u2019ve got the Minister of Justice here who will be introducing laws to limit the amount judges can deduct from offenders when they\u2019re sentenced. Those are great initiatives which I think will go a long way to reducing crime in our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EBut there\u2019s also some proactive measures that we can focus on, and I think the biggest one we can focus on a proactive way is offering youth a way out of their current predicament, and that is by encouraging apprenticeships and encouraging further training opportunities. The one issue that I\u2019ve had given to me about the military academies\u2014which I know and I\u2019ve spoken to the Minister of Police about\u2014is making sure that there\u2019s pastoral care once these kids come out of these academies. So it\u2019s all very well for them to go on and get this great training and mentoring, but when they get placed back into their home environment they\u2019re often back reoffending. So we need to make sure that there\u2019s actually good pastoral care to help these kids as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWe need to drive out the gangs of our communities\u2014which there are in my community as well as others\u2014and also tool up community organisations; organisations like Big Buddy that do a great job of mentorship. So we\u2019ve got a lot to do in law and order, I\u2019m happy with the Government\u2019s approach, and thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022 data-id=\u00223f3c8632ac6543f6832642c22772c69a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223f3c8632ac6543f6832642c22772c69a\u0022\u003EHELEN WHITE (Labour\u2014Mt Albert):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have the great privilege\u2014and it was a squeaky, lucky privilege\u2014of representing Mt Albert, because I have a very, very slim majority. I\u2019ve lived in that area for 32 years, so you can imagine how incredibly wonderful it is to be the MP for an area that you have such a strong commitment to and know like the back of your hand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EI want to talk today about a couple of things which, really, I\u2019ve thought about in terms of the role that I\u2019ve got, in terms of the value that I can really bring to the area. There\u2019s this interesting role that you\u2019re playing\u2014I sometimes think our role is a bit like an octopus: it\u2019s got all these tentacles, all these places you can go. One of the big disciplines that you have to bring to the job is making sure you\u2019re not just exploring things; you\u2019re bringing it back to the hub of what you\u2019re doing so that you\u2019re actually producing stuff for your community. Because we\u2019re in central government, there are some things which we can have a big influence on and some where we act much more as guides and leaders and encouragers in our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003ESo I want to give the House an example of one of the ones where I think that an MP can make a real difference, and that\u2019s the housing policy in an area. Now, one of the things I\u2019ve become increasingly interested in is long-term rental, and that\u2019s happening in my community thanks to Simplicity, which is a KiwiSaver provider. It is building houses that aren\u2019t for ownership; they are for long-term, secure rental. Now, I have relatives who will never be able to afford to buy a house. I don\u2019t come from a family with lots of money, and I was lucky enough to buy a house when they were much cheaper. So I have relatives who\u2019ve never owned a house. If you have long-term rental, you have a possibility if you are one of those people to actually have a home, not have, as my Green colleague was talking about, somebody worrying about where you\u2019re putting the Blu Tack. What Simplicity do so well is they maintain those houses and they provide that kind of secure rental. There\u2019s a huge development going up in Morningside Drive; I think it\u2019s 256 houses going in there, and there\u2019s another one further in the electorate of 56 houses. So this is providing ordinary people with an alternative to ownership.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s actually really, really helpful for our economy too, because it is allowing people to spend their money in the productive sector. They can put it into their small businesses, they can put it into the sharemarket, which actually helps us build businesses in New Zealand. Housing is very dubious in terms of what it does if we all invest in housing, so long-term rental is a definite part of the solution. We had a whole lot of things when the Labour Party was part of the Government which were to incentivise this, and I\u2019d urge the new Government to keep on thinking about new incentives, because some of those incentives have been taken away because of recent changes. So it\u2019s really, really important we keep our eye on this ball, because it\u2019s important to communities like mine.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EI want to just briefly touch on some of the other things that make a community great, where we might not have the same influence but I certainly recognise the value of them. One is gardens, actually. There\u2019s a garden called Sanctuary Gardens, and there\u2019s a big dispute at the moment about it because its land was promised as a garden and there is an issue about whether the land will be used for that purpose, because it\u2019s in the middle of a housing development. It\u2019s something I can\u2019t influence in the same way, but I can encourage all the parties to think very seriously about the value of that garden to the community, because there are people participating in that community and they bring great joy to lots of people, those gardens. They allow people to get in there and work in the garden, and that\u2019s incredibly good for them. It\u2019s got an archaeological significance, that garden, because I\u2019ve seen some of the things that have come out of it because it\u2019s been a gardening spot for apparently a very, very long time because it\u2019s in perfect soil.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EI\u2019d also like to talk about the small businesses in the community. They\u2019re so important. They give Mt Albert, the Mt Albert electorate, some of the best food, I think, in the world. It\u2019s a wonderful place for food. It is reasonable, it makes our city vibrant, and it is punching above its weight. So a shout-out to the small businesses as well. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022 data-id=\u00224d17b309396c45978c1be13296011f5d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224d17b309396c45978c1be13296011f5d\u0022\u003ESCOTT WILLIS (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would just like to put it on the\u00A0record that I am a proud South Islander. I was born in Dunedin Hospital sometime in\u00A0the 20th century, but now \u014Ctepoti Dunedin and Otago residents need healthcare facilities for the 21st century.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EThe deep South is so often forgotten by Wellington, so when the previous Government announced plans for Dunedin Hospital, people were over the moon. That was great news. Here finally was a Government doing more than just talk; Labour and the Greens putting money down for the largest hospital rebuild in New Zealand\u2014for the deep South.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002239bc031917f54cfbba7c1279dcf9590e\u0022\u003EHon Mark Patterson\u003C/span\u003E: The Greens weren\u2019t even part of it. I didn\u2019t see you in that\u00A0coalition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265a9dad9ca01477b92ee7568b6fdae03\u0022\u003ESCOTT WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The old hospital, still in use, has a clinical services building in a parlous state, with leaks, asbestos, and it\u2019s beyond end of life\u2014an actual trigger for the Dunedin Hospital. Yeah, I think New Zealand First might have been involved there, as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EIn the deep South, we need healthcare for the regional population. We need a major tertiary teaching hospital with a space for medical, nursing, and allied healthcare training. We need buildings that can cope with the future pandemic and environmental disasters and be able to continue. My father-in-law, who\u2019d retired from an illustrious career in surgery, was part of a working group looking at final detailed design\u2014how many sinks, how many doors, where they should be placed\u2014right up until Labour began trimming the budget and\u00A0causing a major redesign. Budget savings; trimmed clinical wards, operating theatres, radiology\u2014promises may win you friends, but failure to deliver will turn them against you.\u00A0The Dunedin City Council undertook a great campaign called \u201CThey save. We pay.\u201D I\u00A0wonder whether that had some impact on the election result.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EDuring the election campaign, I was so heartened to hear National\u2019s support for fully funding the Dunedin Hospital, for undoing the cuts that Labour had made, and it\u2019s a real pleasure when we find agreement across the House and support for our green commitment to the deep South. So National promised\u2014indeed, committed\u2014to reinstate the PET scanner, to replace the cut aged-care beds, to build the original number of operating theatres. National promised at least an additional $30 million on top of the $1.6 billion. It\u2019s a costly exercise, and it needs to be done right. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EThis Government has told us repeatedly how bad things were prior to the election. The PM says he\u2019s focused on delivering the things that matter to our communities. I heard that this afternoon. The PM has said that people need to live better lives and that he\u2019s going to get things done and deliver better outcomes, yet I have submitted many questions to Minister Reti seeking a response on whether National will honour its pre-election commitment, and the Minister will not give a straight answer. We have an infrastructure deficit and an information deficit. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EWhy can\u2019t this Government give the kind of basic reassurance that the whole of Dunedin and Otago is desperate to hear? After all, they have given a massive tax break to the landlords of student flats in north Dunedin. So why can\u2019t they just fund a decent hospital, which they promised in the election campaign? When folks in Dunedin count the cost of this election, what do they see? A Government that has given tax breaks to landlords, that\u2019s mislaid their cast-iron promise to fund our hospital, and that\u2019s repealed three waters, leading to looming massive rises to rates. So we don\u2019t need any more word salads. Is the Minister simply as hollow as the Prime Minister?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s tragically true that this Government is all about slogans over action. But for once\u2014for once\u2014it would be wonderful if this Government would simply honour its\u00A0promise to fully fund the Dunedin Hospital. The deep South is watching. Promises may win you friends, but failure to deliver will turn them against you. So that\u2019s my question to the Government: will you commit to your promise?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022 data-id=\u0022d846ff3f677d4519a56f75339bebbdff\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d846ff3f677d4519a56f75339bebbdff\u0022\u003ELEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour\u2014M\u0101ngere):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am very pleased to take this call, because I want to talk about M\u0101ngere. I know that across the House, you all come to M\u0101ngere. Why? Because the airports are in M\u0101ngere.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003EMy issue is a local issue. I want to zone in on vapes and vaping stores and vape harm. We have 21 schools in our rohe. We have 11 primary schools, three intermediates, and the rest are our high schools and our kura. In a recent meeting that I have had with school principals across the rohe, we have great alarm\u2014year 4, year 5, year 6 in our primary schools.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003ESo I want to help highlight the problem for the members right across the House, because it\u2019s actually quite timely that in today\u2019s Dominion Post, the Minister, Minister Costello, talks about\u2014it\u2019s reported in this article that there has been a reduction of staff who know the business in terms of regulatory and compliance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003EIn talking to a number of the deputy principals across the rohe, it is alarming that young children of year 4, year 5, year 6 are now bringing these little devices into schools, and school principals are saying that one dedicated head teacher needs to deal with the problems of our young tamariki.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003EI wanted to highlight this issue today, because I know a lot of people across T\u0101maki-makau-rau, across the country\u2014and I\u2019m specifically talking about adults, who have the\u00A0sound mind to make decisions, but we are talking about our tamariki, the future of this country. In M\u0101ngere, we have hundreds if not thousands of our little people in year 4, year 5, year 6 that are being exposed. The principals have told me where they get these devices from and the behavioural problems\u2014schools are not resourced to deal with this type of issue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003ESo what I wanted to highlight today in my time was how Minister Costello talks about the Government of the day is going to strengthen the regulatory compliance and enforcement regime around vaping and tobacco sales. Really, as a member of Parliament, I\u2019m concerned in my local rohe that our young babies are being exposed to this vaping. We have got far too many vaping shops in M\u0101ngere, and I\u2019m sure right across South Auckland, very similar instances. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000627\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003EBut when a former senior health ministry staffer says that there\u2019s going to be cuts\u2014and I know that this Government has talked about tax cuts\u2014this Government is making choices that is harming the flow-on effect. Can I say that when you lose dedicated, well-trained, well-evidenced regulatory staff who deal with these types of problems, going around local communities and looking at vaping stores and just checking\u2014because on the Ministry of Health website, it\u2019s really easy to become a specialist vape retailer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000628\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003EMy plea: the Government needs to consider that the policies that you are making, these tax cuts, the flow-on effect to our tamariki in M\u0101ngere\u2014this a really serious problem.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000629\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003EIn my time that is left, I want to highlight the difference, because in M\u0101ngere as well\u00A0we had some good news. We had some good news that one of our kura is the highest-achieving kura in the country with regards to NCEA results\u2014highest-achieving kura for 2023.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022db7fcb82-2c50-44e1-9f32-d9138c14006e\u0022\u003ESo my plea is that in suburbs like M\u0101ngere where you\u2019ve got a number of challenges regarding socio-economics, this is a problem that we do not want. How do we work together across the House? These vaping devices, they\u2019re poison. It\u2019s really poisoning our tamariki\u2019s brain development. I\u2019m not a medical specialist, but I\u2019m highlighting as a parent the dangers when we take our eyes off regulatory and compliance for this poison product that is sold in street corner dairies. We have a massive problem looming before us. So that is my plea to the House. Thank you, Mr Speaker, for my time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000631\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b618b99972d14a248ed00c4c4a209792\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: There\u2019s three minutes left.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b8550e1a-ed25-44a2-b0e2-b0a8d52a7a80\u0022 data-id=\u0022331126f834584903a993c38077a42d5e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000632\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8550e1a-ed25-44a2-b0e2-b0a8d52a7a80\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022331126f834584903a993c38077a42d5e\u0022\u003ERACHEL BOYACK (Labour\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I really appreciate the opportunity to take a call on what is a really important local issue for my electorate of Nelson. I want to take the short time I have available to talk about Maitai School.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000633\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8550e1a-ed25-44a2-b0e2-b0a8d52a7a80\u0022\u003EMaitai School is a school for students with significant learning disabilities, students with intellectual disabilities, but also many of them have significant physical disabilities and they need specialist education provision. The school has been working on a rebuild for nearly 10 years. When I visited the school, you could see exactly why the rebuild of the school was just so necessary. There was a point a few years ago, where the school had to build an off-site toilet block because there wasn\u2019t actually a proper toilet block for students who used a wheelchair. This is the severe nature of the state of the buildings.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000634\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8550e1a-ed25-44a2-b0e2-b0a8d52a7a80\u0022\u003EThe school has three satellites, where they actually provide the education provision to their students but within a mainstream environment. It\u2019s such a fantastic way of the students being able to wear a local school uniform, participate in local activities, but still receive the specialist education that they need. They have three satellites: one is at Henley Primary School in Richmond; one, a new one, which we opened in T\u0101hunanui School last year; and the other is due to be worked on at Nayland high school, but that rebuild is currently at risk\u2014so too is the full rebuild of the school on another site at Salisbury School location, which is also due for a rebuild.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000635\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8550e1a-ed25-44a2-b0e2-b0a8d52a7a80\u0022\u003ESo, in 2019, the Labour Government announced a rebuild of Salisbury School and\u00A0Maitai School on the site of Salisbury School. What happened, though, was we had some massive challenges around the schools co-locating and which part of the site they\u00A0would be on. So the school came to me as the local MP in 2022, pleading for support. So myself and the then Minister Jan Tinetti visited the school and engaged heavily with the Ministry of Education, and we actually got that rebuild back on track. It had gone off the rails a little bit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000636\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227318a87649af4b8e82b1bde4bbf01997\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Back on track.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000637\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8550e1a-ed25-44a2-b0e2-b0a8d52a7a80\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e94154f324a34fe5a34cda44eec966af\u0022\u003ERACHEL BOYACK\u003C/span\u003E: We got it\u2014the Labour Party got it back on track.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000638\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b8550e1a-ed25-44a2-b0e2-b0a8d52a7a80\u0022\u003EWe have been working for the last two years. In November last year, the school submitted a Budget bid. That rebuild is now on hold. That\u2019s appalling. It is about the Government\u2019s choices. Now, you can say what you like about whether we do a review of the rebuild of all the schools that we need to do, but there should have been ring-fencing for students with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. So I\u2019m calling on the Minister to come to the meeting on Thursday in Nelson so that we, instead of tax cuts for landlords, can rebuild Maitai School.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022ac0631b56d914cc99a979813b995773e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000639\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ac0631b56d914cc99a979813b995773e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The time for this debate has concluded. The House will suspend for the dinner break.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000640\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003ESitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.\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=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000641\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222d30640ac67e4ca2936c9b4795926a0f\u0022\u003EMisuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000642\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00221d73bc8b654d49c587ccfd51489ba64d\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000643\u0022\u003EDebate resumed.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022 data-id=\u002245e20e5428184477ba00541ae3a96578\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000644\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002245e20e5428184477ba00541ae3a96578\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: Members, the House is resumed on the interrupted debate on the third reading of the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022 data-id=\u00229cab49b3aefe4b9286a282a1b1ae799d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000645\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229cab49b3aefe4b9286a282a1b1ae799d\u0022\u003EHon CASEY COSTELLO (Associate Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E I rise to speak in support of the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill. I recall, the last time I spoke on this piece of legislation, I had an oncoming cold, which then I was punished significantly by after speaking about the bill, and was considerably congested for several days. So I hope the same does not jinx me again today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000646\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve touched at length regarding the introductions to legislation, which is widely supported across the House. It is a simple and logical step towards providing a solution that is necessary. The reclassification is a small step. It is, as has been reflected in the House, somewhat frustrating that it is such a protracted process to achieve this outcome, but I think it\u2019s important to go back and look at the logic behind why this amendment occurred and why the reclassification occurred in the first instance, to defend those decisions and to demonstrate, largely, that as a House we have an opportunity to continuously review and reflect on what we\u2019re doing and why we\u2019re doing it and to revisit those decisions when it\u2019s necessary.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EWhen methamphetamine first touched on the New Zealand crime scene, we were not prepared for it as a country, and we were not prepared for it across the board in terms of our ability to manage the criminal component, the health risks, and the drug management. It was an unprecedented, addictive drug that methamphetamine brought to New Zealand, and as a result, we reacted as a country in the best way we knew how. At the time, pseudoephedrine was a contributing component to the manufacture of methamphetamine. I know that has been discussed regarding the risk of reintroducing or reclassifying this medicine back into the market, but I think that as we\u2019ve learnt as\u00A0time has gone by, the manner in which we receive methamphetamine into our criminal elements in New Zealand has changed so markedly and methamphetamine has become so cheap to produce and so prevalently produced that the risk presented by pseudoephedrine bought legitimately or obtained legitimately from the markets to be used to manufacture methamphetamine really isn\u2019t the risk that it would be. As has been reflected on by members on this side of the House, it is not commercially viable to do that. It is also a risky process and a difficult process to do, and the risk that it presents is relatively minimal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000648\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EThe important thing to recall is that we are not introducing it uncontrolled. We are introducing it, or reclassifying it, with supports around how it will be used, how it will be managed, and how it will be regulated for importation to prevent those large-scale importations getting into the wrong hands. So, again, we have controls and balance in place, and I think the approach that\u2019s been taken is logical and sensible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000649\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EThe timing could not be more appropriate: we are hitting the flu season. I come from a family heavily afflicted with respiratory issues and asthma and the likes, and a pseudoephedrine decongestant will be a lifesaver to our comfort levels as we hit the winter season. So I think, hopefully, as we reach Royal ascent on this piece of legislation, the timing will be excellent in terms of being able to provide some relief to our suffering communities during the winter season.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000650\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI think I\u2019m heartened, to some degree, that we have been able to collectively, across the House, look at this issue and take some consideration that we are heading in the right direction, that logic has prevailed, and that we\u2019re doing something sensible and suitable to reflect. I suppose, to go back, it\u2019s a really small component. We are reclassifying it from one classification to another to enable it to still be regulated and controlled but to be able to be marketed and used as it\u2019s supposed to be, sold and purchased through pharmaceutical premises, and to be ensured that we are maintaining a capture of information as necessary for those who are purchasing it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EThe reality is that methamphetamine will remain a significant risk to us, and we have talked largely about crime and criminality in this country and how we are to be able to pivot and respond more sensibly and logically around the prevention and reduction of methamphetamine harm in New Zealand society. But the reality is that pseudoephedrine has long since passed as being a contributor to that criminal component, and I think that we have achieved a logical and sensible response in what we\u2019re achieving. It is a good cold and flu medication. It is a helpful product. It is necessary for us as a society to be able to look back at the decisions we\u2019ve made and applaud ourselves, because I think at the time we did react well and appropriately and it was well timed in terms of what we did. Now we need to move on, and we need to look at focusing our energies where they need to be and focusing our resources where they need to be and ensuring that we are supporting the health of New Zealanders. I hope that this is a demonstration of how we can continue to work effectively to review our position on a range of issues and work cooperatively across the House to come up with sensible solutions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000652\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EIt seems bizarre that we\u2019ve had to go through such a long process, but I think when it comes to drugs, medicines, and those products that have the potential for creating criminal harm in New Zealand, we do take the time to pause and analyse and reflect on what we\u2019re trying to do, and I think that\u2019s what we\u2019ve done here; we\u2019ve really taken the time to analyse what we\u2019re focusing on, which is the health of New Zealanders, and balancing it with the ability to control crime and the adverse impacts of really dangerous drugs that are being flooded into our market, and that we continue to be able to pivot and respond and react as we move forward, battling what is a significant scourge on our society.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI think that we have the ability to afford protections\u2014and I know there\u2019s been discussion around the ability to secure these drugs in the pharmacies in safes, but the practicality has to win out, and I think, again, the practicality has won out in terms of a logical approach as to how we deal with the sale of these drugs. On the crime element\u2014and we\u2019ve touched on it before\u2014pharmacies have the option to not stock these items if they believe they have a higher risk, but I think that we are moving forward as a society and that we are not going to prevent businesses from trading legitimately for fear of crime. I think we have to be a lot more sensible about putting in protections and ensuring that we have a strong approach to law and order so businesses can do their businesses legitimately and we, for fear of the impacts of crime, are not restricting what they can do. I think that\u2019s another balance that we need to strike as we move forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000654\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003ESo I think, logically, we have achieved a good outcome here. Generally, looking at the debate we\u2019ve had so far, we are taking a sensible and logical approach. We are producing an answer for the winter season coming ahead. We are reviewing decisions that we\u2019ve made historically, and we have not been constrained by that, so we have the\u00A0ability to move forward and effectively deliver a practical solution. I think and I\u00A0hope that we have delivered a solution that demonstrates our ability to work cooperatively, listen to the public, listen to the people of New Zealand, and actually deliver a good solution for New Zealanders with the winter season ahead. So I take great\u00A0pleasure in commending this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002256295840-7a18-46fb-bbb3-164ac3edf716\u0022 data-id=\u002253482c98a1d641a4817c7b3644b4f65d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000655\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002256295840-7a18-46fb-bbb3-164ac3edf716\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002253482c98a1d641a4817c7b3644b4f65d\u0022\u003ETAKUTAI TARSH KEMP (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014T\u0101maki Makaurau):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou e te Whare. I take the last call for Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori on this piece of legislation. What I want to do is actually paint the picture of what this legislation means to us in our communities, our vulnerable communities, our M\u0101ori communities, and just share really what it\u2019s truly like to be on the ground with wh\u0101nau on the daily, experiencing what the impact of this drug has. P destroys our wh\u0101nau. P is a killer of our m\u0101m\u0101, our p\u0101p\u0101, our nannies, our koroua, our brothers, our sisters, our aunties, our uncles, and our cousins. This drug is a killer in our communities, and it\u2019s available on every street corner. If you come to my local community, it\u2019s everywhere. This legislation allows it to be even more accessible and puts it into the hands of our wh\u0101nau who don\u2019t need this drug. It\u2019s already killing our families.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000656\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002256295840-7a18-46fb-bbb3-164ac3edf716\u0022\u003ETe P\u0101ti M\u0101ori don\u2019t support this piece of legislation; we oppose it. Why? Because of the harm that it does to our wh\u0101nau and to our communities right across Aotearoa. So we don\u2019t support this piece of legislation. Why? Because we\u2019re all about protecting our whakapapa. We\u2019re all about ensuring that our mokopuna have the best of their wh\u0101nau around them for generations and generations to come. And we know that it\u2019s our people that are the ones that are impacted the most by this drug.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000657\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002256295840-7a18-46fb-bbb3-164ac3edf716\u0022\u003ENow, it\u2019s hypocritical, really, from this Government\u2014to know that they\u2019re lowering the class of this drug so it\u2019s more accessible for medication during the winter wellness. This is just going to allow more things to come\u2014increased crime. It\u2019s another avenue for the ram raids to happen. Our pharmacists are telling us they don\u2019t want to put it on their on their shelves. It\u2019s not that they don\u2019t want medication out there for our wh\u0101nau to have access to, but it\u2019s the risk that comes with the safety of their shops and of their staff by having it available.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000658\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002256295840-7a18-46fb-bbb3-164ac3edf716\u0022\u003EWe don\u2019t need this drug in our communities. We have enough issues amongst our wh\u0101nau. On the daily, in my mahi, when I was the CEO of Manurewa Marae, a lot of these families visited our marae for help. They need kai. They need housing. They need drug awareness programmes. What we\u2019re not seeing in this piece of legislation are enough solutions on how we help those wh\u0101nau that need the support now and who are already impacted by this drug.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000659\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002256295840-7a18-46fb-bbb3-164ac3edf716\u0022\u003EThis drug kills our wh\u0101nau. This drug breaks down and destroys wh\u0101nau units. It\u2019s going to increase crime, it\u2019s going to increase youth offending, and it\u2019s all going to be at the forefront and the brunt of M\u0101ori communities that have to prop up our wh\u0101nau that need support in order to have safety for their wh\u0101nau.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000660\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002256295840-7a18-46fb-bbb3-164ac3edf716\u0022\u003ETe P\u0101ti M\u0101ori oppose this piece of legislation. We want to ensure that our wh\u0101nau are kept safe, that we are making mokopuna decisions for future generations. We know that our kaum\u0101tua and our tamariki are hit the hardest, but we also need to make sure\u00A0that they are safe and they are protected. That\u2019s why we will be opposing this piece of legislation. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022 data-id=\u002207d7a11b8b3c4198a87ff2b073c78283\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000661\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002207d7a11b8b3c4198a87ff2b073c78283\u0022\u003EHon MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. This is my first speech on this piece of legislation through the House, the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill. The Green Party has been very consistent and clear in why we are supporting this bill. Firstly, just to get on the Hansard record what this bill is actually doing, it is changing pseudoephedrine to a class C controlled drug instead of a class B\u2014a downgrading, if you like. And so, as a class C controlled drug, pseudoephedrine will then be available without prescription but will have significant restrictions, such as at the import and export control level.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000662\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge that the member Casey Costello has just also run us through some of the controls and, I guess, protections for drug harm that have been wrapped particularly around this piece of legislation. I too am one of the many members of this House whose direct wh\u0101nau has been very dangerously impacted by, particularly, the use of meth and P\u2014and, clarifying, pseudoephedrine is affiliated to the danger of that\u00A0drug. What has been really, really clear is that a harm reduction approach, therefore, is the most sensible and evidence-based approach that the Government can be taking, including to pseudoephedrine. We would actually like to see more of this approach from\u00A0this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000663\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EI understand, in the speeches from the Government and the honourable member whose bill this is\u2014the speeches have put up and have communicated the driver behind this bill as being more about lessening the restrictions and about accessibility. What the Greens are supporting in this bill is the consistency with taking a harm reduction approach, and consistency with previous positions that we have held.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000664\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003EWhere I do agree with Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori, in terms of the harm reduction, is a harm reduction approach absolutely requires that we look at the context of drug harm. It means making sure that our community wellbeing approach is prioritised. Therefore, that does mean we have to make sure that we have got adequate, quality, affordable housing; incomes; health services\u2014at the very least. I do acknowledge Takutai Tarsh Kemp\u2019s speech in terms of the experience and the work that places like Manurewa Marae have, trying to fill those gaps\u2014trying to fill the wellbeing gaps. What we would like to see, alongside a harm reduction approach, which, actually, I neglect\u2014let me be clear: it is not to follow a straight, narrow criminalisation approach, because that does end up impacting on low-income M\u0101ori and Pasifika communities, for example. What we would like to see alongside a non-criminalisation approach to drugs is a public health approach providing more addiction supports and more of the wellbeing supports that I\u2019ve just talked about\u2014housing, social supports, income, etc.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000665\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003ESo, yes, while we support this bill in opening up access for pseudoephedrine, we have different opinions as to why we are supporting this bill, which are, clearly, about an evidence-based, public health, harm minimisation approach to pseudoephedrine. We look forward to this Government providing more of the environmental supports that need to go around a drug harm support. It has been shown, time and time again, that a criminalisation approach does not support harm reduction and does not support addiction becoming less harmful for people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000666\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a5f0fe84-01e8-4eb3-a590-0025017c4243\u0022\u003ESo it is my honour to be able to state clearly in the House our position for supporting this bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022 data-id=\u0022d3eed5b0a4da4585af99dc9f0d91ee2b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000667\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d3eed5b0a4da4585af99dc9f0d91ee2b\u0022\u003EDr HAMISH CAMPBELL (National\u2014Ilam):\u003C/span\u003E It is my great honour to rise and talk about the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill. I just want to commend the Health Committee, of which I\u2019m the deputy chair, for their great work on this bill. I\u00A0might be a little bit biased!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000668\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003EThis bill is, really, quite a simple bill. It\u2019s quite a small change, but it actually promises to have a great enhancement for the wellbeing of the people of New Zealand. I actually think it\u2019s quite ironic, since it\u2019s actually treating the symptoms of a virus, which is so very small but can have such a devastating effect on people. I think we all know what it\u2019s like to have a cold or the flu. I think statistics would tell us we\u2019d have, on average, two to four colds or flus a year, and since it\u2019s been about 10 years since pseudoephedrine was available in New Zealand\u2014I was just doing a bit of rough calculation as some of the previous speakers were speaking\u2014I actually calculated that that would probably put us at about 52 weeks over those 14 years. For one year of those 14\u00A0years, we have probably been suffering the effects of cold and flu, so I think it\u2019s about time we actually do have effective medication to treat some of those symptoms. And I will point out that it does just treat the symptoms; it doesn\u2019t treat the underlying cause. But it is a very, very effective medication.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000669\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003ENow, this bill has gone through the select committee process, as I mentioned. We had submissions from 169 individuals and nine organisations. Those were a wide range of submissions\u2014most of them were in favour\u2014and that also included submissions from pharmacists. And we\u2019ve heard some of the concerns that others have mentioned here, but it is important to note that, in that select committee, a lot of those submissions were in favour of this medication. I will also point out, as others have pointed out, that this isn\u2019t like Fisherman\u2019s Friend, where you can go and pick it up from the corner dairy; it is still going to be a classified pharmaceutical drug, and you will need to go to the pharmacist to get it. That does help with the checks and balances.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000670\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003EI know some people would have said that it should possibly be a prescription medication\u2014that that would be a better approach to take\u2014but, actually, technically, that\u2019s what it is currently. Technically, it\u2019s available under prescription, but that has meant there\u2019s a very small market, and so it has been withdrawn pretty much from New Zealand. A lot of the pharmaceutical companies have let their product approval lapse, and so they no longer bring the product into New Zealand; so we can no longer benefit from it. And I think probably some of us that have lived longer than 14 years know the benefits of it. I think it\u2019s part of the human condition to actually know what it\u2019s like to suffer from a cold or flu. I\u00A0would say that, but, actually, every living thing that we know can be infected by viruses. So maybe it\u2019s not just us humans.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000671\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003EBut, look, there\u2019s a number of studies and probably a lot of expert opinion, and actually personal opinion, that this medication is probably one of the most effective medications to release nasal congestion and cold symptoms. And while there are alternative medications out there, I would say they don\u2019t even really come close to actually giving the relief that pseudoephedrine-containing cold and flu medications do. I\u2019d also like to point out that this is not something that\u2019s unique to New Zealand; there\u2019s a number of countries where it is available\u2014the likes of Australia, the UK, Canada. They all have these medications available in a similar sort of regime, and they can manage some of the negative side effects; so I think we can too.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000672\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003ENow, cold and flu, people might kind of scoff at it, but it is a huge cost to us as a country and also for our quality of life. I remember just a few years back\u2014I have two young daughters\u2014when they started going to childcare, the number of colds and flus that just seemed to come one after the other. There\u2019s nothing worse than trying to look after two toddlers when you yourself are actually heavily affected by a cold. So this is going to be great, great news for parents who have toddlers who are going through that cold and flu season and who have just started childcare\u2014and it\u2019s going to be cold after cold after cold. So this is going to be great news for them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000673\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003EOf course, I appreciate people will say, \u201CWell, if you\u2019re sick, you should stay at home\u201D, and that is true. But if you\u2019re a young parent, if you\u2019re a sole trader, often you don\u2019t have the choice just to stay at home. We do have a lot more knowledge now, in the general public, about viruses and the ways to protect ourselves with washing our hands, wearing masks, and things like that, but I appreciate that certain members of our society actually can\u2019t just sit down and do nothing just because they\u2019ve got a cold.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000674\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003ENow, of course, the best way to actually treat a cold is actually prevention. I will just bring the House\u2019s attention to a press release by the Minister of Health that came out on 2 April\u2014it was a week ago today\u2014and that was reinforcing the importance of vaccination against flus. In that press release, the Minister of Health highlighted the massive impact that these have on our health system over winter and that we need to take preventative measures to try and protect the most vulnerable people from getting colds. And so that, of course, is now available to people that are over the age of 65, pregnant, those who have mental illness or addiction, and for children and adults likely to get very sick with flu because of a health condition. So it is very important that we try to protect our communities from cold and flu, but we\u2019re never really going to properly, effectively eliminate cold and flu. So then we need suitable medications so that we can actually have a productive economy and also have that quality of life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000675\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003ENow, I do just want to mention that there is the concern that some people might use this to turn it into other drugs, methamphetamines in particular, and that was probably really the big thing that we heard in the select committee against this medication. But I\u00A0think, as we clearly heard, gangs in New Zealand have actually come up with alternative sources for methamphetamines. And I think, in one of the previous readings, we heard about the many hundreds of tonnes that have been intercepted coming to Australia and New Zealand over the last couple of years. That has really changed the way that drugs have been taken in New Zealand. Since the ban of pseudoephedrine, we\u2019ve actually seen the availability of methamphetamines increase. We\u2019ve seen the price absolutely decrease, making it kind of not an economically viable approach to make drugs from pseudoephedrine. So, while it is a concern, and there may be small groups that do use it, I think we need to be mindful of that and try and minimise the harm which has already been talked about.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003EAlso we\u2019ve talked about crime and the safety of pharmacists. Once again, I will just point out that, in the select committee, there was a number of bodies representing pharmacists that were in approval of it. Pharmacists don\u2019t need to stock it if they don\u2019t think it is suitable for their stores. There was also talk about lock and key. We have heard that that is not practical for this medication, and, really, it was the regulations that blocked this medication. It wasn\u2019t completely banned. It could have been used, but the regulation stopped it being easily accessible. And I think, really, when we talk about this drug, it\u2019s actually about making sure that New Zealanders can have access to a really effective drug during those horrible cold and flu seasons. And, as I said earlier, in the last 14 years, we\u2019ve probably had a year of our lives that have been affected by it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000677\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003ESo, while we do need to keep an eye on the negative side of things, I do think this is striking a very good balance between safety and having an effective drug. It\u2019s not just going to be the free-for-all that some may suggest; there are still rules and regulations, whether it be the import of it or the selling of it. It\u2019s going to be in a pharmacy. It\u2019s not going to be in your corner dairy. It\u2019s not going to be in a supermarket. And I think this kind of does make a very good balance between the two, and I look forward to cold and flu medications that have pseudoephedrine being available in New Zealand, because it is really known as the good stuff. So I am really happy to commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022 data-id=\u002249141c321c7741558c5764b45aad6133\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000678\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002249141c321c7741558c5764b45aad6133\u0022\u003EINGRID LEARY (Labour\u2014Taieri):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s great to hear that the previous member, Dr Hamish Campbell, has so much concern for all New Zealanders about cold and flu symptoms. I really have to question, though: which New Zealanders is he concerned for? He mentioned 2 April as a date when the flu vaccine would be available to New Zealanders; actually, under the previous Labour Government, the most vulnerable group\u2014M\u0101ori aged 55 to 64\u2014were able to get that flu vaccine for free. This is no longer available. I\u2019m raising this because the previous speaker mentioned it. So I have to ask the question: which New Zealanders does this Government care about? Clearly they care about cold and flu symptoms. And I\u2019m pleased that previous speakers have recognised that, actually, what pseudoephedrine does is mask the symptoms, and that is useful. On the balance of looking at the benefits and the risks, we are supporting this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000679\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EBut I have to say to the Government members: please, watch this space, because there are issues around the risks of stocking pseudoephedrine, that we had solutions for that we workshopped in the Health Committee, that we provided an Amendment Paper for, and that had been rejected, to do with the safe storage. The Government has rejected it, and I just say watch this space, because I think it\u2019s going to be interesting to see what happens with that. We have codeine stored under safe storage, under lock and key, and there are pharmacies that will make decisions about whether they want to stock pseudoephedrine, but the staff who work there don\u2019t have a choice about that. So, really, our belief, on this side of the House, while we cautiously support this, is that there should have been safeguards to keep them safe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000680\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EWhen the previous speaker and others referred to pharmacists saying it wasn\u2019t practical to keep these medications under lock and key, when we drilled down, as Opposition members, to who was consulted, there was a focus group of less than 10 medical health professionals, and some of those were pharmacists. We had a revelation from one of the officials that that could be any number between two and 10. So I don\u2019t think that\u2019s indicative of the whole pharmacy profession.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000681\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EI\u2019m a little concerned at the cavalier approach of the Minister. The select committee time to be able to hear submissions was very short. We heard a dismissive response about people shopping around to buy pseudoephedrine in an orchestrated way to make it for communities that might be wanting to make methamphetamine; he said, \u201COh, I\u2019m going to keep a close eye on it.\u201D But there is no mechanism by which to do that, unless there is a register, so that was nonsensical. And he did not want to investigate more into the communities that are impacted by this. I really want to tautoko to the fact that there are communities who are heavily impacted by methamphetamine, and the consequences are very real, and also to the New Zealand Drug Foundation for the excellent submission it made. That helped Opposition members, I think\u2014certainly in the Labour Party\u2014on the balance, support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000682\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EThe other unease I have is just the assumptions that are being made, particularly from the member the Hon Casey Costello about the ease of methamphetamine at the border. If that is the case, we should not be cutting the Government expenditure for Customs officers by 7.5 percent, making it easier for methamphetamine to come in, as has been reported by the Public Service Association, who are saying that this puts New Zealand at risk. There were assumptions about the rationality of drug users, and there were assumptions about the evidence of binders that, as a select committee, we didn\u2019t really get the opportunity to interrogate, because the officials were under so much time pressure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000683\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EMy final comments are that Associate Minister Seymour, basically, admitted in the\u00A0select committee that this was a political decision, to change the classification. So\u00A0be it. I would say to him that the storage question and the question of safety of pharmacies\u00A0and pharmacists and the people who work there is also a political decision.\u00A0So I would urge him to watch this space. I don\u2019t wish for any harm to come to anyone,\u00A0but if there are ram raids, then that is on his shoulders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022 data-id=\u0022af08f39eccc6405683761e574f966929\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000684\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022af08f39eccc6405683761e574f966929\u0022\u003EDr CARLOS CHEUNG (National\u2014Mt Roskill):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you. This is my third and final contribution to this bill, and I rise to support it. Make no mistake: the National-led coalition Government is committed to improving the health outcomes of all New Zealanders. We recently announced five health targets: a focus on faster cancer treatment, improved immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments, shorter wait times for first specialist assessments, and shorter times for elective treatment. These targets will support the delivery of better health outcomes of all New Zealanders and improve the performance of our health service throughout the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000685\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EToday, reclassifying pseudoephedrine from a class B2 to a class C3 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 is another example that our Government is working hard to improve the health outcomes of all New Zealanders. This allows cold and flu products containing pseudoephedrine to be sold without a prescription.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000686\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003ESleep is like a medicine for the immune system, ultimately helping you to make a full recovery from an illness. Too often, New Zealanders suffer with cold and flu symptoms, such as a runny and blocked nose, leading to loss of sleep, and they can feel exhausted for almost up to two weeks. Impairment of sleep can lead to serious cold symptoms, and cold symptoms can actually impair sleep\u2014a cycle developed that must be broken in order to permit fast and efficient recovery. Pseudoephedrine is a tried and tested medication with a number of uses, including as an effective decongestant, so it stops running noses or resolves blocked noses.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EFor me, personally\u2014and, I believe, for a lot of New Zealanders\u2014the current alternative medicines in the market are either less effective or they have certain side effects. For example, some of the medicine for cold and flu treatment is not suitable for\u00A0patients with high blood pressure. So, for that, pseudoephedrine will be a very effective medicine for them, and patients should have the option to use the medicine that suits them best.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000688\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EFurthermore, during a cost of living crisis, many employees actually face sick-leave anxiety once their accumulated sick leave has been used, and any future sick leave is often taken as unpaid leave. Rent, mortgage, and bills still need to be paid. Enabling employees to recover faster from cold and flu will reduce the numbers of sick days required and allow New Zealanders to go to work, pay their bills, and get our country back on track.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000689\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EFurthermore, I\u2019ve been doing a little bit of an extra mile, talking to a lot of pharmacists and also a lot of pharmacy owners regarding this bill. The feedback that comes back is telling\u00A0me that pseudoephedrine was a very effective drug against cold and flu, compared to other drugs in the market, and it was in high demand prior to being banned in 2011.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000690\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EEnabling New Zealanders to purchase effective over-the-counter cold and flu medication will not only benefit the patient but also reduce the pressure on front-line GPs in our healthcare service, especially as we approach winter, when demand on our healthcare system peaks. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000691\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EGPs have long waiting lists. In the past few months, I have been visiting medical centres, having a chat, having a conversation with a lot of GPs, especially in Mount Roskill. The common feedback I receive is that they are reaching their maximum capacity and are no longer taking any new patients. So this bill means that New Zealanders will have an effective option, rather than picking up the phone to their overloaded GP. Therefore, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you, all the pharmacists who will be at the front line for this winter, supplying pseudoephedrine to the patient.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000692\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003ESo why was such an effective medicine banned in 2011 by the last National Government? This was, in the best of intentions, to target unlawful manufacture of P. As our colleague from New Zealand First just mentioned, at that time, we were not ready. However, the unintended consequence has seen a surge in imported P, whilst leaving ordinary New Zealanders without an effective over-the-counter cold and flu medication.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000693\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EAlso, we got more feedback during the select committee stage as well, with 169\u00A0submissions received from individuals and nine from organisations. Here, I would like to give a thankyou to all the submitters for all their time and their contributions in this bill. Most organisations, including the pharmaceutical industry bodies and drug-harm prevention groups, indicated support for this bill in their submissions. One of the submitters actually told the committee that pseudoephedrine products are of little value for people interested in commercially supplied meth, as there are now cheaper and easier ways to manufacture it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000694\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EThe price of meth or P dropped by 28 percent from $563 per gram in 2017 to, now, $406 in 2022-23. Massey University drug research team leader Associate Professor Chris Wilkins concludes that this reflects increasingly large scales of production of meth in South-east Asia, East Asia, and America. However, make no mistake, meth or P is still a destructive drug which has ruined lives and torn families apart right across New Zealand for decades. However, this Government is committed to tackling gangs and organised crime, including banning gang patches and seizing unlawfully obtained assets, so the concern that it will be used in unlawful drugs will be minimised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000695\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EFurthermore, according to this bill, pseudoephedrine will remain as a controlled drug, as a class 3 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. According to this bill, importation of pseudoephedrine by mail or online shopping will also rightly remain unlawful. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000696\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EThis bill strikes the right balance between access and protecting the public against improper use. This Government will continue to progress amendments to the Medicines Regulations 1984, reclassifying pseudoephedrine-containing cold and flu products as restricted medicine. This classification means consumers can purchase the products at the pharmacy but will need to do so by way of a face-to-face transaction with a pharmacist. The pharmacist must record information and give advice as appropriate, including people who would not take pseudoephedrine for clinical reasons.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000697\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003ETherefore, as I said, again, this bill actually strikes the right balance between access and protecting the public against improper use. The bill actually reflects international best practice and matches similar settings in the range of other countries we like to compare ourselves to, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia. However, even though we have such effective drugs, your health\u2014oh, not your health, but our people\u2019s, New Zealanders\u2019, health\u2014is this Government\u2019s priority. I wish everyone a healthy and happy winter, and keep warm. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022 data-id=\u0022d426ddf32e90449a8745a4c9e2b39b27\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000698\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d426ddf32e90449a8745a4c9e2b39b27\u0022\u003EDr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you for the chance to say a few words. It feels like we\u2019ve been talking about pseudoephedrine for quite some time, but we haven\u2019t, because this has been quite a short process. It\u2019s just that it feels a little bit more dense, because it\u2019s come back to the House a lot more quicker than would have been ideal when we think about the potential risks that are involved with this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000699\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EAs has been said, we will be supporting this bill because we do think it\u2019s important to do things to remove barriers so that people can have access to effective medications. But, as have many people said tonight, I think it\u2019s a real shame that we weren\u2019t able to ventilate some of the concerns a little bit more robustly and to look at those risks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000700\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EI think the theme of this third reading really has been that the Government has certainly, I think, overstated the protections that are in this bill, because none of the things that have been talked about as protective factors tonight is actually in the legislation, in the bill. They are just things that people have, essentially, said are down to logical thinking or common sense or things that apparently we\u2019ll just keep an eye on. So that doesn\u2019t give me a huge amount of confidence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000701\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EI think we\u2019ve also underestimated the risks. I think some of the risks that we have raised during this process\u2014even though it was a truncated process, even though it was a process where the public really didn\u2019t have a chance to have a good say, and as we\u2019ve heard on several occasions, we know that the pharmacy profession really wasn\u2019t well represented during this process. It was just a small handful of people and certainly not a robust sample of all of the considerations that should have been taken into account.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000702\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003ESo that is a shame, and I think the risks not being taken seriously could have\u2014there\u2019s just no rush for this bill. So we did have the opportunity to take those risks a little bit more seriously, and those risks were particularly related to storage and particularly related to the real-time monitoring that could have been in place to better gauge, and better keep track of, not only the safety to what could have been a controlled substance but also the worker safety in those pharmacies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000703\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EAs I said, it has been a truncated process. I think a lot of it has been based on assumptions that we\u2019ve heard from the public\u2014suitably\u2014and from pharmacies, which I don\u2019t think we have. I keep sort of circling back to that concept\u2014that the Minister mentioned at the very beginning of this process, which really wasn\u2019t that long ago\u2014of rational actors. I really still think that that\u2019s a bit of a red flag for me. It may be that the market forces in play within the illicit drug trade market up at the higher echelons may be subjected to some rationality, but I think that the risks for people who are heavily addicted to a substance that can be manufactured should have been something that we should have looked at a little bit closer. But, as I said, Madam Speaker, we will support this bill, and thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022 data-id=\u00226b5edeb678764bd99699db0350a4c562\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000704\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226b5edeb678764bd99699db0350a4c562\u0022\u003EDr VANESSA WEENINK (National\u2014Banks Peninsula):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I\u2019m very proud to be able to speak in support of this bill in its third reading. In my previous contribution, I spoke about some of the evidence for pseudoephedrine as being the only effective treatment that is available, which, in the context of nasal congestion or sinus congestion, prevents barotrauma of the tympanic membrane. The other medications that we have to treat cold and flu congestion, such as nasal sprays, are actually not effective for that outcome. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000705\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003ESo when you have a cold and your nose is blocked, often your eustachian tube, which drains the inner ear, is also blocked. What can happen in environments that change the barometric pressure, like going up and down in an aircraft, is that the tympanic membrane, the eardrum, gets pulled or pushed out, depending on the pressure change. That can lead to injury of the eardrum and can be quite severe. In fact, it can lead to a rupture of the tympanic membrane. Nasal sprays don\u2019t prevent that, but they give very temporary relief, and it can help for a small amount of time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000706\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003EHowever, anything that is effective often has a side effect as well, and, unfortunately, with nasal sprays, the overuse of nasal sprays has actually led to a problem that we have\u2014something else that can be a complication. It\u2019s called rhinitis medicamentosa\u2014good luck to Hansard for that! So this is a condition where you get inflammation and overgrowth of the mucosal membranes of the nose, causing narrowing of the nasal passages, which is very uncomfortable. It is also very difficult to treat and often requires surgical intervention. So, basically, what they have to do is go in there and ream out all of the nasal passages and get rid of all that mucosal lining so that people can breathe better. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000707\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003ESo pseudoephedrine will reduce, I think, the need for all of those nasal sprays, and, hopefully, we\u2019ll reduce the incidence of rhinitis medicamentosa. So this is one of those things where there are real clinical implications of changes. I talked previously about the fact that this is a very important medication for those who are in the aviation industry, and so I\u2019m looking forward to seeing this change when it comes in. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000708\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003EWe have talked about all of the problems with P in the community. Pseudoephedrine is not P. It\u2019s really important to understand that there is a difference between the two. So, when we talk about this medication, there are steps that need to be gone through for it to become methamphetamine or P. So the market drivers for people to do that, we believe, are probably not going to be a huge factor in increasing the supply of P in the community. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000709\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003EThere is a lot of work that needs to be done, both within the health sector but also within justice, around methamphetamine, and this is not necessarily addressing that. We\u2019re simply changing the classification of this medication, and it is a very sensible and useful thing that we\u2019re doing, and I commend the bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022 data-id=\u002261f4ffd96242458389793bd3652c4cac\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002261f4ffd96242458389793bd3652c4cac\u0022\u003ETANGI UTIKERE (Labour\u2014Palmerston North):\u003C/span\u003E Kia orana. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can I just thank the member Dr Vanessa Weenink for what was a very descriptive analysis of the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000711\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f3ecac4688d406fadb7ff42155c9e2c\u0022\u003ETom Rutherford\u003C/span\u003E: Your turn.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000712\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae97192760754ae8b88486cc07dd74a6\u0022\u003ETANGI UTIKERE\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, don\u2019t you worry; my turn is here, all right, and adjectives are part of the game.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000713\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003EAs colleagues have already said, on this side of the House, we will be supporting this piece of legislation this evening at third reading. I concur with the comments that have been expressed by colleagues around the fact the that there is no rush around this, although, given that members opposite seem to be taking lengthy calls, well, they wouldn\u2019t seem to be in any hurry to actually get this piece of legislation passed this evening. So that is a change in tack and a contradiction of fact.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000714\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003ESo this is a piece of legislation that, effectively, will change the classification of pseudoephedrine but will still maintain some oversight at a pharmacy level. What this means, in practice, is that there will still be easy access, or easier access, to pseudoephedrine, but there would still be some regulation in terms of how it is accessed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000715\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003EI\u2019m aware of the comments of the Associate Minister of Health (Pharmac) in introducing this bill at third reading, and he\u2019s very negative, actually, about some of the steps that have been taken in this space by the previous Government. I think about the cutting exercise, that the current Government seems to be under, around reducing access to the flu vaccine as we head into a time of winter months and winter ailments, and I challenge members opposite to align that fact with the comments that the Minister had made.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000716\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge the work that pharmacists actually undertake all around the country in communities all around Aotearoa New Zealand. There has been an increased expectation on the work that they do, and this will assist with that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000717\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003EColleagues have already mentioned the fact that Labour does support greater access to medications, and so it will come as no surprise that that\u2019s one of the bases on which we are supporting this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000718\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003EMy final contribution is around the sense of disappointment that Government members have allowed this bill to go through a rather truncated process. There are some concerns that have been raised, such as the safe care and custody of any controlled or restricted medication, that don\u2019t seem to have been addressed through the committee stage and don\u2019t seem to have been addressed in what is the final part of the bill, and that is only because of the rushed nature that this piece of legislation seems to be following through, in terms of its passage this evening. So this is a piece of legislation that the Labour Party is very happy to support, and, on that basis, I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022 data-id=\u002201cf6f52132246c29629f64b085a8154\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000719\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002201cf6f52132246c29629f64b085a8154\u0022\u003ETOM RUTHERFORD (National\u2014Bay of Plenty):\u003C/span\u003E Strap in. This is going to be a worthwhile contribution to wrap up the third reading of this bill. And the reason I say that is, firstly, this is my first contribution to the bill in the House, but also, to be following some of my colleagues, particularly on this side, who are esteemed in this field, brings about some challenges for me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000720\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003EIf I think about it, just previously we had Dr Vanessa Weenink, who gave us a very descriptive and incisive look into the detail of this bill and the work that happens in this\u00A0space. Prior to her, there was my colleague sitting next to me, the MP for Mt\u00A0Roskill, Dr Carlos Cheung\u2014again, another relevant and very, very knowledgeable man in this space. And then, oh, I was listening diligently through all the contributions of\u00A0this debate\u2014this being the final, strap in. But prior to Dr Carlos Cheung was the MP\u00A0for Ilam, Dr Hamish Campbell\u2014again, a specialist in his field\u2014who really knows what he\u2019s talking about\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ccd822b42c04d8bace251e6930ee010\u0022\u003EIngrid Leary\u003C/span\u003E: What about the women?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000722\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a665d0c780a948a88e64b5983a319449\u0022\u003ETOM RUTHERFORD\u003C/span\u003E: What about the bill? Back in the corner\u2014well, I didn\u2019t hear Dr Reti give a contribution to this debate so far, but he\u2019s got a body of work that he\u2019s really working on. He\u2019s got a lot of priorities that he\u2019s focused on delivering, and he\u2019s leaving it to the other doctors in our caucus to really take the charge with this bill, and I appreciate what he\u2019s been doing in that space. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003ESo three previous speakers, all doctors, and now you get a Mr Rutherford, rather than a doctor or anything.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000724\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022639269839a744e439b7b7b31ccb5df4a\u0022\u003EDr Hamish Campbell\u003C/span\u003E: Mr or master?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000725\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b0337ccaca6c48e2b986253d8d152ea4\u0022\u003ETOM RUTHERFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, \u201Cmaster\u201D, my colleague says. But the National Party is really proud to support this bill, led by the Hon David Seymour. We support it because the change of classification for pseudoephedrine as a controlled drug\u2014this bill reclassifies it from a class B2, which it was changed to in 2011, to a class C3 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 so that cold and flu products containing pseudoephedrine can be sold in pharmacies without a prescription.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000726\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s quite a logical decision that this bill is bringing about change to. Patients are currently unable to access over-the-counter medicines containing pseudoephedrine medicines for the self-treatment of cold symptoms in New Zealand. Pseudoephedrine is an effective medicine. Allowing New Zealanders access to effective cold and flu medicine will help to improve people\u2019s welfare when they are unwell.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000727\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003EWe note Labour\u2019s support for the policy intent of this bill, and we appreciate their support for it through the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000728\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002262ff759d-9586-405a-a6e6-208ad65adeb5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222646fe33e914c9a9f242107a85050cf\u0022\u003ETangi Utikere\u003C/span\u003E: Let\u2019s get on with it, then.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000729\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022840c3ec5b9934f928184e9b920416f7d\u0022\u003ETOM RUTHERFORD\u003C/span\u003E: \u201CLet\u2019s get on with it\u201D. Oh, colleagues across the House are telling me to get on with it and rush. That\u2019s a change of tune\u2014that\u2019s a change of tune from the other side. But I would say to them, allowing New Zealanders access to this will improve people\u2019s welfare when they are unwell.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000730\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003EI had a look through the regulatory impact statement that was prepared for the bill. You\u2019ve got to be diligent when you stand to speak. I thought, \u201CAye, let\u2019s have a look at access to pseudoephedrine in other jurisdictions.\u201D Australia, prescription required? No. Canada, prescription required? No. United Kingdom, prescription required? No. What about the United States? No. So this is simply bringing New Zealand back into line with many other countries that we compare and contrast ourselves to across the world.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000731\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003EJust to relay some of the comments made earlier in this debate, relief is on the way for those New Zealanders who have battled through 14 winters without strong cold and flu medicine. Help is on the way, and I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000732\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000733\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d64de4c1-ef68-477e-9c50-db5cbdf99404\u0022\u003EBill read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000734\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225d6c4b477aee434b89e108cfd73c1005\u0022\u003ENg\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000735\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b68c129c86be4c5ba0584825d9317482\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u0022773fbdb782e84340b6825a285219ee29\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000736\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022773fbdb782e84340b6825a285219ee29\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations):\u003C/span\u003E I present a legislative statement on the Ng\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000737\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224d83c8a5-2f48-4991-9c45-b1a6060daedd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002251e25273a3e946dd9333b445a486c868\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh)\u003C/span\u003E: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000738\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295c4d8cb49374a75b9521c1b46c2b96e\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: I move, That the Ng\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill be now read a second time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000739\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ETihei mauri ora! E te Whare M\u012Bere, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Te papa i waho nei, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Te mana whenua o t\u0113nei rohe, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou. Te hunga mate, haere, haere, haere. Haere ki te whenua o ng\u0101 t\u016Bpuna. Ki te hunga ora, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. Ka mihi ki ng\u0101 maunga k\u014Drero, ki ng\u0101 awa rangatira, ki te whenua taurikura o Ng\u0101ti Hei. E ng\u0101 k\u0101wai rangatira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000740\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E[To the Beehive building, greetings to you. To the land outside, greetings to you. The people of this region, greetings to you. Our loved ones who have passed, farewell. Farewell back to your ancestors. To the living, salutations. I acknowledge the many speaking mountains, the formidable rivers, and the homeland of the Ng\u0101ti Hei people. To your esteemed leaders, thank you, thank you, thank you.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000741\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThis bill gives effect to the deed of settlement signed by Ng\u0101ti Hei and the Crown in August 2017. The deed settles all the remaining historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ng\u0101ti Hei. Ng\u0101ti Hei are an iwi associated on the eastern seaboard of the Coromandel Peninsula, from Onemana to Whangapoua. Their rohe is centred around Tairua and Ahuahu, and includes offshore islands extending north to Cuvier Island. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000742\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe historical claims of Ng\u0101ti Hei relate to the cumulative effect of the Crown\u2019s actions and omissions. This includes land acquisition and the operation and impact of native land laws that rendered Ng\u0101ti Hei virtually landless. The Crown prejudiced Ng\u0101ti Hei by promoting laws and policies which led to the loss of their whenua, damaged their environment, and severely undermined the wellbeing and ability of Ng\u0101ti Hei to pass on matauranga M\u0101ori to their mokopuna. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000743\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe bill comprises four parts detailing cultural redress, commercial redress, and the Crown\u2019s apology redress. Ng\u0101ti Hei have established the Hei o Wharekaho Settlement Trust, a post-settlement governance entity that will receive the settlement assets on behalf of Ng\u0101ti Hei and will represent the iwi in its future dealings with the Crown. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000744\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EWe remember and pay tribute to the t\u016Bpuna and many generations of Ng\u0101ti Hei who have suffered from historical Crown acts and omissions who are not here in the House, and, of course, this is the second reading. We fully expect that we\u2019ll have many representatives from Ng\u0101ti Hei in the third reading, but I\u2019m sure there will be many tuning in on their computer screens and maybe listening in on the radio to this speech. So we do want to acknowledge those who were part of the negotiations early on and who are not here today with us and whose grievances are addressed through this settlement. I\u00A0acknowledge the many members of Ng\u0101ti Hei who have passed away over the course of this settlement and for whom justice did not come soon enough. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000745\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EI acknowledge the contribution of the negotiators for Ng\u0101ti Hei, the late Peter Tiki Johnston, Peter Matai Johnson, and Joe Davis. And on the Crown side, I acknowledge the chief Crown negotiators, Micheal Dreaver and the Hon Rick Barker. I also acknowledge my predecessors, the Hon Chris Finlayson and the Hon Andrew Little, for their contributions to this settlement, and I thank my ministerial colleagues, Crown agencies, and counsel for their support to progress this settlement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000746\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe bill was referred to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee on 20 June 2023. The committee received and considered 11 written submissions and heard oral evidence from two submitters. There was one submission opposed to the bill, but that did not relate to the bill itself. Based on the submissions and advice received, the committee does not recommend any significant changes, though the committee recommends some minor and technical amendments to ensure consistency with other Hauraki iwi settlements and to reflect the result of property surveys and updated property interests. I\u2019d like to thank the committee for their diligent work and consideration of this bill. I\u2019m satisfied with the committee\u2019s recommendations as they will ensure that the redress agreed in the Ng\u0101ti Hei deed of settlement can be properly implemented through this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000747\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe second reading is part of the last stage of the settlement process that seeks to provide redress to Ng\u0101ti Hei for the Crown\u2019s historical breaches of the Treaty. This is a move towards acknowledgment, recognition, and reconciliation, and I hope that this settlement not only allows for Ng\u0101ti Hei to increase confidence in their own future but in their future relationship with the Crown. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000748\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EI do look forward to speaking more about this bill when it is read a third time, and I do look forward to hosting Ng\u0101ti Hei here, in Parliament, for that important occasion. I commend this bill to the House. N\u014D reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022 data-id=\u0022585fee9686bc493bb6c77736da6c6216\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000749\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e77494a0-1be1-432f-b492-fd160f4c119d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022585fee9686bc493bb6c77736da6c6216\u0022\u003EHon PEENI HENARE (Labour): Reo M\u0101ori, e te M\u0101ngai o te Whare. Tuatahi, ka tautoko ake ahau i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero a te Minita e p\u0101 ana ki t\u0113nei pire me te k\u012B atu ki a Ng\u0101ti Hei ki te k\u0101inga, e haere tonu ana t\u0113nei pire ki roto i te Whare kia whakatutuki ai i ng\u0101 mahi i t\u012Bmatahia ai e \u014D r\u0101tou m\u0101tua, e \u014D r\u0101tou t\u016Bpuna i roto i ng\u0101 tau kua pahure ake nei. Mai i te taima i hainatia ai te T\u012Bti ki runga i te marae, ar\u0101, e H\u014Dnore Christopher Finlayson, tae noa mai ki t\u0113nei w\u0101. Me te k\u012B atu ki t\u0113nei Whare ehara i te mea m\u0101m\u0101 kia whakawhiti atu t\u0113nei kaupapa mai i t\u014Dna orokohanga i te tau 2017, ki roto i ng\u0101 nohoanga a te P\u0101remata 2020-2023, haere tonu nei.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000750\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228d21901f8d21451da8e8db96ffe797c3\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira, e tautoko ana m\u0101tou o te R\u014Dp\u016B Reipa i t\u0113nei pire me te hiahia kia tino tere ake te taenga mai o t\u0113nei pire ki t\u014Dna p\u0101nuitanga tuatoru ki roto i te Whare. Engari e tika ana me mihi atu ki te Komiti Whiriwhiri Take M\u0101ori n\u0101 r\u0101tou t\u0113nei pire i k\u014Dkiri ki mua i te aroaro o te iwi o Ng\u0101ti Hei, me ng\u0101 \u0101piha i tautoko ake i a r\u0101tou. I kite atu ahau i ng\u0101 pepa nei, i hui tahi te komiti me \u0113tahi r\u014Dp\u016B. 11 te rahi o ng\u0101 r\u014Dp\u016B i tae mai ki mua i te komiti me te nuinga o ng\u0101 k\u014Drero e whakaae ana ki te mahi e k\u014Drerohia nei ki roto i te pire. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000751\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224eef5a41102042a4b7f3fa53339c2fd1\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira, ki a Ng\u0101ti Hei kei te k\u0101inga e m\u0101takitaki ana, koin\u0101 t\u0101ku e mea atu ana, e haere tonu ana t\u0113nei pire me te tautoko i te k\u014Drero a te Minita, \u0101 taihoa ake nei, i t\u014Dna p\u0101nuitanga tuatoru. K\u0101re e kore ka k\u012B mai t\u014D t\u0101tou marae i te uri o Ng\u0101ti Hei. Ko reira ka whakawh\u0101nui ake i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero ka kitea ki roto i t\u0113nei pire. N\u014D reira, mai i a m\u0101tou o t\u0113nei taha o te Whare, e mea atu ana, e tautoko ana. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000752\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E[M\u0101ori, please, Madam Speaker. First, I support what the Minister said with regard to this bill and I say to Ng\u0101ti Hei at home, this bill continues in the House with the aspiration to fulfil the work that was started by their predecessors, by their ancestors in the years that have passed. From the time that deed was signed on the marae by the Hon Christopher Finlayson, right to this time. And I\u2019d like to say to this House that it has not been an easy task to get this over the line from its inception in 2017, and in the sittings of Parliament in 2020-2023, and it is still going.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000753\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ESo we of the Labour Party are supporting this bill and hope that this bill arrives speedily to its third reading in this House. However, it is only right to acknowledge the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee that presented before Ng\u0101ti Hei, and the officers that supported them. I saw in the papers that the committee met with interested groups. Eleven groups presented before the committee with the majority agreeing with the actions discussed in the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000754\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ESo, to Ng\u0101ti Hei at home watching, I want to reiterate this bill continues with the support of the Minister, and soon, will be read a third time. I have no doubt that\u00A0our\u00A0marae will be inundated with descendants of Ng\u0101ti Hei. There, we will be able to\u00A0elaborate upon the discussion included in this bill. And so, from us on this side of the\u00A0House, we say, we support.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022 data-id=\u0022899eddc2c4974d5bad5652a56b7f8f99\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000755\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022899eddc2c4974d5bad5652a56b7f8f99\u0022\u003ESTEVE ABEL (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. Reading the deed of settlement for Ng\u0101ti Hei is sober reading, indeed. Between 1859 and 1865, the Crown acquired 20,000 acres. Back in the 1830s, 7,000 acres of land was given over to European claimants. Between 1870 and 1890, 93,000 acres were permanently alienated from Ng\u0101ti Hei, so that, as has been said by the Minister, \u201CBy the end of the 20th century, Ng\u0101ti Hei were virtually landless. The resulting marginalisation of Ng\u0101ti Hei, including loss of te reo M\u0101ori, educational underachievement, sickness, and socioeconomic deprivation, caused the iwi much suffering.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000756\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003ECan we be surprised at that? If you\u2019ve lost all your land, can we be surprised at that degree of marginalisation? \u201Calong with the fragmentation of Ng\u0101ti Hei tribal structures and the migration from ancestral lands, severely affected Ng\u0101ti Hei\u2019s ability to pass m\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori on to their mokopuna.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000757\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EThis notion of full and final Treaty settlements troubles us greatly because, like all settlements, the redress in these settlement bills will reflect only a fraction of the economic and social losses suffered by iwi because of Crown actions\u2014perhaps 1 to 2\u00A0percent reparation; a tiny fraction and yet we stamp an obligation that that must mean the end of future claims prior to 1992. We, as te P\u0101ti K\u0101k\u0101riki do not accept the principle of full and final Treaty settlement. We do, however, recognise that Ng\u0101ti Hei have determined that they wish to partake in this deed of settlement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000758\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EOne of the things that I mentioned earlier today was that one impact of colonisation is the destruction of nature. The scars of lost nature across the landscape are a clear sign of colonisation. In here, Ng\u0101ti Hei, we read again in the deed of settlement, \u201CThere has been a history of extractive industry in [their] rohe, including kauri logging, kauri gum digging, flax milling, gold mining, and fishing. [And they\u2019ve] derived little long-term benefit from these industries, and the damage done to the environment in their rohe is a source of grievance\u201D. It should be a source of grievance to all of us in Aotearoa New Zealand, what has been destroyed of our natural environment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000759\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EI, as a young child, spent time at Cooks Beach, in the Ng\u0101ti Hei rohe, and the Hikuwai, and I can tell you that the regenerating native forests that you can see in various parts of the Coromandel are magnificent. But what has been lost, we can barely imagine. The logging industry, by the 1830s, was at a massive scale in the Coromandel. There were sawmills throughout the Coromandel. There were over 200 logging dams for shifting logs down to the ocean, and perhaps only 20 percent of the milled logs made it to the ocean. In 1888, a Melbourne company bought all the cutting rights to standing kauri on the peninsula, and its production peaked in 1902. By the turn of the century, the kauri industry had declined significantly, as had the once vast expanse of mature kauri trees. This is a loss that is irreplaceable, these trees that lived for hundreds and thousands of years. This is but one of the losses of Ng\u0101ti Hei, in their region.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000760\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EWhen we think of how we address the harm done to iwi and Ng\u0101ti Hei, in this instance, we have to think about the full expanse of what has been lost. This settlement, in monetary terms and land terms, deals with a material loss, but it cannot deal with a cultural loss or the spiritual loss\u2014the loss of life, the loss of health, the loss of opportunity over 180 years. These are things that it is impossible for us to make amends for, and we understand that\u2014we understand that\u2014but it is a further, to my earlier point, insult to injury to say that these must be full and final settlements. It\u2019s such a fraction of what has been lost.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000761\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EWe as a nation, if we are to be serious about a principle of meaningful relationship, must take the view that that relationship is an ongoing process, that that upholding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi\u2014which it is acknowledged has been breached here in this claim, in this deed of settlement\u2014is a perpetual upholding; it is not something that has an end. I believe that it will be a serious improvement\u2014the process around recognition of loss of land and impacts of colonisation\u2014when we are able, as a House of Parliament, as a nation, to do away with this idea of finality. That will be an expression, truly, of good faith. Here the Crown negotiates hard to make sure that the minimum is returned.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000762\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EI notice, with the resource and minerals, that \u201COwnership of any Crown-owned minerals in land transferred to Ng\u0101ti Hei under the Deed will also transfer to Ng\u0101ti Hei. This does not include nationalised minerals (petroleum, gold, silver and uranium) or affect other lawful rights to subsurface minerals.\u201D So, to be clear, even the land which has been returned, and that of which may be conservation estate, could still be mined for gold, and we know there\u2019s a lot of gold mined in the Coromandel. That is one of the other impacts that has hit Ng\u0101ti Hei, along with the loss of kauri.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000763\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003ESo this is an example of where I feel a kind of heartache, a sickness of what it must feel like for iwi when they come to sign one of these deeds of settlement, and the question at the back which says \u201CDo Ng\u0101ti Hei have the right to come back and make further claims about the behaviour of the Crown in the 19th and 20th centuries?\u201D, there is a one-word answer at the top of that: \u201CNo\u201D\u2014with a full stop. It must make people feel sick in the stomach to have to sign up to that. It would make me feel like that if it was my people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000764\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EWe will support this, as it is the will of Ng\u0101ti Hei. But we believe there must be a\u00A0time in the maturation of our nation where we do away with this idea of full and final\u00A0settlements. Kia ora. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022 data-id=\u002298ee16b6b3904d409d8c50a9e7b3898d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000765\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002298ee16b6b3904d409d8c50a9e7b3898d\u0022\u003EMARK CAMERON (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you for the opportunity to speak to the second reading and take a short call on the Ng\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill. As previously canvassed in the House, the bill was formerly part of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee and, as a matter of course, I don\u2019t sit on that committee as a permanent member. The M\u0101ori Affairs Committee called for submissions which closed on 2 August 2023, with 11 groups and individuals submitting. I\u2019m told two of those submissions were heard orally. No significant amendments were proposed in the bill by those that submitted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000766\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EI have some time this evening to digest what I\u2019ve heard and what was presented in the bill,\u00A0and the importance of redress and what it has meant to the wh\u0101nau and iwi and members of Ng\u0101ti Hei today. The process began almost 200 years ago in the 1830s with lands lost and confiscated. This is beyond debate. Subsequently, over the preceding years, further land was moved across as part of European claimants\u2019 interests. The Crown at the time continued to purchase the land, even though boundaries of those transactional arrangements remained unclear. This continued from the late 1850s all the way through to the 1890s, and was previously canvassed by the other speaker Steve Abel beyond.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000767\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EI noted in some of the literature presented to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee that as part of the transactional agreements in the 1850s, certain Hauraki iwi were consulted on the sale. That was well canvassed in some of the literature, but it came to light that Ng\u0101ti Hei was not consulted at the time. By the 1890s, a significant land area was permanently alienated from Ng\u0101ti Hei totalling 93,000 hectares. Just, if I can, for the sake of the House, contextualise that in a physical area: when we\u2019re looking at a place like the Chatham Islands, which is 192,000 acres. This is almost half, if my mathematics is correct, of the Chathams by physical area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000768\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EAs we\u2019ve heard post this period, which involved several periods involving timber-harvesting leases\u2014previous members mentioned fishing, gold mining, and even gum digging and flex weaving of which Ng\u0101ti Hei received little fiscal benefit from. Litigation, claim, and counterclaim\u2014Ng\u0101ti Hei were ultimately left landless, which was transgressed previously by other speakers. The 1920s, much of the natural fabric and known whenua of Ng\u0101ti Hei was irreversibly changed in this process. We all here accept the important, genuine redress that needs to happen for iwi M\u0101ori and those affected by these historical decisions. This deed of settlement has been years in its delivery and development, and I wish to acknowledge those that will ultimately be here in the third reading to hear this passage of the bill. As witness, they can see their deeds made right with and have them finally addressed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000769\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022489d736b-2629-4bc7-8d38-6319c7797a33\u0022\u003EThis bill was agreed to progress by the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee to restore and bring about final settlement and acknowledgment of the historical account by the\u00A0Crown and its previous actions, and offer the needed cultural and commercial redress to Ng\u0101ti Hei. This bill, effectually, will pass into law in a third reading\u2014I\u00A0think we\u2019re all of that determination\u2014and final reading which is due in the coming weeks and months, and create a comprehensive settlement agreement of significance to both Ng\u0101ti Hei and the Crown. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022 data-id=\u0022637be6a44ce542dbb63e45d86a2f5156\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000770\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022637be6a44ce542dbb63e45d86a2f5156\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 n\u014D t\u0101tou katoa. M\u014D t\u0113tahi w\u0101 poto, reo M\u0101ori. Ahau e t\u016B ana ki te tautoko i t\u0113nei ture t\u0101 te mea ko Ng\u0101ti Hei t\u0113tahi iwi i tata te ngaro i roto i te huringa o te w\u0101, te whakaekenga mai o Ng\u0101i P\u0101keh\u0101 ki Aotearoa. Otir\u0101 me m\u014Dhio t\u0101tou he nui noa atu ng\u0101 pakiaka o te ao M\u0101ori e ngoto ana ki roto i te whenua ki t\u0113r\u0101 pito i Aotearoa. Ar\u0101 noa atu te takotoranga kei t\u0113n\u0101 rohe o te waka o Te Arawa. Ar\u0101 noa atu te maunga\u2014t\u014Dna ingoa ko Moehau\u2014nui noa atu ng\u0101 k\u014Drero kei roto i te ao M\u0101ori m\u014D t\u0113r\u0101 tihi, he \u012Bngoa i kawea mai i Hawaiki noa atu. Ahakoa te tokoiti o \u0113nei t\u0101ngata, i maemae roa i waenga tonu i \u014D r\u0101tou m\u0101tua, \u0101, heke iho ki t\u0113nei rangi i te korenga o r\u0101tou e tino puta i te kapa whakamua i roto te tatau o ng\u0101 iwi kei roto i a Hauraki. N\u0101 reira e tika ana kia tautokotia t\u0113nei pire.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000771\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E[Greetings to us all. For a short time, I speak in reo M\u0101ori. I stand to support this bill because Ng\u0101ti Hei was a nation that almost perished at the turn of the century, and the arrival of P\u0101keh\u0101 to Aotearoa. Also, we must understand that there are many roots of the M\u0101ori people that stretch to that part of Aotearoa. There are the origins of the Arawa nation that lie within that area. There yonder is the mountain summit\u2014its name is Moehau\u2014which holds rich history within the M\u0101ori people. A name that was brought here from Hawaiki afar. Despite the small numbers of these people, there was a lot of unjust done to their ancestors. Now, fast forward to this day, they don\u2019t get out much and aren\u2019t too recognised within the statistics in Hauraki. And so it is my honour to support this bill.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EI stand to make a brief speech, and, as I said in our language, there is a proud\u2014and, sadly, overlooked\u2014history associated with this small group called Ng\u0101ti Hei. But within their rohe, as my M\u0101ori colleagues on the other side of the House know, small may their number be, but rich is the history in their rohe, not the least of which is the ancestor Tamatekapua, the history of the Arawa waka, and, indeed, one of the maunga in that area called Moehau that, in their background, they regard as a guardian spirit\u2014things that aren\u2019t captured in the full ebb and flow of today\u2019s commercial life, but it should go on the record that these are some of the elements that define who these people are.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000773\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EWe hope to see all of the other elements that comprise Hauraki join this group and bring to closure\u2014at another time I\u2019ll talk about the outstanding issues between Ng\u0101i Te Rangi in the Tauranga area, and part of the Hauraki Collective; there are some outstanding issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000774\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003ERepanga is a well-known fishing ground. In fact, I\u2019ve been there myself, to help myself of the customary entitlement of the Tainui people, although my roots are further north. Not only is that area well-known in terms of M\u0101ori history and recreational fisheries, this is an opportunity for us, the Crown, on our side of the House, and, indeed, Parliament, to connect the descendants of the original tangata whenua with those historic landmarks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000775\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EThe relationship agreements with the Department of Conversation need careful stewardship to ensure that they don\u2019t grow into something that actually has the perverse effect of hobbling the ability of Ng\u0101ti Hei to expand their interests beyond conservation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000776\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003EThe p\u016Btea, whilst it may not be large in size, I\u2019m sure that it will be dedicated to a very important purpose. For those reasons, I stand with the other speakers this evening\u2014that this bill reflects a desire to fulfil the Crown\u2019s obligations to reach a durable settlement. The people who have worked on\u2014obviously, we should acknowledge them. We in New Zealand First, despite a lot of white water and falsehoods that flow in the media from time to time, are conscious that the honour of the Crown and the respect for property rights should be something that\u2019s uppermost in our mind. For those reasons and the obvious ones, we support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u002213d68521128d4ccab8f54b4a7f06929d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000777\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002213d68521128d4ccab8f54b4a7f06929d\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: This is a split call. Five minutes\u2014Hannah-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022 data-id=\u00225cc5dc33df6642b0ac1d75e5572a68e0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000778\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225cc5dc33df6642b0ac1d75e5572a68e0\u0022\u003EHANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Hauraki-Waikato):\u003C/span\u003E Hana-Rawhiti, kia ora. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000779\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EKu\u012Bni Wikit\u014Dria, ha aha taku h\u0113 i muia ai aku whenua tupuna ki te riri o te P\u0101keh\u0101? Ka\u00A0hoki te mana o t\u014D kupu mokopuna waru ana i te ahiahi ki runga i te huarahi n\u014D T\u0101maki\u00A0roa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000780\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EThis maioha translates to: \u201CQueen Victoria, what have I done wrong for you to confiscate my ancestral lands to the greed and anger of the settler? I hold you to your word for my generations and grandchildren to come.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000781\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EKoinei te reo maioha, te reo tuatahi e karanga e au ki roto i t\u0113nei Whare, ar\u0101 ko taku oati ki \u014Dku t\u016Bpuna. E ng\u0101 mana, e ng\u0101 reo, e ng\u0101 k\u0101rangarangatanga maha, Ng\u0101ti Hei whenua, Ng\u0101ti Hei tangata, Pare Hauraki, Pare Waikato. In\u0101 te h\u014Dnore nui m\u014Dku ki te t\u016B ki te waha i \u0113nei k\u014Drero m\u0101 Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori i te p\u014D nei. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000782\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E[This is the voice of welcome, the first voice with which I call out within this House\u2014i.e., my oath to my ancestors. To the authorities, the voices, and the relatives of Ng\u0101ti Hei lands, and Ng\u0101ti Hei people, of Pare Hauraki and Pare Waikato. It is a huge honour for me to stand and speak on behalf of Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori tonight.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000783\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s an absolute privilege, to be speaking on my first ever Treaty settlement, which is within my rohe of Hauraki-Waikato. I have been absolutely dreading this time, when it would become time for me to address the Treaty settlement claim. Why? Because it is one of the most heartbreaking and sensitive issues we face as mokopuna of raupatu. Being a descendant of raupatu doesn\u2019t mean just giving it a five-minute speech; it is weaved into our DNA. We sing about it. We cry about it. We haka about it. We are about it 24/7.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000784\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge and reflect on the journey Ng\u0101ti Hei have taken, who flourished before the arrival of Captain Cook. \u0100, kua ngaro haere te whenua, ng\u0101 uri, t\u014D koutou reo k\u0101mehameha, t\u014D koutou whenua. [Land, descendants, and your beautiful language have been lost, your land has been lost.] The loss of language and ancestral knowledge is devastating, and it must be addressed and redressed. And today is a step moving into that direction. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000785\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EKo ng\u0101 w\u0101hi o [The places known as] Op\u016Brangi, Rangihau, Kohuamuri, Opou, Pukeumu, Opoua. For some of these may be just names on paper, but they hold a story of whakapapa that must not be lost. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000786\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E\u0100, ko taku urupare ki ng\u0101 mokopuna o Ng\u0101ti Hei, [And my response to the descendants of Ng\u0101ti Hei] what would your tupuna Ngawhira Tanui dream for her mokopuna? This has been 24 years in the making, but 180 years in the waiting. One of my first ever jobs was transcribing our Waikato Tainui original claimant interviews. And, oh, what a privilege, what an honour, to listen to a whole generation in their era, with their insights and visions for their mokopuna.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000787\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge how hard the Treaty settlement process can be; it can be so exhausting that people die to get Treaty settlements across the line. N\u014D reira, ki ng\u0101 hap\u016B maha, ng\u0101 \u0101ritaritatanga a Kupe, ng\u0101 mangainga o Ng\u0101ti Hei, t\u0113nei te reo owha, te reo whakamiha ki a koutou kua t\u016Bpara i te hoe ki te whakawhiti, ki te koke whakamua ki t\u014D koutou Hawaiki hou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000788\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E[So, to the tribes, to the descendants of Kupe, our relatives of Ng\u0101ti Hei, this is the voice of acknowledgment that is extended to you who have strived to progress and move towards your own utopia.] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000789\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EIn the wise words of Moana Jackson, treaties are not settled; they are honoured. Te Tiriti is a document that is a foundation of a living, evolving relationship between tangata whenua and the Crown. Both parties of Te Tiriti must continually strive to meet those obligations it sets out and implements in the three articles and everything we do. Treaty settlements are not full and final, they are just the beginning. They stand to honour the mamae, loss, and grievances. However, they are a stepping stone in moving forward for the future generations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000790\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira, t\u0113nei te reo mihi ki a koutou Ng\u0101ti Hei, n\u014D Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori, n\u014D t\u014D koutou kaitiaki o Hauraki-Waikato. T\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000791\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E[So I acknowledge you, Ng\u0101ti Hei, as Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori and as your MP of Hauraki-Waikato. Thank you.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022 data-id=\u0022f7a580eab7614ea6b75a7c48c4a6a298\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000792\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f7a580eab7614ea6b75a7c48c4a6a298\u0022\u003EH\u016AHANA LYNDON (Green): \u003C/span\u003ET\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. He t\u016B t\u0113nei ki te tautoko i t\u0113nei pire, m\u014D \u014Dku whanaunga o Ng\u0101ti Hei. Ki roto o Pare Hauraki, e mihi nei t\u0113nei uri o Ng\u0101ti Koroua, Ng\u0101ti Whanaunga, Marutuahu ki \u0113nei iwi kua p\u0113hia nei e te K\u0101wanatanga m\u014D t\u0113nei kotahi rau tau. I stand here me te taimaha o taku ng\u0101kau i te p\u0101nui i t\u0113nei pire, me te iti o te p\u016Btea hei koha ki te iwi m\u014D te rirotanga nui o \u014D r\u0101tou whenua. \u0112nei whenua taurikura o t\u0101tou, \u0113ngari kei konei te R\u014Dp\u016B K\u0101k\u0101riki te tautoko. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000793\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022\u003E[I stand to support this bill, for my kin of Ng\u0101ti Hei. Of the Pare Hauraki, I am a descendant of Ng\u0101ti Koroua, of Ng\u0101ti Whanaunga, of Marutuahi, whom have all been supressed by this Government for the last 100 years. My heart is heavy reading this bill and how little money will be given as compensation for the confiscation of their lands. These sacred lands of ours, however, the Green Party is here to support.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000794\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022\u003EThe Waitangi Tribunal found that the people of Hauraki, Ng\u0101ti Hei, only retain 2.6\u00A0percent of their tribal territories, e t\u0101tou m\u0101, being one of the largest groups in Aotearoa to have such grave land loss within their tribal territories. It bites at my heart, and I stand here heavy with\u00A0dread having to support this settlement, because the Treaty settlement process is a process which is unjust. The proviso of \u201Cfull and final settlement\u201D makes it unjust for the people of Ng\u0101ti Hei and Pare Hauraki to accept\u2014to accept\u2014$8.5 million in commercial redress; $8.5\u00A0million, e t\u0101tou m\u0101, for 184 years of losses. If we reflect, as my colleague Steve Abel has shared, the immense loss between 1859 and 1865, 20,000\u00A0hectares; 1870 to 1890, 15 large blocks\u20141,000 acres\u201493,000 in total, and then Crown purchases. The people of the North\u00A0are very familiar with Crown purchases, that made us landless in the North. This is something that was experienced by the people of Ng\u0101ti Hei, with over 81,000 acres of land lost through Crown purchases. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000795\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira, ko te hara nui ki runga i ng\u0101 pokowhiwhi o te K\u0101wanatanga, m\u014D t\u014D r\u0101tou whakaaro nui ki t\u014D t\u0101tou iwi o Ng\u0101ti Hei: waru miriona t\u0101ra te nui. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000796\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022\u003E[And so the responsibility is on the Government, and their sincere considerations for our people of Ng\u0101ti Hei: $8 million.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000797\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022\u003ENg\u0101ti Hei is worth $150,000 for cultural revitalisation, e t\u0101tou m\u0101\u2014$150,000 for the loss of 184 years of dislocation, of raupatu, of the beating of a language out of their people. That\u2019s what this Crown is offering them. Toko Renata, rangatira of Pare Hauraki, occupied Whenuakite Station in 2007, and John McEnteer shared, \u201CLandcorp are money-grabbing squatters. [It\u2019s] always been our land. They have been in temporary possession and we are repossessing it.\u201D, e t\u0101tou m\u0101. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000798\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022\u003ESo Whenuakite Station, a Landcorp farm, is now a part of the redress for 85 percent\u201485 percent available for Ng\u0101ti Hei, and acknowledging Ng\u0101ti Tamater\u0101\u2014but these whenua, they have to buy it back. They have to buy it back, and yet it was taken. Through the acts and omissions of the Crown, the people of Ng\u0101ti Hei were left virtually landless. Tairua and Coroglen schools: Ng\u0101ti Hei have to purchase those back, too. Where is the justice, and where is the fairness in the process for Ng\u0101ti Hei? As an uri of Pare Hauraki, I ask the question: where is the justice for our people?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000799\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002228503e94-a5c6-4364-92b7-dc1da041fc50\u0022\u003EI raise this because this is a part of a wider dialogue that we as members of this House really need to consider, the 1 to 2 percent in the dollar that is offered back to the tribes as we see them roll out this week. I acknowledge Te K\u0101hui Tupua of Taranaki, I acknowledge the tribes that will gather on Thursday, but, e t\u0101tou m\u0101, where is the justice for Ng\u0101ti Hei? Te R\u014Dp\u016B K\u0101k\u0101riki support, because our people are here and they tautoko this, but, ultimately, the question is: Treaty settlement, full and final? Kahore, kahore, kahore. N\u014Dreira e te wh\u0101nau, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, kia ora t\u0101tou katoa. [No, no, no. And so, family, thank you once, thank you twice, thank you once again.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u0022c9f67c3cdd4c4cd3b1390d105af7a5c4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000800\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c9f67c3cdd4c4cd3b1390d105af7a5c4\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s my pleasure to rise in the second reading of the Ng\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill. I\u2019d just like to touch on the previous speaker H\u016Bhana Lyndon\u2019s key point about justice. My experience is that no Treaty settlement really provides for full justice for the actions that the Crown had done in the past. These redresses and settlements are in part to acknowledge the injustice, but we know and acknowledge that it doesn\u2019t go the full way to giving back all the land that was lost. But this is a start. And that\u2019s something that, actually, both sides of this House have signed up to, and iwi have also signed up to this process. And some iwi have done very well and also prospered as well. So I\u2019d just like to acknowledge that it is really small amounts that are part of this process, and it cannot go any way to fully offset the pain and the resources that were taken away as part of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000801\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EBut I turn our attention to the bill itself, because we are in the second reading, and this has been through a thorough select committee process. I\u2019d like to acknowledge the previous M\u0101ori Affairs Committee in the previous Parliament. We were the benefactors of this bill in the new Parliament, but the mahi really goes to the previous select committee, so I\u2019d like to start out by acknowledging them. I\u2019d also like to start out by acknowledging the Ministers involved: Chris Finlayson was the lead Minister who led the negotiations, as did Andrew Little. Also the negotiators, and I\u2019d like to pay a special tribute to them and the work that they do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000802\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EBut what is this kaupapa that we\u2019re here to discuss about? Well, it is about the Ng\u0101ti Hei iwi, which is one of, I believe, 12 iwi in the Hauraki area. I\u2019d like to just say to any of you who are tuning in today from the Coromandel, nau mai, haere mai. We\u2019re sorry that you can\u2019t be here with us today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000803\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThis is a relatively small iwi. They\u2019ve been going through this process, as was mentioned, for the last 24 years in the making. So it\u2019s a long time coming. In fact, 180\u00A0years since the pain and the actions of the Crown led to such emotive and physical destruction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000804\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThe provisions of the bill are in four parts. Part 1 provides a Crown apology, because, as has been traversed in this House, this iwi was left virtually landless. I think the previous speaker mentioned 2.6 percent of total land that they now occupy. So that is the key part of Part 1 is to acknowledge that and to apologise for the land that was taken and the damage to the environment as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000805\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EPart 2 lists 22 cultural sites that are given back to Ng\u0101ti Hei as part of the cultural redress. That includes areas near and dear to my heart like the Hot Water Beach, and aspects of the Hot Water Beach there, which is just fantastic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000806\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EPart 3 talks about the commercial redress, which is about $8.5 million, plus contractual memorandums of understanding to enter into relationships with the Department of Conservation and to facilitate relationships with local authorities as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000807\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EAnd then there is a little bit more in Part 4. But, as I said, this is the second reading of the bill, so it has been through a select committee process. That select committee process yielded 11 submissions, and we only heard evidence of two submissions. As a result of those submissions, there were no changes that were recommended. So it is really our privilege to be receiving the bill that was drafted in its entirety from first reading, with the addition of some minor technical amendments, which we\u2019re all familiar with in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000808\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ESo it is my privilege then to not take too much more time of the House, but to say that this has been a good process and I commend this bill to the House. No reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022 data-id=\u0022ac9b9642a8494a79be7478d25106b768\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000809\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ac9b9642a8494a79be7478d25106b768\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora t\u0101tou. He h\u014Dnore nui ki te tautoko t\u0113nei pire. He kaupapa tino whakahirahira ki a t\u0101tou te iwi M\u0101ori. N\u014D reira tika me mihi ki a Ng\u0101ti Hei i t\u0113nei w\u0101.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000810\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E[Greetings all. It is an honour to speak to this bill. It is a very prestigious matter to all the M\u0101ori people. And so it is important to acknowledge Ng\u0101ti Hei at this time.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000811\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EI just wanted also to respond to some of the k\u014Drero that\u2019s gone down tonight with regards to the justice element. I certainly felt encouraged when I listened to the speaker over there\u2014Mr Dan Bidois over there\u2014who gives full tautoko for this sort of kaupapa. So it does give us heart, on this side of the House, when we see that type of unity in the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000812\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EI was listening to Mr Abel earlier and to young Hana over there, and I remember, I was invited to be a guest speaker at an annual general M\u0101ori Party meeting in 2006, I\u00A0think, when the M\u0101ori Party first started.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000813\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022260484d636d1460c96747bf1dd27f265\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, that\u2019s ages ago.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000814\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226fa27fdfce6f4761b73518f2bb88a6b3\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s a long while ago. I think you were about four or something at the time, eh, Hana? At the time, Te Ururoa Flavell was running the line that the M\u0101ori Party should be opposing all these settlements in the House. It was actually a M\u0101ori Party policy back in 2006. He wasn\u2019t the leader then; Tariana and Pita Sharples were the leadership at the time. So they invited me in to give a whakaaro and a view in terms of the strategy. I said to him then that I thought he was 100 percent wrong, not because the Treaty settlement process was a just process. It\u2019s one of the most unjust processes that we\u2019ve ever had to engage in, but I said to him then\u2014and I don\u2019t know if he ever forgave me, actually, because my view was that we had no right to tell people not to take these types of settlements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000815\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EYou know, if our people decide to take the settlements, and they may well be peanuts, then they have that right. That\u2019s their choice to take a settlement, even though we have all worked out, in te ao M\u0101ori, that those settlements are only worth about 2 percent. But when you have the choice of 2 percent or nothing, 2 percent becomes quite appealing, and that\u2019s the problem. As I said to Te Ururoa at the time, our people are not stupid. Tipene O\u2019Regan was not stupid when he decided to take a $170 million deal with regards to Ng\u0101i Tahu. Economists had worked out that the Ng\u0101i Tahu deal was worth $15\u00A0billion\u2014that was what the loss was, somewhere between $12 and $15 billion. It might have been a little bit more. I think Tainui came in at about $15 billion too.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000816\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EBut Sir Tipene O\u2019Regan and Sir Robert Mahuta, who did the Tainui settlement, were not stupid people. They realised that it\u2019s better to take something than nothing, and so they settled on $170 million\u2014they settled on $170 million. As upsetting as that was to a number of my relations, who were the main activists in the M\u0101ori movement\u2014H\u016Bhana Lyndon\u2019s relations, too, and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke\u2019s relations. They\u2019re all our relations\u2014Tama Potaka\u2019s relations, too. They labelled our leaders as sell-outs, might I add. They went ahead and did these settlements, because better something than nothing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000817\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo I remember telling my old mate Te Ururoa that I just don\u2019t think we have the right to say to a people, \u201CNo, you can\u2019t take it.\u201D, because our people took the opportunity in 1996 in terms of Ng\u0101i Tahu and Tainui, and we have had iwi making settlements like that every year since till now. So, as much as we find it appalling, Steve, and it\u2019s unjust and everything else, in a choice between nothing and something, you\u2019ll always take something. We know what Ng\u0101i Tahu is worth today, which is well in excess of it might be $1.5 billion, $2 billion\u2014you know, over there, our young hero from the media. No, you know, Mr Meager. You know what Ng\u0101i Tahu\u2019s worth today. Tainui might be worth $1.5, $2 billion. It\u2019s amazing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000818\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo I always say that we\u2019re used to taking peanuts, because from peanuts you can build gold mines, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve done in te ao M\u0101ori. We did that in Tainui. We did that in Ng\u0101i Tahu. We did that in the k\u014Dhanga reo movement, where they took minimal settlements. Iwi have done that everywhere and built huge, huge gold mines along the way, and the challenge, of course, is: can we get the flow back and the comeback from the iwi back to our people on the ground? So that\u2019s one of the big challenges for us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000819\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo, Ng\u0101ti Hei, I mean, obviously, there\u2019s not a huge amount of money there for Ng\u0101ti Hei. We\u2019re not talking $170 million or anything like that, but they still have an opportunity. They still have\u2014you know, we talked about their negotiators. Toko Renata\u2014we knew Toko really, really well; one of our true-gun kaum\u0101tua from that area. John McEnteer\u2014long-time negotiator for the area. We know these people well. We trust in them. I trust in them, that they will be able to make something from these settlements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000820\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EBut I\u2019ve always wondered, from the very first time I came into Parliament, was there something else we could do? Would we have Governments brave enough to change the process? These are the challenges in front of Mr Goldsmith right now, particularly with Peeni Henare\u2019s relations in the North, and Shane Jones\u2019 relations in the North. Huge challenges in terms of how we try and work that settlement. It\u2019s going to be fascinating to see what happens there. But I\u2019ve always wondered, from the time I first entered Parliament 25 years ago, was there an opportunity where we might be able to tweak the system, look at it again, ask ourselves if 2 percent of the compensation is really just, or, really, could we lift that up?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000821\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003EBecause, in my view, our people have done this country a favour: they have subsidised so much in this country, when you look at the worth of what our people could have claimed, what our people could have asked for in compensation. We have subsidised so much in this country, and yet we still get people who are resentful in terms of the settlement process. They talk about us getting all this money, but that is money that has been owed to our people. And I\u2019m very proud of our people, and I\u2019ve seen them come through here over the years, and they\u2019re so grateful to a process that, in the end, has only really delivered them crumbs, but has given them opportunities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000822\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003ESo, as much as it pains us, as much as we look at the injustice of those settlements, we can\u2019t take away the rights of our people to assert their tino rangatiratanga\u2014that\u2019s how it\u2019s always been; that\u2019s how it aways should be. Kia ora, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022 data-id=\u0022b5a025a2dbc94d349a3f3d3b70228806\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000823\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b5a025a2dbc94d349a3f3d3b70228806\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to also add my whakaaro on the second reading of this bill that we\u2019re speaking about tonight, the Ng\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill. As I rise, I would also like to add my voice to the voices of some that went before me and the lovely contributions that they gave, just recognising and acknowledging our predecessors, in terms of the Ministers that were in charge of this settlement bill and settlement process. I\u2019d like to acknowledge the Hon Chris Finlayson, and I\u2019d also like to acknowledge the Hon Andrew Little.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000824\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EI have no shame in saying that I\u2019m one of the newbies here. And, as part of a group of newbies, it\u2019s astounding how much I\u2019m learning very quickly\u2014not only that but how much my eyes are being opened and my heart is being opened with the different bills that come before us and the challenges, the history that comes with those bills. Before I go on to that, I would like to, just for the benefit of people listening\u2014and ever since I became a newbie here, we\u2019ve got people around the world that tune into Parliament TV. Thank you to the people that organise that for us. For the benefit of those at home that are not very familiar with our processes here in New Zealand, I\u2019d just like to give a brief overview about the stages of settlement, so that those listening at home can kind of get a picture of where we\u2019re at right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000825\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EThe main stages to reach a settlement of a claim are that first we\u2019ve got to establish the nature of a Treaty breach. That might involve detailed research, hearings before the Waitangi Tribunal. We\u2019ve also got to establish the claimant group, and that\u2019s usually an iwi\u2014or a tribe, for those of you overseas\u2014and this claimant has to have a mandate from the members to negotiate on their behalf for this settlement. Then one of the next stages is negotiating an agreement in principle, and that\u2019s when endorsement is needed from this claimant community, the aforementioned community. And then a deed of settlement is drafted, agreed upon. It sets out the details of the settlement, the terms of the settlement, and the claims against the Crown. And then, when this is agreed and it\u2019s signed, the next stage is where we\u2019re at now, the legislation stage, when it comes to Parliament and it becomes law. Here in New Zealand, there\u2019s the first reading and it goes to the select committee stage. And, with this settlement bill, it went, rightfully so, to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee. That\u2019s when we hear submissions. And there\u2019s the second reading and third reading before the settlement bill is implemented finally. And so, as I said, for the benefit of our listeners at home, we are at the second reading stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000826\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003ENow, as my colleague and friend and the great chair of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, Dan Bidois, MP for Northcote, said earlier, we\u2019ve inherited this bill\u2014inherited, bequeathed. You can call it what you will. So I didn\u2019t go through the stage of listening to submissions. However, as I mentioned earlier, I\u2019ve been a short time in Parliament and I\u2019ve learnt so much. Just recently, we listened to submissions with respect to another settlement bill that\u2019s taking place, and that\u2019s the Whakat\u014Dhea settlement. And, truth be told, that tore at my heartstrings quite deeply. When one, again, allows themselves to listen, not necessarily with their ears but with their hearts, and when one makes the effort of visiting these important sites, these sites that are important to the members of this iwi and the various hap\u016B, that\u2019s when one can really get a sense of this term of grievance. I\u2019m not M\u0101ori, but I hear the term \u201Cmamae\u201D spoken of, and one can really get a clear sense of that. And with my colleagues in the House\u2014Dana Kirkpatrick, Greg Fleming, Dan\u00A0Bidois, and members across the House\u2014we recently went to \u014Cp\u014Dtiki and we listened to just a fragment of the major grievances that they rightfully have.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000827\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EWhat I love about te ao M\u0101ori is that everything has a meaning, everything has a significance, and when I read through these bills and what we went through to get to this stage\u2014I\u2019ve learnt for many years, in particular hanging around my beautiful friend Anne\u00A0Kendall, the deputy chair of the New Zealand M\u0101ori Council, how everything does have a significance and a meaning when it comes to te ao M\u0101ori. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting my new EA, and I took her around to the M\u0101ori Affairs select committee room, and as we were sitting there conversing about certain things, a tour group came in, and that was made up of people from the States and from England, and what have you. One of them asked me the question\u2014because I said, \u201CAsk me whatever questions you want.\u201D\u2014is there a significance to the carvings at the threshold of the entry to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee room?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000828\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EAnd I said the answer is this: \u201CYes, but when it comes to our beautiful M\u0101ori culture, there\u2019s a meaning behind everything.\u201D And I said, \u201CFrom the smallest patterns, from words that are being said, there\u2019s a meaning and there\u2019s a deeper meaning.\u201D And I\u00A0reiterated\u2014our colleague in the House the Hon Peeni Henare was mentioning recently in that M\u0101ori Affairs select committee room\u2014I can\u2019t recall if it was his aunty or someone from his close family took part in those panels that are there in that room as well\u2014oh, his mother\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000829\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221fef74cd05a14ca2ad69e00ccf0db957\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: Ms Nakhle, you\u2019ve done an excellent job of going seven minutes explaining the processes, but I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve heard you mention the bill yet. Just let\u2019s\u2014three minutes\u2014have a crack, shall we?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000830\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225c604605db8e48e7b58adbbafcdf2d0e\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m glad you said it was excellent. So what\u2019s important is that we acknowledge what\u2019s important to the people to whom this bill relates. And this is where I\u2019m getting at, and I\u2019m glad that it was referred to as excellent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000831\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EWhat I\u2019d also like to bring attention to is, in essence, just the key information that\u2019s in this settlement bill. If we\u2019re going to make it like a kind of synopsis, firstly, the Ng\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill settles all historical grievances claims, Treaty of Waitangi claims, for Ng\u0101ti Hei. And I know that it\u2019s been expressed in the House\u2014you know, the fairness behind this. But as the member\u2014who\u2019s not here anymore\u2014alluded to, sometimes you\u2019ve got to start somewhere and you\u2019ve got to accept something so that you can go forward. And that\u2019s no doubt what I\u2019ve been hearing when I\u2019ve been listening to submissions when it comes to the Whakat\u014Dhea settlement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000832\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EThe second part of the key information is that there are an estimated 650 members of Ng\u0101ti Hei, and the area of interest covers the eastern seaboard of the Coromandel Peninsula. Yes, absolutely breathtaking areas in New Zealand, and it includes significant offshore islands. And the third point, if we can put this synopsis to this bill, is that the settlement acknowledges the Crown\u2019s failure to protect Ng\u0101ti Hei\u2019s land, resources, and traditional tribal structures. And this acknowledgment and recognition is extremely important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000833\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EIn closing, I\u2019d like to also acknowledge what my colleague across the House, Hana-Rawhiti\u2014well, first, her beautiful voice, but, second, how she said she recalled how hard it is to reach settlement and what it does to people in the process to reach settlement. Settlement bills are not perfect, but in this second reading, I commend the bill to the House with the hope that this will be a step towards improving the lives of many within Ng\u0101ti Hei. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u0022f2263dd361994d5abb0a8c53476c89a3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000834\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f2263dd361994d5abb0a8c53476c89a3\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: This is a five-minute split call\u2014Camilla Belich.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022 data-id=\u00222256f150bf9c4df5b92c0766d721a796\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000835\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222256f150bf9c4df5b92c0766d721a796\u0022\u003ECAMILLA BELICH (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe. Ko te mihi tuatahi ki te Whare e t\u016B nei, ki a Papat\u016B\u0101nuku kei raro, ki a Ranginui ki runga, ki te mana whenua o t\u0113nei rohe. Ko Te Atiawa wh\u0101nui, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou. Engari ko te mea nui te mihi t\u016Bturu ki t\u0113nei r\u0101, he mihi ki a Ng\u0101ti Hei. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000836\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003E[Firstly, acknowledgments to this House standing, to Papat\u016B\u0101nuku down below, to Ranginui above and to the nation who hold mana over this region. Te Atiawa people, acknowledgments to you. However, the most important acknowledgment today is to Ng\u0101ti Hei.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000837\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EI would like to acknowledge Ng\u0101ti Hei for their participation in this process, and also just to acknowledge what an honour it is to be able to speak in a Treaty settlement debate. It\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve been able to do this in my almost four years in Parliament now, and it is really an honour to be able to participate in what is part of a very long historical process that has been alluded to by many members of the House so far today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000838\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EThis is an extremely important document and, for those people who may be watching who haven\u2019t had the chance to read a Treaty settlement bill, it really does contain a lot more information and history about the particular iwi or hap\u016B that we are discussing than a usual bill of Parliament. I just want to touch briefly on some of the main points in the bill that I feel deserve extra attention. Of course, this is a bill which implements an agreement that was reached between Ng\u0101ti Hei and the Government on 17 August 2017. We\u2019ve heard acknowledgments from the various speakers, from both the National Party and the Labour Party, who have been Ministers who have shepherded this particular process through the House, and this is not unusual. We often have different political parties taking leadership on these Treaty settlement bills, and it is a moment where the House stands unified towards going part way to addressing some of the very significant historical wrongs that have occurred for particular hap\u016B and iwi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000839\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003ESo the main parts that I wanted to highlight was, in this bill, there is a significant amount of history of what happened to Ng\u0101ti Hei, and it can be found in clause 8. Just to go over a tiny amount of some of the history there, there\u2019s acknowledgment of the history of the extractive industry in the Ng\u0101ti Hei rohe including kauri logging, kauri gum digging\u2014which I have to admit my ancestors from Croatia would have taken part in, so I acknowledge and apologise for that; for my own family\u2019s history in that\u2014and also goldmining and fishing. Also, the fact that\u2014and I wanted to note this\u2014that Ng\u0101ti Hei derived very little long-term benefit from that extraction, so that is something that we should all be sorry for and acknowledge. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000840\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EAs many have mentioned, Ng\u0101ti Hei was left virtually landless and, if you read clause 8 of the bill, you\u2019ll see that there was a marginalisation of Ng\u0101ti Hei, loss of te reo M\u0101ori, educational underachievement, sickness, and socio-economic deprivation for the iwi\u2014significant, significant impacts. The apology is also in here. I would encourage members to read that; I won\u2019t have time to go over all of that, and it is outlined but the Crown does apologise in this bill, and we as members of Parliament will help to enact this as a formal apology for the actions that harm Ng\u0101ti Hei and for the breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles, and the Crown unreservedly apologises.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000841\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003ESo I don\u2019t have long to participate in this debate but I want to acknowledge the significance of that apology. Many members have commented that Treaty settlements are part of a long process, that they\u2019re not final, that they are not significant enough to redress the wrongs that were committed against iwi like Ng\u0101ti Hei. I think most of us in this House, if not all of us, would agree with that, and we\u2019re just pleased that Ng\u0101ti Hei decided that there was some way that we could go some part into acknowledging this. I acknowledge their mana and the mana of this bill, and I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022 data-id=\u0022703069414b72465db84c5c47d2371cfc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000842\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022703069414b72465db84c5c47d2371cfc\u0022\u003EGREG FLEMING (National\u2014Maungakiekie):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113nei taku tino h\u014Dnore an\u014D i t\u0113nei r\u0101 te tautoko t\u0113nei pire. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000843\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E[It is my absolute honour again to support this bill.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000844\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EMr Speaker, when I was first elected to Parliament and was asked what select committees I would like to serve on, the one that I asked for was the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, and, obviously, also the Petitions Committee in order to serve under your chairmanship, sir\u2014such a fun committee, that one. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000845\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EE rua ng\u0101 take o taku p\u0101tai e p\u0101 ana ki te tono m\u014D te pire ki te M\u0101ori Affairs Committee. Tuatahi, te rongo te tangi o te reo o te whenua i ng\u0101 w\u0101 katoa, k\u0101ore he mea an\u014D, k\u0101ore he mea reka ki te reo taketake.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000846\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003E[There are two questions regarding the bill to be considered by the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee. Firstly, it\u2019s the continuous hearing of the language of the land, there is nothing like it, nothing as soothing as the indigenous language.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000847\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EAnd that is what we hear all the time in our work. So to have heard so much of the reo of the whenua and of the rangi today has been an incredible joy, and that is perhaps the most sweet part of the joy of serving in this House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000848\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EThe second one was that the primary work of the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee is whai atu te whakap\u016B\u0101waitanga o ia iwi, ia hap\u016B. E maha ng\u0101 t\u016Branga m\u014D t\u0113r\u0101 momo whai atu.\u00A0[for every tribe and subtribe to thrive. There is a lot of opportunities for that pursuit.]\u00A0One of those pathways is settlements. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EIn preparation for this work, and as I\u2019ve continued to want to improve and to expand my understanding of it, I\u2019ve read extensively and I take every opportunity that I have to meet and talk to everyone and anyone who has experience in this area. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit with Whakarewa, outside of Motueka, which was one of the first areas to settle, of sorts. It was in the mid-1980s, and what was $8 million worth is now $300 million worth of assets, including owning Tohu Wines, a most excellent acquisition. On Saturday, I was with a couple of the other members from the House as we celebrated the opening of another Tauhara housing project in Auckland by several of the T\u0101maki-based iwi. My first direct encounter was the one that my colleague Rima Nakhle detailed, and that was with Whakat\u014Dhea. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000850\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EIn all of these, it was an incredible honour, and incredibly instructive and incredibly sobering. It reminds me of what several members have made clear tonight, which is that these settlements are in no way an equal return for the mamae and the h\u014Dh\u0101 that was inflicted. What they are, rather, is a starting point, and we have seen that so many times in recent years in this country. Again, previous speakers have spoken to some of the financial and the asset returns from that, and that is what gives me great hope for this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000851\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221573c6f8-999b-434d-8bde-a47a586ee0f0\u0022\u003EAgain, as has been noted eloquently by members on both sides of the House, this is the will of Ng\u0101ti Hei, as it has been the will of each of the iwi that have settled. They want to look forward, they want to take the settlement that they have negotiated in good faith, and they want to build their future from it. They want to pursue the development and the wh\u0101nuitanga o t\u014D r\u0101tou mana Motuhake. Koir\u0101 te ngako o te ture tuarua o te Tiriti o Waitangi, ko te tino rangatiratanga o ia iwi, ia hap\u016B. Ki \u014Dku whakaaro t\u0113nei huarahi o te whai atu o te treaty settlement process that is te tino wh\u0101inga.\u00A0[the full approach of their sovereignty. That is the true essence of the second article of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, it is true sovereignty of every tribe, every subtribe. I believe this pathway of the Treaty settlement process supports that notion.] N\u0101 reira, it is my pleasure and my honour to commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022 data-id=\u0022ea7d01dbcf6d481d8763c5825db89d4e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000852\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ea7d01dbcf6d481d8763c5825db89d4e\u0022\u003EHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te M\u0101ngai. Ko te mihi tuatahi ki te atua, n\u0101na nei ng\u0101 mea katoa. Ko te mihi tuarua ki te Whare e t\u016B nei, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. Ko t\u0113nei te mihi Ng\u0101ti Hei. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000853\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E[Firstly, I\u2019d like to acknowledge our God, to whom everything belongs. Secondly, I\u2019d like to acknowledge this standing House, salutations. Ng\u0101ti Hei, I acknowledge you. Greetings, greetings, greetings.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000854\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ENg\u0101ti Hei are one of 12 iwi and hap\u016B in the Hauraki region, and, in 2009, Ng\u0101ti Hei formed part of a collective. They didn\u2019t do this just because they wanted to; this was due to the fact that, at the time, the Crown had a policy that if iwi were to negotiate their Treaty grievances with the Crown, they were required to be part of a large natural group. Ng\u0101ti Hei, which is around 700, would be too small to form a group on their own so they came and formed part of a collective. So this is an example of smaller groups of M\u0101ori within New Zealand, who have legitimate Treaty claims, having to come together not at their own requirement or view, but because of the framework of the Treaty negotiations settlement process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000855\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EIn 2018, Ng\u0101ti Hei signed the Pare Hauraki Collective Redress Deed, and this is part of that. When we look through the history of Ng\u0101ti Hei, it is a good example of the direct impact of colonisation on M\u0101ori in New Zealand, and over the years to see how land has been stripped away, and also the impacts not only on the wellbeing and hauora of a people but also of their financial independence and ability to look after their own.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000856\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EIt was early as 1836 when we saw deals being done with traders that resulted in the Land Claims Commission making inquiries as to whether those were legitimate deals or not. The Crown, after investigating back in 1837, awarded 7,000 acres of land in which Ng\u0101ti Hei had interests to European claimants. As a result, much of the coastal lands that were originally in the possession of Ng\u0101ti Hei were lost. It was between 1858 and 1865 that Ahuahu was purchased from Hauraki iwi. There is no evidence that Ng\u0101ti Hei were consulted about this purchase, and furthermore there\u2019s been no evidence that they even received payment for that land.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000857\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EBetween 1859 and 1865, there was a Crown policy that for every, say, 10 acres purchased, 1 acre would be held in reserve. That was the case in many instances around the country. But over that time, the Crown bought 20,000 acres from Ng\u0101ti Hei and it did not provide any reserves for Ng\u0101ti Hei, nor did it require any assessment as to whether the people had retained adequate land for their own needs. In 1870, right up to 1890, this is when the significant purchases happened: 15 large blocks of 1,000 acres or more\u2014totalling over 93,000 acres\u2014were permanently taken from Ng\u0101ti Hei. The Crown purchased 12 of those blocks with over 81,000 acres in total.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000858\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI think one of the interesting things that we see, and one of the sad things that we see, is those iwi that have been most affected by loss of land are often those who are sitting on the land which has the most value. We can think of some of our prime dairying land; we can think of some other areas. Ng\u0101ti Hei was no different in this, with the kauri logging, kauri gum digging, flax milling, and gold mining all areas that were heavily jumped in upon and exploited for those resources. One of the lasting grievances from Ng\u0101ti Hei is that the damage was done to their own rohe but there was very little financial or empowerment of their iwi as a result of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000859\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EAs we\u2019ve heard, the last point I\u2019ll make is that it was back in 1923 where Ng\u0101ti Hei wrote to the Crown and they asked for a particular island to be surveyed\u2014Ohinau Island\u2014for the purpose of taking claims of that ownership of that island to the Native Land Court. The Crown reacted by delaying that process while it surveyed the island and then it subsequently took the whole island for the purpose of a lighthouse when not the whole island was needed for that lighthouse\u2014it acquired the whole 72-acre island.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000860\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo, as a result of those losses of land and others I haven\u2019t mentioned, by the end of the 20th century, Ng\u0101ti Hei were left landless. It\u2019s important to note that as a direct result of having been alienated from their land, there\u2019s been a loss of te reo M\u0101ori, a loss of tribal structures, and a loss of ability to pass on knowledge, m\u0101tauranga, and understanding to the next generation. So it is that separation of land and place to be together and have traditional structures in place that when that land is removed from a people, it also removes the ability for the next generation to benefit from everything that kaum\u0101tua have to benefit and pass on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000861\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EFor all of that loss, Ng\u0101ti Hei have received three things specified in the bill: an apology for the Crown for the wrongs and the breaches of the Treaty; cultural redress which has vested several properties back at with Ng\u0101ti Hei; and a financial redress of $8.5 million. I\u2019m always in two minds when I speak on Treaty bills or when we discuss these. I feel pleased for Ng\u0101ti Hei to be able to take this and move on and to create a better future for the next generation of those uri of Ng\u0101ti Hei\u2014and I really hope that this provides an opportunity for that to happen. But, at the same time, I feel sad in my heart when we read back on those losses and we think of what has been taken away and we see what is being given in compensation, and it is a mere drop in the bucket from what has been lost. N\u014D reira he mihi mahana ki a koutou Ng\u0101ti Hei, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou. [Therefore, a warm convivial greeting to you Ng\u0101ti Hei, thank you all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022 data-id=\u002290c1577e0aeb43ff8d8b621352ad410b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000862\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002290c1577e0aeb43ff8d8b621352ad410b\u0022\u003EDANA KIRKPATRICK (National\u2014East Coast):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to speak as the last speaker in the Ng\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill today in the second reading. It is a privilege to do so. As a new member of this Parliament and sitting on the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee with my colleagues who are in the House this evening, it means a lot to be able to do so. It\u2019s always a little difficult when you are faced with the prospect of speaking on a Treaty settlement bill when clearly you are possibly a little ill-equipped to do so, having not sat through the select committee and the hearings to understand the full picture. But I think, throughout listening to my colleagues, the members from across the House, it\u2019s very clear how this feels for the Ng\u0101ti Hei people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000863\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EThe Coromandel, which is where Ng\u0101ti Hei comes from, is a beautiful, remote part of the world. In some parts of it, productive and historically extremely significant. So\u00A0we understand full well why they are seeking redress. We understand from the papers that we\u2019ve seen what that looks like. National has always supported this bill, and we\u2019re delighted to continue supporting it and, hopefully, to bring some clarity and some closure to this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000864\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EIn the submissions, there is a bit of a historical account of Ng\u0101ti Hei, and there\u2019s a piece of it that I\u2019d just like to address. It says, \u201CConsidering all that has happened since 1769 the resilient Ng\u0101ti Hei has been a reasonable Iwi in terms of developing relationships with its Treaty partner and its subsidiaries. Ng\u0101ti Hei has been both active and reactive \u2026 both with the Crown and the private sector. Whether establishing a Marine Reserve to monitoring developers or working alongside scientists on Islands - this is all part of our fundamental duty as responsible Kaitiaki. The burdens of these responsibilities [come] at great cost. The lack of resources and professional approach has resulted in our roles being reduced diminutively to only a figurehead status. Our true potential as contributors to our own prosperity and societal growth still seems too far away and improbable as we watch our young seek better opportunities abroad. The Treaty Claims process is critically important to Ng\u0101ti Hei as we move into the future. This will be our only chance to participate in social and economic opportunities that has eluded us since 1840. However we look ahead with in trepidation and brace ourselves to new challenges coming.\u201D It goes on to say, \u201CThe apology\u201D\u2014that comes as part of the settlement process\u2014\u201Ccannot change the past, but with the support of the Crown its an opportunity to reset our future. The apology stands front and center for Nga Hei.\u201D I read that because I think that\u2019s significant for them and obviously meant a lot in the submissions process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000865\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EI sat on my first Treaty settlement submissions hearing this year when we addressed the Whakat\u014Dhea settlement claims. We did that in \u014Cp\u014Dtiki, which was great. It was also part of my electorate, so it\u2019s something that was quite close to my part.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000866\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ff7430188204eddb3b038d0f535542c\u0022\u003EHon Tama Potaka\u003C/span\u003E: Great electorate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000867\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002212c1f8206fb940ecbe98e69cb9fe31c0\u0022\u003EDANA KIRKPATRICK\u003C/span\u003E: A wonderful electorate where I spent a few days with the Hon Tama Potaka last week.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000868\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003ELook, I think, for the first time there, I had my firsthand understanding of the sorrow and the pain endured by iwi through raupatu and through the confiscation of land and the way they were treated. It takes time to understand the journey, the history, and the evolution of a Treaty settlement. The pain, the negotiation, and bringing it to a point that sets the iwi or hap\u016B on a new journey. There is nothing, no money, no prosperity, no property, no apology will ever be enough for those who have gone before. The people who started this process, and many of whom will have moved on and will not be able to see this come to a conclusion\u2014for the t\u016Bpuna, the mamae will always be a part of their lives. Many have died with no redress, as outlined.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000869\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003ENow the opportunity exists for Ng\u0101ti Hei to move forward and address its future in a new way for the sake of their tamariki and mokopuna. There is a part in one of the former speeches from the first reading, from the Minister for M\u0101ori Development, the Hon Tama Potaka, who said, \u201CThe kaupapa of Ng\u0101ti Hei is set out on [their] website: [and it says] \u2018From our t\u016Bpuna we have inherited our moana, whenua, and cultural taonga. We will protect and enhance them to build a bright future for Ng\u0101ti Hei.\u2019 \u201D. If this settlement, as it stands\u2014which we understand is not enormous in terms of its monetary value\u2014can bring some kind of closure, some clarity, and a way forward for Ng\u0101ti Hei, then that will just go some way to addressing that for them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000870\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EOn the East Coast, where I come from, I have seen what happens and the opportunities that come from Treaty settlement closure and how iwi and hap\u016B on the East Coast have developed a wonderful way of facing their challenges, of owning the problems that they face, and of using their settlement claims and their redress to find new ways of supporting wh\u0101nau and communities in the way that matters to them most. It brings empowerment. It brings the ability for them to embrace their challenges, as I\u00A0said, and some of them developed great plans in terms of social housing, in terms of training for their wh\u0101nau and providing jobs and doing a great deal of other things in terms of commercial and social arms working alongside each other. So, look, I hope that we will be able to reach some of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000871\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s important to remember that \u201CBy the end of the 20th century, Ng\u0101ti Hei [was left] virtually landless. The resulting marginalisation \u2026 including loss of te reo \u2026 educational underachievement, sickness, and socioeconomic deprivation, caused \u2026 [great] suffering. \u2026 [and] the fragmentation of Ng\u0101ti Hei tribal structures and the migration from ancestral lands, severely affected [their] ability to pass [on] m\u0101tauranga \u2026 to their [children or their tamariki]\u201D, and, therefore, to their mokopuna going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000872\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EThis settlement started on the\u2014well, you know, in the time line here, \u201COn 29 June 2011, the Crown recognised the mandate of the Ng\u0101ti Hei negotiators to negotiate a comprehensive settlement of the historical Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ng\u0101ti Hei with the Crown. The mandated negotiators and the Crown entered into an agreement in principle equivalent on 22 July 2011. On 31 May 2017, Ng\u0101ti Hei and the Crown initialled a Deed of Settlement \u2026 [and] The Deed was ratified and then signed on 13 August 2017. The settlement will be implemented following the [finalisation] of [this] legislation. On settlement, the trustees of the Ng\u0101ti Hei Post Settlement Governance Entity will manage the settlement assets.\u201D, as is common practice with these things.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000873\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s also important to remember that \u201CNg\u0101ti Hei is a member of the Pare Hauraki Collective and will receive collective redress through that [as well]. The collective approach recognises that the iwi of Hauraki have various overlapping customary interests which cannot be considered separately from each other.\u201D So that will come as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000874\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EIt takes a lot to get a settlement through. It takes huge commitment, courage, and drive, and when we look through the submissions that were presented to the M\u0101ori Affairs Committee, I think it\u2019s worth just noting a couple of them. The Hauraki Collective submission strongly supported the Ng\u0101ti Hei Claims Settlement Bill, acknowledging the persistent efforts of the negotiators and the historical wrongs faced by the iwi. They criticised the Crown\u2019s insufficient Treaty redress and asserted their opposition to any changes to the bill not endorsed by Ng\u0101ti Hei. The Ng\u0101ti Paoa Iwi Trust aligned with Ng\u0101ti\u00A0Hei in supporting the claims settlement bill, acknowledging the history and struggles of the iwi, and they stressed the importance of their settlement, whilst the Thames-Coromandel District Council\u2019s submission backed the bill, recognising its significance for both Ng\u0101ti Hei and the wider Hauraki community. The council highlighted its ongoing relationship with Ng\u0101ti Hei and emphasised the settlement\u2019s role in fostering joint development and addressing historical grievances.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000875\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EIt takes a lot to get the settlement through, as I\u2019ve said, but we pay tribute to the dedication of Ng\u0101ti Hei, the leadership, and the patience; to the negotiators and the wh\u0101nau support that will have been required to assist and support the negotiators and the people involved in this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000876\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EThe first k\u014Drero over the claims was handled by T\u0101 Doug Graham, and they have traversed many Governments since, but it was Andrew Little who separated the omnibus bills and decided to get this finalised by splitting this out and setting Ng\u0101ti Hei on a path for a quicker resolution. Thanks to Minister Andrew Little for the work that he did to progress this claim for the iwi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000877\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EAs previous speakers have said, the redress will never be enough, and I sincerely hope a new future can be envisaged and that Ng\u0101ti Hei can be set on a journey of improvement and opportunity for their people. N\u014D reira, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 koutou, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000878\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000879\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u0022e4d05e1500d5482980b8b7e7ff5f2aa4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000880\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e4d05e1500d5482980b8b7e7ff5f2aa4\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: The House stands adjourned until 2\u00A0p.m. tomorrow. Good evening.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000881\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 9.56 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20240409599255a03ea248829b9c3fb1956fc22e000882\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"