"\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=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022ce3fb75f1a8c42dabaf2fe297b71edff\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2024\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00224ee5a344a4ef43128ebea9c81076f654\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2024\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000002\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=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000004\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002283d98b40f2ae48e08a1750d2949306f3\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c4c87783c0c141a180b963dd95498001\u0022\u003EKarakia/Prayers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022 data-id=\u0022dc2da30ed353492dba3aa6cfa2286da1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dc2da30ed353492dba3aa6cfa2286da1\u0022\u003ETEANAU TUIONO (Assistant Speaker):\u003C/span\u003E E te Atua kaha rawa, ka tuku whakamoemiti atu m\u0101tou, m\u014D ng\u0101 karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga i a m\u0101tou. Ka waiho i \u014D m\u0101tou p\u0101nga whaiaro katoa ki te taha. Ka mihi m\u0101tou ki te K\u012Bngi, me te inoi atu m\u014D te \u0101rahitanga i roto i \u014D m\u0101tou whakaaroarohanga, kia m\u014Dhio ai, kia whakaiti ai t\u0101 m\u0101tou whakahaere i ng\u0101 take o te Whare nei, m\u014D te oranga, te maung\u0101rongo, me te aroha o Aotearoa. \u0100mene.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022\u003E[Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility, for the welfare, peace, and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00222ae2cccbe4df466ab0d5ac4dc47debc8\u0022\u003EPetitions, Papers, Select Committee Reports, and Introduction of Bills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002245967ddaea424f0899650e9208811e06\u0022\u003EPetitions, Papers, Select Committee Reports, and Introduction of Bills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00224d8722f7eebe4f7fafd96c92b95f2957\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224d8722f7eebe4f7fafd96c92b95f2957\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No petitions have been delivered to the Clerk, but Ministers have delivered 18 papers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022\u0022 data-id=\u0022f0db02668e2f4eef8683ac49c64697a6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f0db02668e2f4eef8683ac49c64697a6\u0022\u003ECLERK\u003C/span\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E2023-24 annual reports of: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EACC\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ECrown Irrigation Investments\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ECrown Law\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EInland Revenue\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EK\u0101inga Ora\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ELINZ \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMBIE \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMinistry of Education \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EMinistry of Housing and Urban Development \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ENZQA \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003ERemuneration Authority \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EStats NZ\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003Ereports on the 2023-24 non-departmental appropriations for: \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EVote Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EVote Housing and Urban Development, and the\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EEmergency Management and Recovery portfolio\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EGovernment response to the:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EClimate Change Commission\u2019s Monitoring report: Emissions reduction (July 2024)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003EACC 2023-24 climate report, and the 2024-25 service agreement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00221f10aa2ae7384bd0ae603c1e1825c6ed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221f10aa2ae7384bd0ae603c1e1825c6ed\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. No select committee papers have been presented. No bills have been introduced. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00225e5206d8f72a418cb9227c1f1a93d250\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221457aaf6c3864fb99453e6eba4486731\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223dd2393fe7594fed9071cf4cd811c931\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1 to Minister, 15 October\u2014Amended Answer\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022 data-id=\u00223567357390f344d3a5956964f32a387b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223567357390f344d3a5956964f32a387b\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation to correct an answer I gave during oral question No. 1 yesterday.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002270ecd2dd9d3d40cbb1eb2ae0e2f3a28c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002233fbdd3c687f403ca0447147e3fe135d\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: I was asked a supplementary question regarding funding for flood risks in South Dunedin. I replied that the previous Government had declined a proposal. What I should have said was that the previous Government did not\u00A0fund the proposal. The South Dunedin Future programme was not included in the National Resilience Plan projects which the former Labour Government funded on 18\u00A0September 2023.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002283f7fca65acf431e84766babf46903d8\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022 data-id=\u002283161784b0424a7eb9a0bf6a159d9fe8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002283161784b0424a7eb9a0bf6a159d9fe8\u0022\u003EJAMES MEAGER (National\u2014Rangitata)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u0022e9e9583162204ab9a5002c248ee8d798\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e9e9583162204ab9a5002c248ee8d798\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Good news. This morning, Statistics New Zealand released the latest inflation figures, which are for the September quarter of this year. This release shows annual Consumers Price Index (CPI) inflation of 2.2 percent in the September quarter of this year. This is the first time that inflation has been below 3 percent since March 2021. We have broken the back of the inflation beast.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265ea58bdb3a34101afc693eb402afbbd\u0022\u003EJames Meager\u003C/span\u003E: How did this inflation result compare to expectations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e7c15c41976947329fd646a714accde2\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Annual CPI inflation of 2.2 percent was around the level most forecasters, including the Reserve Bank, were expecting. Prices for tradable goods and services actually fell by 1.6 percent over the year, which is good news for New Zealanders, with petrol prices dropping 8 percent. Non-tradable inflation, on the other hand, is proving stickier with an annual rate of 4.9 percent. Rents, rates, and insurance were, again\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b39f2cb285f44d990434730529b14c8\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Oh! That\u2019s the bit the Government\u2019s responsible for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc015f60361b4a9eaee57ea0e4268a8c\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: It is sad to have the Leader of the Opposition interjecting and showing such disregard for the New Zealanders who have been pummelled by price increases that were crushing for years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223235084636064ad1a0b604348f0c15a8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That might have been a point of order, but it\u2019s certainly not an answer to\u00A0a question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ba466a2cf4743749779d1fee05fb2bd\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: I think in the spirit of debate, with a back and forth, this is something that all members of the House should celebrate together, because what it represents is a time in which New Zealanders will cease to have the crushing price increases that became the norm under Labour.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221498fb243a354a16800849278aeb8e74\u0022\u003EJames Meager\u003C/span\u003E: How does this compare to previous inflation results?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8efcc5ac0124258b7c1837435e2b2cc\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: New Zealand recently endured a cost of living crisis, with annual inflation peaking at over 7 percent. From the last quarter of 2020 to the last quarter of 2023, consumer prices rose a total of 19 percent in just three years, and over that period of the previous Government, life got more expensive for New Zealanders by almost 20\u00A0percent, and people\u2019s savings were eroded by almost 20 percent. Inflation is now back within the Reserve Bank\u2019s target range; the genie is back in the bottle; and the era of high, persistent, crushing price increases is over.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f6c96e1d3426444c9d4cb9f3d0e14bfe\u0022\u003EJames Meager\u003C/span\u003E: What is the target range for inflation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2ffd52d47d94af68269693c752563cd\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The remit I issued in December states that the Monetary Policy Committee\u2018s objective is to achieve and maintain future annual inflation between 1 and 3 percent over the medium term, with a focus on keeping future inflation near the 2 percent midpoint. The fact that inflation is within that band and close to the 2 percent mid-point means the Reserve Bank has the confidence to begin reducing interest rates.\u00A0The bank is now easing off the brake it has been pressing firmly down on for the last few years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222e7f530c51fb4148990a3e0e01192cef\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\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=\u0022cf27f80b8143433a8f423e5606b596ce\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cf27f80b8143433a8f423e5606b596ce\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=\u0022d5090e9604b841c6ae6f4676006ef166\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d5090e9604b841c6ae6f4676006ef166\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, and especially our actions to get on top of inflation. This morning, Stats New Zealand confirmed that inflation fell to 2.2 percent in the September quarter, the lowest rate in more than 3\u00BD years, and it is clear that our plan, our economic plan, is working, which is why under our Government we\u2019re getting on top of inflation fast. Just before the election last year, Treasury picked that inflation would have only fallen to 3.1 percent by this time and wouldn\u2019t have reached 2.2\u00A0percent until the end of next year. That\u2019s despite all the scaremongering from the Opposition that fully funded tax relief\u2014which Labour didn\u2019t support\u2014for supporting working families with the cost of living would actually push inflation higher. It didn\u2019t do that. But, instead, our economic plan is delivering lower inflation, lower interest rates, two interest rate cuts in 10 months versus, I think, six or seven increases over the last six years. Importantly, what we\u2019re seeing is that the foundations for economic growth to get New Zealand back on track are in place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002268070c7c79654945993df6b6e014290c\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Why did his Government cut funding for apprenticeships in critical infrastructure sectors when apprentice numbers are already in decline, compounding the skills shortages in the trades sector?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f82a48570cd4cc3a7dd0c067b4edcd1\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, what I\u2019d say to the member is the Apprenticeship Boost was actually another case of Labour leaving behind another fiscal cliff. We\u2019ve made funding for Apprenticeship Boost permanent so the programme wouldn\u2019t expire like it would under Labour and, at the same time, we\u2019re targeting it at the skills that we need.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f621d67863094c99871c509eb7b99bbe\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Why has he and his Government cut funding for apprenticeships in areas such as pipeline construction, bitumen resurfacing, road construction and maintenance, and drinking- and waste-water treatment when this country is facing major challenges in those areas and this will only exacerbate skill shortages?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002287e6a6771a0049dbaf29b039f42696e8\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, we have to make sure we are spending money carefully. That\u2019s what we do on the side of the House; we don\u2019t waste money. That\u2019s only a very small proportion of those that are actually using Apprenticeship Boost, and what I\u2019d say to you is that we are making sure that we\u2019ve got support for the skills we need like building and agriculture and manufacturing, forestry, food, and hospitality.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224cc20fba93f547439b08e54c14dd8e6a\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Why was providing over $200 million in tax breaks to the tobacco company Philip Morris more important to his Government than keeping people in apprenticeships?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d766ea9cc1134ef18bc6f05809d10965\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just a moment. I think there\u2019s a word there that probably shouldn\u2019t have been in it. Do you want to ask that question again?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c0a2e561e12c4ff09ead53bac8882180\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: What\u2019s that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e036cb59dac64e568cba8c935ce676eb\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think you referred to the entity belonging to someone, which it didn\u2019t. So just ask the question again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7c3bb72d7b942f89f1c8a96c30a1ac5\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Why was providing over $200 million in tax breaks to companies like Philip Morris, the country\u2019s largest supplier of cigarettes, more important to his Government than keeping people in apprenticeships?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220a61634cda5045b182a8a82d5d5846b7\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I reject the characterisation of that question. What I would say to that member is that on this side of the House, we are very committed to lowering daily smoking rates. We are determined to deliver on Smokefree 2025 and we\u2019re going to make alternatives available. Also what I\u2019d say is, with respect to the so-called tax that he talks about, what we\u2019ve done is make sure Treasury is conservatively estimating the loss of excise tax by any shift that happens to an alternative product other than cigarettes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e12bb1ad1c9640ed9a8b3f22edb35303\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Prime Minister, how often have you met someone whose logic is that when the tax on cigarettes go up, as it did December last year, it somehow is a concession to some business?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a66f3df23fd941b093badd4c199a9d5d\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s just prudent to actually set money aside. And for the most extreme scenario, if we get a shift from cigarettes to alternative products\u2014that\u2019s what we\u2019re accounting for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022603e1203cbd243cbaba6c4437bac6b16\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Why should the construction sector have trust in his Government when they are cutting apprenticeships and, in their first 10 months in power, they have spent their time gutting school-building programmes, shelving State housing projects, cancelling major infrastructure projects, and leaving the industry staring down a pipeline that\u2019s looking more like an empty barrel?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ceb49fdd45504411bf566e579a968708\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Again, what you see is you see business confidence at a 10-year high. Why is that? Because they know this is a Government dealing with and improving the economic fundamentals. We are making sure there is financial discipline and no wasteful spending. We\u2019re making sure that inflation now, for the first time in 3\u00BD years, is within the band. Interest rates cuts are coming down; confidence is up. That leads to economic growth and people in work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e064d9ed59a4748b224223043c0e1bc\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: If things are so good for the building and construction sector, why are there 10,000 fewer people employed in the building and construction sector now than there were the day he became Prime Minister?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c14ef422c804a1a9110e7f35d32cbec\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Because this economy is dealing with the lag effects of woeful economic mismanagement by that member and his former Government. What is good news is that consents are up 2 percent; the Infrastructure Commission\u2019s latest pipeline estimates a total of over 6,000 projects\u2014$147 billion worth; and the transport Government policy statement put in $33 billion for the next three years. If the member cares a lot about it, I look forward to his support of our fast-track legislation, because that was a great idea from David Parker. We\u2019ve built on it; there\u2019s 149 fantastic projects: 55,000 potential new homes, a 30 percent increase in electricity generation, and 180 kilometres of new roads, rail, and public transport.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002249f170bc409240cb9040d6766b7aac16\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Why won\u2019t he admit that his Government doesn\u2019t care about the damage it causes to New Zealand\u2019s infrastructure, workforce, and economy, as long as his favourite pet projects, like tax breaks for landlords and tobacco companies, get billions of dollars that could so desperately be spent elsewhere?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b2d9ee7f37c4af4aa65ce77b81abc68\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Aww, it\u2019s a terribly sad day for the Leader of the Opposition. We have good news, which is we have inflation in the bands, we\u2019ve delivered income tax relief for low and middle income working New Zealanders\u2014people the Labour Party used to care about but don\u2019t any more\u2014we\u2019ve got fast-track legislation sitting there, and he refuses to support it. Come on board, do something positive.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022575f9dce883749a28a322dc99fd9b259\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Social Development and Employment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022 data-id=\u00224dcac7a4561f4b5090eb9cab64c7e550\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224dcac7a4561f4b5090eb9cab64c7e550\u0022\u003EJOSEPH MOONEY (National\u2014Southland)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What recent data has she seen on the welfare traffic light system?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022 data-id=\u0022e13ac0808c014e42bd4bce3fce9d6aac\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e13ac0808c014e42bd4bce3fce9d6aac\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment):\u003C/span\u003E Data from the first full calendar month of the traffic light system is very encouraging. It shows 98 percent of beneficiaries are at green, meaning they are successfully meeting their obligations. Just 2 percent\u2014around 5,900 people\u2014were sitting at either orange or red, meaning they had not taken the steps required of them to find or prepare for work. While it is early days, this data indicates that the new system is helping beneficiaries to understand what is expected of them and helping them to stay on track with their obligations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224cd5e4b00b2b4979a41549729d4a8ac5\u0022\u003EJoseph Mooney\u003C/span\u003E: How has the traffic light system impacted the number of obligation failures and benefit sanctions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022522545a4f06e4c22b6199dd35ca0d5d5\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: Since the implementation of the traffic light system, we\u2019ve already seen a positive impact. In September, there were about 500 fewer obligation failures and 600 fewer sanctions imposed on beneficiaries than the month before. Again, while it is still early days, this is an encouraging sign that the system is working as intended by providing clear, straightforward information to beneficiaries about their obligations and helping them to take proactive steps towards employment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022258abe4329154f0187611b89252a3dce\u0022\u003EJoseph Mooney\u003C/span\u003E: What message does the Government have for beneficiaries who are work-ready but not fulfilling their obligations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022570feb8e76c844db9452694f7dcc4e07\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: These numbers show that about 4,500 of the 4,600 beneficiaries who are being sanctioned for not fulfilling their benefit obligations are work-ready job seekers. Our Government\u2019s position on this is clear: we will fully support job seekers who are motivated to find work and improve their circumstances, but we will not tolerate those who are capable of working and choose not to take the necessary steps to prepare for or find work. Receiving a benefit comes with obligations that reflect the expectations of the hard-working New Zealanders who fund the welfare system through their taxes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222170b5bd-171f-4d9f-bfa6-cab72178f108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ead53e9d885b4968a85672b5318479ca\u0022\u003EJoseph Mooney\u003C/span\u003E: What are the future plans for the welfare traffic light system?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bef8d68998f74c3f984efb952ed6a1a4\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON\u003C/span\u003E: Next year, we will introduce new non-financial sanctions and increase accountability measures for those who repeatedly fail to comply with their benefit obligations. We will also implement a requirement for individuals on jobseeker support to reapply every six months to continue receiving payments. These changes are designed to ensure the welfare system remains fair and that beneficiaries remain engaged in the process of finding a job. Our overall goal is to have 50,000 fewer people on the jobseeker benefit by 2030, as we work towards a society where more New Zealanders are in employment and able to support themselves and their families.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003EQuestion time interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00227e0e5b34aed64a679d71622910b05db1\u0022\u003EPapers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d93a185380894db1b489740f13ac95e1\u0022\u003EPapers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00220648423fc7454124baa68c2e532bef72\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220648423fc7454124baa68c2e532bef72\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call question five, I need to present the 2023-24 annual report of the Controller and Auditor-General. That paper is published under the authority of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b453de3c6c044240b4de83d71927f335\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: I was wondering about that!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266dd86cad15f4599afd6f315b4efbca0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, well, I can pass it over to you if want to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6f0686deb93456a8528c4f5d98f6a34\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll have a copy!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002235844a9f10a94d5eb12c044a3e5f7245\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Would you mind giving us a one-page summary!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00226ef465f039da4fb189b72d5a72889e96\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002202cea5922a5c41f5ade876c195094768\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000092\u0022\u003EQuestion time resumed.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002248cf44bc8ccc4ec18166fbfeacd7218f\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\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=\u0022f487c0dfe5114524a531e06c8fbfdac6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f487c0dfe5114524a531e06c8fbfdac6\u0022\u003EHon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour\u2014Mana)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Fakaaue lahi, Mr Speaker. Does she stand by her statement, \u201CWhat New Zealanders can have confidence in is that they have a Government that is delivering what it said it would\u201D; if so, now that FamilyBoost has begun being paid, how many families have actually received $250 a fortnight promised in the National Party\u2019s election campaign?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u00225ed419683b1f40b6b19a31e21f001eed\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225ed419683b1f40b6b19a31e21f001eed\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E To the first part of the question, yes, and to the second part of the question, the member\u2019s assertion is wrong. The commitment was for up to $250 a fortnight, and I am advised that, in some circumstances, families could get even more than $250 a fortnight. At the time of the Budget, Treasury\u2019s modelling indicated that around 1.9 million households\u20143.5 million New Zealanders\u2014would benefit from tax relief and FamilyBoost, on average by $60 a fortnight, and households with children would benefit on average by $78 a fortnight. I\u2019m also advised that at least one party in the election was guaranteeing precisely zero dollars a fortnight in tax relief [Interruption].\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c3ea3479601472b8f7c68ce3d445c35\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Wait; hang on, hang on. In silence. Respect for your own member. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222057c56049ff4e58acbb65378ab8f40f\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. If I come to the House with the Labour Party\u2019s policies which showed that we were actually offering tax reductions for New Zealanders, will Nicola Willis have to withdraw and apologise for that? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022902a81f228e1480c850c609516aa4ae4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just a moment. I am going to hear that again because I couldn\u2019t hear it because of the outburst. It\u2019s a point of order. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022939dbfe417454ae5aab047262b0c3317\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve just finished.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d057e677af0f4788a3277ab54251fb2f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, but what did you say? I didn\u2019t hear it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ebecd4ce4f154f359ed88ad204fc8a13\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll tell you what he said.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb74f8b3ab6048f98841e7acecfb4ae5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I don\u2019t want you to interpret it, sorry. We\u2019ve only got one language in this House that I understand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a770047d9ef743a7a5f8840d58e03f79\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m speaking to the point of order. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022695566aa440f4fdda06c3361728ce87e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, Mr Peters, if you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d like him to repeat his point of\u00A0order. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022123d39283021429cb22d8abd7ad02b03\u0022\u003ERt Hon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Well, Mr Speaker, we\u2019ve already had one Minister in the Government today have to come and correct an answer that they gave, making allegations about the previous Labour Government, and so will Nicola Willis have to do the same tomorrow?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b257ce9841bb4e5b98d212f7cafc3302\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Finance Minister Willis said \u201Cone party\u201D, and straight away he took the guilt and confessed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223698d7ac32b34b40bf214cadc4ada48a\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, well, thank you for that point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295d69935d1504788b97e8e59adaeeb36\u0022\u003EHon Kieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: New point of order. That question was on notice, and despite the comments by the Minister disagreeing with the so-called assertions in it, \u201Cup to\u201D is inclusive of, and so a question asking for the exact number of $250 is still valid. Whether they disagree with how they presented it or not, \u201Cup to\u201D includes $250. The Minister could still have made that point but actually answered the question, and she did not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bb62f1899b804279b114d3caceff9833\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I think she did certainly address the question, and that\u2019s the only judgment that I can make about questions. Does the Hon Barbara Edmonds have a further supplementary? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cdc84ca23ed74b9ba70ab3ccebe0e896\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: How many families have actually received the $250 a fortnight as promised by Christopher Luxon as part of the National Party\u2019s election campaign?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229fbe3465906f4c7da7829da7fb3d7d8a\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: The member well knows\u2014or at least she likes to assert that she knows a lot about the income tax system, and that is calculated on the full year, which we\u2019re only part-way through. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cbecf969a68c4d7a810d7bf3eb092d93\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f3c48827394a4d529e7ecc304b4b6f95\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just wait for a few seconds. OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cfb76f848d0e4ef4b1dcf7b6da21f57a\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Government delivering what it said it would when, by the first week, there were 32,407 FamilyBoost claims but only 8,672 claims have been approved and paid?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd1f2ecbeebb4c78a544a8c9a738dacb\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m very happy to correct the member\u2019s numbers. The latest stats for FamilyBoost, up to and including 15 October, is that 44,952 households have registered, there have been 38,206 claims relating to 35,489 households, Inland Revenue has paid $6.2 million to 15,749 households since 7 October, and Inland Revenue expects that around 100,000 households will be eligible for FamilyBoost. Can I repeat again: I want families to go on to that IRD website and claim for their entitlement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224cfd22101c7041d78272e0cb981a3c4c\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Government delivering what it said it would when she promised more than 100,000 families will get FamilyBoost, but have under-delivered with only 8,672 being paid in the first week?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c64766e785f34195b2ce87335048959a\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: I stand by the statements I have made that around 100,000 households will be eligible for FamilyBoost, and I am pleased that the number of successful claims is growing every day. I would say that this is far more effective than a promise to take GST off bananas and give supermarkets tax relief.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261725fea-7d5e-4d1f-8fd3-e5779bb7a14d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a96f47ace944272bc46e44d68d9df86\u0022\u003EHon Barbara Edmonds\u003C/span\u003E: Does she agree with the IRD, that said, \u201CFamilyBoost would require significant effort by recipients to access the product which may create a barrier to product uptake, particularly for parents of young children who are already time poor.\u201D, and why did she not just do early childhood education 20 hours free?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002241a064f5bb144106a27327c3e0f73fb3\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS\u003C/span\u003E: We made a commitment that our childcare policy would put\u00A0cash directly into people\u2019s bank accounts. The way that we are delivering it will achieve that. We were also advised other ways of doing that would take many months and years of delay, and we weren\u2019t prepared to make that delay. We wanted that cash for families.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d1d1bf1503bb46059810840f734fd1e7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Can I just say that that constant talking all the way through the Minister\u2019s question doesn\u2019t change the answer and it doesn\u2019t help the order of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e6f898bf18145d3b885bd8ec469e55c\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. That\u2019s somewhat what my point of order is. Could you ask whether the questioner heard any part of the answer, because her bench mate spent the whole time screaming out during the answer from the Minister of Finance, and it\u2019s a disgrace to this House?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002211381f10c37d40e994180b41bc4dd5b4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, thank you. I\u2019ve offered to swap jobs with you before. Keep that up, and we\u2019ll be heading down that track.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229bf1a5191b594c9a94a9e35b18c33290\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\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=\u0022a495aefa12ce4877963fa539588d5663\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a495aefa12ce4877963fa539588d5663\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E E tautoko ana ia i ng\u0101\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8898c131d594af3aa4bd25bd9f3b091\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just hang on. I just need everyone to settle. OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022 data-id=\u002237dab171c16841b0b129d68edee4e5ad\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002237dab171c16841b0b129d68edee4e5ad\u0022\u003ECHL\u00D6E SWARBRICK (Co-Leader\u2014Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i ng\u0101 k\u014Drero me ng\u0101 mahi katoa a t\u014Dna K\u0101wanatanga?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E[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=\u0022ccdceebc240348a9973ac8abccfa6972\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ccdceebc240348a9973ac8abccfa6972\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, our action to put economic growth on the fast track is something we stand by. Since we announced the 149\u00A0projects that would be listed in the fast-track legislation, the feedback that we have received has been extremely positive. The National Road Carriers Association described the list as balanced and achievable. The Electricity Retailers\u2019 Association said fast tracking would help provide confidence to build and deliver affordable, clean electricity. Business New Zealand said the projects would stimulate job creation and economic activity at a time when it mattered most. It is a collective vote of confidence in our economic plan. Inflation is falling, interest rates are falling, confidence is rising, and now with reforms like fast track, we are delivering the foundations of growth. I just ask that member and their party to support the fast-track legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280e28d79fea24967a18430c4cc73f1b8\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Does he think it\u2019s fair that his Government\u2019s Fast-track Approvals Bill has given new life to projects previously denied by the Supreme Court, like the Trans-Tasman Resources seabed mining and the Ruataniwha dam project, that had already been opposed by local communities, iwi, and hap\u016B?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226744660ca93d4994a91445de238880e8\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, look, I\u2019m not going to comment on individual projects. I will accept that some projects will be controversial and be criticised, but obviously their environmental appraisal will happen through expert panels. But what I do not apologise for is that we are a Government that\u2019s going to deal with an infrastructure deficit, a housing crisis, and an energy shortage. Actually, fast-track legislation helps us address those problems in this economy, and I just encourage the member to support us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254df23a95cd64f048c564503a260bb5a\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Does he stand by the statement of his Minister for Local Government that said, \u201Cthe ultimate localism is giving local people the right to have their say\u201D, and, if so, would he then agree that his Fast-track Approvals Bill is a blatant disregard for localism and communities by deliberately limiting community input and public consultation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002232bafd2e5d104ad79ea4f1eeda4b4343\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019ll just say to that member I think it\u2019s outrageous that she doesn\u2019t want to deliver up to 55,000 new homes. I think it\u2019s quite outrageous as a leader of a Green Party that you don\u2019t want to increase renewable electricity generation by 30 percent. I think it\u2019s quite outrageous that you don\u2019t want to invest in 180 kilometres of great new roads, public transport, and also rail.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e42f0ac6080e429098d4eb5585afaf97\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Prime Minister aware that it is entirely possible to consent new renewable energy projects without also consenting coal mining that will drive up climate-changing emissions, or does he take New Zealanders for chumps?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224f246821d8fc47d5a8f99156e3b87f81\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: No, no, but I hear New Zealanders saying they want things to get built in this country. They want things to get done, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing on this side of the House and that\u2019s, frankly, why they elected us a year ago. They elected us to come here and to get things done for them, to improve their lives, to rebuild this economy, and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re doing. Support the fast-track legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002291920052c7894723aff2ccf4bffcbc64\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister please explain to the House how the new coal mining that he has consented will almost all be primarily for grades of coal that will almost never be used domestically but exported offshore, meaning that his \u201CIndonesian coal\u201D talking point takes real liberties with the truth?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002292517eeffaa643f0b8e5b8d99dfeef8d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Hang on. There\u2019s just a small problem with that question. I think if you think about how you\u2019ve phrased that\u2014just have another crack at it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226548a5b6c4174fe3a8cf506f848c75ba\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister explain to the House how the new coal mining that he has consented under the fast\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022daaf43bca8534d8ebaaee24d0dd10ebf\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, that\u2019s the problem.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002227e304815fc94fd1b37e6eb79b8b8864\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014that will be consented\u2014that is one of the 149 projects\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be2f014c5d974b27b1155f924fa140bd\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just say it in a succinct way and correct way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d69d3a28953046e6864af98ff3014733\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can the Prime Minister please confirm to the House\u2014or explain to the House\u2014how the new coal mining laid out in the 149 projects announced under the fast-track legislation will primarily be for grades of coal that are not used in this country but exported offshore, therefore meaning that his \u201CIndonesian coal\u201D talking point takes incredible liberties with the truth?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2fe2879160642f6b1240ad91f497203\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: I just say to the member we are going to get things built in this country. Mining is important\u2014if you believe in electric vehicles, if you believe in smartphones, if you believe in solar panels and wind farms, then you need\u00A0to have minerals. So we are proud of the mining projects. I just say to you, look, if you want to back fast track so you get more renewables, do it. If you want to end the gas\u00A0ban\u00A0so we stop importing coal, support us\u2014if you want to back the mining so that we\u00A0can\u00A0actually get electric vehicles and other minerals we need for environmental benefits. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226ce669b4b75a43e398438d742ce5594e\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Why\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d5b5d0663c5745d281ecd1ad64215a5e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, it\u2019s very hard to take any question seriously when there\u2019s so much barracking during an answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022dbaac12b-3efa-4d95-a08d-f0f637a48bab\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229394a660b3134edd9da0777e0ec0becd\u0022\u003EChl\u00F6e Swarbrick\u003C/span\u003E: Why does the Prime Minister say that he values community voice and localism, as he\u2019s so frequently stated throughout the election campaign, then actively implements policy that undermines and overrides community voice and that localism?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ea31fdd3-90e9-47d7-92a4-20b6a3109eef\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f53bc2733f9246ab99c2eaca726a1287\u0022\u003ERt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON\u003C/span\u003E: Because we can get community voice and we can also make decisions and get things done, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd413c74d0fa41ce951db5cc077d81de\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Would the Prime Minister take the Greens more seriously if they\u2019d have said something in opposition to the importation, massively, of inferior Indonesian coal under the last Government, of which they were active members, and now come here and placate their conscience with stupidity?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b9348a69c0b4f83a86239bce8db04ba\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any direct ministerial or prime ministerial responsibility for that debating point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221f24adf9a4174174804a9689d04aa9cb\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022 data-id=\u0022cbc5aaf0888644c79f4252ae0a74db24\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cbc5aaf0888644c79f4252ae0a74db24\u0022\u003EHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his decision to appoint a commissioner to deliver a turnaround plan that will improve Health New Zealand\u2019s financial performance; if so, how will he ensure that the current financial year\u2019s performance is better than financial year 2023-24?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u0022ccb022b8c6ff4d57824c8f8394251d9d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ccb022b8c6ff4d57824c8f8394251d9d\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E I absolutely stand by the decision to appoint a commissioner to Health New Zealand. The troubled health reforms, coupled with the deterioration of Health New Zealand\u2019s finance and performance levels, left us with no choice but to take urgent action. It was not sustainable to continue with the status quo. To the second part of the member\u2019s question, our Government has already made a record investment in health of $16.68 billion across three Budgets. I have directed the commissioner to take appropriate steps to ensure Health New Zealand returns to budget so that our record investment can be put to good use on the front line.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b4138b2631a346f190f52aba6f2252d0\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Has he sought a so-called turnaround in Health New Zealand\u2019s finances by assigning $130 million of cost for redundancies that are yet to occur to financial year 2023 rather than financial year 2024?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277343e6c503f4a03ba8ea3b4f984bad2\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI\u003C/span\u003E: What I have done to assure financial return to budget is to make sure that Health New Zealand has enhanced budgeting processes that align functions with accountability, move to a regional model with local monitoring and accountability, and regular governance meetings that include Treasury and the Ministry of Health.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226228d17a0fd24b2aba8c0b3864bda86c\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Has he sought a so-called turnaround in Health New Zealand\u2019s finances by withholding pay equity funding that Health New Zealand were expecting in financial year 2023, until financial year 2024?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223b04c603e054013bac60750bc1fe482\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely not. I would point to exactly the same thing that member did in the 2022-23 Budget with nurses\u2019 pay equity that was accrued in 2022-23, and they did not pay it till 2023-24\u2014exactly the same\u2014resulting in a deficit of $1 billion in her hands.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245367cea002f4804bb5571906df91061\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Does he have confidence that the treatment of Health New\u00A0Zealand\u2019s Holiday Act liabilities reflects best practice, or might this liability be inflated so that the commissioner can more easily engineer a so-called turnaround in future years?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228531d73172804210a0e031ae5c1b1675\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI\u003C/span\u003E: If that member had paid attention to Holidays Act remediation, we would be further through than we are. It is fair to say it\u2019s challenged, but that\u2019s also because we\u2019re bringing together 20 payrolls, but we do have a schedule for Holidays Act remediation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222835fda62d1449c88b5110f0820b12e9\u0022\u003EHon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u003C/span\u003E: Is the reason that Health New Zealand turned up to select committee without its accounts and had 70 staff tied up in non-disclosure agreements because he and the commissioner are cooking the books rather than funding the health system properly?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002204f6bb05a3094b978300e661bfc77485\u0022\u003EHon Dr SHANE RETI\u003C/span\u003E: No, that is not correct. I would point to the opening address, to the financial documents that were released, where, of the three issues that are pointed out for the financial deterioration of Health New Zealand, the opening statement is \u201CStaff recruitment (both insourced and outsourced) being ahead of budget, combined with weak internal controls that did not arrest the growth\u201D, which was pointed out this year by the Auditor-General.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002218d7e339e36643e38a948ace127a083d\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022 data-id=\u0022190f4d2278b54a98874cef6a808d864a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022190f4d2278b54a98874cef6a808d864a\u0022\u003ELAURA TRASK (ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has he made on improving school attendance rates?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u0022613594b206dc496dabed0c50a42351be\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022613594b206dc496dabed0c50a42351be\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR (Associate Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E I recently announced a second group of initiatives in the Government\u2019s attendance action plan. From the beginning of 2026, all State schools will be required to have an attendance management plan based on what\u2019s called the Stepped Attendance Response\u2014or STAR. The basic premise of STAR is that every child\u2019s attendance matters every day. Once a child is absent for five days, 10 days, or 15 days a term, the school must investigate the reasons for the absences and apply an appropriate and proportionate response in each case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f349fefbf4f747ef90ec809b2c37424a\u0022\u003ELaura Trask\u003C/span\u003E: How will prosecution be applied to parents of students who are chronically absent?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bfbf294f4fb34c22b40964be2a3b1ff6\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: Parents can already be prosecuted for unjustified absences. I\u2019ve directed the Ministry of Education to take a more active role in the prosecution process. Schools and attendance officers are actually asking for this when I meet them. The ministry will not prosecute parents of students who are absent because of chronic illness or health conditions associated with a disability or who are genuinely engaging with a school and the support offered. However\u2014and it\u2019s unfortunate\u2014some parents actively avoid and evade that kind of support, and it\u2019s in these circumstances that a child\u2019s right to an education in this country is paramount and prosecutions could be used.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002204775eb3248747afb0ce95f18cbfb41a\u0022\u003ELaura Trask\u003C/span\u003E: How will the Government support schools to implement the STAR\u00A0system?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002214bd0069e0c34b6db5f77f3f97c8bb73\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m currently meeting with attendance officers, deans, deputy principals, and other community agents engaged with attendance to develop best-practice materials that schools will be able to use in their attendance plans. The ministry\u00A0is\u00A0also developing materials which will help schools have difficult conversations about the underlying issues\u2014such as bullying, anxiety, and disengagement\u2014that are leading to poor attendance. I\u2019ve asked the ministry to coordinate a multi-agency response with schools in each region and to review the resourcing applied to the attendance service.\u00A0I\u2019ve also directed the Education Review Office to review the systems and supports for students who are chronically absent. This will provide a good base of support for better attendance where everybody\u2014students, parents, schools, and Government departments\u2014has a role to play.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228f20b644-642a-4c85-ade9-d5af32dc690b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a00fa7d47952486eb6d817213547a8ad\u0022\u003ELaura Trask\u003C/span\u003E: What support has the Minister received in response to the attendance announcements?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7eaf4ac5d0b4d6e8782debd5eb4ebfb\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: A former teacher emailed me to say\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf8906363ceb4f1188fb68f365c81e98\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: What opposition have you received?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242335df616da42498ad662ba5ed9a940\u0022\u003EHon DAVID SEYMOUR\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014\u201C\u2018You beauty\u2019 is all I have to say.\u201D And I hear the heckling from the Labour Party, \u201CWhat opposition are you getting?\u201D; well, like most Government Ministers, the opposition I\u2019m getting is pathetic, I\u2019ve got to say. I\u2019ve also had a teacher email, \u201CAs a teacher with more than a decade of experience, there is only one thing I know for sure: the more time the kids spend in class, the more they learn; the better they achieve in school. I applaud your focus on student attendance. Well done for this initiative.\u201D Another said, \u201CWell done on putting together a nationwide set of attendance and truancy expectations that are clear and easy to follow.\u201D And my favourite: \u201CYou are a hero, David. History will judge you kindly. Please keep up the good work.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002259a10e84a8f14c55acf49f496119ea09\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022 data-id=\u00224c50ebeec1fc4656a05da451f5db867a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224c50ebeec1fc4656a05da451f5db867a\u0022\u003EHon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her decision to cut $30 million from Te Ahu o te Reo M\u0101ori?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022 data-id=\u0022203e263f250e418688bae057ce4c3aa2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022203e263f250e418688bae057ce4c3aa2\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022025f57760dc647efae39352913db14a5\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: What is Te Ahu o te Reo M\u0101ori?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2b14ee1402249e4aad7b3464dd72fd0\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Te Ahu o te Reo M\u0101ori is a professional learning and development (PLD) course for teachers across the education sector who can partake in anywhere up to 20 hours of professional learning and development to learn te reo M\u0101ori. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e49bea5cc514444a801776a357bc680\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: Is she aware that Te Ahu o te Reo M\u0101ori was specifically designed for teachers, and, if so, why does she think a free te reo M\u0101ori course is an appropriate substitute for professional development for teachers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226fe805c89b514f8d94db6ecb9b4376c2\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: What I know is that the course was 2.3 times more expensive than could otherwise have been commissioned. We know that 40 percent of people did not finish the course. We know that 10 percent of the people who did the course were not directly in front of students teaching them. We also know that there were another 10 percent of teachers who were doing the course that were doing it at a level that was not required to be used in the classroom. We made the decision because we know in the future that we can design and develop a course that will be much more practical and also get better value for the taxpayer\u2019s dollar.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221ebf4e2c40df4ae6b4e659d13f224860\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: What does she say to Te Taura Whiri i te Reo M\u0101ori\u2014M\u0101ori Language Commission\u2014chair Professor Rawinia Higgins, who is deeply concerned about the cut to Te Ahu o te Reo M\u0101ori, and has she taken up Te Taura Whiri\u2019s invitation for open dialogue on the programme?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228efa80e853344b9c80f6a74ba96223fd\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I would say that they would be also deeply concerned about the fact that as a system, we were having a PLD provision that was 2.3 times more\u00A0expensive than other similar courses, and only had 60 percent of people actually finishing the course. I would also say that it is important that teachers in front of students can pronounce M\u0101ori names and use everyday common phrases woven into their teaching, but this particular course was not good value for money and we can contract better in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225fb055916b22440d9f9f1ff82bf71f53\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can I ask the Minister: would students at the reo M\u0101ori lessons learn more if they kept their mouths shut while the teacher was talking? [Laughter]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002238807f5c0d624cfe8ad25458c051fbe0\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re going to allow him to say that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bcd6222d91ca45409ff4d81fd40e085d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The House will come back to order! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ff4c2f4a41346e9aee9a7af466b4542\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re going to laugh about it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d34f045bb45842688ea75d800734a709\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019ve got a million rangatahi watching you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022035c93b3956f473eb7d7a76760b50181\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, good, excellent. Go and have an argument outside. Be quiet in here. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b79de770a8347ba8c414bc146a6f8be\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I\u2019m keen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f337c2c9bc94e21bef60d2fb556c678\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, you wouldn\u2019t last five minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f5572e905b24572b5cd235c8fe1492f\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m keen. You wouldn\u2019t last five seconds, mate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245f4b0c027f3433298e8be8d81083b83\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: You wouldn\u2019t last five seconds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e8d423215b6e4a66861f2292619e3abb\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi\u003C/span\u003E: You wouldn\u2019t last five seconds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002277f66670b6a94e078b2f3a16849c7440\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: You might walk out, but you\u2019d be limping back.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022175416e2812c4192a6587cafc4525a6d\u0022\u003ERawiri Waititi\u003C/span\u003E: You might not even get to the door. Stupid fool.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230dc075ef34d4e08977d6b15da6d04c4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Now, if that keeps up, the two of you can head outside and have a discussion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002225baf56c35184e45ad61c764f275f47a\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: What does she say to rangitahi from Te Kura K\u014Dhine o te R\u0101whiti o Te Upoko o Te Ika / Wellington East Girls\u2019 College who say\u2014and I quote\u2014 \u201CIt is so important and just taking it away is so crazy because it\u2019s something that was already taken away from us, and it\u2019s taken so many years to try and get it back \u2026 We need more people, not less.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022379695de60bf4bc98c90f23909ba3066\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d say what I\u2019ve been saying consistently: that as a steward of public money, it\u2019s important that we get the best bang for our buck. When we\u2019re able to contract something that is almost 2\u00BD times less expensive and get better results, then we will do that. I\u2019ve already said publicly that we\u2019ve entered into negotiations and discussions with my officials about what we can do in the future to get better value for money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228cf6462d6953406db47d9481f130e90b\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022 data-id=\u00224fd64af739d64064be1b6f52f4e85a6a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224fd64af739d64064be1b6f52f4e85a6a\u0022\u003EDr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: E tautoko ana ia i \u0101na k\u014Drero me \u0101na mahi katoa?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003E[Does she stand by all her statements and actions?]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022 data-id=\u0022b9dce5e755d24328bdb4514c5b0d19fd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b9dce5e755d24328bdb4514c5b0d19fd\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, in particular my recent announcements of the first nationwide phonics checks in te reo M\u0101ori. Undertaken across\u00A0a two-year period, this check for tamariki learning in bilingual or immersion includes oral\u00A0assessments, including a hearing check for glue ear and multiple check-ins on early\u00A0phonemic awareness to ensure that tamariki M\u0101ori are supported to excel in te reo M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222e33dec3168a402294ac192fc4058fe4\u0022\u003EDr Lawrence Xu-Nan\u003C/span\u003E: Could the Minister please explain how she\u2019s demonstrating her commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi when making her decisions about education?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226ca43d41dec47988ccc1950baa28df8\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d be pleased to. Every single thing that this Government and I have done as a Minister of Education has been completely and utterly mirrored in te reo M\u0101ori. You can take our phonics check that I\u2019ve just talked about. You can talk about decodables for structured literacy that have been designed, written, printed, and delivered in schools for the first time in this country\u2019s history. We could also talk about the maths resources that have been announced yesterday that are going to be available in te reo M\u0101ori\u2014printed, delivered to schools by term 1 and term 2 next year. This is a Government that is totally committed to making sure that tamariki M\u0101ori and rangatahi M\u0101ori are achieving at their full potential, and we will continue to make sure that we put achievement at the heart of our work programme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c7b16ecf4774e7389bd9484dd3ec05c\u0022\u003EDr Lawrence Xu-Nan\u003C/span\u003E: How does making Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te reo M\u0101ori a lower priority for schools\u2014than they currently are\u2014align with the Government\u2019s commitment to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd89a7e39dcd4ef5a6831cb974cb89c7\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: As I\u2019ve already said, we are putting student achievement at the heart of every single thing that we do. If we want to honour the Treaty, it means closing the equity gap so that the decades of disparity that have pervaded our system in the disproportionate representation of tamariki M\u0101ori and rangatahi M\u0101ori in the lower quartiles of our education and achievement system is closed. It is my utmost belief that education can and should be the primary protective factor for our kids and a way in which they can break through intergenerational cycles of poverty and disadvantage and live the life that they want, choose, and deserve.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225fb9867dabc74a84af11856dfbe49ce6\u0022\u003EDr Lawrence Xu-Nan\u003C/span\u003E: What does she say to the 11 education organisations\u2014including the Teaching Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa, PPTA Te Wehengarua, New Zealand Principals\u2019 Federation, and Te Akatea\u2014who say that the Government is proposing to, \u201Cdemote the place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f16d9ffd9505451fb6b81d34242e4b30\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I would say that that is completely untrue. I\u2019ve already stated that putting educational achievement at the heart of our work programme to make sure that rangatahi and tamariki M\u0101ori are achieving to their full potential is giving effect to the Treaty of Waitangi. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002255217d7bd033471ea242f6a387eed8f2\u0022\u003EDr Lawrence Xu-Nan\u003C/span\u003E: What would she say to M\u0101ori communities who were not consulted on downgrading te reo in the Education and Training Act before this was put out for public consultation, or the defunding of Te Ahu o te Reo M\u0101ori, and may feel that their language, culture, and rights are being undervalued by this Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224edb1aa7750c488aad4bc7f440ee6ec7\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I would say what I\u2019ve already said to this House many times today, that the course was not good value for money. We can contract much better in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223cc9806d-f7ef-4e23-a218-442f20bf8591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002234980831a276461fb8127e8e03553930\u0022\u003EDr Lawrence Xu-Nan\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker. The question specifically was around what she would say to M\u0101ori communities. This is in accordance with Speaker\u2019s ruling 206/4, and the Minister was referring to the value for many of the programme, which is an unrelated matter under that particular Speaker\u2019s ruling.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ee2adf03a504bd6b47bd449532bee4f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I don\u2019t really think, given the general tenor of the questioning, that\u2019s a reasonable position to take.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002232601127-a1e9-4ba0-b6af-99865a84a209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022011731d67c5b4dd39b036e1a627a78db\u0022\u003EHon Tama Potaka\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister of Education please confirm that M\u0101ori student achievement and M\u0101ori school attendance reduced in the five years prior to her becoming the Minister?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228bf7389cea1341f2b9bda73e24ada31e\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: When we came into Government, one of the alarming statistics that was in front of us was the fact that 12 percent of tamariki M\u0101ori are at curriculum for mathematics by the time they go to high school. It is this Government\u2019s absolute priority to make sure that those tamariki M\u0101ori are achieving at the same rate as every single other child, which is why we are heavily investing in decodable books and maths resources to make sure that we improve their academic performance so that they can go on to live the life that they want. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ee8867584f834eb387ac70d1cb7fff4c\u0022\u003EHon David Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that this Government is utterly committed to supporting schools\u2019 choice to offer te reo M\u0101ori if they choose, or not, if that\u2019s the community preference?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec5c432acb1b41bba367cd6831bcebdf\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m also proud to say that this Government, for the first time, I think, in this nation\u2019s history, has included kura kaupapa M\u0101ori in our network planning for schools. Because we are dedicated to choice in education, we\u2019ve ring-fenced $100 million for kura kaupapa property funding because we know the dire state of their property and we are absolutely committed to making sure that tamariki M\u0101ori and their wh\u0101nau have the choice in education if they want to go to mainstream, immersion, rumaki, or kura kaupapa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f51e817a7b074c05b61071de229f36dc\u0022\u003ET\u0101kuta Ferris\u003C/span\u003E: The Minister has referenced twice that Te Ahu o te Reo M\u0101ori was of lesser value\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ab8d1aae11a44bd902f4fcaf2ea4f41\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No\u2014sorry, it\u2019s question time. Start with a question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec4b2d2bd8cd47c9974dcfd12de70725\u0022\u003ET\u0101kuta Ferris\u003C/span\u003E: Which courses has she used to determine the undervalue of Te Ahu o te Reo M\u0101ori?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b1dc0ee78e314d8380e4740893919390\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, if I\u2019m understanding the member\u2019s question right, when we looked at the performance of each of the providers\u2014there were 13\u2014there was one particular provider that had a completion rate as low as 10 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00222a75c4f4e5aa4a258f03be1236d18a46\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Education\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022 data-id=\u0022551df4d08b8e410f94fda00219372b88\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022551df4d08b8e410f94fda00219372b88\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: What update can she provide to her Make it Count action plan? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022 data-id=\u002281a8b1e43f0044cabc2edd0b6bab58b0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002281a8b1e43f0044cabc2edd0b6bab58b0\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E Yesterday, I was delighted to announce the four suppliers of ministry-funded maths resources freely available to State schools across New Zealand from term 1 of 2025. Schools will have the option to select from a range of flexible packages from PR1ME, Maths - No Problem!, Numicon, and Oxford University Press that include online resources, teacher guides, student workbooks, lesson plans, games, and activities. I\u2019m really delighted that the Government has committed these resources directly to teachers and students to lift achievement and support the implementation of the new maths curriculum. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226c2d1946290d4111a4f110052edb83b7\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: What resources will be made available in te reo M\u0101ori as part of the maths action plan? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f7fb49aee174dba85e5108f1f8c8f80\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: To ensure those learning through te reo M\u0101ori have the same opportunities to engage with the updated p\u0101ngarau curriculum, the ministry will be fully funding resources for teachers and students in te reo M\u0101ori that are curriculum-aligned and reflect best practice around the OECD. For the first time, I am proud that everything we are doing in structured maths and structured literacy is also being delivered in te reo M\u0101ori to ensure equitable access across our education system to high-quality resources. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd61bd550592418c8ca868f937a07e34\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: What other supports are being provided to schools as part of the maths action plan? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022afc572dc2fbb4abbb325a252b16c6227\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: The maths action plan brought forward the introduction of the new maths curriculum for the year 0 to 8 students from term 1 of 2025. This puts in the hands of our teachers a knowledge-rich, year-by-year, world-leading curriculum document, now supported by a substantial resource package. In addition, this Government has committed $20 million of professional learning and development funding to support teachers to unpack and embed the new curriculum and these resources in their classes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a12461e3396441f9feed8495cb43869\u0022\u003ERima Nakhle\u003C/span\u003E: What feedback has she received? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022815b2bd249cc475c928ef38df4b95652\u0022\u003EHon ERICA STANFORD\u003C/span\u003E: The feedback has been heart-warming. From a teacher: \u201CThank you for the transformational changes you are making to literacy and maths for our tamariki.\u201D, and from a principal: \u201CWe have been using PR1ME maths for about five years, and the difference it has made for our learners is incredible. We are thrilled that you are investing in this programme across New Zealand. All our learners will benefit. Our school budget will also benefit. We are very grateful.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022692eabf33c8144d482858fe3963b5afa\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 11\u2014RMA Reform\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022 data-id=\u002299932b98aa7c4f768fa8f10ee99cabfe\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002299932b98aa7c4f768fa8f10ee99cabfe\u0022\u003EGLEN BENNETT (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: Does he agree with the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment\u2019s submission on the Fast-track Approvals Bill that \u201CThe Bill lacks many of the environmental safeguards its predecessor legislation contained. Even the much-maligned National Development Act 1979 had more environmental checks and balances\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022 data-id=\u00228f99d71e58c8450e9e09d3a3ee012ae8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228f99d71e58c8450e9e09d3a3ee012ae8\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP (Minister responsible for RMA Reform):\u003C/span\u003E No. The Fast-track Approvals Bill is still before the Environment Committee. It includes environmental safeguards throughout the process, including at the referral stage and the panel decision stage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002232a5e0077e944c6191326fbb9c131fe5\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: How can he stand by his statement in this House on August 27, regarding fast track, \u201CWe\u2019ve replicated the same law that Labour adopted.\u201D, when that law contained projects like wind farms, solar farms, housing, and rest homes without ever overriding the Resource Management Act (RMA), the Wildlife Act, or the Conservation Act?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca009c645d214ec89baae26196eaa7df\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I can stand behind it because it is true. We have taken the process, or the extremely similar process, from the COVID-19 fast-track legislation in which the Government legislates projects and then they go off to an expert panel for consenting. As the member will be aware, the Government has recommended to the select committee that the panels have the ability to decline projects. In relation to the projects that the member\u2019s just mentioned around wind farms and solar farms, he might have missed the announcement a few days ago, but we\u2019ve announced 149 of them and 22 of the projects of the 149 were renewable energy projects. There\u2019s a whole bunch of housing developments in there, as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a76d6b25d4f345aeb889f27330a2911a\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Is the reason he\u2019s claiming this fast-track bill is the same as the previous bill because he\u2019s trying to distract from caving to New Zealand First\u2019s demand to push private mining projects through without proper, public, or environmental scrutiny?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226af7a2ae10264a0c8ed4ebce17a99c8f\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order. Mr Speaker, that new member has made a tragic mistake. He\u2019s got no evidence for that, and, if he has, he needs to show it before he puts it in his question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002217f902254e2c44d3940621b1b2160d0b\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I think it would be fair to say the question could be reworded.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a0a02a22d28445cbdaebdafec25cbd4\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Is the reason he\u2019s claiming this fast-track bill is the same as the previous bill because he agreed to New Zealand First\u2019s push for private mining projects, which will not have proper public or environmental scrutiny?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226310d60f556e44188bea66b556f6e565\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Look, I\u2019m not claiming the bill is exactly the same as the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022495c68ee440f48779e6fec46c642dfb4\u0022\u003EHon Willow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, you have been\u2014yes, you have, and so has the Prime Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e55541d325b46b6915be0c976831044\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: No one has ever claimed the bill is the same; if it was the same, it wouldn\u2019t be a bill in Parliament. By definition, it must be different. What we have claimed is that the substance of the process around the Government selecting projects and referring them to an expert panel which works on an expedited time frame compared to the traditional process is similar, and is in substance, the same. Clearly the bill is different. Firstly, it is a one-stop shop. It does not just deal with the RMA; it deals with heritage legislation, the Conservation Act, the Wildlife Act. So it is a one-stop shop. Secondly, it deals with national and regionally significant projects. So, clearly, it is different but the process that has been laid out in the bill is the same, or extremely similar, to the last Government\u2019s COVID-19 fast-track legislation. In relation to the private mining\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce43928d11284aeb9fdfb9b30d4e8fd2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Hang on. That\u2019s a really good answer at that point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295d212ee58b14a0bace9697a8bf0062c\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Did he receive a paper stating that seabed mining and offshore wind are incompatible as it disrupts the seabed floor, potentially delaying Taranaki offshore wind development until the 2070s?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a29f5167d7234ffdaac1bf1ae85c70e4\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019ve had literally hundreds of papers on fast track, so I can\u2019t give the member an accurate answer. If he wants to put it down in writing, I\u2019m happy to go away and have a look at it. What I would say, though, is that wind and mining both have futures in New Zealand, and it is possible to do both in this country. It is possible to build wind farms, as it is possible to have mining for coal and for other minerals that we need in New Zealand. New Zealand\u2019s future is in doing all of the above, not closing our mind off to extractive industries that provide jobs and growth in regional New Zealand. That member\u2019s party started life in a part of regional New Zealand founded on the mining industry; we are now the party of the workers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259893a44ce654f67b2b653ffc629dbb9\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can I\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022638d1cc2959546de9b504760bbd3d15d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just hang on a minute. OK, away you go.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aefe1dd93f3a401e9923de8a0e3db1d0\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can I ask the Minister: is it possible to have solar or wind power without mining?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228e47385e0dee405887951b851d2dbc2d\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I\u2019m by no means a scientific expert on this, but my understanding from the phone that I spend so much time on is that it\u2019s very difficult to make things like iPhones and, indeed, wind turbines, and all the other things we need in the modern world, without mining.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237bf16af942a441688f3b2769e6cf825\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: How can he pretend that this legislation is balanced\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3ae2fed974d4e9da222efe1d27c81d7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, just a minute. The member\u2019s own side are talking while he\u2019s trying to ask a question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002243351effb8ca4ba2a8696304b8dfb16e\u0022\u003EHon Ginny Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d2427999d5a4581ad7e64345213edbf\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, you don\u2019t have to stay in the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd34806f448c44d294d29e23d542d533\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: How can he pretend that this legislation is balanced when it resurrects projects like seabed mining off Taranaki, projects that have already failed under normal environmental safeguards but are now being rammed through on his watch?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bda867a2131e4e3486e8a96d1734d2d4\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: Well, firstly, there are a couple of factual errors there. Firstly, they\u2019re not being rammed through; they\u2019re being referred to an expert panel for consenting. As we\u2019ve indicated, the expert panels will have the ability, if they can\u2019t manage the adverse effects, or the panel decides that the adverse effects from a project can\u2019t be managed, those projects could be turned down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022269fedf537de4a06b34f26e41e04e9ca\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 12\u2014Building and Construction\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022 data-id=\u00220d1a541e265646ca93ce2cb12117ee59\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220d1a541e265646ca93ce2cb12117ee59\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER (National\u2014Upper Harbour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Building and Construction: What changes is the Government making in the building and construction portfolio, and why are these changes needed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022 data-id=\u0022f18e5d15a9484d66aa008bc78f69d748\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f18e5d15a9484d66aa008bc78f69d748\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK (Minister for Building and Construction):\u003C/span\u003E To the first part of the question, the Government has a big year of building reforms already and we are just getting started. Our guiding principle is that building needs to be easier and regulations need to be streamlined, proportionate to the risk, and consistent nationwide, and place liability where it is most appropriate. For the second part of the question, we know that change is desperately needed and long overdue, including because of the housing crisis in this country, which has been a longstanding challenge and issue, one that the Government is utterly committed to solving through, among other things, the Going for Housing Growth programme of my friend and colleague Chris Bishop.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223710afe04fbc418d999c5d5be5bdca28\u0022\u003ECameron Brewer\u003C/span\u003E: What specific initiatives are under way to make building easier in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022160bb034f2704309a6410a05b034af37\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: The Government has announced a range of initiatives from small common-sense changes to larger, more structural reforms, all with the goal of letting good tradies get on with the job. I won\u2019t list them all here today, because I know you wouldn\u2019t allow me to, but the most significant ones include removing barriers to overseas building products to drive competition and reduce prices, allowing granny flats and other structures up to 60 square metres to be built without a building consent or resource consent per the National - New Zealand First coalition agreement\u2014extremely popular; not only with grannies, at that\u2014and commencing a major reform of the structure of the building consent system to improve efficiency, certainty, and consistency across the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227914d3eafef84512b5387f6cef0fa980\u0022\u003ECameron Brewer\u003C/span\u003E: How important is the building and construction sector to the economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4254b217c784776870244c91b25b659\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: Extremely important. So, notwithstanding the construction recession that we inherited, a recent report found that the building and construction sector contributed some 20 percent of all jobs in New Zealand, and $99 billion in sales. The system that we did inherit was a jungle of red tape through which builders were forced to fight for even the most simple project. Much of the regulation added no meaningful protection for consumers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226008cc5da7a94b81a132552688299918\u0022\u003ECameron Brewer\u003C/span\u003E: How has the sector responded to the changes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002243d0fc691a694ec096beae025c0dc4e1\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: I meet regularly with building industry, from large corporations to small business and sole operators all over New Zealand. Overall, the sector is extremely supportive of the Government\u2019s approach to reducing red tape so that they can get on with building. For years, the sector has wanted a Government bold enough to make significant reforms in the building and construction sector, and now they have one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfc7092e-b202-4acf-aa9c-8aebd551cc39\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002263ed4ca0427d4b28841f90543aeb969d\u0022\u003ECameron Luxton\u003C/span\u003E: While the Government is reducing red tape in the building industry, what is it doing to increase the standards and accountability for building professionals to ensure continued confidence in the sector?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245ecd2f841c046f1a7f0620a87b1f150\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS PENK\u003C/span\u003E: I thank the member for the question, which is a very good one. The Government\u2019s looking at strengthening requirements for building professionals, including penalties, to ensure that Kiwis have confidence in their biggest asset, namely the residential home. The vast majority of tradies are doing a very good job, but we do need to make sure that those who are careless or incompetent are held to account. The trade-off for reducing oversight for relatively low-risk work\u2014for example, granny flats\u2014conducted by qualified, professional, and respectable tradies, is that we have adequate safeguards in place to hold careless or incompetent individuals to account.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f96cdca1-b63c-4602-b2b3-276f58ebb518\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002264dde24b88be45dea701e4fa65498040\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002228df2c216e894e6b8969684a7510679e\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022 data-id=\u00223ed56ee893f341168cd3e4064a6aaa2b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223ed56ee893f341168cd3e4064a6aaa2b\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the House take note of miscellaneous business. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EIt is a happy day for New Zealand. Today marks the day that this Government broke the back of the inflation beast. After 3\u00BD years, in which New Zealanders have suffered a cost of living crisis, with prices surging, with inflation out of control, today Stats NZ confirmed that inflation is back in band. It is 2.2 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EAnd, members, the good news doesn\u2019t stop there, because the Reserve Bank has already moved to reduce interest rates by 75 basis points across its last two announcements. That is real money in real people\u2019s bank accounts. The Reserve Bank, in reducing those interest rates, has spelt good news for mortgage holders, good news for those business owners who want to invest more, who want to hire more people. We are seeing the green shoots of economic recovery. After multiple increases in interest rates and a sustained period of out-of-control inflation under the last Government, good economic management is back, and the results are coming through.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003ENow, I want to remind the Leader of the Opposition of his words. Here is his Budget speech this year, in which he said, \u201CWell, this is a Government that is fuelling inflation through tax cuts rather than helping to get inflation back down and interest rates back down again.\u201D So the question is: will he eat those words? Who\u2019s going to ask Mr Hipkins whether he was right? The answer is that he was wrong, because we have delivered the tax relief that the National Party campaigned on, we have delivered lower inflation, and we have delivered dropping interest rates. Next time members of the Opposition cry that the sky is falling and tell New Zealanders that bad times are ahead and that the Government has got it wrong, just remember what Chris Hipkins told you. He said, \u201CThis Government is choosing to prioritise tax cuts that are going to lead to higher inflation for longer.\u201D Well, he was wrong then, and he\u2019s wrong now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EIt wasn\u2019t just Chris Hipkins, of course. We also had \u201CThe Sage\u201D, the finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds, who was very strong and clear in her conviction that \u201CThe Government is continuing to talk about tax cuts. That will only drive up inflation.\u201D Well, Barbara Edmonds should know this. What tax relief has actually done is put more money in the bank accounts of 3.5 million New Zealanders. What tax relief has actually done is ensure that families up and down the country have a bit more money for their groceries, for their school uniforms, and for the bills they have to pay. What tax relief has actually done is ensure that some small businesses are seeing shoppers shop a bit more at their shops; some restaurants are seeing a few more people coming in through the doors, and all of this has been achieved with inflation coming down.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EThat really matters, because what New Zealanders had to get used to over these past 3\u00BD years was that, every time they went to the supermarket, they found that the prices had gone up and up. Inflation got as high as 7 percent under Labour. Instead of doing what every orthodox economist was telling them to do\u2014\u201CRein in your spending. Get it under control.\u201D\u2014what did they do? They poured fuel on the inflation fire: money for cycleway bridges, money for three waters that no one wanted, money for light rail projects that went nowhere, money for more policy analysts in more departments. And they didn\u2019t deliver results; they delivered inflation. Then what was the Reserve Bank left to do? The Reserve Bank was left to crank and crank and crank those interest rates higher, putting real pressure on mums and dads, real pressure on people who had just bought their first home, creating real hardship in our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f12da0af-dc73-4870-8f77-1d50a75eb44c\u0022\u003EBarbara said it; she said we should heed her warnings. Well, I\u2019d say, based on her accuracy of forecasting, she should never be trusted in what she claims will happen in this economy again. We are the ones that have delivered what we said we will, and it\u2019s a great day for New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u00223ce7eea5262f42cbbc05945475c459d3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223ce7eea5262f42cbbc05945475c459d3\u0022\u003EHon MARK PATTERSON (Minister for Rural Communities):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. May I start by congratulating the finance Minister in stewarding inflation down to 2.2 percent, that absolutely vital component in turning our economy around. Of course, it is this week that we celebrate one year since the election and a return from those dark, dark days when New Zealand First was not represented in this House. And, boy, could we see it from the mess that we came back to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThere was a Labour Party that was adrift, bereft of ideas, an economy in ruins, inflation rampant, a revolving door of Ministers. Even their own Prime Minister had abandoned ship on them! As evidenced, not much has changed in the last 12 months\u2014although, I must say, Carmel Sepuloni has been quite entertaining on Celebrity Treasure Island\u2014indeed, it might be contagious. The Greens have also had a shocking year, a revolving door of MPs, and, in fact, if we could hook a turbine up to it, it could be one of the largest renewable energy projects in the country, and they\u2019ve been far too weak and indecisive to eject a member from their own party. God help us if they end up in power at some stage in the future. But enough of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve had our sleeves rolled up. Our leader, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, has been out re-engaging New Zealand in the world, particularly with our neighbours in the Pacific and rebuilding our relationships with our foreign partners and allies in these very difficult geopolitical times. Casey Costello is busy delivering in the 500 extra police we won in the coalition agreement. For our seniors\u2014Customs, he\u2019s got them purring; massive hauls of drugs at the border and, yes, delivering sensible smoking cessation policies. Shane Jones and, to a more modest degree and more self-effacing degree, myself have been out in the regions. We are delivering the gospel of growth, with our sleeves rolled up at regional growth summits up and down the country. In fact, the matua is in Gisborne today preparing for tomorrow\u2019s summits.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re not going to bow to the naysayers, the \u201Ccan\u2019t do\u201D attitude that had prevailed, the red and green tape\u2014we\u2019re sweeping away the impediments to growth, jobs, and investment. This fast-track legislation that we have been instrumental in encouraging our\u00A0coalition partners to bring forward will be the single most significant piece of legislation that we bring forward in this House. These 149 projects, the 58,000 homes, the 43 infrastructure projects\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b8013451917844fc8fc83c7fe93ed31f\u0022\u003EScott Willis\u003C/span\u003E: Are they signed off, then?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002203ba4f0156a446ec9a9a132ce101a48a\u0022\u003EHon MARK PATTERSON\u003C/span\u003E: \u201422, Scott Willis, renewable energy projects, 11 mining projects, and, yes, we do need mining and extraction in this country, and we are not afraid to back that industry. Eight quarries\u2014how can you build roads and infrastructure if you don\u2019t have quarries? That is our big, big push to develop regional New Zealand and kick-start this regional and national economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThe Regional Infrastructure Fund, the $1.2 billion regional development fund, energy, water storage, wharves, and renewable energy\u2014we will be delivering those projects. We will be co-investing and enabling projects and, once again, kick-starting this economy. You can see the lens and the influence that we have had on this Government, and it does build on our proud history of the Provincial Growth Fund, that $3 billion fund that we had in our last term here in Parliament, the 52nd Parliament. It\u2019s just delivered everything from the largest mussel farm in the world to that deprived region up in \u014Cp\u014Dtiki\u2014jobs,\u00A0growth, hope up there for once\u2014to actually reinstating the Hillside workshops that have been closed down as we support a return to engineering and manufacturing in its heartland of south Dunedin.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EWe have taken our country back in this last 12 months, back to basics\u2014reading, writing, and maths at school; back to growth; back to an economy that can deliver First World jobs, First World education, and First World healthcare. We are only one year in. There\u2019s much to do, but we\u2019re well on the way and we will deliver on our promises from 12 months ago. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002293272d4e-6912-4148-8b35-c9622e18b814\u0022 data-id=\u00221de8af79dfc24be68f2514fa2e9781e5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002293272d4e-6912-4148-8b35-c9622e18b814\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221de8af79dfc24be68f2514fa2e9781e5\u0022\u003EHon NICOLA GRIGG (Minister for Women):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Speaker, thank you. Well, it is an absolute pleasure to rise and take a call today. What a day, what a chance to talk about the amazing work that this coalition Government has achieved in just 10 months\u2014oh, sorry, one year of Government. We are well back in the target range of inflation at just 2.2 percent. Take a bow, finance Minister Nicola Willis, for all of the hard work, alongside her colleagues, that she has put into helping drive down inflation in this country. New Zealanders have worked incredibly hard under an incredibly long period of duress and they are now starting to see and benefit from the green shoots of this recovering economy. That is what can be achieved in just one year of careful fiscal management. Imagine what else we can achieve in the coming years of this parliamentary term and beyond.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002293272d4e-6912-4148-8b35-c9622e18b814\u0022\u003EAs the Minister for Women, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the women out there who are helping us to rebuild this economy. Women are, without doubt, the backbone of the New Zealand economy, and often their work goes unacknowledged, unpaid, or underpaid, so I want every woman in this country to know we see you, we hear you, and better times are ahead. Thank you so much for the work you are doing\u2014especially\u00A0to the mums raising their kids to be strong and independent and setting them up for the future, the grandparents taking their children to school to spend a day focused on reading and writing and on maths. The female CEOs breaking glass ceilings and paving the way for the future leaders to come on behind them. The rural women who just do the books, which actually means they\u2019re the accountant, the auditor, the HR manager, the legal adviser, the farm environment planner, the nutrient budgeter, the stock agent liaison, the calf rearer, the cook, the cleaner, and everything else in between that goes on on a farm; or the many other rural women who are heading up our industry bodies and all of the hard work that they do to contribute to that $53 billion food and fibre sector. You are incredible. You are incredible in your own right and you were rightly acknowledged yesterday on the International Day of Rural Women.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002293272d4e-6912-4148-8b35-c9622e18b814\u0022\u003EThe women of New Zealand need to hear that the Government has their back. I want all women and girls in this country to have economic freedom. I want them to have access to world-class education. I want them to be protected from violence, and, of course, to have\u00A0better health outcomes. I want to list a few things that this Government is doing towards achieving those aspirations. We\u2019re building the economy that will, in turn, give prosperity to women. We\u2019re increasing paid parental leave by 6 percent. We\u2019re introducing FamilyBoost payments to help with the early childhood education cost, which has even been acknowledged just today as being a part of the factors driving down the cost of living. One of my big key priorities as the Minister for Women is bringing down that very, very stubborn gender pay gap. I\u2019m going to be announcing the work that we\u2019re going to be doing on that very, very shortly, and we\u2019re looking forward to seeing women of this country being remunerated fairly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002293272d4e-6912-4148-8b35-c9622e18b814\u0022\u003EOur Government is doing things that are actual and are tangible to changing and improving the lives of women and girls in this country. We are deliberately putting money back into the hands of parents. We are not a Government that is spraying a fire hose of cash across this economy\u2014which caused the Reserve Bank to ratchet up interest rates harder and faster than many of us have seen in our lifetime. We\u2019re helping to restore health inequalities in the health system. We\u2019re extending breast screening to women aged 70 to\u00A074. At the outset, that should save about 22 lives a year, and at its full implementation, about 65 lives a year. What a difference that makes to families across New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002293272d4e-6912-4148-8b35-c9622e18b814\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I\u2019d like to inform the House. I want to give a shout-out to the women who have battled and are battling breast cancer, and that, of course, includes some of our parliamentary colleagues, so our thoughts are very much with them at the moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002293272d4e-6912-4148-8b35-c9622e18b814\u0022\u003EWe also want to improve the safety of women. We\u2019ve made significant changes to law and order in this country. We are putting more cops back on the beat, keeping our people safe. We are taking a tough stance on criminals and we are looking to improve the laws around stalking, for women as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002293272d4e-6912-4148-8b35-c9622e18b814\u0022\u003EWe know families have been bearing the brunt of the economic mismanagement of the previous Labour Government for six long years, and parents and families and women have been forced to make some really, really difficult decisions, but we want them to know things are getting better. We are not going to take our foot off the pedal; we are going to keep working towards giving them more choice and more freedom to live great lives in the best little country on planet Earth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022 data-id=\u0022306273ac4bdb41b48b29c8e7e9f83d96\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022306273ac4bdb41b48b29c8e7e9f83d96\u0022\u003EHon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak this afternoon. I want to talk to the announcement that the Auditor-General will inquire into the procurement processes for the contracting of services under Oranga Tamariki. The Minister welcomes the inquiry, yet yesterday she could not answer to me in the House that she was confident that the things that are being investigated by the Auditor-General\u2014that she is confident in her organisation that those things have occurred. Yet when I look at the series of questions that we have had in the House, when I look at interviews in the media about this\u2014and there have been numerous interviews on this\u2014the Minister being unable to express her confidence yesterday, yet all throughout the months of questioning absolutely standing by the decisions, the processes, saying what her expectations were and that she had no concerns\u2014yet, yesterday, she welcomed the inquiry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EOn 2 May, I asked the first question of the Minister about the contracts that were coming up for expiry, and she said in the answer, \u201CI expect that these reviews will prioritise the outcomes for children. [And] Some of these decisions are still Budget-sensitive, and we will find out more when the Budget is announced.\u201D Later in May, when the Budget was announced, I waited to hear the details about the very things that I have been questioning. However, there were no such details to come.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EThen, our select committee had the opportunity to scrutinise the Minister and the organisation on 17 June\u20142 May; 17 June. On 17 June, the chief executive was asked, \u201Cwill you know by the 1st of July?\u201D, the day after all of these contracts had expired. The answer was \u201CYes.\u201D Then the question was asked, \u201CAnd then will it be made public?\u201D The answer was: \u201CWhat we\u2019ll do by the 1st of July is work with all the providers to finalise those agreements, [and] to vary them.\u201D We waited and we waited and we waited for this information that the Minister promised us would be available at the Budget, then wasn\u2019t available when all the contracts expired on 30 June. We were told it would be out by 1 July, and yet still, today, it is not finalised. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EThe Minister refuses to be accountable to the process and the decisions and has not provided the information through written questions, through parliamentary oral questions, through Official Information Act requests, claiming that they cannot do this because the process hasn\u2019t yet been completed. This is about something that was supposed to have been done by 30 June, that we were promised by the Budget, by 1 July, and the goalposts just keep shifting. It has been an absolutely shambolic process, so I welcome the Auditor-General\u2019s inquiry into this process. But, as this House is aware, it is not just the Auditor-General who is concerned; we also have the Independent Children\u2019s Monitor who has expressed concern and asked questions, and when they didn\u2019t get the information, used the provisions in legislation to require that information to be given. We also have the Children\u2019s Commissioner who is concerned and has asked questions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003EThe Minister continued to stand in this House and claim that there was nothing wrong with what was happening and then turned on the social service providers themselves. She attacked them, calling them \u201Ccash cows\u201D, and that they were disgruntled. She even confirmed on 8 August that the final decisions had been made a couple of days beforehand\u2014well over a month after 30 June\u2014and yet we still can\u2019t get that information because, apparently, final decisions haven\u2019t actually been made and the process hasn\u2019t actually yet been completed. We are many, many months past that deadline and we are seeing the devastating impact for our social service providers, but, more importantly, the vulnerable children and families who they serve, who are in absolute disarray because of this Minister\u2019s cruel cuts that are absolutely front-line services to our most vulnerable children and tamariki. I too welcome the Auditor-General\u2019s inquiry into these procurement processes. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022 data-id=\u00225bef4d04d65247518058a6faf4be9035\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225bef4d04d65247518058a6faf4be9035\u0022\u003ESCOTT WILLIS (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. When the Prime Minister decided that the climate change Minister needed to be in caucus, was it for the purpose of staying informed on what is happening in adaptation to climate impacts? I would hope so, but, on the evidence, it appears that that has been an abject failure. I\u2019m interested in hearing from this Government about the recent flooding events in \u014Ctepoti\u2014Dunedin\u2014because I want to know what this Government is actually doing to reduce risk to wh\u0101nau in South Dunedin and in the vulnerable communities around the motu, because the planet\u2019s on fire and all we\u2019re hearing from this Government is lukewarm, lame excuses. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EThe 2015 floods highlighted the social and economic cost of continuing to pour oil and gas on the climate fire, and it\u2019s only getting worse. By 2050, more than 10,000 homes of wh\u0101nau in our biggest cities will become uninsurable. When are we going to get past photo ops? When will we get any meaningful work on adaptation, or will we simply get more oil, gas, coalmines, and Ford Rangers pouring more gas on the climate fire, putting more people at greater risk, and turning up the heat on climate impacts like flooding, fires, slips, and damage to homes and families? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EWill this Government finally pull their heads out of the coal-pit? Members opposite surely know that sniffing fossil fuels damages brain cells. Addiction to fossil fuels is dangerous, and I can see droopy heads opposite, but back in September 2023, Christopher Luxon said that climate change was an incredibly important portfolio. Fast-forward to 2024, the PM has only visited Dunedin once, on 7 October, on a flying visit that seems to have been mostly spent dodging local residents\u2014local residents who wanted answers to the Government\u2019s long list of broken promises. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EWhen the PM says, \u201CI\u2019m wealthy and I\u2019m sorted\u201D, we get the clear message that this Government just doesn\u2019t care. I can inform members opposite that most people in South Dunedin are not wealthy and are not sorted\u2014certainly not now\u2014but they do care about each other. When the PM says he\u2019s unaware about Dunedin\u2019s request for partnership and support, we can only assume significant dysfunction in the caucus, because why did the Government reject the Dunedin City Council\u2019s plea for $132.5 million to help the city cope with climate impacts earlier this year? Was the PM briefed on this, and, if not, why not? Was the Prime Minister briefed on the meeting we had on 2 May with the Dunedin mayor; the Dunedin City CEO, Sandy Graham; and South Dunedin Future programme leader, Jonathan Rowe; along with the Minister of Climate Change, Simon Watts; Minister Mark Patterson; and Ingrid Leary MP; and, if not, why not? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EI live in the Greater Dunedin area, and in the 2006 floods, I was rowing across paddocks rescuing drowning sheep while the rest of the wider Dunedin area was under water, and there have been many flood events since. Sandbagging helps, but we recognise\u2014all of us recognise\u2014that we need to do so much more. There were workshops that I led in 2019, I think\u2014Our City, Our Climate workshops\u2014and those floods also inspired the South Dunedin Future work programme. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EThis is localism in practices, and when our co-leader Chl\u00F6e Swarbrick was able to visit\u00A0\u014Ctepoti recently, we met with those who had been flooded and those who had lost stock and had had homes damaged. We met with community leaders. We met with artist Aroha Lowe, who said, \u201CListen to mana whenua. Listen to tangata whenua. Listen to the whenua, and it\u2019s telling you what to do.\u201D, because, for eff\u2019s sake, there are so many other priorities that we need to be thinking about, rather than putting pseudoephedrine back on the shelves. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6489ff5-e18c-4c19-958d-3cec5c52c0cc\u0022\u003EWhen will the Minister of Climate Change actually visit South Dunedin? When will this Government listen? The climate is changing, so why aren\u2019t we? We need to act now. The climate is not going to wait for politics to catch up. This is a choice that we have, and all we\u2019ve heard from the Government is that it will look to develop a national climate change adaptation framework by some time next year. It is pathetic. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u00229983ccfff924411ebfd625496fd7b91b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229983ccfff924411ebfd625496fd7b91b\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E Charles Dickens once wrote: \u201CIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times\u201D. I\u2019d like to just start out by acknowledging those who are doing it tough and those for whom it is, in fact, the worst of times: those people who have lost a job, those businesses who are struggling, and those households who are struggling through a cost of living crisis. My message to them is that better times are ahead.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve talked a lot today about green shoots\u2014blue shoots\u2014and there are some really good things to celebrate for those who are struggling. On cost of living: we\u2019ve had it announced that inflation is down to a record 2.2 percent, interest rates 4.75 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b0c96e1955204c5cb3eb709f286a0659\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: Talk about Northcote.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022100b50107cc04a1c9f5aae8fd3727f4a\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS\u003C/span\u003E: Business confidence is the highest in nearly a decade. Those who are struggling, particularly in Northcote, are thankful that we\u2019ve got income tax relief and FamilyBoost for those who are like me and who have young ones that will be going to an early learning centre. We\u2019ve got green shoots on law and order, with respect to the tougher\u00A0approach. I want to thank those in the police force for bringing to justice 40 Comancheros, and that is having positive ripples throughout our country. We\u2019ve had a 22 percent reduction in serious assaults in Auckland. But there\u2019s more to celebrate. Around cutting waste: we have cut waste from the previous Government. We\u2019ve axed wasteful spending projects like light rail, three waters, Let\u2019s Get Wellington Moving, Lake Onslow, contracts and consultants, and back-office staff, which has saved taxpayers billions of dollars.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve gone back to basics on things like education. I want to acknowledge the passion that our Minister has for making sure we\u2019ve got a better, brighter future for those future Kiwis. We\u2019ve gone back to basics in infrastructure: making sure we\u2019re actually getting things built in this country and getting things moving, but we know there is a lot for us to do. Our plan is: working to improve the quality of life and improve the economic prosperity of this country, because that is, of course, the underlying thing that we must focus on as a country to improve the next generation of New Zealanders. Like our education system: making sure that our kids and our grandkids have a best education, whether you\u2019re M\u0101ori, Pacific, or any ethnicity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EMaking sure that we have an attractive arrangement for foreign investment\u2014I\u2019d like to acknowledge the recent initiatives that will oversee an overhaul of the Overseas Investment Act. Making sure we actually deliver infrastructure in this country\u2014that is what the Fast-track Approvals Bill is all about. If the opposite side was keen on seeing stuff built in this country, they\u2019d come on board and support our fast-track legislation. But there\u2019s other good things around foreign connections. I want to acknowledge our trade Minister Todd McClay for getting together and signing a deal with the UAE. That is actually fantastic\u2014in record time\u2014that will make a real, substantial, and tangible difference to those who wish to expand overseas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThe last area in our economic plan is around the innovation, science, and technology space. We\u2019ve got a fantastic Minister in Judith Collins, who\u2019s very passionate about improving the productive and innovative capacity in New Zealand. There are so many good things and good reasons to be optimistic, but we know there\u2019s a lot for us to do. The coalition is paving the way for a strong and prosperous future for our nation. That\u2019s the kaupapa that we live by and we will not wait for it. So we are focused, our plan is working, and we\u2019re working hard to get our country back on track.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u00225d3c642c04874639aace87ffd5d60735\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225d3c642c04874639aace87ffd5d60735\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call the member Shanan Halbert\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022169d864884414068b1eabcc1bf660b9c\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker\u2014perfect timing after\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c297ccb53a344f65bffa4ea6359a0bb1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, wait on. No, no\u2014hang on. I was actually saying something then. I was saying before I call the member Shanan Halbert, I just want to make it clear that I made a slight mistake in the order of things. I apologise to Dan Bidois and to Shanan Halbert, and I\u2019ve given Shanan Halbert\u2014if he looks at the clock\u2014a small compensation for the interruption that he\u2019s suffered. I\u2019m sure that\u2019ll be hard on the rest of us, but, none the less, we\u2019ll put up with it!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022 data-id=\u0022c5ece3d8b38f483bb5980e4099f4616d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c5ece3d8b38f483bb5980e4099f4616d\u0022\u003ESHANAN HALBERT (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Speaker, it\u2019s actually perfect timing, and it won\u2019t be hard on you at all. Over the next five minutes or so, I\u2019m talking about the past year, since Scar took over this kingdom and the darkness invaded our lives and communities in T\u0101maki-makau-rau, and, in fact, in Northcote, because the MP for Northcote, just down the road from me, didn\u2019t mention anything about our local community. He didn\u2019t talk about the fact that he\u2019s cancelled local classroom buildings, he\u2019s closing North Shore Women\u2019s Centre, he\u2019s cancelled the counselling services at the Salvation Army, he\u2019s reduced our police numbers, he\u2019s cut funding to Kaip\u0101tiki projects, and he\u2019s cut jobs, so it was perfect timing that I am now in this particular position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003EThis is a Government that is choosing to spend $2 million for landlords and $216 million for tobacco companies. They are taking New Zealand backwards and taking us back decades on the environment and on issues pertaining to Te Tiriti. They\u2019re not thinking of the future. They\u2019re putting themselves and commercial interests ahead of our people and ahead of our New Zealand communities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003EFront-line cuts are going too far and too fast\u2014border workers, a hiring pause in hospitals, kids\u2019 classrooms on hold, hundreds of front-line providers seeing their funding cut or reduced, the shameful Whaikaha attack on support for disabled Kiwis. The list just continues and continues, and each day, I wake up to this Government, and I think, what next? More and more cuts are made against the communities in our country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003EIn particular, today, I\u2019m going to speak to the transport issues that we have in T\u0101maki-makau-rau Auckland, in my Auckland-issues portfolio. The Government has cut $564\u00A0million from the next three years of Auckland\u2019s long-term plan in the National Land Transport Programme 2024 to 2027\u2014that\u2019s $564 million, for the chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. That includes street maintenance, including footpaths, along with cycleways, safety, and bus services. They are all losers under this Government. The impact of these cuts will be large. They\u2019ll be widespread. Road safety funding cuts will increase. They will increase, for Simeon Brown\u2019s ears. They will increase deaths and serious injuries for Aucklanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003ERoad harm costs Auckland an estimated $2 billion annually. Fewer people were dying on Auckland\u2019s roads according to new figures compiled by Auckland Transport. In the year ending July 2024, 27 deaths were recorded in the year, down from six fatalities in the previous 12 months, and the Minister for Auckland ignores these statistics. He believes they don\u2019t happen, and he\u2019s cut their funding, but it\u2019s important for Aucklanders to understand how many of us are less likely to make it home because of reduced road safety initiatives. Alongside that, what about our kids? The original road safety budget for Auckland involved a $70 million - odd contribution from the Government, but they\u2019ve only given a mere six.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003EThe Government\u2019s view of Auckland Council\u2019s cuts should include, under the official planned street maintenance and renewals, that they\u2019ll lose $107 million over three years. Time-of-use charging, which they promised, will be cut by 77 percent, and road safety by 36 percent. The road safety cuts will affect education work and projects to make our roads are safer. Cycleways will lose about $90 million, or 35 percent of their funding. Electrification of ferries will have $89 million deferred, and buses will get $59 million less, both part of a three-year cut to spending\u2014an attack on public transport in Auckland by $213 million.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003ENow, I asked the questions of the Minister of Auckland, Simeon Brown: what are you doing? What is your plan for Auckland? In fact, there are no answers, because there haven\u2019t been any Cabinet papers that have been taken up, and there hasn\u2019t been any work done. In fact, the Minister for Auckland isn\u2019t advocating for Aucklanders, he doesn\u2019t have a plan, and he\u2019s only making more and more cuts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022 data-id=\u0022228b287fea6f404ebfd55788f2afaf30\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022228b287fea6f404ebfd55788f2afaf30\u0022\u003ERAWIRI WAITITI (Co-Leader\u2014Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori):\u003C/span\u003E It is an absolute privilege to stand in the \u201CPride Lands\u201D and follow \u201CZazu\u201D in his k\u014Drero today. \u201CSimba\u201D has arrived. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EHei aha rawa te takaroa\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EWhakaponotia\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EWhakarongo ake, ng\u0101 iwi o te motu e\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EKi te karere o te hepara pai e\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EHei aha rawa te takaroa\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EWhakaponotia\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003ETe Tiriti o Waitangi\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003ETe huarahi mana M\u0101ori motuhake\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003ETe iwi e, he mea hipokina a Ihoa\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EHei aha rawa te takaroa\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EWhakaponotia\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E[Do not delay\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EBelieve\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EListen, the people of the nation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003ETo the messenger of the good shepherd\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EDo not delay\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EBelieve\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EThe Treaty of Waitangi\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EThe path of M\u0101ori autonomy\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003ETo the people, sheltered by God\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EDo not delay\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EBelieve]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EKia ora t\u0101tou. \u201CHei aha rawa te\u201D\u2014[Members applaud] Thank you, thank you; you\u2019re taking up my time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u201CHei aha rawa te takaroa, whakaponotia\u201D [\u201CDo not delay, believe\u201D] is the call to our people. We can no longer wait. We must believe in ourselves, believe in our solutions, sit comfortably in our rangatiratanga. We are tangata whenua, we are the sovereign, we are our own solutions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EE taku M\u0101ori e [To my M\u0101ori people], we can no longer wait. Hei aha te takaroa [Do not delay] for P\u0101keh\u0101 to fix our problems and dysfunction that they have created for our people. We have now become impatient\u2014very impatient\u2014and angry, and so we should. Righteous anger is our right and we need to channel it into our own solutions and wellbeing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EHei aha rawa te takaroa, whakaponotia [Do not delay, believe]\u2014believe, and know who\u00A0are. We have for too long been over-investigated, over-convicted, over-policed, over-stereotyped, over-incarcerated, overlooked, over-regulated, undereducated, undervalued, under-classed, assimilated, and subjugated in a racist and white supremacist system to make tangata whenua more like settlers. Like Europeans, like P\u0101keh\u0101\u2014just second-class ones.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EOur goal is to ensure that this is a one-term Government\u2014everything the light touches is our kingdom, except that shadowy part over there\u2014and ensure we grow more members who are unapologetic, unfettered, unbridled, and unceded M\u0101ori political voices here in this K\u0101wanatanga space. Hei aha rawa te takaroa, whakaponotia. [Do not delay, believe.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EBeing the only tangata whenua movement in this House means that the weight of our M\u0101ori nation sits solely on the shoulders of the six people that sit here, in this part of the House. One of the easiest ways we can do that is that we need more of our people to enrol on to the M\u0101ori roll. For the first time, M\u0101ori on the M\u0101ori roll now out-populate M\u0101ori on the general roll\u2014congratulations to our people. This is showing the new breed of M\u0101ori coming through. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003EThe k\u014Dhanga reo generation has arrived\u201470 percent of our people are 40 years and younger. If we are 20 percent of the population, that would translate into more seats in this House if all of our people were on the M\u0101ori roll\u201418 to 20 seats. But because we have people still on the general roll\u2014M\u0101ori people on the general roll\u2014we get half of what we should be getting, which is seven M\u0101ori seats, when, in actual fact, it should be 14 if all M\u0101ori were on the M\u0101ori roll. That was at 16 percent. Now we\u2019re at 20 percent, it will increase.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227dbfbd83-6770-4555-8477-85fa01511504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b12b38e6d3ea4b7a903e99e6cd440007\u0022\u003EAndy Foster\u003C/span\u003E: They\u2019re voting where they want to vote. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227a76db18-baa4-41c1-b366-89e2c753a1e7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205c4a842fb9642df83b598e2efbfea55\u0022\u003EDebbie Ngarewa-Packer\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re not M\u0101ori.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220f7d126e-c18d-4466-9ebe-d424ae5c4bf6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229534dbb90bf9487a9096124c77e53987\u0022\u003ERAWIRI WAITITI\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, be quiet. This is about us using this democratic process to our advantage. E hika m\u0101 [My friends], get on the M\u0101ori roll, ensure that we have more on the M\u0101ori roll to ensure we have more M\u0101ori seats for more M\u0101ori voices. E hika m\u0101 [My friends], this is our k\u014Drero today. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022 data-id=\u002265bc798daaf6435f84d9061cd7636d79\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002265bc798daaf6435f84d9061cd7636d79\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m taking this call to talk about a pressing issue in our tertiary education system, particularly our universities. When students go through our universities, what do we expect? We expect that students will be able to think independently, that they will be able to think critically, and they will have an innovative mind-set so that they can go out and solve the problems of this ever-evolving world, but this confidence and this trust that we have in our universities is recently becoming a bit shaky.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EWe have seen Times Higher Education world university rankings released recently, and none of our universities have risen in their rankings. We have seen some universities have dropped in their rankings, so, overall, we can say that we have experienced a drop. If I just pick one university, a top university\u2014University of Auckland\u2014it is no longer in the top 150 universities. It\u2019s quite disappointing to see that we don\u2019t have any universities in the top 150, and that the University of Auckland is no longer in the top 150. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EWhat is more concerning is that, because of the direction some of the universities are taking, the rankings might suffer even more. I can talk about many, many issues, but I\u2019ll pick one example: the University of Auckland has announced that they are going to introduce a compulsory course to teach the Treaty of Waitangi and M\u0101ori world view. This is a compulsory course worth 15 points for all undergraduate degrees\u2014for all undergraduate degrees. I ask why is this course needed for all undergraduate degrees and why is it needed that this course should be compulsory?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EThis is going to create a lot of suffering for students because, at the end of the day, students are going to suffer, and, in the long run, our country is going to suffer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f56dec8b2494b92951c95ac5ce2407a\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: How? How will it create suffering?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a58825db6062406ea0d31b6b9a000781\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I\u2019m going to explain that, because this course is\u2014all students will have to study. If somebody wants to study science\u2014for example, somebody wants to do a Bachelor of Science (BSc)\u2014that student is wanting to do a BSc because the student is really passionate about science. Now, this course is going to be enforced on that student, so if the student doesn\u2019t like this course, of course the grades won\u2019t be what overall we would like to see, and the overall grades of that student will suffer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EMoreover, we know that, for any degree programme, there are some compulsory components that students have to do. For a BSc, there have to be some compulsory science components to be completed so that they can achieve a BSc degree, which is equivalent to BScs around the world, with the universities that we compare ourselves with. Now, because of this space that is going to be created for this compulsory Treaty of Waitangi and M\u0101ori world view course, other components will be pushed on to the rest of the time that is left for that degree and that is going to create more pressure on students. So who is going to suffer? Students. And, in the long run, our country is going to suffer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EGoing back to our international rankings, yes, members out there might want to dismiss our lowering international rankings, but I say this: it\u2019s really important that we improve our international rankings. One thing which is to be noted is that all our universities have dropped in one area: that is the international outlook. Universities, our universities, have lost credibility in international outlook. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EI know that; I have done two degrees overseas. I did my BSc and Master of Science from India; I did my PhD from the University of Auckland. I have seen how the tertiary education system works in two very different parts of the world, and when students are\u00A0looking around to study, they do look at international rankings. Top students are definitely looking at international rankings when they apply to study at any university around the world.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EAlso, the academics\u2014if you want to attract brilliant people to come and teach and to do research in our universities, we have to improve our ranking because these people, when they\u2019re looking for a change, they definitely look for university ranking. I\u2019m calling on the University of Auckland to be inclusive and be forward-looking in their approach. I would like to see that they create the environment where all perspectives are respected, not just a one-sided view enforced on students. I\u2019m calling on the University of Auckland to pause, to rethink, and to drop this paper that they want to introduce from next year, because students deserve choice. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022 data-id=\u00227bed6085e1f2406b969889bc32992994\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227bed6085e1f2406b969889bc32992994\u0022\u003EDANA KIRKPATRICK (National\u2014East Coast):\u003C/span\u003E I just texted my mother and told her that I was going to be speaking in the House, and she said to me, \u201CWhatever you do, don\u2019t sing.\u201D So I won\u2019t sing. I can\u2019t sing anywhere near like that, so I won\u2019t be singing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003ELook, when I listened to the wonderful Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, and I see the way that our Cabinet is pulling together to turn this country around, it makes me proud to be part of this Government. Our Government inherited a complete shemozzle, rivalled only by the woes of Wellington City Council right now\u2014inflation at a high; interest rates, high; and the only solution, it seemed, was for the previous Government to throw some more money at it, run for the hills, and hope that it might go away. Well, guess what! That was never going to work and it didn\u2019t work. Thankfully, the people of this beautiful country are way more astute than some on the other side give them credit for and they voted for change, and the coalition Government has served up a good dose of change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EWe have turned the dial towards a better future for our children. We have focused on accountability for taxpayer money, pragmatic changes to get things done, removing red and green tape, policy settings that will drive productivity, and a novel thing: a sensible and intelligent approach to managing the economy. Today\u2019s Stats New Zealand announcement that the Consumers Price Index is back to 2.2 percent from its high of 7\u00A0percent in 2022 is indeed great news. What a relief to be in a country with a Government that knows how to get this under control, and the future once again looks bright. Tax cuts have been delivered into our homes, FamilyBoost is helping families, and interest rates are now down by 75\u00A0basis points, which is all contributing to our more rosy future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003ESometimes, people don\u2019t understand the benefit that lower interest rates have for us. Lower interest rates mean families get to keep more of their money and maybe do something extra with their children at the weekend or buy the new sports uniform or the shoes that the kids need. That little bit more money goes into the economy. They spend it at the cafes, the dairies, and the retailers. It helps keep the businesses ticking over. Lower interest rates mean people have the confidence to develop properties, to build houses, to grow their businesses, and to increase the opportunities for businesses to invest, innovate, and expand. Lower interest rates mean that the new car you need to get to work is more affordable. And, of course, you can fix your rates at a lower cost.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EAll of this, coupled with the work being done to reduce the cost of compliance for our farmers to get projects fast tracked, to get the country back moving, bring back some pride, and instil a work ethic, is critical to our economic performance. If we can create more jobs, then we can get more people off the benefit, into work\u2014that brings more to people\u2019s self-worth than we might imagine. It brings them a new community, a sense of achievement, and a future. It teaches their kids that it\u2019s good to get up and get going in the morning. Instead, these people would be now on the payroll, contributing to better health and education outcomes for their family and their wh\u0101nau. It means, therefore, as a country, we can afford better health, better education, infrastructure, police services, and mental health and social support systems for those who really need it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EI know people are still doing it hard out there. In my electorate, we are seeing some of the worst indicators biting very hard right now. I see that at the coalface every week. It\u2019s been a tough year, following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle and the recovery phases which are now continuing. It\u2019s ironic that in the recent economic growth statistics and report, Tair\u0101whiti was leading the country in economic growth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b370789ff8454d8499bd6570c33ec65c\u0022\u003EDan Bidois\u003C/span\u003E: No way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022423b33737eae455a9c746a0081d9e7c0\u0022\u003EDANA KIRKPATRICK\u003C/span\u003E: It was. I\u2019m sorry to tell you that that is money largely being spent in the construction sector on fixing up Tair\u0101whiti after the cyclone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EWe are not there yet, but we know the turn-around is real and it is happening. I am stopped constantly in the streets, in my electorate, by people telling me to keep going\u2014\u201CTell Chris and Nicola and the team, they\u2019re doing a great job.\u201D I\u2019m grateful because it comes, sometimes, from people who I just wouldn\u2019t expect it from. Just today, I received this letter in my inbox: \u201CHi Dana, I felt compelled to write and let you know how wonderful it feels to have a responsible group of people running our country. I am very proud of our Government and of all the partners. It feels like the grownups are in charge. And I fully support Chris Luxon. I think he\u2019s the right man for the job. We\u2019re lucky to have him working for us. I used to worry about our future, but that has gone now. Feeling quietly confident. Thank you.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ba11b3f-65ea-4f86-92e4-fe78ea522647\u0022\u003EIt is as important now as it has ever been to find new ways of paying for infrastructure, for finding new investment, for relieving costs where we can, and to exercise fiscal responsibility, because New Zealand is getting back on track.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022 data-id=\u00221f643a1e29d847f7b42c7409f4731136\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221f643a1e29d847f7b42c7409f4731136\u0022\u003ECAMILLA BELICH (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure to take a call in the general debate today, and I\u2019m going to be talking about how this Government is taking workers in New Zealand backwards. But, before I start, I just want to respond to one of our colleagues across the House who was complaining about doing a course on Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Auckland University.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EI can say I took a compulsory course on Te Tiriti o Waitangi when I was a university student in my 20s, and I have used that information and knowledge every single day that I have been working in New Zealand since that date. It is absolutely unfounded to say that that information is not useful, and I challenge that member to take that course. Personal challenge: take that course and tell me after you\u2019ve finished it if you don\u2019t think of it and your mind doesn\u2019t turn to it every single day when we talk about the important things affecting this country around our constitutional arrangements and the important place that Te Tiriti o Waitangi has in our Parliament and also in our country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EWhat I want to mainly talk about today is the Government\u2019s actions towards working people. We\u2019ve heard it so many times from those on the other side of the House, claiming to be the party of working people. We\u2019ve heard it from the Prime Minister. We\u2019ve heard it from the Deputy Prime Minister. We\u2019ve heard it from New Zealand First. I say to those parties: show me that you are the party of working people by your actions. When I look over them, all I see is the biggest attack on workers\u2019 rights since 30 years ago, when the Employment Contracts Act came in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to go through some of these attacks on workers that this Government has made. First of all, scrapping fair pay agreements\u2014agreements that would have led to higher wages and better conditions for some of our most vulnerable workers: bus drivers, cleaners, early childhood education teachers, supermarket workers, security guards\u2014reinstating 90-day trials, getting rid of protections for people so they\u2019ve got no rights at all within the first 90 days. I guarantee there is someone sitting in the House today who has received an email from a constituent who has been unfairly dismissed because of that\u00A0policy\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221cd33f16-add4-4363-a2d4-f457841a5c4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a05fbf808b9406fa30d2d63f549cb92\u0022\u003EGlen Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Read that email out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bacc9688b3dc42b4a12999f5912747e2\u0022\u003ECAMILLA BELICH\u003C/span\u003E: I know I certainly have. \u201CRead that email out.\u201D\u2014yeah, that\u2019s exactly right, Glen Bennett, good point. Effective cut to the minimum wage\u2014these are the poorest people in New Zealand, and this Government has, effectively, cut the minimum wage, meaning that they earn less despite official advice to the opposite\u2014cutting the Pay Equity Task force. We\u2019ve seen recently the public sector gender pay gap has risen. And how has this Government responded? They say they\u2019re the best party for women, much better than the last Government. Well, show me by your actions. Cutting the Pay Equity Taskforce shows me that you\u2019re taking New Zealand backwards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EThen we heard during the election campaign a reassuring word from the now Prime Minister: \u201CWe are going to not be reducing sick pay.\u201D, he said. And what do we see when we see this Government come in? We see one of the proposals is to reduce sick pay for part-time workers. Now, who are part-time workers in New Zealand? Let me tell you. Almost 70 percent of them are women; a lot of them are carers. These are people who need sick leave. There is no justification for this broken election promise to cut sick leave for part-time workers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s so many things\u2014modern slavery. The Prime Minister said he would march in the street for modern slavery, but what do we see this Government doing? Nothing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EThen we have pay transparency\u2014very important for people to be able to see where there are gaps and when there is unfair pay going to certain groups of people, especially M\u0101ori and Pasifika women. We see all work on that stop\u2014shocking.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EI just want to note, in relation to modern slavery, the Global Slavery Index says, on even any given day, 8,000 people in New Zealand are living in modern slavery. We need to take action now, and we need to do that also under our international obligations, under free-trade agreements that we have with the UK and Europe as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EThere are so many other things. I have 12 things to read out; I\u2019m not sure if I can get through them all in the last five minutes\u2014I probably can\u2019t. I\u2019ll have to come back and do another general debate speech because there are just too many attacks on workers for me to get through. I want to say, when the Labour Government is re-elected in 2026, you will know us by our actions, because we are the true party of working people. We will be reinstating all of these policies that have been cruelly taken away from New Zealand workers by this Government, which has been cruelly attacking them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003EI want also to note that we are fighting back against this. I\u2019ve done five public meetings around New Zealand on workers\u2019 rights with the Hon Willie Jackson; I\u2019ve got another two more. Then, on 23 October, workers around New Zealand, under a Council of Trade Unions initiative, will be gathering to fight back, not only on the cuts against workers but on the other unfair attacks by this Government\u2014against M\u0101ori, against women, against people with disabilities. We are not taking this lying down; we are fighting back and we will be back in 2026.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022 data-id=\u0022a77e7e372ced4793aee5122378efcca1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a77e7e372ced4793aee5122378efcca1\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL (National\u2014Tauranga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Well, inflation today, Stats NZ, the number is out: 2.2 percent. What a win for New Zealanders. This is a great day for New Zealand households, a great day for New Zealand businesses. I remember, when I came into Parliament about 2\u00BD years ago, we were sitting at over 7\u00A0percent, and then\u00A0it\u00A0was 5.6 percent last year, and here we are with a National-led Government in charge: 2.2 percent. It is within band. This is excellent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThere have been some good changes lately. We\u2019ve seen some tax relief back to hard-working Kiwis. We\u2019ve seen FamilyBoost payments. Families are now clearly better off than they were a year ago, and with the decrease in inflation, the Reserve Bank, in New Zealand, is moving to cut interest rates. We have seen 75 basis points already. They are talking about, potentially, that in the November review that they do, and the good news is that most households out there, roughly half of them, are on very short fixed-terms of six months. This is going to translate and flow very quickly into the New Zealand economy. The green shoots\u2014or, as we say on this side of the House, the \u201Cblue\u201D shoots\u2014are reemerging in the New Zealand economy. The Mood of the Boardroom survey recently had confidence in the economy at 3.23 out of five. That\u2019s the highest it has been since 2016, when, funnily enough, National was last in Government. You compare that to where the Mood of the Boardroom was last year, at 1.82 over 5. This Government is putting the books back on a credible path back to fiscal sustainability.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThere is some other good news, and we\u2019ve heard it talked about a little bit today\u2014fast-track\u2014and what a great thing fast-track is. The Infrastructure Commission estimates that every year we spend $1.3 billion on the time taken to get a resource consent, and that has nearly doubled in the last five years. Thank you, Labour! Well, what we\u2019re doing is we\u2019re putting through the Fast-track Approvals Bill. We\u2019re going to rebuild our economy, and we\u2019re going to grow and boost productivity. This is a one-stop fast-track consenting regime for national and regional projects of significance. It will cut red and green tape and make it easier to get things done. It will revitalise the New Zealand economy, and it will revitalise the Tauranga economy. I\u2019m very proud that, in the Bay of Plenty, we have got 12 projects included on that schedule.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThe Port of Tauranga is an absolutely crucial one, and that has been going on for six years\u2014that has been going through the courts\u2014and many people there find it extremely frustrating. The Port of Tauranga CEO has come out and said that it should have been built by now. It\u2019s unacceptable to spend six years in a consenting process for something that was included in the Regional Coastal Environment Plan 30 years ago. We need to double our exports. We have a big plan to do that, but if we don\u2019t have that gateway to the world, it isn\u2019t possible. Another reality is that the container ships that are now being\u00A0built are significantly larger, and if we don\u2019t make the Port of Tauranga and the navigation channels fit for purpose and wider and deeper, those big ships are not going to come here. They simply will leave New Zealand off the map, and we will have to move our stuff to Australia to get it out there to the world. That would be a travesty for New Zealand businesses.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve got a few significant roads included in there. Takitimu North Link Stage 2 probably should have been under way by now if the previous Government hadn\u2019t cancelled it. Good news: it\u2019s on the fast-track schedule. That will provide a four-lane median-divided highway to \u014Cmokoroa. Then we\u2019ve got the State Highway 29 Tauriko network, a very important link in the \u201Cgolden triangle\u201D between Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga, and, crucially, the Port of Tauranga. We\u2019ve got a number of housing projects: the Bell Road Limited Partnership in Wairakei South is going to add 2,000 to 3,000 new homes. We\u2019ve got the Tauriko West housing and land development. There\u2019s another 1,250 homes. We\u2019ve got the Tara Road development; that\u2019s 605 residential allotments. And there\u2019s a whole bunch of industrial and commercial projects off the back of that. Now, we look at the fast-track and we have got 58\u00A0housing and land development projects; opening up 55,000 homes\u2014I\u2019ve already mentioned those in my patch\u201443 infrastructure projects; and, for those on the other side of the House, you\u2019ve got 22 renewable energy projects.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThis is a successful Government. Governments cannot live beyond their means for long periods of time without damaging the future prospects of their people. Just like any household, we are going to continue to drive more value from this economy. Inflation is back within band. This is a fantastic day for New Zealand. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThe debate having concluded, the motion lapsed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022044ace5f969841e5bc1a33a2c8f81b13\u0022\u003EFamily Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00223ddbdf4f20b2479d964feb62600b9f93\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022 data-id=\u00224c994c3ce08f418eb36e9e4e568445f8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224c994c3ce08f418eb36e9e4e568445f8\u0022\u003EHon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill be now read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EThank you, Mr Speaker. I want to start with the women who made the case for this law change, the women who gave us the way forward to ensure that we would move from a divorce law which insisted that they wait in abusive relationships for two years before they could obtain a divorce. This bill enables people to move on immediately, and it came about because of three women.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EThe first is Charlotte Abrial, who brought a petition to this House in 2020, and brought the petition asking that in cases of relationships where there had been domestic violence, instead of waiting for two years for a divorce to become final, in fact that could happen within six months. In Charlotte\u2019s words from the petition, speaking from her own experience, she said that the two-year stand-down period makes leaving an abusive spouse even more difficult because victims feel an obligation to go back and try to work things out. She said that, in many cases, each time the victim returns is worse, as the abuser\u2019s control increases. She also commented that some women are not able to leave again because they may not survive the abuse. Thank you, Charlotte, for bringing the petition to the House and for making the House take notice of this matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EThe second woman I want to refer to is Ashley Jones. Ashley put together a petition and worked on it but, eventually, was unable to get it into the House, because she simply didn\u2019t have the capacity to at the time. She persisted with her work, and when this particular bill was finally in front of the House, she came and submitted to the committee and told us her story. She put in a written submission. From Ashley\u2019s submission: \u201CAny woman (or man) that has reached the painstaking decision to leave their marriage, has already reached the realisation that there is no reconciliation possible, especially not in cases where abuse is prevalent. But the reality is, for abuse victims the current divorce process is not as simple as a 2 year stand down. For me, someone with a protection order in place, no contact or knowledge of the other parties whereabouts, it took a painstaking further 10 months to be granted my dissolution. That was a further 2 years 10 months of mental and emotional anguish on top of everything else that didn\u2019t need to happen.\u201D Ashley, thank you for your work in bringing this legislation to the House. Here, I\u2019d also like to thank the Hon Chris Bishop for the work that he did to support Ashley as she was putting together her work in this area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EThe third woman I would like to thank is a woman whose name has not been said in this House, because initially we kept her name very, very quiet. She did not want her name to be out there, because of some of the danger attached to it. When Angie Warren-Clark MP first brought this bill to the House, in her speech in the first reading, she referenced, obviously, Charlotte Abrial and Ashley Jones, but she also referenced someone who\u2019d come to talk to her and told the story. I\u2019ve been in contact with this woman today, and she sent me some words of her story too, and she gave me permission to use her given name. So, Adele, today we name you in the House, and we recognise your courage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EIn Adele\u2019s words: \u201CIt took two years, one month, and one day to get a divorce when I needed it desperately to get it before my then husband got out of prison. It was hard, it was terrifying, and so stressful to get it done in time as the Parole Board had phoned me three times, saying they were releasing him early and that he had rights. I had to plead firmly that they support my rights to feel safe and to not release him early so that I could be safe. It was a hard battle, a struggle mentally, emotionally. The fear was huge. I knew I needed the divorce as a boundary line by law for him not to seek to claim me as his property. I pushed so hard I even had to plead with the prison to deliver the divorce papers into his hands before he was released. I got my divorce with one day to spare only because I pushed and growled and defended the rights of victims of domestic violence.\u201D Adele, thank you for those words.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EThese women all made the case that where there is family violence, a person should be able to obtain a divorce without having to wait for two years of separation from their former partner. The reason is that that two years holds the tie. It binds the victim to their abuser. That should not be the case. We simply need to change the law, and, today, I know that we\u2019re going to do it so that, in cases where people have separated and where there is domestic violence, instead of waiting for too long and instead of waiting for two long years in which the victim remains tied to their abuser, a divorce can be obtained immediately. Thank you to each of those three courageous women.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003ETwo members of Parliament have had a very strong hand in bringing this legislation to the House. I\u2019ve already mentioned the first, the Hon Chris Bishop, who supported Ashley Jones as her electorate MP when she was first working on this issue, and when the bill came into the House, he enabled it to go through with his support. Thank you to the Hon Chris Bishop. But I especially wish to recognise our former colleague Angie Warren-Clark. Angie put together a bill on this particular issue, and it was drawn from the ballot, and it had its first reading on the very last members\u2019 day before the former election. There was a lot of support for it across the House then. After the election, Angie asked me if I would take it through the remaining stages. Angie, my darling, it has been an absolute honour to shepherd this bill through the House for you. You know, it\u2019s a bit hard to make a mark as a Government backbencher; Angie\u2019s done it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s really interesting to reflect on where our divorce law has come from. In 1980, we had a radical divorce law reform. Instead of having tawdry cases of deception or of adultery or whatever trailed through the courts, we opted for what is now known as \u201Cno-fault divorce\u201D. If couples wanted to separate, it was taken to be the case, and they could obtain a divorce. The only evidence that was required was two years of separation. It was a very radical law reform in its day, but now we need something different. I think part of what this legislation, going through today, tells us is that, actually, we need to have an overall look at our divorce law. In the meantime, this change helps victims of domestic violence. Obviously, for the three women who fought for it, the change hasn\u2019t come in time for them. They\u2019ve got the change now for other women, women like Kate, who phoned into Newstalk ZB today\u2014I want to thank Kerre Woodham for forwarding the clip to me\u2014who talked about the feeling of relief and freedom that would be available to her with this law change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002212d74f81-b1f7-4b51-9fb4-8f9481477192\u0022\u003EThank you to everyone across the House who\u2019s worked on this bill, especially the members of the Justice Committee. Thank you to all those who have supported it. I did say the Justice Committee? Good, OK. I got there. I\u2019m going to end with Adele\u2019s words again and what this legislation means to her: \u201CNow, all my pain and grief of the vicious domestic violence I went through has been transformed into legislation today, a law that will support many victims for days, years to come. What a legacy we gift them all today. So many lives will be saved.\u201D Charlotte, Ashley, Adele, thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022 data-id=\u0022855de21c8ebf4cafb48b93c08ea753c9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022855de21c8ebf4cafb48b93c08ea753c9\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP (Minister of Housing):\u003C/span\u003E Can I start by acknowledging the excellent speech from Hon Deborah Russell in support of this bill, and also start by saying thank you to her for her work shepherding it through its final stages. That was a very heartfelt and meaningful speech and I\u2019m sure people will really appreciate it. Can I also start by acknowledging Ashley, my friend who\u2019s in the gallery, who, as Ms Russell has noted, has played a really important part in the genesis of this legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EToday is a very satisfying day, because it\u2019s really Parliament at its best and it\u2019s Parliament coming together\u2014I believe it\u2019s going to pass unanimously, which is a wonderful thing\u2014to fix a problem. We get a lot of grief from this place, probably sometimes fairly, about being fixated on things that don\u2019t actually matter that much\u2014and maybe that\u2019s true; maybe it isn\u2019t\u2014but this matters, this legislation matters, and this issue matters, and today we\u2019re doing something about it, and that\u2019s a good thing. It\u2019s precisely what members\u2019 bills should be about. It\u2019s a very satisfying day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003ECan I start by just acknowledging the three women that the Hon Deborah Russell noted, Ashley Jones, Charlotte Abrial, and Adele\u2014who\u2019s now read into the Hansard\u2014for their courage and bravery and determination to try and make a difference for victims of family violence in the future seeking to get out of the marriage or the relationship. Can I acknowledge Angie Warren-Clark, who did the heavy lifting to introduce this bill into Parliament in the first place. I hadn\u2019t actually realised until Deborah Russell mentioned it that it was the final members\u2019 day before the 2023 election. I didn\u2019t actually realise that. I\u2019m sure that Angie is watching, and she should be proud of her work in introducing it to Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI think members might know that it was sort of an interesting process of events where Ashley came and saw me when I was the list MP based in Hutt South in 2021. I was actually looking up the news stories at the time\u2014it was over three years ago; it was June 2021. She said, \u201CI\u2019ve had this idea, I\u2019m going to do a petition.\u201D I didn\u2019t know that was the law\u2014I\u00A0mean, MPs can\u2019t be expected to know everything about everything; there\u2019s too much law already\u2014and I couldn\u2019t believe that you had to wait two years if you\u2019re a victim of family\u00A0violence. I just couldn\u2019t believe it. I said, \u201CThat can\u2019t be the case; it is the case\u201D\u2014but after today, it won\u2019t be. She said, \u201CI want to do a petition.\u201D, and I said, \u201CI\u2019m very happy to support that, it\u2019s a great idea.\u201D We had over 5,000 people sign it, on the online petition. That was three years ago and I\u2019ve been asked a bit by the media over the last couple of days why is it taking so long, and sometimes the wheels of justice move slowly and it\u2019s been a bit frustrating.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EAnyway, as she presented the petition, unbeknownst to me, Angie Warren-Clark was working on the issue as well and I didn\u2019t know that, and then the bill got put into the ballot and then it got pulled. National was proud to support it back in 2023, and now, of course, it\u2019s going to pass into law.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003ECan I thank the Justice Committee for their work on this bill. It\u2019s a really good committee, very competent members of Parliament on the committee. I know they\u2019re a very busy committee with the inquiry into the election and quite a bit of other law and order legislation making its way through\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0954572a7dc48b0a58f42566ba31bf4\u0022\u003EJames Meager\u003C/span\u003E: 21 bills.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ad011189941400fad4276708892de8e\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS BISHOP\u003C/span\u003E: \u201C21 bills\u201D, says the chair\u2014thank you, Mr Chair, and thank you for your work and your support. Thank you to the Justice Committee. Thank you to Angie Warren-Clark. I want to thank Deborah Russell for picking it up. She\u2019s been a very diligent, conscientious member in charge of the bill, so thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EIt is a very satisfying day. Really, if you think about it and if you just step back a bit, what it\u2019s actually about is fundamentally making a difference to reduce the harm caused by family violence and make it easier for, primarily, women who are the victims of family violence to move on\u2014closure. It\u2019s about closure and making it easier for people to not remain trapped in a relationship that has broken down in the worst way possible, for the worst reasons and in the worst way possible\u2014making it easier for women to move on, gain closure, finality, and take the next step in their journey and their life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI think that\u2019s what it was about for Ashley, and I think it\u2019s what it\u2019s about for many women who have been through the enormous trauma of abuse or family violence, where the law says currently you have to remain tethered to your abuser for two more years until you can leave and formally make into law what is the practice\u2014make the legal reality what is, in fact, the reality. That\u2019s a really powerful thing\u2014that\u2019s a really powerful thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EToday, we are righting a wrong. Deborah Russell talked about future reform to divorce law and she canvassed some of the history. That\u2019s for another day, and reasonable people can disagree about some aspects of it, but what I don\u2019t think people will disagree on is this change, and the fact that it\u2019s passing the Parliament unanimously, I think, speaks to that. It\u2019s interesting, whenever you raise it with people, people are quite staggered to discover it\u2019s not the law. They expected that Parliament would have fixed this before now, and it turns out that we haven\u2019t, but now we have an opportunity to do it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI don\u2019t want to take up much more of the House\u2019s time. I know Ashley would tell me, \u201CWe just need to get on and pass it, it\u2019s taken long enough already.\u201D, and on that, I agree with her. I just want to acknowledge you, Ashley, and thank you for your support. It\u2019s been wonderful to have you here over the last two or three years that this bill has been making its way through the process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge Deborah Russell: thank you for the bipartisan nature with which we\u2019ve approached this issue. It\u2019s been really heartening, actually, and it\u2019s really, I think, proof positive that when Parliament turns its mind to something and wants to do the right thing, despite all the noise out there, actually, we can. It\u2019s a really great thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002257e41e9d-285b-4fb3-847d-a63820ae7137\u0022\u003EThank you, Deborah. Thank you, Ashley. Thank you, Charlotte. Thank you to Angie Warren-Clark as well. Today is a good day. It\u2019s a satisfying day. We\u2019re putting right what is a wrong, and I look forward to its passage through Parliament and then coming into force in due course. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022 data-id=\u0022d5ba7b9eb9864996b58d30aa153ae5ba\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d42e8cf-544e-415d-892b-f4ef8014d80f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d5ba7b9eb9864996b58d30aa153ae5ba\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Teanau Tuiono)\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=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022 data-id=\u0022ee3cff335bea47d7a99625e5ef72c29b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ee3cff335bea47d7a99625e5ef72c29b\u0022\u003ETAMATHA PAUL (Green\u2014Wellington Central):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora; thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m really happy to rise on behalf of Te P\u0101ti K\u0101k\u0101riki, the Green Party, to offer our wholehearted support for this mahi. I want to begin by acknowledging the powerful w\u0101hine who brought this to the House today and have endured over the last three years, just patiently waiting for this to happen\u2014and to see the fruits of your labour, the fruits of your courage, the fruits of your bravery happening before us today. We lend our wholehearted support to your mahi and acknowledge you for all of the work. It would not have been easy to put yourself out there, to have your own personal stories out there in the media. That would have taken a huge amount of bravery, so thank you so much. As we\u2019ve seen, every progressive step that we\u2019ve seen in the prevention of family violence in this country has always been as a result of the courage and bravery of survivors like yourself. Thank you for your mahi.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EI also want to thank the Hon Dr Deborah Russell for all of her mahi on this bill and bringing this forward, and Angie Warren-Clark and Chris Bishop as well for the collaborative mahi that we\u2019ve seen here and for fronting up to the Justice Committee and answering some of our more detailed questions about what more we can do to improve the bill or not even necessarily the bill, but what we need to look to for the future to provide other means by which people can provide that evidence that family violence has occurred. We can have a world where there isn\u2019t family violence and where there isn\u2019t sexual violence, and it\u2019s all of these incremental steps that will lead us to that point.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll keep my contribution to the point and brief, but I\u2019ll just say that this bill does mean a lot to me as the child of a solo mother who also escaped an abusive relationship. I know how difficult it can be particularly for those women to free themselves of the shackles and the binds that attach them to their abusers and to be able to move forward with their life without fear, without living in constant fear that they might be contacted or that there will be more opportunities for their abusers to be in contact with them and just more binds to those abusers. We really appreciate this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EWhat we would like to see next is whether we can incorporate different forms of evidence to prove that family violence has taken place. Obviously, this one focuses on protection orders, which is great. That\u2019s one mechanism, but also how could we open up that scope of evidence to include things like written evidence from doctors or police or other trusted people that are involved in those processes. We can look at that evidence, but today is such a crucial and important first step towards that. We won\u2019t solve it all today, but this is a really good and earnest step towards solving these issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EWhen I looked at the Women\u2019s Refuge website, I saw a figure that said that sometimes it can take women up to seven attempts on average to leave an abusive relationship. That just shows how deep some of those binds go. I think that this bill at least removes one barrier for those survivors and it makes it\u2014for people experiencing abuse\u2014a lot easier to unshackle themselves from that abuse.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EAs you know, I just want to mihi to my colleague Marama Davidson for all of the work she did around Te Aorerekura and looking at how we can totally eliminate family violence within our country. I just want to acknowledge that that strategy still stands and that we\u2019re still looking at all different options and tools that there are available to eliminate family harm in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253958f14-2b54-4d1c-bfac-7b3ea85e1c2b\u0022\u003EThank you to the w\u0101hine who have spoken up and made this a reality. Thank you to Dr Deborah, to Angie, and to Chris Bishop for all of their mahi on this. I like to see that collaborative approach across the House, and I like to see the things that we can achieve when we put our politics aside and work together for something that I think we all want in this House, which is a world free from family violence. That is our contribution, and I\u2019m proud to say that we fully support this bill. Kia ora.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022 data-id=\u0022feed8d2feba640139539b38ca39ab70c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022feed8d2feba640139539b38ca39ab70c\u0022\u003EDr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m taking this call on behalf of ACT to support this bill. I would like to thank the Hon Dr Deborah Russell for the work she has done on this bill, and also Angie Warren\u2011Clark, the previous member in charge of this bill, and Dr Deborah Russell for carrying on with the workload that came with this bill going through the select committee process and then going through the second reading and now coming to the third reading. I want to acknowledge your efforts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EI heard that Ashley is in the gallery, so I want to acknowledge Ashley, and I also want to acknowledge Charlotte Abrial, as Dr Deborah Russell acknowledged. I want to acknowledge them and also want to acknowledge all other courageous women out there\u2014those who have made efforts at their level. It takes the effort of many, many women for that to come to this level, so I want to acknowledge everybody who has worked in the background as well to ensure that this bill comes before Parliament and that we are at the stage where we are agreeing to pass this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EIn short, this bill is to actually provide relief to victims of family violence, because this is to see that they are not tied in that relationship for two years and complying with that requirement of separation of two years before they can get a divorce. As the member from the Green Party said, it takes seven attempts for a victim to leave their relationship, and that is true. It is not an easy thing for anybody to leave their relationship. As humans, we have this nature where we always want outside to look as if everything is going fine, even if behind closed doors there is a lot of violence and a lot of suffering that goes on. As soon as we open those doors and come out in public, we want to pretend that everything is going fine behind those closed doors and nobody actually wants to admit it, because it\u2019s not an easy thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EI was chair of an NGO helping victims of domestic violence, and I didn\u2019t work directly with any of those victims, but, obviously, because I was involved in that organisation, I used to hear a lot of stories. I also know that after women come out and seek help, then also the abusers, if they reach out to these women, they will try to mend the relationship, they would like to reconcile, and then they would like to behave as if nothing has happened. Then, after these women, these victims, go back, again, the abusers would come back to their original behaviour in just a few weeks\u2019 time, and those women used to be back there seeking help again. Sometimes with this system, it feels that they are going through this process again and again, but I think it is really important for us to realise their situation and\u00A0see what they are going through. This bill is going to provide huge relief to women\u2014those who are really wanting to come out of that trap, come out of that relationship, and start their lives again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge my colleague Todd Stephenson, who is a member of the Justice Committee. I want to acknowledge all of the members on the Justice Committee as well for their work on this bill. The changes that the select committee has made on this bill are really commendable. It actually really solves a lot of issues that were not originally addressed in the bill, and that is the job of the select committee process. This bill actually has come out looking much, much better, and it actually has covered a lot of ground.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EIt has also covered ground about what kind of protection orders are going to be considered as evidence in this case. It is quite clear that it is the final protection orders, not the temporary protection orders. Also, there were some discussions\u2014as I have read the report and have seen\u2014about if there was opportunity to broaden the kind of evidence that could be used in this process. I think the select committee landed at a very good decision that the idea of this bill is to not elongate the process. The idea of this bill is to simplify this process where there is a genuine reason for somebody to come out of that relationship. In that regard, the select committee has done a commendable job.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258eae615-ef83-4df5-bace-6749bdd312a8\u0022\u003EI want to again, finally, acknowledge Dr Deborah Russell and all those courageous women, those who worked behind the scenes to bring this bill to Parliament. The ACT Party supports this bill. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022 data-id=\u0022c33f25fe85c646d39667170da6fd40ab\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c33f25fe85c646d39667170da6fd40ab\u0022\u003EHon CASEY COSTELLO (Associate Minister of Police):\u003C/span\u003E I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to speak on the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. New Zealand First will be supporting this legislation, and I thank the Hon Dr Deborah Russell for her careful consideration of our amendment and, I hope, the appreciation of the concerns that we have on this legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI suppose I would like to put some context in this legislation: we have an abhorrent amount of family violence in New Zealand. We know that, and we know that we need to do better in our protections. The tragedy of this legislation is that we have had women with protection orders in place who have not been protected. They have felt still under the control and bond of a relationship that they have exited and have still been under that level of control. Our concern in this legislation has been that even with a dissolution of marriage, it does not negate the need for a protection order to remain and it does not negate our responsibility as a country to ensure that we are doing better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI suppose I would go back to my first encounter of this reality as a very young police officer when I was called to attend an incident where a woman had called the police because her ex-husband, who had just been released from prison after serving a life sentence or serving a serious sentence for the manslaughter of his second wife\u2014within two days of being released from prison, he was back at the home of his first wife. Therefore, it showed to me that not only do protection orders, not only do dissolutions of marriage, not only does the threat of police presence, not only does the fact that she had moved and changed addresses provide or afford her the protection that was necessary in that case\u2014and that instance is over 30 years ago, and I don\u2019t think we have got much better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EThe environment is such that we have serious issues with families that are broken, with women that are broken, but we also have an instance that men are broken. We have men and families that have no concept of what it is to be in a family, no concept of what it is to be in a loving, supportive relationship. Those are the areas that I think\u2014this is not the end game, this is not the destination we need to be.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EWe support any protections that would give women the opportunity to feel safer and feel protected, but the concern in this conversation is that, at the same time, women will be making decisions in highly emotional and vulnerable times. As we said when we sought some sort of resolution to provide an assurance that women would be given, or the vulnerable person in the relationship would be given, protection\u2014an assurance that they were given proper legal advice, that they were not making decisions about property, about support, about custody in an emotional state, and that the escalating of a dissolution created some vulnerability, that those decisions would be made at a volatile time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EThat is all we\u2019re seeking: to ensure that we are not, in the solution, creating further problems down the track; that we need to know that we are also working on a holistic approach. We have the family violence and sexual violence work programme that we are working on, and there are a number of areas we know we need to fix. But I have real concerns that we are seeing this as a solution, and I hope that is not the case; that we are seeing it as an important step and a protection and an assurance to brave women who have felt this terrible burden of the bond of a relationship, but that we need to continue to work on this space and make sure that women who are the subject of a protection order\u2014or anyone who is subject of a protection order\u2014know that the protection order means something, know that they do not have to live in fear, that we are doing better to ensure we\u2019re doing more. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003ENot all relationships that are in this volatile and violent environment are marriages and, therefore, we need to be sure that we are balancing this conversation. The other concerns that we had are that we have allowed the protection orders to create that degree of separation, but when the protection orders are put in place, it is a volatile time, it is an emotional time, and we know there is generally an escalation of violence and concern at the time those protection orders are issued. If the protection order is seen as a flag to end the relationship completely, are we creating risk of escalating violence when there hasn\u2019t been a cooling-off period before the dissolution of marriage? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI only say things like this out of caution. I only say this in the hope that we review this legislation; that we continue to review the impacts that are occurring; that we do things cautiously and with consideration; that we also look at the same time to the ways that we can strengthen families; that we can empower women, that we can make sure that they know that when a protection order is put in place, it means something and there are serious consequences for breaching it; that we also give an opportunity to those who are the perpetrators of violence to be given some level of intervention; and that we recognise that we need to rebuild families. We need to provide some level of support and counselling before the marriage has ended, because there have been instances\u2014and I know this has occurred in my own family\u2014where there has been a very volatile and turbulent relationship that, through alcohol help, drug rehabilitation, a whole range of counselling, a family has been turned around and saved.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI just hope, when we work through these processes, that we have a real recognition of the whole problem and that this is an important piece of legislation, and I acknowledge all of the people that worked towards bringing this legislation forward\u2014it is important that you have the freedom to choose the dissolution of your marriage\u2014but I want to know that you also, when you go down this path, have sufficient counselling, have sufficient legal representation so that you are not deprived of property, of financial interests, of custody rights, of all of the things that go towards the dissolution of a marriage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI truly recognise the effort that was brought by the Hon Dr Deborah Russell and for Chris Bishop and the ladies who have helped this legislation become a reality, but I hope\u00A0we continue to have a conversation. I hope we recognise that there is risk in what we\u2019re proposing here and that we do work to stem that risk and we do the work that ensures that\u00A0we are still recognising the importance and value of family, that families will go through terrible times, there will be horrible situations, but sometimes there\u2019s an opportunity to rebuild. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI hope, as we do this piece of legislation, work forward, as we continue to focus on family violence, that we have a real chance to recognise that no family is beyond redemption and that we equally balance the ability to dissolve a marriage with the ability to rebuild a family, and as we move forward, that we recognise the importance of marriage, we recognise the importance and solidarity that comes from a strong family, and we do all we can to ensure that is protected, moving forward. I commend the bill to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022 data-id=\u0022af3be5bd96c54f44aa7979a0cff0bc35\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022af3be5bd96c54f44aa7979a0cff0bc35\u0022\u003ET\u0100KUTA FERRIS (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe e te P\u012Bka. T\u0113n\u0101 hoki t\u0101tou. Kua riro m\u0101ku \u0113nei kawenga o Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori e tuku ki to t\u0101tou Whare. N\u014D reira ka tukunga i runga i te reo M\u0101ori, i roto i te reo M\u0101ori, kia kitea ake r\u0101 te rerek\u0113tanga o te whakaaro M\u0101ori i t\u014D te whakaaro P\u0101keh\u0101. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EIn\u0101 t\u0113tahi kupu k\u014Drero n\u014D te iwi M\u0101ori e mea ana \u201CTaku wahine p\u016Brotu, taku t\u0101ne p\u016Brotu, k\u014Drua ko te tau e\u201D. In\u0101 an\u014D hoki t\u0113tahi k\u014Drero e mea ana \u201CHe wahine, he whenua, ngaro ai te tangata\u201D. Ar\u0101 k\u0113 pea te k\u014Dmata o \u0113nei k\u014Drero e mea ana \u201CHe wahine, he t\u0101ne e ora ai te iwi\u201D. N\u014D reira hei reira te p\u016Bnaha, hei reira te puna o te whakaaro nui o te iwi M\u0101ori ki \u0113nei momo whakaritenga, t\u014Dna manako nui he tiaki i te wh\u0101nau. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira kia tiakina ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau ka tika, taha t\u0101ne, taha wahine. Engari ko te mea nui ko te taha ki ng\u0101 uri, te taha ki ng\u0101 mokopuna, te taha ki te wh\u0101nuitanga o te wh\u0101nau e h\u014Drapa nei i ng\u0101 tahataha o te tangata kotahi kia ea ai te k\u014Drero \u201CKo taku toa, he toa takitini, he toa takimano\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira kei te tautoko atu m\u0101tou i t\u0113nei ture. Kei te whakanuia tonutia ng\u0101 ringaringa, ng\u0101 waewae i oti nei i a r\u0101tou te whakakaupapa i t\u0113nei ture. Hei aha? Hei h\u0101pai i te oranga o te t\u0101ngata ka tahi; o te wh\u0101nau ka rua; otir\u0101 o ng\u0101 tamariki mokopuna ka maua ki te kupenga o aitu\u0101, o raruraru, o aha r\u0101nei. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira e tika ana ng\u0101 whakanikohanga kua oti nei i ng\u0101 komiti te r\u0101wekeweke, kia kaua r\u0101 e \u0101hei te kaup\u0113hip\u0113hi, te kaupatu r\u0101nei kia t\u016Bkinotia an\u014D e te kaihara. He ara e whai mana ai te katoa. He ara e whai mana ai te taha ki te wh\u0101nau, otir\u0101 te taha ki te t\u0101ngata, i te mea kua aup\u0113hitia e t\u0113tahi atu. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EK\u0101ore au m\u014D te k\u012B atu n\u0101 te ringaringa o te t\u0101ne, n\u0101 te ringaringa o te wahine r\u0101nei. Engari i te mea kua aup\u0113hingia. Kia ahatia? Kia whitikina ki te ora, kia kaua r\u0101 e noho ki te p\u014Duriuri, e rua tau te roa, neke atu. Me t\u014D t\u0101tou m\u014Dhio, m\u014D te iwi M\u0101ori, \u0113nei t\u016B\u0101huatanga ka taka mai i roto i te p\u014Dharatanga, \u0101kina e te waipiro, e te tarutaru, e te kore mahi, \u0113nei t\u016B\u0101huatanga katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003E\u014C t\u0101tou koroua i haere ki ng\u0101 pakanga o te ao, i hoki pakaru mai, k\u012Bhai i \u0101whinatia. Ko t\u014D r\u0101tou \u0101whina kei te puna o te pounamu waipiro, n\u0101wai n\u0101wai ka heke mai he taonga tuku iho te inu waipiro me ng\u0101 mahi katoa haere tahi me ia. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira ehara t\u0113r\u0101 i te kaupare atu i te tikanga whakatika, whakarauora i t\u014D t\u0101tou whenua, i t\u014D t\u0101tou iwi M\u0101ori, otir\u0101 ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata katoa e noho nei i roto o Aotearoa. I te mea ehara i te mea ko te p\u014Dharatanga he taniwha ka ngau i te M\u0101ori anake, kao. T\u0113r\u0101 t\u0113tahi tokomaha e noho nei i roto o Aotearoa e patua kinotia e te p\u014Dharatanga, ng\u0101 m\u0101m\u0101, ng\u0101 p\u0101p\u0101, ng\u0101 wh\u0101nau, ng\u0101 tamariki, ng\u0101 mokopuna, \u0113nei t\u016B\u0101huatanga, \u0101kina e te waipiro, \u0101kina e te tarutaru, \u0101kina e te kore mahi, \u0113nei \u0101huatanga. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EN\u014D reira kei te tautoko ake Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori i t\u0113nei o ng\u0101 pire e mea nei t\u0113nei taha, oti nei te katoa, arahina e t\u0113tahi, me taku m\u014Dhio he pire \u0101-mema t\u0113nei. N\u0101 ka whai hua, ka whai hua ng\u0101 inoi a te t\u016Bmatanui o waho, i roto i ng\u0101 pire a ng\u0101 mema nei. N\u014D reira he akoranga, t\u0101ku e whakapae nei he akoranga kei roto. N\u014D reira kia kaha t\u0101tou ki te manaaki i te tono o te t\u016Bmatanui ki te whai i ng\u0101 tikanga i waiho mai e ng\u0101 m\u0101tua t\u012Bpuna o ng\u0101 taha e rua o t\u0113nei Whare, me te whakairo i te ara e ora nei te katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EE \u0101mine atu. T\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Speaker. Greetings to us all. It has fallen to me to convey to our House the responsibilities of the M\u0101ori Party. And so they will be addressed on the foundation of the M\u0101ori language, in the M\u0101ori language, so that the differences between M\u0101ori and P\u0101keh\u0101 thought processes can be seen. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EThere is a saying of the M\u0101ori people that says, \u201CMy beautiful lady, my handsome gentleman, both of you are beloved\u201D. There is another saying that says \u201CWomen and land are worth a man\u2019s life\u201D. And perhaps the highest form of these expressions says, \u201CBy women and men together the people will be well\u201D. So therein is the system, therein is the source of wisdom of the M\u0101ori people for these types of arrangements, its greatest desire is to protect the family. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003ESo it is appropriate that the family should be protected, both male and female interests. But the most important thing is the interests of the descendants, the interests of the grandchildren, the interests of the entire family that is spread out on all sides of the individual so that the saying will be realised \u201CMy strength is that of many, that of thousands\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003ESo we support this legislation. We continue to honour those who worked so hard and were able to complete the formulation of this legislation. For what purpose? To promote the health of the people, in the first instance; secondly, of the family; indeed of the children and grandchildren that have been caught in the trap of calamity, of difficulty, and of whatever else. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EAnd so the enhancements that the committees have crafted are appropriate so that oppression and assault are not enabled so that they can again be abused by the offender. This is a path on which all maintain their mana. A path on which mana is maintained with respect to the family, and the people, because they have been oppressed by another. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EI\u2019m not saying that it was done by the hand of a man or by the hand of a woman, but because they were oppressed. What is to be done? Transcend to health so that they don\u2019t remain in darkness for two years or more. And we are aware that, for the M\u0101ori people, these circumstances fall out of poverty, assailed by alcohol, drug abuse, unemployment, all of these types of things. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EOur forefathers that went to global conflicts returned broken, and they weren\u2019t assisted. The help they received was at the bottom of a bottle of alcohol, and eventually alcoholism became an inherited problem, and all the activities that go along with that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003ESo that is not a deflection of restorative procedures, healing our country, our M\u0101ori people; indeed, all people that reside here in Aotearoa, because it is not like poverty is a demon that assails only the M\u0101ori people, no. There are many people that live here in Aotearoa that are seriously beset by poverty; the mothers, the fathers, the families, the children, the grandchildren, all of these, assailed by alcoholism, assailed by drug abuse, assailed by unemployment, all of these things. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003ESo the M\u0101ori Party supports this bill so says this side, indeed all of us, led by one, and, as far as I know, this is a member\u2019s bill. And it will be of benefit, it will bring to fruition the requests of the public outside, within these members\u2019 bills. And so there are lessons here, I put forward that there are lessons in this. And so let us all strongly support the requests of the public to follow the procedures that were left to us by the forbears of both sides of this House, and to carve a path by which all will benefit. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002287c850cf-18f6-4be0-935a-0e24e0a352ae\u0022\u003EI am in support. Greetings to us all.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fe342415-6351-4072-a17e-19dab2ef184d\u0022 data-id=\u0022386e486edb764e5db2746fe61f2e0933\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fe342415-6351-4072-a17e-19dab2ef184d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022386e486edb764e5db2746fe61f2e0933\u0022\u003EFRANCISCO HERNANDEZ (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of the Green Party to support the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fe342415-6351-4072-a17e-19dab2ef184d\u0022\u003EI acknowledge, as the speakers before me already have, the genesis of the bill. I think it\u2019s important, particularly as parliamentarians, that we do acknowledge the members of the public and ordinary New Zealanders who take it upon themselves to create extraordinary change. I certainly pay tribute to you, Ashley Jones, Charlotte Abrial and Adele for the work that you\u2019ve done. I pay tribute to all the 5,000 people who\u2019ve signed the petitions, and I pay tribute to all 32 of the Justice Committee submissions. I think being involved in the democratic process is a really great way to make change and we\u2019re seeing it happen today; although, it has taken quite some time. I think the ability of ordinary citizens to create extraordinary change is something that we need to celebrate and it\u2019s something that not every country is able to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fe342415-6351-4072-a17e-19dab2ef184d\u0022\u003EI\u2019m a member of the Petitions Committee and we were visited by a delegation from Laos and I think they were quite amazed at the level of access that the people had in New Zealand to change the law and to access their elected representatives. In that vein, I want to acknowledge the elected representatives whose work has led us to this point: the Hon Chris Bishop for receiving this petition; Angie Warren-Clark; the Hon Dr Deborah Russell for continuing this work; James Meager for chairing the select committee; the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual violence, Karen Chhour; the previous Minister, Marama Davidson; and the previous under-secretary, Jan Logie.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fe342415-6351-4072-a17e-19dab2ef184d\u0022\u003EI\u2019m really happy that the House is coming together on this. As the Minister the Hon Casey Costello said\u2014and this is probably one of the few times that a Green MP will agree with something that Casey Costello said\u2014this is, and should be seen, as a first step, an important first step, towards solving this issue. I\u2019m sure we can all agree that this is just a step towards the broader problem of addressing family and intimate partner violence, but, none the less, a very important one because we shouldn\u2019t need to wait two years to separate from abusive partners. This bill changes that. This bill is an important step towards removing those kinds of levers of control that violent and abusive people do exercise towards their partners, whether they\u2019re male, female, or non-binary.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fe342415-6351-4072-a17e-19dab2ef184d\u0022\u003EI want us as a House to consider the other factors that do exacerbate violence, and I do want us as a House to work together to continue to overcome and address some of those factors that do cause and exacerbate family violence. I want to ask: are we, as a Parliament and as a society, doing everything we can to ensure that victims of family and partner violence are provided access to assistance and support? Yes, family violence protection services, Women\u2019s Refuge, women\u2019s shelters, men\u2019s shelters, and help signs, but also material support to enable people to transition people out of these violent situations. Are we, as a Parliament and society, doing everything we can to minimise the socio-economic conditions that exacerbate family violence? I was reading a paper earlier today in preparation for this speech and I think there was something that was quite alarming: every percentage point that unemployment increases is correlated with an increase in men being violent to their partners. We can\u2019t just divorce what\u2019s happening in households to the conditions of the wider society. This is the most important thing of all: are we building a just society that upholds and enhances the dignity of everyone, particularly our most vulnerable? I think all members would agree with me that we do want to see more action, that we all can do better.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fe342415-6351-4072-a17e-19dab2ef184d\u0022\u003EAgain, I want to pay tribute to those who brought this petition here: Ashley Jones, Charlotte Abrial, and Adele. Thank you for the work that you\u2019re doing. And thank you to all the members for working together on this very important first step so that we can overcome the scourge of violence in our society.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022 data-id=\u0022589c7ed9c1454315872c7bc25a92466f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022589c7ed9c1454315872c7bc25a92466f\u0022\u003EJAMES MEAGER (National\u2014Rangitata):\u003C/span\u003E The current law requiring a two-year wait period before you grant divorce in cases of family violence is not just outdated; it is dangerous. It keeps victims tethered to their abusers, prolonging their trauma, and it puts lives at risk.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EAs we\u2019ve heard in submissions from submitters and from experts in the field, the period immediately following separation is one of the most dangerous and volatile periods that there can be for family violence. By mandating a two-year wait, we have run the risk of extending this period of heightened risk up until today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EThis bill seeks to change that. By allowing for the immediate dissolution of a marriage or civil union upon the granting of a final protection order, we are granting victims a clear path to safety and to freedom. We are saying unequivocally that the State will not be complicit in keeping victims bound to their abusers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EToday is the conclusion of a long journey for victims of domestic violence and for the advocates for survivors of domestic abuse. Today represents a small but significant step towards empowering those trapped in abusive and violent relationships to extricate themselves, to break free from control and abuse, and to regain autonomy of their own lives. Importantly, this legislation does represent a collaborative, cross-party effort to continue to combat family violence and protect those most vulnerable in our society.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EWe all know here that family violence is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. This bill is not all of the solution; it is an important piece of the puzzle, though. By removing this barrier to leaving abusive relationships, we are sending a powerful message to those in those relationships, and that message is that we believe them, we support them, and we will not let legal technicalities stand in the way of their safety and their freedom.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EIt is worth noting that this legislation today has received broad support from across the political spectrum and from a wide range of community organisations. That consensus reflects the urgency and importance of this issue. It shows that when it comes to protecting the vulnerable and standing against family violence, we can come together to find common ground, and many speakers today have referred to that very point. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003ELike many of those speakers in the House today, I did want to acknowledge those individuals whose courage and determination have brought us to this: Charlotte Abrial; Ashley Jones in the gallery, who initiated petitions calling for this change; and another name to read into the Hansard is Adele, as Dr Russell mentioned earlier on. It is their bravery and their willingness to share their stories and their experiences of the abuse that they suffered, the sense of being trapped and shackled in relationships which were controlling and manipulative, which have enabled this change. By custom, we tend not to address visitors in the gallery, but I\u2019m hopeful that we can relax that custom somewhat today so that we can acknowledge those true drivers of change\u2014the Charlottes, the Ashleys, and the hundreds of others who have advocated and supported change for many years. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EChange can take a long time and sometimes it seems frustrating that appeals to Parliament seem hopeless and fruitless, but the efforts of the likes of Ashley and Charlottee and Adele show that change is possible through the democratic process in this House. A petition can lead to a member\u2019s bill, which can lead to scrutiny by a select committee, which can lead to positive law change that we are seeing in the House today. I\u2019d like to say to those people that their voices have been heard and their advocacy has made a real difference.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003ELike many others today, I\u2019d also like to acknowledge the hard and collaborative work of the Justice Committee. No doubt, anybody who experiences legislation done by committee can experience the frustration of trying to get things perfect and trying to produce a law which avoids all unintended consequences. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003ENo doubt, there will be some people out there today who feel that this bill doesn\u2019t go far enough. We\u2019ve heard a bit of that today as well. I think, during the select committee process, of some of those proposed changes around the evidence requirements that were mentioned by Tamatha Paul; concerns about whether people will be rushed into decisions about relationships that might have impacts on spousal maintenance or property or custody. But underlying all those concerns, we must always be aware that, in striving to achieve perfection in bills, we\u2019ve got to keep in mind the policy intent, which is to protect and support those in abusive relationships, to regain control of their lives and not be told by the State that they must remain legally connected to their abuser. Every individual and every free adult has the right to associate and not associate as they see fit within reasonable limited justifications. In my view, giving the State control over whether you remain legally connected to an abuser is not a justified limit on that freedom, and today that will change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EWe have heard some criticisms throughout the process about the bill overturning our no-fault divorce system and slowly eating away at that otherwise clean system, but, of course, we don\u2019t actually have a no-fault dissolution system. There is a requirement in our divorce and separation laws that couples must prove irreconcilable difference before they can obtain absolution. The only way to demonstrate irreconcilable differences is two years of not only emotional separation but physical separation. Yet we don\u2019t stipulate those same controls or protections in place when people enter into relationships. In fact, we don\u2019t even require formal documentation for legal obligations to arise in the case of de facto relationships. It is almost as though it takes two minutes to tie the knot but two years to break the shackles. I\u2019m not entirely convinced that the State should continue to play such a controlling role over relationships and over our private lives, especially when violence and especially when abuse is present. Perhaps there is scope for further progress in this area, but perhaps that will also need to wait for another day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003ELike others before me, I will acknowledge the Hon Chris Bishop, who supported Ashley\u2019s petition, who raced Angie Warren-Clark to get a bill into the ballot, and who was pipped at the post. I\u2019ll also acknowledge Ms Warren-Clark for her contribution in getting the bill in the tin and into the House. I wanted to pay particular respect to the Hon Dr Deborah Russell, who has brought the bill through the House from Ms Warren-Clark. Dr Russell joined our committee on a number of occasions as we considered the bill, and I always found her contributions, at all times, of the highest quality, always insightful and thoughtful, and we were very grateful for her contribution and her advocacy on this issue and on this bill. It\u2019s fair to say that New Lynn was very well represented on our committee, actually, with both Dr Russell and the member for New Lynn, my colleague Paulo Garcia, being a permanent member of the Justice Committee. The folks in West Auckland should rest assured that they are very, very well represented in this House by two very capable and competent advocates in their area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EI, finally, wanted to just acknowledge the tireless work of our front-line services and our front-line workers\u2014those in Women\u2019s Refuge, Victim Support, the National Council of Women, women\u2019s organisations, men\u2019s organisations, and countless others across the country who work every day in stopping-violence programmes and in family protection programmes. They are the ones who support victims of family violence, day in and day out. They are the ones who know that this legislation will be another small tool to help protect women, families, and men who are victims of violence. I want to acknowledge their advocacy throughout the submission process, their contributions, which have also led to progress in other areas of protection in the law, including stalking laws, which the Government has indicated it will be introducing later on this term. That is another outcome from the submission process that we can draw our attention to and point to as a positive, another contribution that the likes of Ashley have made to this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EAs we move forward, we must continue to work on making protection orders more accessible and more equitable. I think we should consider the recommendations from the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group\u2019s report, which have suggested streamlining and reducing costs for protection orders and applications. Of course, our work is not done. Passing this bill is an important step but it must be part of a continued commitment from\u00A0all of us to address family violence in all forms. We must remain vigilant. We must be ready to make further changes as are needed. We must commit to working together and commit to providing the resources necessary to make these legal protections a reality on the ground. This bill does represent progress. It represents compassion. It represents our commitment as a society to stand against family violence and to support victims of family violence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EI want to address those who may be listening who are currently in abusive relationships. This legislation is for them. It is a recognition of their struggles and it is a tool to help them find safety. I want them to remember that a protection order or a dissolution of marriage is just a small part of that journey. There are services and support available for them at every step. Please reach out. Please ask for help. They are not alone. There is more to be done, and we here across the House are ready to do it. I commend the 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=\u00229fac429bb5554fa99c793a45643816ca\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229fac429bb5554fa99c793a45643816ca\u0022\u003EHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure to take a call on the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. This is a good bill that intends to reduce the harm that family violence causes in New Zealand families, by allowing a party to a marriage or to a civil union to be able to apply for an order dissolving that marriage or union if they have been a victim of family violence inflicted by the other party in the relationship.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI\u2019d just like to acknowledge Angie Warren-Clark, who supported, during her previous work with Women\u2019s Refuge, also a whole range of women and families experiencing family violence\u2014the support she gave\u2014and she also took that experience and brought it to this House. I\u2019d like to acknowledge Deborah Russell, who took this bill up and continued to pursue it through the House, and I\u2019d like to acknowledge all the parties that are voting in favour of this bill today. I\u2019d like to also acknowledge all those victims of family violence, including those women that inspired this bill. Your continued fight for having greater rights for victims in New Zealand takes another step forward today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EAs already noted, there is support right across the House for this bill, and we\u2019ve also seen support across the House for work kicked off by Labour and the Greens, Te Aorerekura, which is New Zealand\u2019s first national plan for reducing family and sexual violence. It\u2019s really important that we continue to have cross-party agreement on big issues such as family violence in New Zealand, but with that comes a word of caution, when we\u2019re operating currently in an environment where police are now attending calls of family violence only if there is a high level of risk or threat to life or a seriousness that reaches a threshold, which no one can explain clearly and that must be very difficult to ascertain for a 111 call responder via telephone\u2014to try and ascertain what the level of risk is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EOn top of that withdrawal of services we\u2019ve seen by police due to pressure on the front line, we\u2019ve also seen a retraction of Government funding in the area of Oranga Tamariki preventative contracts that go into those wh\u0101nau who are, more often than not, experiencing high levels of family violence and provide essential services such as counselling and support for families to be able to work with children and to enable children to remain within their wh\u0101nau and not be uplifted due to unacceptable levels of either family or sexual violence. The withdrawal and the ending of many of those contracts compounds with police withdrawing from attending non - threat-to-life family violence call outs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EThis, for me, raises real alarm bells for us here in New Zealand if we are serious about making our country violence-free for the next generation of rangatahi, for young New Zealanders. When someone reaches out for help in New Zealand, when someone is a victim of family violence, we need to be able to respond, and currently in New Zealand, there has been no additional resourcing for family violence support services to fill the gap left by those cuts to Oranga Tamariki and left by that withdrawal of service by New Zealand Police. That means we do have young people growing up in New Zealand being exposed to unacceptable levels of family violence on a day-to-day basis. I believe it is unacceptable that violence is normalised in young people\u2019s lives. It contributes to a whole range of negative factors, and it also drives crime within New Zealand. If this Government was truly serious about reducing crime, it would also take family violence more seriously than just voting for a member\u2019s bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022 data-id=\u00228c006081aacc46a5b87ae25b46fe631f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228c006081aacc46a5b87ae25b46fe631f\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER (National\u2014Upper Harbour):\u003C/span\u003E I join others in rising to support this third reading of the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. As the Hon Chris Bishop said earlier, what a satisfying day this is in Parliament, and this is all about the essence of Parliament coming together to fix a problem. I want to commend and acknowledge the three brave women that have done a lot of the heavy lifting in those early days with their advocacy and their work: Charlotte, Ashley, and Adele.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EIt goes to show, also, the work that a member of the public can actually do and the results that they can achieve when there seems\u2014as all of us MPs get it from time to time\u2014a level of cynicism in the community, period. That when you suggest, \u201COh, why don\u2019t you write to your MP?\u201D or \u201CWhy don\u2019t you make a submission?\u201D or \u201CWhy don\u2019t you put in a petition or why don\u2019t you take it further?\u201D\u201D that, \u201COh, nothing will change. I\u2019m too small and too small a cog in the wheel to make change.\u201D Well, Ashley Jones, in particular, has made a real case for others that if you\u2019re prepared to do the work, you can change laws in the New Zealand Parliament through advocacy and through working with members of Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EI want to acknowledge also Angie Warren-Clark, the former Labour member who introduced this bill just before the Parliament finished up in 2023; and our colleague the Hon Dr Deborah Russell, who shepherded it through the Justice Committee in the past 12\u00A0months. She conscientiously worked alongside the Justice Committee in a\u2014as has been acknowledged\u2014bipartisan and productive way to get this in as good a shape as a bill could be to make it legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EJust to take people back\u2014because I always think it\u2019s important that everyone makes a slightly different contribution so that those that might be listening on radio or in the gallery or watching Parliament TV get a sense of just what\u2019s come together to produce this third reading; this piece of legislation\u2014I go back to the petition on the parliamentary website of Ashley Jones in 2021: \u201CChange our archaic divorce laws so abuse victims can be free of their abuser\u201D. Petition request: \u201CThat the House of Representatives review our current divorce laws in New Zealand and consider changing them.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EPetition reason: \u201CAbuse is about power and control. I strongly believe that the laws stating I must be separated for 2 years before my marriage can be dissolved have allowed many occasions of power and control. It feels like the system has allowed him to abuse me further. We as a country pride ourselves on being anti domestic violence, yet I feel our laws are allowing it. We care about mental health, but being stuck in this state of limbo is damaging mine. Other countries have made [changes]; it\u2019s our turn now.\u201D So that was the purpose of the petition; that was the title of the petition back in 2021. According to the parliamentary website, the number of signatories was 5,310.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EAs well as that, I want to give an example not only of a member of the public or members of the public doing some of the heavy lifting but, really, the role of an MP in responding to that and taking it a step further. I want to read out an excerpt from Chris Bishop\u2019s Facebook back in June 2021\u2014and there\u2019s a picture here of the Hon Chris Bishop and Ashley Jones. Chris is in a blue top, by the look of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u201CMeet Ashley\u201D, says Chris on Facebook underneath that picture. \u201CDid you know that in New Zealand, you need to be separated for 2 years before you can file for a divorce, even in the case of family violence? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u201CAshley wants to change that and she\u2019s put forward a petition to Parliament \u2026 which I\u2019ll be proud to present to Parliament soon. [Link in the comments]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u201CAshley has very bravely put herself forward as someone who has been affected by abuse within a marriage. She says that the current law allows abusers to continue to have power over former partners for up to two years, and that in some cases it keeps people in abusive relationships because it feels like there is no way out, or causes those that do try leave to be sucked back in by their abuser.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E \u201CLots of other countries have exceptions to the stand down period for divorce for those that have suffered domestic violence. If you agree, please sign Ashley\u2019s petition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u201CThe petition closes on 22 June [2021] and after that I will present it to Parliament.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EAs they say, the rest is history.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EI just thought it was important to take you through that early process and how it can be done on other aspects of our law in many different areas, in many different fields where the public can still put up legislative change. That is the benefit of private members\u2019 bills\u2014now commonly known as members\u2019 bills\u2014where if something has seemingly fallen through the cracks almost or hasn\u2019t been acknowledged, a petition like Ashley\u2019s can be positively responded to. This amendment bill, as we see today, will pass its third reading unanimously, by the look, across the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EThe National Party supports this bill as it introduces measures that make it easier to get a divorce in the case of family violence\u2014that is the bottom line. We also, as has been alluded to by others, acknowledge the appalling rates of family and domestic abuse in this country, and we all know across this House that we want to address that and get better results for New Zealand families and New Zealand children. As has also been said, our work is not done. This is important to this Government. Hence, you see it as the fourth out of nine Government public sector targets where we want to reduce the number of victims of violent crime\u2014people who are victims of assault, robbery, or sexual assault, for example\u2014by 20 fewer victims.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EThis Government is committed to not only joining the forces across Parliament and around Parliament today in passing this legislation that Ashley and others have advocated for some years now but we are committed as a Government to making sure that the fights that we had during the election, with the public where they told us that they wanted us to crack down on the escalating criminal activities and level of violence and level of retail crime and level of assaults and level of serious assaults, ram raids, family violence\u2014the public sent a clear message to this Parliament. While we acknowledge the success of getting this over the line shortly, our work has just begun.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EI wanted to finish by assuring the House that this Government\u2014a coalition Government of National, ACT, and New Zealand First\u2014is absolutely committed to carrying on the work of cracking down on law and order, of getting some results for the New Zealand public, and of making New Zealand community and family a safer place for future generations. I commend the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u0022e5a16ee19c3b40b0afe41f0e0d07a1c3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e5a16ee19c3b40b0afe41f0e0d07a1c3\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you. Kia ora, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s a funny day in many ways when we\u2019re doing something as important as this. I can imagine for those looking on for whom it\u2019s been a long journey through what\u2019s a pretty labyrinthine process to find themselves here and hear these speeches which, to be honest, are a little bit repetitious, because we do all agree with the process here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EIn some ways, what\u2019s going on in this place right here today is a bit of a formality. It\u2019s an important formality, but I think it\u2019s really important to recognise that this process\u2014this formal process here today\u2014actually represents a huge amount of work by a large array of people, and, most importantly, those women who came to this House and presented a petition and really just asked\u2014I mean, what a great democracy we have when someone can come to this House and say, \u201CLook, I think this is wrong. Can you fix it?\u201D And someone picks it up and says, \u201CYou know, I think we can.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EAs many have said, this is only one small part of what we need to fix, not only in all of New Zealand but just in the whole sphere of domestic violence. I\u2019m proud of what the last Government and my colleagues and colleagues in the Green Party have done and are doing in the domestic violence space, with things like Ginny Andersen\u2019s stalking bill, which the Minister of Justice has picked up and said he\u2019s going to actually progress as a Government issue; and, of course, Angie Warren-Clark, who brought this bill to the House, and Deborah Russell, who pursued it; and the domestic violence leave bill, which I think Jan Logie brought and was picked up by the then Government as well\u2014all really important things.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EI think what this does\u2014and what this bill, in particular, does\u2014is kind of shift the thinking around what domestic violence is and what its consequences are and recognise that physical violence is only a small fraction of the harm that comes from domestic violence. Controlling behaviours and that kind of exertion of control from a distance, which is exactly what this bill is seeking to address, is as harmful in many ways as the physical violence itself, and as oppressive, and interferes with the leading of a normal and fruitful life just as much. This is just a small step. This is a formality, but an important one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EI just want to recognise once more the hard work that\u2019s been done by everyone who\u2019s contributed to this process. Along with the rest of the House, I won\u2019t take up any more time, but I commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u0022c17bdf4c53334945aac2460fa48a9a1a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c17bdf4c53334945aac2460fa48a9a1a\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s a pleasure to rise and stand in support of\u00A0the Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill at its third\u00A0reading, and I just wanted to reassure the member opposite, the Hon Dr Duncan Webb, that this won\u2019t be a repetitive speech because I have not spoken on this bill in this debate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003ELook, this is a good change. It\u2019s one tool in the toolbox to help those with domestic violence issues to gain freedom and move on. It\u2019s a change that I think most New Zealanders would be shocked to learn isn\u2019t already law, because of our high rates of domestic violence in New Zealand. We have one of the worst rates of domestic violence in the OECD. There\u2019s about one-third of all family violence that\u2019s reported, which means that two-thirds of all family violence in this country is not. Police attend a family violence episode every four minutes in this country, and 16 percent of all front-line police call outs are, in fact, related to domestic violence. Two-thirds of all family violence incidents have children present. The impacts of domestic violence are hugely disproportionate for M\u0101ori, for those with disabilities, and for children, with deep social and mental costs, not to mention economic costs. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThis is a good change to enable the dissolution of a marriage without evidence within two years. It will enable those who have been through domestic violence to have the opportunity to break away and apply for divorce immediately, thereby freeing themselves of the harm and the pain that they\u2019ve gone through. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EWe must do better as a society\u2014we must do better as a society. We must move away, in my view, from the view that this is OK and thinking that \u201CI\u2019m a victim, and it\u2019s OK for me to do this.\u201D It is not OK to have domestic violence of any form\u2014physical, mental, or other. Us men have to do better. We\u2019ve got to do better in terms of role-modelling better behaviour, and we have to do a better job of taking personal responsibility for our actions, right across this country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EIt is my privilege to commend this bill. I just want to acknowledge, of course, everybody that\u2019s been in the discussion in the debate which I\u2019ve heard today. It has been very moving. To all the petitioners\u2014Ashley Jones, Charlotte, and Adele\u2014thank you. To Angie Warren-Clark and Dr Deborah Russell, Chris Bishop, the hard-working Justice Committee, and all the petitioners\u2014this is the result of your actions in signing those petitions, year in, year out. It has led us to this law change today, at the third reading. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EI think the vision is quite clear for what we want the future of our country to look like: a safer country. For me, on this side of the House, it\u2019s a country where personal responsibility is at the fore of all human interactions, and a society where there is zero tolerance of domestic violence. With that, I wish to 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=\u00222912ec5877834a24a411af0a3e2d0f65\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222912ec5877834a24a411af0a3e2d0f65\u0022\u003EDr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s getting quite late in the process and I\u2019m very conscious about not unnecessarily delaying this formality, as my colleague the Hon Dr Duncan Webb described it, or standing between the celebration that all of the people who have been involved in this process very richly deserve to have. I will be very brief, I promise. I just want to say a couple of things and then also pass on my thanks to all the people that are involved.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EI think the no-fault system\u2014if we cast our minds back, some of us\u2014was introduced in the 1980s; in 1980, I believe. As laws often do, it improved the previous situation where the judge no longer had to consider the role of one party or another and who was at fault. Our divorce law is more than 40 years old now, and, as has been noted by several people who have made contributions through this process, it does need to be reviewed and it does need to be looked at. But that is not for today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EToday, we are thinking about this particular bill, the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. I think that so many other people have very eloquently summed it up and have provided illustrative examples and provided nuance and perspective that I\u2019m sure the Hansard will reveal, in due course, as being a worthwhile debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EAs a society, it sort of beggars belief that we\u2019ve got to this stage and still rely upon those antiquated ways of thinking, but it\u2019s part of a much bigger suite of antiquated ways of how we position intimate relationships and violence and dependency and gender roles and all those various sorts of things. I very much look forward to the fact that this bill\u2014whilst it\u2019s profound, while it\u2019s impactful, and while it\u2019s really important\u2014may kick off a wider conversation about various other things.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EI would like to acknowledge the Justice Committee. I would like to very, very sincerely, and most importantly, acknowledge Charlotte, Ashley, and Adele for all that they have done. I think it would probably be with the passing of time that they will fully appreciate their contribution, because I\u2019m sure, at the moment, it feels as if a small thing has happened and, as time passes, they will realise that it\u2019s a very large thing indeed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to tautoko my colleagues the Hon Deborah Russell and the Hon Chris Bishop for what they said in the House today, and to particularly acknowledge the Hon Deborah Russell for her work that she has done in shepherding this bill through, very graciously always acknowledging everybody else\u2019s contribution. That\u2019s much appreciated. And, importantly, I just also want to acknowledge and congratulate Angie Warren-Clark. This was a real passion for her, and if she sees something is wrong, she\u2019s one of those people that inevitably has to correct a wrong. She was very passionate and really proud to put this bill in the biscuit tin and very proud when it was pulled from the tin, and she got, I think, the privilege of being able to introduce it on that last day of the previous Parliament. So congratulations to everybody. It\u2019s a good day, and I hope everybody is able to celebrate in their own way. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022 data-id=\u00220fb331913bfd45e38076c53dfbeaf53a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220fb331913bfd45e38076c53dfbeaf53a\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise as the final contribution in this long journey for many women and men and children\u2014but in particular, women, if you would allow me to say\u2014across New Zealand and across the world, those that are the victims of family violence in its many forms. It\u2019s a sombre conversation we\u2019re having today, and rightfully so. It\u2019s created a sombre mood because family violence is sombre. Family violence is one of those things that affects so many people and, for the most part, they travel through their days as though they\u2019re not experiencing it, because you\u2019ve got to put on a smile for the world.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EI\u2019m Lebanese. I was raised in a Lebanese traditional Catholic household, and I remember going to my Lebanese Catholic school in Punchbowl in Sydney back in the day when divorce was absolutely taboo. Of course, we\u2019ve moved from that, in many respects, but I remember the few friends that I had in school whose mothers did insist that they leave their husbands for reasons of family violence, and the stigma that was attached to them because of the views of society.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EWe need people that are brave to call out that stigma and to say that stigma shouldn\u2019t exist. We need people like Ashley Jones\u2014thank you for being in the gallery again today\u2014and that courage that I referred to in my second speech on this bill because some people don\u2019t have that strength, because of the circumstances they find themselves in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EFamily violence is about harming, it\u2019s about controlling behaviour. What can this look like? It can be physical, it can be emotional, it can be psychological, financial, sexual, a combination of all of these. It could be as simple as giving someone the silent treatment for two years. Controlling behaviour; what can that look like? That can look like making sure a partner knows the password of their spouse\u2019s phone, checking messages, checking social media pages, telling the partner what he or she should not wear, telling them who they should be hanging out with, who they should be having coffees with, who\u2019s allowed to come home and visit them, telling them that they\u2019re not allowed to watch TV\u2014in fact, they should be doing other things\u2014and telling them many times in a way that\u2019s aggressive or passive aggressive. That\u2019s what controlling can look like.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EWhen I reflected on Minister Bishop\u2019s first speech with respect to this bill, the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill, the Hon Chris Bishop referred to culture change. He said\u2014if I may quote\u2014\u201CThere\u2019s no one simple solution to this issue. If there was, a politician would have sorted it out a long time ago. There is no one silver bullet to it. What it will take is sustained effort over many, many years, across multiple agencies. As Amy Adams \u2026 used to say, it will take a lot of cultural change as well.\u201D My colleague Dan Bidois, the MP for Northcote, referenced that, but there\u2019s a lot that we can do. There\u2019s a lot that the gentlemen\u2014or not so gentle men\u2014in Aotearoa can do with respect to leading that cultural change. Again, I thank you, Ashley Jones, for being one of those leaders in this kaupapa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EEssentially, if we can wrap up for anyone listening from home, watching from home, this legislation, as we mentioned, was introduced into the House by MP Angie Warren-Clark, the former Labour MP, but there\u2019s a lot of people that really put their hands together to make it what it is and to get it to where it is. I\u2019d like to acknowledge the Hon Dr Deborah Russell in this regard as well, and the Hon Chris Bishop. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EAs we\u2019ve mentioned before, but I think it\u2019s important in our wrapping up, the intention of this amendment bill is quite clear and quite succinct: to amend the Family Proceedings Act 1980, and the amendment will be that a party to a marriage or a civil union who has been the victim of family violence\u2014who finds themselves the victim of family violence inflicted by the other party in the relationship\u2014can apply for an order from the Family Court to dissolve their marriage or civil union, and that is to get a divorce without having to wait, as they do now, for two years to pass. This bill will remove the requirement for these parties to live apart for two years before a dissolution can be acquired. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EIn researching more and deeper about the need for this change, it\u2019s interesting, and if someone has a spare 10 minutes on their hands, they can look back to the history of divorce law in New Zealand. It was referred to as divorce in the past, but then it became dissolution of marriage. It kind of started around 1867, formally, technically, and people had to, basically, go through Parliament, at first, to get a divorce. I\u2019m sorry to my male colleagues in the House, but women, you know, men could get divorced from women if they were unfaithful, but women couldn\u2019t necessarily get divorced from men on those grounds, and I\u2019m not saying that I\u2019m condoning any type of unfaithfulness, but that was the case, and we\u2019ve come a long way. Then, in 1981, the Family Proceedings Act 1980 came into effect and it moved divorce from the High Court to the newly created Family Court\u2014just a bit of history there. From that date, for legal purposes, divorce became known as how we\u2019ve been referring to it, as \u201Cdissolution of marriage\u201D, again in the Family Court. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EAs we conclude this final contribution on this bill, I would like to say that, on a personal level, as I\u2019ve mentioned, I was raised in a household where divorce isn\u2019t very common, and I\u2019d like to read a quote, if I may, because I understand and I agree that in the situations that we\u2019ve canvassed over the three stages of this bill, there\u2019s an absolute need for this change to take place. But I\u2019ve also seen families that try and work through it together, and this is where this quote comes to mind, a quote by Mother Teresa: \u201CIt is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EI encourage people to step out of themselves and look into themselves\u2014are they abusing? Are they the perpetrators of violence?\u2014and think about quotes like that. Thank you, Ashley. I commend this bill to the House.  \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EBill read a third 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=\u0022c5b0088ceda74ae797e0c7635ce818ef\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c5b0088ceda74ae797e0c7635ce818ef\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I declare the House in committee for consideration of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002224509147b5274487b3ee28910afa936f\u0022\u003EPae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00221f25371b8c0241a0a3a6d760c12fe76d\u0022\u003EIn Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e83f496526d3419da71de27541218bd3\u0022\u003EClause 1  Title\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u002201b2af1f9a7941428afcf354516e0d9b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002201b2af1f9a7941428afcf354516e0d9b\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: Members, the House is in committee on the Pae\u00A0Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill. We come first to clause 1. This is the debate on clause 1, the title. The question is that clause\u00A01 stand\u00A0part.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022 data-id=\u00221cc131cb8cd14c7e987fbbde04395125\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221cc131cb8cd14c7e987fbbde04395125\u0022\u003EINGRID LEARY (Labour\u2014Taieri):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Chair. I had planned to speak to this by, really, prefacing my remarks in a contribution and then having some questions for the member Katie Nimon. I don\u2019t want to dwell on this too long, because the committee will be aware that we do support the member\u2019s bill, but I\u2019m really just wanting to get a sense from her how it will work in relation to other processes involving mental health strategy and also in the current context. What I\u2019m hoping to do is to preface my questions with some remarks and then to keep this fairly brief.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EFirst of all, I\u2019d like to congratulate the member Katie Nimon on shepherding this member\u2019s bill, which she inherited from the now Minister Matt Doocey, and for getting the support of the House. We do support the bill. When I look at the title, which I will come to, the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill\u2014just to preface my question around that title with the context that this sits and will sit alongside a number of other strategies under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act, including population groups; so New Zealanders, M\u0101ori, Pacific, disabled communities, women\u2019s communities, and rural.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EWhen I look at the title, \u201CMental Health Outcomes\u201D, it immediately stands out that this is not a strategy that sits with a population group. It is something different and distinct. This is why Labour didn\u2019t actually have a mental health strategy in the first place. We did consider it seriously when we were in Government and decided that because the first strategy applies to all New Zealanders\u2014that is, a New Zealand health strategy\u2014it would deviate somewhat to have a health strategy for mental health, which we feel cuts across the whole of the health sector.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EThen I look at the principles, which are around equity, access, cohesion, and being people-centred, sustainable, and responsive to needs. The changes that we made in the Health Committee certainly try to achieve that. Members will be aware that there are changes, to the word \u201Cwellbeing\u201D rather than to \u201Caddiction\u201D, and various other changes that we suggested.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EAll in all, we do think this is in a good shape and we do congratulate the member and we do want to work constructively. What we would like to seek from the member out of today\u2019s short session really is an understanding of, well, three things. The first one is related to the independence of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Originally, as the bill was drafted, the commission would not have been independent and it would have been considered a health entity, which would have required it to be a Government entity. What I\u2019m asking the member, really, is: can she provide whatever assurance she can as a member, even though she is not the Minister, first, that that was unintended in her drafting, and, secondly, around her commitment and her Government\u2019s commitment to the independence of that entity?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EMy second question relates to the ability of the Government\u2014given that the Government policy statement (GPS) is required to take into account these health strategies. How does the member see this particular strategy\u2014the mental health outcomes, as it is in the title\u2014fitting into the Government policy statement, given that that statement has already been articulated, and, in her opinion, how does it render the usefulness of this bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EThen my final comment\u2014which will really save us having to jump up and down; I know that this is a wide interpretation of the title\u2014is: how does the member see the mental health outcomes of the strategy being able to be fulfilled in an environment where there are workforce freezes, where the Minister has not taken advice from officials as to the impact of Oranga Tamariki and disability cuts on the mental health sector, which is evidenced in Official Information Act request 67722. I realise that the member isn\u2019t responsible for that, but I think that we would like to hear how she sees this strategy being able to be reconciled in that context: front-line freezes and the timeliness aspect when we\u2019ve got people in the South, young people, who are not meeting the requirement to be seen by specialists within the three weeks set by the mental health Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003EThose are just a few examples. I realise that the member will be hard-pressed\u2014[Time Expired] Mr Chair, may I continue?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220abc4c6e58cb4f0a809c750189cee7ae\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: Bear in mind we are on the title.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f391a8a64581434ebbff73b2a16f2189\u0022\u003EINGRID LEARY\u003C/span\u003E: Yep. If the member can answer those questions, I really feel that that\u2019s probably as much as she can do, being a member\u2019s bill, and so I won\u2019t be offering any further contributions or questions. I just think it\u2019s important to get a sense from the member how she sees this bill contributing to mental health strategy given those various comments around the GPS, and also her commitment, on behalf of her Government, to the extent she can as a member, to the ongoing independence of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022 data-id=\u0022bdfadb81415c44a0ae2af8d1535acf33\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bdfadb81415c44a0ae2af8d1535acf33\u0022\u003ECAMILLA BELICH (Junior Whip\u2014Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I seek leave for all provisions to be taken as one question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u002268115c975a4a40878dc4ba21d9be5999\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002268115c975a4a40878dc4ba21d9be5999\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There is no objection. The question is that clauses 1 to 8 and the Schedule stand part.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00224bd42700af7d4b78b2388bcb9b80ceda\u0022\u003EClauses 1 to 8 and the Schedule\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022 data-id=\u00229ea3319227cb422ebb79de09f03f2280\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229ea3319227cb422ebb79de09f03f2280\u0022\u003EJAMES MEAGER (National\u2014Rangitata):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s a great pleasure to rise in support of my colleague Katie Nimon member\u2019s bill, the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill. I was ready and rearing to go to have a lengthy, full-on debate about the title of the bill, clause by clause, but it looks like we\u2019re going to have to start with a broader, wider, encompassing overview of the bill as a whole, as happens when we take all these clauses as one question. Can I start by congratulating the member in charge of the bill both for her good fortune and also for her stewardship and dogged determination in bringing this bill through the House. It is quite cheeky that a member in their first term gets to have a bill not only pulled from the ballot but progress its way through the House too, and, hopefully, into law in no time. Congratulations to Ms Nimon on her success. May it be the first of many, many bills to come.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EThis is, of course, a bill aimed at improving the healthy futures of our nation and of Kiwis in New Zealand by improving mental health outcomes. Of course, one of the first steps that this Government took to improve mental health outcomes was to appoint the country\u2019s very first mental health Minister. It\u2019s no coincidence that the very first mental health Minister, Minister Matt Doocey, was in fact the author of this bill. It may come as a surprise or as a shock to many in this House that the now Minister of Mental Health was, in fact, the author of this bill and, in fact, had this bill in the ballot in the previous Parliament, before it was drawn and handed over to Ms Nimon. I wanted to start just by giving that wider context, too. This is a Government which is dedicated and committed to improving the mental health outcomes of all New Zealanders, starting right at the top, with the country\u2019s very first dedicated Minister for Mental Health.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EWith that, I wanted to start by asking the member in charge of the bill\u2014and I\u2019m aware that she doesn\u2019t actually have any officials with her, so it may take some time and some process to get through the questions, because, of course, she\u2019s doing this under her own steam and doesn\u2019t have an army of thousands of officials behind her. I\u2019ll start with some very broad, helpful, welcoming\u2014easy, maybe\u2014questions to ease our way into this very robust and long debate tonight. The first one was: just generally, what is the genesis of the bill? Why is this bill important to New Zealanders? We\u2019re talking about the entire bill. If you can give us a very, very good, in-depth run through in your mind of why the bill is needed. What difference is it going to make to those New Zealanders who are faced every day with mental health challenges, as they get up, hopefully on their way to work, trying to graft and make a living but are faced with some of the most serious mental health concerns that we may face?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EIn fact, I think we are still, as a country, not quite at the point where we treat mental health the same as physical health, so I\u2019m glad that we are here today having this debate and, in fact, recognising that part of this is to insert a mental health and wellbeing strategy and to try to lift the profile of mental health so that it is treated the same as physical health, so that if you are having a bad day at work, people are willing to talk about it as though you have sprained an ankle or you have perhaps dislocated a knee or a patella\u2014that people are willing to talk about that and are willing to encourage their colleagues to be open about their mental health. I\u2019d thought I\u2019d start with that question to the member in charge. What is the genesis of the bill? Why is it important for the committee to support it? Why is it important to go through, as I believe your intention is, without any further change? Why should we be supporting it tonight? And I look forward to your answer on that one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u0022fe43093ca074434b8ee811d0f85c61f0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fe43093ca074434b8ee811d0f85c61f0\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: I call Dr Ayesha Verrall.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022 data-id=\u0022dba0ae14d90d4348909c57b1cd785906\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aed260be-c954-464b-bb75-85579e53d05a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dba0ae14d90d4348909c57b1cd785906\u0022\u003EHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you. It\u2019s always a pleasure to have one of my titles announced in the House! Congratulations to the member on bringing this bill. I\u2019m sure it will do a lot of good. I have one question, which is the question I raised at select committee and also mentioned in my second reading speech\u2014so I\u2019ll ask it again\u2014which is: is there any intention from the Government to modify the Government policy statement (GPS) during this term of Government? Understanding the answer to that question helps us know what the likely impact of this bill would be. The GPS lasts for three years. Once a strategy is written, nothing happens to it unless it is reflected in the GPS. That is the marching orders the Minister gives to health services. So, unless there\u2019s a modification to the Government policy statement based on the consultation and contents of the strategy, it won\u2019t help people in the community unless that happens. My only question about this bill\u2014which, in all other respects, I believe is a very good bill\u2014is: will it have an effect on the health services in New Zealand through a modification to the GPS?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022 data-id=\u002230dfdb04872f43ecac8aa1a602d804f2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002230dfdb04872f43ecac8aa1a602d804f2\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL (National\u2014Tauranga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Chair. Firstly, I\u2019d just like to congratulate Ms Nimon on getting this bill through, and it looks like we\u2019re going to have support around the House, which is certainly where I hoped we would get to. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EI\u2019d also like to thank the members of the Health Committee. We\u2019ve got Dr Cheung here, Dr Campbell, Dr Verrall, Ingrid Leary, Cam Luxton, and other members from the Greens and the M\u0101ori Party. It\u2019s been a fairly good and agreeable process the whole way through, and, look, we did take this bill into the select committee and we recommended several changes, which have already been somewhat touched upon. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EI think one of the important ones was the removal of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission as a \u201Chealth entity\u201D under the Act. I\u2019d like to get a sense from the member as to how important she believes it is to preserve the independence of the commission. It was definitely something that we wanted to uphold, and I think that was called out pretty early in the proceedings by Ingrid Leary, if I\u2019m not mistaken\u2014a good pick-up there from you, Ingrid. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWe also made a change around removing clause 6 of the bill, where the Minister would have been required to consult with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission in preparing the Government policy statement. We did propose a new section where the Minister could consider advice provided by the commission, and I\u2019d be interested to know whether the member is agreeable to that suggested amendment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThere are some other parts in there. The committee recommends making the mental health and wellbeing strategy provisions come into force after 12 months. I\u2019m wondering whether the member has had any discussions there with the Minister, or whether the member is agreeable to that, as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EThe reality is\u2014and I think we\u2019ve talked about it in select committee as well\u2014that this is a relatively straightforward bill. Yes, there have been a few alterations, but, look, we\u2019re trying to get to a place in New Zealand where\u2014and I think we are getting there under this Government. It would be a falsity to say that we have ever achieved or are in the process of achieving great success in that space, because the mental health need out there in New Zealand is such that it requires everyone across this House, no matter who is in Government, to keep working very hard on it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EI\u2019m very proud that we have this bill before the House and that we have a mental health Minister\u2014the first Minister to have that role in New Zealand\u2014who was actually the original author of this bill, and Ms Nimon is now the owner of it, but we have huge strides to make, and this bill is a good place to start in setting the general direction. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWe did take a bit more of a holistic approach on this. We wanted it to include that wellbeing piece. It does have the mental health and addiction part of it too, which is very important, and I think we wanted to call that out there\u2014the exact wording of that will be in here\u2014but there are several questions there that I would want to put forward to the member, and I will leave that for her to consider and reply when she is ready. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022 data-id=\u00227de118ad468142579b919658d4aaf430\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227de118ad468142579b919658d4aaf430\u0022\u003EKATIE NIMON (National\u2014Napier):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Chair. Look, thanks for everybody that\u2019s asked questions so far. I will try and take them in a bit of a storytelling order, if I may. Thank you to James Meager for asking about the genesis of the bill because it leads quite nicely into some of the other questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EOf course, in 2022 mental health was not included as a strategy in the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, so, of course, we are on the back foot with our mental health strategy and how we progress that. That is a great consideration for me in terms of the commencement\u2014and I take all of the feedback from the select committee and really appreciate that. Everything that we do, I believe, really has to have a strategic intention to provide the foundation for what decisions we make, whether it\u2019s funding or otherwise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003ETo address one of the questions from the Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall\u2014if I can find where it says about the intention to modify the Government policy statement (GPS) during this term of Government. I can\u2019t speak to the exact timing, of course\u2014I\u2019m not the Minister, nor am I in the Minister\u2019s office\u2014but one thing I guess I\u2019d ask is: did the other strategies impact the GPS? Of course, this is rhetorical because the questions are being asked of me, but I have no doubt that the intention of the strategies in general as part of Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) were to influence and be introduced or included in the GPS.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EThat is the very intention of this amendment. This amendment wouldn\u2019t be being made if it was going to go nowhere. Just to acknowledge, obviously, my predecessor in shepherding this through: the honourable Minister Matt Doocey, who\u2019s now the mental health Minister, that was his hope when this was drafted. That is also my hope. But, of course, GPS\u2014they all take their time, they all go through a process, and this amendment is not necessarily intended to be a quick tomorrow fix; this is about implementing change for long term.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EWhen the GPS is amended to include the forthcoming, I hope, mental health and wellbeing strategy, I really look forward to that. The timing will be as a result of this bill first being passed; secondly, being passed based on the timing of what is indicated in the amendments in this bill, and then, of course, it being worked through, implemented, and so on. That also is similar to a question that Ingrid Leary raised, which is: how does it fit into the GPS? Obviously, as I said before, it\u2019s an ongoing thing, I hope, to be many and all GPS in the future as they go through their three-yearly process. I really look forward to that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EJust to speak to another item, I think, that has been raised a couple of times, which is the independence of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. I actually think I front-footed it when I presented to the select committee by saying, you know, \u201CSorry, folks, it was a drafting error. It was never intended for it to be identified\u2014the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission\u2014as a health entity.\u201D It is interesting that, almost accidentally, it has really highlighted the importance of the independence of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EI think, if it hadn\u2019t been a drafting error, would we have had this discussion? Would the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission have been so open about how important their independence is and to maintain that? I\u2019m almost glad that that drafting error was in\u00A0there. I went in and front-footed to the select committee, saying, \u201CHey, drafting error; not intended. Happy for the independence to be maintained.\u201D, but I feel like I have had to\u00A0explain myself at every single point in the process since then. I\u2019m happy to keep saying\u00A0that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003ETo the point also made by Sam Uffindell\u2014and thank you, to acknowledge you as the chair of the Health Committee and your contribution to the process\u2014on how important I think it is to maintain the independence. Look, I think that is exactly the message that we got from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. You know, actually an independent body that\u2019s involved in this process really does help add gravity to the message that we\u2019re getting through, and actually that what is being proposed in the strategy that the Minister of Health\u2014or, by delegation, the Minister for Mental Health\u2014will be writing, that it\u2019s substantiated by people that are really seeing it through all the research and all the work that\u2019s being done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EJust while I have the chance\u2014five seconds\u2014Sam, there was a third question that you asked that I missed, if you wouldn\u2019t mind repeating that if you have that on record. I did write down two of those three.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u002223f7a4a689e448e48eb3f2c9254d2cab\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002223f7a4a689e448e48eb3f2c9254d2cab\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: All right. The committee is suspended and will resume at 7.30 p.m. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003ESitting suspended from 5.56 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u00225a69176111694845b7fcdc671016aaba\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225a69176111694845b7fcdc671016aaba\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Barbara Kuriger)\u003C/span\u003E: Members, the committee is resumed. Before the dinner break, we were debating the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill. The question is, again, that clauses 1 to 8 and the Schedule stand part.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022 data-id=\u0022949c132e81cb46708f573a6b937eee9b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022949c132e81cb46708f573a6b937eee9b\u0022\u003EDr CARLOS CHEUNG (National\u2014Mt Roskill):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, I want to acknowledge our member Katie Nimon for bringing this bill to the House. This bill is very important, but I also want to highlight her performance in front of the select committee earlier in the year. As a new member of the Parliament, she came to our select committee well prepared and organised, and she was able to answer some of our concern as well. For that, well done, Katie. Also, I would like to acknowledge the Health Committee as well for the hard work and their passion in this topic as well, across the House. We\u2019ve got a chair, Sam Uffindell; we\u2019ve got a deputy chair; we\u2019ve got Hamish Campbell and me; and we\u2019ve got, of course, members from across the House as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EGoing back to the bill now, because, as I say, this bill is very important because over half of the people living in New Zealand actually experience mental illness and addiction challenges at some point in their lives. Nationally, one in five people experienced some kind of mental illness in the last year, and 3 percent of the people experienced serious mental issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022587eeeae-8af5-4e11-ac7f-a7690f9c7c3a\u0022\u003EMy question is: if this is a very serious issue, why did you set a commencement date for 12 months? This is actually referred to in new section 46A, which is related to the making of the mental health and wellbeing strategy. It will not take effect until 12 months after the date on which the Pae Ora amendment bill comes into force. It\u2019s more like: why 12 months; why not six months or earlier if it\u2019s a very important issue? Can you give us a little bit of detail on this and just a little bit of clarification as well. As I say, this is a very important issue for New Zealand that actually affects a lot of people. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022 data-id=\u0022b51b62a9b91744a68ad25367dec6b58f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002296f5f6b7-c116-477e-88a9-ea17aa616886\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b51b62a9b91744a68ad25367dec6b58f\u0022\u003EINGRID LEARY (Labour\u2014Taieri):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That debate on this question now close.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022 data-id=\u0022c2bc86b7707f4c42990c0a5d53aabb35\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c2bc86b7707f4c42990c0a5d53aabb35\u0022\u003EDr HAMISH CAMPBELL (National\u2014Ilam):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. I think this is a very important bill, and I\u2019m glad for the member who has brought it to the House. I appreciate we have already heard that the Hon Matt Doocey originally worked on this\u2014I think that\u2019s really important\u2014and we\u2019ve touched on various aspects of this bill. The previous speaker, Dr Carlos Cheung, has talked about the 12 months and about the development of the strategy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003EI suppose I would like to ask the member\u2014and it probably, really, touches on the importance of mental health. In our life, 50 to 80 percent of us probably will be affected by some periods of mental distress, and I think it\u2019s really important that we have services that deliver well. Touching on some of the things that we heard in the Health Committee, I think there were about 57 interested groups and individuals who actually spoke to various different parts of this bill. We heard from 19\u00A0oral submitters. One of the important things is, I think, probably when it talks about \u201CThe Minister must prepare and determine a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.\u201D I suppose my question is: how is this strategy going to fit in with the other ones, and what is the role of the Minister in this strategy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003EOf course, we heard in the select committee that there is a whole range of people wanting to have a say. We also heard from different ethnic groups\u2014also those from the Asian community, who are very interested in a mental health and wellbeing strategy. My question to the member would be around how this is going to be implemented and what it means going forward, given the fact that we heard from Asian groups, we heard from different sectors of society, and since so many of us are probably going to have periods of mental distress at some stage in our life\u2014how that\u2019s going to go forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222837c142-c937-468e-9984-bc646d066687\u0022\u003EI would just echo the words of my colleague around the 12-month time period. I think it would be interesting to hear the member\u2019s view on what that means and, overall, the Minister\u2019s role going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022 data-id=\u0022f5d422c8a33d48ea814e03c9885b8f26\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f5d422c8a33d48ea814e03c9885b8f26\u0022\u003EKATIE NIMON (National\u2014Napier):\u003C/span\u003E You get used to sitting in the chair and actually being able to take the call when I want to answer something! Look, I just want to address a couple of things that I didn\u2019t get the chance to before the dinner break. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EFirstly, I think I\u2019ll address the question about the commencement date of 12 months, because it\u2019s clause 2 that it\u2019s recommended by the select committee to delay the requirement to have the strategy by 12 months, to allow time for necessary engagement and development. I think my answer to that\u2014and I did say in the second reading\u2014is that I\u2019m supportive of that. Obviously, that came as a result of hearing from people who submitted, and from officials as well. I don\u2019t want to set anybody up to fail. I want this to be a robust strategy that makes a difference. As I said at the time, if 12 months is what is required to get that up and running\u2014obviously, the original bill was passed in 2022 and, obviously, those strategies that were originally included had some time to be established and inform the work that they were doing. I think that\u2019s important. I\u2019d rather not rush the work that the Minister has to do to get this ready, because, of course, acknowledging that this is a member\u2019s bill, it\u2019s not something that is necessarily being done at the Government level, and so I want to be as supportive as I possibly can. I think that\u2019s my answer to that question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EGoing back to one of the questions from Sam Uffindell\u2014to consider advice from the mental health and wellbeing strategy\u2014again, I think, given that that is the advice that was received from submitters, that was supported by officials, I think that\u2019s the best course of action. My answer to that, as well, is: whatever is going to make this most effective, that\u2019s what I want to see. This is not my own personal agenda; this is for the outcomes of mental health in New Zealand. Whatever it is that we can do to make sure that\u2019s most effective, then brilliant. If the mental health and wellbeing strategy said, look, they\u2019d rather that their advice is considered, rather than they had to be consulted at every level, then that is wonderful.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EActually, going to a point that Ingrid Leary raised\u2014and I\u2019m surprised she\u2019s trying to shut the debate down, because I actually haven\u2019t answered her questions in full yet\u2014one of the questions she asked was: how do we enable the workforce? What I\u2019m putting in in this member\u2019s bill is to have a mental health strategy, and, inevitably, that will call for either a stronger workforce, a more targeted workforce, or a greater workforce in some cases, I have no doubt. Of course, I won\u2019t be writing the strategy. Here what I am asking is for there to be a statutory requirement for there to be a strategy. I have no doubt that part of that strategy will be informing what workforce is required, how we enable that, how we support workforce development, and in the right areas as well. Recently, I visited with a group of primary school principals, in fact, with the Minister of Education, and they spoke about counselling in schools and having that support available for the students and enabling that work at a level there as well. We\u2019ve got to look at where is the support going to be most effective and most impactful. I have no doubt that that will all come through in the strategy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EWhile I have my time, I will also get to the point\u2014actually, thank you very much to, I think, Hamish and, perhaps, Carlos; I\u2019m going to conflate both questions together. One of the questions was about the strategy and how it fits in with the other strategies. I think that\u2019s a really good point that I actually was thinking about earlier in the evening. Obviously, as was mentioned, the original Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act had strategies for women, for various ethnicities, and for rural communities. I think rural communities are a great example to make where it lies with mental health, in particular. I\u2019ve seen some really poor examples in strengthening mental health and support in the rural communities. The Rural Support Trust do a fantastic job. There is obviously access to general services through the health system, but we know that there is a greater issue in rural communities. I have no doubt that these strategies will integrate in the same way that strategies for women and rural and ethnic would already work together. I expect that these would also be the case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003ENot that it\u2019s typical practice, I suppose, to respond to questions asked from the\u2014[Time expired]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c68f2d9a64b44a008465aac7c51dded8\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Barbara Kuriger)\u003C/span\u003E: Katie Nimon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa0990ce52f248d8ad296c2b376c1e50\u0022\u003EKATIE NIMON\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. Not that it is\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222bc9021f6fe4175a4055e190b8c5891\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Barbara Kuriger)\u003C/span\u003E: Katie Nimon\u2019s still on her feet\u2014I\u2019ve given her another call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022461ca8ab85234857a4554a66d0954eae\u0022\u003EKATIE NIMON\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Chair. Not that it\u2019s typical, I suppose, to take questions when the member\u2019s sitting down but also trying to close proceedings, but Ingrid Leary did mention the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225aea8292d1484fbd95c27096bd7da5b5\u0022\u003EHon Scott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: They don\u2019t like talking about it over there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f011eccae2374c59ae724b5603889d55\u0022\u003EKATIE NIMON\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014yeah; ha, ha!\u2014Government policy statement (GPS). I did actually already answer that question and how it fits into the GPS, much like, I imagine, the intention of Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. When those strategies were in place, I have no doubt they were intended to be integrated and considered when the GPS was being created, much like this will when it is next reviewed and redeveloped. I really look forward to that. I really look forward to a well-informed GPS with a strong mental health strategy. I think that that is a really important one for us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EI also look forward to Sam Uffindell\u2019s third question\u2014that I\u2019m still burning to answer\u2014that I did miss that first time you were on your feet. All right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022 data-id=\u002202dd6a5d6e0949449eb1918c2d15b658\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002202dd6a5d6e0949449eb1918c2d15b658\u0022\u003EDr VANESSA WEENINK (National\u2014Banks Peninsula):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. Just going through the mental health and wellbeing strategy by clauses, now, it might seem very obvious to some, but I\u2019d just like the member Katie Nimon to draw out a little bit more why we changed the reference to addiction with \u201Cwellbeing\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003EThe reason I ask is that it\u2019s one of things, in health, where health is really this global, holistic concept of, you know, physical, biological, social, and spiritual wellbeing, so to me it\u2019s kind of repeating the same thing, to use the term \u201Cwellbeing\u201D. Actually, addiction is a very important part of the mental health complaints and conditions that people suffer from. Are we in any way deprioritising addiction through reducing that and not having that at the forefront. I certainly know, in my experience in general practice, that addiction is a very huge problem in the community. It doesn\u2019t just relate to alcohol addiction; we have drug addiction, there\u2019s gambling addiction\u2014there\u2019s plenty\u2014there\u2019s other substances, inhaled substances; even addiction to pornography. All of these things can really affect people\u2019s mental health. They globally can contribute to other conditions as well. People who have addiction problems with gambling, for example, often have financial stress, and that then impacts on their mental health just through their general stress in their life.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4f894dc-da63-4b45-9c2a-c07b41a65e64\u0022\u003EI\u2019m just wondering if you could explain a little bit more about that terminology\u2014whether or not this is any way deprioritising addiction. Is there a complete focus change on that? In new section 46A, inserted by new clause 7, it does mention minimising harm from addiction\u2014that is included\u2014but I\u2019m just thinking, with the overall title of the bill, if, somehow, changing and removing addiction has deprioritised that in any way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022 data-id=\u0022d71689409bca4830afc55784f2c7f663\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d71689409bca4830afc55784f2c7f663\u0022\u003EDAN BIDOIS (National\u2014Northcote):\u003C/span\u003E Look, I wasn\u2019t going to take a call on this bill, but I feel compelled to, to out-compete my colleagues this evening! But, no, seriously, this is a serious topic, and I think we\u2019ve got our own stories of mental health challenges in our own families and settings. I\u2019m very, very encouraged by this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EThere is one question that I have lingering from this bill, and it relates to an organisation that I\u2019m about to run a half-marathon for in a week and a half. It\u2019s the Mental Health Foundation, and I\u2019m really curious to understand where organisations like the Mental Health Foundation fit in this mental health strategy. There are some great, fantastic, high-impact organisations out there doing great work\u2014far better work, in my opinion, than most Government agencies\u2014to make an impact in the mental health space. Great initiatives in Northcote\u2014a shout-out to Hearts and Minds. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f429fecb-a955-4d95-8105-e5144e651204\u0022\u003EMy question to the fantastic member\u2014and I\u2019d like to just acknowledge Katie Nimon for her work in bringing this bill to the House. My genuine question to her\u2014because I haven\u2019t caught up with her for a while, so I thought I\u2019d just do this in a formal setting like this\u2014is to ask her how she sees the role of community organisations in the mental health space and how she sees them fitting into, particularly, new section 46A, in clause 7, in the preparation of the mental health strategy. I think that there are a lot of organisations out there in New Zealand that would be really keen to understand that, and I\u2019d appreciate any reflections from the member on this fantastic evening in the Chamber. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022 data-id=\u0022341e5b8fb7a64e25ab7486e3ab6b58f9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022341e5b8fb7a64e25ab7486e3ab6b58f9\u0022\u003EKATIE NIMON (National\u2014Napier):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Chair. To answer the question on addiction rather than wellbeing, I\u2019m really glad the member asked that question, because that was something that took me a little bit longer to kind of come around to in the changes recommended from the Health Committee. Obviously, I don\u2019t have to take them all and, you know, I can maintain my own personal view, but of course I really respect the process. Like I said earlier, it\u2019s not my own personal agenda. I want to see there be a mental health strategy; I think that\u2019s really important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EI think we have got a lot of work to do, as members earlier talked about, around breaking down the stigma and treating mental health issues\u2014whether they are short term or long term\u2014like we do a dislocated knee; a nod to the member Carl Bates. For me, I think that\u2019s really important. The terminology, I think, sometimes can be a little bit just about what fits into the system, and I think that was the recommendation. I do take it on board that the term \u201Cmental health and wellbeing\u201D is more widely recognised and acknowledged within the health system as sort of the typical terminology, and I think addiction comes within that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EIf we start to define it, we\u2019ll probably get into a position where, when people want to add more amendments, they\u2019ll say the \u201Cmental health and addiction and suicide prevention and recovery\u201D, for example, and I don\u2019t really want to open that can of worms. If we can be broader and refer to it as \u201Cmental health and wellbeing\u201D, knowing that addiction does usually tie in or is typically considered part of\u2014obviously, if you\u2019re dealing with addiction and recovering well, it\u2019s all about your wellbeing, but obviously it is a mental illness.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003ELook, I am confident with that, and I think, again, with the advice from officials in having that, and then supported by the committee, I am confident. Of course, we don\u2019t necessarily want \u201Caddiction outcomes\u201D; we want people to have good mental health and good wellbeing, and having people free from addiction is one of those outcomes. If we get into defining what each and every one of those mental health outcomes is, I think we\u2019re probably sliding down a sort of slippery slope. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EAgain, I\u2019m really happy to be guided. I thought the process that the Health Committee went through was really good. Lots of good people did submit to it, great organisations, and just to acknowledge them\u2014which I think is a lovely segue into the point that member Dan Bidois raised about how this fits into organisations. Credit to you for running a half-marathon; it\u2019s not something I could do, but we all do different things for mental health, and I think that is something that\u2019s got to be considered in this strategy. Like I say, I\u2019m not the one writing it; I\u2019d sure love to contribute some thoughts\u2014absolutely\u2014but we can\u2019t do this on our own as a system, and it\u2019s an impossible task if we think that the New Zealand public health system is going to do all of this. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EA strategy sets the tone, it sets the direction, it sets the intention, and then a lot of people jump on board with this. I did acknowledge in my speech, probably second reading, about an organisation called Mates4Life, doing this absolutely out of the love of their own hearts and receiving funding from all sorts of places that\u2019s not public at this stage. I think, again, for them, they\u2019re working off what we said is our intention and our goal, and that\u2019s driving them, but it\u2019s not necessarily their funding.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EI think, to that point, the strategy or the strategic intention, our strategic objectives, what we\u2019re wanting to achieve, is what gives the signal to these organisations to get involved, to get on board and to match up. Hey, look, if some of them think, \u201CI\u2019m going to go out here and do this because this lines up with what you\u2019re saying and perhaps I might get funding for it.\u201D, look, that happens all the time, and we do see that, but we\u2019d rather be lined up with a system-wide approach and how that\u2019s going to work and, you\u00A0know, get those results, because at the end of the day, everything that these organisations do is to get results. If they can add into what it is that the system\u2019s doing, we\u2019re going to get a far better outcome for New Zealanders. This is the very intention of what we\u2019re doing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EI obviously feel very strongly about this and I\u2019m really pleased to have support from the whole House because what we\u2019ve really got to do is have a joined-up approach that gets us results, that is future focused, that leads where the funding goes, and that connects in every sector of our health system, not just in rural communities or ethnic communities where we know those statistics feature higher on suicide rates and mental health cases. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EAt the moment, in Hawke\u2019s Bay, obviously we\u2019ve got considerable issues. We\u2019ve got considerable issues in Hawke\u2019s Bay after Cyclone Gabrielle, and when identifying a targeted response after an event, whether it\u2019s the Christchurch earthquake, which I know people are still dealing with\u2014and I have a friend that has a traumatic response every time a truck goes past her house because of the Christchurch earthquakes, and I know that she\u2019s not alone in that\u2014there have to be ways that we target those events. It doesn\u2019t mean that we have to have a new response every time that event, or an event, happens, that we have a post-disaster approach; you can only really achieve that through a strategy that is statutory. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EI go back to the earlier point that I made in reference to how this fits in with the Government policy statement. This should be an ongoing process for every Government policy statement that is designed for ever, every three years\u2014that the mental health and wellbeing strategy is considered as a fundamental aspect of that in every single decision that we make. All that we can do otherwise is make estimated guesses, fling money into the atmosphere and hope it lands somewhere, and that\u2019s not what\u2019s going to get us the results. Especially, learning from what we did last time, redefining that, and then targeting it better in the future\u2014I\u2019m really excited; that is fundamentally what this is setting out to achieve, and why I keep saying I don\u2019t have my own personal agenda of what\u2019s going to be in this strategy. I couldn\u2019t possibly comment, but I really hope that what we achieve is a far better target to where we\u2019re going to go in the future. I\u2019m really, really excited about that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EThat sort of broadly answers the organisation. If we set the tone right, organisations will fall into line and do a fantastic job, as some of them already are, but I tell you, I get the feedback that they are struggling to find\u2014in previous years, have been struggling to find\u2014a sense of direction about where they fit into the grander scheme of things. I think that\u2019s the way that I would address that question. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022 data-id=\u00224042897251fa40a7826facae43c2e562\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224042897251fa40a7826facae43c2e562\u0022\u003ESHANAN HALBERT (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That debate on this question now close.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022386e9714e98949d285b215bca23e1686\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That debate on this question now close.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 55\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 14; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 6; Tana.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 68\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 49; ACT New Zealand 11; New Zealand First 8.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion not agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022 data-id=\u0022546ada8c78b243cb89de9d1642f1d554\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022546ada8c78b243cb89de9d1642f1d554\u0022\u003ESAM UFFINDELL (National\u2014Tauranga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to the member Katie Nimon, there, for that quite succinct and detailed answer that she gave. I did ask a number of questions in my earlier opportunity to speak with her, and there were another couple of questions that I will get to for the member. Look, during this process, we did have a number of submissions come through, right? Obviously, there\u2019s been a significant surge of mental health instances, and COVID has exacerbated that\u2014or it certainly did. I think you\u2019d probably see that mental health of youth, in particular, has trended in a negative direction for about the past 12 to 15 years. That\u2019s really come to the forefront, and COVID really pushed that out and exacerbated that a lot.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWe did hear a number of submissions, and we did hear them from youth groups. We did hear them from M\u0101ori\u2014young M\u0101ori. We heard them from individuals. I think some of the really touching ones that we heard were from family members of individuals\u2014especially family members or parents of young people who were suffering mental health episodes, mental health illnesses. We heard from mental health and clinical organisations. We heard from healthcare specialists and workforce representative bodies. One of the overriding things that we heard throughout all of that is that they wanted their voice to be heard. They wanted to have a say in that. I was curious then\u2014if the member has an opportunity to answer some time this evening\u2014around whether she heard any of the submissions there and whether there were any that really stuck with her. I\u2019d also be quite interested to know whether the member thought, through this bill\u2014or where committee amended it to at the committee stage\u2014whether it has taken account of that ongoing request from submitters for their voices to be heard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWe heard from youths about how they feel that often their voice isn\u2019t considered and that they want to be part of that decision making. Look, we recognise\u2014and I have mentioned it before\u2014the acute increase in mental health concerns among our youth, and we want to make sure that we do incorporate those voices. There\u2019s no point us designing stuff that\u2014I think the member over there was about to get to their feet, or no? Just rearranging, adjusting your legs? But, look, where I was going with that? Sorry, I was going to give you the opportunity if you wanted to say something. Where I was going with that is that we want to make sure that we are incorporating those voices. I\u2019d like the member\u2019s feedback on whether she feels that we have done enough with the adjustments we\u2019ve made at the committee stage or whether she believes there are opportunities for us to go further in that response.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b978dee7-18cf-424c-8004-b165bda971ff\u0022\u003EWe also had Te Hiringa Mahara, who supported the introduction of the mental health and wellbeing strategy that will fall under the existing Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act. This being a new strategy, I\u2019m curious as well whether the member had looked at that piece, and, if she had, what her thoughts were around that. I guess my overriding point here, Ms Nimon, is that there were a number of submitters, and I\u2019m just curious around how much of that you followed and what the key points that you took out of that were, and whether you also think that the amendments the committee made at select committee stage reflected the will of the submitters, obviously keeping in mind that we have a direction that we want this bill to go in. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022 data-id=\u0022a377489766a54d80abae0ada08aeca60\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a377489766a54d80abae0ada08aeca60\u0022\u003EJENNY MARCROFT (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. It is a privilege to stand today and ask some questions of the member Katie Nimon\u2014and congratulations\u2014now at the committee stage of her member\u2019s bill, the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003EI\u2019d just like to acknowledge in the committee tonight those members of the Health Committee who worked on this bill that have posed questions of the member. We did\u2014as the chair of the committee, Sam Uffindell, has outlined\u2014consider a number of submissions, and we heard oral evidence from 19 of those submitters. They did traverse a number of issues, and I think it was really important in particular that we heard about the value and the importance of the patient voice. I\u2019d also like to note that, on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, they also value the importance of patient voice inside the organisation of that commission. I\u2019d be keen to hear from the member how she also values the patient voice and how that came through in terms of the submissions we heard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003EI do have another couple of questions, because we do recognise that it was the Mental Health Foundation who we heard from\u2014also, as the bill was drawn in your name; originally, I think, in your predecessor\u2019s name\u2014and I want to quote them. They said, \u201CWithout a mandated strategy\u201D\u2014because this bill is about implementing a strategy\u2014\u201CDecision-makers can simply revert [back] to using outdated\u2014but deep-rooted\u2014deficit models around mental health and addiction and focus on solely expanding services\u201D. We know that, as we increase services, it doesn\u2019t necessarily pave the right pathway for the direction of travel that we want our mental health and wellbeing strategy to take. Just expanding those services is, they say, \u201Can approach that can\u2019t\u2014and hasn\u2019t\u2014solved Aotearoa\u2019s wellbeing crisis.\u201D\u2014just reflecting on the vital importance of having a strategy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003ESome of the submitters we heard from supported the strategy\u2019s broad focus on mental health and wellbeing, and I think we have heard already tonight about the emphasis, actually\u2014that it should focus on addictions in that strategy. We also heard there was debate on whether developing a new strategy might overshadow existing initiatives, like Kia Manawanui Aotearoa. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022676b0bc5-331b-4818-b261-ecf892d0bf23\u0022\u003EMy final question to you is: in the bill, it talks about the amendment Act being able to better enable long-term planning. Could you just give your vision of what that long-term planning looks like\u2014what your expectation of that long-term planning and then delivery of that planning would look like? Thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022 data-id=\u0022858153c11dc24f49bd18fa1fd6321564\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022858153c11dc24f49bd18fa1fd6321564\u0022\u003EKATIE NIMON (National\u2014Napier):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much to the members. Firstly, to Sam\u2014and thank you for coming back to your third question. I\u2019m really pleased about it, because I do recall now when you said that. Look, I appreciate that, because, obviously, my take on the submissions was that they were really in favour of this, and obviously some of them\u2014largely the same submitters\u2014during the 2022 Act, where the mental health strategy was omitted, were really pleased to see it come back again, but, again, want to make sure that they get it right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EThen, just to speak to a few of the clauses that haven\u2019t been talked about: one was, obviously, clause 4(1)(vi)\u2014that wasn\u2019t really so much raised; clause 7, keeping the name as originally drafted, with the broader health and wellbeing approach; and then, of course, we\u2019ll obviously\u2014and without disregarding clause 2 and clause 4. You know, I think the significant things were maintaining the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission\u2019s independence; making sure that we don\u2019t get too focused on the word \u201Caddiction\u201D and that it\u2019s a broader issue; and, really, just the approach and what it entails. I think, inevitably, submitters get quite excited, potentially, about what the strategy might include, and so then we\u2019ve got to consider\u2014and I\u2019m really pleased that the Health Committee did consider\u2014how, then, this piece of legislation can enable that. All of those things that the submissions covered\u2014are we having and do we have a piece of legislation that enables all of those concerns and hopes and aspirations? I think\u2014and with huge respect to the select committee and the drafting of the current Minister, the former member\u2014they do pay good heed to those points.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000627\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EThen, of course, the one that I think is the most significant is the delay of strategy provisions by 12 months to allow time for preparation. I think that kind of comes down to hearing from organisations that there just needed to be time to do this right. I take great comfort from the fact that action can be taken in response to those submissions\u2014that this is going to be something that we do and do well. Then I think, to take from the points raised by Jenny Marcroft\u2014and thank you to the member for those three questions\u2014talking about long-term planning, talking about having a strategy, and does it overshadow existing functions and initiatives, and then, of course, how do we get the patient voice and include that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000628\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EI just want to acknowledge something that the Minister for Mental Health has already done, which is the Suicide Prevention Action Plan, and how much emphasis was put on getting those with lived experience\u2019s voice and getting their views and making sure that that was informed. I think that that is really a signal for how this is going to go, and I\u2019m really pleased about that\u2014taking really good care of not only how we develop it but then, once it\u2019s developed, how it is put out into the universe, so to speak, and then getting those voices involved.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000629\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EYou asked what my vision was for the long-term planning of that. I\u2019d like, as any good MP would, to see a real focus on data and what works and what we need to address\u2014and, like I did signal before, the issues in rural communities, breaking down stigma, helping people to be more comfortable talking about issues, and getting quick support, really, rather than people having to go through so many hoops to get the support that they do get, and especially having to feel like they\u2019ve passed some severity bar. Often, we don\u2019t want to wait until it\u2019s\u2014actually, in any case, and in so many cases I\u2019ve seen, people feel like they have to do something really bad to get the support that they need. These are all the things that we need to consider.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EI did say earlier\u2014and not in this context, but to add it to this context\u2014what I\u2019d really like to see from a long-term planning point of view is workplaces, individuals, friends, and wh\u0101nau seeing mental health, or mental illness in this particular respect, being the same as physical. I think a lot of people have a really hard time acknowledging invisible things. You can liken it to back pain: back pain is one of those things that\u2019s really hard to prove or to show to anyone, but it\u2019s debilitating, and because you don\u2019t have a cast, it\u2019s not necessarily something that people see or take seriously at all times. I do give that lens to it as a helpful metaphor. I\u2019d really like to see that be the case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000631\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EThen, finally, to the point of overshadowing existing initiatives and what the strategy would do, I would like to see that, where those initiatives are right and doing what they need to be doing and achieving outcomes, they won\u2019t be overshadowed; they will be absolutely learnt from, brought into this strategy, and go to do amazing things. In that particular case, if we\u2019ve got functions or groups out there doing stuff\u2014I keep mentioning Mates4Life; I can\u2019t help myself, they\u2019re fantastic\u2014then I would say that those will be learnt from, developed in how we can have this in a workplace environment. This is something where companies are getting involved, training their staff like first aiders but with mental health, and the onflow effect of that is huge, and it is a direct removal of cost burden on the emergency system because we know how to triage it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000632\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EThese are the things that I think, if we\u2019re doing them right\u2014we\u2019re doing them right, right now\u2014nothing will get overshadowed, but there will inevitably be things that we\u2019ll highlight that aren\u2019t working. And I think that that\u2019s necessary, because that means the strategy is working. Like I\u2019ve said a couple of times, I don\u2019t get to write the strategy but I really look forward to seeing how this goes and, again, am very pleased we have had whole of the House support this. I look forward, I suppose, to debating it on the third reading. Thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000633\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EClauses 1 to 8 and the Schedule agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000634\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002230f9e8fe-eafb-4967-8d4d-306525ae2340\u0022\u003EHouse resumed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u00221dfc92793b644d5493dad795228b8ad7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000635\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221dfc92793b644d5493dad795228b8ad7\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Barbara Kuriger)\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, the committee has considered the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill and reports it without amendment. I move, That the report be adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000636\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=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000637\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003EReport adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000638\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229f84a2b1824a440291c114c1f0a99a47\u0022\u003ECrimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000639\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00227b0247359ea44fb4b720cae8720eaee5\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000640\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 11 September.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022 data-id=\u0022421aa57813c740f8bd1888c7892e98cb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000641\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022421aa57813c740f8bd1888c7892e98cb\u0022\u003ECARL BATES (National\u2014Whanganui):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thanks for the opportunity to speak on the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill. Given that there have been several weeks since we last considered this bill, I thought I would just take a moment to remind us of the bill in front of the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000642\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EThis bill was introduced in the House in the 53rd Parliament and it was then taken over by Camilla Belich, in Opposition, as a member\u2019s bill in the 54th Parliament. The bill would insert a new section, section 220AA, into the Crimes Act 1961 to provide that an employer\u2019s intentional failure to pay an employee any money owed in relation to that employment is theft. The bill details that theft by an employer in the context of this bill, should it be passed by this House, would have a maximum penalty of one year\u2019s imprisonment, a fine of $5,000, or both, and in any other case, the maximum penalty would be a fine of $30,000. This bill was brought in to ensure that in circumstances where an employer intentionally steals money from an employee by, essentially, not paying them, that employer would be held accountable under the criminal jurisdiction as opposed to the civil jurisdiction. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000643\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EOne of the challenges that we traversed when we went through the select committee process\u2014chaired by Katie Nimon, the member for Napier\u2014was: what exactly is the size of the problem that this bill is trying to solve, and what is the number of employers that are actually undertaking theft from their employees? Through that select committee process, we worked through a number of amendments to try and clarify some of the intent. The amendments\u2014all amendments\u2014to the bill, through the Education and Workforce Committee, were unanimously adopted by the select committee. The recommendation of the select committee on the bill as a whole, though, by majority was that it doesn\u2019t get passed by this House. However, the amendments were accepted by majority. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000644\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EThe first amendment and thing we tried to clarify through the select committee process was the meaning of an \u201Cemployment agreement\u201D. We thought that it was important that the term \u201Cemployment agreement\u201D had the same meaning as in section 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000, and so there was a new subsection (3) inserted to make sure that that was clear to anyone who was reading the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000645\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EThe second amendment that we traversed was clarifying the coverage for homeworkers. Under the Employment Relations Act, \u201Cemployment agreement\u201D includes a contract for services between an employer and a homeworker, with the term \u201Chomeworker\u201D being defined in section 5 of that Act, and we thought it was important that we made it clear that this covered homeworkers, should the bill be passed by this House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000646\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EThe third thing that we wanted to make sure was clarified through an amendment was what entitlements are covered. We spent some time as a select committee determining or looking at what exactly would qualify as theft by an employer and how you would determine what the entitlements that were covered are, and so we needed to make sure that this was clear in the bill when it was presented back to the House. We thought that the bill should be clearer on the payment in question being the payment required under an Act of Parliament, because, often, an employer can choose to pay additional things to an employee. There might be particular circumstances where they provide additional benefits that aren\u2019t necessarily part of the package of employment. So we thought it really needed to be clear what the bill covered, and we defined that as being payments required under an Act of Parliament. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000647\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EThe challenge, however, even with the amendments in place, is that at the end of the day, the relationship between an employer and an employee is currently covered under the civil jurisdiction\u2014under civil law\u2014and, essentially, this amendment wants to take part of that relationship and put it into the criminal jurisdiction. At the moment, we have three pieces of legislation that, essentially, provide an umbrella over these sorts of circumstances. We have the Employment Relations Act, we have the Minimum Wage Act, and we have the Wages Protection Act, which really is related to unlawful deductions by an employer. This additional piece of legislation would add an unnecessary piece of legislative compliance when there are already existing mechanisms to ensure that employers appropriately remunerate and pay their employees. Indeed, Community Law Centres o Aotearoa expressed concerns about how this could be difficult to prove. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000648\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EOne of the things that came up through the process of consideration in the select committee was: when is withholding a payment from an employee intentional, and would you end up inadvertently being in a scenario where you have an employer being criminally liable because there was a mistake? Look, to be fair, we addressed a number of these issues, but not to a level of satisfaction, I think that would make sure that employers could feel comfortable that should this piece of legislation be part of the statutes of this House, they couldn\u2019t get caught up in the unnecessary and costly additional layers of compliance that this House would, essentially, burden them with. I don\u2019t know about you, Madam Speaker, when you are traversing the mighty\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000649\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221aad4dce42f145f2acfa42f1b63481a3\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, you don\u2019t bring the Speaker into the debate, Mr Bates. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000650\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce1846bd4a4d4ce683912dac2422b102\u0022\u003ECARL BATES\u003C/span\u003E: When I am traversing the mighty electorate\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bcae97a35a654493b8273bdeeb992c56\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s better. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000652\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247c62cf431ed41fd9717524193f5b2c3\u0022\u003ECARL BATES\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014of Whanganui\u2014which I know you happen to pass through from time to time; the wonderful Whanganui electorate\u2014and when I\u2019m talking to both employees and employers, what employers are looking for right now is certainty about the future of the revenue of their businesses so that they can pay their staff, and employees are looking for certainty of their jobs and the relationship that they have in terms of their employment relationship, with the success and the continuing success of those businesses. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EI think, really, that both parties are aligned in wanting to ensure we reduce the legislative burden, the red tape, and the compliance that sits around businesses so that the money that they have can go into where it\u2019s most needed\u2014and that is, keeping those businesses open and functional and returning a return\u2014and ensuring that we\u2019re able to\u00A0provide wage growth to employees, and every time we add another layer of legislative compliance, we just add something else that those businesses are going to have to deal\u00A0with. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000654\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003EThat sort of relates to the other part of moving the relationship about employment from the civil jurisdiction to the criminal jurisdiction, and even the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions agreed that it could be difficult to prove when a non-natural person was being dishonest. It would be challenging to exactly understand in a court of law when a company, as opposed to a person behind it, was being dishonest in not paying an employee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000655\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229634e377-7e76-4353-9662-fb444eb2ec9d\u0022\u003ENot only do we have a very smally defined or ill-defined lack of clarity around the size of the problem; we have a solution to the problem that is going to create another level of legislative burden and that\u2019s going to muddy the waters of the employment relationship between the civil and the criminal jurisdictions, and we\u2019re going to add to the challenge that already can occur in the employment relationship when you have that small number of employees that are vexatious in their relationship with their employers. As per the select committee report, I do not commend this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022 data-id=\u00223368751a5d3b4e818ca5aaad40d8aee7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000656\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223368751a5d3b4e818ca5aaad40d8aee7\u0022\u003EHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour\u2014Christchurch Central):\u003C/span\u003E The reason Carl Bates\u2019 speech was largely incoherent is because the thinking behind it is equally incoherent. This is the pearl: the idea that because an employment relationship is a civil contract, the employer shouldn\u2019t be liable for stealing\u2014the parallel of that is if a person working at a bar nicks money out of the till. \u201COh, it\u2019s a civil relationship; we don\u2019t want that to be criminally liable.\u201D Of course an employee who steals from their employer is criminally liable. If they intentionally deprive their employer of property, then they\u2019re criminally liable. But\u2014this is Mr Bates\u2019 argument; it\u2019s all a bit confusing\u2014if the employer intentionally deprives an employee of their property; that\u2019s not criminal. The asymmetry of that relationship is typical of the National Party.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000657\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EThis is not some complex bill. It just says this: if you steal stuff from your employee, you\u2019re criminally liable. If you know that you\u2019re obligated to pay, if you\u2019ve got the money but you intentionally choose not to pay them, if you intentionally deprive them of their entitlement to wages, you\u2019re criminally liable. What does the criminal law do? It sets boundaries between right and wrong. To steal from your employee is wrong; it should be criminal. The idea that it\u2019s a bit too much admin\u2014in fact, the member used the term \u201Cred tape\u201D, as if paying your employee honestly is red tape. That is shameful. That\u2019s someone, I think, who once called himself an accountant, and yet here he is defending the right of employers to steal from their employees by intentionally withholding wages illegally. This is not a complicated bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000658\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EAs for the difficulties of prosecution and what\u2019s the burden of proof and evidence, well, that\u2019s a prosecutorial decision. As we know, the Solicitor-General has a very fulsome set of guidelines on when to make a prosecution. There are two fundamental elements: is the evidence there\u2014does it meet the evidential threshold?\u2014and is it in the public interest to prosecute? It\u2019s not rocket science. Yes, if the evidence is cloudy, you probably won\u2019t get a prosecution. If it\u2019s not in the public interest, you won\u2019t get a prosecution. But where we have a clear case of an insurer knowingly taking wages from their employee, the prosecution should and will follow.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000659\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s why this is a bill that\u2019s properly before this House, and I\u2019m hopeful that other parties in the House other than the National Party will support it. I\u2019m sure the ACT Party, who are property-mad, will support it, because the right to property is one of their foundation stones. Our former friends New Zealand First, who used to be our coalition partners, I\u2019m hopeful will stand up to what they say they stand for, which is the rights of workers\u2014as does the Labour Party\u2014and make sure this bill passes through the House. As for the National Party, dancing on the head of a pin with ridiculous and incoherent arguments about red tape and the civil and criminal distinction in employment relationships, it really shows them up. They should be ashamed of themselves.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000660\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003EI\u2019m very proud that Camilla Belich has brought this bill to the House, and very hopeful we\u2019ll see this through the next stage so we can look after workers\u2019 wages properly. I absolutely commend this to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022 data-id=\u00225a3b7ceea59243248a85cb9d156e5d30\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000661\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225a3b7ceea59243248a85cb9d156e5d30\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK (National\u2014Wairarapa):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker, and good evening. I haven\u2019t spoken in the House for a while, so perhaps I would just like to start with a shout-out to all of those in the Wairarapa electorate, from Central Hawke\u2019s Bay, Tararua, and the Wairarapa. Spring is here, most have had tax relief, interest rates are on the way down, hard-working parents are now able to get FamilyBoost payments, commodity prices are better than they have been, and just in case the news hasn\u2019t got through, announced today, the inflation genie is back in the box. Inflation is now at 2.2\u00A0percent for the year end at September, and the darkness before dawn, as Nicola Willis previously described the state of the economy under the previous administration, is finally starting to lift. Thank you for trusting us as a Government to manage the economy out of recession.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000662\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002251c8856ebaf84869aa96f7aabf9ba4db\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s your minute to do general debate; now you will speak to the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000663\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e93e4363fbc4e959487fb9d1479e0b6\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. Now, the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill, in the name of Camilla Belich, is not one that we can support. The bill has been introduced for the purpose of criminalising the act of employers intentionally failing to pay employees rather than treating it under civil law.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000664\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EThe main provisions: the bill would insert new section 220AA into the Crimes Act 1961 to provide that an employer\u2019s intentional failure to pay an employee any money owed in relation to the employment is theft. The bill would also set maximum penalties for this new offence of theft by employer. If the employer is an individual, the maximum penalty would be one year\u2019s imprisonment, a fine of $5,000, or both. In any other case, the maximum penalty would be a fine of $30,000.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000665\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EWe have a view, in the National Party, that a significant number of employers are good employers. Yes, there will always be a very small number of employers that aren\u2019t, but that doesn\u2019t mean we need to run around and impose new legislation to address an issue that already has a clear pathway of resolution. That pathway, I might add, is a long-held practice in New Zealand\u2019s civil jurisdiction of addressing issues of the sort that this bill seeks to address or reinvent and of doing so through a civil process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000666\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EThis bill is unnecessary as there are prevailing mechanisms that actually already exist. The Employment Relations Act contains provisions to address circumstances where an employee isn\u2019t paid or is paid less than the amount stated in their employment agreement. The Holidays Act contains provisions that address non-compliance and also allows for interest to be paid on any unpaid entitlements, and the Wages Protection Act and the Minimum Wage Act contain provisions preventing unlawful wage deductions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000667\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003ETransferring the ability to adjudicate a dispute to a criminal court won\u2019t speed up the process; it will almost certainly slow it down, which will not result in any improvement in outcome. All this bill will do is transfer said disputes from the employment relations space, for potentially making deductions from payslips and not paying, into the criminal prosecution space. This will more than likely result in a number of unintended and unnecessary consequences.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000668\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003ETo sum up, at present the failure to pay an employee is currently dealt with as a civil matter under the Employment Relations Act, where the mechanisms I\u2019ve already mentioned exist, and where the employer and the employee have a clear duty to act in good faith and penalties already exist if they don\u2019t do just that. The actual theft of money is dealt with under criminal law, and I refer to an article from 23 May 2023 that says\u2014and I quote\u2014\u201CSuch a law could however potentially make it far more challenging to undertake a deduction from wages even in valid cases and has the potential to foreseeably expose the employer to criminal liability, or at least the threat of such risk. The Wages Protection Act 1983 and 40 years of case law makes it very clear on how a deduction is to be actioned, the advent of this may give miscreant employees more impetus to refuse to allow deductions in legitimate cases.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000669\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EWe don\u2019t need to impose further unnecessary complications on those in our region that are the lifeblood of our local economies, those small to medium businesses that have persevered, for far too long, under the burden of a recession they didn\u2019t cause\u2014not now, when there\u2019s light at the end of the tunnel. It\u2019s not necessary to implement new and needless legislation, adding frustration, cost, and complexity. That\u2019s why National doesn\u2019t support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000670\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EPerhaps Labour may want to reflect on this bill. Perhaps they\u2019ve been sidetracked, dreaming up further ways of relieving those in our communities that have endured so much for so long under their administration. The Labour Party\u2019s latest attempt to do this\u00A0seems to be fixated on not only more rules but also more tax. They seem quite addicted to tax.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000671\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022643b99eac8084d51b41c25c5c8205ec5\u0022\u003EHelen White\u003C/span\u003E: This is nothing to do with the bill. Back to the bill!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000672\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258402397edc7487e87e5a970510f5db9\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ll get to the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000673\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EBut they\u2019d tax our land, they\u2019d tax our beds,\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000674\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EAnd they\u2019d tax the tables upon which we\u2019re fed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000675\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EYes, back to the bill. All this bill does is transfer disputes, potentially around deductions from payslips and not paying from the employment relations space into the criminal space, and we believe that would have all manner of unintended consequences.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EWe heard in the select committee from the Community Law Centres o Aotearoa that they express concern that the offence would be difficult to prove and easy to defend, noting that dishonesty offences are typically very difficult to prove. Business New Zealand noted the very high threshold that \u201Cbeyond reasonable doubt\u201D imposes in criminal cases compared to the balance of probabilities standard in the Employment Court and how this makes proving intention especially burdensome for prosecutors. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions pointed out that mens rea can be very hard to establish for non-natural persons, as my parliamentary colleague Carl Bates alluded to earlier.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000677\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2e50c7a80ad49b9884b4f928fce00ef\u0022\u003EShanan Halbert\u003C/span\u003E: It was a terrible speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000678\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b5c3b94eb3db44dcb77fda877aa95aca\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK\u003C/span\u003E: It was a very good speech from Carl, the very hard-working member of Parliament for Whanganui. It\u2019s a great electorate, that. It\u2019s almost as good as the Wairarapa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000679\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EThe New Zealand Law Society submitted that section 219 of the Crimes Act 1961 frames theft with reference to \u201Cdishonestly and without claim of right\u201D, taking, using, or dealing with property. They contended that the use of \u201Cintentionally\u201D in clause 4 could inadvertently capture situations where employers genuinely withhold paying employees money owed, and that clause 4 could create situations where employers are made criminally liable for not paying money that is legitimately and intentionally disputed, while the employer lacks the intention to deprive their employee of what they are owed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000680\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003EOverall, there are existing provisions in the Employment Relations Act, as mentioned previously, to protect employees with pay disputes, and the use of the Crimes Act would have too many adverse consequences and be too difficult to prove. So, as I said, the National Party\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000681\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e837faa2d564956aaae3fdff2b0821b\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Turn the page!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000682\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222c298f2f575f4b9aa23a6acc9b0386be\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK\u003C/span\u003E: Apologies?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000683\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f7fc7ac3-5ce1-43ca-8cd6-dbb0941bf3ae\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b96cd6ea7ae4a5ba09fbda9903f57fd\u0022\u003EHon Dr Duncan Webb\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, just turn the page if you\u2019re going to keep reading. You may as well turn the page.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000684\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b921d3ebccde4471b87051387e23cef4\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, I can turn lots of pages if you like\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000685\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d14fe352da6c42b49d969300b743abee\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member was reading quotes, and that was why I was letting him get away with the pages.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000686\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2594b30642b4350b7314a9c4fbc327c\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I could finish my poem if the member over there would like. It took me a while to write. I was just talking about how they\u2019d tax our tractor, and they\u2019d tax our ute\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000687\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2729a4707f3490cb4deb287bd1809eb\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Now you\u2019re back off the bill\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000688\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022458df7da8fc04a5a98cb4a3e93622ca1\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK\u003C/span\u003E: Back on track? Back on track, Madam Speaker? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000689\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cae3292a0d7844308d77bbb4eaa962b3\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Back to the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000690\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225665380b-62fd-4d75-85e0-0ed801a402e0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a14e710c3bf644349c321f3102b5b898\u0022\u003EMIKE BUTTERICK\u003C/span\u003E: To finish off, National won\u2019t be supporting this bill. It\u2019s unnecessary. It just adds more regulations, another complexity that employers don\u2019t need. There are many mechanisms that already exist to protect employees. We do not support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u00225f392d67a1bd4eeeb7ec1aecd4ebb700\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000691\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225f392d67a1bd4eeeb7ec1aecd4ebb700\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This is a split call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022 data-id=\u0022e68a0be51be64c47b5e535c09e5c5ccc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000692\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e68a0be51be64c47b5e535c09e5c5ccc\u0022\u003EHELEN WHITE (Labour\u2014Mt Albert):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wanted to start with something that a friend of mine, who\u2019s another employment lawyer, once said to me, and it really stuck: \u201CWhen you don\u2019t have capital, time is what you\u2019ve got to sell; that\u2019s all you\u2019ve got.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000693\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EWhen somebody takes your time\u2014contracts that time\u2014and then takes it from you, it\u2019s actually more serious than it is in many situations, and I want to give an example of where I\u2019ve seen this impact. I had a case when I was a junior. I had a senior lawyer and I was the junior, and it was in the Employment Relations Authority\u2014it was probably the tribunal back then; it was quite a while ago\u2014and it was with Oh Calcutta restaurant. They took on some Indian employees from India. They took $2,500 for them to come into the country and then they employed them on contracts which said that they would be paid $350\u2014I think $250 was actually paid, but they had a contract that said $350\u2014and then they had another contract with this company seal on it saying the lesser amount.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000694\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EWhen they made a fuss about that\u2014they were working, by the way, 92\u00BD hours a week; they were working lunch and dinner\u2014they were chucked out on the street and they were, basically, told that they would have to leave the country. I remember threats that were made about how they would never be paid and they weren\u2019t paid at that point. The employer intentionally took their money. They had children back in India. They were terrified about losing their ability to work here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000695\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s an example of what happens when you don\u2019t watch. What was the strangest thing about this case is that halfway through the case, we were talking about the fact that they paid this extra money to come to the country, and the tribunal member wouldn\u2019t believe it because they\u2019d never seen it before. I look back and I think if we had only noticed what was going on and how serious it was; if we\u2019d only noticed, perhaps we would have avoided the pain that was caused to so many more employees in this country by that kind of habit and that behaviour which we had a blind spot for in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000696\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EWhile I absolutely think small businesses are good employers often, and medium ones\u2014and I am absolutely appalled that this would be suggested as a punishment to them. It is not. Those people pay their workers. It isn\u2019t always the case. Sometimes you get this kind of scurrilous act, and the key word here was \u201Cintentional\u201D. You had to be at the beyond reasonable doubt stage to meet this test. It was when you intentionally took someone else\u2019s money, and that might be all they had. That might be all that they had to trade on, and you took it and you disempowered them. It is a power relationship and we accept that in the employment situation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000697\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003ENow, what\u2019s the difference\u2014why is it that Camilla Belich and Ibrahim Omer went for a criminal standard here? Why is it? Because, when we say this is a crime, we say this is serious; we take it seriously. It\u2019s very different. There\u2019s another really practical reason: because the State looks after people in the criminal area. Criminal victims\u2014the State looks after them. It says, \u201CNo, that\u2019s not OK. You can\u2019t take that person\u2019s money intentionally, because they worked hard and you must not take their money.\u201D That\u2019s called theft and it\u2019s serious and we take it seriously, and the State prosecutes, not the individual.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000698\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EThink about my three men at Oh Calcutta. Do you think they had any money? They didn\u2019t even have anywhere to sleep that night. They were not going to take a civil prosecution through without the help of someone. With that case, it was actually the help of a union. They hadn\u2019t actually joined, but the union stepped in and helped, and that\u2019s how they got there, but most of the time, those people are never going to take a case. They\u2019re never going to take a civil case. Now, one of the saddest aspects of that case\u2014and we did win the case and they didn\u2019t actually close up; they did end up paying those guys out\u2014was they only got paid for 40 hours a week, because the rest wasn\u2019t even contracted apparently. There was some stolen time as far as I\u2019m concerned there too.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000699\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225ec01d23-b55e-45b9-a668-d3bf14212126\u0022\u003EWe have a long way to go in this country before we get the settings right, and the first thing we have to accept is that there is a power imbalance. We have to accept that people in this situation deserve as much protection as we give other victims. They are victims, and tonight, if you vote against this bill, you\u2019re voting against the recognition of people who have been exploited and power that has been misused. The power of money is a big thing in the life of somebody who hasn\u2019t got it. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022 data-id=\u002275880e41eb90492f9bb04d622f2a806b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000700\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002275880e41eb90492f9bb04d622f2a806b\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER (National\u2014Upper Harbour):\u003C/span\u003E What a bunch of crocodile tears\u2014what a bunch of crocodile tears. Anyone would think they\u2019d never been near the levers of Government. Well, can I remind the Labour Party that they\u2019ve been in and out of Government for nearly 100 years, and now, after six years with an absolute majority of 65 MPs and having a full opportunity to put it through as a Government bill, you have the tenacity to turn up to Parliament tonight and advocate for workers\u2014and most of you are former constituent MPs, can I point out\u2014\t\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000701\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c023852d90314769bf7e6dbe28b393f1\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019re having a little too much use of the word \u201Cyou\u201D tonight\u2014from both sides, actually.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000702\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eaba1af00acd45b9bdcd2d548efcbb4a\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER\u003C/span\u003E: They\u2014they. Thank you, Madam Speaker. For a second, I thought you were saying I was transgressing from the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000703\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a287ca06cb8d428d9beb8f1f41e845aa\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, you\u2019re on the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000704\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d763d0217a5489d8f09fb63972282f9\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER\u003C/span\u003E: I know you\u2019ll give us a minute\u2019s grace. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000705\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223b5a0400e34491882d184ce48e56198\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, you only get half a minute because you\u2019ve got a split call.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000706\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002211db2fdd5ec34f56aceb8030faec4096\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER\u003C/span\u003E: OK, well let me start that grace period now, Madam Speaker. We are the party of workers, and the Labour Party know that. Shanan Halbert knows that. He knows that the person that represents the workers of Glenfield is Dan Bidois. He knows that. We\u2019re also the party of democracy, and we listen to the parliamentary non-partisan decisions that come out of the Education and Workforce Committee. Can I read this, Madam Speaker, straight off the explanatory note recommendation of the Education and Workforce Committee, that the National Party is taking adherence to here: \u201CThe Education and Workforce Committee has examined the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill and recommends by majority that it not be passed.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000707\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a503e324-3a0b-4efd-bf44-ec6740ec9a62\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224af0d233c6a04170a7c5126a1e8283e7\u0022\u003ECamilla Belich\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, that\u2019s how select committees work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000708\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222917d3f161aa425693e302ec40b9fbd1\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER\u003C/span\u003E: And so after this, and Camilla Belich knows, this has been going through\u2014the first reading was over 14 months ago\u2014the scrutiny, the painful scrutiny and examination by the Education and Workforce Committee, it has come out with the recommendation that it not be passed. And now they have the cheek to oppose what our judicious, conscientious, and hard-working Education and Workforce Committee have recommended after listening to submissions, after listening to officials, after listening to business groups and industry groups.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000709\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003ECamilla Belich can go on as much as she wants, but she had six years\u2014she had six years and an absolute majority. She could have stood up in caucus seven years ago and said, \u201CWhy don\u2019t we make this a Government bill? I\u2019m so concerned about it.\u201D She could have stood up three years ago, with 65 MPs. She was jammed in the corner because there were so many MPs. They didn\u2019t need to consult with anyone; they could have just done this on their own. They could have just whipped it up in the caucus room and said, \u201CWe\u2019re passing it. We\u2019re so concerned.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EThe crocodile tears that Helen White\u2019s been crying tonight! But, no, suddenly they get into Opposition and they\u2019re all a sudden interested in this piece of legislation. They\u2019re suddenly interested in this piece of legislation, and it\u2019s all our fault for ignoring the prosecution\u2014the hard-working, conscientious select committee. We are the ones that are listening to the non-partisan select committee\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000711\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fdba407046794273bf4e1e52bae13392\u0022\u003ESteve Abel\u003C/span\u003E: As if!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000712\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022204b29a6fc4d4402a5b953068bae9497\u0022\u003ECAMERON BREWER\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014the Education and Workforce Committee\u2014Steve Abel\u2014that decided on merit, and so happened to be majority, that this not be passed. We listen to what select committees have told us and the work that they have done and the examination that they\u2019ve taken out, and, on balance, we are not going to go against the select committee and their hard work for the last 14 months. We are the party of workers; we are also the party of business. We believe, as my colleague Carl Bates has taken us through, in chapter and verse\u2014that 10 minutes went so quickly, too\u2014how these areas are comprehensively covered. The complexity that this would bring about is not worth going down that track. That\u2019s why 100 years of Labour Parties have never taken this step.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000713\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003EThe protection is there. It\u2019s well and truly covered, and covered in a comprehensive way for New Zealand workers. We, Mike Butterick, went through the different statutes that are in existence to protect workers and the opportunities that are there for those that have had wrongdoing against them. The National Party, hand on heart, as the party for workers, cannot support this bill and go against the intentions of the select committee.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022 data-id=\u00229ff6cef8de7645dea76b960ffb266865\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000714\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229ff6cef8de7645dea76b960ffb266865\u0022\u003ESHANAN HALBERT (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do love a good debate from my friend, my mate over there, Cameron Brewer. The thing I like about him is he plays it straight\u2014you know where you stand\u2014but that was one of the most terrible speeches that I\u2019ve heard from him because he talked about the National Party being the party of workers. In fact, I\u2019ll tell you what they\u2019re a party of: they\u2019re a party of cuts; they\u2019re a party of chaos; they\u2019re a party of broken promises; they\u2019re a party that is out of touch, just like the Prime Minister; they\u2019re a party of tobacco; and, just for Cameron Brewer and Dan Bidois, they\u2019re a party that is closing down the North Shore Women\u2019s Centre on the shore\u2014how shameful. It\u2019s my privilege to have delivered a lot of things to the North Shore, unlike those two: schools, police numbers, you name it. They haven\u2019t done anything yet.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000715\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002289809535-e289-43e8-ad08-668cf3046ffb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227a74ebbbcc8b46948d1de439f25b22c0\u0022\u003ECameron Brewer\u003C/span\u003E: And delivered a 9,000 majority.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000716\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022118b1ba8fcd7435bbb0af27a9750ab22\u0022\u003ESHANAN HALBERT\u003C/span\u003E: Tonight, it\u2019s my privilege\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000717\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022032f4824ecc24d30a0cbf684cfe475cf\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: He\u2019s delivered nothing. What\u2019s he talking about?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000718\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e6a5c6ab77da435c928569f9586dc0e5\u0022\u003ESHANAN HALBERT\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014to be able to talk about this particular piece of legislation. And I love that I rarked them up, because they know that they have delivered nothing. They have delivered absolutely nothing to Auckland\u2019s North Shore. Just like the Minister for Auckland, they\u2019re sold out on Auckland and they\u2019re sold out on our communities\u2014[Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000719\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003ENow that they\u2019ve quieted them down, can I acknowledge my colleague. She hasn\u2019t had six years in this place\u2014my colleague of the class of 2020 Camilla Belich, and a good Northcote and North Shore resident herself. She does some good work. Can I acknowledge you, Camilla, and the work that you\u2019ve put into this particular bill\u2014also, my brother Ibrahim Omer for the work that he has done in bringing this bill into the House and carving this particular pathway. I look back, actually, to his maiden speech and his commitment to this House and, absolutely, his commitment to workers. That\u2019s what the Labour Party stands for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000720\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003EI just don\u2019t understand how it is that the National Party believes that employers not paying their employees shouldn\u2019t be a criminal offence. How is it that tonight they can vote against this particular bill that sets up a higher threshold when our most vulnerable workers are ripped off by their employers? I like to think that many people in this House have had a vulnerable moment in employment, perhaps when we were teenagers, you know, perhaps when, like me in hospitality, you had a run in with the boss and they threatened not to pay you. Well, in fact, this piece of legislation means that you do have to be paid. This bill amends the Crimes Act to clarify that intentionally not paying an employee their wages is, in fact, theft. The law as it stands does not address this, and this and wage theft are mainly followed up through the civil courts, rather than enforcement through the police.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000721\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c069cdb-968c-4f11-b126-92f9c655148b\u0022\u003EI like to think that, around this House, in the many cases today, we have been able to support members\u2019 bills on members\u2019 day because they are particularly good kaupapa. This is another one that comes before this House, and it\u2019s a test on who supports workers, who supports our kaimahi, our most vulnerable workers, to not only be paid what they\u2019re worth but to be looked after and recognised under our workforce legislation. I\u2019m calling on all of the ACT Party, the National Party, and New Zealand First tonight to support this bill. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u00225fd54aaf2fbb488ca9e5d3bc184e4b8a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000722\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225fd54aaf2fbb488ca9e5d3bc184e4b8a\u0022\u003EHon MARK PATTERSON (Minister for Rural Communities):\u003C/span\u003E Well, it is my experience in this House that there\u2019s nothing like an employment relations bill to bring out the fire in both Labour and National, and where those divisions lie. It is for the true balance in New Zealand First to come through and sort through the mess that we\u2019ve been listening to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000723\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EFirst of all, for this Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill, this is New Zealand First\u2019s first opportunity to contribute to this bill. It was put into the House during those dark, wind-swept days when we weren\u2019t represented in these halls. As the Hon Duncan Webb articulated in his speech, whilst we may have changed horses in the ensuing period, we actually haven\u2019t changed our core values, and that is very much that we are an egalitarian party. Because we haven\u2019t had the chance to be in this process up until this point, we\u2019re taking the last call here, not for any nefarious reasons but for the fact that we weren\u2019t part of that select committee. The bill did come up quite unexpectedly at the last members\u2019 day, and we wanted to listen very carefully to what both sides had to say before taking it to our caucus for discussion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000724\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EIt is the view of the New Zealand First caucus that this bill is not without some merit. New Zealand First has always taken a balanced approach to employment relations. We absolutely believe that a fair day\u2019s work deserves a fair day\u2019s pay. We have an absolute history of championing workers\u2019 rights, particularly around increases to the minimum wage, which we\u2019ve taken into and been successful in coalition negotiations. We actually had Dennis Maga, the chief of FIRST Union, speak to our convention on the weekend. We are generally interested in hearing workers\u2019 perspectives on employment relations issues under this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000725\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EConversely, we also understand that employers are critical to building this economy. They risk their own capital and often put their family home up to provide employment and a living for others. Of the businesses in this country, 97 percent are, in fact, small businesses with under 20 workers or more. In fact, so much do we understand this\u2014I could go back to the Hon David Parker over there who would remember this\u2014that we absolutely arm-wrestled Labour to accept retaining 90-day trials for those small businesses under 20 workers, in the 52nd Parliament, because we do understand that critical balance between employees and employers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000726\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to commend the member Camilla Belich for bringing this bill forward and picking it up from Ibrahim Omer, the original proponent of this bill. Thank you, Camilla, for your constructive engagement as we have worked through some of the details.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000727\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EIt is New Zealand First\u2019s view that there are two clear anomalies in the law. It is already a criminal offence for wage theft of immigrant workers on work visas. New Zealand First cannot see why New Zealand citizens or permanent residents should not be afforded the same process of legal redress. Secondly, it is a criminal offence for an employee to steal from an employer. This, to us, seems an inequity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000728\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First will be supporting this bill through to the committee of the whole House stage. We, however, have listened carefully to the concerns on this side of the House. There are some things that we want to see examined further through that committee stage. This bill must focus on real crime\u2014intentional and malicious acts of theft by employers; not unintentional mistakes or delays to the cash-flow issues. Without clear distinction, the risk is that honest employers facing financial hardship may be unfairly penalised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000729\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EMoving this issue from a civil to a criminal jurisdiction changes the burden of proof for both employees and employers. Criminal cases require more evidence and resources, potentially straining the justice system while making it conversely, potentially, harder for workers to successfully pursue cases.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000730\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EFurther, we believe that the shift from the balance of probability to beyond reasonable doubt will increase the difficulty for employees to prove theft by employers. The higher threshold could mean fewer successful prosecutions. This requires further investigation to ensure that the bill truly benefits employees, without creating unintended consequences.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000731\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First is eager to ensure this bill does go to the committee stage and does get tested by all parties in this Parliament. We will remain engaged in working through the finer details. I\u2019m sure the member will help us to alleviate some of those concerns. At it\u2019s very core, we believe that business is about paying and being paid. A fair day\u2019s work deserves a fair day\u2019s pay, and you should be paid. With that, we\u2019ll commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u00228d9055f0d73b457f9730f2e1d4ec65a1\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 63\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 14; New Zealand First 8; Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori 6; Tana.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 60\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 49; ACT New Zealand 11.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000732\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000733\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d91faa45c8aa448ba26f1aa258d5bf91\u0022\u003ECorrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000734\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00220f34ff13c3834789a90bb9a52302550c\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022 data-id=\u00226b7679096ddd4392b7e09da082915c86\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000735\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226b7679096ddd4392b7e09da082915c86\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE (National\u2014Takanini):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Corrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000736\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EThank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, it is actually an honour and a privilege to stand before my colleagues and yourself today for the second reading of a member\u2019s bill in my name. This bill, as was just mentioned, is the Corrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Bill. It was drawn out of the ballot on 1 February 2024, this year, and the first reading was 20 March this year as well. It was open for submissions between 6 April and 6 May, and 12 submissions were made. I take that as a positive thing that there weren\u2019t that many submissions. The way I\u2019d like to take it in this instance is that it means that a lot of people were very much in support of the intention of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000737\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EThis bill at its core is about victims. I don\u2019t shy away from the fact that victims and protecting victims plays a huge role in the course and the direction of my actions and my thoughts, especially having the privilege of being a member of Parliament. This member\u2019s bill has also opened up my eyes to the oscillations of lawmaking. I go back to the first reading, and I was very excited about what we had ahead of us, because of how much it\u00A0would be able to protect victims, especially reflecting on some awful, abhorrent examples of how victims were being contacted from prison by the perpetrators of the crime against them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000738\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EI\u2019m still pleased that we are charging ahead with this bill, and I\u2019m hoping that I still will have the support of the House, but significant changes have been made, and I guess that\u2019s where I come back to the oscillations of lawmaking and the eye-opening experience thus far that this has been for me. I reflect back to when we started receiving advice from Corrections. The advice\u2014and it\u2019s noted in the departmental report\u2014essentially, prima facie, seemed like it was changing massive parts of the bill. To be honest, my human nature was like, \u201CWhat\u2019s going on here? I thought we were going down a certain path. Why are these drastic recommendations being made?\u201D We conversed about it. The Justice Committee were very\u2014I\u2019m very blessed to have my colleague James Meager as the chair of the Justice Committee. He\u2019s compassionate, he\u2019s able, and he\u2019s extremely acute. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000739\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ea50c83ccc1849b2a0f2dac02fd16f02\u0022\u003EJames Meager\u003C/span\u003E: Cute.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000740\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab8edbd435694d08bbcf55d71017487c\u0022\u003ERIMA NAKHLE\u003C/span\u003E: Acute\u2014cute like my little brother, but acute. What I appreciate was the patience of the Justice Committee and Corrections staff as I navigated through the recommendations that were being made. We asked our questions, we got some thorough answers, and we went back and we asked again. Recommendations were made, and we proceeded to accept those recommendations. First and foremost\u2014and this holds quite a weight and magnitude with respect to the intention or where the bill is going\u2014is that we\u2019re going to ensure that the provisions only apply to people in prison.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000741\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003ENow, as much as I and many people would have loved for these restrictions to apply to people that are under the care of Corrections out in the community, the fact of the matter is there\u2019s about 26,000 people in the community, and it would be almost impossible for Corrections to make sure that they can keep an eye on all of them and all the communications they\u2019re making, so we brought it to just affect people that are in prison.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000742\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003ESecondly, we\u2019ve deleted what was clause 5 and clause 6, but we\u2019ve, essentially, expanded what was clause 4. The amended clause 4 of the bill now is going to be amending the powers and functions of the chief executive of Corrections in section 8 of the principal Act, the Corrections Act 2004. After section 8(1)(j), it\u2019s going to insert new paragraph (ja) \u201Censuring that processes are established and maintained [by Corrections] to inform visitors of prisoners and recipients of prisoner communications of measures that they can take if they do not want to be contacted by a prisoner\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000743\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EWe also accepted the recommendation that we amend section 77 regarding outgoing telephone calls to add, after section 77(5) new subsection (5A) \u201CIn deciding what conditions (if any) to impose, the chief executive or the Commissioner of Police must take into account the interests of victims\u201D. I\u2019m pleased that we\u2019ve managed to get across the line, so far, the word \u201Cmust\u201D, \u201Cmust take into account\u201D, as opposed to \u201Cmay take into account the interests of the victim\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000744\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve also amended section 104, and that pertains to general considerations relating to mail. We\u2019re adding into section 104(g), after \u201Cthe interests of victims\u201D, \u201C(including, in particular, being free from unwanted contact with prisoners)\u201D. And we\u2019re amending section 128. This is pertaining to offences by a prisoner. We\u2019re actually adding a new offence. That new offence in section 128(1)(r) will be, hopefully, that a prisoner cannot contact a person or solicit anyone else to contact a person who the prisoner knows or ought reasonably to have known that they don\u2019t want to be contacted. This part in particular\u2014we did spend quite some time considering this; what entails this \u201Cought to have known\u201D. But, in the end, I and so far the committee feel comfortable with that amendment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000745\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to thank the people that made submissions. Sorry, before I do that I\u2019d like to state that we have removed one of the clauses that was saying that Corrections had to include in their annual report a report about these measures. We\u2019ve removed it because the strong advice from Corrections was that it was not very feasible\u2014doable. But I\u2019m comforted by the fact that we can ask questions during annual review to try and extract that information as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000746\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to thank the people that made submissions. In particular, I\u2019d like to highlight Victim Support. What I appreciated about the written submission of Victim Support is that they spoke about how victims deserve to feel safe\u2014absolutely; 100 percent. This, essentially, encapsulates a big part of what we\u2019re trying to achieve with this bill. They highlighted that victims deserve to be free from revictimisation. When we look at what\u2019s been happening in the last few years with respect to perpetrators being able to contact the victims of their crime, that\u2019s what happens; it becomes a revictimisation. This law will help to ensure that victims are free from revictimisation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000747\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002239b9bac1-a992-4ccf-a473-9591aeb3a298\u0022\u003EI appreciate the fact that they said victims deserve to have autonomy. Sometimes, victims want to keep some level of contact between their family and the perpetrator. The way we\u2019ve amended this bill touches on that. Indeed, assisting victims to move forward, or when they have autonomy and they make that clear choice that \u201CI do not want to be contacted by this person in prison.\u201D, that helps them to move forward as well. I thank everyone that\u2019s been involved in this kaupapa so far and I hope that the whole House can continue to support this very important bill. I commend it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u0022f2b47ee58dc445989d2e3f3629e1384d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000748\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f2b47ee58dc445989d2e3f3629e1384d\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\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=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022 data-id=\u0022c096103f5e3442788fee0a1c4c56924c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000749\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c096103f5e3442788fee0a1c4c56924c\u0022\u003EDr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you for an opportunity to say a few words about this bill, the Corrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000750\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to start my contribution by acknowledging the member Rima Nakhle for her very studious shepherding of this bill through the select committee process. As she has just noted, like with any bill, there\u2019s an intentionality behind it, there\u2019s an impetus behind it, but sometimes the details need to be worked out. I can attest to the fact that she took on that role with great aplomb and the Justice Committee was able to get the bill to this stage with that cooperation in mind.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000751\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003ELabour\u2019s going to support this bill. We think that victims of crime deserve to feel safe and supported and, in particular, rightly so, when they don\u2019t want to have contact or any type of contact with the people that caused them harm, their offender. That\u2019s why, to a large extent, Corrections already has non-contact conditions in place to support that right. This bill, as introduced, sought to strengthen those conditions but, as has been discussed, it was operationally quite difficult to implement, given that it also would have included all of the monitoring and communication of people on community-based sentences and on orders and on parole, which I think was roughly about 26,000 people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000752\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EAs you can imagine, Corrections can\u2019t practically monitor the communications of all of those people outside the prison system in the way that they can comprehensively do it inside the wire. The Justice Committee requested that the relevant agencies continue to monitor the safeguards that are practically available to them now, which is all that we could really do, and then it proposed these\u2014there were a few amendments, but the two main ones were introducing a new offence of making unwanted contact; to make it an offence against prison discipline. As we know, the bill already provides a suite of punishments if found guilty for that transgression against prison discipline; also, to insert a new section to require Corrections, as Rima Nakhle said, to take into account the interests of victims. That might not seem like it\u2019s terribly robust, but it does provide that legislative foundation to say, actually, this is a priority, and when we\u2019re thinking about prisoners\u2019 communications in regard to their telephone calls and mail and things like that, one of the things that you have to take into consideration at the top of the list is the interests of victims.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000753\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EThis approach, in an effort to make the bill workable, still supports victims and makes clear what those obligations are to the Department of Corrections. It\u2019s those obligations that I think are really important, certainly to us on this side of the House. During our last term, when Labour was in Government, we made the largest ever financial investments into victims. We launched operational pilots, pilots in the courts, we tripled the level of funding for victims\u2019 assistance schemes, and actually even doubled the level of funding for victim support. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000754\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c46de55f-b9e4-4c64-9ac6-877bd89c2fc5\u0022\u003EWhilst this bill doesn\u2019t do a huge amount, it doesn\u2019t do anything that\u2019s incongruent with our stance, our previous stance in our long history on supporting victims. For that reason, we will be supporting the bill at this second reading.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022 data-id=\u0022f73afa757e3f4c47b070e52c341cf822\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000755\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f73afa757e3f4c47b070e52c341cf822\u0022\u003ESTEVE ABEL (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Kia ora, and I\u2019m happy to speak to Rima Nakhle\u2019s bill. I just want to acknowledge that Rima is from Lebanon, and right now it\u2019s terrible what\u2019s going on in Lebanon and we as a House\u2014I would hope\u2014would like to acknowledge the suffering that is going on there and how hard it must be for you to be witnessing that in your homeland.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000756\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EThe Green Party centres the rights and protections of survivors, including those of family violence. Family and sexual violence is a scourge on our nation. It\u2019s one of our greatest shames, it would be fair to say, and the statistics alone create a frightening picture, made worse by the fact that we consider how little of it is unreported. It\u2019s very important that we centre our approaches around the impact on survivors or\u2014as we commonly would call them\u2014victims. The bill aims to protect victims of crime, and individuals under a protection order, from unwarranted contact by prisoners.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000757\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EThis bill has undergone significant change through the Justice Committee. The Department of Corrections raised concerns about the operational and practical challenges. That\u2019s, to be clear, that the Department of Corrections supervises 26,000 people in the community and about 9,500 prisoners, making it difficult to monitor their communication. The select committee recommended an alternative approach to prevent prisoners from making unwanted contact with victims of crime: to create a new offence under prison discipline where a prisoner contacts someone who the prisoner knows, or reasonably ought to know, does not want to be contacted\u2014and that is appropriate. Somebody who is a survivor\u2014who is a victim\u2014should not be contacted by the person who has committed the harm to them. We absolutely support that principle.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000758\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EIt also suggested establishing an obligation on the chief executive to be required to establish and maintain processes to inform visitors of prisoners and recipients of prisoner communications about measures they can take if they do not want to be contacted by a prisoner. It is right that Corrections should be informed of that information by those who are survivors of harm. It also requires that Corrections take victims\u2019 interests into account, in particular being free from unwanted contact when deciding what conditions to impose on prisoners regarding outgoing telephone calls.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000759\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003ENow, despite the creation of a new offence, the Green Party, on balance, continues to support this bill at the second reading. It supports victims to be able control what contact they receive from prisoners and makes clear the department\u2019s obligations to victims. It supports our party\u2019s policy to better enforce no-contact orders and generally to support the victims of crime. In part, this is because it includes people who have a protection order against somebody, including those who seek protection from family violence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000760\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EWe do not support the too-easy knee-jerk concept of \u201Ctough on crime\u201D, because, for decades, Governments have created a justice system that ignores the drivers and the causes of crime and instead puts people in prisons with inadequate rehabilitation support. Often, as we know\u2014and there\u2019s very strong literature on this\u2014those people who end up being the perpetrators of harm were very often, themselves, the victims of harm.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000761\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EIn no way does having been a victim of harm justify you being a perpetrator of harm\u2014in no way\u2014but for us as a society to understand the systemic causes of harm, we need to have the ability to dispassionately recognise what is the origin of the characteristics that lead to harm being caused by people. Very often, they themselves were the victims of harm. That is why we reject the simple headline \u201Ctough on crime\u201D. We need a more sophisticated and compassionate and, frankly, scientific, evidence-based understanding of the drivers of harm in our society. These approaches on \u201Ctough on crime\u201D have failed to address the underlying drivers in crime, and, in many cases, have pushed people further into crisis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000762\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e29c400e-467a-4398-818d-270ef48b80cf\u0022\u003EThis is a bill that we commend, for it establishes a very important principle: that those people who are the victims of crime should have the ability to take control of their own circumstances and to protect themselves from further harm from those people who have harmed them. We will be supporting this bill. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022 data-id=\u0022ba6594b1d1eb41c083205b3cf349f725\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000763\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ba6594b1d1eb41c083205b3cf349f725\u0022\u003ETODD STEPHENSON (ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Look, it is actually my genuine pleasure to rise on behalf of ACT and talk on the Corrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Bill. I want to really commend my Government colleague Rima Nakhle for being able to get this bill drawn and then move it forward in the process. In fact, Rima Nakhle and I actually have quite a lot in common. We\u2019re both lawyers\u2014or retired lawyers now, probably, we would say. We\u2019ve both lived in Sydney for a long period of time, and have both had a bill drawn out in this Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000764\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EI actually have the pleasure of sitting alongside Miss Nakhle in the Justice Committee, and it is a real pleasure to work with her in that select committee, along with all the other members of that select committee, particularly when we have a bill like this where we can actually work constructively together. That\u2019s not always the case in the Justice Committee, because this Government does have a different approach on law and order, which, I would like to say, is victim-centric and also wants to make sure people are punished for crimes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000765\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EBefore I come back to how I think this fits nicely into the coalition Government\u2019s crime agenda, I do just want to reflect on the bill and the process, because it was genuinely constructive. I do want to thank James Meager, the chair\u2014I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d describe him as cute, but that has been said. He did a very good job. I\u2019d also want to acknowledge all of the members of the select committee, including the Opposition members, because it was actually a very constructive discussion. As has been covered, the bill as introduced has been altered, but the intent behind it, I think, has been honoured. I actually do want to thank the Corrections officials and, of course, the Parliamentary Counsel Office. I see that Minister Mitchell is here in the House tonight, and so I would like to say that the Corrections officials were amazing during this process, and so, as the responsible Minister, you should pass that on\u2014they really did go out of their way to make this workable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000766\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EAs we have heard, there were some issues that we uncovered as a select committee around workability, but we were able to forge on and, again, Rima Nakhle was very gracious in working through those issues with us and also being open to changes while still being honest to the intent of this bill. We, obviously, did have some submissions\u2014not too many, but the ones we did have were very impactful and did home in on the details.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000767\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EI think what we\u2019ve ended up with really is a very useful member\u2019s bill that is actually going to offer an additional layer of protection to victims. Again, these are people where protection orders are in place. Obviously, the person who has caused them harm is in prison and they do not want to be contacted by that person, whether it\u2019s phone calls, emails, post\u2014whatever that kind of communication is, that wants to be stopped. What we now have is a requirement on the chief executive to put in place these processes and actually articulate what they are and make sure that they are understood. Again, that was a change that was put in place, and, obviously, this new punishment section, or\u2014yeah, we\u2019ll call it that. Really, the new offence of unwanted contact, adding that in\u2014so, again, that gives Corrections the power to actually do something when a prisoner intervenes, in this regime.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000768\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EObviously, one of the things we did talk about was Corrections having\u2014and, again, Mr Abel talked about the number of people actually under the control of Corrections, some 9,500 actually incarcerated but many, many more in the community. Of course, it was impractical to place this onus on Corrections to deal with, you know\u2014just have this restriction on people in the community. I think that actually uncovered a very important issue around inter-departmental communications\u2014communications between the courts, Corrections, and even the Police, when these kinds of protection orders are in place. I think, as a select committee, that\u2019s something we want to follow up on, because it does seem that we don\u2019t actually have a kind of connectivity about when protection orders, etc., are in place. Again, I think that\u2019s something we want to follow up on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000769\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EI just want to return to saying how I think this fits into the Government\u2019s agenda on law and order. That\u2019s why I think it was really good that this bill was drawn out. We\u2019ve gone through the select committee process, I think we\u2019re going to get to the committee of the whole House process, and, hopefully, a successful third reading\u2014but that\u2019s all in the future. I think, again, as reflected across the three parties, that we do have an approach on law and order that is victim-centric and making sure that, actually, the rights of victims are upheld. A part of that is some of the other changes in law and order that we are introducing. Again, there\u2019ll be a lot of discussion in the coming weeks around things like three strikes and the other changes around sentencing that we\u2019re going to be doing. That really is us saying that, you know, things in New Zealand have got out of control and we want to put tougher measures in place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000770\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EMr Abel, we want to have people properly protected and incarcerated where necessary, but I do think rehabilitation is a worthwhile thing. We\u2019ve already introduced changes so we can actually have some rehabilitation programmes for people on remand. My own bill addresses some issues around rehabilitation programmes. It is very important. In fact, we were lucky enough, some members of the Justice Committee, to travel during the recess to Christchurch, and we actually visited the women\u2019s prison in Christchurch and got to spend some time in the therapeutic community that had only been open a few months, which I think was a really, really interesting experience.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000771\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EMinister Mitchell, if you get the chance to go down there and meet with that therapeutic community, I think it really is a very interesting model. We heard from the people in that community about how it was turning their lives around. Some of them had actually asked to be transferred into that prison just so they could participate in that programme. It was really a kind of multidisciplinary, really trust-building community. Obviously, we need to see the results\u2014it had only been opened a short while\u2014but it had very promising results. Actually, the women there were really invested in wanting to turn their lives around. That\u2019s, obviously, another thing that we\u2019re very keen to encourage, because we don\u2019t want people returning to prison\u2014that is very expensive, and when they could be contributing members of our society that is a much better outcome for everyone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000772\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EAgain, I think it\u2019s great timing that Miss Nakhle\u2019s bill got drawn, because I do think it just adds to the wonderful compliment of policies and initiatives we\u2019ve got across the spectrum. I really do think it will make a difference for victims\u2019 interests and rights. As I said, it was a very rigorous process where we addressed the issues that were uncovered, and, again, I think it was a select committee process actually working at its best. While it is only a short bill, I think it will do great things by reinforcing that, where victims do not want this unwanted contact and that is known, that is stopped. It was very heartening to hear from Corrections about the processes that they already have in place, but this would expand and make sure that this really was well known to victims, about their rights.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000773\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003EI think this is an excellent member\u2019s bill. It\u2019s been a pleasure being part of the committee to work on it, and it\u2019s great to see we\u2019re getting widespread support across the House to do something for victims. I will definitely be commending this to the House, and ACT is very pleased to support it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022 data-id=\u00226927c138949e4f9db63489b7bf9d4177\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000774\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226927c138949e4f9db63489b7bf9d4177\u0022\u003EHon CASEY COSTELLO (Associate Minister of Police):\u003C/span\u003E I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to speak on the Corrections (Victim Protection) Amendment Bill. It is my first opportunity to speak on this important piece of legislation. I would like to recognise my South Auckland neighbour Rima Nakhle for bringing this to the House and traversing this complex process to get this bill to this stage. I think, fundamentally, we\u2019re talking about enhancing safety within correctional facilities by introducing just another obligation on the chief executive and prison managers to prevent that unwanted communication.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000775\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve talked a lot about victims today, but I think we also need to recognise that this is about those that are subject to protection orders, and that that\u2019s an important component as to what we\u2019re doing. It\u2019s not lost on me that this is the second time I\u2019ve had to speak this evening in this House about the ability of us as a Government to implement greater protections, to think more broadly about what we\u2019re trying to deliver for our communities, and to ensure that we have some level of safety\u2014and recognise that we are trying to deliver, across the House, really practical solutions. They may be incremental and you may think that it\u2019s not quite everything you want it to be, but I think it\u2019s a really important piece of legislation. We\u2019re not just talking about this being an obligation on the corrections process to inform but in some degree it\u2019s an empowerment of those that are subject of protection orders; it\u2019s an empowerment of the victims to be able to take a little bit more control of their\u00A0destiny.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000776\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI talked a lot today about how we know that the protection orders aren\u2019t giving the security that we want. We know that they\u2019re not giving that safety net to the extent that we want to have them, but I think as we educate and empower those that are vulnerable and those that have been victims of their rights\u2014and this is just another opportunity. Beyond the intention of what you wanted to do about the communication, it\u2019s actually another opportunity to talk to our vulnerable people, to our victims, to empower, strengthen, and give them some hope as to their ability to control their destiny. I think, in that regard, I would credit that the bill has actually achieved something a little bit more than I think we first thought it would.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000777\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EThe other component I would really like to touch on is about Corrections themselves. I think this is an organisation that is often demonised and is often held to account for not delivering everything we want\u2014that they are the necessary evil that we really don\u2019t want\u2014but when we look at Corrections and we look at the proactive way in which they contributed to this legislation, they really did come to the party to try and find a practical way to navigate, recognising their limitations but also offering the opportunity to do something better. These are people that are truly committed to providing some protections for those that are vulnerable. Contrary to the discussion that we\u2019ve heard across the House, they are committed to rehabilitation, they are committed to trying to break the cycle. There are some really dedicated and hard-working individuals in the Corrections sector.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000778\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI\u2019d also like to use the opportunity, because it\u2019s been raised in the House tonight, to talk about this idea of understanding the drivers of crime. I think we can stand on this side of the House, with this Government, recognising that we have done something so significant in terms of shifting the dial on criminal activity, because the one really solid determinant beyond all others is the education we give our young people. That will be the determinant as to whether we shift criminal activity. That is part of this discussion where I really think it\u2019s important that we look at all aspects. We\u2019re not just talking about victimhood; we\u2019re actually talking about breaking the cycle of crime as well and empowering the victims. I think that educational start, that ability to have your destiny under your control, is one of the strongest things we can do to ensure that we break the cycle of criminality. That is the hope that we want to give young people. We do not want to rob them of their potential. We want to recognise that every child has that great opportunity to be more and better than they even dreamt they could be. I think this is one of the things that makes me so proud to be part of this Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000779\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI think we also want to touch on the fact that there is this tendency to talk about your life being in somebody else\u2019s hands. We really need to drive that personal accountability and that responsibility and your ability to control your destiny. That\u2019s why I like the fact that we are talking about a piece of legislation that will inform those that are victims, that will inform those that are vulnerable, and have protection orders, of their powers and their ability to control their destiny. I think it\u2019s a really important piece of legislation around how we\u2019re going to move forward and discuss better opportunities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000780\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI talked a bit earlier tonight about the woman whose husband, as soon as he was released from prison, went straight to her house after being released from murdering his second wife, and the intervention. What I didn\u2019t mention was that, at the same time, the woman had lived for nearly nine years in a state of constantly being harassed. That\u2019s why she\u2019d moved house so many times. That\u2019s why she had. With all of his network, as soon as they were released from prison, they would track her down, and they would find her\u2014under the protection orders. Granted that\u2019s 30-odd years ago, when I was a lot younger and could still pass the physical competency test, but we\u2019re now talking about a time where it worries me that not much has changed. Not much has shifted. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000781\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EThese are all of these little steps that we\u2019re delivering: all of those little opportunities we have to ensure that we are respecting the rights of those that are vulnerable, that we are strengthening the level of importance that these protection orders have, that we are making sure that when you are in custody and when you are serving your penalties, you are deprived of some level of rights and that you are constrained to some extent, and that there is accountability for when you break those rules.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000782\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI really commend the effort that\u2019s gone into this. Justice Committee, I can appreciate, going through the notes, how much you\u2019ve had to navigate to get this one over the line. The beauty of this process, the legislative process, is that there is compromise, there is opportunity to think of a different way to come to the same end conclusion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000783\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI would like to talk briefly about New Zealand First\u2019s position on this space. We have talked repeatedly about our determination to put victims first and to create a wrap-around response to make sure that we don\u2019t create more victims and that those that are victims are better supported and better protected. Really, as we go through this whole process of all of these incremental pieces of legislation, what we\u2019re saying is that we hear you; what we\u2019re saying is that we understand. When you have members of Parliament who are prepared to stand up and do the hard yards to find a way to navigate a piece of legislation that will give us some really smart solutions, even if they\u2019re in little increments, even if they\u2019re little steps in the right direction, it\u2019s really encouraging about our democratic process, about the parliamentary process, and about how we make laws. We can take a problem, we can identify that there\u2019s something that we might be able to do better, and we can take little steps forward to ensure that we achieve it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000784\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s really encouraging, and it\u2019s encouraging across all of the platforms we\u2019re doing. It\u2019s encouraging about the fact that we recognise how important education is. It\u2019s encouraging that we recognise how important it is to have a good home and to get our young people out of motels so we can break that cycle. It\u2019s encouraging to be able to sit in this House and come across pieces of legislation that we can all collectively come together and go, \u201CHey, this is a great idea. It\u2019s not perfect, and maybe we can build on it. Maybe we can do more.\u201D But, right now, we\u2019ve got a piece of legislation that says, \u201CHey, how about this?\u201D We will do something to make sure that our vulnerable people are heard, that we\u2019re listening to them, and that we\u2019re prepared to pass a piece of legislation and do the hard work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000785\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022feb2e3ca-4ad3-4c7c-9958-b10d28c83bc8\u0022\u003EI can appreciate, Rima, this has not been an easy process for you. I commend that you got this bill drawn. I commend that we\u2019re actually sitting here today looking at one more way that we can make sure victims know they will be protected, they will be heard, and that, when you have a protection order, we will make sure it means something. We will make sure that more will be done to ensure you will be safe and you\u2019ll be protected and you\u2019ll be empowered and you\u2019ll be able to move forward with your life. I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u002225eea72cef544c58aec85f0348c7817b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000786\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002225eea72cef544c58aec85f0348c7817b\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green\u2014Rongotai):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. T\u0113n\u0101 koutou e te Whare. Like the other speakers in this debate, I do want to congratulate MP Rima Nakhle for the work on the bill up to this point. I\u2019m sure that she has been doing a whole lot of really important work to get the bill back to the second reading, as it is now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000787\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EAs other speakers have alluded to, the bill did change during the select committee process. I\u2019m not a member of the Justice Committee but, having heard from the Department of Corrections about difficulties operationalising the bill as it was, they were pretty substantial changes and the Justice Committee proposed an alternative approach that would be more feasible for implementation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000788\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI just wanted to follow up on the comments from my colleague Steve Abel about how important it is to have a survivor-centred approach to justice and how important it is to avoid re-traumatisation. A survivor-focused approach systematically focuses on their safety, their rights, their wellbeing, and their expressed needs and choices. Ensuring that survivors of family violence are protected from unwanted contact can be seen to align with that approach, and that\u2019s why the Green Party is supporting this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000789\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EHowever, I do want to take the opportunity in this debate to point out that a survivor-centred approach to justice is fundamentally different from some of the current tough on crime stance which this Government is pushing, which I, unfortunately, don\u2019t think is evidence-based and won\u2019t reduce harm over the generations\u2014in fact, it could lead to more harm, unfortunately. When it comes to family violence, it ends up being the justice system itself that can cause as much harm as the actual family violence, and it certainly leads to the perpetuation of violence in many aspects of our society.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000790\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EAs the previous speaker, Minister Casey Costello, said, I think we do need to listen to the people who are most affected. I think the Green Party absolutely supports that. If we did listen to survivors of family violence, I think we would be taking a better approach overall to how we address restorative justice and justice in this country. The imminent apology that is going to result from the inquiry into the abuse in State care, I think, is a good example where that was a really painful process, a difficult process, and while some steps are being taken, we\u2019re still falling well short of what is needed to address the harm that was caused in those circumstances where it was the State that was responsible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000791\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EAs we can see, there\u2019s a lot of support for this bill across the House. Maybe this is an opportunity to shift away from adversarial processes towards genuine restorative justice and to build some cross-party support for a more effective approach to reducing crime and harm in our society. As such, the Greens strongly urge the Government to continue prioritising Te Aorerekura, the vital system-wide changes that that advocates, because that strategy\u2014and I have to acknowledge the work of the Hon Marama Davidson as the former prevention of family and sexual violence Minister, and also the work of my former colleague MP Jan Logie, who was the under-secretary who started that work. That is about primary prevention over a 25-year period, and it is a blueprint for change. Again, the Hon Casey Costello mentioned that not much has changed in 30 years, so maybe it is time to take a different approach.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000792\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s hard to take seriously the Government\u2019s commitment to that approach when funding has been cut to so many providers in the prevention of violence space\u2014$18 million per year has been cut from prevention community contractors, and some of those people have been delivering key, evidence-based functional family therapy and other proven methods of preventing family violence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000793\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EAnyway, to summarise, the Green Party are supporting this bill. It is a step towards fostering a survivor-centred approach within our justice system, and that is a good thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022 data-id=\u0022cac131e1b49e4527bc17d5777fd227f8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000794\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cac131e1b49e4527bc17d5777fd227f8\u0022\u003EHANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2014Hauraki-Waikato):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 koe e te P\u012Bka. T\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 t\u0101tou e te Whare, otir\u0101 aroha mai m\u014D te mikirapu i ng\u0101 w\u0101hi k\u014Drero. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000795\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EE mihi ana ki te mema o t\u0113nei pire n\u0101na i kawe mai ki roto i te Whare P\u0101remata, ki a koe, Rima. T\u0113n\u0101 r\u0101 koe m\u014D te kawe i t\u0113nei pire whakahirahira m\u0101 m\u0101tou ki te k\u014Drero. Waihoki e whakaaro nui ana ahau me t\u014D t\u0101tou p\u0101ti ki t\u014D iwi, ki \u014D wh\u0101nau kei t\u014D iwi taketake, ki Lebanon hoki. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000796\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E[Thank you, Mr Speaker. Greetings to all of us of the House, and I apologise for mixing up the speaking order. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000797\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EI acknowledge the member of this bill who has brought it into the House of Parliament, to you Rima. Thank you for bringing this significant bill forward for us to discuss. Furthermore, our party and I offer condolences to your people, your families in your native people, and to Lebanon.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000798\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EI rise on behalf of Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori ki te whakaatu, ki te k\u014Drero m\u014D t\u0113nei o ng\u0101 pire [to demonstrate, and to speak on this particular bill], the Victims Corrections Amendment Bill. Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori supports this bill and he reo whakamiha hoki ki te komiti whakahaere i roto i te Justice Committee hoki [and a voice of gratitude also to the managing committee too, i.e., the Justice Committee.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000799\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EFor our wh\u0101nau at home, this bill intends to protect victims of crime by preventing their perpetrators from contacting them, having the protection orders in place for victims. It amends the Corrections Act 2004 to create an obligation for prison managers and CEOs to ensure that victims and others who are subject to protection orders under the Family Violence Act 2018 are protected from unwanted communications from prisoners.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000800\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EThis is a serious and pervasive issue in Aotearoa, affecting people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds. However, we all know that M\u0101ori are disproportionately represented. People living with this trauma should not be forced to relive it through ongoing communications from their perpetrator. This is a common-sense, pragmatic, yet simple law change that would provide relief and protection to victims of crime. I was truly surprised to know that this was not a law already here, in Aotearoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000801\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EKo t\u0101 Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori e manako nei i roto i t\u0113nei pire ko te tiaki i ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata kua patua e te t\u016Bkino a ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata kei ng\u0101 whare herehere kia whakahaumaru i a r\u0101tou. M\u014D ng\u0101 t\u0101ngata kua kite i te pani, te pouwaru me te rawakore. Kia tiaki i \u014D r\u0101tou tinana, wairua, hinengaro, wh\u0101nau hoki, kia korowaitia, kia haumarutia. Ko te maru\u0101p\u014D o t\u0113nei o ng\u0101 pire he t\u0101huhu i te tangata. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000802\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EI roto i t\u0113nei o ng\u0101 pire, e whakaaturia te mana \u014Drite. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000803\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003E[What the M\u0101ori Party desires within this bill is the protection of the people who have been assaulted by the abuse of the people incarcerated in prison, so that they are safe. For the people who have been orphaned, bereaved, or impoverished. To protect their bodies, spirits, minds, and family too, so they are cloaked and made safe. The aspiration of this bill is to back people. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000804\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EIn this particular bill, equal rights are on display.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000805\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ef5a38c-0ef7-4d68-8621-dcbb47077e6e\u0022\u003EM\u0101ori are overrepresented as victims in the criminal justice system. We are the most impacted group by any changes made in this space. This bill will bring a positive change for victims, it allows us to listen to the families of victims in crime, and it is what is needed to address the harm. I roto i te mana o te mana mokopuna [Within the power of the rights of the grandchild], this will go a long way in protecting mokopuna and wh\u0101nau who have experienced this violence. This is a straightforward bill that we, from Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori, intend to still support. N\u014D reira, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022 data-id=\u00227f02b60419a54d889ffa940e0f492570\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000806\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227f02b60419a54d889ffa940e0f492570\u0022\u003EJAMES MEAGER (National\u2014Rangitata):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. The previous speaker, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, started her speech by apologising for getting the order wrong. I don\u2019t think she needs to apologise, because I was watching the TV and the numbers at the top as well and I thought that they were one behind too. I think we can put that down to a technical blip rather than any fault of the member. I just wanted to note that for people watching at home\u2014and just to congratulate you and welcome you back from overseas. What a great achievement for you as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000807\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s quite difficult as the chair of a committee to get up after eight people have spoken and then do your traditional job of recapping what happened in the select committee and who came and submitted and what the process was. I thought I would do that. However, I thought I\u2019d go a little bit off-piste at the start and talk about the sponsor of the bill, Rima Nakhle, and her advocacy for the bill throughout this process. I think, first of all, I want to congratulate the member for having her bill drawn. It is the second one of my colleagues that I\u2019ve jealously had to congratulate tonight for having a member\u2019s bill pulled in their first term and one which will, hopefully, have support of the House\u2014and I think it does\u2014and it will be seen all the way through.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000808\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EI wanted to make a comment on Mrs Nakhle\u2019s advocacy and support for victims and victims\u2019 rights, because, having sat on the select committee with my colleague for almost a year now, I have not seen a more fierce advocate for the rights of victims and for victims\u2019 issues on that committee than anyone else who sits on the committee\u2014to the point where I think sometimes other members of the committee may get a little bit tense or might have some concerns about the way that my colleague does advocate for victims, because she isn\u2019t afraid to point out when offending has impacts on victims. She isn\u2019t afraid to push back on submitters who take a slightly maybe one-sided approach to the justice system and forget about the rights of victims. She is always there to support them. She is always putting forward what she thinks is the right thing to do, which is to put victims at the heart of our justice system. That is what this bill is about. I really congratulate my colleague for bringing it forward. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s the first of many, many bills like this that she will be able to speak to and sponsor in her long time through the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000809\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003ECan I acknowledge the support that she has out there, not only in her electorate but at home as well. I know her number one fan is probably watching late at night\u2014he always is\u2014and he\u2019ll be texting through his support and his commentary. Just to Roger out there: big shout-out to Roger, and I thank him for his support for Rima in this bill too.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000810\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003ELook, it\u2019s important I put that on the record, because throughout the process of this bill and of many bills that we face and we scrutinise in the Justice Committee, victims are central to everything that we think about. It\u2019s central to this Government\u2019s approach to justice; it\u2019s central to this Government\u2019s approach to crime and to corrections and to rehabilitation. The number one focus is about reducing the impact of crime on victims in our community, and this is a small but meaningful step in doing so. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000811\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EI wanted to take the House through some of what the select committee did discuss through that process that we undertook for several months. As we\u2019ve heard, there were a handful of submissions made\u201412 in total. Now, that doesn\u2019t seem like a lot\u2014certainly not as many as we have received on other bills, and it\u2019s certainly not as many as I anticipate receiving on some of the bills that we will be considering shortly\u2014however, we should not substitute quantity of submissions for quality of submissions. If anyone has the opportunity to go into the select committee tool and to read the departmental report, you will see a very thorough analysis of the submissions made by those 12 individuals and organisations, and especially from the three oral submissions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000812\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EI wanted to put that on the record because, a lot of the time, people think that it\u2019s the number of people submitting on a particular issue that counts, or it\u2019s the number of forms or the number of emails that you can get through that really makes a difference. Yes, while quantity does show strength of opinion for or against an issue, more often than not, select committees are persuaded and convinced by the strength of arguments and the quality of arguments made in submissions. We\u2019ve seen that here in this bill, where most of the submitters were strongly in favour of the bill and most of the submitters made their submissions around the rights of victims as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000813\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EAs we have heard, the select committee did make a number of changes to the bill on the\u00A0basis of advice by Corrections officials. I wanted to echo the comments of Mr Stephenson, who spoke very highly of the Corrections officials. He has had a lot to do with them recently, for his own bill, and I\u2019m sure\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000814\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b2672720-3dfe-421a-af8c-20f00d44da3d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221346b0c3b3a0482eaa28ea23ab5e957b\u0022\u003ETodd Stephenson\u003C/span\u003E: In a professional capacity!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000815\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205976a36a54c481a9105daf10e2efe30\u0022\u003EJAMES MEAGER\u003C/span\u003E: In a professional capacity; not in any personal pastime capacity! I would echo his high praise for the officials from Corrections. We have seen them for a number of bills now, including the quite substantial Corrections Amendment Bill that we walked through. On every occasion, their advice has been clear, it has been concise, and it has been valuable in the select committee\u2019s consideration of what changes to make to this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000816\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EIn particular, in this case\u2014and I know Ms Nakhle won\u2019t mind me mentioning it\u2014there were probably times when there was perhaps a little bit of disappointment that some of the advice coming back indicated that the bill might not have been able to achieve what it originally set out to achieve. That\u2019s fairly common in members\u2019 bills, because we often have an idea, it\u2019s a good intention, it\u2019s put into a bill, and it\u2019s pulled out of the ballot, but then, when the officials toss it around and they go through the operational implications, sometimes bills with the best of intentions just aren\u2019t able to be operationalised, and this is one of those bills in this case. That\u2019s why some of the changes have been made, to reflect the fact, as many members have mentioned already, of the shocking statistic or number\u2014that Corrections have responsibility, control, or supervision of around 26,000 members of the community and 9,500 prisoners.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000817\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EIf you look at the departmental report, it goes through the steps and the kind of engagement and the controls that Corrections have in place for those 9,500 prisoners, where they can screen mail, they can check mail, they can have access to emails, they can put in place controls on ingoing and outgoing phone calls. Those are the kinds of things which, whilst onerous, are able to be operationalised within the Corrections system. That is not the case for those 26,000 individuals in the community. It was very clear from the start that, while, I think, in an ideal world, we would like to be able to put some more controls and some more conditions in place to make sure that victims of crime and people who are subject to protection orders are not only safe from prisoners inside prison but also safe from those who have offended and who have been released into the community\u2014and who may still wish to pursue victims or family members or those who just don\u2019t want to have contact made with them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000818\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EI would draw the House\u2019s attention to the section at the end of the departmental report which does take members through some of the things that Corrections can do to monitor communications of offenders in the community. There are some restrictions that can be put in place by the Parole Board, there are some controls that can be put in place, but when we are talking about 26,000 people, it\u2019s just not feasible to do so and operationalise through this bill. That\u2019s not to say we shouldn\u2019t stop trying to reduce those numbers. We shouldn\u2019t stop making those investments in crime prevention. We shouldn\u2019t stop Nicola Willis\u2019 social investment approach, where we will be looking at programmes and measures that work, including rehabilitation for prisoners on remand. I reflect on the trip that we took to Christchurch a couple of weeks ago\u2014a very good trip\u2014and we visited the justice precinct and saw the exceptional facilities, the court facilities, the police facilities, the linked-up approach that the justice pipeline is taking, but also, we saw what kinds of services and facilities are available out there in our Corrections institutions, at Christchurch men\u2019s and Christchurch women\u2019s prisons. I will reiterate how impressed I was with the women at Christchurch women\u2019s prison, in the therapeutic unit that we went to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000819\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EWhen we talk about trying to do our best to make sure we rehabilitate prisoners\u2014and there is the stick side of it; there are the punitive controls. Having a new offence in here about prisoners who do contact people who do not wish to be contacted is the right thing to do, but there is also the side of this Government and this Government\u2019s approach which is that we do need to make sure that when people are in our care and in our custody in prisons, they are given the opportunity for rehabilitation. I was struck by the relationship that those women had with the Corrections staff. It wasn\u2019t a master-slave relationship, nor was it a collegial buddy-buddy relationship, but it was one that was built on respect, and it was one where Minister Costello mentioned the idea of taking responsibility for your actions. The women in that unit reflected back to me, and I\u2019m sure to the group, that their experience in the short time that they\u2019d been in there certainly made them realise that they were the ones who were accountable for their actions, they were the ones who could make decisions and make changes in their lives, and with the support of the Corrections team and with the support of the community and the Government, that is what can happen when we put the right resources in the right place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000820\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ef094bb1-be4f-48b8-bb53-52ce955a1c2d\u0022\u003EThis is a small change in the right direction. It will do a significant amount to provide reassurance to victims of crime that they will be free from unwanted contact. I look forward to hearing more about it in the committee stage, and I look forward to its passage through the House in the coming weeks and months. With that, I would just like to congratulate Mrs Nakhle and commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u0022dc536e35b55248beb928b1bfcf95dd50\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000821\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dc536e35b55248beb928b1bfcf95dd50\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O\u2019Connor)\u003C/span\u003E: This debate is interrupted and set down for resumption next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow. Goodnight, everyone.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000822\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id202410164430ab1eeb514fe3bc70a40596ed3abd000823\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 9.55 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"